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Unexpected [Closed] - Printable Version

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Unexpected [Closed] - megs - 03-08-2020

Despite her husband’s protests, Julianna had a new dog.

Temporarily, at least.

She could tell by the stony expression on his face that he was cursing her affinity for living things and her ability to be woken from a dead sleep by the sound of pathetic mewling in the dark.

“I think she’s just a puppy,” Julianna said, without looking at him. It was three in the morning and she had the dog in the bathtub. Owen was standing over her, just watching her with an air of exasperation. The dog had been cold and muddy, and Jules figured a warm bath would be just the thing to help. With the muck washed off, the dog’s charming blue and black merle coat was visible and it had stopped shivering. It was pacing back and forth in the shallow water, eyes closed and tongue hanging out as Julianna washed soap off with cupfuls of water. She lifted the dog’s lips to check her teeth. “Or maybe just a mini aussie?”

Akiko’s stubby tail wiggled back and forth as she was pampered by the woman. Dog was probably her best role. It was so easy to be a cute and cheerful thing. So easily rewarded, too. Treats and being petted. What wasn’t there to like? She panted happily at the woman, and shook out her fur on cue. Tossing droplets of water all over the woman, who laughed.

At present, the shapeshifter sensed only two obstacles in her current plan. One was the tall blonde man currently looming over them as she tried to enjoy a nice bath. And the second was the stoic German Shepherd laying obediently in front of the bathroom door. It did not seem to like her.

The woman’s twin Borzois had only sniffed at her paws curiously before trotting off to their beds.

Owen remained in the bathroom, silent and watchful, because also despite his protests Julianna was sitting on the hard tile floor. She knew it was bad for her hip and her leg which had recently suffered traumatic injuries that she was still rehabilitating.

When she was finished he helped her up. She ignored the persistent pain and kept her face neutral to not upset him. “We can take her to Cain’s office tomorrow to see if she has a microchip,” she suggested, in an attempt to make him frown less. Which was a gamble given his attitude about Cain. She handed him a towel to wrap the dog up in.

“She probably belongs to someone,” Julianna pointed out with a subtle hint of sadness. “She’s very well-behaved and so sweet.”

Jules waited for Owen to hand the dog off to her. “Oh! I think there is an extra dog bed in the guest bedroom. Would you check for me?”

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - saronym - 03-09-2020

Barefoot and in nothing but grey sweats, Owen stood with his arms crossed over his chest. He was supervising the dog bath his wife was giving the dirty stray she just found... in the middle of the night. He was disapproving not of his wife's charitable nature towards helpless critters, nor her propensity for finding helpless critters, but he was disapproving of her inevitable attachment to them.

He watched the dirty water swirl down the drain as Julianna went for round two of rinsing and shampooing. The dog had been coated in a layer of mud and grime. He noticed when she grimaced as she changed positions on her bad hip to reach into the bath. His frown only deepened. He helped her from the bathroom floor when the bath was over, practically lifting her entirely on his own to spare her having to put any pressure on her still bad leg.

Owen's eyes narrowed at the suggestion of Cain. He gestured at the dog, which appeared happy enough to him. "Well, he...she...it? Appears healthy enough." He argued, weakly, against having the dog checked by their son, the vet. "Why don't you just pick a name already, I know we're keeping it." He ignored the part where she mentioned it might be someone else's dog. If it was chipped, the best way to find out was at the vet.

They had several guest bedrooms but Owen didn't need to ask which she meant. There was one where Julianna essentially stored extra things for the dogs. "Yes, I'll check." He conceded but hesitated to leave her wondering if she felt unsteady on the leg. "I'll be right back." He decided she could manage and anyways he would only be gone a moment. He returned with a soft blue bed that looked too big for the little stray she'd found, but it would do in a pinch.

"Where do you want it."

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - megs - 03-10-2020

"Well, I don't want to steal someone's dog," Julianna countered his response, as he handed the dog off to her. It was rather content to be all wrapped up in a towel and held. She pat her hand against the dog's side in a gentle rhythm like she was soothing a baby.

