[semi-open] did u hear the joke about the dragon

[perfectstrike]

Who: perfectstrike & anyone who might have cause to try to call Peko to check up on her after the CERESTour!
When: just after the CERESTour into the next day (ic: 1/26-1/27)
Where: CERES Hospital
What: Peko got herself injured during the CERESTour and is patently confused as to why people keep visiting her.
Rating/Warning: Warning for blood and talk about injuries, but nothing gorey or gruesome.

---

[Immediately following the tour, Mosley had kindly ushered group three to the hospital for their sustained injuries. Peko, having gotten herself hit with the sharp end of a not-so-virtual dragon's claw, had needed to be rushed to get several nasty-looking gashes cleaned and stitched, along with some smaller burns treated. Swords aren't much good against things that can fly and breathe fire, after all.

Some time later, she can be found in the wing tended to by human and humanoid doctors (no androids here, please), seated quietly in one of the beds with her eyes closed as if she's asleep. The heart rate monitor is beeping quietly and steadily, and there's an IV hooked to her right arm to replenish some of the fluid she'd lost from bleeding everywhere earlier. All in all, though, she looks fine! If the ripped and bloody sailor suit in the corner and the fresh white bandages covering her left bicep and peeking out from above the cut of her hospital gown over her chest are any indication. At least the gown is cute, with happy little robots printed in a pattern along the fabric. To promote organic healing, of course!

Before the Cerevice goes down, though, she'll be answering calls with voice and just generally trying to rest and recover in the hospital. She's fine, though, really--!]

Comments

[perfectstrike]

[Peko has to crane her neck a little to see who's at the door, thanks to the veritable jungle of flowers Rock Lee brought for her and put around her room. It's actually really pleasant, the smells of the flowers cutting back the usual sterile smell of the hospital.]

Ah, Tanaka... please come in.

[And Kuzuryuu's even here, too. Though he may be hidden behind the flowers.

At least by now, she seems a little more accustomed to people visiting her?]

[impheired]

[Wow, scuze, he's not that small! He's totally visible in the lone chair next to Peko's bed. He turns his head as well when Gundam pokes his head in, raising a hand in a short wave. Hello friend who he totally was not on the phone with just ten minutes ago or so. What a coincidence seeing you (and your hams) here. Wow.]

[hamham]

[What a coincidence! He waves to Kuzuryuu before walking in, glancing around the room. It's a good thing he didn't waver and decide to get flowers in the end, goodness...]

How are you feeling, Pekoyama?

[Yeah Hinata and Kuzuryuu both said she's okay, but he wants to hear it himself. San-D does as well, peering out of the scarf. The others have not made an appearance yet, but she's got her little head sticking out as he comes to stand beside the bed.]

[perfectstrike]

[This is such a coincidence! Peko wasn't expecting it at all, honestly, and she is a little happy to see her friend show up. Not just because of his hams, but also because it's Gundam.

Mostly because of the hams, though.]

I'm fine.

[...is what she's been saying since the moment she was injured, really, so take that with a grain of salt. She does look much better than she had yesterday, though; the color has returned to her face, and more than anything, she seems ready to get out of bed.]

Thank you for asking.

[impheired]

[Saaaaaan-DDDDDDDDDDDDDDDD, precious girl hello.]

Here.

[Kuzuryuu gets up from the chair and moves to sit on the edge of Peko's bed instead. Because surely Gundam doesn't want to just stand there the whole time. And of the two of them, he takes up less space. So it makes more sense for him to sit on the bed. He gestures to the chair, indicating that Gundam take it.]

Sit.

[hamham]

[Hello!! She is here she was told she gets to visit with people today.

Before replying to Peko, he nods and moves to take the chair as told.]

Thank you. [Because he didn't want to stand the whole time.] And I am relieved to hear this.

[Once that's out, he moves to pull his little hamster friend from the scarf, keeping her in the palm of his hand for now.]

Are you feeling well enough to visit with one of the Devas? San-D heard of your stay in the hospital and has been worried as well.

[Also, he heard from a certain little Yakuza that it might make you feel better.]

[perfectstrike]

I-is that so?

