genessia | [Video - And an action prelude]

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When she felt Ishida's reiatsu suddenly disappear from the city, Orihime nearly dropped the tray she was holding. Her face went pale, her hands shook, and it took every last ounce of willpower she had to keep smiling to her customer before excusing herself for a quick break.

Then she went upstairs to her flat and wept.

When she'd finished, she dried her eyes, washed her face, and drank two glasses of water before returning to the bakery to finish her work. She sent a quick note to David Haller saying she was going to patrol in Everglade for the night, just because she knew that place needed extra attention. Inside, she felt guilty and alone, knowing it was silly since she'd made so many friends since she'd arrived in this city, but to lose both Ichigo and Uryuu, knowing how she felt, knowing how Ishida felt... It was a hard blow to her morale. At the very least, she could be helpful in the gloomy city choked with supernatural forces.

As she walked the streets, a pair of luminous yellow eyes watched her from the window of the old mansion...and moved to follow her.

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[Orihime's image appears on screen, in her cozy little apartment above the bakery. An enormous shaggy wolf sits placidly beside her, regarding her recording in calm silence.]

I got adopted by a dog!

[That can't possibly be a dog. It's bigger than she is. In fact, those particularly keen at spotting such things might see very clearly that it's a freaking werewolf. And yet there they are, sitting side by side as cozy as two peas in a really weird pod.]

To be honest, I don't really know much about how to take care of a dog, so I wanted to ask you guys for tips. Oh, I'm also working as a deputy guardian in Genessia City! That way Haller-san can finish up his projects. I'll run for the job next time, and this way I'll have lots more experience. Feel free to mention any advice for that too, I'll work very hard to help everyone out.

I'm also happy to announce that we opened a brand new branch of Cake Town in Attleton: Cake Suburbia! There's a little stage there, so if people want to play their instruments or sing, let me know. We're happy to let you use the space, or we can hire you for a set amount of time. Either way, you're likely to pick up a lot of tips as a bonus!

[She takes a breath and exhales with a smile.]

That's it! I appreciate your help!

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[Normally, Rip didn't care for things like this.. but, that dog definitely caught her attention. That was definitely not a dog and Rip knew it. ]

Singing in a little bakery zounds like it might be a fun vay to earn a little money on zhe side. I may haf to check zhis out sometime soon.

[...]

Zo, vhere did you find your new companion? He iz razher big for a dog. I'd almost say he vas a volf.. or some sort of volfhound.

I thought he might be a wolf too, but he's really tame! He doesn't jump, or pee on other people's stuff, or bark... He's just a good boy!

[The wolf huffs and closes its eyes.]

I found him in Everglade, he was just walking behind me the whole time.

[She reaches up to pet his shoulder. He seems fine with this.]

Anyway, we'd love to have you there. Just let me know what times you'd like, and I'll put you on the schedule!

[He was from the Everglade and more 'tame' than he should be. Even Rip could see the intelligence there. And so soon after she was asking about vampire/werewolf relations too...]

How interesting. It makes me vonder vhy he chose you zhen. Perhaps I should see zhis dog for myzelf someday.

[Pleasant smiles all around? Definitely.]

Are zhere any times in zhe evening or late after noon? I haf a night job normally zo I sleep during zhe day a lot.

I'm not really sure. Maybe he just likes the smells of the bakery. I did just get off of work before I went to Everglade!

[She honestly has no clue, and the werewolf ain't talking. In fact, he's just looking at Rip, unblinking.]

Sure! We close around nine in the evening, and open at six in the morning. There should be a good time slot we can work for you. And if I expand to Everglade, maybe we'll have a bakery with more nocturnal hours! I don't think there are many bakeries there, so I guess it would be a good business move.

[And Rip's staring right back, though raising an eyebrow slightly. Just what was he up to? She was more curious than anything considering she actually liked werewolves...]

I'm sure I can vake up early enough to make a few performances before you close for zhe night. Zhough, it could be interesting opening a branch in Everglade, zhough I vould imagine your menu might haf to change a little to accommodate most of uz vith specialized diets.

