Whistle (Kealey)

His uncertain eyes swung back to Kealey. She had everything. Okay. He put a hand to his chest. That was a relief. No plushie army was needed. He wouldn't have to rush out and get her stuffed animals and anime characters, or make her X-men-themed dolls. His eyes locked on hers.

She said she was fine. With him with her, she'd be safe. And fires hadn't happened. Maybe the person had... But maybe they hadn't, and they were still out there, and...

"I'm sorry," Shin looked down at the bed. "I guess I'm just worried. Even if I know things will be fine." It had been scary. He'd been losing sleep.

He took a deep breath. If he wasn't calm, she wasn't calm. This was serious, but he didn't need to be so serious.

"So," Shin changed the subject. "I think we still need something." He looked up from the bed, back to Kealey. "Your bed's kind of empty, in thorough need of a plushie army. Maybe we could... make some? And you could teach me a bit about costume-designing, for little stuffed Shin-dolls? Electric Soldier Porygons in tophats... with monocles? ... oversized Sams, with googly eye..." He tapered off, omitting the (s). Shin wasn't worried, now. He was cracking joke(s).

>> I'm actually glad you care enough to worry...it's nice not being alone."

Shin nodded, still looking at the bed. Then, he changed tactics. The plush army offensive had begun.

A plush army is a very convincing force to have at one's command. With fearsome fluff stuffing and threatening threaded threats, they fight in every theater, and battle their ways... into everyone's hearts. They wage a war of wibbles, cut down opposition with cuddles, and use napalm.

Smile napalm. They are a force to be reckoned with. They are a force... of comfort!

Kealey needed that army. Shin would organize the troops.

Kealey grinned. He fired a volley of grins right back.

>> ”I don’t know about that one Shin…I think I might feel like it always had its eye on me…”

"Ha ha!" Sergeant Shin's chest staggered with laughter. He hadn't been expecting that shot. He was wounded... with amusement. Shin nodded slowly, containing his mirth. "No. I don't suppose we'd want that. He wouldn't be a very good cuddle companian, either. Probably very cold..." He held his chin with a nod.

He watched as she rose, to gather supplies. Shin's eyes followed her and he continued the conversation across the room. "I'm glad you like it," He smiled. "There are all sorts of things we can make."

So many choices, and where to begin?

"White Tuxedo Shin doll?" Shin suggested innocently. "Or maybe a steadfast Bulbasaur guard?"

>>”I think we should make both.”

Shin grinned. She was cute when she laughed.

With those two standing guard, she'd truly be safe. Then, he could rest at ease.

"Well then," Shin said with a slight grunt, pushing up off his knees to rise from the bed. He walked over to look at what she had. "Which first? Where do you want to start?" He rested his hands on his hips, smiling down at the bag of supplies.

>> ”I know most tuxedos aren’t made of linen, but I think this would serve our purposes quite well.”

Shin held his chin thoughtfully, and nodded. "Okay," He agreed. He paid close attention as she selected materials. Green fabric, and white fabric, and fabric in colors he couldn't quite decipher, that might have had fanciful names like 'salmon' and 'kiwi breeze' went into the pile. Soon, they had a manly stockpile. Shin sat down on the floor next to it, picking up odds and ends for examination. He glanced up at her from a piece of nice forest-green fabric when she asked him a question.

"Bulbasaur, first," He decided. Shin wiggled the fabric in his hands. "This will be perfect for the bulb on his back."

He watched her skip to retrieve the book, then deposit it on the desk. Shin dropped his attention back to picking out fabrics in colors that matched the bulbasaurs of his memory.

>>"What do we think?"

Kealey asked him. Shin looked up from the piles and selections he'd separated by colors. "I think we've got everything we need to make the best Bulbasaur ever, Kealey." He replied.

>>”Okay.

Kealey began.

Shin listened, raptly. He nodded. "Patter pieces. Got ya. So, it's like a jigsaw puzzle?" With each part of the costume, there was a specific piece? It wasn't all made up like a knitted sock. There wasn't one long process of knitting on the same object... the pattern had to be outlined first? He supposed that would give them an idea of how it would look. It'd define the shape and look of the suit. From the groundwork, they could ascend to the final costume.

It was curious. How would he do something like that with his shards? Shin thought for a second, coming to a quick conclusion. Perhaps, individual shapes and pieces of the outfit could be conceptualized at a time? He could start with, say, a glove, then work from there, up to the jacket, pants, and hat? Aha!

He kept his 'aha' moment to himself, moving to do as she requested. His eyes swung to take quick note of what she was doing while he was cutting out bits and pieces. She was planning the concepts out on paper. Mmm, that made sense too. Perhaps, he could use a computer program to make a three-dimensional model... or maybe he could maintain one in his head?

Fun stuff.

As he worked, Shin tried to guess what shapes they'd want for the pieces. She hadn't explained her vision. At one point, he skittered over to compare what he'd been doing with her sketches. He didn't talk, just eyeballed it, and showed her what he was doing. He focused on the shapes and colors, measuring carefully with his eyes before he cut. He was so engrossed with his work in the silence, Shin was surprised when Kealey asked him an unexpected question.

What was his favorite food? Hmmm.It wasn't a hard question to answer.

"Curry rice," Shin said. "With vegetables and chicken, or beef. Sometimes, I like it spicy. Sometimes, a bit sweet. It's always got this kick of flavor, you know? And the veggies are so good. Have you had it?" He looked to her. "Another food I like in New York a lot is the Sea Dog." He paused. That reminded him about Kasumi. One of their first dates, he'd taken her to the aquarium to eat sea dogs. For a moment, his emotions turned bittersweet... then, they shifted away from that. He wasn't dwelling on those thoughts. He'd left her for the team. He hoped she would some day understand. He hoped she was alright.

Shin turned the question back on Kealey with a small smile."What about you? What's your favorite food?" Maybe he could try making it? He was no Aurum, but he could try!

She hadn't had curry rice. It was decided, then. He'd have to try making her some. It'd be like waffles with peanut butter, a sharing of favored flavors. It would be good.

She said she'd have to try it, and Shin nodded. "Some time."

Shin knew what he liked. He figured she'd like it, too. But when he asked her about her own favorites, she couldn't immediately give an answer. That made him pause. Emotions even influenced what foods she liked? Huh.

She was a little embarrassed about it, it seemed. "I understand," Shin tried to evaporate the embarassment with a subtle smile. "I've had times where it's been like that. People are so excited about some food, they go overboard... and then, you have to tell them you like it, even if you don't. And if you aren't careful, they make you more because they think you like it... kind of silly." Silly Japan.

He supposed if she was with someone who really liked something, she could enjoy anything. That was interesting. But she had to have things she liked on her own. It was probably just a little harder picking it out.

He'd been right on the money. She answered him with certainty. Cheeseburgers.

"Cheeseburgers are yummy," Shin smiled. "With bacon, or without?"

She had a lot of questions for him today, it seemed. Now, it was his turn to be uncertain. Shin held his chin thoughtfully. "Hmmmmm... I dunno. You remember when I gave you all those reccomendations, right?" Back when they'd first met?