Babysitting a friend's neko part 2

*groaning/waking up sounds*

Ow, darling, I told you not to scratch at me... Oh, you're doing it in your sleep. Still, please stop scratching at my chest. Maybe they're kneading me again, that'd be pretty cute. Wait, that doesn't seem like it, your face is all scrunched up, they look almost... Afraid? Oh god, wait, sweetheart wake up, wake up!

Thank god, you're finally awake. Are you feeling okay?

No? What are you feeling? Worried, scared, what is it? were you having a nightmare? You were clawing at my chest.

No no, don't worry about me, I'm worried about you, are you feeling okay?

Really scared? Oh no, what scared you so badly?

Hey hey, it's okay. It's over now, you're safe with me. Here, nuzzle yourself into my chest, I'll hold you close. I'll keep you safe from whatever was after you. I want to make sure you're feeling okay. Do you want to tell me what you were dreaming about?

Aw, you dreamt your mom left you outside in the rain? That really is scary, hun. But you know that your mom would *never* leave you outside like that, right? She loves you so so much. I think she'd rather take a bullet for you than to leave you outside all alone.

Yea, I know it's a scary thought, but that's all it is, you know? Just a thought. There's no way it could ever happen. We're in reality now, you're safe in my arms, nothing can get to you anymore, okay? Do you think you can go back to sleep now?

No? *sigh* Well, what time is it... Yea, it's way too early for us to be awake, we have to find some way for you to get back to bed.

You're too scared to go back to sleep? Hun, I know you had a nightmare, but you really do need to get back to bed. I know that it's really hard to sleep when you're worried about having another nightmare, but I'll be here for you if that happens, okay? I'll hold you like i'm holding you right now and I'll make things all better.

You still don't want to? Hmm, what does your mom usually do when you can't sleep? Do you want to be rocked again?

Not really? Well, are you thirsty? I could get you a glass of milk, that usually helps me when I can't sleep.

Alright, let me go get that for you.

[walks to kitchen]

Doo doo doo, where are you [fridge open SFX] There you are, now to get a glass. Can nekos even hold glasses? Well, I'm sure it'll be fine.

Hey, I got this for you. Now, be careful with it, I don't want it to get everywhere.

Hey, I said to be careful, you're gonna spill-- it all over yourself... And your blanket... Ah, crap we gotta change you and wash your blanket. Wait... Oh shit your mom said not to wash it. I don't know why, but I can't have you sleeping in a soaked blanket.

Wait, honey, are you crying? Hey hey, there's no reason to cry, we can fix this! It's easy, just have to change you and wash your blanket. We can find you some new pajamas and then run your blanket through the wash. All you have to do is [with force] let..go..of..your..blanket..

*sigh* Okay, that's a no go. Well, let's get you changed first and then we'll figure out what to do with your blanket.

Let's see, where does your mom keep your clothes; I imagine it's in these drawers right here. Ah, there we go, okay, I'll leave the room and you can change into these. Set the dirty clothes on that desk and we'll run it through the wash with your blanket.

Okay... We'll just wash your clothes separately.

Or just your clothes...

Anyway, just get changed while I figure out what to do, okay?

*pause*

I guess I have to call her and see if she picks up. I honestly don't know what to do. She said specifically not to wash it if it gets dirty, but I can't have them sleeping in a sopping wet blanket...

*ringing phone SFX*

Come on pick up, pick up, pick up.

Hey! I'm surprised you were awake.

Oh, I woke you up?

Yes, I understand that it's 4 in the morning, trust me, I don't want to be awake right now either, but I have to ask you something. So, your neko had a nightmare and so I got them a glass of milk to help them get back to sleep, but I guess I got too big of a glass for them to hold properly and they spilled it all over themselves and their blanket.

Yes, I already have them getting changed into new clothes, but my question is what should I do about the blanket. I know you said that I shouldn't wash it, but I can't have them sleeping in a soaking blanket.

If I can convince them to let go of the blanket I can wash it? Oh, thank god, because otherwise, I have no idea what I would do. I know you said not to wash it, but like--

You meant smaller spills? Oh, okay. Yea this is kind of... A pretty big spill.

Thank you so much for your help. Hope you get back to sleep easily. Good luck with your presentation tomorrow, I know you're gonna crush it.

Love you, too. Bye.

Okay, let's see if they've changed now.

Hey, you've changed! Okay, now, will you please let me have your blanket so I can clean it?

No? Why is that?

It *won't* get ruined in the wash, I promise you. It's pretty new, no holes in it. I can set it on a gentle wash. Since it's newly stained it won't take that much for it to come out. Ooh, there's something else that would be great about washing it. Once it goes through the dryer it'll be nice and warm. Wouldn't you like having a warm blanket on a cold night like tonight?

Still not budging? Hun, if you don't mind me asking, what's so special about this blanket? We've got plenty of others in the apartment, couldn't you just hold them while you wait?

Oh... It was the blanket you had when you were adopted? Oh, sweetheart, I can understand that you don't want anything bad to happen to it, it's very special to you. But I know how to run a washing machine, okay? Nothing bad is going to happen to it.

You only want your mom to do it? But sweetheart, you told me already that you can't sleep without it. I can't have you staying up for so long; it's not healthy for a neko as young as you.

Please, sweetheart, just... let me have your blanket. It'll only take 10 or 15 minutes at most and I'll hold you the entire time, okay?

[Machine turn on SFX]

Shhh, shhh. It's okay. I promise you that it's safe with me, okay? I promise that once it's done it'll be soft and warm again and you'll be able to get back to bed easily, okay?

[Machine Dings SFX]

Okay, it sounds like it's done, let me pull it out and put it in the dryer.

No, you can't have it now! It'd be even worse than it was before. I know you're anxious, but you're going to have to be a little bit patient, okay?

[Dryer start SFX]

Alright, I got that going now, it shouldn't be long before it's done and we can get you back to bed.

[Dryer dings SFX]

Hey! Slow down!

You know, you're gonna have to move for me to get the blanket out.

There we go, see? It's all nice and warm again.

Aw, such a big hug.

You're welcome, sweetheart. I told you that I'd get it all fixed up for you. Now, let's get you back to bed, okay?