Oh no, I wouldn't want to compete with Grell-san's market! I'm not even sure how adding those kinds of ingredients would impact bread and cake...

[And honestly her stomach does a little flip at the very thought of making food with blood and body parts. She just can't.]

But I can make really cute food that's Halloween-themed. It might improve relations between humans and the peaceful non-humans if they don't seem quite as scary, ne?

I vouldn't say it vould be competing, more like expanding it.

[At least in her point of view. Then again, she wasn't soo sure how blood did when baked or used in sweets....]

Possibly. Ve do need a better image zhan van humans view us az.

[Dray is looking more than a bit horrified because who gave a dog the right to be so huge.]

Are you sure that's a dog? It looks like a monster of sorts.

Pretty sure! You're a dog, ne?

Boof.

[It's a deep bass of a 'woof' response, but it's quiet and controlled. Who knows what he said, if anything, but Orihime seems tickled.]

Yes, he's a dog!

[The dog stares hugely at Dray.]

[Maybe if Orihime were British or Scottish, there'd be blood pudding for everyone.]

Yeah... It's a tough line to walk, because there are definitely the kind that aren't peaceful and should be avoided. But there are a lot who make compromises and try to live peacefully. I really don't envy anyone in a position of authority in Everglade, their politics are the toughest to regulate!

[ That sounds makes all of Dray's fur stand on end for a few seconds and his ears are flat to his head.]

Thee are many creatures who can bark and aren't dogs, Orihime.

[ Dray is happy to glare back at the 'dog' in a staring contest. ]

Where did you find him?

Everglade!

[Does that lay his fears to rest? ~~Probably not.~~]

I should figure out a name for him.

Ah...that explains a lot. Did you find him when there was a full moon?

[ More like the opposite. ]

Ask him, he might have one already.

I'm not really sure. It was overcast and a little rainy at the time.

[She washed up and changed her clothes before making this video. The werewolf is dry too. Either it's been a while, or Orihime took care of it.]

Hmmm... Inu-chan, what should I call you?

[He just swivels his massive head to regard her quietly.]

...I guess it was worth a try!

[That would be nice...]

Hm.. but, zhose of us attempting to live peacefully shouldn't haf to be lumped in vith zhose that are not.

[Says the woman who usually fell into the 'non peaceful' category until recently. Rip had a history of violence before ending up here...]

But, az hard of a line az it is to valk, it iz vorth it in zhe end. Especially vhen you can provide a place for monsters to haf...a haven.

Many places to not give uz even zhe benefit of a safe place to sleep. Zhis is zhe first vorld I haf encountered zhat does.

I agree, you shouldn't! The situation is just bad for everyone involved. I don't mind giving people the benefit of the doubt because I can defend myself. The ones that can't might die if they choose wrong.

[She's met the good and the bad there herself.]

But I'm glad that the majority is willing to trust you! Everyone deserves to have at least one place where they can feel safe and be themselves. You didn't have that back in your own world?

I don't know how to tell you subtly, so I won't.

Orihime, that's a werewolf.

[Unlike the others, Smoker... Completely believes that it's a normal dog. He comes from a weird world and he nicknamed his daughter's dog "Bear" to freak people out over the size.]

Dogs are allergic to chocolate, shouldn't eat onions, garlic or too much salt either. Even though they'll totally get into it, so make sure you lock it up or keep it outta their reach. They're happier in pairs, and have a wolf pack hierarchy so make sure you be leader, or otherwise even passive dogs will try to step up and it can actually make them miserable. They're very content to follow competent leaders. You don't have to be mean, just firm.

Oh, and they have to get out on a good walk or jog daily. Technically humans should too, but where you go to work, dogs can go stir crazy from boredom, so walks give them things to check out.

And you should get balls. I haven't met one yet that doesn't like chasing down a ball or a good game of tug-of-war.

Good job, Boss! He seems like a nice dog, yes? I had one sort of like him back home, and the key is discipline. If he poops on someone else's pillow, you can let it slide sometimes, but if he does it to yours you must stop him immediately.

[ Yep, that's her super helpful tip. ]

Did you name him yet?

Ha ha! I don't think he wants to do that to any pillows. He's pretty good at letting me know when he wants to go out.

