ᴡɪᴛᴄʜ ᴅᴏᴄᴛᴏʀ (spellcasts) wrote in worldsapart_ic, @ 2019-05-15 08:27:00 |
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Entry tags: | fallon grace, james byrne |
Who: James & Fallon
What: Meeting with Prince & Gair
When: Recently?
Where: The dog park
Rating: Low
Status: Complete
It was a pleasant day, at a pleasant park, and there was something about the oceanic air that sort of rejuvenated the senses. Maybe it was the salt, or the distant cry of seagulls - maybe it was the boaters in the distance, or the paths lined with palm and eucalyptus trees. Plenty of benches were available, which made for nice views of the mountains in the distance and the beachside; the waves themselves were mesmerising, and overall this park could be considered the ultimate postcard picture of Los Angeles’ coastline. Prince didn’t care about any of that, however. Prince just wanted to run around and play with other dogs. James stayed clear from the areas riddled with tourists, and instead stuck with the off-the-leash dog-friendly part of the park. No leash required but you did have to clean up after your Fido, which made sense - no one wanted disease-tainted dog shit just festering there. Currently he was on one of those benches, armed with plenty of poop bags and a portable water dish, bottles of Aquafina tucked away in his messenger bag. During a rare afternoon off, he thought he’d give Prince some one-on-one time - actually, Prince couldn’t even care less about him right now, so excited he was to sniff the bums of other pups and body check them before playing. Whatever made him happy. James simply sat there and scrolled through his phone, reading news articles and becoming more and more depressed as he did so. Cripes. The problem with dog parks wasn’t the dogs, not generally, the issue always came from the owners. Typically it was female owners, usually with small dogs that were overly fluffy and exceptionally friendly. The screech was always followed with the same inane questions and idiotic assumptions. Shouldn’t that thing be muzzled? If Fallon had to hear it one more time this week, he’d likely murder someone. Especially when Gair just plodded along, content to sniff everything, tongue lolling out one side of his scarred mouth, oblivious to anyone thinking anything bad of him. It was probably why he opted to ignore the dog parks for now, simply walking a stretch of area that was fairly friendly to the occasional animal roaming with its owner, Gair’s leash loose in his hand while the young mix went off to explore and make some friends. As much as sniffing butts and trying to keep up with any running would work for him. The moment he spotted a gym clothes clad trophy wife scooping her little terrier up, Fallon was asking any deity for strength, fingers pinching the bridge of his nose while he took what he hoped was a calming breath. “Come the fuck on.” Humans were an annoying breed, they really were. James caught ahold of Karen the yoga instructor (or whatever the fuck her name was) as well, and he just had to chuckle roughly. “Surprised she didn’t put it in her handbag,” he spoke up, but then again, this woman was probably the sort to have a rucksack to slip her dog into - the way mum’s and dad’s carried babies around. Some people really did think their dog was equivalent to a human baby. He worried for those people, he truly did - and hoped that a vasectomy was in the future, somewhere. “The worst thing I ever saw was a family trying to have a picnic in a dog park,” he also shared, closing the New York Times app on his phone because he couldn’t quite deal with current nonsense right now. “They brought squirt bottles to keep dogs away - needless to say, that didn’t go over well.” Because why the fuck couldn’t you find some other green spot in the city to do your yuppie shite? Ah, well. People were idiots, that was nothing new. “Which one is yours?” he asked, figuring the fellow who seemed disdainful of an ankle biter wouldn’t actually have one. Squirt bottles, at a dog park? Fallon didn’t even try to hold back the eyeroll that came with that comment. Humans tended to believe that they deserved everything they wanted, regardless of what anyone around them wanted, even their own kind. “That’s the stupidest thing I’ve heard since Evel Knievel.” At that was very far up there. It wasn’t like Los Angeles didn’t have plenty of places to have a picnic, even if you wanted a nice sunny park, it wasn’t like a backyard wouldn’t do in some cases. “Mine is the idiot pitbull that thinks he can play with everyone.” Gair was the friendly sort, in some ways that Fallon didn’t always come across as, Gair would wander up to anyone with that dopey half smile, tongue hanging out. And there were types like yoga chick who automatically flinched away. “He’s also the one they call shirk away from.” A sharp whistle and finger snap had Gair’s attention back, his wonky run back towards Fallon like he didn’t have a care in the world while Fallon knelt down to offer some petting as he did so. “Yours?” James didn’t care about shirking, he loved pitbulls - they were so sweet with their blockheads and derpy expressions, and anyone who thought otherwise was a fucking idiot. He didn’t have room for that kind of negativity in his life, the kind that didn’t at least feel a little heartburn upon seeing a pibull ‘smile.’ “He’s bloody adorable,” James said about the dog that approached. “Let others shirk away from him, he’ll get more pets from the likes of me.” Oh yes. He dug right in, actually, giving the pup scritches behind his ears and on his bum. “Mine’s the black spanador,” he said, nodding toward Prince. James called him over and he came running, wanting to make a new friend. Hi Gair, let me sniff your butt. Such a friendly fellow. “His name’s Prince. And he’s always looking for playmates, if your pup wants a new friend.” Gair was happy to waddle over to someone who would show affection regardless of his appearance, given that he tended to need to wait for people that Fallon actually knew to show him any attention that wasn’t hesitant. While Prince and Gair took turns with the butt sniffing, Fallon threw a glance back at yoga fussing woman, who’d decided to take her leave for the moment. “Gair would befriend the world if people would let him.” And already Gair was trying to egg Prince into games, his little docked tail already wagging as much as it could, butt wiggling in the meantime. “At the least, he’ll happily help wear Prince out a little.” Because Gair was so filled with energy, even Fallon struggled to keep up with him at times. And Fallon wouldn’t need to worry too much about the little dogs Gair opted to make friends with. “That’s precisely why I take him here, to wear him out,” James chuckled - he felt bad about leaving Prince inside with nothing to do. He wasn’t destructive (no, he was past the puppy stage) so he didn’t need to be confined in a crate or gated but he did like to roll around with other dogs. As evidenced by the way he ran around Gair, snuffing happily and doing that little ‘play bow’ to initiate something. Cheeto the cat certainly wasn’t about to play with Prince. Whenever Prince tried, that fat orange thing would yowl unhappily so the attempts ceased rather quickly. “And so now I know your pup is Gair - what about you?” he asked, glancing at the other man. “I’m James. Less into big sloppy kisses as a way to greet someone, but if you want one I could always oblige.” Ha. Energy levels were mainly the issue with dogs, young and middle aged. Gair had gotten through the puppy phase before Fallon found him, and while it likely wasn’t the same as many young pups, Gair absolutely got himself through the destruction age of puppyhood early -it probably had a lot to do with being reared in a pitbull fighting club. “I’m pretty sure if there wasn’t a few visits to the park a week I’d need to walk the length of Los Angeles to tire him out.” And it was why Fallon made a point in going to the parks as frequently as possible, occasionally they’d go a hike too. “Fallon, although sloppy kisses are at least a fourth date kind of thing.” It was easier to relax, let Gair tumble around with another dog whose owner wasn’t up in arms about breed purely because of a very bad PR job. At least enough that he wasn’t avidly watching his dog and everything around it. “Unless of course Prince insists on it, but I think a little bit of mystery is needed.” “Fourth date for the big sloppy kiss? I’ll keep that in mind,” James chuckled. Oh yes, he was sufficiently distracted now - no need to pay attention to his phone (and the depressing state of the world) or make an excuse as to why he had to leave. Prince appeared to be having a grand old time too, so he’d just let his dog continue to frolic. Until he came over, panting, looking desperate for water. Pant, pant, pant. Alright, you lummox, here you go. James unfolded the portable dish and poured some delicious water into it so Prince could lap it all up - he was happy though, that much was apparent. “Does Gair want some too?” he asked, referring to the agua. “He looks like he enjoys being outside. I haven’t seen you at the park before though - then again, I tend to only come to this one on weekends.” Or, in this case, the rare afternoon off. As Gair had just made a new friend, one that seemed happy to play with him, the pittie was already trailing after Prince as he returned to his owner, looking for some hydration, and since Prince was getting some attention Gair was quick to follow like he was just as likely to get the same attention. “I think he wouldn’t mind some, I’ve got another bottle if you need though.” It had taken a little while to get used to the fact that Gair needed a little extra hydration during their outings, it was easier if they were hiking or near streams, or if Cress tore herself away from work to get some air, always helpful having a water elemental with you. “He’s the outdoors type,” and thankfully so was Fallon when he wasn’t working, “we tend to go more trails than parks to be honest. But he does like a good run around.” And Fallon made a point in being able to go home and take Gair out regularly. Helpful when he worked mostly for evening based establishments. “That’s alright, I brought a good supply,” James assured, pouring some water for the thirsty pittie too. There was more than enough