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 Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 4:15 am
Who: Yves, Zeke
Where: Café au Lait, a quaint little coffee shop located next to a spacious park.
When: Bright and early.
Weather: Sunny, burning through the early morning mist.
┈━━━━━━━━━━━━┈
Sitting alone, at a small table near the door, Yves felt like he was drinking an awful lot of coffee lately.
Perhaps nerves, or maybe he was just tired. Whatever the case, he couldn't deny the immediate relief he felt when he raised the warm beverage to his lips, taking a generous drink. Atop his lap sat Peanut, his chihuahua/terrier mix, who vibrated with barely contained excitement. He knew the park was right nearby, and he was armed and ready with his harness, coat, and leash. He looked up at his owner with watery, expectant eyes.
"Soon, Peanut," Yves assured, fingers drumming against the side of his cup. He had asked the lab assistant, Zeke, out to some coffee and a walk in order to discuss his reservations concerning his soul capture. He needed reassurance, even just someone to yap at for a few minutes. Honestly, he did feel alone in this. At least for now.
Even when he'd made the call and set the date, he felt badly, because it had been Zeke that had sent him the letter detailing the requirements for soul capture and what to do when he was successful. That had been in October, and it was now January, nearly February. He had to have been wondering what was taking him so long.
Or maybe it wasn't expected to be a quick process? Yves made an uncomfortable noise and lifted Peanut with one arm, preparing to step outside to give the dog some air. As he stood and turned, he cast a quick look around the room. At once, it struck him that he had no idea what Zeke even looked like. He had told him that he would be carrying an adorable puppy, but aside from that, he didn't know who he was looking for. Was it wise to leave the coffee shop, then?
No, he had best stay. Sinking back into his chair, Peanut wriggled against his grasp, tail threatening to propel him into the air with its vigor. "Shh, shh, I know," Yves sighed, face heating up as he took another look about the shop. He began to bounce Peanut in his arms gently, like a baby.
"He will be here soon, and then we walk. I promise."
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 2:19 pm
There had been some surprise when Yves had called. Zeke hadn't heard a word from those whom had been sent their Lab tools in the mail and so the vet had a feeling of worry lingering ever since even though the courier service confirmed deliveries to all the recipients. With that in mind, Yves voice on the other end asking for a cup of coffee and a chat was a grand thing to hear. Zeke had readily agreed to that and the date set.
Letting himself out of his Aston, the vet with the two-toned hair was quickly off toward the cafe in question, hands in his coat pockets to save them a little grief from the January chill. It was still early and perhaps that meant the coffee shop wouldn't yet be hit by the morning rush, allowing Zeke to spot the man who would be with a chihuahua mix. Letting himself into the business, he immediately went to scanning the interior. There were a few patrons to be sure - a couple with small dogs to boot - but Zeke knew breeds and a Bichon Frise was the exact opposite of a chihuahua on several scales. Two people had chihuahuas it seemed, but one was a woman and so Zeke made a beeline for the man seated off to the side, bouncing his dog gently on his knee.
"Excuse me, but are you Yves?" Zeke beamed as he spoke, even if his guess ended up being a miss. Despite being the dead of winter, the vet still clad himself in bright, sunny colors. His jeans were dark green and his windbreaker was something the 1990s would have spawned in terms of pattern and colors. Titanium piercings dotted his face - lips, ears, and both brows - and his hair was shockingly blue and pink in equal measures. Even his feet weren't excluded in the mix as Zeke had chosen his most outrageously red pair of high tops with the miss-matched life vest orange and indigo laces to wrap it all up.
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Posted: Fri Jan 23, 2015 10:19 pm
Swiveling around, eyebrows raised in surprise, Yves opened his mouth to reply; once he got a good look at the man who had greeted him, however, he promptly shut his mouth. For a brief, brief moment, he doubted that he had heard his name. Was this man here for someone else? No, his warm smile and the fact that he was looking right at Yves could only mean one thing.
