maskormenace | 💣 013

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💣 013 | video

[Alfie doesn't appear onscreen - instead, the camera is directed at two dogs, who are sitting in his living room. He zooms in first on one, then the other. Both are alert, interested, and curious - they're in a new place! They want to explore! But they were told to sit nicely and be filmed, and being the good doggos that they are, they're doing it.]

These dogs, their owner has fucked off home, and so I've adopted them. From what I've heard, there were a great number of dogs in the house they came out of, so who's got the rest of 'em, then? I thought that being the social and loyal creatures that they are, they might benefit from seeing their old mates every so often. Better for their, you know, canine mental health and such. Yeah.

[The first dog stretches forward and sniffs the camera, giving everybody a nice close-up of his doggy nose.]

Digby, back, back--

[Alfie's hand appears to give him a gentle shove, saving the screen from potential slobber.]

Right, then - my other question was, do pet shops of a reasonable size exist? Yeah, I know, this is America, this is the future, you've got to go over the top with everything - but this PetsMarket place is the size of a large warehouse. Eh? It's fucking unnecessary. Something manageable, that would be better. Something that isn't a chain store; those are always the worst of the bunch. Thank you.

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They're beautiful, and so obedient. Is this your first time owning dogs?

No, no; I've had plenty of dogs. I've got two at home.

It probably feels good to have dogs again, then, if you're accustomed to them.

Yeah, I'd been thinking about getting one. I even looked into how that's done here, but then our dear Mr. Graham left, and here we are.

I never met him, I'm afraid. I hope the dogs don't miss him too much.

Mm. Some dogs adjust well, and others don't. These seem like the happy sort, at least.

That's good, certainly.

[ .... She wants to pet the dogs. ]

Can I visit them, or would a stranger make it more difficult for them to settle in?

'Course not, no; you can visit. They'll be seeing strangers outdoors, anyway; I'll take them on walks and such.

Perhaps I'll do shortly, then. Though I'm not certain where you live?

Maurtia Falls.

[He shoots off his address; it's one of the townhouses in the Independent Housing block.]

Oh, you're not far away from me at all!

When would be convenient for you?

This evening. Seven, seven-thirty.

I will certainly be there, then. And thank you.

[Alfie is a little suspicious of ambassadors as a whole, government workers that they are, and that does include Amidala - but all the same, he kind of likes her, and he has no qualms about inviting her over to his place. At seven, he'll have a pot of tea going, awaiting her arrival.]

[ When she shows up, she's dressed surprisingly low key for her. While he might not realize that, it means that she doesn't feel him to be a threat to her at all. She's on time, about five minutes past seven, and her knock is firm. ]

Alfie? It's Padme.

[A flurry of barks greet her, but they sound excited, not aggressive or territorial. Alfie shoves them aside with his knees to get to the door, then pulls it open and ushers her in. The dogs are respectful, not jumping up or licking too much, but they're very interested in sniffing and saying hello.]

Welcome, welcome; did you know, you're the first ambassador I've had over?

[ She greets them almost more immediately than she greets him, crouching down so that they can investigate her more fully without any need to jump and holding out her hand for them to sniff thoroughly before she makes any attempts to pet them. But her glance up at him at his response is amused, her smile warm. ]

Well, I'm proud to be the first, then. They're lovely dogs, and it's good to meet you in person.

[WONDERFUL HUMAN. They both glom onto her immediately, the reddish one resting his head along her shoulder and snuffling at her face and the lighter one shoving his nose into her hand. Alfie shakes his head and clucks his tongue, faux-disapproving.]

Ah, look at that; they're gonna want to go home with you now.

[ They're beautiful, and her immediate affection and happiness at their presence is obvious. ]

I hardly think they're going to grow that attached that quickly, not when you've been giving them such good care.

Besides, an Ambassador's office is hardly that pleasant a place for an animal to stay. But I do love having a chance to meet other people's pets.

What sort of office do they give you?

[He leaves the dogs to her, moving back into the kitchen to check on the tea.]

It's a fairly standard one, really, for this world. But that means until I have time to settle in there's very little that's warm or inviting about it. And not much space for a dog.

