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 Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:05 pm
Springtime! It took all of Richard Moreau's willpower not to want to twirl around like a ballerina, jump into the air and yell the phrase, but the sentiment was still there. The long months of winter were seldom welcomed to the candy maker as well as his dog, the tall, lanky, and good natured Baldwin the Irish wolfhound. While Richard was never opposed to wearing heavy coats and Baldwin was graced with a decent coat, the two shared a mutual love for spring time, and it was the best way for Baldwin to stretch out his legs after being cooped up in the condo for many hours at a time.
This was why Richard was willing to sacrifice a little time each day to take his dog to the dog park. Sometimes it cut into his work time, and other, his 'other' work times, but in the end, he did it for two reasons. He loved his dog, and potential 'bed mates' usually loved dogs as well. Nothing melted another being's heart like the adorable, deep, chocolate brown eyes of a dog, and Baldwin's laid back temperament made it extremely easy for others to approach him, despite his size.
Baldwin was acting exceptionally eager today, actually pulling on the leash and half-dragging his owner when he wasn't moving fast enough, and while Richard wasn't sure what made his four-legged friend so pushy, he wasn't going to deny the dog a single second, as the moment they entered the dog park, he unleashed the 'hound' and gave him a loving pat on the rump. "Go on, make new friends! Find a few for Daddy, while you're at it!"
The horse of a dog gave a snort and trotted off immediately, sniffing around at the new spring smell and all of the new dogs that had been cooped up for these long months of Winter. He wasn't sure what his owner had said, but Baldwin was going to enjoy himself. It felt good to stretch the ol' legs!
Meanwhile, Richard made his way to the nearest bench, surprised to see that no one else had claimed it just yet. He was still a little sore from recent endeavors, and surely no one could blame the man for taking a seat. That's what they were there for, were they not? This gave him a good look of the park, eyeing each dog and its owner with keen interest.
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Posted: Sun Apr 14, 2013 9:42 pm
Alois meandered aimlessly through the dog park, thoughts over a thousand miles away. Even as he scanned the freshly-cut grass, keeping tabs on his German shepherd, he was constantly reminded of his home. Destiny City was a strange place to adjust to, given all the crime and the happenstance events that plagued its otherwise serene suburbs. As much as he hated to admit it, he missed Saarland dearly, from the language to the culture to the topography of the land. often times he wondered why he agreed to move here in the first place.
The whining of a terribly needy Tschambes drove him from his thoughts, and back to a rather irritating reality. Here he was in the midst of a plethora of dogs, and he had to bother his owner to play? Was this dog missing a few screws? "Geh," he muttered, shooing his companion away. "Verpiss dich." With a resigned huff, he withdrew his last cigarette from his pocket and lit up.
Tschambes regarded his owner with his heartbroken gaze. He whined pitifully before slinking away, hoping his display would win compassion as well as attention. If he was lucky, he'd get some play time in as well. Unfortunately, his owner continued his pensive stroll without so much as a glance in his direction. Realizing there was nothing else he could do, Tschambes took off at an all-out run through the park, looking for a new partner to play with.
Luckily, he discovered one straight away: a rather peculiar-looking Irish wolfhound.
"Woowoowoo!" He called excitedly, rushing up to the other dog. He bounced around with reckless abandon, hoping to impress the other dog into cavorting around with him. "Woowoo!' He exclaimed once more.
The sound of his dog's excited hollering only served to agitate Alois further. He cursed his dog in a low tone and followed the sound of Tschambes' overenthusiastic cries until he happened upon a red-haired man sitting with his dog. Great, he thought bitterly. They're gonna think I own a ******** rabid mutt. "Tschambes. You're an idiot." Alois slid his hands into his pockets and watched his dog stoically, unaffected by Tschambes' theatrical whines. However, no amount of berating was going to dissuade the German shepherd from bemoaning his horrifyingly awful situation.
"You'll haf' to forgiff my dog." Alois mentioned casually. "He gets too excited when I drag him to zis place." In all honesty, it was the other way around, but he wasn't about to admit that he didn't have control over his dog's horrible leash habits. Besides, the stranger's dog had much better manners than his neurotic German shepherd.
Speaking of, the dog was now happily relieving himself on the doggy droppings station.
Inwardly, Alois cringed. Perhaps he should sell Tschambes off to the police academy and wash his hands of dog ownership forever. That damn mutt got him into far too many social situations that he would prefer to stay away from, and interacting with this exuberant fellow and his nonchalant hound was one of them.
