+1 Puppy!

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity's back in the Nexus, with the stripes and the crazy braids as usual, but this time she's not alone. With her, or more accurately, in her general vicinity there is a small and adorable puppy. White fur with brown ears and striped tail and stockings. There could not be a more appropriate dog for Verity in all the multiverse. (And you all thought she was a cat person.) The pup is bright-eyed and curious, sniffing and examining everything within the range of its leash, then going back to make sure nothing's moved or changed. It's on to you, stray leaf, you and your blowing hither-and-yon ways.

Ver's got a loose hold on the puppy's leash but is general content to let the little rascal romp and play and explore while she looks on with bemusement. What even is her life. There are so many questions she could ask: how did she end up with a dog, what is she even going to do with a dog, when did she become such a softy... but those aren't questions for the general populace.

"So... I've got a dog now. Anyone got ideas for names?" She doesn't have to take the bad suggestions, she figures, so that should be a safe question. "And, um. Tips? For training her and... so on? Or a limit they'd like to helpfully try to impose on how many toys I buy for her?"

Anyone who doesn't want to deal with baby animals can blame Clint for not answering his phone. He is, after all, great with dogs.

Comments

[losthunter]

"You have a dog!" Way to repeat what was already said, Hunter. But he can't help but be enthralled by the small bundle of cuteness.

"She is adorable."

[brave_heart_verity]

"I do." Hunter is nothing if not a master of the obvious. "And she is. Which is how this happened."

Puppy hears a new voice talking and comes bouncing over to investigate Hunter. Do his shoes smell good? She bets they're gonna smell good. But she is also a cautious pup, and jumps back several times before lunging forward again to investigate further. Anything untrustworthy will surely be frightened away by this fierce display!

[losthunter]

Hunter chuckles at the fierce display of the puppy jumping back, and then lunging forward to smell his shoes.

"You could not resist her puppy dog stare?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"Well." Ver shrugs. "Just look at her. She's perfect, and how could I say 'no'?"

Puppy is so fierce omg you don't even know, Hunter. Just wait until she's got a shadow to chase, then you'll see!

"I don't really know what to do with her. I've never had a pet before."

[losthunter]

"My tutor had a guide dog." Hunter kneels slightly to extend his hand for the puppy to sniff. "That dog was named Pilot. Will's attempt of humor..."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Sounds like a pretty good attempt." She giggled.

Puppy will sniff at his hand extensively before pressing her head into it for pets. They can be friends so long as Hunter understands his place in the world: he is the one who gives the pets, she is the one who gets the pets.

"Where's, uh, your friend?"

[losthunter]

Hunter of course pets the adorable puppy.

"Faris and I don't have to be together all the time. As long as we find each other before six hours are up." And he does have a timer on his PINpoint now.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

Verity isn't the only one out walking. Her new companion elicits some surprise from certain quarters, such as the well-dressed gentleman passing by. "Verity?" The dog is receiving a curious look, one sharp brow raised. "Dare I ask how this came about?"

[brave_heart_verity]

"Hey, boss." Schön gets a friendly smile that, upon the second question, turns embarrassed. "We-ell..."

It's never a good sign when she starts drawing words out like that. She's from Manhattan, it's unnatural! "You know that new pet store down the street from the farmer's market I like? I swear I was just going to look. I wasn't even planning to go inside! But then someone came out with a basket of puppies that needed playing with. To socialize them."

While she's talking, puppy trots over to meet Schön. His shoes get some sniffs, but it's the cane she's really interested in. It smells fantastic, like every good thing! She yips at it before sitting to look up at Schön hopefully. They're gonna be friends!

"And... well... just look at her." Ver sighs and shrugs. She was helpless before the persuasive powers of puppy.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

Dear oh dear, if Verity is drawing out words, it must be something momentous, indeed. While Verity's telling her tale, although he is listening, Schön tilts his head down to watch the puppy's approach, and a little to one side as he considers the little striped lady.

"She does have a certain charm," he concedes, adding, "is she honest?" Bending down, he offers a hand for the puppy to sniff with all the grave formality of introducing oneself to royalty.

[brave_heart_verity]

Isn't it terrible? Horrible and vicious and slobbering, this beast of hers. Not fit for human companionship. Not cute at all.

