+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

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

Well, his shoes are shiny, and smell of fresh polish, but they also smell like they've been any number of peculiar places.

"You're welcome. Is there anyone you might like to honor? That could be another fitting name."

[brave_heart_verity]

Oh yes, very worth investigating. Sniff sniff, paw tap, scampering. Schön is just full of delights!

Schön can see the little signs in her expression of the pain she's getting better at hiding. The way the light in her eyes dims and gravity seems to be heavier for a moment. But she tries to make a joke of it, despite all that. Or because of it. "Oh... considering Loki's luck with dogs, I don't think he'd appreciate it."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

Ah, of course. Really, who else would Verity honor? Bending down again, Schön gives the puppy a nudge back in the direction of her human, a gentle suggestion that Verity might need the attention more at the moment. The shoes will still be there later.

"Ah, perhaps not. Does anything roll particularly pleasingly off the tongue?"

[brave_heart_verity]

It's a pretty obvious choice, but that doesn't make it wrong.

Puppy doesn't understand at first. Does Schön not like her anymore? It's only when she turns to her tall one for sympathy that she realizes, oh no, sads! Must defeat the sads! Time for upsies, tall one, so that Puppy can lick away all the sads.

(There may be a reason Verity let herself get talked into this.)

"I've never really thought about it," she admits quietly. Baby names aren't something she's let herself mull over in life. Puppy will have her upsies and a cuddle.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

Alright, clearly Schön is going to need to talk with this dog when she's a little older about the fine art of subtle hints, but for now it's enough that she got to the conclusion intended. Good dog.

"Hmm. Perhaps a great lady of history--Boudica, who refused to be held accountable for someone else's choices? Theodora, the great empress? Elvira, after the comedienne?"

[brave_heart_verity]

Puppy's young! She'll learn. Small animals and children require patience after all. For now, there are cuddles and a wagging tail, and Ver's sads don't linger long. It's a win.

"Boudica? Wasn't she a warrior queen or something?"

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"She was: queen of the Celts. Her husband, while he lived, ran up debts with Rome, and when he died Rome turned to her, expecting to collect." He chuckles softly, shaking his head. "Celtic belief includes a form of reincarnation, and it's believed that a soul reborn carries any debts left over from its past lives. Boudica told Rome to wait for his next life and collect from him then, as the debt wasn't hers."

[brave_heart_verity]

"This is why you need to read the terms and conditions before signing on the dotted line," she points out with a sigh. "So she went to war over annoying debt collectors?"

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"And to watch what may be signed by the spouse," he agrees. "And she did."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Hmm. That too. Good thing Matt's a lawyer. Did she win?"

Puppy wants more pets now please. Yip?

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

Puppy can have more pets, although for Verity's question, Schön has to sigh and shake his head. "I'm afraid she did not, at least not in most worlds. Rome was able, with its legions and its mercenaries, to overbear the Celts with sheer numbers."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Oh. That's too bad." Ver sighs, and focuses on puppy again. Cute is better than disappointment. "It's still a good name. Boudica."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"It is," he agrees. "I would very much have liked to see her win."

[brave_heart_verity]

"Really? Even given your line of work?"

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

"I was not in this line of work, then," he explains, "and my sympathies were very much with the Celts."

[brave_heart_verity]

Verity's... she's just going to think about that for a minute. Puppy takes this chance to try to pet Schon.

"Whatever, you're still eight." The muttering might seem bitter if it weren't for that little smirk.

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

Aw, you can pet, puppy, it's sweet of you to want to. Are you petting a hand, a foot? Wherever, it's good.

He laughs at her mutter, admitting, "I am. Indeed, I am."

[brave_heart_verity]

Puppy will pet wherever she can reach. Right up until it gets everyone focused back on the important things, like petting her.

Ver's gaze shifts slightly to the side before she adds, "You, though, I dunno."

[u_can_have_it_4_a_song]

Wouldn't want to go too long without pets, would we? Schön has a few more for the faithful pup.

Verity's remark gets a laugh and a grin, and really, what more fitting answer could there be?