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 1:06 am
There were few dogs that could match or come close to matching Baldwin in size, but a German Shepard was certainly one of them. Baldwin was sniffing around when Tschambes came upon him, and for all of his size and lithe, the Irish wolfhound was visibly startled by his appearance and his bouncing. His tail shot between his legs for a moment, and he looked towards his owner, as Richard's gaze immediately shot to the excited dog that was hopping around his Baldwin. The candyman rose an eyebrow at the dog's behavior, and he moved to assist his poor dog before matters could get worse.
"Well, look at you, making such a big scene!" Richard said with a snicker in his tone, ignoring the strange looks that he and the excited German Shepard were receiving. Baldwin immediately moved closer to his owner, relaxing considerable now that he was nearby and actually trying to get a sniff on the other dog when Alois arrived and apologized. His accent interested Richard more than this man's neurotic dog, and he gave Baldwin a comforting scratch behind the ears as he addressed the man. "Well, you can hardly blame him. He's a big, strapping young dog and looks like he needs the exercise!"
He hardly noticed how the dog relieved itself, and he gave Baldwin another pat before encouraging him to follow after the other dog. It was his way of saying 'go play with the other kids while grown ups talk', and though reluctant, Baldwin calmly trotted closer to Tschambles, silent in lieu of the other dog's barking. "Winter has kept a lot of us cooped up, so maybe give him a few more laps around the park to wear him down. Have you ever owned a dog before, my friend?"
He didn't seem like he did, given how out of control his dog was, but Richard didn't want to make assumptions. He wanted to know him a little better, maybe offer him some genuine advice, before trying to further the conversation into a more sensual topic. Dogs were the best icebreakers in any situation, and this was proof of it!
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 10:22 am
Did it really look thatbad? "No, German shepherds run in ze family." Was it worth mentioning that it was his sister's first time selecting a dog, or that she couldn't train worth a damn? He didn't mind throwing her under the bus, but he didn't know if that would exonerate him from being branded a horrible pet owner. Any other German shepherd would dutifully ignore the other dogs and traipse several yards away from him, while keeping him in his sight. "Zis one doesn't know his head from his a**." The dog sucked.
Tschambes, blissfully unaware, continued romping around the dog park and woowooing happily. He had a lot to say to his new companion, and fully intended on venting it all over a fun game of chase. Life as a dog was great.
Meanwhile, Alois took a much-needed drag from his cigarette. He blew the smoke from his nose in a sigh. "I keep tellink my sister to sell him to a police academy. Besides, Tschambes is a stupid name." He spoke matter-of-factly. Had his sister not named the dog while she was drunk, he might've had a higher opinion of his shepherd companion. However, getting sideways glances and people asking him if he's never owned a dog before did not lend to any confidence in the canine's ability to control himself.
Speaking of which... With a well-timed glance, he caught his dog harassing a Dalmatian in the distance. "Tschambes!" He called, in an agitated tone. "Lass es!" Despite being so far away, the command still carried weight and Tschambes went about his merry way while leaving the other dog alone.
Before long, Alois had smoked his cigarette to the filter. Inwardly he blamed the dog for being so damned neurotic, that it drove his owner neurotic. After putting it out on the park bench, he let the butt fall between the slats and land on the relatively clean pavement. At least it wasn't in the grass, where they usually ended up. "So tell me about your 'shtellar' dog." That h slipped in out of habit.
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 11:40 am
"I'm no expert on dogs myself, but I was always under the impression that they were bred to be obedient, which was why they make great dogs for the police," Richard said, not trying to sound too obvious that he was criticizing the dog, or rather, the owner, but really, wasn't that what he was basically doing? Not that he thought ill of either Tschambes nor his owner- maybe Tschambes was the ONE dog in his breed that did things his own way, thus making him unique, though his constant 'barking', if one could call it that, was starting to grate on Richard's nerve. Then again, Baldwin seldom barked, and when he did, it always managed to scare the ever living piss out of his unaware owner. To see a dog doing it so freely... was really messing with the borderline neurotic candy maker. "Something about the Germans and respecting the higher authority, I think. They're really big on that there, I think."