It wasn't until he left the bathroom to fetch the bed that she expressed any discomfort. Standing was typically fine, but the dog's added weight was a bit much after being on the floor. Not to mentioned her hand was cramping from overuse. She took a step forward and inhaled sharply as an electric shock of pain shot down from her hip to her knee. Julianna sat on the edge of the tub, bundling the dog into her lap, and waited for her husband to return.

She smiled at him despite the persistent pain. "That's perfect!" she cooed about the bed she had chosen. It had been one of Ruger's when he was still just a few months old. The stray was perched in her lap, ears perking upwards as Owen returned with the bed. Her head cocked to the side. She jumped off Julianna's lap to trot around Owen and investigate the dog bed.

Akiko was still a bit wet. Her paws left little prints on the immaculate time and her fur was slowly drying into a frizzy mess. She didn't care about that. It had been so long since she had slept in a bed. A dog bed was better than nothing, and there was no shame in the game she was playing with this charming couple.

Well, one half was charming. The other half was frowning down at her as his wife instructed him about where to put the bed.

"I think she should stay in the bathroom overnight," Julianna suggested. She was still sitting on the tub. "Duke and Duchess don't seem to mind her, but Ruger doesn't look to happy." Her ears swiveled as she pointed to the Shepherd who had followed Owen to the other room and was now sitting outside the bathroom again. "We also don't know if she is housebroken, so lets contain any accident."

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - saronym - 03-10-2020

As instructed, Owen set the dog bed down on the floor allowing the stray to begin checking it out. She seemed to understand the bed was for her.

Ruger meanwhile stalked forward and issued a warning growl at the new dog. The sound surprised Owen. Ruger was so-well behaved and functioned really as his support animal. Ruger's series of barks were even more surprising.

"Ruger!" Owen raised his voice over the protesting canine. "Knock it off. Stop." His command was enough to quiet Ruger but the dog stood, staring intently at the stray.

"What's gotten into him?" Owen asked Julianna as he moved further into the bathroom to help her up fr pool m the edge of the bath.

"Ruger, go to bed." Owen said as he ushered Julianna towards the door. The Shepherd slinked away to their bedroom to lay obediently on the bedding at Owen's side of the bed. "Maybe we should keep her in here. They need to be separated it seems like."

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - megs - 03-10-2020

Akiko dipped around the man to sniff at the bed he laid on the ground. She made a show of pretending to be apprehensive for a moment, even though she couldn’t wait to perch on the downy mattress. Her head lifted and her ears perked again as she looked over at the Shepherd who growled at her. The yelp of surprise when he barked was genuine and she skittered back to the woman by the tub.

“Oh!” Julianna complained, breathlessly. Also surprised by the sudden noise. Akiko cowered behind her legs as the other dog was scolded by the man.

The animals stared at each other for a few moments before the bigger dog was commanded away. Julianna pet her head reassuringly, and then With a few quick bounds Akiko returned to the bed tumbled on to it. She circled a few times and made herself comfortable.

Julianna rose from sitting, mostly supported by Owen. She had done too much, but she wouldn’t admit it. She would probably have to take her pain medication, even though she didn’t want to. Otherwise, it would be bad enough to keep her from sleeping. “She can stay in here for the night,” she said again. “It will either be a temporary arrangement, or they will have to get used to each other.”

She had never pegged Ruger to be the jealous type. Or maybe it had more to do with his protectiveness of Owen.

Just outside the bathroom door, Julianna whined in pain as she stumbled, her leg giving out on her. She grabbed Owen’s arm for support. Her ears pinning backwards. “Could you-sorry-” she exhaled. “Could you carry me back to bed.” Her tail curled towards her spine in embarrassment for having to ask.

Akiko’s head cocked as she watched them leave the bathroom. She had noticed the woman’s left eye was missing, and that she had some scarring on her hands. Akiko wondered what had happened to mess her up so bad.

They turned the bathroom light off and shut the door. There was an illuminated air freshener in the corner that kept if from being completely dark. She heard them talking in the bedroom, probably about her. Akiko didn’t wonder what they were discussing enough to keep from sleeping.