[Oh no, there you are, San-D. Beep beep beep goes the heartrate monitor, and there's a visible change in Peko's bearing as she tenses slightly in excitement. Also Kuzuryuu is sitting next to her, that's nice too. But more importantly, there's her favorite small fluffy thing right within reach.]

I mean... i-if you think it alright. [And she's suddenly a bit nervous, as well, because while she knows that Kuzuryuu is already aware of just how terrifying she is to animals, Peko also kind of wants to make him proud by managing to pet her... or something.]

[impheired]

[Oh my god, Peko, you need to calm down. Jesus. Kuzuryuu's just eyeing that heart rate monitor warily, clearly more than a little concerned but unsure of what to do to make her relax.]

Peko...you're tense as fuck.

[That was probably not it, but he tried.]

[hamham]

[He's not the only one who's eying that monitor, Gundam immediately glancing its way when it goes off like that.

Peko you're not...going to suffer a heart attack or something just because of the hamster are you? He really would like to avoid being the reason you die again. He's done with the murdering thing.]

Of course. She would not mind.

[Here, he'll hold out his hands - flat as can be to help avoid too much hand contact - so that Peko can pet her if she wants.]

[perfectstrike]

[Peko just lets out a small, unhappy noise at Kuzuryuu's observation. She knows! She's trying to relax, really, but it's hard when there's a fluffy thing right here. But being tense definitely isn't doing her stitches any favors, and with a pained grimace, she has to stop and take a deep breath, trying to force herself to calm down. This is fine, she's gotten to touch San-D before. This is totally fine.

Soft soft soft soft soft. Her hand is shaking a little as she reaches out, expression unconsciously starting to morph into that weird smile of hers as she puts all her focus into remaining as relaxed as possible. It's really kind of pathetic.

Peko's clearly having an off day even by her standards. No one would blame San-D for seeking shelter.]

[impheired]

[Dear lord, Peko...has it really been that long since the last time Kuzuryuu saw you attempt to pet a fuzzy thing? And have you somehow managed to get even worse about it?]

[He wants to help but he's really not sure there's anything he can do about this. He glances over to Gundam, because surely the breeder is more useful in this sort of situation. Maybe he can keep San-D calm or something? He's admittedly kind of curious about the "help" Gundam mentioned earlier. Right now, he's not convinced it's done any good...]

[hamham]

[Well the first thing he's going to notice is that Gundam has gone a tiny bit tense himself. That smile is so unsettling.

So damn unsettling.

But no, everything's fine. San-D doesn't immediately bolt or anything and Gundam makes a few kissy noises to get her attention. Not looking at that unsettling smile will do wonders to keep the hamster calm all on its own and so having her turn around to look at him is just what they need. Yes, that's a good girl. Let him pet your chin with his thumb while you sit there and let Peko get your back.

When she is able to touch you. Come on Peko, you can do it.]

[perfectstrike]

[Give her a break, she's had some very trying few days.

Having San-D turn around is definitely the right move, though. Now that she's not being looked at, it's a little easier for Peko to focus, her expression instead sobering into something deathly serious as she reaches with one careful finger.

Boop.

Hopefully the touch doesn't startle San-D too badly, because as soon as she's booped the hambutt, she's trying to gently touch her fur with the rest of her fingers. Soft...]

[hamham]

[Nope, there isn't any startling! She is simply enjoying the love she is getting from her hamdad. What good chin scritches these are! And, pretty soon, fur touching. Man she is in heaven right now. All of this attention. It's basically the best.

The only thing that could make it better would be sunflower seeds but hamdad is saving those for later.

Gundam is just watching with an approving smile. Yes, good. That scary smile is gone and, while she looks far too serious for something like petting a hamster, this is an improvement!]

[impheired]

[Peko did you just boop the hamster's butt? Really? Incredible.]

[Kuzuryuu just watches the two of them, crossing his legs and folding his arms with the smallest of smiles on his face. Look at you go, Peko. Touching something fuzzy without making it freak out. You did it.]

[But more importantly than that...Peko with friends?? He's just going to take a moment to appreciate that aspect of this exchange. Because it always warms his heart to see that.]

[perfectstrike]

[Look bocchan, maybe someday you can boop the hambutt just let Peko, and understand.