[ She smiles in his direction, clearly happy with the dogs attention and staying here to pet them for a little while longer. ]

Thankfully, I know kind people who allow me to pet their dogs.

[Alfie's own place, while not uncomfortable-looking, also doesn't look very warm or inviting - there isn't much in the way of personal touches, other than the mezuzah on the front doorframe, the half-filled bookshelf, and the small pile of DVDs on the coffee table. He nods her towards the couch (at least that's nice and cushy-looking) inviting her to sit.]

Not much space in this one, either, but I make do. I take 'em out of doors and such.

[ She takes the seat he offers gladly, still petting the dogs once they follow her over but also giving his place a glance over. It seems, in its way, reflective of him. ]

The parks in Maurtia Falls are lovely, too. One of the City's finer features. [ A little dry. She has found some aspects of this city -- difficult to deal with. ]

You know, I realize I know very little about you, and yet you have been kind enough to invite me into your home.

[Probably some of those aspects are things that Alfie directly contributes to, sorry not sorry.]

You know very little about me, and yet you came.

[He raises an eyebrow. His body language is completely non-threatening, but--]

That didn't make you nervous, coming to a stranger's home on your own?

[ She dips her head in acknowledgement, but laughs. ]

Hardly. I am quite comfortable in my ability to take care of myself should difficult situations arise.

[ She sees no need to go further into that at the moment, but her smile is very self assured, the expression of someone who has great certainty in that statement. ]

And should I ever truly find myself in danger, I have allies here who would sense it in the Force.

It did not make you nervous, to invite a relative stranger into the privacy of your home?

Nah, I've got precautions.

[He won't elaborate on what those precautions are, but.]

Right, then, what did you want to know about me? My name is Alfie Solomons, which you do know. I'm from Earth as well, but Earth in the past.

As every cautious person should.

[ Genuinely approving, both of having precautions and of not telling her what they are. It's smart. ]

How far in the past are you from? It must be strange, to be in your world but have it be quite different.

He left you Digby?

[Jacob had seen Will's name vanish from the Network with a sense of resignation, almost inevitability. But somehow, seeing the dogs passing on to a new owner is what brings home the reality, and with it, the pain.]

Yeah, he did. You know this dog?

Yeah. That's Digby.

[Jacob sighs.]

He belongs to Will Graham. Or he used to.

Will Graham is the one who passed him off to me, yes. As well as the other one - that's Bark.

Hi, Bark.

[Jacob gives the newer dog a little half-wave.]

It's funny. He was just asking about giving them away. It's like he knew what was coming.

That's why he gave 'em to me, yeah. I expressed interest. Perhaps he had the power of foresight.

Maybe. He knew things, that's for sure. Didn't talk a lot, but he always seemed to... get you.

[Foresight, or maybe just advanced empathy.]

Something like that is either reassuring or fucking odd, depending on who it's coming from.

I know, right? From him though, it was always reassuring.

He helped me out, a few years ago. Gave me a hand in getting over some things.

He was that sort of man, was he? Not surprised, I suppose. Helping animals, helping people.

He definitely was. Hopefully still is, wherever he is now.

[Will had mentioned before that he was dead back in his own world. But Jacob is willing to hope he could somehow have been wrong about that.]

He also might pop up again. Suppose I'd have to give back these dogs in that case.

Yeah, probably. He's a nice guy, but he'd fight you for his dogs. In a second.

I could win the dogs over quick. Get 'em to like me more.

[Chuckling:]

You think you can get a dog to like you more than Will Graham? Good luck with that.

Dogs always like me. Always have. I saw an advertisement for a television show once, The Dog Whisperer - they could fire the man they've got for that and hire me in his place.

Maybe. I'd believe it if I saw it. That show might as well have been named for Will.

At least his buddies have got a good home as long as they're with you.

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💣 013 | video

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would you rather action or log?

just doing it here works!

sounds good!

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sorry for the delay here! I'm working through my post-hiatus backlog

no worries! i've been out of commission via strep/work myself for a while so lol

aaaah strep sucks; I hope you're feeling better!

much ty! and it's good to see you back too

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