{ota} you must not know 'bout me

[eucre]

She's hiding. She's been hiding for a few days now. Of course, she's only hiding from a few people. Chances are, if you're looking for her, she'll let herself be found.

But an angry Piper isn't a happy Piper and a not-happy Piper isn't quite fit for bouncing around the Deck and popping into castles like a happy Piper is. Which is why these past couple days, she's more often up in trees or hiding in bushes or generally not in people's faces.

Which is okay. Right? Piper can take a couple days to be a confused, raw, displeased Felicia, can't she?

Comments

[eucre]

"... But what if Piper just wants her big brother? And no one else?" She doesn't slip down from the tree, though she does turn to face him for the first time.

[cutslikeaspade]

"You're not losing him, love. He'll still be there for you." Ethan caught her eye and wiggled his fingers invitingly. "We all have to grow up, carina. Whether we want to or not."

[eucre]

"But... she only had two months." It hadn't been long since the day of twelves when she found out she had a brother. With a sigh, she slips out of the tree to the ground, taking his hand.

[cutslikeaspade]

"I know," he sighed, pulling her in close for a hug. "Happens that way sometimes. But we'll be all right, sí?"

[eucre]

"Maybe." And that's all she's willing to say at the moment.

[cutslikeaspade]

Ethan just kissed her temple gently and hugged her shoulders; it wasn't easy, God knew. And Chives was just as lost--there wasn't a simple answer for any of this.

"Hey," he told her then, "wanna come with me down to Town? Candyman's going puppy-shopping."

[eucre]

"--Puppy? For who? For Candyman?" Her eyes go wide. Puppies are a serious issue.

[cutslikeaspade]

"Yup," he grinned. "For Candyman."

He'd been thinking about it for a while; while he loved his house, it did seem a bit empty at times. And he'd never been home in the Deck long enough to justify having a pet of his own.

"C'mon, you can even ride with Candyman on his motorcycle."

[eucre]

"Can she? So exciting!" She's practically bouncing up and down now as she follows him obediently. This will be good for distracting herself.

[cutslikeaspade]

The ride to Town was short, but Ethan gave Piper his helmet and took the long way around, driving just fast enough for it to be fun for her. The pet adoption center wasn't far; they pulled up at the curb and Ethan turned the bike off and led the little Joker inside.

Puppies barked, kitties mewed and even a few birds chirped. The smiling attendant led them to the kennels where Ethan stood for a minute, looking over the little pups in their play-cages. Hm, decisions.

[eucre]

She'll immediately rush to the birds, enamored by their chirping. It'll take a few minutes for her to remember that they're there for the puppies and come slinking back to Ethan's side.

[cutslikeaspade]

He welcomed her with an arm around her shoulders, looking over the wiggling balls of fluff bouncing around in their crates and playpens. One caught his eye and he crouched down near the cage, wiggling his fingers through the metal bars only to have them enthusiastically licked and gnawed over.

Glancing back at Piper, Ethan grinned. "What about this one, cara? He's adorable, sí?"

[eucre]

"Such a cutie!" She says admiringly. "With such big eyes the doggy has."

[cutslikeaspade]

"Think he'll do for Candyman, carina?"

[eucre]

She nods excitedly. "This doggy will be perfect~!"

[cutslikeaspade]

"And...what shall we name him, then?" Because Ethan was woefully inept when it came to such things.

[eucre]

And he thinks Piper would be any better. "Doggy!" is her first choice. After a moment of thinking, she adds on, "Furry? Brownie?"

[cutslikeaspade]

Further inspection proved that the pup was actually a female, so Ethan sat back on his heels while she continued gnawing and licking his fingers, thinking it over.

"Well, we don't have to name her right now, I don't suppose." He rose and reached over to pick up the squirming furball, laughing as his nose was immediately assaulted by wet puppy tongue.

"Yeah, this one'll do. Wanna hold her, cara?"

[eucre]

"Can she?" She gives him a hesitant look. "Will Piper be okay, does he think?"

[cutslikeaspade]

"He does think," Ethan answered, leaning down to hand over the fuzzy bundle of wiggle. The puppy proceeded to lick and lap all over Piper's face; Ethan just chuckled as he went to the front to arrange for taking the animal home.

[eucre]

She'll be absolutely content to sit right there on the floor, giggling and playing with the overexcited puppy.