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[ Kido breathes a laugh, because ]

Case in point: this right here.

[ It's not something to smile about, but Terry's always been weird. ]

But I meant that some jellyfish are supposed to immortal. ...I think. They're mysterious and deadly but [ She reaches over and pokes Terry in the cheek ] They're still squishy.

[ With that, Terry laughs. Just ignore the pain. It's fine. It's fine... ]

A squishy immortal that's also mysterious and deadly! That actually sounds cute, but I don't know how I'm supposed to feel since that's directed to me.

If you think it's cute, you can keep assuming it's a compliment.

[ Instead of all the negative things she could say about jellyfish, them being brainless and aimless and whatever. She can't say much about animals, just what Seto tells her. ]

It... It wasn't?

[ Terry doesn't know much about jellyfish either, so he's completely lost on how it's not a compliment, but maybe it's better that way. ]

But since we're comparing to animals, you remind me of an owl. Maybe a leopard...?

It might be a compliment.

[ Maybe. But owls are cool? Leopards are cool... ]

Predators, huh? Must be something on your mind a lot, if you're not getting along with these cats. What's up with them, anyways?

[ Why are cats allowed in the hospital... not that she's complaining, but still. ]

Because owls are wise! And leopards are cool.

[ He's simple, really. ]

The cats just started following me a while ago and the nurses tried to get rid of them because having animals in the hospital isn't usually allowed, right? But the cats kept sneaking their way into the hospital... I thought it was kinda funny to see the nurses like that. It reminded me of a time when a cat tried to keep getting into an art museum back home. But they gave up, moved my bed to a corner and I started taking care of them. I even got pet grooming gloves from home--a crow dropped it off.

But...

[ His smile gradually falls off his face. ]

They started hating me all of a sudden. I'm not sure what happened... I didn't do anything that would make them mad. They usually sleep on my bed or under it. They're all the way in the other corner now.

[ The crow gives him such convenient things, meanwhile Kido gets darts dropped on her head, how is that fair. She's also had problems with cats, but at least the ones in this room don't seem overly malicious?

Kido hums for a moment, and then gets up and walks over to the corner of the room to see if the mother cat (or a more adventurous kitten) would let her pick one of them up. ]

When did it start happening? Cats have sensitive noses. Maybe you just smell too much like... apple pie or blood or whatever to them.

[ The mother cat allows herself to be picked up. Longcat, nya. ]

I think they're used to my identifier... They didn't seem to have a problem with it before. And I definitely don't smell like blood anymore...

[ Whats wrong with these cats?? ]

... Please don't test anything by shoving a cat in my face.

[ ...She was absolutely about to shove the cat in his face. ]

Do you sleepwalk? Or maybe you're not playing with them enough, and they're lonely. It's a lot of cats for one person to take care of, especially if you're in and out a lot.

I... I don't think I sleepwalk? At least, I hope so?!

[ He doesn't even want to think about what could happen if he actually did sleepwalk. ]

I always spent time with them whenever I had free time... I even brushed all their fur last time I was in the hospital. They were the only thing that kept me from getting bored...

...When was the last time you were in the hospital?

[ HOW OFTEN ARE YOU IN THE HOSPITAL please answer this question carefully ]

... The time when Vassago went crazy...?

[ Why does Kido look scary?! Terry thought she knew this!! AAAAAAAaaaaaa ]

Why are you looking at me like that!

[ Me, pulling up my thread tracker bc I can't remember dates and everything happens so much HAHA

Anyways, she sighs!! And ignores him!!!! ]

...Less than a week ago... We'll have to work on getting you back to your twice a month schedule.

[ Everything happening so much is definitely a Cetana Mood™ ]

Haha... sometimes, things can't be helped. I'll try better in the future, since I said I would.

[ Stop Terry from getting hospitalized challenge..... ]

That's true. ...Are you going to be alright for the hospital bills? You said you didn't want help before, but this is sort of an unexpected situation, isn't it?

[ ... ... ...

Terry was honestly not thinking about that, and now that it's dawned upon him, there's an empty smile on his face as he just sits in bed, frozen in shock. ]

I... I'll... be fine...

[ He's still stuck on the :D face. ]

...Will you be? The more often you stay in the hospital, the less you'll be able to work. It would be even worse if you were fired for having unreliable availability.

[ Will you really be okay, Terry... ]

[ He's just internally screaming about how all his accumulated money when he's back home is useless. nbd nbd ]

I'll have a talk with a person from the billing department about payment plans and stuff... I can always work at the hospital for free if I really had to, if they'll accept me...

[ Future looking really bleak with reality ensuing. ]

[ This is why you want tangible assets to pawn off at a later date. Have Terry regain a television or a boat or something, the townspeople here would probably love that. ]

Or you can just accept help from somebody else. Is it really that bad, if I want to help?

[ Assuming Terry actually had something of value... ]

Well, no... but it's a lot, you know. And I don't want to trouble you since you have your own things to buy and...

[ What does he use all that money for??? Maybe he's responsible and saves his money like we're supposed to be doing, I don't know. ]

I don't plan on staying here any longer than I have to. I'm fortunate enough not to have to worry about shelter, so my expenses only go towards food and the bare necessities to keep alive. Any extra money, I'd like to use to keep other people alive. We're supposed to be doing this together, right?

[ It's not like she's going to foot his entire medical bill? She can just chip in what she's able to. ]

[ Maybe he'll actually collect loot now and sell them off to item makers in the town. No problem...

Terry stares at Kido in silence for several seconds before blurting out with a not quite correct translation--

So he basically just shouts "suki!!!" at Kido lmao ]

[ Uh

lmfao

Kido startles and lets the cat drop to the floor and leaves to call a nurse into the room because Terry is being very concerning all of the sudden ]

[ ... ... ...

????????

Terry just sits on the bed, all confused. He's not sure what he said wrong... the nurse comes in, looks at Terry, looks at Kido, and looks back at Terry.

"What did you say that was so strange?" ]

Uh... (suki)...?

[ The nurse looks at Kido's direction with a flat stare.

"It's only polite to reject him to his face, you know" she says, and promptly leaves.

????? ]

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