aterat | Something Small And Wrinkly This Way Comes!

Entry tags:

Something Small And Wrinkly This Way Comes!

Who; Whoever wants to tag in!
What; One Closed + Two Open
Where; Apartments, Park, Gullwings Office
When; July 26th
Warnings; Adorable wrinkles (A PUPPER), but otherwise I will update if serious things occur!

Note:If anyone wants something specific they are welcome to let me know!

The Arrival - Closed to Rhy

Llewellyn had left for the office, amusingly dragging his heels the whole time. He had never been much of a morning person, and it was harder still to motivate himself to leave when he woke up curled against his husband.

But gone he had, after breakfast and some light fussing with his notes (there were still several trailing towards the door where they’d fallen) he bid Rhy farewell and wished him a good day… And a small, soft promise that if he was going to be late, he’d call. Something said a little more frequently of late after his run in a month ago, a promise Llewellyn did his best to keep.

What the detective hadn’t expected was staying regularly at Rhy’s building would present a rather odd ‘wrinkle’ in someone else’s day.

Outside his apartment in the blue building, some might have noticed a basset hound pup next to a hat box, pawing at the door and making the most annoyed sounds in an attempt to get in. He was smallish, at that funny awkward stage where his paws were a bit large compared to his legs, and his ears were still dragging so low on the floor that he would very easily trip upon them if he got too excited.

But his attention on the door went on for a good ten minutes or so, before the dog let out an annoyed little sneezing sound and turned his wrinkly body to pad downstairs and waited for someone to open the door with all the patience of a dog who knew the world wasn’t made for someone as short as he. Once the door opened, he bolted across the square. Ears dragging and nose snuffling fiercely as he followed the scent trail of who he was looking for from one building to the next. His patient wait was repeated as he came upon the building that had the strongest scent, dashing under people’s legs as he came to a stop in front of the door he was looking for and resumed pawing at it.

Eventually, he let out one of his more impressive howls in hopes of getting the attention of whoever was inside. He was sure that at least one of his fathers was within!

Burning off some energy - OTA

The park had quickly become one of Llewellyn’s favourite places since the festival. It reminded him so much of his world, in many good ways. He had a lot of happier memories tied to the park there. It had been a bit of a safe space… When he wasn’t feeling welcome at his first place of work, it had become his ‘office’, so to speak. It was open, easy to avoid being crowded. The sun above, and nice scenery to look at.

Now that he looked back on it? It seemed like a missed opportunity on his part that he’d never had a dog before. Pretzel clearly enjoyed it as much as he did, racing around in the grass and sniffing around for all the interesting new scents that definitely had not been present in their last world. There was life here, after all.

At some point, Llewellyn realized he was going to need to get the dog a proper harness and leash again. Even if he was trained to listen to some commands pretty well, it was hard to deter a dog who had never experienced the great outdoors in such a literal sense before. There were so many sights, sounds, smells, and creatures he’d never seen before!

Pretzel, as Llewellyn had noted, was extremely sociable. He delighted in attention and wasn’t afraid to dart up to someone to try to get pats or handouts if he noticed another person around. Aside from people in their last world, he’d even made friends with some very unlikely creatures (including both rabbits and wolves).

So… Say hello to the ridiculous, wrinkly creature tripping over his own ears in front of you!

Bring Your Pup To Work Day - OTA

Llewellyn wasn’t entirely sure about leaving Pretzel cooped up in the apartment all day at either of his or Rhy’s places. If one of them were off for a day, sure the pup would get all the attention he needed. But otherwise, he was a growing dog who was at that awkward stage of growth, reasonably well trained but still prone to puppy-mischief. Plus, it was hard to get stern with the canine for his mischief when he already had the most sad, lethal puppy-dog-eyes in existence. It was probably Pretzel’s greatest weapon, and given how spoiled he was? He knew how to use it.

So… Leaving the pup along would just result in Llewellyn’s shoes being chewed up again and who knew what other kinds of messes that only a dog could think of making.