Baldwin was just as perturbed about Tschambes behavior as his owner was, but the larger dog seemed to handle it better than him. He followed Tschambes around, not joining in with his barking but the way his ears were positioned upright and the way his long tail wagged made it clear that the normally laid back dog was enjoying the other dog's company.
When Alois criticized Tschambes' name, Richard gave a tense shrug, trying to pronounce the name himself but giving up before he had the chance to butcher the poor creature's name. "Well, it's certainly not the worst name I heard ever bestowed upon a dog, nor a human, for that matter. Pooki, for example, is probably among the worst I've heard, and I've met not only a dog but a child with that name. I may not like the little things, but no one deserves that fate."
He wasn't exaggerating. He had met a child named Pooki, and he could only imagine that her parents hated her more than Richard hated children. If THAT was even possible. He didn't want to think of the mental torture that the child went through everyday, and the segway into talking about Baldwin was perfect for avoiding those thoughts. "Baldwin's a purebred Irish wolfhound, papers and all to confirm it. Though, he was the runt of his litter, if you'd believe it. Extremely laid back, very easy to tend to at times."
By 'laid back', he meant lazy, but it certainly made his life easier. As opposed to having a dog as spastic and energetic as Tschambes.
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Posted: Mon Apr 15, 2013 12:15 pm
The guy even admitted that he knows little about the breed, and he had the gall to criticize Alois and his dog? He fumed inwardly. "Obviously you're not." He quipped. "German shepherds are bred like s**t now. Zeir temperament is anyone's guess. Everyone is breeding zem to haf' legs like hares and sloped backs." Even thinking about it spiked his blood pressure. He needed another smoke. "But, my sister doesn't care. She wanted a dog as soon as possible; she didn't give a s**t zat he was bred poorly, and can't control himself." If he had to guess, Tschambes was going to be plagued by years of hip dysplasia in his future as well.
And for God's sake, he was going to speculate on Germany now too? After withdrawing the crumpled pack from his pocket, still half-wrapped in cellophane, he plucked a cigarette using his teeth and lit up by striking a match against the park bench. Once he took an even drag, he was ready to speak again without chastising the man and possibly assaulting him. "Yeah, Germans must be big on respecting higher authority." What the ******** did that even mean, anyway? He must've never learned about East and West Germany, or really anything about the place.
At least they had one thing in common outside of dog ownership: this stranger apparently hated children too. Still, it wasn't enough to redeem him from his ridiculous assumptions about Germans and their dogs. Pooki didn't sound all that odd to him, but it obviously sounded stupid to native English speakers.
"Hm." Alois was getting tired of standing; after jogging all the way here and dealing with that damned dog, he could use a break from it. Reluctantly he sat on the park bench, maintaining nearly three feet of distance between them. "Baldwin, huh?" Now that was an odd name for a dog. "Sounds like he doesn't exercise much." Even for being a runt, the dog was admittedly big and seemed to keep up with Tschambes and his limitless energy.
By comparison, Tschambes was beginning to tire himself out. He trotted around, panting heavily, before finally returning to his owner and collapsing into a heap at his feet. He let out a melodramatic huff. Baldwin was fun, but between all the barking and jumping around he'd done, he simply lacked the energy to keep going. Besides, his owner often petted him when he laid around like this.
Alois rubbed the dog's thick scruff with his foot. Even though the dog was hopelessly neurotic, he didn't know what he'd do without the lummox around to be the focus of his anger. "So your dog... What do you do wis' it? Or is it only a pet?" He was mildly curious. It seemed strange to own a purebred without utilizing any of its working traits, but that was a popular trend he'd noticed lately. Americans loved cavorting with their designer dogs and getting all the compliments on them, he guessed. Did they enjoy getting kudos for having an inbred dog?
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Posted: Tue Apr 16, 2013 10:37 am
It was around this time that Richard suspected that he had really pissed the poor guy off, or that he was really, really, REALLY stressed out. He didn't mind smoking- he never did it himself, as he was already doing a fantastic job on butchering his liver and the last thing he wanted to do was take a few stabs at his lungs as well. And he didn't care much for second hand smoke- he hated the smell more than anything else. Sometimes people smoked the most gut-wrenching things and he couldn't, for the life of him, figure out why anyone would want something so horrible smelling to enter their nose and lungs, until he remembered that they were smokers and probably lost the ability to smell. Still, he didn't mind it so much, except now he could see just how stressed this poor fellow was to resort to smoking quite so... vigorously.