Zeke.
"You are very colorful," he blurted, thick eyebrows shooting up again. He quickly stood, Peanut's legs dangling from beneath his arm, and offered a hand to shake. "Wow. That was rude of me. I do not mean it in a bad way, I am just... surprised. You look like quite the work of art." He leaned in and added, earnestly, "I like it very much."
In contrast, Yves' color scheme was very neutral - boring, even. The only splash of color on his person was a bright, turquoise scarf, his favorite color. His thick coat, jeans, and boots were all understated shades of browns and blacks, although the ensemble came together in an array of warm blends that brought one back to the smell of books, a fireplace next to the table.
Yves always felt too shy to stand out with bright colors, instead favoring the details in the fabric and intense color coordination. His dark chocolate gloves matched the buttons on his coat which matched his boots. The stray details of cream-colored linings and accents were consistent throughout his entire outfit. Although he had felt very confident about his clothing choice that morning, he couldn't help but feel envious of Zeke's unashamed attitude and the bright, sunny mood he brought into the coffee shop.
He tilted his head and gave a short nod to the bundle of joy in his arm. "But I digress... Oui! I am Yves. And you are Zeke? This is Peanut. Peanut, say hello."
Peanut blinked one eye, and then the other. Yves offered a stiff smile. "He is shy. Thank you so much for meeting me so early. I am so sorry to bother you."
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Posted: Thu Jan 29, 2015 12:42 pm
The blond man blurted out in surprise and Zeke couldn't help but laugh. The sound that came from his lips was warm and rich, and noticeably loud - drawing more than one set of eyes toward the pair. He took the hand offered to him as Yves stood, shaking it firmly as he struggled to contain his laughter down to something more manageable.
"No, no! Don't apologize!" Zeke's grin was luminous and his mirth wrangled down to chuckling. "Not every day I get such an awesome compliment, don't take it back!"
When Yves leaned in to say he liked Zeke's look very much, it took everything in him to keep the next wave at bay. Instead he pressed his heel into the ground hard and internally fought hard, even though it made his chest start to ache. "Thank you! I wanted to make sure I wasn't missed when I came in, in case this place was packed, you know?" He winked. "You look very suave; I like the scarf! Nice touch."
The puppy Yves had with him was brought to the forefront of attention and Zeke held out his hand for him to sniff. Only if Peanut responded positively would Zeke reach further to scratch the little guy behind his ears. "Hey buddy, how are you? You're a cute one!" His light brown eyes flicked up to Yves. "I am the one and only Zeke, yessir! It's nice to finally meet you, Yves. I hope I haven't kept you two waiting long!"
Yves mentioned being a bother and Zeke immediately scoffed.
"Hardly a bother! I'm always happy to help out anyone who calls on me for anything in mind. You, especially, though because you're calling on Lab matters!" Again he winked, grin still plastered on his face.
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Posted: Sat Feb 28, 2015 11:31 pm
As he watched Zeke, who practically oozed friendliness and warmth, another hesitant smile came to his face. He felt himself relax, just a little. If Zeke could be considered the customer relations expert of Lab 305 - the "face" - then he felt welcome already.
Peanut shifted in his arm, eager to sniff at Zeke as he approached. His eyes became huge, as if he were being offered a treat; although he was likely disappointed when there was no treat present, he allowed Zeke to scratch him, eyes narrowing in a pleased look. Yves laughed.
"Oui, he likes you," he mused, giving Peanut a little jiggle in his arms. At once, his expression turned serious, eyebrows coming down into a frown. "Ah, but I appreciate that you placed importance on this meeting. It was sudden, and I understand that you are busy."
Stooping down, Yves let Peanut out of his arms and onto the ground, tethered safely to his owner's hand with a turquoise leash. Peanut, too, would always be coordinated and looking sharp. Peanut sniffled idly at the ground, tail buzzing about his own rump.