People working would either look down to see a wrinkly pup staring up at them, maybe hoping for ear scritches or a little piece of whatever they might have been eating. Surely other people kept snacks at their desk like his father… right? Of course, Llewellyn was quick to apologize if he caught sight of Pretzel disturbing someone, or exploring where he shouldn’t. “Uh- sorry, he’s friendly! Just… A little stubborn.”

Like him, maybe.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

FRIEND SIZED INDEED! And Hibiscus definitely didn't mind being bigger than a dog for a change. Most of those owned by the guard were very big and scary. This one looked like fun.

Nida sneezed again, before nodding to Watts. He waved at the man with his free hand, trying to encourage him to back up. Nida was definitely backing toward the door to try and get some breathing space.

"No meds," he grumbled. Yeah, he hated this. He had to work with these people!

Pretzel liked to think he was very fun indeed, but bigger animals could be fun too! Just... Challenging!

Llewellyn kept a secure hold on the pup as he backed up as well, almost tripping over a chair as he went. "Uh... Right, yes, I've allergy medication is usually the answer. I don't know if this world has that..." He really wasn't sure, this world seemed a little behind his own world, and apparently the term 'Allergy' wouldn't even come into use until a year or two after when he was from.

Wait, this place had a second floor... He wasn't sure what that was for considering there were only a few of them, but maybe he could block Pretzel up there? And if he chewed on anything he shouldn't, he could beg Jagger's forgiveness later. "Would it help if I took him upstairs? And uh- got you some water?"

"Nah if he's ben ther," Nida mumbled, reaching up to pinch his nose as if that would help. "Outside?"

He just needed some space to breathe.

Outside? Outside worked. Still, he moved to settle Pretzel down with a quiet command to stay. He... Might listen. Stay was a tricky one for Pretzel. If he didn't want to stay, he generally pretended he forgot what the command meant.

Hurrying away, glad he had longer legs than the pup and could hopefully make it outside first, Llewellyn opened the door and gestured the man outside. "I'm terribly sorry about that. He's still learning, and we didn't want to leave him in the apartment alone yet. It uh- slipped my mind that some people might be allergic."

It took some pulling for Nida to get the chicobo hauled out after them, but when they were at last outside Nida sneezed a few more times, trying to get his breath as his eyes started to water. Dammit.

"Not your fault. I'll talk to Raimon," he said, trying to clear his breathing. "Not like I can just avoid the place."

That was true, if he had other arrangements he would have made them... But no such luck. "Raimon is rather good at getting unexpected things, I hope he can get some." When Llewellyn had found his old hat in front of the door to his apartment in the blue building the day the pup arrived, he honestly had gotten a sneaking suspicion that Raimon might also have something to do with Pretzel's appearance.

Llewellyn shook his head, "If I thought it would help to keep him away from the office on the days you have to come by, though I confess I don't know you well enough to know when that would be." This was an awful first impression, really. "Mm... Was there something I could help with, to uh- make up for the allergic-reaction my dog caused."

Raimon was a talented man. Nida had actively gone to him for a variety of things over time, including rumors of where he could get magic. The man had a talent and a desire to have people owe him favors.

"I could arrange private meetings with Jagger in the future," Nida suggested with a sigh. "Not much point to a liason if I'm not meeting with him."

Still, he offered his hand out.

"Nida Nomura, with the guard."

“Ah, that may work. Jagger tends to be pretty reasonable, and you’re right. You can’t really do your job if you can’t meet with him.” He rubbed the back of his neck lightly. “And perhaps later on, down the line, we can trust him at the apartments on his own. The last world we were in was quite different, and it was a little easier to keep him out of trouble.” Because if he couldn’t take him, or Rhy, there had been at least three or four other people who were delighted to steal the pup away for a bit.

And a new world, so very different, Llewellyn was concerned it might throw the pup off more than a little to suddenly be left alone. Maybe he was soft (he was), but that also seemed a little mean to the puppy.

He took the man’s hand, though. “I’m Llewellyn Watts-Maresh. It’s nice to meet you, Nida.” He responded with an attempt at a more professional greeting after the whole... blundering about over allergies. “I just joined on when I arrived as a detective.”

Watt-Maresh. That sounded vaguely familiar. But only vaguely. Not enough to say much about it.

