milliways_bar | (no subject)

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Steph's worried about Zuko - very worried. Surely he should be back now - it's been days!

How long is it gonna take, anyway?

She's eyeing the rafters longingly. When emo, head upwards; that's the rule she's almost always lived by. But when you have not-quite-entirely-dog puppies to look after, rafters are a bad idea. She can just see Zuko coming back in just in time to see Gheri and Gifr go splat.

... It wouldn't be pretty.

So: there is a Steph, over by the fire, in an armchair. She'd be curled up tight and emo, but the puppies have just fed and want to sleep, and it's hard to curl up when monster-puppies want to use you as a pillow. It's hard to stay emo, too. Puppies: the solution to all emo. Steph's thinking she should market it.

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"He'll ... I should ..." Steph stops, and tries again. "I should tell you not to put yourself out for him or something, but I'm really not gonna."

She gives him a slightly forced smile.

"He ... Did you say he was back? He's here?" She looks ready to start out of her chair.

"Don't bother. I outrank you anyway." Wells shrugs. "And yeah, he's back; he's livin' outdoors 'cos of the whole 'can't change back' thing. He can't talk, either, I might mention. Unless you speak Wolf."

He's not going to mention the inability to think like a human just yet. Or ever, if he can avoid it. Until Stephanie learns to speak wolf, she really doesn't need to know.

She thinks that over for a moment. "Would it do him any good if I went out and - I don't know, just hung around?"

Please let there be something she can do.

"Might be," Wells concedes. "It's worth a try. I dunno how close he'll be willing to get- it's damned hard not to listen to your instincts when you've changed, I can tell you that straight off." He thinks for a moment. "Bring meat. Raw, preferably bloody. Leave it where he can find it, and sit a ways off where you can watch it and be sure it's him coming for it. He'll be glad of it."

Steph nods, although the bit about raw, bloody meat gets a grimace. "I'll - What about the puppies? Should I leave them upstairs? He wouldn't - try to eat them, or anything?"

"I don't think he will," Wells says. "I never had that urge myself. Had to teach a couple of guard dogs not to have a go at things bigger and meaner than they were, but I don't think puppies'll be a threat."

Steph nods, again with the air of making mental notes. Having something to do is good. She can deal if she has things to do. "I'll hang on to them, then. They'll just wreck the suite otherwise."

"Get 'em out for exercise as often as you can," Wells advises. "Nothin' keeps a puppy from chewing up the scenery like having a chance to run around and play in the fresh air."

"I will. They can run around while I ... while I ... How long do you think? Is there anything I can do to help? Being stuck a wolf's gotta really suck."

Wells grimaces. "Honestly? I don't know. Wish I did. I'm hopin' the next full moon here'll do something to him, and that's on the eleventh-"

He pauses, holding up a finger. "I change the night before, night of, and night after. I'll be outside and furry the night of the tenth. Fair warning, 'cos I don't . . . it's not a wolf-shape, for me."

Steph nods. "I'll get a taser. From Dick, if Bar won't give me one. ... And maybe some gaiters or something. Looks like I'll be spending a lot of time outside." Her lips quirk in an almost-smile.

"Worst comes to worst, ask me," Wells advises. "I can get you one from England easy enough."

She nods. "Thanks. I will, if I have trouble."

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