[For all your misc dog needs. Including but not limited to:
-Anxious pacing out in the halls or outside in the dead of night -Chewing on all of his pens at work -Who made a fist-shaped dent in the wall? HM I WONDER -Laughing alone with salad except there is no laughter here, only tears -??? -Erotic panting in the summer heat]
[THE SCENE: it's a hot summer night, around 2 AM; Maera worked today and got off shift around 7, came home, threw together an easy cold meal because fuck the heat, took a cold bath because fuck the heat, went out for ice cream because fuck the heat, and went to bed earlyish because fuck the heat. And then he couldn't sleep, half because fuck the heat and half because fuck PTSD. Around 2 he wakes up from a very light doze with a jerk and realizes this isn't working out, so outside he goes, in his underwear. Who cares, right? Hopefully Chou isn't having a rough night too.
But someone else is. The unmistakable pacing figure catches his attention right away. Maera strolls over, wiping his sweaty bangs back out of his face.]
[At least the pacing isn't anything new for him. It's not like it's as frequent as the nightmares themselves, but when it's too damn hot to lay around inside trying to get back to sleep, why not?
Too hot for robes, too, but he had the decency to grab one... if wearing it wide open and fluttering in the breeze can be considered decent. Not like he cares who sees. He cares even less when it's someone with the exact same body. Although he does care greatly for Maera's company, and his smooth black ears perk up when he notices him.]
[Right back atcha, slick. Maera's only too happy to boomerang that question back in Mallory's direction. The answer is pretty obvious for both of them, isn't it? Rough night all around.
He finds the same spot on the wall he was leaning against last time and leans there. It adds something to this moment. At least this time he isn't dissociating or anything.
Leaning against the wall only half hides that his tail is swinging back and forth behind him, despite the mood. It's the part of him that goes Mallory!! when they interact in much the same way a real dog might get excited hearing their owner's car down the street approaching the house.]
I didn't think I slept any, but I didn't notice you go out. Guess I got exactly those five minutes in tonight.
Hah. I think that's about the total of what I've worked in, too. Must be the full moon, beckoning us to come out and howl at it.
[Funny. Funny stuff. It's a far more entertaining idea than what the truth is. Between nightmares or just good old fashioned anxiety seizing their mind and pulling it back from the brink of slumberland, there are too many more plausible reasons and none of them are any fun to think about.
He turns a much tighter circle before seating himself in the grass, nice and cool to contrast with the slightly muggy night air. He's sure they'll end up being out here a while.]
[Maera watches that happen, his sleepy brain rolling it around in his skull as he pushes off the wall and heads over to join Mallory in the grass. It's not until he's lowering himself down next to him that he realizes why it struck him as kind of funny:]
[He accepts it as fact before he even replays the last thirty seconds in his mind to figure out what it was. Ah. Of course. He snorts and crosses his arms.]
How long does it take to start being able to see that shit coming so you can stop it?
[Clearly, Maera must have suffered through the same, right?]
[ Iiiiiit's about lunchtime, and it's one of Peony's days off, so it's probably not completely a surprise when she pops her head around the corner of his "office," or wherever he's set himself up to do his work for the day. She's just leaning in for now, not actually approaching him just yet. There's a bright smile on her face that is only a little bit strained at the edges. ]
Ma~llo~ry! Are you busy right now?
[ He could be working hard or hardly working. If that pen is any indication, probably more the latter. ]
[He's working hard at hardly working. They shouldn't make cheap pens with such soft and chewable plastic! He's already gone through two today, and the end of this third one has been shredded pretty thoroughly. The worst part is that he doesn't even notice himself doing it until he's got a mouthful of ink-
-or until a lovely lady friend saves him from himself. Phew! He lets the pen clatter to his desk and wrinkles his nose a little in disgust at the self-realization. He did it again...! Maybe if he just pretends it wasn't happening, so will Peony.]
That depends on what you're planning to distract me with.
[ She leans a little further into his line of sight -- she's dressed cute-casual for her day off, and while the peony flowers he'd given her for her birthday have long since been dried (for safekeeping!) she's gone and found a silk one that she can wear in her hair indefinitely. For the moment (at least) she doesn't actually comment on the pen thing: instead she keeps her voice bright and cheery, like nothing is wrong and everything is fine!!
