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[vamp-terrorist.livejournal.com]

[Pepper is checking on Cloud, who still is a bit under the weather, Kitty, of course, like a good mom, is there too. There is family bonding]

Pepper: *is doing a lot of scooting around in his wheely chair*

Cloud: *playing Tetris on a GBA*

Kitty: ::knock knock knoc knock knock and knoll high school::

Kitty: Helloooo?

Pepper: *blink* *rolls over and opens the door* ? Kitty! Hi.

Kitty: How's he doing?

Cloud: *sooo gonna beat level 9 this time*

Pepper: *glances over at Cloud and the GBA* Better than he was.

Kitty: Well, that's good news. ^^

Cloud: *totally didn't* *looks up* Oh, hi Mom.

Pepper: *nodnod* I'm not sure if I can get rid of it, but I can prevent it from getting any worse, at least.

Kitty: Hi, Cloud! ::hugs and mom gush::

Kitty: ::nod::

Pepper: *has not slept. nope*

Pepper: He's been up a lot more since his fever broke.

Kitty: Maybe you should get some rest... I could watch him for a while?

Pepper: Oh? Heh, I'm alright... *has been taking online courses so he can get an MD* I'll rest soon enough. *has been saying this a lot*

Kitty: All right. I was planning to be here for a while, though. ::brought knitting, too::

Pepper: Hm.. well, I might... *yawns*

Cloud: You don't have to stay if you don't want to...

Kitty: ::is all bogged down with stuff:: I brought cookies...

Cloud: Cookies? XD

Cloud: ...you're the best mom ever.

Cookies: ::shine with the golden rays of a thousand suns of hope and love::

Pepper: *is always impressed with the cooking and the shiny*

Kitty: I doubt they'll make geostigma go away, though...

Cloud: Your cookies can cure anything, Mom.

Kitty: ^^ Oh, c'mon now. Well, they might if they were combined with some science.

Pepper: The fun part is figuring out what will. Heh. It would make my job a lot easier if the cookies could do such a thing on their own.

Kitty: Sometimes it's the little placebo of home-cooked love, too.

Cookies: ::need love like everything does::

Computer: *bing!*

Cloud: *munches on a cookie*

Pepper: It's surprising what that sort of thing really can do.. Oh! *scoots over to computer*

Kitty: ::also scoots over to the computer:: What's it doing?

Pepper: Telling me that I passed my exams. *YES* *victory song*

Kitty: Oh, awesome! :3

Seph: *comes in, carrying a bouquet of red and white roses*

Cloud: Way to go, Dad.

Seph: ...Hey.

Pepper: *beams*

Cloud: *beams identically*

Cloud: Sephi! <3

Kitty: Oh, hello, Sephiroth. ^_^

Seph: Uh - hi, Ms. Strife.

Pepper: *waves*

Seph: Hey, Pepper. What'd you do?

Pepper: When? I passed my exams and managed to prevent Cloud's geostigma from getting worse.

Seph: Hey, that's great!

Seph: Oh, uh, Cloud. These are for you. *awkwardly holds out flowers*

Cloud: *turns bright red* Oh...they're so pretty...thank you.

Cloud: *takes the flowers and smiles*

Kitty: ^^

Seph: I read somewhere that flowers are good for sick people. *smiles*

Cloud: I feel better already.

Seph: How's Tetris coming?

Kitty: ::offers Sephiroth some cookies::

Cloud: I'm still stuck on level 9. *pouts*

Seph: *takes several* Thanks.

Seph: Stick with it, you'll get through. I was stuck on level 9 for weeks.

Hojo: *walks in and is suddenly near Pepper like a science ninja*

Pepper: *knows his presence by now* Hey! I have lots of stuff.

Hojo: *looking over Pepper's shoulder* Congratulations.

Seph: Dad!

Hojo: Hello, Sephiroth. *looks* Kitty. Cloud... What's Cloud doing here in bed?

Cloud: I'm sick, Professor.

Seph: ...Where have you *been?* Cloud's really sick.

Pepper: *holds up a bunch of files of research goodness*

Hojo: Hmm. That's not good. *takes files and flips through* And I've been in Wutai. And Icicle Inn, and Gongaga... long story.

Hojo: This looks pretty serious. I'm glad to see you're stabilizing it, Pepper. Good work.

Hojo: *clearly some sort of pod-person*

Seph: *boggled look*

Kitty: ::hrfs:: ::bends over to whisper to Cloud:: I'm...gunna get going. It's getting crowded in here.

Cloud: *whispers back* Okay Mom, I love you. Thanks for the cookies.

Hojo: Oh, Kitty... I apologize for my behaviour in Wutai. Thank you for taking me.

Pepper: He's been doing much better since his fever went down. *nodnod*

Seph: *stares, jaw agape*

Hojo: *laying files out on the counter* Good, good. You stopped the discolouration from spreading?

Seph: *who are you and what have you done with my father?*

Pepper: *nods* Nothing new has shown up. Everything seems stable.

Kitty: Uh huh. I'll catch you later. ::mrrfs:: I'm leavin' the cookies. Help yourselves. ::kisses Cloud on the head:: Abayo.

Cloud: *helps himself* Bye Mom.

Hojo: Is this an epidemic? How many samples? What's in common?

Pepper: *pulls up Rufus's files on those with the disease* It seems to be so. There have been numerous reports, and they all have that strange discoloration. It pains them at times.

Hojo: *shakes his head* Cause?

Pepper: I took a few samples from Cloud, and gathered more from the clinic. Cause... unknown specifically, though it seems to have something to do with the mako. Cases are more numerous near the reactors.

Hojo: Strange timing. Theories?

Seph: Cloud had most of the contents of Jenova's tank dumped on his head.

Hojo: Mako, again.

Pepper: I think the mako is the cause, and as for what it is exactly...well... *glances at papers* Just take a look. This one is the geostigma sample and..this is one of the Jenova cell samples. Note the similarities?

Hojo: ... Hmm. Definitely not good.

Cloud: *smells roses* *so happy Sephi brought flowers*

Hojo: Pepper, it sounds like you're doing everything that can be done here. I... need to follow up on my trip. I expect the best from you. I've never gotten less. Alright?

Seph: *utterly dumbfounded* Dad? Are you... okay?

Pepper: *blink* Ah..alright.

Pepper: When do you think you'll be back?

Hojo: I'm better than I've been in a long time, Sephiroth. I'll be... I don't know. However long it takes to save the world, I guess.

Seph: ...Save the world?

Hojo: Yes. Oh, Seph, we'll definitely need you. Chaos may get loose.

Hojo: ... And, er, if I accidentally restarted the war with Wutai, would you be glad to have your job back?

Seph: ...What?

Pepper: ...

Cloud: o_O

Seph: If you restarted the war, Rufus is gonna be *pissed*.

Hojo: *deep breath, organize thoughts* Your mother and Veld and I went to resurrect some dead gods and now we're going to hopefully defeat Jenova, but I don't trust Chaos at all, and Safer is our best bet to keep an eye on him.

Hojo: And we can worry about that afterwords.

Seph: I'm going to get the whole story, right?

Hojo: Sure. But right now, I have to go with Veld to make sure Vincent doesn't kill him. You want to come?

Seph: Sure. *really wants to spend more time with nice!Hojo before he reverts to type*

Hojo: Call me if you need anything, Pepper, but I think you can handle it.

Hojo: Hope you feel better, Cloud.

Pepper: *nods* Sure. I'll do that. Er. Be careful...

Hojo: *heads outside*

Cloud: *wtf* Uh...thanks.