"I do not wish to take up much of your time, monsieur," he began, trailing off briefly to stare out at the park. He brought his gaze back to Zeke, eyes troubled. "I will get right to the point: I have been having much trouble with my soul capture. I... well."
He looked at his hand, leash protectively gripped in his palm. "I don't suppose other guardians have had this much trouble? Taken... this much time? I am sure you are all disappointed in me. I am trying to push myself, and I feel that I have found a suitable soul, but capturing it is the trouble, and..."
For a few beats, Yves was again silent, as if struggling to find the words. Peanut whined and tugged slightly at his leash, a squirrel on the other side of the park having caught his urgent attention.
When he looked at Zeke again, his dark brows were drawn down sharply, giving him a worrisome look. "Perhaps I... am unsuited for this, after all," he said at last, his own disappointment practically sighing out of his chest. He studied Zeke's face for his reaction, fear tugging at him. Or was it Peanut, on the leash? He was far too focused on Zeke to realize Peanut was straining to free himself.
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Posted: Thu Mar 26, 2015 1:03 pm
"I'm glad he does," the vet said regarding the dog, "but then again I'm not dressed like his worst nightmare right now so if he didn't, I'd be worried!"
He laughed again, rich and warm, and once more shook his head to dismiss the other man's fears about interrupting him or his day or anything like that. "Busy" didn't happen until much later in the day. Morning was safe, unless Zeke's phone died overnight and his alarm didn't go off, but such times were few and far between.
When Yves came out with the reason for this outing, the vet's grin softened into a sympathetic and understanding smile. He let the man go on and express his concerns - only breaking eye contact when Peanut gave that little whine - but when the Frenchman was done, Zeke did not merely shake his head.
"Well, I do have to say that I was getting concerned when I didn't hear anything from you after the first few months." He chuckled, rolling his shoulders in a lighthearted shrug. "But that was only because I was worried our carrier service lost your case and you never got it! Same deal with a few more folks who got their packages sent to them that way, but they did get them, that I'm sure."
The vet raised his hand and clapped Yves on the shoulder. His grip was firm and the squeeze he pressed there brief.
"None of us at Lab are disappointed in you, Yves. Soul captures are different for everyone - some people need only a few days, others need a few months. Heck, some people take close to a year! It's a big undertaking, especially if you're among the ones who have a particular soul in mind, rather than in Team Happy Accident. Please don't feel like you've let anyone down or are unfit to be a Guardian - you really haven't and trust me - you're perfectly suited!"
Yves wouldn't have been chosen otherwise. The Lab's selection process was on par with your standard adoption agencies, if not more rigorous. Each application was scrutinized and read twice over and that was before the background checks came into play. Not only did a Guardian to be have to be a suitable provider, they had to be a suitable parent figure too. Yves' application had survived the ringer and, just from this brief meeting with the man thus far, Zeke already felt they had made another spot-on choice.
"If you need help, I'm more than happy to lend a hand. You said you found a soul, so let's start from there! What is it and what's troubling you about capturing it?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 4:34 am
Relief escaped in the form of a heavy sigh; closing his eyes for a brief moment, Yves let it sink in. He wasn't a failure, he wasn't an enormous disappointment. Zeke could have just been saying all of that to make him feel better, but there was a sincerity in the vet's voice and eyes that made him believe otherwise.
Still, he didn't wish to be that guy who took a year (or... longer!) to capture a soul. He couldn't imagine agonizing over that hefty soul bottle and all it could contain for another day, much less a year.
"That is such a relief," he breathed, glancing skyward. "Honestly, I was so... worried, you know? Like I was not cut out for this at all. But," he gestured with his coffee, worriedly, "But I do apologize for not getting in touch with you sooner. I... I did not want to be a burden. Hah, foolish me."
Absently, he kicked a patch of grass on the ground. Peanut paused to observe, ears pinned forward, eyes wide. He was clearly fed up with waiting, but Yves gave his leash another grip and the chihuahua's chance was lost. Yves tilted his head toward the trail and half-turned, eyebrows raised.