...It's a little easier for her to pull off when she's not quite as affected by Luna's everything as he is. ]
[His expression remains neutral, but the way his ears perk and his tail smacks against the side of his chair betrays how totally into the idea he is. Damn it! He was going to do a little teasing first! This is why he wants the tail gone...!]
Funny you should mention that. The cutest girl on the whole island just walked in. And I haven't taken a lunch break yet...
[So Eiji can't give him shit for going now! Ha ha.
He stands and rolls his shoulders back with a small groan. Ugh! Desk jobs! He hates them. Let him be a guard, damn it.]
[ No no tail wagging is an excellent thing! Peony has come to rely a lot on Maera's tail wagging, and now that Mallory has one too -- however temporarily -- she's ready to take as much advantage of it as she possibly can.
Though when he says that, she half-hunches her shoulders shyly, scuffing at the ground with the toes of one foot. Compliments. Her main weakness, no matter how many times she hears it from him...!
When he stands, though, she finally comes all the way from around the corner and trots over to him. She's hiding something behind her back, too, though she's not trying to be subtle about it. It's the way anyone might hide a "surprise" present. ]
I wanna eat somewhere where we can see outside, but maybe a little cooler. How does that sound?
[It's a good thing that Peony's such an open book, red panda parts or regular old human ones. It means Mallory gets immediate results and that makes it all the more tempting to be merciless with the compliments. He is a force to be reckoned with when he wants to be. Making Peony happy is way more rewarding than wallowing in self-pity anyway.
Speaking of forces to be reckoned with... He should have known from the start that Peony had a little more in mind than her initial invitation. He cranes his neck to see if he can sneak a peek over her shoulder, putting that extra height to its most practical use.]
Sounds like you might have a place in mind already...? [He's in! But also, he wants to know before they get there.]
[Someone's been fairly unavailable lately. One may say that perhaps someone was probably glued to the library for the passed few days. Contractual obligations and all. Made all the more difficult that someone now had the urge to sleep even longer than before and craved fatty tuna sashimi when she barely had the time to go get any. It was the new layer of undiscovered hell but she was finally free for the day, feeling like a college student again working late hours. She nearly wobbled back to the dorms to properly die, not knowing who else was out there. Subconsciously, she rubbed her eyes and her new fuzzy black cat ears...stopping herself once she started licking the top of her hand.
Oh god.
That would be around the time she spotted a tall figure.]
[Oh... fine! That's fine! Both librarians can abandon him! He's fine!!
No, really. He's been a little on the quiet side during his morning visits anyway, when he even bothers to show up at all. It's not that he's avoiding Riye. But Luna...
And with Luna spirited away once again by the Witch, he's suddenly wishing he could see him again every minute of every day. Because of course that's how it works.
Riye's company isn't unwelcome either on a lonely night like this, but it does take him by surprise. Well, at least this should be less painful and bittersweet for him, anyway. He halts his aimless pacing and raises a hand in acknowledgement, his tail moving much more enthusiastically.]
What're you doing out here so late? ...Don't tell me you're working overtime just to pick up Luna's slack.
[He knows it's been a busy month so far. Something about new additions.]
[...!!! Someone out at this time of night! A cautious and defensive young woman-]
...Oh, hi Mal.
[When she noticed that it was Mal out here...in this time of night, she didn't know whether it was fate or not. After such a bad and hard few days, a friendly face was welcome in her own way. Her deadpan expression was slightly more tired, but her features spoke volumes as her tail gave a very soft swish to an upward position, twitching a little. She was happy to see him.
Riye wouldn't have had much time to really think too hard when she noticed his visits were short or not around. She was just that busy with all of the new things. Because he was right, somewhat. One librarian, a whole new system being implemented. She yawned.]
Well, work wasn't any less of a cake walk...I'm working overtime mainly because they're giving more work to do.
Oh yeah, trust me, I know... Guess who gets to write up the terms and services about using your brand new computers? Not like that's going to stop anyone from trying to look up porn.
