Picking Up Strays [Closed] - Printable Version
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Picking Up Strays [Closed] - megs - 07-26-2015
Grayson dropped his paper and his fork, glancing under his arm and down to the floor where tiny Aida was pawing at his chair. She was making an awful lot of noise, for having just woken up. He stepped off the stool, so he could pick her up, smirking slightly because it was hard to resist when she looked so adorable. He would probably have to work on the way he very noticeably treated her differently as a dog.
He set her in his lap, hooking his feet into the rail of the stool so she didn't fall off. He resumed reading his paper. He pet her absent-mindedly with the hand that had abandoned breakfast. "Are you hungry?" he asked her. Knowing she could understand just barely made talking to a dog less weird. "One doggy stomp for yes. Two for no."
"We have to go out today," he said after waiting for her response. "We're going to pick up a few things for you, and I have some errands to run."
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - Tindome - 07-26-2015
Grayson was much more obedient when she was a dog, which seemed like the opposite of how things should be. Was her human face not cute enough? Her human tush not sexy enough? Unfair, was what this was. But it was hard to compete with a puppy, especially when she was also the puppy.
She was still a little jealous of herself.
She made herself comfortable in the space that had been provided for her, curling up and enjoying the coziness of it. She uncurled a little when he asked his question, and attempted to tap his leg twice. She gave him two good whacks instead. She huffed irritably. She was going to need to find an alternate tapping methodology, for however long as she stayed here.
Specialized barks? Not subtle enough. Letting people think he was a crazy person who talked to his dog was far preferable to people knowing that she could understand him and talk back. She stood, deciding to use the hand he'd been petting her with to experiment. Three licks, then a lick, a tap of her nose, and another lick.
They'd never actually established if he knew morse code, and he didn't seem to like it when she licked him, so she probably would have been better off barking.
She was still a little jealous of herself.
She made herself comfortable in the space that had been provided for her, curling up and enjoying the coziness of it. She uncurled a little when he asked his question, and attempted to tap his leg twice. She gave him two good whacks instead. She huffed irritably. She was going to need to find an alternate tapping methodology, for however long as she stayed here.
Specialized barks? Not subtle enough. Letting people think he was a crazy person who talked to his dog was far preferable to people knowing that she could understand him and talk back. She stood, deciding to use the hand he'd been petting her with to experiment. Three licks, then a lick, a tap of her nose, and another lick.
They'd never actually established if he knew morse code, and he didn't seem to like it when she licked him, so she probably would have been better off barking.
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - megs - 07-26-2015
Grayson's fingers twitched but he didn't pull away. He stopped reading, to consider that there had been a very specific method to her actions. Had she just licked him in Morse code? He went over the gestures in his head. "You just licked me in Morse code," he said, the surprise evident in his voice. He wasn't sure which aspect of the moment surprised him the most. That she knew the language at all or that she had chosen to utilize it in her dog form. "That's cool. I like that." He rubbed one of her small ears between his fingers to pinpoint his praise. From Grayson any sort of compliment was high praise, since he very rarely liked anything.
He scooped her up from his lap with one hand and cleaned up with this other. Dishes were left in the sink, and the paper was lost with the rest of the recycling. He was impressively unburdened by carrying around a poodle. "Do you want me to put you down?" he asked, as he walked to the foyer and began shoving things into his pockets - wallet, keys, and his watch to put on when he had free hands.
"We're going to have to go the pet store first," he explained with a sigh. He felt like he was going to regret next few hours. "If I am going to take you out as a poodle, I'm going to have to get you a collar and a tag," he was frowning, but there was something sheepish about it. "It'll only be while we're out today. I promise."
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - Tindome - 07-26-2015
She leaned into his hand and gave a bark of confirmation, her tail wagging. She didn't know why she was so pleased. Some kind of a weird dog thing, probably. He wasn't really nice enough when she wasn't a dog to have a basis of comparison.
Her paws wrapped around his hand to make her feel more secure, because all that moving around made it very easy to feel like she was about to fall to her fucking death. Being held against his chest made it better, and made for a much better view of her surroundings. Also: less likely to get stepped on.
Fucking everything was dangerous to a tiny dog.
