the pawfect friend

[survivaltricks]

WHO: Akira (survivaltricks) and Hunter (newphew)
WHAT: community service
WHERE: one of Neo Tokyo's animal shelters
WHEN: mid-September
WARNINGS: it's shedding season!1

[Akira has only been on base for about two weeks, but boy, has it been a busy two weeks. between LILITH's intense training regimen and the random "health check ups" he's been dragged to, most of his days have been occupied by official business. there are some perks to this, however; being new and otherwise unavailable means he hasn't been subjected to LILITH's scrutiny regarding the missing kaiju pieces. but it also means that he has been aching for a day off. some leisurely time would do him well!!]

[so. . . when he learns that the LILITH recruits are being asked to volunteer at some of the local shelters? well. it's only natural that he jumps at the opportunity for some quality time with a few new furry friends]

[and that's where he is now! laying on the floor in the middle of one of the shelter play rooms, an orange tabby perched almost regally on his stomach. the cat is purring as it flicks its ears and tail, and Akira lifts a hand to gently boop the creature's snoot]

[HEALING]

If you're not adopted by the end of the day then there's something wrong with the people of Neo Tokyo.

Comments

[newphew]

[ hunter likes animals, but it's a bit tricky with cats considering they all want to take a bite out of flapjack. so he's more avoidant with them.... which doesn't work out at all, because his being avoidant and not really making eye contact means they all want to hang out with him. he currently has one winding around his legs and a small black kitten on his shoulders, batting at his little fringe. he's trying very hard to look grumpy about this, since akira can't know he's a softie!!! ]

You should just keep him. He likes you better than anyone else that's come in today.

[ just offhandendly ]

[survivaltricks]

[oh. . . Akira blinks at that suggestion, before he gently plucks the li'l orange tabby off his stomach so he can sit up. don't worry about the cat friend, though; Akira settles the creature comfortably into his lap afterwards]

[and, with a tilt of his head]

. . . do you think he'd be enriched enough? Back at LILITH's base?

[CAT ENRICHMENT IS IMPORTANT]

[newphew]

[ hunter hesitantly reaches out to pet the tabby, even though he is otherwise covered in cats ]

You'd probably take better care of him than just... some random person here.

[ he can see how much akira cares for this cat.... and (in hunter's opinion), none of the potential adopters were half as interested ]

Malkuth has ducks. A cat's probably easier to manage.

[survivaltricks]

[the tabby's ears flick, and it's purring stops as it stares at Hunter in that judgmental way cats do. but on the bright side, it allows for the petting!! Hunter has been deemed. . . "perfectly fine."]

I don't know about that.

[Akira's nose wrinkles as the cat's tail flicks gently into his face]

Cats need a lot of things to keep them occupied. A cat tree, toys for mental stimulation, a window. . .

[his arguments sound half-baked, though. even as he talks, he runs his fingers fondly across the creature's back. he is, perhaps, a bit smitten]

[newphew]

[ he has been allowed...... he gives it a few tentative pats and scritches around the face ]

[ hunter gives him a little smirk ]

And you're okay with just leaving him here?

[ admit it akira... you love this kitty ]

[survivaltricks]

[. . . YES, BUT--]

[the cat, content to let Hunter scratch him for a few seconds, suddenly decides he no longer wants this attention. with a small mrow, the creature bares its fangs and nips (GENTLY, BUT STILL SHARPLY) at Hunter's hand. FEISTY!!]

[Akira laughs]

It's a good shelter. They'd take good care of him.

[. . . BUT--]

[newphew]

Ow!

[ he pulls his hand back, giving the cat a look (tm). ]

[ this is why birds are better.... in hunter's completely unbiased opinion ]

So let's go then.

[ calling his bluff!!! ]

[survivaltricks]

Wh--

[looking around the shelter, blinking a bit in obvious confusion]

Right now? But we're in the middle of our shift. . .?

[volunteer work doesn't have shifts]

[also, he not-so-subtly pulls the orange cat a little bit closer to his chest]