audio; un: nenonen

[essenceborn]

[ the audio recording opens up with someone breathing heavily. Not the kind of panting that follows physical exercise, but an uneven, stuttered sort that belies disbelief. shock. ]


...It's tomorrow. It's tomorrow. Ohhh dip, oh dip, oh--heck. Dip. Dip dip diiip, it's really here. Ahahaha...ha...haha...ahhh... It didn't end. It didn't end and it didn't start over and the sky didn't melt and it's tomorrow...!

Please tell me you guys noticed--it's not just me noticing this right?? Someone answer me and tell me you noticed!


[ this may seem like a bit of an odd thing to post on the network but L I S T E N. When you've been trapped in a 13-day time loop for 186.604 years, Tomorrow^TM really matters. Nenonen's, like, ready to hyperventilate here SOMEONE CONFIRM THIS IS TOMORROW PLS?? ]

Comments

[essenceborn]

I'll grab my coat.

[ HECK YES NEN WANTS TO GO MEET SOME DOGS i mean yes. dogs will be most acceptable, cough cough. ]

[nugrass]

Aight. Meetcha at the corner out front the apartments, then.

[Seeing as how he doesn't, uh, live in them. But he currently stays somewhere near them, so it works!!

Of course, he's behelmeted once they're both out there together. No coat or anything, though, just his usual cloak and whatever.
He feels no cold.
No suffering.
No--]

Let's walk quick, okay? I'm freezin' my ass off out here.

[essenceborn]

[ Oh Chipp. So strong. So Stalwart.

Nen waves to him, dressed in the same clothes as before...but this time with added COAT feature. Their breath may be visible on the air, but unlike Their Brave Champion, Nen doesn't seem too bothered by the chill. ]

Sure! But I don't think that's what happens to bottoms when they get cold.

[nugrass]

You can say "ass" 'round me, I won't tell no one.

[Said with a smile on his screen, of course. Time to lead them toward their destination:
THE PET STORE.
It's got an adoption event going on, so that means puppies.

There's no way he's gonna let Nen live without experiencing puppies. He's too much of a dog person to allow that.]

[essenceborn]

Ass. Ass. Aaaaaass. Assssss.

[ Yup. That's what Nen's going to do for at least thirty seconds straight and take it 100% seriously. ]

Ass. It's a lot shorter than 'posterior'--

[ ...is what Nenonen starts to say, but that's when the sounds of various animals chirping and mewing and barking grows louder as they approach the pet shop. Nen trails off and stares instead, wondering what on earth all that racket is...when they see:

bebbies.

animal bebbies.



Nen gasps. ]

[nugrass]

[Can he ruffle their hair?
He's gonna ruffle their hair.
Not related to the animal babies thing - it's just for all the ass-ing.

But the way Nen goes silent tells him everything he needs to know! Well, mostly.
As much as it can for someone who just kind of shrugs and guesses what people are feeling even on a good day.

He's gonna stroll right up and open the door for them, holding it open with a little hand flourish to guide them inside.]

After you! You the guest of honor right now, after all!

[essenceborn]

[ Oh gosh, Chipp. Nen doesn't know what to do about that, but...they decided the don't dislike it. A hand may come up after to try and flatten their hair out, but by that point they are lost to the rancour of tiny animals.

Nen stands no chance from here on out. ]

It's so loud...

[ And yet Nen doesn't hesitate to walk inside. Their eyes go round at what they see, the sheer number of tiny, fluffy critters in such a small space--it's easily more living, breathing animals than Nenonen has seen in their entire life.

They've met a Houndoom and a Koromon, but nothing prepares Nen for the sight of so many animals. ]

Chipp...!!

[ LOOK??? AT ALL THIS??? ]

[nugrass]

[Yeah, if he was smiling before, he's outright beaming now.
Or his helmet is, anyway. Close enough, though!!!

Don't mind him - he's just gonna walk in behind them, even being so bold as to take off his cloak and hang it on a nearby empty product rack.
He's polite, but he's not that polite.]

Fun, ain't it? You gonna get to hold some of'em, too.
Not all of'em - some animals bite if they don't know ya well. But some... there might be some baby dogs, puppies.
Baby cats, too. Kittens.
Maybe you can even hold a rabbit? Some places let ya hold the rabbits, at least back in my world.

What do you wanna see first, Nenett?

[essenceborn]

[ Chipp's helmet is perfect and Nen will never not enjoy watching the myriad of emotions its expresses on his behalf. The way the eye moves is fun and Nen enjoys watching it move about on the big screen.

As for the explanation... That Nenonen is only able to half-focus on, their senses so overwhelmed by the myriad of stimulants and unfamiliar sights. Baby dogs--kittens, rabbit--hold them? Nen looks to Chipp in surprise, fingers curled on reflex. ]

--You can touch them??

[nugrass]

You can touch'em! 'Long as you're gentle.
Baby animals are delicate, y'know.

