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

Oct. 5, lab

[charming_jerk]

When Rukia shows up at the lab on the morning of the 5th, someone else shows up around the same time, sleepy but ready to go. Speaking with the lab workers, Johnny finds out that Rukia has already started to work on the ghost dog issue, so he seeks her out, and catches her as she's leading him towards the door.

"Hey. Looks like ya beat me to the punch. Uh, not that he looks too tough to deal with. Hey there, buddy."

Johnny wasn't sure how a ghost dog was going to act, but he hunkers down to offer it a hand and a pat on the head in greeting.

October 4th

[iscursednomore]

Fai was always fine with doing the odd jobs he keeps getting to get something new, but this one was to him the most oddest one ever. he had gone to see the problem and could tell quickly that this was going to be the most unusual job. However when he had seen the other arrive practically five minutes after his arrival, he was quick to pick up on something else and while he wasn't paying attention the dog was probably trying to steal something.

"Hello again, I assume you have the same Quest as me about the ghost dog?"

October 6th

[heavenlyhonour]

Angeal had been outside practicing with his sword but needed to look at different scenery. He'd had a lot on his mind and had a minor skirmish with some ghost or another. It was definitely different to fight an opponent that his sword went right through.

But he happened upon Rukia sitting at the base of the tree with a ghost dog curled up next to her. Angeal didn't know what to say but he did wonder how Rukia felt, knowing this was obviously a dog that had died.

Mentally he willed himself not to think of Zack and instead smiled at the resting pair.

Oct 4th - Before all the things

[aero_dienamic]

Val likely wasn't the last of the roommates she'd bid farewell for the day... but probably the last one she'd want to talk to about it... because Val's life is generally uneventful (which is her own fault, frankly), she's going to be all up in Rukia's business before she heads out the door.

"Oh~ And just where are you going, little missy?" she teases, even if, technically, she is the youngest adult in the house; only 7 years since creation!