Owner	Pose
Pippi	Pippi had her own little section of the Lair, tossed back in some of the other rooms, an alcove that had been cordoned off with some hastily-erected walls.     Mikey might have been responsible for the 'BEWARE OF DOG' sign that had a bite taken out of it, placed jokingly on the outside.     On the inside, however, it was really quite plain. Gutterrs the Bear, with his missing eye and torn ear was sitting on top of the extra blankets. There was a piano bench that doubled as a desk and some storage. There was Pippi's recovered futon, with its duct taped corner and the whole thing was lit with softly glowing Christmas Tree Lights, which Pippi was hesitant to have off at any point in the dark.     She was struggling tonight. After having to go to Fisk's on her own, she had been on edge all day, and was trying the whole 'meditation' thing, sitting with her legs under her, her tail curled a bit against her hip, palms on her knees.
Alopex	After the rapid-fire series of words that had rushed out after her arrivial, and summary vanishing into their alcove of the lair, Alopex had saw fit to give Pippi a little bit of time to settle, but when that time stretches further than she'd like, the fox takes it upon herself to go and have a look.     The addition of the 'beware of dog' sign gets her eyes to roll. Mikey, for sure. The bite, not so much. In either case, a peek inside is all she really needs. Attempt at meditation? Good. Signs it wasn't working so well? Concerning. Footsteps trailing off would seem to indicate the fox may let her continue her attempt, but there's a distant sound of ice in a glass, water, and footsteps returning to the home of a pup, a bear, a futon, and always-christmas. "Thirsty..?"
Pippi	"... yes." Pippi replies, and she drops out of the strict meditative pose, and into her normal w-like splut. She accepts the glass of water from Alopex, and rubs the back fo her head a moment.     "Sorry Pe, I kinda... just kinda went 'babloom' at everything. I couldn't come back right away because I wanted to make sure I wasn't followed." Pippi replies quietly, and she shakes the cup a moment, listening to the ice clink against the sides.     "I worry that I didn't do the right thing. Maybe I should have jumped at the chance to work with Fisk right away."
Alopex	After handing over the glass, the fox settles in near by, listening to everything offered up by Pippi. "No, no, you did the right thing. There are a lot of very powerful people in the city, and if I remember correctly, Fisk is a -very- powerful man. Maybe as much as Shredder, if not more. This is a decision to be made by everyone. Don't doubt yourself. Even if it were me, I would not have lept at the opportunity, even if he wants to take down the Foot."
Pippi	"But all those people there, and I can't imagine Fisk takes his security exactly lightly... though... ugh." Pip's ears flick forward. "Those elevators smell horrible. And it was all the way up to the top floor! And /Nightwatcher/! That guy with the armor that Leo and I fought one night. I still wanna rematch so I can pay him back for being up Raphael!"
Alopex	One thing I've learned Pippi, is that when you really want to do something but are having trouble getting a chance? Paitence will pay off in the end. Yes, you may have wanted to lunge at the opportunity, especially with everyone there, but imagine if you had? There's no telling what Fisk may want in return for a favor from him. That's ultimately what it could boil down to."     Hrm. Nightwatcher again. Someone Pex still hadn't ran across despite her frequent trips to Winterfall and back. "Seeing as this Nightwatcher has made an enemy of us, I'm sure it won't be long before he picks a fight and we are all there to swarm him. He'll make a mistake, just like everyone else like him. Working alone is a bad idea."
Pippi	"Yeah. Then you get picked up by Fisk's thugs and brought into meetings. /Boring/ meetings." Pippi points out to Pex, "Super boring meetings. With little sausages."     The Power Pup scoots back, making plenty of room for Pex and her floof on the thin mat that had been put down for flooring.     "... what do you think, Pex? Do we stand a chance against the Foot?"
Alopex	"Of course we do," the fox is quick to point out as she scoots a little further in. If Pip was kind enough to make room, Alopex isn't going to ignore her hospitality. "I've been in there. I know what they are like. They think they have honor but they -absolutley do not-. What they have is some corrupted version to suit their own needs. They don't understand it, or family, but we do. That alone is all the proof I need to know we can win."
Pippi	Pippi makes sure there's room for Pex, and then she leans her head back against the wall, closing her eyes.     "I'm trying hard to understand honor. Family. What makes me a person and not just an animal anymore." she breathes out. "I thought maybe meditation would help more than just throwing left hooks at the punching bag would help, but I worry. I'm strong, but not as strong as Nemean. I'm not as well trained... if I get involved in the fight, and I get hurt... I don't want you to come after me and try and save me if you can't do it safely."