"Shall we walk? Not far, it just helps me collect my thoughts. Standing still for too long makes Peanut and myself restless."
The park was slowly filling with early birds, many with dogs of their own. Joggers skirted along the sides of the path, bicyclists speeding through, dogs eager to explore the same path again and again. Yves was walking slowly, deliberately, as if afraid he might trip himself from being in deep thought.
He looked up and at Zeke. "You may laugh," he warned, eyebrows furrowing. "But... well, from the colors of the cloth, and... there was this book and the moon, and... well... alright, I sound crazy. It's a wolf."
He watched Zeke's face, studied his expression to attempt to find any signs of disapproval. "Er... the gray wolf, to be specific. I know, it could have been a mouse, or... a tabby cat, or something simple. And I know now that I will never get that soul for my raevan, because there is no way I will be able to hunt down a wolf. But I can't kill a cat, either!" Again, he looked frustrated.
"I know there are fantastic souls out there. Dragons, faeries, many crazy things. So why do I believe mine is so far-fetched? I must confess, I... I know I have been over-thinking this."
Eyes went again to the trail, focused, but lost. "What will be, will be. Isn't that true?"
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 11:00 am
The vet chuckled, he couldn't help it.
"Honestly, a couple months is hardly a record breaker in waiting for us. I think our current holder is closer to the year mark." He didn't pause to think about who exactly held the title. In truth, there was no record for such things at the Lab - none of the staff minded how long it took an individual to capture their soul. Just as long as at some point the Guardian-to-be called to tell Zeke or Laz or Jeremy that they were still alive, it was no problem at all. In the case of death well...Zeke supposed they'd cross that bridge when they got there. "Trust me, I'd be panicking a lot more if we were almost at a year from you getting the bottle and we hadn't heard a single thing from you. No sweat, man."
Zeke beamed at the man, which was jostled from his face only by his nod. "Sure! I'm also like that - I can't sit still for very long, otherwise I start jigging my leg or something."
Although he was used to more brisk paces, Zeke kept the idle pace with Yves and his pup. The Frenchman fell into that silent musing and again the vet was happy to give him all the time in the world to speak his piece. As they wandered down the path, Zeke kept his eyes out for anything grey that could potentially be used if it turned out Yves wasn't happy with his choice. Unfortunately, the season being what it was, there was really only clean and dirty snow to match the grey-white color scheme of the bottle's cloth.
He clucked his tongue at that notion, turning his attention back to Yves when the blond spoke. While Yves said Zeke might laugh, the vet did not in actuality. Instead his eyes lit up and a silly smile crossed his pierced face, stretching from ear to ear.
"A wolf!" He had to repeat the soul's identity and let the prospect sink in a little more with it. It did thusly, momentarily bringing Zeke back to a time around middle school when wolves were "the absolute s**t". A wolf Raevan?! Now there was something that would be cooler than hell, and one with bone powers? Shut all the doors, get out of town, and find Zeke in the alps - that was the very definition of 'rad'.
He couldn't keep his delight in at just the prospect. Bouncing on his heels, he couldn't help but break that moment of silence with laughter.
"That is SO COOL!" 'Giddy' was an accurate word to describe the vet right now. "Oh man could you IMAGINE?! Cool wolf ears and maybe they'd get a tail later on and the claws and the teeth and WITH YOUR ESSENCE I--"
Yves admittance cut Zeke off, throwing a metaphorical branch into the colorful man's metaphorical spokes. His bouncing stopped immediately and he physically looked crestfallen...if only for a few moments. If Zeke was good at anything, it was getting back on the ball. Even if he had to scramble to get there.
"Hey now...Never say never!"
Zeke grabbed onto that second wind with both hands, gripping hard. This showed physically as Zeke balled his hands into fists and took on a go-getter's posture.
"I've been with the Lab a long time, and if there's any one thing I know, it's this: stranger things have happened and can happen yet. We have Raevans with souls of so many things - plants, rocks, animals, and even fantastic things that you know exist in this world but still seem outside the realm of possibility!
