WHERE: Ka'uhane Home WHEN: Directly after this interaction WHAT: Koa and Ainsley covertly bribe Roman to let her stay. STATUS: Complete VIEW WARNINGS: An abundance of cute
The drive back to SummerView from AC hadn't taken long. Koa was driving just under the speed limit partly beacuse he kept dipping his hand into the box that was sitting and mewling on Ainsley's lap to fuss the cat, or the kittens, whatever his fingertips could reach, practically buzzing with excitement and affection for the animals that they'd found. He thought he'd have always loved animals, but he figured that growing up with Roman had just fostered a more intense love of them which included being willing to commit several levels of felony in order to rescue (or liberate) them from situations in which they weren't being adequately cared for.
He pulled the truck into the drive and grinned at Ainsley. His family home was a sprawling piece of land right on the edge of town, a large two story farmhouse style building that didn't at all look like it belonged. Hopping out the truck he closed the gate and then moved to open the door for Ainsley so she could get out, carrying her precious feline cargo.
"We can grab your shit once we're inside, nothing's gonna happen to it here, and it'll be good to get you to meet my dad first, and give him your, uh, present, so he'll let you stay. I maaaaaay not have told him that you were coming for a long visit, largely 'cause I didn't know you were bringing a hundred percent of your belongings."
He smiled to try and stop her from spiralling at that; he didn't mind, he was psyched to see her and really glad that she was coming to stay for a while. She was welcome to stay for as long as she needed, in all honesty, and he knew that his dad would say the same.
Nudging her gently with a hand on her lower back, he led her to the front door and opened it, stepping inside and hollering, "Dad? Dad come to the door please!"
If Ainsley hadn't had a box of cute to keep her occupied, she'd probably have paid more attention to the drive to Summerview, but she figured that she could see that another time, like any time they were going to visit Atlantic City, which she assumed they'd do. But no, Ainsley had five tiny balls of gorgeous fluff and an attentive and grateful mama cat curled up on her lap in a little ratty box.
Sliding out of Koa's truck, fairly content with leaving her stuff in there while they were in the house until the cat and kittens were settled, it wasn't like someone would stop by a dragon's home to steal stuff from her. "You didn't tell him, like at all or just for extended time?" But Koa was already shouting for his dad and Ainsley was carrying precious cargo, so she was just in the door way, smiling hopefully, with cats purring and whining and mama cat trying to work out where they were.
Roman had just stepped out of the shower and was throwing on a shirt and tugging on a pair of jeans over his legs when he heard Koa hollering. Huh, why was he hollering? Also... was that, wait he could smell a scent he did not recognise and the dragon's nose twitched. Was this the friend Koa had told him about?
He tugged his hair back into a black band and then headed down the stairs where he did come face to face with his son and a pretty blonde who was holding a box that was purring? He glanced at the box, Koa, Ainsley and then back at the box.
"Uhhh, hi."
"Hey dad," Koa grinned, "this is Ainsley. She's- uh, she's new in town and she's gonna crash with us a lil' until she gets on her feet in town if that's okay?"
He stepped to the side so that Ainsley could be better seen and waved a hand for her to step a little closer. "She- she bought you a thank you gift. Y'know, for letting her stay."
What Koa failed to mention was that his dad was a giant as well as a dragon. She was going to need to talk to him about burying the lead on these things. "Hi Mr Ka'uhane, Koa told me you liked animals?"
Since the kittens were mostly comfortable, some of them had gone to sleep, mama cat was still curled around them, laying along her side with her paws extended to cover her babies while they rested and she kept watch. They all needed a lot of attention and probably some medicine and more food. "So I got you some kittens and a mama cat."
Crash with them for a while? How long was a while? Koa hadn't mentioned that. She was pretty though and he could tell why Koa had made friends, he did appreciate blondes and good looking ones at that.
He was about to say something when he got distracted by the box again as Ainsley drew his attention to it and with very little hesitation he stepped up closer and then his eyes just sort of fixated on the mama cat and all her babies.
"Hey," he said softly as he reached in to in spite of his large frightening stature pay gentle attention to the mama cat.
Koa smiled a little, watching his dad with the cats and knowing that Ainsley had already won him over. "They needed rescuing, she's in a bad way and I don't think she would have lasted too much longer. Figured the best place for her would be here where you can take care of her. And Ains can help. She's really good with animals."
He glanced around, speaking of... where were the dogs? The moment they would appear and mob her, Koa would know for sure that Ainsley would be firmly in her dad's affections. Their dogs were a great judge of character.
"And she seems really sweet, so long as her babies are okay I think." Of course mama cat was a little wary of the attention, but no one was trying to pick up the babies so she seemed to be okay laying there and taking the attention for the humans, they'd probably need to take her to a vet at some point.
"I really love animals, and I'm totally prepared to help with anything needed, including the kittens, they might need a lot of care." Not to mention that she could and would help out around the house as needed, cooking, cleaning, whatever she could do to help. "I promise I won't be a hassle." And she thought maybe a sweet smile along with the box of cats would help.
Roman glanced up from the cats to Ainsley then to Koa before he just exhaled a breath, large hands closing around the box as he very carefully and gingerly took a hold of it. "Fine, she can stay." He rounded on the kitchen and grabbed his phone to send a quick text to the vet he pretty much had on call and who was an old friend.
"We should have some clean sheets in the washing basket."
"Sweet," Koa explained, making sure the front door was shut before he let out a whistle which brought the sound of thundering feet and happy yips charging from various parts of the house, moving to stand behind Ainsley so that she didn't fall over when the dogs mobbed her with attention and affection.
Ainsley avoided doing an air punch, more than sure this was only because of the kittens, but she'd make sure later that Koa's dad didn't regret letting her stay for a while, she just needed to work out how to find things and maybe get a job and not blow through what savings she had so she could rent somewhere here. Koa did seem keen for her to stay a while, and it would be nice to see how different people lived around each other without worrying that their species would be a problem.
Koa's whistle changed any attempt that Ainsley might've had to follow the kittens when a fur stampede came towards her, "Oh my," it didn't look like Koa was kidding about the animals his dad had. There was a lot of sniffing and jumping up, some attempts to lick, and Ainsley was so glad to have Koa to steady her at first before she just knelt down into the onslaught. "Well aren't you all just a very welcoming bunch? Who wants some belly rubs? Huh?" Yes, she could happily just sit and cuddle dogs all day.
Roman had at this point sent the message off and was then under the stairs rummaging out a couple unused cat beds he had stored away under there but only ones with high sides so the momma cat would feel safe and secure. He then rested the box down near the bed, making no efforts at removing the momma cat and kittens but rather leaving it wide open for her to come out when she was good and ready.
Oh, food and water, that would be good. That was also left down and Roman glanced back in the direction of Ainsley and Koa, Ainsley who had definitely been mobbed by his small pack of dogs. "They like you," he commented.
Ainsley was already considering all the long walks the little group could go on, how she could explore the island and play with animals, since Roman was going to have to take care of kittens for a while, she could lavish attention on the dogs. "Oh, and who wouldn't like them? They're so awesome, aren't you all? Yes you are."
God, she'd always wanted animals growing up, and it looked like she was going to get her fill of twenty-plus years right now. "We're gonna have the best time, aren't we guys? Yes, we are." And it was like they agreed with her given the face licking and pounce she got, her giggle was near hysterical levels of happy right then.