Lana shrugged, watching at the Litten lapped up its rewards for saving someone from heat stroke. “I-It’s not…go ahead i-if you want.” He said as he hovered a hand over the cat. It didn’t seem to move away or even aggressive and so he stroked it from the head down to its back a couple of times before letting it get back to drinking. [break][break]

He shook his head once more, finding that easier than replying. There’s a long silence, and Mikey settled in the shadows of the tree they were resting under. “A-Are you….um….a-are you s-sure you’re feeling o-ok?” he asked after a moment, looking up at the other for a moment before averting his eyes. Wren’s face didn’t seem as flushed but he was worried she might faint if he just let her head back out into the heat like this. He dind’t want to after all the effort Litten had put into saving them. “I…I can g-get you some w-water for the road too?” he offered. He shouldn’t, but if worse came to worse Mikey could always steal a couple of bottles for them. He reached into his pocket and pulled out some crumpled bills and spare change, counting quietly to make sure he had enough.


[break][break]

+ wren rourke [break][break]

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Garbage Baby delighted in being spoiled, and he was happy Elliot held him at all. Most people avoided him for the coat of slick wetness he constantly carried from being covered in dumpster juice. Or how thick with grease and dirt his pelt was. Lana often wrinkled his nose but politely said nothing, merely attempted to wash him in water fountains at night. But he suspected it made the smell worse. Still, he is generous with his love and his fat tail wagged happily at the attention that came from someone other than his trainer. “I-…I guess….I’d just…f-feel bad if I took a-all their cash…” He didn’t think of it in terms of profit. Just as a way to buy himself more time, more leeway form those around him. [break][break]

While Elliott had been angry before, and was still quite rough around the edges, at least he was nice to Garbage Baby. Lana could take most of the weird eye contact and judging whispers. But Garbage Baby? The Linoone could be sensitive when he wasn’t dense. He picked up on things just like any other kid. It’s a nice change of pace, and he’s sure Garbage Baby is over the moon. Red eyes move up to the blonde’s face as he memorized a name easily. He dind’t many friends, much less know many people. It’s easy to remember. He’s nicer than anticipated. Something in him, though, is waiting for the other shoe to drop. “Elliott.” He echoed without trouble for once. [break][break]

Lana tried to hide how excited he was, but he’d always been a bit of an open book. Garbage Baby isn’t excited to get set down, but he’s happy nonetheless, and remained by Elliott’s feet leaning on him and panting happily. Lana stood a bit back, eyes wide and glittering practically as he waited for his order. “Y-You’re not h-hungry?” he asked, pawing at his backpack straps and averting his eyes from the blonde. He tried very obviously to hide behind the greasy mop of hair that was clearly an overgrown home haircut. The edges while long where jagged and cut at different angles. There’s a tense silence before he spoke up once more, ears flushing a little as he asked. “A-Are you s-s-sitting with m-me?”


[break][break]

+ @elliott [break][break]

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