A normal person would have backed off of the topic and apologized, if he or she felt like they had offended them. But not Richard. For whatever reason, he saw his anger, suspected that he had said or done something to cause it, and with a mock-polite grin, he felt the urge to drive that rage deeper. Just to see what would happen. Maybe he'd explode? Or maybe it'll mellow him out. Either way, this Alois fellow just made his day all the more interesting.
"Is that so? My apologies," Richard started, when Alois went on his rant about the poor breeding of German shepherds. In truth, he had no idea what breeders looked for in the breed, but that didn't stop him from running his mouth. After all, this 'defective' dog was Alois' problem, not his. "Humans are such terrible creatures. Taking perfectly good animals and breeding them to the point that even their owners are fed up with them. At least you seem aware that it's a problem with the breeders and not blame the poor dog, like how society treats poor pitbulls."
Not that Richard would ever own a pitbull. He thought they were ugly to look at, though they did make the CUTEST puppies. Now, he had his Baldwin, and when Tschambes finally seemed to wear himself out, the Irish wolfhound lost all interest in him and trotted back to his owner's side, huffing and puffing. Which made Alois statement about him not getting out much seem pretty valid, and Richard didn't deny it. "No, I'm afraid. Not much running around for him in the condo and the dog park is really the only place he stretches his legs. I would order Consuela to take him out more, but he doesn't like her."
He gave Baldwin a loving pat on the head, admiring his obedience and passive nature and allowing Alois to observe it as well. He reached into his pocket and broke off a piece of bacon, and the change in Baldwin's behavior was like night to day. His ears perked up, his chocolate brown eyes went wide, and the whimper that escaped his slender snout made it clear that he wanted that bacon. But he didn't attack the candy maker. He stayed as he were, and thus, was rewarded. The Irish wolfhound snatched his piece, tenderly, then darted a safe distance so that no one else could have his piece, allowing Richard to talk more with Alois. "Just a pet, really. He's a great companion and I find to be the perfect ice breaker. If they don't like my dog, then they're not worth my time."
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Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:29 am
Catering to Alois' misanthropic views garnered him an inkling of respect. It wasn't enough to outweigh the deficit the man quickly obtained, but it was something at least. "Damn right zey are." Seems like the world was littered with filth, and all there was to recompense him for the constant letdowns was this stranger on a bench telling him that people suck. What a pisser.
However, as soon as he began with his next comment, all respect he may have garnered was instantly lost. "You keep going wis' zat s**t, 'nd I'll beat your ******** face in." With the claw hand. Nobody wants to get punched with the claw hand. Even though it was a public place and he'd likely be charged with assault, it sounded worth it. Alois wouldn't mind breaking that pretty little nose and watching him suffer. No, it seemed like an excellent idea. Still, he wanted to quell his violent tendencies as long as possible. Destiny City was a new start, not an old stomping ground.
As much as Alois regretted to admit it, the guy had a point. People were breeding dogs to s**t, and pit bulls were a good example. They were bred to the point that their bodies were deformed, and they couldn't walk right. They had snuffling problems because their faces were hideously contorted from what the breed used to be. People like himself, and this stranger, were supporting inbreeding by buying purebred dogs. How atrocious.
Alois stood from his perch on the bench and stretched. "You use your dog to pick up chicks? You're disgusting." His mouth twitched into a sneer. Pets were supposed to enrich your life, not your sex life. Who the hell would use their dog as an instrument of attraction? "So you never exercise your dog, zen you use him to find people to ********?" Alois couldn't figure out why he continued to talk to this abomination. Maybe he was fascinated by how wholly deplorable the man was.
Tschambes sensed his owner's anger and stood, rounding him and placing himself between Alois and the redheaded man. The time for play was over; he had someone to protect, and contrary to Alois' low opinion of him, Tschambes did remember his guard dog training. He didn't growl, only stood and watched the other man unblinkingly. Tschambes had no idea what pissed his owner off so badly, he couldn't understand their weird babbling noises, and the guy didn't even look threatening. He just sat there on a bench. Oh well, duty is duty.
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Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 11:53 am
Richard had a feeling that he had gone a little too far, and it shown when not only did Alois look like he was going to explode, but threatened to punch him in the face. Those in the park close enough to hear them stopped everything they were doing and stared, one of which even had her cellphone out (likely to film the confrontation rather than call the police). Richard did nothing to hide his fear, flinching when the dog suddenly jumped to attention- he was scared, yes, but he overplayed parts of it, mostly to get the sympathy from those around him incase things got bad.