Alopex	Eventually all that scooting just ends up with them both against the wall, and Pex testingly reaching out to pat at the pup. "It isn't an easy thing to understand, in all honesty. It is about integrity, fighting for things that help everyone. Being true to yourself.." she blinks, then shrugs, realizing that probably isn't helping much. "Honestly, it's about being good, Pippi. It's about doing what's right. I say as long as you are helping people, and not hurting them, you're on the right track," she says, hoping simplifying it makes a bit more sense.     "I.. know I say this alot, but everything comes through training and time. There's a saying that practice makes perfect, and that's true in this case. And there's one thing about family, Pippi. It means no one gets left behind. We all fight for each other, and we'll resuce one another if need be. With these guys here? There will -always- be a way to do things safely. Even if Raphael may end up doing something that makes it a tad more dangerous than it needs to be."
Pippi	"Heh... yeah. But he fights really hard, he has to balance out Leo's planning. Y'know, kinda like how I one day bolted after the dinowoman, I know Leo tried to grab me from running in, buuut.." she trails off, her ears turning pink and she rubs the back of her head. "That maybe is something that I have to practice too. More patience. "
Alopex	The fox gives a little nod, still slowly reaching out. There wouldn't be much pat-petting if the pup pulled away for some reason. "Everyone is impulsive sometimes, but if you can control that, take in the situation, and then act? You'll be leagues ahead of most thugs out in the streets. I can promise you that."
Pippi	Pippi turns, side-eyeing the hand... and then just laughs, and flops against Alopex's side, under the whole arm.     "Someday I'm going to be able to keep up with you and Leo and everyone, you know." she smiles. "and maybe once I get the hang of this strength thing, I'll be able to hug people back."
Alopex	Blink. Well. Maybe the fox didn't need to be quite so cautious. Mental note for next time made, the arm settles and Alopex nods, "I know you'll get there. Your training has gone insanely well. Faster than I expected, but as your my first student, I really wasn't sure how it would take anyway.." Hmm. "I'll be looking forward to that hug, you know."
Pippi	"C'mon, Pex. I let Leo /ruffle my hair and ears/ up at the Farm. I think I can trust you to not like, hurt me with a hug." Pip gives a grin. "I just want to get a little more practice with the strength control. 'Cause I don't want to hurt someone on accident." she explains, although it's a little obvious. She continues to lean up against Pex though.     "Well... I knew a lot of tricks before, so I was pretty smart, for a dog. Easy to train. 'S why I ended up in agility." she makes a fce.     "Never got the hang of frisbee though, I don't think. It's foggy."
Alopex	That earns Pippi a laugh, "Yes yes, that's true I suppose, but I mean when you are comfortable enough to trust yourself, That will mean a lot." Agility dog? She mentioned that before, the fox thinks. "Well, you learned well then, and you're learning well now. And maybe once it's all done we can see about the frisbee thing."
Pippi	"Let's not. Pretty sure no one's going to like me catching stuff with my mouth." Pip replies from under Pex's arm, giving a laugh. "Well, whatevs. I'm a Ninja now. In training." she gives a smile, and rubs the back of her head. "Although I had an idea what to do instead of a mask..."
Alopex	"In training, yes, but rapidly learning, growing. More than a trainee at this point, I say." Other than a mask, "Oh? What did you have in mind, then?"
Pippi	Pippi gives a grin, and she rolls on a hip, opening the old piano bench and pulling out a tattered magazine. Shethumbs through it a moment -- it's one of those cheap pet magazines. 10 Ways to Love Your Dog, 4 Easy Ways to Remove Cat Snot, CHINCHZILLA: Biggest Chins on the East Coast, that sort of item.     And she holds up a picture. It's a dog in a side car, an ol' blockhead mastiff -- with goggles.     "You know, to protect my eyes from bits that come off if I punch something real hard?"
Alopex	Interesting magazine. The goggles? "That.. is a unique idea. I say go for it! It will set you apart a bit. Either Donatello can help or I can snoop around and see what I can find that's similar to that, if you want."
Pippi	"I haven't had the chance to ask Donnie yet for some, but I know he'll probably laugh and I'll have 'em by my next trip out. And they'll probably have extra stuff in them because he's Donnie."
Alopex	"Heh, look at you, all these resources and able to get what you need, now. I'm happy for you, Pippi. Better than sleeping under a van, hmm?" Simple request, already filled. Such is the nature of knowing such a wonderful group of individuals.
Pippi	"... yeah. Yeah it does." Pippi replies quietly. She exhales quietly, and rubs the back of her head a moment.     "Thanks, Alopex, for everything. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't be this lucky if I hadn't met you."
Alopex	"You're truly welcome, Pippi. To be honest, it's a mutual feeling. It's nice to know I found a friend like you."