She held on tighter to indicate that she was perfectly fine where she was, thank-you-very-much. She huffed about the collar, but she supposed it couldn't be helped. As long as he remembered to take it off before nightfall, it would be fine. Maybe one of those snap-away safety collars.
"It better be," she barked, a tiny warning. Terrifying and vicious. A maneater of a dog.
Her paws wrapped around his hand to make her feel more secure, because all that moving around made it very easy to feel like she was about to fall to her fucking death. Being held against his chest made it better, and made for a much better view of her surroundings. Also: less likely to get stepped on.
Fucking everything was dangerous to a tiny dog.
She held on tighter to indicate that she was perfectly fine where she was, thank-you-very-much. She huffed about the collar, but she supposed it couldn't be helped. As long as he remembered to take it off before nightfall, it would be fine. Maybe one of those snap-away safety collars.
"It better be," she barked, a tiny warning. Terrifying and vicious. A maneater of a dog.
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - megs - 07-26-2015
He chuckled, because her consensus was clear about putting her down. He held her closer to his chest, to reaffirm the fact that he wasn't going to drop her. Grayson rolled his eyes as she huffed at him and he walked out the front door. "Just while we're out," he emphasized. Something about that tiny bark seemed like a threat. Once inside in the car he placed her into the passenger seat. The overcast nature of the city, and the cooling weather meant he didn't have to worry about the car being to hot. That didn't keep him from turning the AC on high when the car rumbled to life.
He drove them downtown in silence. Chatter from his police radio cut through every so often, but he only turned it down in response. If they actually needed his services the would have to call him.
The pet store that Lace had suggested looked generic. He was only there for accessories, and it's not like he actually had to worry about the quality. He picked her up again, and got out of the car. The chirp of it locking sounded off behind them as he walked into the building. He put poodle Aida into a cart so he could use both of his hands. He wheeled her around, looking for collars and the like.
Determined not to spend too much time in the store, he found the smallest plain black collar, and tossed it into the cart.
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - Tindome - 07-26-2015
She would have protested the air conditioning, if she could. She settled for activating the seat warmer with a firm paw and curling up against the back of the seat. Having someone be aware of what she was made things strange. It gave her more autonomy than usual, but it also made those things she couldn't do for herself a bit more embarrassing. If she spent too much time thinking about being carried around all the time, she'd be mortified.
She sat in the cart like it was her own personal palanquin, nose crinkling at the smells of fish and pet foods. If he tried to buy her dog food, she was going to smack him.
He dropped a collar in the cart, and her ears went up; she would have frowned if she could have. "Oh, no, I don't think so." She picked it up with her teeth, and slid it out through the mesh of the cart so that it fell to the floor. "That is completely unacceptable. I'm already basic black. Look at this fur. Does this look like fur that needs more black? No? Then you go ahead and fuck right off with that."
She got up with her front paws against the cart to get a better look at the selection, nose twitching as she did so. "That one," she decided finally, sticking her nose through the cart to try and point at it. Hot pink, decorated in rhinestone glitter sugar skulls that seemed to be a theme for that particular brand of pet accessories. She made a whining sound as she continued to point at it aggressively, scratching at the cart as if to break through and pick it up herself.
She sat in the cart like it was her own personal palanquin, nose crinkling at the smells of fish and pet foods. If he tried to buy her dog food, she was going to smack him.
He dropped a collar in the cart, and her ears went up; she would have frowned if she could have. "Oh, no, I don't think so." She picked it up with her teeth, and slid it out through the mesh of the cart so that it fell to the floor. "That is completely unacceptable. I'm already basic black. Look at this fur. Does this look like fur that needs more black? No? Then you go ahead and fuck right off with that."
She got up with her front paws against the cart to get a better look at the selection, nose twitching as she did so. "That one," she decided finally, sticking her nose through the cart to try and point at it. Hot pink, decorated in rhinestone glitter sugar skulls that seemed to be a theme for that particular brand of pet accessories. She made a whining sound as she continued to point at it aggressively, scratching at the cart as if to break through and pick it up herself.