Peko can't quite help but let out a quiet noise of excitement though her teeth, a weird little grunt almost like the kind you'd expect a fighter to make right before lunging to attack... though instead of attacking, she just lets her fingers go up a little bit higher until she's running her fingers along all of San-D's back in careful, gentle pets.

She is in heaven. If only she could be distracted from the small fluff for just a second, seeing Kuzuryuu smiling would dial her mood right up to eleven.]

[hamham]

[Booping a hambutt is one of life's greatest joys.

You're doing so well Peko. San-D is just slowly kind of flattening out in his hands a little, so relaxed and enjoying the pets so much.]

Be mindful of her ears and head.

[He's quiet when he tells her this, just giving her a little warning. Much better to just pet her back.]

[impheired]

[Oh no it's a hampancake. Cute. This whole scene is cute, shit. SHIT. Kuzuryuu almost feels like he has to look away to preserve his dignity.]

[He doesn't do this though.]

[Even if you're both embarrassing as fuck.]

[perfectstrike]

Understood.

[Peko takes Gundam's command incredibly seriously, shifting her pets back to make sure she isn't anywhere near San-D's head. Hampancake... she is truly blessed this day, letting out another one of those weird Peko sounds as her hand starts to shake a little. This is so intense...

It's hard to see, but ever so slightly, the corners of her lips are starting to curve into a genuine, non-terrifying smile.]

[hamham]

[She is the cutest hampancake, isn't she? The kind that everyone wants to pet and love! Nobody could resist her, a fact that the hamster is very well aware of. Not because Gundam coos to her all the time about this, oh no. Purely because of her clairvoyance. That's all it is.

Just think, Peko. After some practice, you'll be able to pet her while she's facing you. Especially with such a charming smile like that. Even if it is just the start of one, that is already a much better smile than your previous ones...

She's not the only hamster that wants attention though. At some point, Maga-Z poked his head out to watch the entire thing and he's feeling pretty neglected. That's okay though, it's just a matter of making his way down the breeder's scarf and jumping from there to the bed. An easy task one of the Devas.

Scampering up the sheet is another matter though, this takes a little work...]

[impheired]

[Maga-Z, do you need some help with that? Here...Kuzuryuu will give you a hand. Before you fall off and hurt yourself on the cold tile or something. He's pretty sure Gundam wouldn't like that.]

[There we go. Now you're on the bed, be free little ham. Go do...whatever it was you were planning to do here.

[perfectstrike]

[twO HAM SHE IS BLESSED THIS DAY. More weird Peko noises as she starts to reach with her other hand for the other hamster -- and immediately hisses in pain because ow, no, that other hand is not going very far, alright, mistake.

She has two ham and one hand, this is not fair. How could this happen to her, Peko Pekoyama?! This is so distressing.]

[hamham]

[Well...unfortunately, Peko, Maga-Z hasn't gotten to know you very well yet. And while he's not as much of a scaredy cat as, say, Cham-P, he's not the bravest of the hams either. And he remembers how intense you are. So this little ham scurries off, hiding quickly somewhere behind Kuzuryuu.

You need Jum-P, the second bravest ham (when it comes to Peko Pekoyama), but he's still napping. Maybe the fat dragon peeking his head out will be enough to start rousing the sleeping Deva though. Give it a little time.]

[impheired]

Hm?

[Wow, look at this scaredy-ham. What a weenie. Kuzuryuu scoops Maga-Z up from where the hamster was hiding behind his leg, letting the hamster sit in the palm of his hand. He starts stroking the hamster's back, similar to what Peko is doing to San-D, only with Maga-Z facing him head on. Since...for whatever reason the hamsters like him and don't think he's scary.]

[Will this calm you down, you little ween?]

[perfectstrike]

[Okay, good, at least one hamster is running scared. Peko would be seriously concerned if all of them were able to approach her... maybe it would have had something to do with the hospital itself? But getting to see Kuzuryuu with the Deva...

It's so cute. The pictures from that strange festival could not come close to seeing it in person. She knew animals would like him.]

H-how is this...? [she asks Gundam as she keeps carefully petting San-D. Is her expression good? Is her touch too rough?? Give her advice, ham-master.]