"Sounds about right. I knew Jagger had new help, but I haven't had as much time to swing by lately," he answered. "I'm the guard appointed liason officer, meant to make your work with our numbers smoother. I'm also a... let's go with outsider."

Llewellyn nodded, “I’m sure you’ve been kept busy, between being a liason, the business down at the docks a couple months ago and the uh- other oddly unpleasant things that crop up.” The detective had heard a lot, and seen a few things now...

“An outsider, mm...” Not a member of the locals, then. That was actually rather good to hear, that people from other worlds were allowed to get involved. It seemed like a good idea to have that outside point of view, especially with the mess that the Aspects had been making. “Are there many outsiders working with the local guard?”

He should know Nida, at least somewhat thanks to Ignis... But Ignis might have only used the man’s name once or twice before, and Llewellyn’s memory tended to be spotty, without a more constant reminder on things like names.

"There have been others, in the past, but it's only me right now," Nida answered with a shrug.

Hibiscus, having come to the realization that she was not going to get to have a puppy friend, decided to at least interact with Llewellyn. Which meant sitting on his shoes.

"I was made liason because the Gullwings were created by an outsider, and stays run by people like us. And Gullwings seems to get themselves into trouble, and I'm a bit more qualified for handing that than some other guards.

Llewellyn glanced down as he felt a weight crawl onto his foot, a curious tilt of his head at the sight. Sitting on his shoes was nicer than having someone gnaw on them. Offering the little chocobo a smile for a moment, “Sorry, little one. Pretzel can’t play today, I think.” He commented before glancing back at Nida. “Is it alright if I give your little friend here some attention?” He asked, not about to just make assumptions.

Llewellyn couldn’t help but frown lightly, “I’ve been told that a few times now, at least of prior-members.” He shrugged, “I hope to not add to that trouble, maybe make your job a little easier.” Said the man who’d gotten knocked around by a walking trash-monster not even a month ago. Llewellyn was not good at staying out of trouble, though it wasn’t as though he went looking for it.

"You're welcome to. She needs to learn how to handle people well," Nida answered. "She's going to grow up to be my partner at work."

Nida really did think he was here for the long haul after all. He could believe that some day he would just be riding Hibiscus. Though, until she was a bit older and larger, she was still living with them. Given time she'd need to live in a proper stable.

"Have you? Huh, didn't think other people would mention the shit Caelan got up to. But provided you'ore not going to play violin next door to me at three am, we're fine."

“Is she? Hard to imagine she’ll get as big as the other’s I’ve seen around the city.” He was glad for the permission though, crouching down to hold out his hand to the bird for a moment or two before he offered a couple of gentle little strokes to her feathered head. Was he particularly familiar with how to interact with chocobos? No, but it was an attempt.

Brows rising a little, “Nope. I can assure you I don’t have any inclination to play the violin, I’m not particularly talented in the music department.” Sometimes he might sing a little to himself, but not around people. “Three AM is an hour I’d rather be unconscious too.” Happily curled up with Rhy, at that. “And I’ve been warned that this place may be bad luck... But I rather hope to prove that wrong.”

Llewellyn hoped to be around for quite some time himself, after all. Going back to his world? It didn’t appeal nearly as much as it had a year ago.

"Oh don't worry, she will. Which still makes her smaller than chocobos in my world, but she'll be big," Nida answered. He watched as Hibiscus accepted the petting, not even pecking at Llewellyn's fingers. What was it about Nida that just earned a touch more intense interactions? Who even knows.

"I don't know about bad luck, but most of the founders aren't around anymore. That's just because they went home, we presume. But they were good, noble people."

What a sweet little thing. He smiled a little as Hibiscus seemed to enjoy the attention. Glancing up at Nida with a curious tilt of his head, he gave the bird a couple more pats. “Ah, so you’re from a world where they exist as well. We don’t have them where I’m from, nor were they in the last world I was in. So they’re a rather new thing for me.” It was a little strange to think that in some worlds they were even bigger than the fully grown ones here.