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - megs - 07-26-2015
There was a chuckle from the other end of the aisle. Grayson looked up from where he was frowning at Aida who was still begging and whining for the other collar. Tiny barks attracting attention. A tall, red head was approaching him, and he would have frowned harder if it were possible. "I don't think she likes that one," the woman said, polite enough to pick the discarded collar.
"I guess not," he replied, shooting a glare at the poodle in question.
"She's very cute," the woman continued. She replaced the collar and reached as if she would pet Aida. Grayson wasn't going to stop her, but the woman stopped herself. "May I?" she asked, and Grasyon could only shrug in response because he really had no fucking idea.
"I'm not sure," he explained, pushing a hand through his hair. This was an eventuality that he hadn't accounted for. It's not like the people around him were going to take a look at the cute teacup poodle he was carrying around and assume they couldn't pet it. It wasn't like he was going to explain that it was actually an equally tiny woman.
"Oh, are you dog sitting for your girlfriend or something?" The woman was holding her hand out to Aida, to sniff or whatever it was she expected a real dog to do in response. Grayson vaguely recognized this as flirting. The woman had only given the perfect excuse to get rid of her.
"Yes. She's a surprise. For my…girlfriend." Grayson pulled the wildly more flamboyant collar Aida had been pawing at, and set it next to her in the cart. "Well, bye," he said, maneuvering the cart around the woman without bothering to be polite about it.
"What does it matter?" he whispered, leaning her arms against the cart. The rest of the aisle was turning into various useless things, like dog dresses and hair bows. "It's temporary," he reminded, rolling his eyes at a puppy tutu.
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - Tindome - 07-27-2015
Nadine looked to the hot redhead at the end of the aisle, and her tail immediately started to wag. There was just something about a redhead. Something that Grayson apparently did not agree on, because he didn't sound very interested. Since Nadine couldn't exactly get any during the day, it seemed like a real waste. She dropped down from where she was pointing stand at the other end of the cart instead, more accessible for petting from passing hotties.
She barked her assent, tail still wagging, licking the woman's fingers and nudging her into headpets. Her perfume was nice, her manicure was impeccable, and at some point that morning she'd had a chai latte. How could anyone turn down a chance at that? And here Nadine was, handing her to him on a silver platter.
Petting lasted only briefly, ending when Grayson moved the cart away, taking Nadine out of redhead range and causing her to tip over in the cart. She rolled back onto her feet and shook her head, looking at him reproachfully. She was fine, but that wouldn't stop her from making him feel bad about taking her away from attention.
She got distracted when she noticed accessories made by the same manufacturer as the ones who'd made the collar. Specifically, a set of hot pink bows with sugar skulls in the middle. "Look! Look look look look! Look over there! Stop the cart and look! I swear to god if you don't stop I'm just going to keep yelling, look, you have to get those, they match! All things in life are fleeting! Get me some cute shit!"
She barked her assent, tail still wagging, licking the woman's fingers and nudging her into headpets. Her perfume was nice, her manicure was impeccable, and at some point that morning she'd had a chai latte. How could anyone turn down a chance at that? And here Nadine was, handing her to him on a silver platter.
Petting lasted only briefly, ending when Grayson moved the cart away, taking Nadine out of redhead range and causing her to tip over in the cart. She rolled back onto her feet and shook her head, looking at him reproachfully. She was fine, but that wouldn't stop her from making him feel bad about taking her away from attention.
She got distracted when she noticed accessories made by the same manufacturer as the ones who'd made the collar. Specifically, a set of hot pink bows with sugar skulls in the middle. "Look! Look look look look! Look over there! Stop the cart and look! I swear to god if you don't stop I'm just going to keep yelling, look, you have to get those, they match! All things in life are fleeting! Get me some cute shit!"
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - megs - 07-27-2015
Even if he were to be interested in taking a woman home. Which he was not, just to be clear. What was he supposed to do when Aida turned back into a woman? He watched her bask in the attention she was receiving, and figured himself delusional for thinking she was trying to act as puppy wingman. He apologized for tipping her over, because he caved under that dewy-eyed look she was giving him. Moving out of redhead range had only put him in dark-skinned brunette range, because one rounded the corner and started the whole process over again.
