Furnado Animal Shelter; Friday [03/13].

[in_sidon_we_trust]

Who had two thumbs, several fins, so many wonderful stories about the Philippines and all the wonderful marine life and incredibly fancy tanks he saw while on vacation that he was very thrilled to share with the fish at the shelter that Friday while he gave the tanks there a good cleaning?

THIS GUY!

Of course, he did have to handle and settle down all the dogs and cats and hamsters and birds and lizards and chickens that were very clearly happy to see him back again, too, before he could get to that, but it was rather uplifting to see that he had been missed!

Even if, at least as far as the cats were concerned, it was just because it was good to have reassurance that their emergency food supply was back.

Furnado is open!

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[in_sidon_we_trust]

And it was about time! At least one of the hamsters had gotten to them, too, little paws pressed up against the wall of his habitat, little nose lifted and sniffing the air in interest.

"I was hoping that you might think so!" Sidon beamed, as if the hamster's adorableness was something he had a personal hand in. "Though I could hardly imagine anyone might not! They could make for wonderful shop companions for...what did you say it was called again? Pixie Dust?"

[that_oldsaying]

"Yes, Pixie Dust!" she said, as she peered at the small cutie. "The clothing store? It used to be Demon Marcus but I changed the name!"

[in_sidon_we_trust]

The little cutie, whether suddenly struck with a sense of shyness or terror at suddenly being peered at, or maybe he was just showing off, turned and took a dive toward his bedding, digging into it to bury himself, turn around, and then peer right back from a much safer spot.

"Ah, yes," Sidon brightened (somehow) with recognition. "I've been there! Not very often, mind," you know, because of the whole no-clothes thing, "but I've purchased a few things for my spectacular girlfriend Vette from there on occasion! She's gone adventuring herself, although out in space, so I've unfortunately not had much reason to visit more recently."

[that_oldsaying]

Alluka stifled a squeal of delight at the antics of the little hamster.

"Oh, well, I suppose you could get clothes for your friends," she suggested, "or a present for when your girlfriend returns!" Then Alluka laughed. "Or an accessory for yourself, if you like that sort of thing?"

Because, yes, the clotheslessness had been noted but Alluka had met far, far too many people to blink at that. If he was comfortable, she was comfortable. Still, a nice chain or something across his torso might look good...

"But, but today I'm buying, not selling!" she continued, with another laugh. "Are hamsters hard to take care of? I've never had a pet before."

[in_sidon_we_trust]

"I believe so!" said Sidon, who really didn't know, but they were tiny and cute and seemed pretty easy while he was here at the shelter, so he had trouble imagining otherwise. "Although I am hardly an expert on hamsters! I don't even believe they exist in my world! But you can double-check with the vet if you like, she does most of the work here and is an excellent resource for things like that, which are very good questions to ask before considering a new friends such as this, how very good of you to think of it! I do think, though, as long as they are well fed, well watered, well loved, have clean bedding, and plenty of things to spark adventure, they should be quite content!"

After all, wasn't that all that most people needed in life?

[that_oldsaying]

"That sounds mostly like what I like," Alluka noted, giggling into her hands. "Except that I bet they're not allowed to eat cake and chocolate!"

[in_sidon_we_trust]

Sidon had to laugh a little at that. "Yes," he said, "I don't believe they like cake or chocolate, but I suppose that would just mean there remains more for yourself to thoroughly enjoy! We mostly feed them special hamster food, nuts, leafy greens, and they are particularly thrilled when they are given fruits! Perhaps fruits are their cakes and chocolate!"

[that_oldsaying]

"Some fruit is pretty good," Alluka admitted and she'd never, ever admit that to her big sister.

Mostly out of tradition at this point.

"Maybe you're right. I bet they don't taste the same when you're a hamster either. Do you know if I'd need more than one?"

[in_sidon_we_trust]

As someone who didn't care much for most conventional human food, Sidon would certainly agree with that perspective of it.

"Well," he said thoughtfully, "you wouldn't want your new friend to be too lonely when you aren't around, would you?"

[that_oldsaying]

"That's true," she admitted, shifting a little. Alluka didn't like being lonely. "And, and I don't live at the shop, so they'd be alone a bunch."

Please don't talk her into getting a ridiculous number of hamsters, Sidon.

[in_sidon_we_trust]

Who did you think he was? Prompto?

"So if you decide to get a hamster," Sidon offered reasonably, "then it would make sense to get at least one more, so that they each have a lovely companion and will be best of friends together in the shop! What a marvelous idea!"

[that_oldsaying]

"It is a pretty wonderful idea," she admitted, leaning over to see if she could spot another friendly little buddy. "But, but what if they don't like each other? Does that happen?"

[in_sidon_we_trust]

"I imagine it does," Sidon had to admit, as he considered the habitat and all its connections and intricate little spaces, "but these ones all share the same habitat right now pretty well together, so they're all quite good friends already! And when put together in a new, exicting home, why, that will only make their bond stronger! How perfect! And look!"

Sidon pointed toward a tunnel that had been put together to be particularly wavy.

"Here comes another one right now!"

In just a moment, said hamster making its way up and down those hills would be emerging into the space with the other one.

[that_oldsaying]

She waited. She waited. She--

"Look how cute he is!" she squealed.