003 || {Video or Action}

[contempsi]

[Hope's life has certainly been thrown into turmoil over the past few weeks, and there's certainly more to come. Now that Lightning's returned, and seems to have gathered her strength... he admittedly can't take his mind off his own problems at hand. He saw her brand—but what's to become of his?

His days, too, are numbered.

After a slumber fraught with nightmares, the boy awakens to find a more urgent, pressing problem at hand.]



[Somehow, by the grace of whatever deity is over this place, he finally manages to open the journal by his bed and paw his way into a video broadcast.

The screen is filled with a fluffy white puppy face.]

RUFF!

Um... w-what's going on!? Am I dreaming!?? Someone help! Lightning? Aerith?!

[Later on that day, he can be found sulking outdoors in the grass by the pathway that separates Community House #4 from the other residential homes, head on his curly fluffy paws.

He can, in fact, be understood if anyone attempts to converse with him. Translations are in italics.]

Comments

[kissdiet.livejournal.com]

Oh! Yes, I met the two of them some time ago, when I was giving some welcoming gifts to those who share a floor with me. Lightning seemed to be a most capable person.

[...But that itching is off-putting. Cam weighs hir options a little and considers going to help the dog-person, but that might be insulting, instead sie stops short]

It was only a brief encounter, however- Lightning was giving Baldr some exercise and we happened by each other on the stairs.

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

Lightning is... [Okay, he doesn't want to get too mushy here. Being a teenage boy and all.] Well, she's from my world. We've both gone through a lot there. She's the closest thing to family I have. [He idly taps his tail against the ground. For some reason, the thought of Lightning taking care of Baldr before his arrival here still amuses him a little.

—which soon gives way to a completely horrifying thought. What if she has to take him for walks!? That tail stops immediately.]

[kissdiet.livejournal.com]

In that case, it must be a great relief that she is here to continue to help you and be beside you. I'm glad for you as well.

[...Okay, sie can't resist. Petting the top of the dog-boy's head]

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

Are there people here from your world, too? [Did sie really just— Hope blinks in surprise at the touch. It does feel kind of nice, though! His jaw falls open as he pants his gratitude, tail thumping happily against the ground.]

[kissdiet.livejournal.com]

Ah... no. No, actually. [Oh, he... likes it? Sie unfamiliar with the social cues of dogs, more so with seals. But sie's assuming that's what it is, so sie just keeps up the petting. Mercifully, the way sie gathers energy doesn't act up to any notable extent with animals, and the trick of a person who is an animal is beyond hir physiology logicing out] I have made several friends from other worlds since though.

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

I've been trying to do that too... but... [So much has happened since his arrival here. He's barely even had the opportunity.] I haven't had much of a chance.

[The petting is rather soothing, almost in a maternal sense, and so he doesn't fight it off at all. Even if he feels a bit silly getting affection like this out in public, even as a dog and not a boy. He tilts his head a bit, nudging that hand appreciatively with a wet nose.

It just seemed like the right thing to do!]

[kissdiet.livejournal.com]

Well, you'd managed to make a good impression on me, Hope.

[Wow it's wet. Okay, that's kind of neat. tapping the nose again with hir palm[

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

[A snuffling noise is what sie'll get in response.]

I'll have to find you when I'm a person again, then.

[kissdiet.livejournal.com]

[Sie nods, and then pulls back hir hand]

Yes, I'd like that. ...So do you have anywhere you need to be for now? I might be able to help you get there.

[contempsi.livejournal.com]

Nope. I'm just trying to get used to all this. Thanks for asking, though. [He settles again, leaning his head on his paws.]