He answered her questions while pretending to consider the matching hair bows he assumed Aida was losing her mind over.
When he was finally able to get the woman to leave he tossed the bows in the cart and proceeded to check out. Along with the collar and the bows he purchased a dog tag. It was heart-shaped, because it was the only one that was pink and he didn't think he would hear the end of picking something that didn't match.
After getting the tag engraved with just her name and a phone number (because the machine refused to accept just a name) he picked up his bag and Aida and went back to his car.
Once in the vehicle he started pulling tags off everything. "Is Kohl's good enough to get you some clothes?" He asked distractedly, working the tag into the collar.
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - Tindome - 07-27-2015
She basked in the attention of various pretty women, almost making up for Grayson's complete disinterest. Confusing, was what that was. She was just throwing threesome opportunities at him, basically, and he wasn't picking them up. He could at least get their numbers so she could call them. His exit this time was much more graceful, and so Nadine resumed her regal posture until they'd finished checking out.
Sitting in the car, she attempted to gnaw the hairbows out of their protective packaging. She barked her assent to the shopping trip, because she wasn't exactly picky. That was probably actually more expensive than was strictly necessary. Not that she could tell him that, without a lot of time and an obnoxious amount of Morse code. She tore away some of the cardboard from the hairbows, but they still had wire wrapped around them. Also, she didn't have thumbs to put them on. There were a lot of problems happening.
Giving up, she climbed over the center console and into his lap while his hands were too busy to stop her. She then got up on her back legs and propped her paws on the steering wheel. She wiggled her paws against the wheel and barked, because nothing was funnier than a tiny dog pretending to have road rage.
Also it would be easier for him to play doggy dress-up. But, mostly, funny.
Sitting in the car, she attempted to gnaw the hairbows out of their protective packaging. She barked her assent to the shopping trip, because she wasn't exactly picky. That was probably actually more expensive than was strictly necessary. Not that she could tell him that, without a lot of time and an obnoxious amount of Morse code. She tore away some of the cardboard from the hairbows, but they still had wire wrapped around them. Also, she didn't have thumbs to put them on. There were a lot of problems happening.
Giving up, she climbed over the center console and into his lap while his hands were too busy to stop her. She then got up on her back legs and propped her paws on the steering wheel. She wiggled her paws against the wheel and barked, because nothing was funnier than a tiny dog pretending to have road rage.
Also it would be easier for him to play doggy dress-up. But, mostly, funny.
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - megs - 07-27-2015
Grayson watched her destroy cardboard out of the corner of his eye, content to let her do so for now. When she clambered over to his lap, he only lifted his arms to make room for her. He was still working the tag onto the collar, but that didn't stop him from smiling a little when she commandeered the steering wheel. While Aida was playing doggy driver, Grayson gently secured the collar around her neck. It wasn't tight, and she could probably wiggle out of it if she was determined, but that was fine because it was really only for show. He would not admit that it looked cute on her. He reached for the bows next, twisting them out of the remaining packaging without a complaint. She made him buy them so she better fucking wear them. He carefully worked two of them into her fur in such a manner that made her ears look like pigtails.
Growing up with two sisters was finally becoming useful to him.
When he was finished, he scratched beneath her chin, before replacing her into the passenger seat, so they could proceed to their next destination. This adventure was going to be trickier than their last. Especially since the first thing that was said to him when he entered Kohl's was "Sir, you can't have a dog in here."
Grayson looked down to where Aida was snuggled against his chest, and then back to the employee that had addressed him. "This is a service dog," he deadpanned, arching a brow as if daring the woman to contradict him. She stared back at him, but didn't say anything. So Grayson left her to gape.
"I have no idea what section to take you to," he stopped at an intersection of departments. "Petites?" he asked, facing one direction, "or juniors?" he finished, turning the other because he trusted her to give him some sort of sign.
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - Tindome - 07-27-2015
She stayed very still and very polite as Grayson fixed her up with a collar and two little bows, and she wished she could see what they looked like, because this was probably fucking adorable. When he set her down she tried to hop up enough to see herself in a side mirror, but she just wasn't big enough. She gave up with a huff, secure in the knowledge that she was the cutest even if she couldn't confirm it.