[From what he's heard the hardware's too ancient to do anything except maybe run minesweeper anyway. Even if they were the latest models, does this place even get internet? Too many questions that he's going to leave to someone more scientifically minded.
He makes a vague gesture to the side of his head.]
Don't underestimate the age before high speed internet and desperation. I was there before dial up.
[With that in mind, she got the whole scientific thing. The issue was just...all the work and one person. Now after the assumed flooring she had her eyes shoot on over to the side as the tail gave a bit of a flick.]
Mmrmm, yeah. Meow, and all that.
[Gosh, ain't it ironic that she had a conversation with Maera about this??? ISN'T IT???]
We all got a hint of what biology can do. Maera and the others ought to be thrilled.
[AND THAT'S ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID ABOUT PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET THEIR PORN ON...]
Tch... Maera's a dumbass. [About as much of a dumbass as Mallory is.] Can you believe he doesn't want me to cut mine off? It's not like I'm going to touch his!
[Who made a fist-shaped dent in the wall, indeed... Well, there are two main suspects. That's what happens when you have two of the same wall-punching person around. But he's heard from Maera about something happening between Mallory and Luna, so the dog who seems to be having an overall worse time is probably Mallory.
When Icarus does finally find him pacing around, he keeps his distance at first, watching to observe his current status. Jiiiii.
...It's nearly impossible for him to blend into his surroundings with his wings, but he's at least not drawing attention to himself, okay.]
[Even without drawing attention to himself, Icarus has underestimated Mallory's paranoia about being watched, and also just how powerful his nipple radar Lunacarus detection skills really are. His tail starts wagging before he even comes to a stop, though it's just a little bit of one before it drops down between his legs. Ah, he's been caught doing it again, the anxious pacing... He's no fan of all these stupid little habits that sprang up with the ears and tail.]
...How long have you been watching me like that?
[He doesn't even need to turn to look at him to know it's him. And it's easier to sound casual about it without facing him.]
[Oops. He didn't have time to gauge Mallory's mood and how much he didn't want to be bothered! The slight waggy tail and the facing away are mixed signals!!]
I just got here. I can't sneak anything past you, I suppose.
[He cautiously walks closer, though he stays just behind him.]
[Not to mention how much louder everything seems to him with these new ears. Even the softest footfalls pound in his head.
But there are differences in the presence Icarus and Luna exude, and it hits Mallory hard as he feels him approach. They both carry themselves so differently now... Is it just the weight of Icarus' wings? Or the weight of Luna's self-contained burdens?
...Whatever the case, Icarus is still familiar enough that Mallory can relax even with him right behind him like this. There are few people he can trust with his life, even in a place free of war like Koriko. He's sorely tempted to lean back against him, yearning to feel his arms around him, but...
Even now, there's that unclear and arbitrary boundary nagging at the back of his mind. So he settles for just half-turning so he can look at Icarus over his shoulder, a tired but sincerely fond smile on his face. Maybe Icarus can't sneak things past him, but Mallory can try for vice-versa.]
I could ask you the same. I wanted to see you. But if you'd rather I not bother you, you can say so.
[If Mallory's relationship with Luna is fraught, Icarus could well be an uncomfortable presence.
Or maybe it's just easier to feel like leaving him alone is doing the right thing. If Mallory actually needs his comfort, that's a much harder task to follow through on.]
[T O O B A D. Hard Mode has been activated and now there's no going back. Mallory faces Icarus more properly, and if his delight isn't evident in the way his expression brightens, then the frantic movement of that damned tail should make it obvious. Icarus wanted to see him!!]
You know I've always got time for you! You wanna head someplace a little nicer?
[Nicer than, you know, loitering around outside the bathhouse. It may be getting late, but by no means is the rest of the island settling down anytime soon.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
DOG TIME [July]
-Anxious pacing out in the halls or outside in the dead of night
-Chewing on all of his pens at work
-Who made a fist-shaped dent in the wall? HM I WONDER
-Laughing alone with salad except there is no laughter here, only tears
-???
-Erotic panting in the summer heat]
mid-July
But someone else is. The unmistakable pacing figure catches his attention right away. Maera strolls over, wiping his sweaty bangs back out of his face.]
Yo.