[Said dog is just eyeing the feed silently, tail not even twitching.]

Not yet. I was going to name him after a local comedian, but he didn't seem to like it.

[This is really useful! She leans to the side to snatch up a pad of paper and a pencil, scribbling furiously. No chocolate, onions, garlic, salt...]

Ah ha ha, I don't know if two would fit in my apartment, but maybe I could get a small dog to keep him company--

[The big dog utters a low rumble, turning its head to look directly at Orihime.]

...No dog?

Boof.

[He licks his chops and settles down onto his stomach, paws stretched out in front of him. Huh... That's weird, but kind of smart! It did come from Everglade, after all.]

Walks would probably be good for me too. If I get assigned any patrols, he can be my back-up partner! This will work out great! Thank you very much!

[Orihime looks at the dog in its sphinx-like position.]

Is it okay if I pick up some dog toys tomorrow morning?

[That sounds an awful lot like a sigh as he puts his head down on his paws.]

Did you have a dog back home?

[Head tilt.] Yours seems a bit smarter than I'm used to. [Hahahaha... He knows actual dog and wolf people, and he just insulted all of them :|] That, or you guys have quite the rapport already.

Yeah, I had one when I was young. He used to help me chase pirates. Chaser.

And I've got two here. [Turns the camera to a samoyed and Tibetan mastiff playing around in the motorcycle garage.] Sami and Ash. But I call Ash, Bear.

That's ridiculous, Dray-san!

[But she appreciates his sense of humor, which is why she's beaming from ear to ear. The wolf is scratching his ear with his back leg, then yawns.]

Wow, they're so big and fluffy and cute!

[She tips to the side, even though that doesn't help her see the dogs any better on a screen.]

You chased pirates? Really?

[Orihime's interest perks right up.]

What was that like?

[He must have some amazing stories to tell, and she's all ears.]

Heh. Well, Bear's supposed to be intimidating, but I've probably been lax on his training. [No he hasn't. Bear could handle half of Smoker's own marines.]

Pirates? Hmm. Exciting. My whole world is covered in 'em. [ORIHIME IF YOU WANT PIRATE STORIES THAT IS THE ONE THING OTHER THAN "JUSTICE" SMOKER WILL NEVER SHUT UP ABOUT. Mostly because for him it coincides precisely with Justice.]

[But he sets the camera just to focus on the dogs for her (since she seemed to like that) and goes back to work on bikes, while he talks.]

They say we've entered a new era now. One of the supernovas. That's 7 rookie pirate crews shaking up the world. Normally the New World, the second half of the Grand Line is known as the "Pirates Graveyard." And the first half is known as Paradise, even though 99% of the pirates that enter it die in the first year. For seven crews to all enter roughly the same time and last as long as they have? Is nothing short of a miracle.

They're all seeking One Piece, the greatest treasure ever known to mankind. Gold Roger's legacy. He was the only pirate to ever reach the end of the Grand Line and come back out of it alive. He was born and executed in my hometown. Loguetown, the town of the beginning, and the end. Last stop in my ocean before the Grand Line.

The oceans of my world are split into quarters. East Blue, West Blue, South Blue, North Blue. They say East Blue was the most dangerous when Roger was young, but it was the quietest in my days there. Still, Loguetown's not a nice place. Any pissant pirate who thought they could make a name for themselves would stop by to spit on Roger's execution stand. They all thought they could outdo him somehow. Of course, no one ever has.

I never let a pirate escape me as Captain of that base. But one day along came a boy in a Straw Hat...

[This is the best way to spend a rainy night. Orihime is only too happy to look at the dogs some more. That was really kind of him. She scoots back to lean against her dog's side. He lifts his head to look at her, then shifts a little as if to make her more comfortable as he curls slightly toward her. With the communicator propped up on her lap against her knees, trying to picture everything the way he describes it.]

[He's a good storyteller, and she's a good listener. Who doesn't like a good pirate story? It sounds like a dangerous world to live in, and Smoker has weathered it with strength and confidence.]

A boy pirate?

[Her head tips slightly to one side, intrigued. Either this boy was really skilled as a pirate, or Smoker just had a soft spot for young people.]