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - saronym - 03-10-2020

"So you are planning on keeping it, then?" Owen confirmed his initial suspicions. So long as the dog didn't belong to another, it would be hers now. Theirs.

Julianna's pained noise made his stop. "Are you alright?" His brow furrowed with concern. She obviously was not. Wordlessly, Owen swept her into his arms with ease. He was careful to guard her painful side.

"No need to apologize, love." He reassured her. "Do you want your pill?"

He carried her to their bedroom and deposited her gently on the bed, pulling back the covers for her, he also tucked her in. Ruger rose from his bed and came around to Julianna's side. He rested his chin on the edge of the mattress and looked up at Julianna. His tail swayed cautiously. He seemed to sense that she was in pain and came to offer his own measure of comfort.

Owen patted Ruger's head before he fetched the pill bottle and a glass of water. He turned the light off and joined his wife in bed flopping down against the pillows he felt a heavy tiredness from the disruption of his sleep. In the morning, he would have to see Cain. He rolled his eyes in the dark thinking about his son. That fucking boy. The cause of so much of his recent heartache.

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - megs - 03-14-2020

Julianna woke late in to the morning. She wasn't really a morning person, and a rather heavy sleeper. Not to mention her medication made her sedate, so it kept her in bed until nearly 11. Owen was absent from the bed. It was like him to have already been awake for hours. Duke and Duchess had taken his place in the bed, especially since Ruger was also off with his master. The twins were content to snooze with their mom.

Her leg was feeling better. A dull ache when she sat up, but nothing she couldn't manage as she got out of the bed and walked to the bathroom. Her ears twitched to the sound of pawing at the door. The dogs on the bed sat up, but didn't get down and only watched as the door was opened and the stray darted out.

She laughed as she watched the pup dance happy circles around her feet. "Good morning," she said to the dog, taking care as she bent down slighty to pat her head. "Alright everyone, time to go outside."

The Borzoi responded to the word 'outside' and bounded off of the bed to follow her and the new dog out of the bedroom.

Still in pajamas she entered the kitchen and was not surprised to find her husband at the island. He was drinking coffee and reading the paper. "Good morning," she said to him. She kissed his cheek as she walked by to open the double doors that led from the kitchen to the garden. The trio of dogs she brought with her took off into the expansive yard to take care of business. Julianna knew she didn't need to worry about Duke and Duchess with the little pup. She looked over her shoulder at Ruger, standing by her husband's side and cocked a brow at him. His unusual behavior from the previous night still on her mind.

"Is Cain already gone for the day?" she asked, sounding a bit sad as she turned away from the door, leaving it open for the canines to come back in when they pleased. She poured herself a cup of coffee. Owen had already gotten into the leftover scones from he previous morning so she picked one up to nibble on.

"I think I am going to name her Sadie."

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - saronym - 03-15-2020

Owen heard the clacking of multiple dog nails on the stairs before he heard the slow and deliberate steps of his wife that followed. He folded his newspaper over as she entered the kitchen, giving her a brief smile and offering his cheek for her.

"He did, yes." Owen answered briefly. "Early shift today." Julianna would know that meant that Cain's work day had started at 7 that morning. "I took the liberty to make an appointment for us at noon."

"That's a cute name," he seemed kind of distracted as he finished the news story he was reading. Finally, he put the paper down and picked up his coffee mug.

"How are you feeling this morning, love?" He asked as he got up to refresh his cup.

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - megs - 03-16-2020

Julianna intercepted her husband on his way to get coffee. Quickly, forgetting her own cup after one sip. She stepped in front of his body and the counter and wrapped her arms around his middle. One wide green eye shined up at him, the other was closed, like she was permanently winking. She rested her chin on his chest. She was purring, tail waving slowly where it dropped just above the floor. "I feel great," she replied. Which is what she always unless she was really suffering. Julianna didn't want Owen to worry about her. Which he constantly did anyway.