She continued to act very regal as they entered the store, looking down her nose at anyone who questioned her presence. This ended when he asked for directions, because there was a very large sign that said Candie's on it, and she knew exactly where she wanted to go. She pointed her nose and moved her paws like she was trying to swim through the air towards her destination.
When he acquiesced she immediately started sniffing towards items of interest. She wrinkled her nose at a flag necklace, but used her teeth to knock a set of bracelets off the rack. She did the same to a scarf in passing, then nosed at a set of skirts until she found an extra-small to gnaw at. She stayed quiet despite her inclinations to the contrary, because there was a very good chance that no one would notice her as long as she wasn't barking.
Not that knocking things to the floor was particularly subtle. But picking them up was what Grayson was for! And, also, paying for them. She wasn't exactly stopping to look at the pricetags.
When she'd finished ambushing everything that caught her eye, she settled back with a yawn. There was not actually enough clothes to make it through a week, and she was missing any number of accessories. Decorations for her hair, bracelets, necklaces - she'd stocked up on those. Certain necessities, less so. Underwear, for instance. But he was on his own for that. He could just pick out something he liked, as long as she didn't hate it. She was interested to see what he chose. Was he more the black lace or the white cotton type? Cute, or sexy? She could play either, wherever they ended up.
She continued to act very regal as they entered the store, looking down her nose at anyone who questioned her presence. This ended when he asked for directions, because there was a very large sign that said Candie's on it, and she knew exactly where she wanted to go. She pointed her nose and moved her paws like she was trying to swim through the air towards her destination.
When he acquiesced she immediately started sniffing towards items of interest. She wrinkled her nose at a flag necklace, but used her teeth to knock a set of bracelets off the rack. She did the same to a scarf in passing, then nosed at a set of skirts until she found an extra-small to gnaw at. She stayed quiet despite her inclinations to the contrary, because there was a very good chance that no one would notice her as long as she wasn't barking.
Not that knocking things to the floor was particularly subtle. But picking them up was what Grayson was for! And, also, paying for them. She wasn't exactly stopping to look at the pricetags.
When she'd finished ambushing everything that caught her eye, she settled back with a yawn. There was not actually enough clothes to make it through a week, and she was missing any number of accessories. Decorations for her hair, bracelets, necklaces - she'd stocked up on those. Certain necessities, less so. Underwear, for instance. But he was on his own for that. He could just pick out something he liked, as long as she didn't hate it. She was interested to see what he chose. Was he more the black lace or the white cotton type? Cute, or sexy? She could play either, wherever they ended up.
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - megs - 07-27-2015
He picked up the items she knocked down and pawed at with little protest. Sometimes he would mutter a "really?" or sigh at something that seemed a bit too frivolous, but he would put them in a cart he'd snagged, anyway. When she finally seemed satisfied, he set her down in the front part of the cart rifled through the things she had picked out. He sighed again, noticing that she had not bothered to choose any undergarments. He leaned against the basket and looked at her. He almost felt like she had done so on purpose. Like, this was some weird test. He stood straighter, figuring that he was just being extra crazy, today, and moved towards the lingerie section, pulling the cart behind him.
He did his best to extrapolate a panty size from the clothing she'd picked. He figured if he chose wrong, she would be more than happy to let him know. He did not spend a lot of time considering style or fabric, because he did not want to seem like he was particularly interested in the panties she wore.
That was not to say he did not choose based on personal preference because he didn't know how else to go about it. That meant she got a lot of cheeky-style in a mixture of cotton edged in lace or just lace if he found he liked the color.
There was a surprising amount of nice colors and cute patterns for someone who's wardrobe was lacking either.
"Do you want bras?" He pushed a hand through his hair. "Do you even wear bras?" Which was not meant to be an insult in regards to her body. For whatever reason she just did not seem like the type to him.
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - Tindome - 07-28-2015
Nadine watched him with entirely too much focus for a dog, particularly when he wasn't holding food. Her eyesight didn't get better when she was a dog, so she couldn't really pick out details until he'd dropped his choices into the cart. Then she'd prod at them with her nose and get a good look at them, before nudging them toward the rest of the clothes, satisfied. He was leaning on the cute side of things; not sweet-cute, but cute nonetheless. Hmm.