[Here, he'll make the choice for them. By waving for them to follow, of course.
He's gonna take a second to stop at the registers, talk to the staff and explain the dealio -
But once that's done, it's not hard to find the big ol' cage holding a litter of four Labrador puppies, all of them playing and tumbling together. And biting eachothers' ears, but y'know, that's how dogs do.
One of the staff has followed them over, of course, though they don't open the cage just yet, waiting for Chipp to say so.]

... Whatcha think? Wanna hold one of these li'l guys?

[essenceborn]

They're...so small. And wiggly!

[ Nenonen has no idea how to handle this?? They might look a little frazzled, but it's also obvious that they very much do want to try. Nen reaches out, but stops themself. Does it again and then just--huffs. ]

It won't hurt them to be held, right? I don't want to drop one.

[nugrass]

Well - might hurt if you drop'em.
So how 'bout you sit down, and I'll hand ya one? That way if it wiggles outta your arms, it'll just fall in ya lap.

[He waves his hand to a spot in front of the puppies' cage, motioning for Nenonen to sit there and wait.
It's only once they're actually sitting that he asks the staff hanging around to open it up so he can reach in and grab one, nabbing a little black Lab and holding it up over his own head for a moment (yes it's so he can coo at it, shut up) before he holds it out gently for Nen to take.]

Just make sure you support the li'l guy's tummy. Puppies can be kinda soft and floppy, so it's important ya give'em support.

[mysophobic]

You're welcome Nen! You can always talk to me about things too, okay? I'm a pretty good listener and I can even make us some tea and snacks if you ever want to come over!

[essenceborn]

I can come over any time?

[essenceborn]

[ That...is a good and sensible idea. Alright. Nen gives Chipp a nod and then proceeds to plunk themselves down right on the shop floor itself. Chair? Nen barely knew her. That's still two feet off the floor and Nen doesn't want to take any chances with such small and fragile-looking creatures.

They do watch Chipp fuss over the puppy and for just a moment, feel an unusual spike of...concern? Worry? of what if...but it does pass, and as Chipp brings the pup back down and hands them to Nen, they relax. ]

His...tummy? Okay. Uh.

[ Support the tummy, support the tummy...okay. Nen cups their hand under the pup's softe lil tumtum and uses their other to support as they very, very carefully bring the tiny thing into their arms.

The puppy may as well be wiggle incarnate. But it also happens to be quite interested in Nen now that it's in their arms, and it starts to snuffle and lick at Nen with an enthusiasm Nen's heart was not prepared for. ]

[mysophobic]

[ Oh no. Maybe he should specify. ]

Well!! Just, let me know first. I do have a roommate but he's very nice. I'm sure he wouldn't mind surprise visits but it wouldn't be fair to him regardless. But otherwise yes you can stop by anytime!

[essenceborn]

You have a roommate? [ are you okay shigeru-- ] Can I let you know now then?

[outofoffice]

[ How could he forget the silly sunflower enjoyer??

Venti has a nice little whirlwind of flower petals going when Nen arrives -- sunflower in tow because they're fucking adorable -- and Venti greets them by sending the petals to swirl around Nen instead. ]

Fancy meeting you here~

[essenceborn]

[ What a good bard?? Nen's not expecting anything special or out of the ordinary when they go to meet Venti, but when they see what Venti's gone and prepared for them there's just. This really small, but really profound little flutter inside their chest as a look of awe stares over.

It looks like it's snowing flowers.

Nenonen loves it. ]

Ohh...! Venti, did you--??

[ ;A; Did he do this for them??? Nenonen's enchanted immediately, turning in a small circle as they try to follow the petals in their swirl. ]

Flowers....!

[emissarium]

Of course. We would overtax our star's resources if we did not die; and our souls will return to the star in time.

( that's not the point of the question, bud. )

[egomitochdavar]

The last day of how many?

[nugrass]

[Once Chipp's certain Nen's got a good hold of the puppy, he goes ahead and flops down right beside them on the floor, falling onto his ass with a thud.
Sitting cross legged, hands on his knees and a big, stupid grin on his screen.]

Mais, garde des don - seems like he's taken a shine to you already! Ain't too hard to believe, ya don't make that hard for folks.
He soft, soft though, ain't he? Always liked Labs when they puppies, they got that fur that's almost velvety.

[A short pause, as he realizes what he just said -]

Uhh - "Labs" are a kinda dog. It's short for "Labrador".
They known for bein' great pets, good companions. Smart, friendly, loyal, the works.
Could probably count on one to babysit if you had to!

[essenceborn]

[ oh my gosh Themis pls ]

I don't understand what any of that means. What's a star? Or a soul? How does you living drain resources? Do you mean like food and water?

[essenceborn]

Thirteen.

[ Nen doesn't want to think about the actual number of days it took for that to happen. ]

[essenceborn]

He's very soft...

[ Nen echoes, still marvelling at the tiny thing in their hands when Chipp begins to go off on his tangent there. It's a good thing he explain labs, because...yes. Nen was thinking of the other kind of lab. Good to know that it applies to tiny, wiggly puppies in a very different way; Nen doesn't like the idea of these little guys having to go through tests like they did, for some reason.

They don't look like they'd do very well with it. ]

...Why would I want to sit on a baby?