“Yes, that is what I’d heard here and there since I arrived. I’m sorry I never had the chance to meet them, though.” And Jagger seemed to have his hands full with running the business he hadn’t expected to be dropped in his lap. Llewellyn was at least glad to be able to offer some help, even if there were just some things he wasn’t much good for in a world like this.

"Oh yeah, they exist," Nida agreed, and he didn't sound pleased about that. "Sometimes I wish they didn't."

But he had other things to focus on.

"I'm just glad Jagger got help. Sometimes in worlds like this you get left holding the buck, so to speak, when someone else leaves."

“You don’t sound particularly thrilled with that, I must say.” Considering he had one in tow today, that seemed like a rather odd thing to say. Were they more like pests in Nida’s world compared to the other’s he had heard about?

Llewellyn frowned a little, focusing more on the chick for a moment. “I’ve seen it happen, and it really is rather hard on someone. One of the least pleasant aspects to these worlds, in my opinion, is how easily people can disappear.” Finally, pushing himself to his feet, he shrugged. “I’m glad he didn’t mind me joining. It saved me from trying to figure out opening another office myself. Still, seems like it could use a few more people to balance things out.” People with different specialties and areas of knowledge. “But, I’m sure it helps to have a liaison with the local guard for some situations.” He added with a small nod to Nida.

His personal conflicts with chocobos weren't really all that pressing of a concern. Instead he focused on the conversation.

"Well, you should know that I'm good for assistance too. I've done it before. I'm an information specialist back home."

Which is a very polite way to say a spy, but he didn't care to say more than that.

It wasn’t as though Llewellyn didn’t have a vague knowledge of spies, anyway. One tended to pop up to get in the way of, or mixed up in, Murdoch’s cases on almost a yearly basis as it seemed back in his world.

The detective also like to have experts to refer to. He wasn’t so proud as to assume he knew everything, as some people were. “Well, I’ll have to remember that. In a place like this... I expect I’ll need more than a little help depending on what kind of things get brought to my attention. Starting nearly from scratch is a bit... worrying at times.” And, for once in his life, Llewellyn had a reason to at least try to be a little more careful.

A yearly basis? Or was it just that Murdoch didn't notice the other instances? There's a thinking question.

"Scratch is pretty difficult, especially if you are trying to develop contacts. So hey, if you need it and Jagger can't help, I do have some increased awareness of magic. I can sense it, sort of, thanks to Siren. And before you ask: she's sort of a nature spirit from my world I'm bonded to."

A thinking question, indeed. One that would no-doubt haunt Murdoch if it was ever brought to his attention.

Llewellyn’s brow rose a little at that. Now that was a curious kind of magical ability. “Thank you. Magic is definitely something I find myself often lacking in knowledge of. It’s always so different from one world to the next whenever someone speaks on the subject.” So, yeah, that would make Nida a very useful contact. Not that Llewellyn wouldn’t find ways to repay the man for his assistance when he needed it. “I’ll uh- leave Pretzel aside should I need your assistance, of course.”

"Don't worry about it. I'll find a way around it," Nida promised. "People like dogs. Just... If you can teach the thing not to jump on me? There was a woman back home who had a dog. That seemed to KNOW I was allergic, and always came over to me."

Nida had an animal magnetism and didn't even know it.

"I honestly never really thought much about dogs or having one before the last world I was in kind of... just dropped him in my office one day? I have since learned the appeal to having one." Meaning he'd come to adore the little guy, even if Pretzel was a bit of an odd case where the last world did something nice for him instead of horrible.

"But stopping him from jumping on people before we know if someone welcome's the attention is already one of the thing's I've been trying to train out of him." There was so much to teach the little wrinkle, and he was so very excitable. "So! I'll double the efforts on that particular area of training."

"Thanks," Nida said, his fingers comming up to rub at his watering eyes. Hibiscus, by this point, had grown bored with lack of attention and began to circle around Nida's legs. The man didn't even know he was tangled now.

"I was partially dropping in to see if you all needed anything.

CAPSLOCK WILL SOLVE THIS!

ITS IN THE TROUBLESHOOTING MANUAL AND EVERYTHING /o/ lol

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