It sounds to me like you're hung up on the 'killing a living thing' part of it. Which..." His bounciness had started to return but he stopped it there. The moment of excitability had to pause for a moment of straight fact and seriousness. The vet's voice took on a soft, kind edge. "Which is actually something that a lot of people get hung up on, when they find out about it."
His smile was a touch sheepish then. It was a less than ideal step in the process of Raevan-making and it was kind of the pothole in the road between point A and point B.
"Which is why I always make sure to tell a person - it doesn't have to be an animal. Like I said, we have Raevans with plant souls and even some with the souls of stones. Metal is a possibility too. But if you don't want to go that route...some people like to think of a soul capture as something like reincarnation. We've had plenty of people capture souls of creatures that were sick, dying, or even newly dead. It doesn't have to be an animal in the prime of its life."
Would that help Yves? He hoped so. If the man was keen on a wolf's soul then why burst his bubble? Zeke wasn't the sort who enjoyed doing such things.
"Though of course, over-thinking something can lead to the death of the thought too. Maybe you've been so focused on the one soul and everything around it, you've closed yourself off to other possibilities!"
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Posted: Wed Apr 08, 2015 2:02 am
Looking a bit shocked, Yves watched Zeke dissolve into a heap of enthusiasm - no, he hadn't ever stopped being enthusiastic, had he? - that caused him to lean back a bit, as if Zeke's uproar might cause him to fall onto the grass.
Truthfully, he hadn't been expecting this kind of person when he thought of Lab 305. Maybe someone more somber, in a lab coat, with glasses. Aged about 50 years or so. But Zeke was truly a delight; warm, kind, upbeat and helpful, he somehow managed to make everything seem less.... well, miserable. At least as far as harnessing a soul went. Yves offered a huge smile.
Wolf ears! A tail? Claws... oh! And with the bones, of course. They would be...
Yves balled his hands into fists and tried to picture a raevan, wrought in bone and wolf features. They would be.... totally badass, wouldn't they? He snorted, nostrils flaring at the thought. Wow. Wow, really cool. Really, really cool!
When Zeke's infectious attitude turned more serious, Yves flushed and also sobered up.
"Ah, that... is true," he admitted, quietly. He stared down at the ground. "I don't have to go and just strangle something to death, do I? I mean, it just could happen, huh?"
Zeke's next words hit him like a train, and he looked back up and into his eyes. Over-thinking something can lead to the death of the thought, too. He blinked once, twice, as if not fully registering the vet in front of him. Oh.
"I am over-thinking it!" He gestured to himself, "I mean, could it be so simple as to just let what happens, happen? Why should I even try to limit myself in the first place?" Yves snorted again, looking annoyed. "All that does is make it harder on myself. I mean, would a pigeon be so bad?"
He laughed at the thought, but of course it really was that simple. Well, nothing about the lab seemed simple, per say, but he really had been thinking much too hard on this one task. The thought of souls and bottles and raevans had occupied his mind ever since he received the bottle, and look how long it had taken him to even realize it! He felt utterly foolish, and his shoulders sagged, the confident posture gone.
"Um, merci," he mumbled, scratching his head. It took the man a few moments, but when he brought his open palm back down to inspect it he finally understood why it felt empty.
The leash.
Yves whipped around and looked this way and that, eyes wild. "Peanut?!" he called, scanning the trail. A rustle to his left brought his attention to the bushes, where he caught the tail end of Peanut's leash before it was swallowed completely.
Dumbstruck, Yves watched in horror as his tiny rocket of a dog blasted off into the wilderness. His voice caught in his throat as he whipped around to give Zeke a crazy-eyed look. "R-run around to the other side and try to cut him off!" he yelled, breaking into a sprint straight through the brush.