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Too hot for robes, too, but he had the decency to grab one... if wearing it wide open and fluttering in the breeze can be considered decent. Not like he cares who sees. He cares even less when it's someone with the exact same body. Although he does care greatly for Maera's company, and his smooth black ears perk up when he notices him.]
Yo. ...Rough night again?
[Let's talk about you, not me.]
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[Right back atcha, slick. Maera's only too happy to boomerang that question back in Mallory's direction. The answer is pretty obvious for both of them, isn't it? Rough night all around.
He finds the same spot on the wall he was leaning against last time and leans there. It adds something to this moment. At least this time he isn't dissociating or anything.
Leaning against the wall only half hides that his tail is swinging back and forth behind him, despite the mood. It's the part of him that goes Mallory!! when they interact in much the same way a real dog might get excited hearing their owner's car down the street approaching the house.]
I didn't think I slept any, but I didn't notice you go out. Guess I got exactly those five minutes in tonight.
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Hah. I think that's about the total of what I've worked in, too. Must be the full moon, beckoning us to come out and howl at it.
[Funny. Funny stuff. It's a far more entertaining idea than what the truth is. Between nightmares or just good old fashioned anxiety seizing their mind and pulling it back from the brink of slumberland, there are too many more plausible reasons and none of them are any fun to think about.
He turns a much tighter circle before seating himself in the grass, nice and cool to contrast with the slightly muggy night air. He's sure they'll end up being out here a while.]
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You just did a dog thing.
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[He accepts it as fact before he even replays the last thirty seconds in his mind to figure out what it was. Ah. Of course. He snorts and crosses his arms.]
How long does it take to start being able to see that shit coming so you can stop it?
[Clearly, Maera must have suffered through the same, right?]
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mid-Julyish
Ma~llo~ry! Are you busy right now?
[ He could be working hard or hardly working. If that pen is any indication, probably more the latter. ]
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-or until a lovely lady friend saves him from himself. Phew! He lets the pen clatter to his desk and wrinkles his nose a little in disgust at the self-realization. He did it again...! Maybe if he just pretends it wasn't happening, so will Peony.]
That depends on what you're planning to distract me with.
[It'll probably be a welcome one at this point.]
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[ She leans a little further into his line of sight -- she's dressed cute-casual for her day off, and while the peony flowers he'd given her for her birthday have long since been dried (for safekeeping!) she's gone and found a silk one that she can wear in her hair indefinitely. For the moment (at least) she doesn't actually comment on the pen thing: instead she keeps her voice bright and cheery, like nothing is wrong and everything is fine!!
...It's a little easier for her to pull off when she's not quite as affected by Luna's everything as he is. ]
Ooooor, maybe a walk with a cute girl?
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[His expression remains neutral, but the way his ears perk and his tail smacks against the side of his chair betrays how totally into the idea he is. Damn it! He was going to do a little teasing first! This is why he wants the tail gone...!]
Funny you should mention that. The cutest girl on the whole island just walked in. And I haven't taken a lunch break yet...
[So Eiji can't give him shit for going now! Ha ha.
He stands and rolls his shoulders back with a small groan. Ugh! Desk jobs! He hates them. Let him be a guard, damn it.]
Let's get outta here.
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Though when he says that, she half-hunches her shoulders shyly, scuffing at the ground with the toes of one foot. Compliments. Her main weakness, no matter how many times she hears it from him...!
When he stands, though, she finally comes all the way from around the corner and trots over to him. She's hiding something behind her back, too, though she's not trying to be subtle about it. It's the way anyone might hide a "surprise" present. ]
I wanna eat somewhere where we can see outside, but maybe a little cooler. How does that sound?
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Speaking of forces to be reckoned with... He should have known from the start that Peony had a little more in mind than her initial invitation. He cranes his neck to see if he can sneak a peek over her shoulder, putting that extra height to its most practical use.]
Sounds like you might have a place in mind already...? [He's in! But also, he wants to know before they get there.]
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Late Nya-ight
Oh god.
That would be around the time she spotted a tall figure.]
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No, really. He's been a little on the quiet side during his morning visits anyway, when he even bothers to show up at all. It's not that he's avoiding Riye. But Luna...