She shook her head in response to his question, because he'd guessed correctly that she didn't bother. There simply wasn't enough to require containment, as far as she was concerned. And underwire was uncomfortable. Of course, if he was the sort to like buying matched lingerie sets than that was his own business. She might wear them, if she thought it would be fun.
She looked around the store as best she could from where she stood, but everything was sort of big and blurry, so if there was anything interesting she couldn't see it. Maybe some kind of fancy pillow that he could carry her around on, like a princess. Extra-spoiled.
Giving up, she curled up on top of the pile of clothes with another yawn. She still watched him, though; curious to see if he'd find anything else that struck his fancy for her, what else he might consider necessary. Sexy pajamas, or comfy sweatpants, or sweaters too tight and too thin to provide proper protection from the weather. The sweater seemed like the safest bet, from what she'd seen so far. But, who knew? Maybe he had a thing for daisy dukes or leather leggings.
Unfortunately, even if Kohl's had stocked fetishy costumes, she had a hunch Grayson was not the sort to buy them.
She shook her head in response to his question, because he'd guessed correctly that she didn't bother. There simply wasn't enough to require containment, as far as she was concerned. And underwire was uncomfortable. Of course, if he was the sort to like buying matched lingerie sets than that was his own business. She might wear them, if she thought it would be fun.
She looked around the store as best she could from where she stood, but everything was sort of big and blurry, so if there was anything interesting she couldn't see it. Maybe some kind of fancy pillow that he could carry her around on, like a princess. Extra-spoiled.
Giving up, she curled up on top of the pile of clothes with another yawn. She still watched him, though; curious to see if he'd find anything else that struck his fancy for her, what else he might consider necessary. Sexy pajamas, or comfy sweatpants, or sweaters too tight and too thin to provide proper protection from the weather. The sweater seemed like the safest bet, from what she'd seen so far. But, who knew? Maybe he had a thing for daisy dukes or leather leggings.
Unfortunately, even if Kohl's had stocked fetishy costumes, she had a hunch Grayson was not the sort to buy them.
Picking Up Strays [Closed] - megs - 07-28-2015
She hadn't nudged anything he had chosen out of the cart and he supposed he should take that as some sort of compliment. Which gave him the tiniest swelling of pride that he managed to hid behind his permanent frown. He bypassed the bras and sort of backpedaled into the clothing because from what he could tell she had picked things that were mostly fancy. Nothing that looked like it could be slept in, and he wanted to encourage the idea that she wear clothes more often than not. For some reason he was surprised to find there was an entire section dedicated to sleepwear. He didn't browse for very long, honing in on a sign that advertised what they were calling sleep pants, and pulling two from the rack. One was Spider Man themed and the other X-Men themed. He couldn’t imagine he would get too much complaint she she'd spent the night talking comics at him in a blanket fort.
He pushed her through the shoe section, waiting for her to bark or whine at some ridiculous overpriced heel that he would grudgingly put into the cart for her and also buy with his money because he was a fucking sucker.
He also may have picked out a sweater dress, because sometimes it was cold and she seemed like she would indulge him in wearing a sweater that was also a dress.
He may have also picked out a pair or two of over the knee socks. On what he thought was a whim, but would discover later was because he definitely had a thing for over the knee socks.
This trip had been very… expensive. He channeled his disappointment into this fact at the cashier in the form of a furrowed brow as he watched the total climb higher. He would frown at the poodle, when he was alone to do so, and probably also later when she turned into a woman. As if he had not also had something to do with the expenses. He paid and he signed, and he threw everything into the trunk of his car.
The only other stop he made was at Walgreen's, and that was to refill his medication and pick her up some toiletries. He refused to be swayed when she nosed towards anything that wasn't strictly hygienic. He was nice enough to let her choose her own scents.
When they returned home, he brought her inside first, dropping her on the couch, because the sun was setting and he still wasn't sure when she turned into a woman exactly. He brought in her haul shortly afterwards, setting all of the bags on the floor in the living room. He took off her collar, before disappearing into the kitchen.