Throw the ball, to the stick.

[damn_juicebox]

WHO: Rukia Kuchiki, OPEN
WHAT: Undertaking Cid's quest to acquire the Scholar job, Rukia is assigned to take care of (aka distract) a dog that's bothering the workers at the lab. The catch? It's a ghost dog. A real nice ghost dawg.
WHEN: October 4th - October 10th, during lab hours
WHERE: Starting at the lab, then moving through the city. She probably won't go to the chocobo farm or anywhere densely populated.
NOTES: I'm starting this in prose, but you can respond with action brackets if you prefer.


It was an ordinary morning. She cooked herself a simple meal of rice and broth. Brushed her teeth. Changed out of her pajamas to assume the usual black robes of her Ninja class. Combed her hair. Bid goodbye to the roommates.

But the task she set out to complete was far from ordinary. She was dealing with a ghost, and she was something of an expert when it came to souls. As such, she was armed with her secret weapon, tucked safely away in her pocket until the time came when she would be forced to use it.

She arrived at the lab ten minutes before the normal working hours, and lifted her hand in greeting. "I'm here for the ghost."

It wasn't hard to find. It was lifting its leg as if peeing on a piece of important looking science equipment. But, being a ghost, there were no smelly liquids to clean. "Oi! You!" Rukia folded her arms to regard the canine sternly. It whipped around to look at her, then its tongue lolled as it crouched playfully on its front legs. "I've come to deal with you."

She jammed her hands into her pocket, seizing the secret weapon, and held it aloft.

It was a rubber bone. Squeak squeak.

"Let's go, you."

Barking enthusiastically, the canine bounced and pranced around Rukia's legs as she walked out of the lab and into the streets, bone held high over her head.

The ghost was harmless, what she would have called a 'Plus' spirit back home. It retained enough of its old memories and heart that it couldn't be considered a threat. Would that she could perform konso, she would have been glad to put its soul to rest, but she had no access to her shinigami abilities. For now, she would play with it.

In truth, she didn't really mind. And secretly, as the days passed, she found herself growing very fond of the capricious creature. Rukia had never owned a pet before, especially not a dog. So she took it for walks, played with it in the park, repeatedly got knocked over every time the dog got too excited and wanted to bowl over the 77-pound woman, and when play was over, she sat next to it at the base of the tree, petting it. Or making the motions, anyway, which it seemed to enjoy just as much.

As it curled up next to her knees, Rukia leaned her head back. Was it wrong to get attached like this? Eventually something would have to be done, and it was ill-advised for a spirit to linger on the plane of the living for too long. But still... She looked down at the pale sleeping spirit, and allowed a small smile to cross her face. For now, she could get used to this.

Comments

[heavenlyhonour]

"That explains the books." And he thought of Genesis suddenly, wondering if that had been one of his friend's jobs.

The stare gave him an indication that his aim had struck. And while he didn't get the smile he was hoping for, he received the challenge. "Sounds like that's something that we'll have to do."

He smiled. "But at least for now you have a faithful companion by your side."

[damn_juicebox]

"Yes, for now," she agreed. Rukia's playful tone turned slightly somber as she regarded the ghostly animal, and her brow furrowed.

"In truth, I'm concerned. While it's not uncommon for animal spirits to linger on, it's strange that it seems to be connected to the laboratory. As far as I know, animal experiments weren't conducted there recently, so it must have died some time ago." She frowned. "It should have passed on by now."

Would that she could help it to do so. But for now, it was harmless enough that she didn't feel an immediate urgency to deal with it.

"If I could find out what's rooting it here, I might be able to discern what would compel it to leave this plane. However," she sighed, "as I'm sure you've guessed, dogs do not excel at communicating complex needs."

[heavenlyhonour]

That..was a look he hadn't seen before though it reminded him of the look right before he lifted her chin that day for training. Still, he wanted to try to help her figure it all out if possible. "If it's connected to the laboratory, I have to wonder if it's owner is still alive or was there with them at some point."

And a smile came out at her last words and he shook his head, thinking of Zack. "Maybe not, but dogs are loyal creatures and they're pretty basic once you get to know them."

[damn_juicebox]

If that look was a mix of frustration and suspicious concern, then yes. That was exactly the look she had right now. As much as she liked the pup, it didn't belong here. And if this world's rules functioned the way hers did, leaving it untended for too long ran the risk of the plus spirit becoming a Hollow. That was not something she wanted to see, especially without the use of her shinigami powers.

"It's possible. The city was attacked shortly before we arrived, was it not? Perhaps someone in the lab was killed that owned a dog." She inclined her head. Yes, that could very well be it.

"Thank you. I'll ask for a list of personnel, alive and deceased, who may have once owned a dog. It could simply be that the dog seeks to be reunited with its owner."

[heavenlyhonour]

He nodded and ran his hand over the ghost's back. "Dogs are loyal to death and beyond." His voice was softer, thinking of Zack and how the pup had indeed been loyal even past death. Angeal had heard every prayer, every word Zack had said. He just hadn't been able to respond though it amazed him that even after everything, the pup still turned to him for guidance.