Peanut, carefree as could be, was running at full speed underneath all of the bothersome brush and snags. He could see the light at the end of the tunnel, and broke through the ensnaring tangles of the bushes at light speed, leash dangling like a billowing cape behind him.
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Posted: Fri Apr 10, 2015 12:26 pm
He smiled to be reassuring.
"You got it. You could happen upon a sick animal or one that's dying and there you go. If you leave the bottle lying around unattended, it'll also latch onto the first thing it finds that matches the cloth, so that's another option. Or," he couldn't help but start to laugh, the memory still as fresh as though it happened yesterday. "You could have a family member pitch the bottle like it's the bottom of the 9th of the world series and it just so happens to be a homerun!"
His grin was luminous.
"Yeah! There's a whole wide world out there, full of grey things and white things and grey-and-white things! Even if you really like the wolf, there's still a butt ton more out there to think on, even for a second!" He was feeling particularly bouncy now, happy to see the blond man coming around. Hell, he might even loop back around and stick with his wolf, but so long as he didn't burn out on the idea before he got there, that was good. "And hey, pigeons are completely underappreciated. They're little badasses! And have you seen the fancy ones people breed for show?"
He was going to go on - already looking for some lucky park-dwelling pigeon to make a scientific example of - but suddenly Yves was shouting and Zeke realized the puppy had escaped. The vet's heart was suddenly in his chest and his legs were momentarily on autopilot, sending him in the direction Yves had called out for him to go.
"Peanut!" There were dead brambles and disjointed sticks in his way but Zeke crashed through each and every one. He could feel the stings where the thorns had scratched him but they were distant thoughts to concern himself with later. The chihuahua was a speedy pup and as quick as he was to get into the bushes, he was just as fast to get out of them. Zeke whistled as loud as he could when he saw the streak that was a dog dart out, even though his lungs were suddenly on fire thanks to the cold air being sucked into them. "Peanut, come here boy!"
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Posted: Tue Jul 21, 2015 3:41 pm
The only thing running through Peanut's mind was, well... running. Yves recognized that crazy look of determination. Peanut loved the park so much, he just couldn't wait, apparently. Being so small and fast, coupled with the fact that there were roads not far from the park, made Yves suddenly terrified at the thought of Peanut running out somewhere he shouldn't have.
Thankfully, Zeke was there to help, as embarrassing as it was. Peanut was a great dog, but he always had a hard time listening when Yves tried to call him back from one of his torpedo runs. One slight crack of the door and that little football was out like a light. Yves skidded around the side of the bushes and nearly slipped on the grass in his effort to catch his dog.
Peanut, unfortunately, was exiting the brush at a different area, but as he flew from the bushes, he caught sight of Zeke and did a U-turn. Behind him stood Yves, who immediately doubled over, his lack of caffeine and adrenaline causing him to pause for breath. "Got... you..." he gasped, slowly advancing toward Peanut. He caught Zeke's eye and gave him a nod.
"If... if he runs again, do not be afraid to grab him," Yves said, slowly, watching Peanut the entire time. Peanut was stiff as a board and stood on edge, watching them both.
Normally, Peanut would have caught sight of Yves and come to him, apologetic and excited to see his owner. It must have been the stress of the other dogs and people around, and the fact that this was not home, because Peanut seemed to be tense and anxious. He watched Yves with watery eyes, not paying attention to Zeke. Yves held up his hands to distract his dog.
"Um, easy, Peanut... easy, boy. Zeke, could you grab the leash? Eaaasy, Peanut..."
This was so embarrassing. Nothing said 'What a good owner!' like being unable to control your own dog in public. Peanut was naturally a skittish and hyper dog, but he was so small. It had been his own fault for underestimating his dog's ability to escape. He should have named him Houdini.
Standing there, needing to ask for Zeke's help because of his own carelessness, Yves' heart sank. Would he be able to take care of a raevan? Would he really be able to? He couldn't even take care of himself lately, and now this.