And with Luna spirited away once again by the Witch, he's suddenly wishing he could see him again every minute of every day. Because of course that's how it works.
Riye's company isn't unwelcome either on a lonely night like this, but it does take him by surprise. Well, at least this should be less painful and bittersweet for him, anyway. He halts his aimless pacing and raises a hand in acknowledgement, his tail moving much more enthusiastically.]
What're you doing out here so late? ...Don't tell me you're working overtime just to pick up Luna's slack.
[He knows it's been a busy month so far. Something about new additions.]
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...Oh, hi Mal.
[When she noticed that it was Mal out here...in this time of night, she didn't know whether it was fate or not. After such a bad and hard few days, a friendly face was welcome in her own way. Her deadpan expression was slightly more tired, but her features spoke volumes as her tail gave a very soft swish to an upward position, twitching a little. She was happy to see him.
Riye wouldn't have had much time to really think too hard when she noticed his visits were short or not around. She was just that busy with all of the new things. Because he was right, somewhat. One librarian, a whole new system being implemented. She yawned.]
Well, work wasn't any less of a cake walk...I'm working overtime mainly because they're giving more work to do.
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[From what he's heard the hardware's too ancient to do anything except maybe run minesweeper anyway. Even if they were the latest models, does this place even get internet? Too many questions that he's going to leave to someone more scientifically minded.
He makes a vague gesture to the side of his head.]
Nice ears.
[They got her too...]
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[With that in mind, she got the whole scientific thing. The issue was just...all the work and one person. Now after the assumed flooring she had her eyes shoot on over to the side as the tail gave a bit of a flick.]
Mmrmm, yeah. Meow, and all that.
[Gosh, ain't it ironic that she had a conversation with Maera about this??? ISN'T IT???]
We all got a hint of what biology can do. Maera and the others ought to be thrilled.
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[AND THAT'S ALL THAT NEEDS TO BE SAID ABOUT PEOPLE WHO NEED TO GET THEIR PORN ON...]
Tch... Maera's a dumbass. [About as much of a dumbass as Mallory is.] Can you believe he doesn't want me to cut mine off? It's not like I'm going to touch his!
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When Icarus does finally find him pacing around, he keeps his distance at first, watching to observe his current status. Jiiiii.
...It's nearly impossible for him to blend into his surroundings with his wings, but he's at least not drawing attention to himself, okay.]
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nipple radarLunacarus detection skills really are. His tail starts wagging before he even comes to a stop, though it's just a little bit of one before it drops down between his legs. Ah, he's been caught doing it again, the anxious pacing... He's no fan of all these stupid little habits that sprang up with the ears and tail.]...How long have you been watching me like that?
[He doesn't even need to turn to look at him to know it's him. And it's easier to sound casual about it without facing him.]
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I just got here. I can't sneak anything past you, I suppose.
[He cautiously walks closer, though he stays just behind him.]
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[Not to mention how much louder everything seems to him with these new ears. Even the softest footfalls pound in his head.
But there are differences in the presence Icarus and Luna exude, and it hits Mallory hard as he feels him approach. They both carry themselves so differently now... Is it just the weight of Icarus' wings? Or the weight of Luna's self-contained burdens?
...Whatever the case, Icarus is still familiar enough that Mallory can relax even with him right behind him like this. There are few people he can trust with his life, even in a place free of war like Koriko. He's sorely tempted to lean back against him, yearning to feel his arms around him, but...
Even now, there's that unclear and arbitrary boundary nagging at the back of his mind. So he settles for just half-turning so he can look at Icarus over his shoulder, a tired but sincerely fond smile on his face. Maybe Icarus can't sneak things past him,
but Mallory can try for vice-versa.]
What's up?
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[If Mallory's relationship with Luna is fraught, Icarus could well be an uncomfortable presence.
Or maybe it's just easier to feel like leaving him alone is doing the right thing. If Mallory actually needs his comfort, that's a much harder task to follow through on.]
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You know I've always got time for you! You wanna head someplace a little nicer?
[Nicer than, you know, loitering around outside the bathhouse. It may be getting late, but by no means is the rest of the island settling down anytime soon.]
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