Looking at Rukia he nodded again. "I'm glad if it helped at all." And really he was. If it gave her insight or helped in any way, he was glad to be of service.

[damn_juicebox]

"It did, very much," she admitted. "I would have otherwise completed the task just by distracting it from the lab workers. Even though it bothered me, I might not have thought to research the matter further without your suggestion. A poor scholar that would have made me, hm?" Rukia smiled.

The thought had crossed her mind that she might keep it. The two things holding her back, however, was that her roommates might not have been so keen on the idea, nor could she look after it properly if she was going to apply to the military. Dogs were needy creatures, requiring constant supervision. Rukia wasn't even sure she could care for a Tamagotchi.

"So, what brings you out this way?" she asked.

[heavenlyhonour]

"No one can know everything." This was his encouragement in his own way. Sometimes it helped to have others involved, even if he wasn't one to do it. Still, insight from others could prove to be really helpful.

Her question had him shaking his head. "I was taking a break from training and came out this way. On the way I happened to see you." He looked at the dog and nodded after giving it one last pet "At least he'll keep you company out here. A dog can be a pretty faithful companion."

Standing to his full height, Angeal pushed the thought of Zack out of his mind. "If you're hungry later, you're welcome for dinner."

[damn_juicebox]

That was something Rukia could never turn down. Angeal was a good cook, and after the time loop, it felt like it had been weeks since the last time they'd sat down for a light conversation. "I'd be delighted," she grinned. The dog looked excited too, assuming that Angeal's standing meant he wanted to play.

"Will we be learning a new recipe, or should I bring an additional dish?" Maybe she could make that cornbread Zelda taught her, since there likely wasn't enough time to bake a loaf of regular bread.

[heavenlyhonour]

"Nothing new to teach, but if you want to bring something that's fine." He normally would've said it wasn't necessary but he wasn't about to tell her that. Besides, she always tried to help out normally so he wasn't about to turn her down now.

He saw the dog stand it was just absolutely adorable. But he couldn't get attached because it was Rukia's duty to distract it and put it back to wherever it came from.

"If you keep hanging around him, you might have to give him a name."

[damn_juicebox]

Good. The last thing Rukia wanted to be was a mooch who lived off of her friends. She seemed pleased at his acquiescence, and inclined her head. Cornbread it was, then. She wasn't sure she'd have time to make anything else, since cheesecake took so long to bake and cool.

Standing to her feet, she brushed the grass off of her robes. She wasn't so sure about giving the dog a name, as it would only deepen the bond she knew she would soon have to sever. But if that was what he wanted, she wouldn't deny him that.

"Nothing particularly creative springs to mind," she admitted.

Although... Ah ha ha. If word ever got back to him, he'd definitely protest.

"Maybe I'll call him Renji."

[heavenlyhonour]

"That must be a name that means something to you." Angeal wasn't fooled, that didn't sound like a made up name to be just haphazardly guessed or made up. But he wasn't going to ask who it was or anything like that. Rukia could definitely have her secrets, he wasn't one to pry.

And figuring he was just being a pest, Angeal nodded. "I'll see you at dinner tonight with whatever you're bringing." And he couldn't help for a small smile because he knew he was off of dishes duty with her around.

[damn_juicebox]

Ah, well, she couldn't expect him to remember the names of everyone she'd mentioned when she'd told him where she grew up. Rather than explain, she just offered an impish little smile. "If you knew Renji, you'd understand. Trust me."

She folded her arms, grinning, and inclined her head. "Yes. See you tonight."

If the dog ever managed to let him leave, anyhow, since it was busily trying to grip Angeal's pant leg with its toothless mouth.

[heavenlyhonour]

"I'm sure I would." If he remembered the name he probably would later. There was so much else going on that it just failed him at the moment. And he'd more than likely apologize later.

"I'll see you then." And he went to go leave when he noticed a certain ghost attaching itself to him. It reminded him of Zack holding onto him with everything he had when Angeal had to leave to go on missions. At the very least, his phone had gone off at all the wrong times and quickly learned to turn the device off.

Turning at the dog, he couldn't help but smile and his tone was gentle as he knelt down to pet the non existent head. "You need to stay with Rukia and protect her."

Oh ya she might kill him for that, but he was trying to go easy.

[damn_juicebox]

"From what, spirit pigeons?" Rukia replied dryly, wearing an unamused expression. He really worried too much about her. She'd lived for decades, scraping through poverty and fighting horrific soul-eating monsters. What was there in this world that could rival such things?

Besides hamsters.

But the pat on the head seemed to be all the dog wanted in order to let go, panting happily at the faux attention. Rukia waved farewell before the dog bounded back to her, begging for the return of the squeaky bone.

[heavenlyhonour]

"It'll give him something to do." Angeal countered, noting the unamused expression. But he knew enough that he was lucky to get away with what he had gotten away with and that was as far as he was going to go with it.

"I'll see you later." he said to Rukia before getting up and heading home. He had dinner and dessert to cook and prepare and he was going to need time for that. So he headed back to get that done.