Was he special?

[Oh, it's both. Smoker is a total softie for kids. And girls. And thugs. He's secretly a softie.]

The most special.

In my world are what we call "Devil Fruits." Ingesting one gives you a bizarre power, my own being smoke. [And makes a little smoke dog for her on screen to demonstrate!] Each devil fruit only has one of its kind in all of existence, except when the user dies they get respawned. Usually the most favored are logia, like mine. Fire, Ice, Magma, Sand, Light, these too are all logia and considered the most powerful. There are devil fruits that can cause meteor strikes, black holes, or help people turn into phoenixes or wolves. And some are considered mostly useless or boring.

For instance, this boy, his devil fruit was rubber. Well no one would think of that as terribly practical. Usually.

He ticked off another pair of pirates in the East Blue: Buggy the Clown, and Iron Mace Alvida. They cornered him right on the execution stand, the very place Gold Roger was killed to show all the world that the World Government would not tolerate lawlessness and piracy.

And you know what that boy did?

Right... [ No one can say he didn't try. The mutt doesn't look like he wants to eat Orihime, at least. ]

Are you sure it's safe to keep him?

[That is just a whirlwind of info, from her announcing the thing about the dog, to her becoming his deputy to her adding a new business.]

Are you always such a busy girl?

He seems like a straight man type, yes? Maybe he did not agree with the comedy style you picked. Something like Uchan might be better.

[ Just look at him, he's definitely the straight man. Or maybe a killer. They look the same in Kagura's mind for some reason. ]

Life's too short to be boring!

[There are other reasons, naturally, but even if she weren't feeling bad she wouldn't be idling around waiting for something exciting to happen.]

[Now she was curious as to how the girl defended herself. Maybe she should ask at some point...]

Not in the slightest. Ve vere hunted down by zhe church or similar organizations until zhere vere only two left...und zhey vere the ones allowed to live.

[Is she bitter about that? A little bit considering she wasn't one of those two.]

So to me zhis place is heaven.

He pulled out a machine gun!

[She says it so cheerfully, it's hard to tell if it's a legitimate guess or if she's just kidding. (It's the latter, she thinks she's funny.) Honestly, she's curious to know what eating a rubber fruit would do as far as granting someone unique powers goes. Does he turn things to rubber when he holds them in his hands? Turn himself into a ball? So many possibilities!]

Well, I kind of wish there were a way he could go outside without moving through the kitchen. I don't think the health inspectors will be okay with that.

[The point. She missed it. (Also there are no health inspectors, she's fine.)]

[Until there were two left...they were the ones allowed to live... It takes Orihime a moment for those words to sink in. Once the full meaning is realized, she sits back slightly. This woman means this place is heaven in a very literal sense, doesn't she?]

...I'm sorry. That sounds like a horrible experience.

[No wonder she wants to protect Everglade and keep something like that from happening again.]

[ Dray sights, no bothering to hide it this time. ]

Nevermind.

I could help you remodel the place and add a door in the back for him to get in and out without crossing the kitchen.

...You can do that? I didn't know you were a master carpenter too!

[She's VERY interested, since a back door would definitely be nice in case she turns the break room into a flat for someone else to live in.]

How can I help? How much will it cost?

I built my own house, Orihime. And I have a design studio now, I know my way around these things, promise!

I need to see see building first, check what are the load-bearing walls, the space available..that sort of things. But It won't be too costly.

[ She's his friend so he will lesser the price for her. ]

Boring can be good sometimes, though. Trust me. Taking the time where you can to slow down and smell the roses can benefit someone far more greatly than they could ever expect.

Don't worry, I'm not overworking myself. Honestly, working in the bakery is really fun. I love doing it! So it's a great way to relax as well as earn money.

It seems like it can get pretty involved. Don't you have to make things like intricate wedding cakes and things for parties, graduations, ect?

Uh... what?

No. He... in the stockades... his hands couldn't move.

[HE GOT DISTRACTED FROM HIS OWN STORY.]

Edited 2018-07-19 16:29 (UTC)

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ooc: woops, I guess my reply didn't send!!