"You don't think it's too...simple?" she asked of the name she had chosen for the dog. The trio she had let out were all trotting back in now. "Grab me an extra bowl," she asked of him. She pursed her lips at him, in her clear indication of wanting a kiss before she pulled away from him. Already off to the next task of feeding the animals. She knew he knew where to look for an extra dog bowl.

She fed Duke and Duchess at their usual place, with matching bowls that had their names printed on them. Then, she found a new spot for Sadie to eat. Julianna was impressed with how well behaved and trained the dog seemed. "I guess there's Princess? But that's so common. Marquess? If I really wanted to keep the theme."

Akiko waited patiently for a bowl to be set down for her. Tracking the woman around the kitchen, but not enough to risk tripping her. The woman had enough injuries without a small dog sending her crashing to the ground. Besides, she was responding well to her good dog routine, so why not keepi it up.

Especially, since dog food from rich people looked like a homemade entree of chicken and rice with vegetables. How lucky for her.

Julianna returned to her coffee when she was finished with the feeding. She flexed the fingers of her dominant, as if she were in pain before picking up the mug again and taking a sip. "Oh! You said noon," she said, catching sight of the clock on the opposite wall. "I'll get ready to go." She set the mug down and moved to leave the kitchen again. She caught herself on the counter, as she stumbled. Her ears pinned backwards, but she waved Owen off, insisting she was fine.

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - saronym - 03-17-2020

Owen allowed himself to be intercepted. His brow rose quizzically as Julianna insisted that she felt well. He seemed skeptical that she would admit her precise conditon but he wasn't going to give her a hard time about it. He put his mug on the counter and placed his fingers together behind her back, staring down at her.

"Simple doesn't have to be a bad thing." Owen countered, "Maybe the royal theme is played out at this point..." He shrugged, what did he know about naming a dog. His was named after a firearm brand.

He kissed her on the forehead before he fetched the extra bowl for her. Owen went about refreshing his coffee while she handled the feeding. He watched the feeding, surprised at the well-behaved new comer.

"I wonder if she's had training." He wondered aloud as he watched Sadie eat.

Owen helped her upstairs despite her protests to being fine. He firmly insisted she speak with her brother about her injuries despite further protestations. They let the topic expire between them as they headed to the vet hospital to get Sadie examined.

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - megs - 03-19-2020

Julianna was quiet as Owen asked her to speak to her brother. She didn’t want to consider that she wasn’t getting better. A year later, and after numerous surgeries and physical therapy she still couldn’t be mobile for too long without assistance. It was frustrating and a little scary, to think that she would always feel this way.

Owen helped her dress in a simple green dress and sneakers and carried her down to the car just because he could. Moments of weakness didn’t bother her so much in their private time.

She was fiddling with the radio when he returned to the car and dropped the dog into her lap. Little Sadie looked a bit concerned to be carried by the large man but settled comfortably as they rode to the Animal Hospital where Cain worked.

The receptionist and technician lingering at the front desk were excited to see the queen with a new dog. They knew better than to treat her like royalty. Julianna preferred more comfortable interactions and would rather be treated as if she were just Cain’s mom.

“Hi, sweetheart!” She called to said to her son when she spotted him rounding the other side of the intake desk. This of course caused the two girls she’d been conversing with to giggle.

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - saronym - 04-04-2020

Owen escorted his wife into the familiar veterinarian office. He wasn't a nervous man, but something in his stomach sank when they entered the place. The anger he'd harbored for his son's actions that cost Julianna so dearly had burned cold. Now he was left with a kind of inert bitterness towards his one and only child that he had no idea what to do with. He didn't know how to move on. It made him feel slightly sick to his stomach. Slightly antsy to see ---

Cain emerged from a patient room to bring orders to the receptionist for check-out and was greeted, unexpectedly, by his mother. His ears flattened momentarily and he blushed at the way she greeted him. He took special note of the giggling of his co-workers.

"H-hey mom." He said, ears springing up again as he glanced at the dog in her arms. His ears flattened again when he met eyes with his father, looming just behind his mother. "Who's this?" Cain asked drawing his eyes away from Owen's icy gaze.

"Here, come on back." Cain gestured for her to follow him to an examination room.