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Posted: Mon Aug 24, 2015 11:11 am
Zeke skidded on an ice-snow pack when Peanut launched himself from the bushes and almost fell on his a** had the grace of whatever luck he had on him today allowed him to catch himself before he did. The pup did a quick U-turn with surprising grace and all the speed of a strike of lightning, doubling back toward the place from whence he came. Luckily Yves was there when he did. Zeke caught the look he was given and nodded back, approaching the trailing leash with slow, trying-so-hard-to-be-quiet steps.
When a little bit of snow crunched beneath his foot Zeke froze. Surely Peanut had heard and surely that would be enough to send the chihuahua racing off again. But no, Yves had his dog's attention well and with a bolt of 'now or never' rocketing through him, Zeke jerked out of his frozen posture to stamp down hard on Peanut's leash. With equal speed Zeke stooped and took the loop of it in hand, securing it around his wrist.
"Got him!" He crowed in triumph and held his hand up to show Yves that it was true. The leash slipped down just a little toward his elbow in doing so but it was there and it was his. Peanut wasn't going anywhere.
Now that they had regained the pup, Zeke closed the distance between himself and poor Yves, reaching his free hand out to help the guy up. He looked winded but Zeke was little better himself, his face flushed and his breath coming out in ragged puffs of white. But even still the vet was smiling and laughter was quick to follow as he patted the blond man on the back.
"Nothing like January air to make your lungs feel like they were just in a fight with cheese grater!" His eyes were wet from the cold air that had been blown through them and they were stinging like a b***h. "You gonna make it, Yves? Maybe we should sit for a bit - I think I've done more running right then than I have in months!"
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Posted: Mon Aug 31, 2015 1:47 am
Yves opened his mouth, and all he could manage was a blunt, "Oh, my god." He covered his eyes with his palms and groaned. "Ohhh my god. Oh my god. You caught him. I was so afraid. My heart is pounding!" Flush-faced and feeling the coming-down from the sudden rush of adrenaline, Yves gave Zeke's shoulder a surprisingly firm grip, his eyes serious.
"I am so embarrassed," he admitted, dark brows knitting down into a frown. "Peanut, he... is not usually like this. I am not normally like this. But I have been very preoccupied with my own worries lately and I am troubled to admit I have been neglecting his walks more often than I should..."
He looked down at Peanut, who stood rigid, expecting, looking from Zeke to Yves and back to Zeke. His tail stood still, but seemed to twitch in intense vibration whenever Yves looked at him. He didn't even know he had been naughty.
"Poor Peanut," he said, sadly. How often had he been saying 'Poor me' these past weeks? How selfish had he been? He hadn't been to see his grandparents in so long, it felt, or his own parents. His sister called and called and he was too stressed or tired to return them. It was a strange and new feeling, to be so overwhelmed so easily. He had always been the kind of person to plow through whatever laid in his path, and he was always ready to help others do the same.
Except for when he was faced with something he didn't understand or feel he was ready for, apparently. What had happened to the brave explorer who would run outside and climb trees even if he might fall?
Letting go of Zeke's shoulder, Yves let his hand drop to his side, eyes cast down toward the ground. His coffee was forgotten in his other hand, likely cold by now. Frustration bloomed inside of him and he felt it begin to manifest in the form of stinging tears, which he fought back valiantly, but to no avail. He turned his face away.
"I -- I am sorry, Zeke. Forgive me, I... wow. I am so, truly embarrassed. This was supposed to be a nice walk, and here I am, unloading on you like this, asking you to retrieve my wayward dog..." He blinked away tears, face growing hot with embarrassment. Could he be any more embarrassing, really?
Finally, he sucked in a breath and motioned with a nod of his head back toward the coffee shop. "Anyway, you -- you're right, we should take a break. Do you want a coffee? Or tea, or... something? I should repay you."
Zeke was still cheerful, which did help Yves to feel a bit better about the whole thing, but it also served to make him feel worse for being such a downer. After some more thought, his shoulders lifted and fell with a heavy sigh. He really, really needed to chill.