But first, he looked for a way to salvage the situation, and he rose his hands to say 'woah there!'. Once Alois said his piece and he was certain that he could keep a good control over his voice, he addressed the stressed out young man. "Seems what I said struck a nerve- it wasn't completely my attention, I assure you."
A bold faced lie, but he had hoped that Alois wouldn't have suspected this. "It's a topic that you're passionate about, and I can see that. There's no need for threats, friend. I apologize for insinuating anything that might have upset you."
He leaned back on the bench, more to put some well needed space between them, and without warning, Baldwin had jumped on top of the bench and actually laid across his lap. This was the Irish wolfhound's response to the sudden hostility, and unlike Tschambes, the laid-back dog bared his fangs, a sight that would have made Richard flee in terror given how unlikely this action was from his own dog. Richard heard the growl and in response, placed a hand on Baldwin's collar, hoping to keep him from lashing out, as well as pull his dog away so that he wouldn't be hurt in case Alois lashed out.
"As for using my dog to pick up chicks, you misunderstand. While that may be a side effect, I've found that owning a dog, especially one as adorable and loveable as Baldwin, opens the door to various kinds of interactions," Richard said, as he tried to coax his dog. All it took was a few strokes before Baldwin was mollified, and he shrugged. "I own a candy store, so I get a lot of children, some of which are shy. So shy they won't even tell me what they want. But if Baldwin's there, sometimes they'll open up, more to a kind-looking, gentle giant, than to someone like me. They'll tell Baldwin what they like, and once they trust my dog, they trust me enough so that I can service them."
Not that Alois was far from the truth- in fact, he hit the nail on the head a couple of times and drove the nail in. However, there were other conversations that Richard was referring to, and he was quick to bring up those occasions, if he thought it to redeem himself in the onlookers' eyes, if he couldn't convince Alois. "However, the exercise bit? That I am guilty of, and I must rectify this. Right, Baldwin?"
The dog gave a huff but nothing more, looking to Alois and no longer growling, but making it very clear that he wasn't going to move from his spot.
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Posted: Wed Apr 17, 2013 10:43 pm
Onlookers weren't terribly unusual for him. However, camera phones these days were a bit of a deterrent to his tendencies toward violence. It would be hard to fight an assault charge if six different witnesses had it on film. Not only that, but with his luck, some renegade would step in to defend the redheaded stranger and he'd have to contend with that, too. Overall punching the guy's lights out seemed a waste of his time and criminal record.
"Sure it wasn't." Alois grumbled bitterly. it was pretty obvious to him that this stranger held a good grasp of English, and anything close to an insult coming from him would be entirely intentional. Still, considering the fact that he finally backed off, he'd let it slide. He wasn't very tolerant of those who made a mockery of him - strangers included - so the man was operating on a short leash. If he decided, to Alois' chagrin, to continue making underhanded jabs at him, he'd likely fly off the handle.
He couldn't shake the feeling that he was being manipulated, though.
"So what, your dog is an attraction for your candy store?" Was that supposed to be better than using a canine companion to pick up women? "You put him around ze place, and children go to him, and zen you make money off zem." Alois reiterated to ensure his understanding. "Why can't you just haf' him for company? He is a dog - he wants to please you abof' all sings. Is zat not enough?" The least he could do was simply take the dog around the block on his breaks or something. He didn't have to remain a candy store fixture just so his owner could make some extra money.
In a rare show of sympathy, Alois sighed. "Your dog obviously loves you. Don't reduce him to a store mascot." Afterward, he took another drag from his cigarette and tapped his fingers relentlessly on the arm of the bench, which caused Tschambes to groan in mild irritation. "I haf' no business chastising you for why you haf' your dog, I know zat. Just look out for him, okay?" Dogs earned more respect in his eyes than people did. Dogs were open about their feelings, and often stood by their owners in all forms of maltreatment and neglect. They strove harder than any human he'd met to please those important to them, and that was an admirable quality indeed. Didn't that deserve even an ounce of recognition?
Alois mentally braced himself for some kind of retort. From his experience, if he exposed even the slightest inkling of weakness, people seized on it and pounced without remorse. This man didn't seem like an exception to that rule, either.
