06-11-2014, 05:08 PM
Rune gasped when the old guy grabbed a bright blue hedgehog. She quickly put her own lime green one back in its tank with its buddies and swapped him out for a bright purple one. The screen on the tank said the quills were colored 'Electric violet,' I like the sound of that.
The hedgehog squirmed, but Rune loved how soft its fuzzy underbelly was. All prickly from up top and sweet and cuddly underneath. It was just like having a pet Uncle Seth. Only this pet isn't butt ugly.
Violet also happened to be her mom's name, and the type of flowers Thalia was drawing for her Atharim tattoo. The hedgehog was a boy, but that was okay with Rune, she liked being around tough guys.
They touched noses, the hedgehog's purple snout to her schnoze. The cold butterfly kiss made her smile merrily. The hedgehog wiggled its legs. He approved also.
"I think I got mine,"
Rune said. She took him to the the little play area and let him sniff around while she watched and chatted. What friendly - and also important, nicely smelling - people she was with.
"Is ten years old grown up enough to have a pet?"
Rune drummed her hands on her hips right above the loop of a utility pocket. Despite the brightly colored hair and dramatic makeup, she was wearing rather simple and functional clothes. Her pants had lots of pockets, and weren't loose enough to grab at nor too tight that she couldn't conceal anything. She was wearing a cotton tank top under a similarly functional zip-up coat - the hood of which was down at the moment, but had the look of deep cowl potential. She moved with strength born of hard, physical work rather than gym bulk. And as she ran her palm across little Violet's quills, it was clear she wore no jewelery or bracelets.
"You could get her a hoglet. That way they'd grow up together,"
Rune answered without really answering the question. The reason was she had no idea if normal ten year olds could take care of a pet. She could have, but pets living in their car didn't make for good road-company long-term. Rune knew, she tried to sneak a puppy in the car one day. Uncle Seth made her give it away at the next truck stop. It was alright, though. She eventually understood why they couldn't have pets; it was for the same reason they couldn't have regular families. Families have to take care of each other, and they were gone all the time.
She met Drayson's eye and while earlier's enthusiasm might have waned a little, Rune smiled her affable smile, "And she gets to tell everyone she has a hoglet. And that's just a right plain awesome word."
The hedgehog squirmed, but Rune loved how soft its fuzzy underbelly was. All prickly from up top and sweet and cuddly underneath. It was just like having a pet Uncle Seth. Only this pet isn't butt ugly.
Violet also happened to be her mom's name, and the type of flowers Thalia was drawing for her Atharim tattoo. The hedgehog was a boy, but that was okay with Rune, she liked being around tough guys.
They touched noses, the hedgehog's purple snout to her schnoze. The cold butterfly kiss made her smile merrily. The hedgehog wiggled its legs. He approved also.
"I think I got mine,"
Rune said. She took him to the the little play area and let him sniff around while she watched and chatted. What friendly - and also important, nicely smelling - people she was with.
"Is ten years old grown up enough to have a pet?"
Rune drummed her hands on her hips right above the loop of a utility pocket. Despite the brightly colored hair and dramatic makeup, she was wearing rather simple and functional clothes. Her pants had lots of pockets, and weren't loose enough to grab at nor too tight that she couldn't conceal anything. She was wearing a cotton tank top under a similarly functional zip-up coat - the hood of which was down at the moment, but had the look of deep cowl potential. She moved with strength born of hard, physical work rather than gym bulk. And as she ran her palm across little Violet's quills, it was clear she wore no jewelery or bracelets.
"You could get her a hoglet. That way they'd grow up together,"
Rune answered without really answering the question. The reason was she had no idea if normal ten year olds could take care of a pet. She could have, but pets living in their car didn't make for good road-company long-term. Rune knew, she tried to sneak a puppy in the car one day. Uncle Seth made her give it away at the next truck stop. It was alright, though. She eventually understood why they couldn't have pets; it was for the same reason they couldn't have regular families. Families have to take care of each other, and they were gone all the time.
She met Drayson's eye and while earlier's enthusiasm might have waned a little, Rune smiled her affable smile, "And she gets to tell everyone she has a hoglet. And that's just a right plain awesome word."