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Posted: Wed Sep 16, 2015 1:44 pm
Zeke reached out to steady the other man when that tight grip came to his shoulder but Yves did not so much physically fall as verbally. That cheery grin Zeke had regained once again vanished into a concerned knitting of pierced brows and worried frown.
"Hey man...It's okay. Peanut's okay and you're okay!"
Yves let Zeke's shoulder go and Zeke started to reach out, but the other turned away. The vet let him have a moment to collect himself, waiting for the other man to speak before approaching.
"No need to apologize! Really, it's okay Yves." Zeke took up the space next to the Frenchman and looped his right arm around his back, patting him gently through layers of winter gear. "You know, it's not the first time I've had to chase wayward chihuahuas. But hey, unload away if you need to! You're a Guardian for the Lab now - that makes us family!"
And family stuck by family, which among other things meant listening when an ear was needed. Yves might have only been among the newest additions, but time spent as a Guardian wasn't a factor to Zeke. The sunny grin returned and the vet stooped to scoop Peanut up off the icy ground. He tucked the pup under his left arm like the football he was almost perfectly sized to be, hugging him close to keep the nervous little dog warm.
"If you're having problems or anything that you need to get off your chest, I'm more than happy to hear them. But yeah, let's go back to the cafe. We could all use some warming up and a cup of coffee sounds great!"
With one final pat to Yves' back and with Peanut in hand Zeke led the march back toward the path. Before he stepped onto it, the vet turned back to face the blond man, frowning more heavily and severely than would mean he was being serious to those that knew him well.
"But before we get there let me say I'll hear no talk of repayment! Drinks are on me, okay? Snacks too - I think I could go for a danish! What do you say?"
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Posted: Sat Oct 03, 2015 10:55 pm
Zeke's kindness was reassuring, but he would be lying if he'd said it hadn't made him feel almost... worse, too. Not because Zeke was being a bad sport or that he had said anything wrong, but because the weight of his own embarrassment was likely to crush him if it persisted any longer. When was the last time he had cried in front of someone? Why was he so emotional?
He shut his eyes. Emotions weren't wrong, they weren't bad. His father had always taught him to 'suck it up' and 'be strong' for his sister and mother when times had been their hardest, and he had grown accustomed to that lifestyle from a young age. But he was older now, grown, and he had his own house and his own life and his sister was taken care of. So it was alright to take care of himself.
Holding in his own problems and emotions -- this was what it did to him. Made him take it out on the first guy that was kind enough to listen for five seconds. Zeke just had that vibe about him, and Yves didn't want to take advantage of it so he decided to shut his mouth and give the poor guy a break. He wasn't even getting paid for this, probably.
"Sorry," he sputtered, his expression lifting. He was genuinely surprised with himself. Sniffing, Yves used his own scarf to wipe at his eyes. Peanut looked comfortable in Zeke's arm, maybe even a little too smug as his legs dangled underneath him. Yves was going to have to get a new harness and leash for him, at the very least. Little stink bug.
"No, but really, sorry. You... you're right. I can't believe how dramatic I can be sometimes." Yves moved toward the path and took care to crunch at least a few leaves along the way. If they weren't extra dry and crispy, it wasn't a good crunch. "You know, I'm sure... I'm sure you know how it is, you've already experienced it and then some. So whenever you see someone like me, you probably know it's going to be okay."
He looked at Zeke and smiled, more relaxed than before. "Right? Even if I'm standing here and crying about how hard it is, you and I both know it's going to be okay. Because I have what it takes."
Whether it was true or not, he had come to one solid conclusion: he had to keep telling himself that, every day, until he believed it. He wasn't going to quit and he wasn't going to keep wallowing in his own self pity. After some thought, he gave Zeke's arm a playful shove and shot Peanut a look. "But YOU, monsieur Peanut... you are in hot water! No danishes for you."
Peanut remained tucked under Zeke's arm, his nose snuffling the air.
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