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 1:31 pm
The candy maker gave a disapproving sigh, as a father would have given a son when he tried to explain something as simple as possible and yet he didn't get it. He was grateful that most of the hostility in the other man's voice was gone, at least, and any fear of a fight breaking out between them was gone, and he had absolutely no intention of allowing the situation to escalate to that point any time soon.
As a civilian, this fellow could probably knock him flat out. But, if he could find this fellow as Buddingtonite, perhaps he could put that hostility to some good use. It was an inkling of a thought, one that made Richard smile, and he struggled to hide it before Alois could mistake it for being a mocking gesture to his relatively simple request. He grew serious, and he gave a nod. "Again, you misunderstand. I bring Baldwin to my store not to attract customers- that's a side effect of his charming nature. I bring him to my business because I enjoy his company. He's no mascot, otherwise his face would be on the cover of Sugar Shanty."
A good idea, given how popular his dog was becoming, and he brushed the thought aside as he gave Baldwin a comforting pat on the head. "Just because I may use him to get children to open up, or pick up chicks, as you stated, doesn't mean he's not my companion. I raised him from when he was a sickly little runt, brought him to my home which he has, unfortunately outgrown, and he offers me the greatest companionship that money nor sometimes other humans can't provide. I bring him to work with me because neither one of us can stand to be alone for too long, isn't that right, Baldwin?"
The dog was completely mollified by now, seeming to care nothing for the man that once threatened his owner or the over excitable dog. His tail wagged, pleased with the attention he was receiving, and he didn't argue or fuss when Richard placed his leash back on. Richard felt that he had ruffled the wrong feathers today and with his cover blown, perhaps it would have been best for him to leave. He gave Baldwin and nudge and the dog jumped off of his lap, giving his large, fuzzy body a shake as Richard rose to address Alois face to face. "You're passionate about dogs- I can clearly see that. However, try not to allow that passion to get the better of you. I'd hate to see something happen to you, or Tschambes, should anything terrible happen. Men like you and I get a second chance... dogs?"
He looked to Tschambes, then to Alois to stress, "They don't. So, for his sake, allow me to walk away."
Richard didn't want to threaten a dog- like Alois, he cared more for the four-legged canines than he did for most humans, but he would not think twice before taking actions. Part of him wanted to lay in wait and strike when he had powered up, but the Negaverse's orders were clear. No harming civilian, and as far as Richard was concerned, Alois was nothing more than a civilian with a wild temper, a bad smoking habit, and a barely contained passion about dogs. A pity to see that passion and energy wasted on yelling at another man in a dog park. "Good evening."Strickenized Feel free to walk after him or do whatever you like. c:
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Posted: Thu Apr 18, 2013 10:20 pm
Alois didn't care for the man's explanations of himself. No matter what, it sounded like backpedaling. He didn't want to admit that he simply used his dog to garner more interest in his shop, or to get himself laid on the weekends. His dog was his tool, that was the end of it. It wasn't surprising to Alois in the slightest, yet this stranger felt the need to constantly reaffirm how he's somehow different from most every other dog owner and that he cares for his canine's company more than anything. Was it so hard for him to admit that he's a bad person?
Still, his insistence that Alois bore little understanding for his explanations was aggravating. Inwardly he fumed, entertaining small fantasies of physically assaulting him in front of a host of onlookers. It seemed a perfectly viable approach to this problem - his arrogance - and he had little reason to avoid acting on it.
Even now, the man dug deeper. Was he hoping to strike blood, or fury? "Are you sreatening me?" Despite his blanching at Alois' threat, he thought it wise to make one himself? When in the good graces of hell did that make sense? So much for wanting to avoid violence.
Ironic. In some ways, fitting.
Self-control is something for which I do not strive. Self-control means wanting to be effective at some random point in the infinite radiations of my spiritual existence.
Alois pursued the man without a second thought, which caused Tschambes to follow with the same vigor. "What ze ******** do you sink you're doing? Don't walk away from me!" If anyone was doing the walking away, it should be him. He didn't exactly ask to be force-fed sweeping generalizations about his country and his dog, or be labeled a horrible pet owner by someone who only met him in passing. He didn't decide when he left the house that day that he'd make a complete shithead of himself to a total stranger just so those off-the-wall accusations would hold merit.
And the last thing he would do is let some stranger walk away after shoving empty threats down his throat.
