nipzips | IC INBOX (PRISMATICA)

Tsundere ... [ He doesn't read manga so it does take a few seconds for him to remember what that means. ]

Oh yeah. People who are nice but don't act that way, huh? I don't get those people. If you actually are a nice person, why not just act like it?

[ But maybe he's far too straightforward and honest about his feelings to really understand such people. Josuke gives another glance at the cat, who hisses at him immediately. He then purses his lips in a small sulky expression and backs off a little, letting Reimi take the lead in this. ]

[C'mon Josuke get with the PROGRAM]

They might be afraid of having their feelings hurt, you know. A sensitive sort of person might put up a cold front to keep people at arm's length in the beginning, but then let them get closer over time.

[She steals a glance at the cat out of the corner of her eye, gauging how far away it is, and tries to hold still as best she can.]

Like the cat. He might be a perfectly nice cat, but right now he's got no reason to trust us, and we're a lot bigger than he is. It's hard to blame him for being suspicious. He doesn't know we're trying to help him.

[ It was hard for him to understand those people, but her explanation makes sense. Josuke can't say he relates that much though, because he's self-assured enough to brush hurt feelings off easily.

He turns to the cat now, and it hisses at him again. ] Guess you're right. I must be as big as Mt. Fuji from that little guy's perspective.

[ He knows he's tall and broad. ] How do we get them outta that box then?

Well, they have a little food left, so they're probably not hungry right now, or I'd say we could try to lure them out that way. Right now I'm just hoping they'll get curious and start trying to see what we're doing here.

[While Josuke's cat continues to be wary of him, the orange cat pokes its head out of the box, intrigued by the commotion, and after a minute or so, starts to inch out to try to investigate what might be going on.]

Shhh. Don't startle him...

R-Right. Uh, I'll try not to move. [ Since he assumes he's going to mess things up if he does. He's never been good with animals and doesn't really know much about how to deal with them. Stray Cat doesn't seem to like him that much back home, and the only reason Police likes him is because he's too old to have enough energy to be hostile at anyone. ]

What should we do? [ Pick the kitty up once it's comfortable enough? ]

Mm. We'll probably need to find something to carry them in. I guess we can take them to my apartment? Arnold will be okay with it, I think. At least for a little while.

[Painstakingly slowly, the orange cat creeps closer and closer, until eventually it's close enough to lightly sniff at the air close to Reimi and Josuke.]

A backpack probably wouldn't be good for something like that...

Crazy Diamond could probably carry the whole box with them inside, but I don't know how much they'd like that.

[ Not at all, Josuke. They would not like that at all. Crazy Diamond would just get scratched, and that means Josuke would too. Hmm. What to do about this? Josuke looks around, before he spots something in the alleyway and makes his way toward it. There's the sound of one of Crazy Diamond's 'DORAs'!

When he returns, he'll be pushing what looks like an empty baby carriage. Clearly one that was thrown away. ] What d'ya think? It was all busted up, so someone threw it away, but one touch from Crazy Diamond and it's as good as new! [ A beat, then to himself: ] Though, it's kinda gross to be touching trash.

[ He thumbs at his handiwork, giving a little wink and looking very proud of himself. Please praise him!!! He wants to be told he did a good job :( ]

[Well, if it's praise he's hoping for, it's praise he's certainly going to get, because there's familiarity with Stands and then there's actually watching one in action, and this instant of the latter has Reimi admiring it with eyes wide.]

Oh, wow! Josuke, that's perfect! We can just push them home, that'll work out great!

[Meanwhile, she holds out the back of her hand to the curious orange cat, who sniffs her a bit before nudging softly at it, letting her stroke its head with the tip of just one finger.]

This little guy is warming up to us. Hopefully the other two will, too, and then I'll try to get them into the carriage.

[ Thanks for appreciating him, Reimi. Teenagers love positive reinforcement. He does think it'll be a little awkward to be pushing a baby carriage with her. Like, shit, people are going to think his delinquent-looking ass knocked up a girl and made a baby with her! However, he chooses not to voice that out for Reimi's sake. ]

Yeah! I'm sure it'll be a piece of cake! [ He's in a good mood right now from feeling like he did a good job. ] Oh, we still gotta figure out what to do with them afterwards though. I mean, unless you really are fine with keeping three cats and Arnold.

I mean...I guess I'll have to find somebody to adopt them, right? Or maybe there's a shelter or something around here...

[She rubs the orange cat a little more, gradually getting him to warm up to her through patience and petting, until eventually the right moment comes and she scoops him up, briskly depositing him in the carriage before he can quite get his bearings and realize he's been moved.

Ultimate babysitter tactics, go.]

Okay! That's one, just two more to go!

[And in the interest of expediency, she'll just be going about luring the other two out in the same fashion, one by one.]

[ Josuke will just let her work her magic because she seems like she knows what she's doing, and he is a dumb boy who has never owned a pet. ]

Shelter would probably be a good idea, yeah. [ Or, he just had a random thought. ] Before I came here, one of the girls at school told me about a 'cat cafe' opening up in Morioh. Apparently, it's a place where you hang out, drink coffee and play with cats.

[ YES THIS IS ME JUST THROWING THE IDEA OUT THERE ]

Kinda cool, huh? Wonder if there's anything like that here. We could ask if they wanna take in a few more cats ...

Huh. So not a cafe for cats, but one with cats...

[She hums, carefully transferring her meowing cargo into the carriage and patting them to soothe them down and settle once they're in.]

Someone I know said something about specialty cafes, too. That they're really popular. So maybe a city this big does have one! We can definitely check and find out...

Yeah. Just think it'd be nice if they always had people to play with. Not trying to dunk on shelters or anything, but it'd suck if these guys ended up in a cage.

[ There are definitely shelters that don't cage their animals, but he's seen that some do. Life in a cat cafe sounds like a better one? Of course, Josuke is no expert. It's a nice idea, at least. With the first kitten now in the carriage, he stands up and goes near it, reaching out to pet. This one is the friendlier one of the bunch, at least. It's still scared of him, but it doesn't swipe at him. ]

Yeah...I bet they wouldn't like that very much at all, you're right.

[Little by little, they're making progress with the cats, and that's a relief. With enough patience, everything works out!!]

And I bet the people who came to the cafe would really enjoy it, too, right? Just having the fun of playing with cats but without having to take permanent responsibility for them. I bet a lot of people would like that...

Oh, it sounds like a win-win all around, huh? Hope we can find a place like that. [ For the cats and the people? If it's managed well. He actually really likes this idea and hopes they find a home like that for these cats! Speaking of the cats, it looks like one of them is finally curious enough to venture out of the box and sniff at his finger. Josuke follows her example and waits for the cat to come to him, giving its little head a pat when it does. ]

If we don't, maybe you can start one, haha. [ It's a throwaway comment. He does think she would do it well! Then again, he thinks she could probably do anything well. ]

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