Boonapping! Home Team

[wheatencrown]

Cruella is not moving anywhere unless they say and she is surrounded on all sides by people who care about Boo-AndrAIa, Enzo, Coreen and Demeter herself.

Comments

[notascreensaver]

The Game sprite gives Shorty's shoulder a gentle squeeze along with a soft, understanding smile.

"You did what you had to in order to survive. I've been there, I understand."

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

He shrugs and his voice and posturing become more Tough Guy.

"It's what it is. Ain't no big thang."

[a1enzo]

Enzo's anger has pretty much drained, hearing this.

"Sorry, man," he says, although he knows it's wholly inadequate. "You don't have to keep doing it, though. There's all kinds of other ways..."

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

Shorty looks at Enzo uncertainly.

"What'cha talkin about?"

[a1enzo]

"Well, my girlfriend... didn't have anywhere, either. So she lived here. For two years, 'til she found a family."

Of course, she was specifically hiding from someone, and her 'new' family was pretty much guaranteed. But it's just an example.

[notascreensaver]

"A friend of mine was in a bad place back in her world. After being here a while, she decided to move to another. She's much happier there."

Beat.

"This place is connected to hundreds of worlds," she elaborates. "Yours isn't the only one and if you want a new start, all you have to do is ask."

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

Shorty laughs - a harsh sound.

"I can't make it in my own world. Sendin me in another won't be any better."

[notascreensaver]

AndrAIa shares a quick look with her brother-in-law.

"Well...if you don't mind cars and motorbikes, and being digital, I could always use an extra hand back home at my shop. Feel up for trying that out?"

[a1enzo]

"My sister runs the whole city," Enzo puts in. "If she says you get a home, you get a home."

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

Shorty looks from one to the other, uncertainty all over his face.
"I..don't know.."

[notascreensaver]

Shorty's shoulder gets another squeeze from AndrAIa.

"You don't have to stay there if you don't like it. Just...try it out for a while?"

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

Shorty shakes his head and takes a step back with his hands raised.
"Look, guys, you're bein all kind of nice and all, but I'm not from a third world country or nothin. I don't need savin!"

[a1enzo]

"You'll be missing out, dude," Enzo declares, and, leaning closer, informs Shorty in a whisper, "She always dresses like that. Just sayin'."

[notascreensaver]

If AndrAIa heard Enzo's whispered words, she gives no sign of having done so.

"I'm not saying you do, Shorty, we're just offering you a place to stay if you wanted out and needed someplace to start fresh."

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

Shorty takes off his cap and runs his fingers through his really long hair.

"I'm not goin back t'how it was.

I'm not!." He's lookin at them as if daring them to disagree.

[a1enzo]

"Duh! She's offering you a job, dude! We're trying to help, not make it worse."

[notascreensaver]

"Enzo, hush," she interjects with an exasperated tone.

Using a much softer tone now, she turns her attention back to Shorty.

"No one's saying you have to go back to how it was, sweetheart. You'll have a good, honest job, a roof over your head and people looking out for your well being."

Beat.

"I know what you have back with that Boss of yours is what you know, but why don't you give us a chance?"

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

Shorty's chance to get frustrated.
"And what happens when that ends, huh? What happens when you decide I'm not worth the trouble or I mess up or we discover I suck at whatever job you're offerin me? What then, huh?" He starts pacing.
"Back on the streets with no where to go? Beggin for a scrap to eat? Eatin from the trash jus' to have somethin? Months without showers, people avoidin you on the street..
No, no, no!"

[notascreensaver]

AndrAIa watches Shorty pace while he rants, catching him lightly by the wrist once he's finished his rant.

"No! Oh User, no!" Shorty maaaay be getting a rather nice AndrAIa hug right now.

"You're not going back to any of that. Not while I'm still processing."

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

Uh.

Lady. Person. Hugging.

With Little Clothing.

And Rubber Skin.

Can't. Brain. Guh.

[coreenfennel.livejournal.com]

"AndrAIa? Hon, I think you're freaking him out."

[notascreensaver]

AndrAIa releases Shorty quickly at Coreen's prompting with a chagrined smile.

"Sorry, Kiddo."

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

Oh! Right! Thinking.
..he can think, right?


YES! YES HE CAN.


"Uh."


Or maybe not.

[a1enzo]

Enzo can't help laughing a little.

"Sorry, man, I shoulda warned you. She does that."

[obsessedwithfur.livejournal.com]

"I, uh."

He clears his throat.

"I mean.." he regains his composure and tries to look nonchalant. "It's cool."