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Posted: Sat Apr 20, 2013 10:22 am
A true gentleman knew when to walk away from a fight, and Richard was telling himself this over and over again, as he continued on his merry way. Of course, one would assume that the other combatant was a gentleman as well and would therefore leave him alone, but this fellow wasn't a gentleman. Richard knew that he could have made matters worse by threatening him and his dog and then walking away, but it was worth a shot.
Anyone with any common sense would have seen his point and left him be, but not this one. No, apparently this one didn't get the hint, and Richard did not appreciate feeling threatened, not by his enemies though they were understandable. He especially didn't appreciate being threatened by some weird-accent, nicotine spewing mad man and his overexcited dog. And he let it be known, as the moment they got out of ear shot of the dog park, he spun to face the man, a cold look in his eyes that contradicted the amused and lighthearted mirth in which he addressed the other man with before.
"I can see that you didn't like my threat, and for that, I will apologize, if it would mean getting you off my back." Richard said, trying to be polite, trying to be the bigger man, but knowing that he just wasting his time. There was no working with some people, and this one was one step away from Richard simply powering up and letting Buddingtonite take care of him. He may have been useless against Senshi and Knights, but this little punk? He didn't want to resort to that, and so, he tried one last time to sway him from a fight. "We don't need to fight over this, you know. Shall I make amends by buying you a few drinks, or would a couple of cartons of cancer-sticks suit you better?"
One last chance. He was going to give this fellow one last chance. If he blew it, then consequences be damned. He could always cover it up and say that he was a Senshi terrorists, if anyone asked... he was willing to go that far.
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Posted: Thu Apr 25, 2013 11:51 pm
ChibiGingi ((I totally didn't get my life sucked away, I swear))
Chances were, he wouldn't find out.
Alois balked at the stranger's offer for drinks. Was this a serious offer, or was he just being sarcastic to see if Alois was gullible enough to accept? He was hesitant to respond at first, and weighed his options carefully before replying. If he accepted, then worst case scenario he'd be led off and mugged in a back alley somewhere, but that's what he carried a knife for. On the flip side, if the guy was actually serious, he could finally have a drink for the first time since he moved to this a**-backwards country.
The drinking age being as high as 21 was complete s**t. How could it be that he got accustomed to drinking beer at 16, and now he couldn't have a goddamned thing for another two years? No wonder this country had so many problems, and terrorists running rampant. He had half a mind to join them and rob a liquor store or something.
Ultimately his desire for decent alcohol won out over his skepticism of the offer. "Drinks? Alright." He rested his hand on his hip and eyed the other man cautiously. "Also, what's your name?" If he ended up getting mugged in an alley, he wanted a name to report to the cops, even if it was a false one.
Tchambes sensed his owner's tense mood and stayed close. He didn't pretend to understand human moods, as it didn't make any sense to him that his owner refused to just assert dominance and walk away. Then again, humans didn't have dominance fights very often, and that was just weird. Thinking about it just made him hungry.
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Posted: Sun Apr 28, 2013 11:46 pm
Ah, alcohol. The great peacemaker of all nations and always a failsafe method of getting himself out of trouble (though usually a surefire way of landing him into a heap of trouble as well). He was pleased to see Alois willing to accept the offer. If he wasn't than he wasn't quite sure what else he could do to salvage this strange 'relationship' between the two. Though, a part of him did lament the fact that now he wouldn't have an excuse to take his starseed.
Perhaps for the best. Perhaps that nicotine and his crazy mood swings would make his starseed bitter and disgusting to hold, even more so than the hooker's he had taken earlier in his 'career'. Not to mention he was certain that word would get back to a higher up and he'd get in a load of trouble for harming a civilian, even one as rowdy and problematic as this kid could be. He kept these thoughts to himself, maintaining a calm and collected demeanor as he held as he decided to finally introduce himself right, not at all considering Alois grande 'scheme'. "Richard Moreau, friend. You appear young but I know a place or two that doesn't card."
If he threw enough money at the bartender, anyway. If alcohol couldn't get this kid to unwind, then there was simply no hope for him. Part of Richard pondered the possibility of luring him to a General or General-King right then and there. Give him a use for all that anger and direct it towards a good cause instead of threatening random men in a dog park over some helpful critiques. But, the other part of him just wanted to make amends with the kid and be on his way. He was coming home empty handed- the least he could do was try to end this encounter on a good note. "And your name?"
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