I don't own Animal Crossing or it's characters!

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Monday
11:09 P.M.
Apartment Complex
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Tom wasn't exactly the type to visit other's homes, especially not when it came to his clients, because then he reminded himself that they were real animals that had real lives. Which would be dangerous on the work force, but... Despite that, his conscious had brought him there, with a certain porcupine being sick and all. It was partially his doing, dragging her out to the festival like that.

Standing in front of Labelle's door number, Tom sighed, scratching his cheek lightly. He'd carefully packaged a bit of medication from his store in a tiny bag upon closing time, since they'd had some leftover with allergy seasons ending. It seemed like a good thing to do at the time, but now being there made him feel awkward. It was late after all... the only reason he even knew where her home was located was because of her job application. Necessary information and all that.

Shaking off that notion, he raised his paw and knocked confidently on the door. A few seconds later, it opened, a rather dreadful version of the porcupine he'd seen earlier that day standing on the other side. At first she seemed surprised to see him, then embarrassed, then accepting. It was almost fun watching her expressions.

"Tom? What are you doing here?" Labelle rubbed her eyes gently, a clear sign she must have been dozing off. He felt a little bad, but he pushed it aside. He was a generous raccoon, so his gifts were to be accepted whether one liked it or not. Don't let Navigale tell one otherwise.

"I brought leftover medicine from my store. I always keep brand new items in stock, and it would be a shame to put it to waste. Besides, you clearly need it more than I do... you look terrible." He out-stretched his arm, offering her the bag. She glared at him for a second, then sighed in defeat and took it.

"Thanks, that's exactly what a girl wants to hear." She may have felt slightly insulted, but he still couldn't help holding back a laugh. Even when she was serious, it was hard to take her... well, seriously.

"That is the price you pay for speaking with me. Pleasant insults aside, are you feeling any better from earlier?" He paused, thought that over, and retreated into a nervous gesture of straightening his tie. "Err, I mean... obviously not. I'll rephrase that to 'I hope you start feeling better'." He nodded, more pleased with how that sounded. Labelle continued to stare at him like K.K. Rider himself had landed on her porch. She then smiled brightly, at least managing to get some of her spunk back.

"Well, thank you! I'm sure I will, with the help of this medicine! I need to get up bright and early for work tomorrow, right? Promised I wouldn't be late." At this, the raccoon got a skeptical look. He had hung around her enough the last few weeks to know she wasn't exactly the most enthusiastic -able sister when it came to working. She caught his confused look, causing her to dull down to an amused one herself. "I really need the money! I wasn't lying. I'll try suuuuper hard not to fall asleep or anything. Who knows, maybe I'll learn something by time I get back to Gracie's!"

Well, she knew that much was a bluff, and she almost wished Katrina or Lyle were there to call her out on it. She was capable of learning her lessons, but never retaining them. Tom realized that, but said nothing. Just smiled.

"Very well, then. I'll be there to make sure you're on time. But, do me a favor, Labelle... if you really don't feel very good in the morning, still, just don't come." He paused for a second, then crossed his arms. "I'll understand. Tommy and Timmy can take your shift for you, and the next day you come in, you can just handle your shift and theirs to make up for it. I'd rather have you work to death when your well than work little when your ill."

With that, the calm raccoon turned away, raising his hand to wave at her as he began down the apartment halls again. "Goodnight, Labelle."

The porcupine stared at his back for a moment, then nodded. "Night, Tom!" He heard her retreat into her room, already in the process of opening the medicine bag while doing so. It wasn't until he got to the iron steps leading back outside that he really realized what he'd just done. He sighed heavily. Tommy and Timmy wouldn't be happy if she decided not to show up, and he'd have to put up with it. But aside from that, now Labelle's persona suddenly became less of 'just a worker' and more of 'an actual living creature'.

Hence why he rarely visited others – even for deliveries to his customers. Perhaps he considered her a friend, which made her different. He pondered this as he walked back to the bus stops, both annoyed and interested in his small revelation.

This was a very short update to let you know I'm not dead, neither is this story (consider sthis an intermission or something). Allow me to explain:

I know I mentioned this on one of my stories, but I don't know if it was one of the AC ones I did. My sister is getting married soon (of COURSE, she was proposed to right after summer school let out... fml), and that explains my absence. I have been working my end off trying to help get everything together. Well, the wedding is this weekend (HALLELUJAH!), so I finally had a moment to breathe before realizing... well, heck. I haven't updated anything in a while.

I'm going to get myself back in gear after my sister is married and shipped off to Ireland for her honeymoon. XD I already have the first part of two chapters written (yeah, I do things weird), so I'm hoping to have a triple update perhaps either Monday or Tuesday, depending on how tired I am after being a bridesmaid and putting up with people for the entire weekend, lol.

Cross your fingers with me? I need a break, man. :,D

-Matron of Madness

p.s. I'm really, really, really sorry about how short this is. It didn't fit in with my next chapter, I wanted it in the story somewhere, and I wanted to let you all know I was still active. Bear with me, I'll be back to longer chapters with the next.