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - megs - 04-05-2020

Akiko—well, she was Sadie now— waited, patient and comfortable, in Julianna’s arms as she was fawned over by the women at the front desk. The queen was sort of cradling her like a baby which left her belly exposed for scratches. Sadie thought it would be strange or uncomfortable to be pet and cooed at, but it turned out she liked the bit of spoiling. It was much better than being on the run and living under porches and eating scraps.

The dog nipped playfully at a few fingers that came near her mouth, as her short tail wagged furiously. She was idling chewing on an index finger that booped her nose when the vet (who was the woman’s son, apparently) came around the corner. She froze, paws in the air as she blinked at the tall man with curly blonde hair and a killer jawline in a lab coat.

Oh no.

He was hot.

Like, too hot. Like “no man should look that good” hot. He had a days worth of golden scruff and stormy eyes. His mouth had the most perfect Cupid’s bow she had ever seen. He was—

“This is Sadie!” Julianna announced, rousing the dog out of her unintentional staring contest. Owen’s firm hand at the middle of her back, ushered her forward as they followed Cain into one of the open exam rooms.

She placed the pup on the exam table. Sadie’s claws clicked on the metal surface as she danced around. Jules sat on the bench, trying to seem casual, but her hips was still nagging at her. The pup moved closer to Julianna, watching the vet move around with an almost dubious expression. She panted, nervously.

“We found her outside the cottage,” Julianna explained. “I wanted to get her checked to make sure she was okay, and maybe see if she has a microchip. I think she belongs to someone.”

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - saronym - 04-17-2020

"Hey Cain," was the entirely of Owen's commentary as they walked into the examination room. Julianna sat on the bench and Owen hovered protectively next to her, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed over the desk. The room felt crowded and he felt extraneous.

"A stray?" Cain asked cocking his head at the little dog who was panting at him. He

He offered her his hand to sniff and then gave her some scratching pets behind the ear. He bent down to get a closer look at her face. "Who do you belong to pretty girl?" He asked as his fingers made their way between her shoulders under the guise of more pets he gently palpate the area feeling for a chip. He didn't feel anything but that wasn't definitive.

"So what's your story, huh? Are you lost?" He glanced at his mom, "No collar." He observed which was obvious.

Cain returned to his examination, petting the dog all the while as he went about it to keep her calm. He stared off into the distance as he listened to lung, heart, and bowel sounds. He rubbed her belly, feeling also for anything abnormal. The most unpleasant portion would be the rectal temperature. When he was finished with his exam, he turned to his parents.

"She seems healthy. A bit on the skinny side. I'd like to get some labs on her and we can check her for a chip."

RE: Unexpected Guest [Closed] - megs - 04-30-2020

Julianna's tail twitched against the tension in the room. She felt caught in the middle of the sensation, with her husband at her back and her child in front of her. As they did their best to struggle through conventional niceties.

Sadie could feel it too. She panted in a steady rhythm. Her tongue bobbed out of her open mouth in time with the quick rise and fall of her chest. She cocked her head at the doctor as he offered his hand for her to inspect. Julianna pushed her forward, encouragingly. Sadie watched Cain from the tops of her eyes while she sniffed.

The gesture was mostly for sure. It wasn't that she didn't have enhanced senses, it was that she still had the mind of a human and knew that she was in a relatively safe situation.

The doctor leaned to get a closer look at her. He called her pretty and if she had been human she would have blushed. She lifted a paw and pushed it against his cheek as if telling to back up. He only laughed at her and it was such a cute laugh she wanted to just admit she was a person so she could get to know him. Or die.

Yeah. He was so cute she could just die.

Sadie has never been to the vet before but did her best to behave for the exam. She had a dog body, but some parts of it were still a little awkward. He was gentle and thorough. She trotted closer to Julianna when he was finished.

The door opened and one of the technicians handed Cain a microchip scanner.

"Can it just be a happy visit today?" Julianna cooed. Hugging the dog closer to her. In the vet field, that just meant a trip to the hospital without anything too stressful. No needles or excessive restraint. "We can come back for the rest of the testing, if you think she looks okay for now."