7th Constellation ~ Guess Who!!!

[chibibrushheir]

[Voice]

[It's not the crack of dawn, but still pretty early in the morning...yet this doesn't prevent a series of barks from filling the the network.]

Comments

[Action]

[hasstandards]

[RED's smile returned as soon as Chibi came in sight. He reached into his ammo pouch, producing a blueberry muffin and offering it to the pup.]

I didn't forget to bring you somethin', just in case you were 'ungry.

[He reached out gingerly to put a hand on Chibi's head, caution warning him to somehow make sure this really was Chibi and not some trick again. Of course, there wasn't a way to tell simply through petting him— he would've known the first time, had that been the case— but it was an urge he couldn't resist.]

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[Barking happily, Chibi took and proceeded to devour the offered treat, though he did pause when RED's hand rested on his head, cocking his head and licking at his fingers.

Something seemed to be on the man's mind.]

[Action]

[hasstandards]

[RED was a bit surprised by the immediate affection from the pup, but it only served to make him relax. He leaned back on the bench, patting his lap.]

Come on. It's easier for me to reach you if you're up here.

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[Finishing what was left of the muffin, Chibi barked once and hopped on the bench, being careful to not step on RED as he sort of draped over his lap. he remembered the crutches and what they meant at least.]

[Action]

[hasstandards]

[Chibi was a lot more courteous than Teriyaki, though RED knew there were reasons behind that. Terr, as smart as he was, was a normal dog.

He ran his hand along Chibi's back, giving him a thorough scratching.]

It's been too long, mate. I meant to talk to you sooner, but things got, er. Complicated. And I don't know if you were here when we had all those people show up outta the blue.

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[Enjoying the scratching greatly, Chibi nuzzled against him before nodding. He'd been there for that. It had been much livelier.

But he whined softly, wanting to know what was complicated.]

[Action]

[hasstandards]

[RED could almost understand what the pup was thinking, to a degree. He could follow along with the nods and nuzzles, but some questions were lost on him, the language barrier a distinct wall between them. As such, he wasn't sure what the whine was about, but at least it seemed Chibi was listening, urging him to continue.]

I had a friend show up with them, you know. Someone I knew from years before I got here.

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[Listening quietly, he waited. He could guess that the friend was maybe gone though. Which was a really sad thought.]

[Action]

[hasstandards]

[And Chibi was right- his friend was gone. RED was silent another moment, pushing a sigh through him.]

I should've been better to him, mate. And to you. It wasn't right of me to avoid you because of somethin' that happened when you weren't... you know. You.

[He scratched behind Chibi's ears, his eyes setting themselves on a spot on the horizon.]

I've got the chance to make it up to you. I don't think I'll get the same for him.

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[He was avoiding him? Chibi hadn't thought for a minute that was the case. But he could kind of understand and shifted around to lick RED's cheek.]

[Action]

[hasstandards]

[A smile- wistful, this time, or as wistful as one who usually wore a dulled expression got- crossed him as Chibi licked his cheek. He nudged his forehead against the pup's in appreciation.]

I will. Promise. Maybe come out to see ya more often. Bring my dog, Terr.

[Surprised colored him for a second as he realized he called Teriyaki his dog, rather than his usual defense that the puppy belonged to Pyro. Still, it did seem right to make that claim.]

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[An obvious smile spread over Chibi's face and he nodded. Even if it was a small thing, it was nice to see his friend had found something here.

And it was a dog, which meant someone he could actually talk to!]

[Action]

[hasstandards]

[That he did. In Chibi's absence, Sniper had taken to talking to Teriyaki. While the pup wasn't as unnaturally bright as Chibi, he was still a companion Sniper felt he could trust. More than humans, anyway.

... Well, most of them. So much had changed since he'd last spoken to Chibi- with his health, his life, and especially with Pyro. If they hadn't have switched bodies, he might have never told her how he felt. While at times he still fought with himself over whether or not that was a good thing, he knew he wouldn't trade her for anything in the world, now.

It was easier than he'd thought it would be, to simply pick up where they left off. It was like Chibi had never betrayed his trust because technically, he hadn't. He knew he ought to be madder at Pyro for pretending to be the pup in the first place, but with what he'd gained, he found it hard to do even that much.]

A lot's happened. Not just my arm bein' better or me gettin' the crutches, but... a lot.

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[Chibi nodded, wanting t here more. He liked to listen to RED and was definitely glad he was healing properly. And it seemed like his friend really needed a good listener almost more than anything here.]

Re: [Action]

[hasstandards]

[He scratched behind Chibi's ears, eyes settling somewhere on the wall.]

Ya know that sheila I live with? The one who was visitin' me every day in the hospital?

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[Somehow Chibi's face managed to look a bit sympathetic and amused. He knew RED meant the same one who put him in that shirt he hated.

Nodding, he cocked his head.]

Re: [Action]

[hasstandards]

Right. Things are, er. Different between us.

[He scratched at his cheek, not sure how to explain it to the pup, or why it seemed so hard to talk about to him in the first place. Perhaps it was the topic.]

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[Chibi waited quietly. He knew a little about romantic love, but not that it could be awkward to talk about. His friend Kurow hadn't had that problem.]

[Action]

[hasstandards]

[RED's actions, catering to his nerves as he clawed at his cheek, spoke of how the topic made him anxious in a way he could barely handle. He scratched Chibi again, as though that would make all that rattled him disappear.]

I'm... ah. [He shook his head, trying again.] She means a lot to me.

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[Chibi nuzzled against him, wagging his tail slowly and looking at him with understanding eyes.]

[Action]

[hasstandards]

Means a lot to me...

[His repetition was much quieter as though he was talking more to himself than to Chibi. His hand went back to Chibi's ears as he was nuzzled, giving the pup more scratches.]

A lot's changed for both of us. A lot of people from our, um. World have shown up recently, and we'd rather they not find out about that. That's what makes it complicated.

[Or it was one of the things, anyway.]

[Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[The tilt of Chibi's head quite clearly portrayed his question of why they had to hide it.]

[Action]

[hasstandards]

[RED's brow furrowed as he understood what he was being asked.]

It's, er. We work together, and us bein' more than that would be unprofessional. Not that we are. We don't want them gettin' the wrong idea.

[Or the right one.]

Re: [Action]

[chibibrushheir]

[Not understanding this reasoning at all. But things are different where RED's from so maybe working together with loved ones is just bad there...or something.]

[Action]

[hasstandards]

Because it would be. Not that Pyro and I aren't, um. Close, but it's... not like what they'd think. Or we don't want them thinkin' like that even if it was.

[He sighed, feeling foolish for trying to explain himself to a dog.]