to go around. They could drink to their hearts content and then piss on every tree and lamppost in the vicinity. He really needed to start taking Prince to more trails too, come to think of it. That would be the perfect thing to tire the pup out, so all he would want to do when he got back home was sleep. Curled up in his dog bed or on the couch, where he was distinctly not allowed. “Which trails do you recommend?” he asked Fallon. “In case I want to take him.” A motion toward Prince, who was sitting politely with his tongue lolling out. “And if we just happen to run into you and Gair, well...I certainly wouldn’t complain.” That was a nice view, anyway (the man, not the dog - though the dog was very cute). The best thing about the trails was that the movement was near constant unless they wanted to rest. And the nature all around them helped, Fallon's connection with the magic in nature was a little more prevalent, even if it wasn't developed in many ways. He felt more at ease around a free growing natural area than the controlled growth of a park. "Cahuenga Peak is a good place to start, it's a loop, but there's a pretty steep incline, good views though." The Wisdom Tree in the Hollywood Hills was a popular one, and Fallon would admit that when he was feeling lazy he'd take Gair along the three mile loop just for air and to clear his mind. "Gair enjoys Wilacre Park though, we tend to meet a lot of other dogs there, and kids playing that weird game with the balls and animals." That still made no sense to him at all. Gair wandered over for a quick head scratch, flopping into a belly rub as Fallon crouched down to appease the dope. "Debs out by Monterey Hills is maybe a good place to start though, it's a nice easy one and there's a pond for splashing." It wasn't a strenuous walk or anything, but Gair liked a lot of the space to flat run or play. "We're going out next weekend if you want to join?" That was ... not actually a plan that Fallon had, but in all honesty he didn't really mind company on the hikes, and then James wouldn't need to ponder about happening upon Fallon and Gair. “The balls and the animals?” James repeated, trying to think of what the fuck Fallon was talking about. Then it hit him, like a zap of lightning. “Oh, you mean the Pokemon shite? Never got into that. I was always amazed at how people could be so into it they’d wander into traffic though.” And if there so happened to be a ‘pokestop’ on an inconvenient place, well, was catching them all more important than getting shot in the face? But oh well, not his concern. He was absolutely thrilled at the invitation to go for a hike, however. “We’d love to join,” he replied grandly. Yes, he was speaking for Prince - but as long as Prince got his zoomies out, he’d be a happy camper. “And we don’t go hiking much so nice and easy might be best to start us off with.” He’d have to leave the cigarettes at home, what a shame. Pokemon, that was what they were called. Well, Fallon hadn’t understood the idea of an interactive game on their phone, capturing these pixels while walking around. Frankly the whole thing was strange to him, even with the length of time he’d spend in the human realm. “Yeah, that.” It was just some strange thing he didn’t think he’d ever understand. But there were a lot of things humans did that he had never understood anyway. It wasn’t regular that Fallon had company on hikes, and while Gair got to sniff around, it was rarely with other dogs the whole way, so Prince would be a welcome addition to Gair’s playing around for certain. “It’s a fair walk, but it’s not as steep as others, and there’s space for the dogs to run.” Without going too far off path or out of view, something that Fallon was always aware of. “Here,” because it was just easier than trying to make some kind of solid plan then and there, Fallon fished out one of his business cards, since his cell number was the only one he used, passing it to James, “let me know when you’re ready and we can go out this weekend? It might be a good change for Prince from the park.” “Oh, delightful,” James flashed a grin, taking the card. He was quick to pull his own mobile phone from the depths of his pockets, firing off a text. “And now you’ve got mine, darling.” And would he be contacting Fallon this weekend? You can bet your sweet arse he would. Not only because a hike would do both he and Prince some good. “You’re right though, he could stand to sniff some new things besides the backsides of other dogs,” he chuckled fondly, glancing at his pup. Nature and trees and rocks and fresh air - something earthy and sweet, not the scent of a pee-soaked dog park. “We ought to get going now. But it was a pleasure meeting you, Fallon.” “You too, James,” Frankly, some human company wouldn’t be too bad on the trails, Fallon had a tendency to close off and just work, at least spending time away from work with someone else -someone who wasn’t his drink and bitterness fuelled best friend- would be good for his so called health. Since Prince and Gair seemed happy to roll around and chase each other, James would make wonderful company he was sure. “Looking forward to it.” And it wasn’t even a lie. |