5th Floor CR, Monday Morning

[withoutverona]

Romeo was up far too early for the start of two weeks off, fortified by a cheesy talk show and a pile of chocolate coins gathered on a brief but chilly trip to the deck. (And Romeo wasn't sure exactly when food falling from the sky had become normal, but it had.)

Next on Jerry Springer, elves with Santa fetishes, the announcer blared, sounding almost ashamed of himself.

"At least it's seasonal," Romeo told no one in particular as he unwrapped another chocolate.

{OOC: Open like a CR, yep.]

Comments

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

There are a number of various activities that when done normally can be arduous but when done with a puppy become exponentially more fun. Trotting up and down the stairs was one of those things and it was for this reason that Liir came running up to the fifth floor, a little black ball of fuzz bouncing adoringly behind him. He turned to go back down the stairs when he spotted Romeo and, not having talked to the other boy for some time, instead headed for the common room. Makejoy, as one might imagine, followed.

"Good morning."

Liir sounded almost chipper, even though his face was a little red (there had been running out in the renewed cold as well).

"And how are you?"

[withoutverona]

"Good morrow! I have chocolate from the sky and two weeks off." That was answer enough for Romeo. "You have a puppy."

He knelt to get a better look at the ball of fuzz.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

She was a prime example of a Newfoundland, which Liir had discovered through a bit of research last night, and an exceptionally friendly one to boot. She toddled forward with her little tail wagging and looked up at Romeo with big brown eyes.

"Yes, I do. She was my gift for Lurlinemas," he explained as he sat on the ground. The puppy had a touch of confusion as to whether she should flop beside Liir or meet the stranger, but a 'go on, go ahead' gesture had her looking back at Romeo.

"Her name is Makejoy. She's very friendly."

And yes, Liir was thrilled.

[withoutverona]

"She looks it," Romeo agreed, shooting a grin up at Liir. He was fond of dogs, and he showed it with a palm offered to the wiggling puppy. "I don't know Lurlinemas, but she seems to be a thoughtful gift."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

As puppies are wont to do, she sniffed at the hand only for a moment before licking it and padding closer in what was a blatant request for scritching or petting.

"Lurlinemas is something of a pagan holiday, but everyone celebrates it," he explained, "well, back in Oz. I suppose the gold coins have something to do with Christmas here?"

No one had mentioned Hannukah to Liir.

"My father got her for me; he wasn't sure I'd like it as he's almost as skittish as I am about that sort of thing but he couldn't be more wrong."

He sighed, noting a ridiculous grin on his face.

"I'm glad you've been well. I keep resolving to go and see you more often and then I become a hermit again."

[withoutverona]

"It's all right, I've not been as social as usual of late either," Romeo admitted. "And the gold coins are for Hanukkah, I think? I know it's a Jewish holiday, I don't know more. they're tasty, anyhow."

He scratched the puppy. "How is it, having your father on the island?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Rather lovely, really," he said as the puppy absolutely ate up the scritching.

"He died before I was born, back in Oz. Or disappeared, really, so I never got to know him."

As for the holiday, he let the questioning go as he remembered reading about Hannukah in the book about holidays he'd read at work for Valentine's day. Even if he wasn't quite sure of what gold coins had to do with it. But...

"Tasty?"

He hadn't connected the coins and 'chocolate from the sky'.

[intraspective]

"No," Ino informed the wee boyfriend-turned-fox she was carrying, "you can't have chocolate. I don't care if you want it, you're not having any 'til you're back to normal."

A beat.

"Hi Romeo!"

[withoutverona]

"Good morrow, Ino," Romeo returned, with a wary eye on the fox. "New pet, or is that a person?"

[intraspective]

"It's Ichigo," she said brightly. "Which, really, I suppose isn't much different from a new pet."

Yes, Ino said that just for the grumbly growl that got out of him. Awww.

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

There was nothing to awwww about, dammit. And Ichigo added and extra growl for the awwwwing and started to wriggle, taking insult to this entire thing.

[withoutverona]

Romeo snickered, more at the fox's obvious displeasure. "I suppose it was considerate of the island to wait until after we handed in our physics project to do this to him."

[intraspective]

"Stop that," she said, frowning at Ichigo. "I can't help it that you're cute like this. And, ha, I suppose it is, but still. Not really the right shape to give a present to, yeah?"

[withoutverona]

"Depends what the present is," Romeo teased. "He might be exactly the right shape for a bowl of kibble, or a little jacket."

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

A puppy on his lap (no, he held no issue with the dog being on the couch), Liir waved to his sister with a bright smile on his face.

"Happy belated Lurlinemas!"

[intraspective]

"You've gained a fluffy living pillow it seems," she said lightly, grinning at him as she kept track of her boyfriend-turned-fox.

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

"Her name is Makejoy," he annouced as the puppy looked up to see the new person. She was, however, quite content on Liir's lap being scritched and petted.

"She was a gift for Lurlinemas," which answered who might have gotten her for him. "Would you like to meet her?"

The black tail womped lightly against the couch.

[intraspective]

Well, really, Ino didn't need much more of an invitation than that to go and flop down beside Liir's legs and glance over at the puppy.

"Hey there, Pillow-chan," Ino said, offering her hand to sniff. "You keepin' my brother warm and cheerful?"

[new-to-liirness.livejournal.com]

Cheerful, certainly, and warm as well. Liir laughed a little at the nickname and a little more as she turned around to give Ino a dose of big brown eyes and a sniffing. She obviously passed muster as the licking soon came after.

"She's done an admirable job on both fronts," he told Ino, "and she's proving very smart. She's taken the bits and pieces of things I've been teaching her well and other than a bit of a tendency to beg for cheese, she's learned on only a couple of goes."

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

It wasn't because Ino had told him to stick to the common room that Ichigo was still there. Nope, he was there because he wanted to be there. Really. No way did Ino get to order him around. Or threaten.

He was currently in the kitchen, trying to get one of the cupboards to open. No way was he eating kibble.

[intraspective]

"Paws aren't so great for that," she noted, leaning against the counter and watching him.

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

He'd noticed that and he shot her a look. If she wasn't going to help, she shouldn't criticise.

Looking more determined now, he got in his hind legs and tried to paw open the cupboard.

[intraspective]

"Would you like help?" Ino asked, smiling a bit.

[first-guardian.livejournal.com]

Well, that was a stupid question if he heard one.

He slid back to the ground, barked once and looked expectantly at the cupboard.

[intraspective]

"Are you after anything in specific, or just anything that's got flavour?" Ino asked, stepping over to the cupboard and opening it for him. "I mean, seriously, come on."