Puppy sniffs, then gives his fingers a lick before headbutting Schön's hand to let it be known pets would be acceptable. Perhaps even welcome. Her tail is going a mile a minute. She seriously might manage to fly if she keeps it up.

"Most animals are," she points out. "So... this isn't against my lease, right?"

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

The call for pets does not go unanswered; a slim hand strokes the top of that fuzzy head a few times before scratching behind her ears.

"Is she house-trained? Does she tend to chew on corners?" It's not a hard yes, but it's not a hard no, either.

[brave_heart_verity]

Ooooooooh Schön is the best sort of tall one! Pets and scratches, what a day! Puppy pants happily before flopping over to expose her tummy.

"Mostly, and not as far as I'm aware. I will, of course, pay for any repairs necessary." It's either gonna be a hard yes or a hard 'fuck, I just finished decorating and now I need to move', which would be sad. "Your ad does say 'pet-friendly'."

[fightlikehell]

If Verity is in Nexus, then chances are Matt will be in Nexus soon after if he isn't already there. They do have lives, yes. They're braided together as intricately as her fashionable hair. He is expecting to meet Verity. What he isn't expecting is one more precious thing.

"Did you make a friend, sweetheart?"

[brave_heart_verity]

It's true, they've started doing that irritatingly adorable 'couple' thing where they're more often together than apart. The shopping together, the errands, the loving bickering over whose turn it is to choose their treat for the day when they both know exactly whose turn it is and what they're going to choose. If it were anyone else, it'd probably make Verity sick.

Verity's smile for Matt is only slightly tempered by the passing thought that he might not want a dog. But that's silly, of course he'll want this dog, this dog is awesome. "Yes, I did. She is the cutest puppy I have ever seen. She has stripes, Matt. Stripes." Even her blind boyfriend knows the importance of stripes in her life. (He may not realize how often she's dressing him in them, too.)

(It's a lot.)

Puppy is not keen on his cane. It is not magic and does not smell like everything good, and it taps around so enticingly. So actually, Puppy is very keen on the cane. On pouncing and chewing on the cane, to be precise. It's a bit more cane than she can really handle but she'll grow into it!

That was the plan until Ver scoops Puppy up. "None of that, girl. That's not for you to play with."

[fightlikehell]

Their little love discussions are only irritating to third parties. First and second parties of M. Murdock and V. Willis are the only ones that matter. Clearly neither of them find it irritating. Matt could do it all day. Some times he does. She's there step for step, tirelessly. It's their game.

That wagging tail and canine heartbeat keep going, going, going. He's still and listens to paws hit the pavement and teeth gnaw. "Stripes? Where?" Because he's picturing them the way that a zebra has stripes. "Cutest ever." The words on her tongue are adorable on his even he is finding them skeptical. Blame it on all the lawyer speak ready to come out. His fingertips brush over Verity's shoulder and arm as he leans in to press a kiss to her cheek. Wiggly, wagging tail kicks up in speed.

"She's just playing." And they both know that there are plenty of spare canes.
Stripes are a Verity fashion staple that he's aware of. How often they come up is yet to be seen. Sheer glee.

[brave_heart_verity]

Well, of course, she's there. She can't let him think he's winning or anything. Or, worse, that she doesn't want to play. He can get as lawyerly about it as he wants, she knows the secret way around that.

Puppy wonders what this face smooshing is about. This is new and strange behavior from the tall ones! Maybe this is a good chance to get his cane away now? No? No cane? Aww.

Verity giggles at how cute he sounds when he's all skeptical. He can kiss her cheek if he wants, and she'll return the favor, but then she's getting a proper kiss from him. There's no reason to be shy about it. "Yes. She's adorable. All four legs and her tail have brown stripes, like rings. Her ears are brown too. The rest is white. And she's got black eyes and a black nose. You want to say hello?" 'Just playing', hmph. Looks like she's going to have to be the strict one.

Puppy would like to say hello! Once she's up in Ver's arms she reaches out to bap Matt's arm with a paw. Hello! Hello new tall one, now is the time to adore the cute puppy and show her loves.

