House Hunting [Active]

[green_spirals]

Character(s): Rikku, Rakka, anybody else want in?
Content: Rikku and Rakka go searching for a hideout.
Setting: H6-ish somewhere
Time: Afternoon
Warnings: none

Comments

[dreamsoffalling]

"Why would the houses be built if nobody needed it?" Rakka asked.

It made sense to her: every place in Glie, as far as Rakka knew, was occupied. Even the abandoned school that the haibane used as their home was used by them. It didn't seem that impossible to Rakka that there weren't any abandoned houses.

But this place was far larger than Glie, so it seemed like there could have been some place nobody used anymore. And it was the way of the haibane to use that which humans didn't need.

She peered uncertainly into windows as she walked, feeling a little self-conscious as she did so; she didn't want to invade anyone's privacy.

[green_spirals]

Rikku whirled in midair to shrug in her friend's direction. "I dunno, but for some reason that just tends to happen! I used to think houses grew from spores, y'know, when I was little," she added, resuming her search. "Like mushrooms. I mean, even now it kinda makes sense, don't'cha think?"

She didn't give Rakka much time to answer that, though, because just a couple of windows later, she saw something that elicited an "Ooo~!" as she hopped fully onto the outside sill to get a better look. "This one just might be a keeper. C'mere, look!" she exclaimed, beckoning excitedly.

Of course, it was just a dimly-lit, dusty, and kind of beat-up parlor, but Rikku liked to look at things in terms of possibilities. "So, whaddaya think?" she asked eagerly.

[dreamsoffalling]

Rakka smiled at the idea of houses popping up like mushrooms. It really would be convenient. The thought was derailed as Rikku pointed out a house. Rakka hurried over to peer into the window alongside the little fairy.

Rakka had a similar view of places as Rikku, having lived previously in an abandoned boarding school. A little cleanup and some decorations and it would be very nice. She smiled.

"I like it," she said. "Let's go in and look around!"

[green_spirals]

"Yeah!" That was the spirit! Rikku bolted around to the front door, pulling down on the door handle with her full weight and then some. It was unlocked, at least (wasn't that lucky!), and gave without too much trouble; she pushed it open just enough to slip through into the foyer, waiting for Rakka to follow before she proceeded on through the open entryway that led into the room attached to the window they'd been at a moment before.

In here, she flitted from one nook or corner to the next, inspecting the place more completely. It was even still furnished, although some of said furnishings were in better states of repair than others, but with a little bit of elbow grease-

She stopped at a look under the couch, though; it took her a few seconds to realize what exactly she was looking at down there, but when she did, she jerked back and away from it with a gasp. There was already something living in this house, seemed like, and it was furry and glowing and a lot bigger than she was.

[dreamsoffalling]

Peering around at the house, Rakka knew it would take some cleaning up. But that didn't matter--nothing that could be had for free was going to be in perfect condition, and she was used to dealing with used things.

Rakka spun to face Rikku when she heard her friend gasp, and then drew a sharp breath herself. She had never seen an animal like that before, glowing and snowy white like that. Could it speak?

"H...Hello? We're sorry for... Barging in. Is this your house?"

She felt a little silly, but she had spoken to a meerkat before; it was better to be polite, after all.

[green_spirals]

The lumen didn't answer, responding to Rakka's question with only a lazy turn of its head toward her and a halfhearted flick of its tail. Rikku gradually unfroze, but still kept carefully out of what she figured was its pouncing range. "I don't think he understands us," she whispered after a few seconds.

So, it didn't appear to find them threatening or anything, okay. But this was their place now, and it was too big of a cat to make a good house pet. "Think he'd go away if we gave 'im a big juicy fish?" she pondered sotto voce.

[dreamsoffalling]

"Maybe," Rakka said, and was suddenly reminded of the cat Kuu had played with back in Glie. This was a lot bigger, though. "It would have to be a pretty big fish, though."

And where were they going to get that? She hoped the animal wouldn't attack them; Rakka had no way of defending herself.

Maybe this was why so many of the people here seemed to have powers of some sort? Rakka hoped her lack of them wouldn't end up getting her or anyone close to her injured.

[green_spirals]

That was a good point, and Rikku didn't have any idea where to get a big juicy fish on such short notice, for that matter. But soon enough she'd thought of another idea, and she descended to about its eye level, carefully moving closer to it. "Heeeeeere, kitty, kitty," she said softly, beckoning to it. "C'mon outta there, puss. We'll get you somethin' good to eat that's not us."

After a few seconds, the lumen finally seemed to get what she was telling it, and scooted out from under the sofa, getting quickly up on all fours. Standing, it was clearer that the animal was about the size of a large bobcat or a medium-sized dog, though in appearance it was closer to the bobcat. Rikku shied away from it a little, but it didn't seem hostile, or even particularly upset at the intrusion. It just eyed both girls with what almost seemed like curiosity.

Rikku looked between the cat and Rakka a few times as it walked lackadaisically around her friend for a better look; then she smiled and put her hands deftly on her hips. "Well, that was easy,

[dreamsoffalling]

Rakka couldn't help but be fascinated. The animal's appearance seemed like it should have been familiar--like maybe she had heard of or seen animals from before she came to Glie--but she was certain she had never seen anything like this up close beore. It didn't seem like it was going to hurt them... Surely it would have already if that was what it was planning? She entertained the idea of trying to pet it, but decided against it; just because it wasn't planning on attacking her now didn't mean it wouldn't bite her if she tried to touch it.

"I wonder if it's a stray?" Rakka wondered, though she recalled that she hadn't seen any animals that might have been native before today.

[green_spirals]

"Well, it must be, huh? Or it wouldn't be here," Rikku commented. Her own curiosity piqued, she scratched her chin thoughtfully. "Does it have a tag or anything?" she added, floating around it to get a better look. It didn't seem particularly vicious, so there wasn't as much reason to be careful, as far as she was concerned. If it did have an owner, they'd probably better shoo it out. But if not, maybe they could keep it! Wouldn't that be neat?

[dreamsoffalling]

Rakka took a few cautious steps forward, trying not to startle or anger it. She peered at the creature, circling it a bit.

"I don't see a collar..." Rakka said, head tilted.

It would be a shame to force the poor dear out of its home just so they could live there. Surely this place was large enough for them to live alongside it?

((Oh god, Rikku and Rakka with a pet lumen. XD))

[green_spirals]

About then, the lumen lost interest in the two girls and began a lazy walk around the room instead. Rikku followed it with her eyes and tapped her chin contemplatively. "Hmm. Well, it's gonna need a name," she said, as if it'd already been decided they were hanging on to it. But what to call it... "How about... Bob!" she suggested enthusiastically a second later.

The lumen sharpened its claws on the sofa. (From the looks of it, the sofa was quite used to this sort of treatment.)