[fightlikehell]

Secret not secret. He's overjoyed to find that he can spar with her both verbally and physically. All of it lovingly. Just playing at all is winning. Verity's poker face puts an extra challenge on it.

Oh sweet lil' pup there will be so much smooshing with these people. Face smooshing and more. "Aren't all puppies pretty darn cute?" the curve of his smile only means that it's not a true challenge of her point. Since she's got that feisty little animal in her arms, he can give her a real kiss. No shyness. Not even in front of baby animals.

"Okay, so that does sound like it might be cuter than typical. I should just see myself." In his way. Matt reaches out with both hands to fluff and pet. So small and wiggly! "Hi," he says softly, smiling. The arm bap is nothing at all. "How are you? Are you being good?"

[brave_heart_verity]

No, it's not much of a secret that she can disarm him with a touch. Not between them, anyway. Loving sport between them is always a good thing. This is one they can enjoy in public.

So much with the smooshing. They're going to have to learn to keep puppy out of the bedroom. "Yes, they are, but she's even cuter than normal puppies. She'd be a superhero of cuteness were a superpower." He might not be really trying to challenge her, but she's going to argue her point anyway. Right up until the kissing commences.

Which is an excellent time for puppy to investigate this smooshing. She wriggles up to sniff at them and then presses her nose to Matt's chin. This is how it works, right? Clearly this is how it works if there's petting afterward. The questions don't mean much to puppy, but she'll yip happily at being given attention.

"I think she likes you. So... can we keep her? Please?"

Oh wow that puppy is so cute

[kalel_ofkrypton]

Clark is very much a dog person, although he's never seen one that looks quite like this, with the stripes and all. Even if he wasn't, his own pet is interested in meeting something new. A tiny blue dragon, about the size of a young kitten, lands on the floor just out of leash range and sniffs in the puppy's direction, trilling.

"If you want to be cliche about it, you could call her Socks," Clark says with a smile, as he approaches. "But then I've had my ideas for pet names vetoed several times now."

I know right? I wasn't even gonna get Ver any pets but then I saw this puppy.

[brave_heart_verity]

Ver and the puppy react with about equal amounts of surprise to the dragon. Ver didn't know there were any members of the Flock around. Puppy's just excited to have a new playmate and bounds over toward the dragon to sniff and yip curiously. What is this thing? What is that noise? And, most importantly--does it want to play?

"Socks would be pretty on the nose." Ver raises her free hand and gives Clark a wave and a smile when he comes over. "You're one of the most powerful superheroes in your universe, and you let your kids veto pet names? That's kind of adorable."

[kalel_ofkrypton]

The little blue creature hops back a step at the puppy's approach, squeaking in surprise, before it stands its ground. It's seen dogs before, just not this small. Not closer to its own size.

Clark waves back to Verity. "Hey, not just the kids," he says with a grin. "No one let me call my first dog Krypto. Though Jonathan did name our second dog when he was five. I'm just glad he called her Ree instead of something ridiculous like Ice Cream or something."

[brave_heart_verity]

Uh oh. Puppy thinks this is a game, and bounds forward excitedly to chase the little dragon. But, well, leash; puppy's not getting too far. Once that's realized, puppy yips and runs in a little circle before looking at the dragon again. They could run around together?

"Oh, not just the kids. Much less adorable that way." He gets a smirk back for his attempt at salvaging his tough guy rep. "Ree's a good name. Why would you want to name a dog 'Krypto'?"

[kalel_ofkrypton]

The little blue dragon is a bit confused at the puppy's behavior, and copies it in hopes of understanding, turning in a circle on the spot. What an odd little creature.

"He was a rescue who'd had lab experiments done on him, so he had super strength like mine at the time," Clark explains. "I'm Kryptonian, so as far as I'm concerned, it was a fitting name. The powers didn't stick, but the name Shelby did. Best dog I ever had."

[brave_heart_verity]

Yes! Good, little dragon is learning. Puppy bounds forward again, then scampers back with tail wagging. Come over here, little dragon, come and play. There could be wrestling!

"Oh, I'm sorry to hear that. Shelby was lucky to have you." Super-strength or no, after life in a lab, life on a farm must have seemed idyllic.