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Post by Leda on Dec 12, 2008 0:31:24 GMT -5
The frown was troubling, but, he seemed awfully insistant. Phoebe could only hope that his apparent reluctance was simply due to the fear of the unknown. Hoping to put him more at ease, her outstretched palm finally found its way to the top of his head, gently stroking at his fur. " I won't let anyone hurt you," she repeated, barely above a whisper.
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Post by DB on Dec 12, 2008 0:34:18 GMT -5
Dash flinched slightly at the touch- mostly because it wasn't something he'd ever really... experienced. Except maybe from his mother, but that wasn't quite the same. Either way, it wasn't really offensive (it actually felt a bit nice), but it was still a surprise. "... so you're going to get me out of here?"
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Post by Leda on Dec 12, 2008 0:37:03 GMT -5
The overlanded nodded, continuing to graze the top of his head with her fingertips. "We're actually really lucky. Under normal circumstances, there's no way I'd have been able to afford you." Tracing her touch over to his right ear, Phoebe gently rubbed it between her thumb and index finger. "Maybe I was meant to find you, somehow."
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Post by DB on Dec 12, 2008 0:38:50 GMT -5
That... that felt nice. A bit odd coming from a stranger, but nice. Either way, he chuckled slightly. "My luck ish usually pretty bad..."
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Post by Leda on Dec 12, 2008 0:44:27 GMT -5
Phoebe let out a chuckle of her own, sliding her hand along the uninjured side of his face. "Hey, mine doesn't seem to be any better," she mused while scratching lightly at his chin. "I have to handle things full of thorns all day, and now I'm stuck with a beast that's just as prickly."
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Post by DB on Dec 12, 2008 0:46:06 GMT -5
He snorted. "At leasht I'm not a big hairlesh monkey~."
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Post by Leda on Dec 12, 2008 0:47:45 GMT -5
That one made her laugh more loudly. "Such disrespect," she snickered, finally withdrawing her hand from Dash's pen. "Maybe I should ask for an extra discount on you."
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Post by DB on Dec 12, 2008 0:49:22 GMT -5
Pause. "Extra?"
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Post by Leda on Dec 12, 2008 0:52:15 GMT -5
"Mm hmm." Phoebe turned her attention back to the sale tag attached to the outside of the tenrec's kennel. "Your price is massively reduced because you're injured. I guess most people don't want to buy a beast with medical baggage already in the immediate future."
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Post by DB on Dec 12, 2008 0:53:42 GMT -5
Twitch at being called 'beast' again. Though she'd already done it a couple times before... But, apparently, that was something he would have to get used to around here. "... I guesh that makes me damaged goodsh. I donnu if I'm inshulted or not."
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Post by Leda on Dec 12, 2008 0:58:30 GMT -5
"I'd like to think of you more like a diamond in the rough." Smirking and sticking out her tongue, Phoebe rose to her feet once more and headed out of the showroom. "I'll be right back." Several minutes later, the overlander returned, accompanied by a sales clerk. With some direction from his customer, the teenage worker knelt and unlocked Dash's cage, a collar and leash ready in hand. "C'mon, little fellah!" he coached.
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Post by DB on Dec 12, 2008 1:02:40 GMT -5
And... out. It was nice to stretch his legs more, and now he could actually get a better look around the room. ... Nope. Still didn't like it. Pause. He turned to look at the collar and leash in the teen's hand. "...er..."
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Post by Leda on Dec 12, 2008 16:46:02 GMT -5
Failing to take any notice of the tenrec's pause, the shop worker wrapped a plain black, canvas collar around Dash's throat, taking care with fastening it in the front. "Does that feel okay?" he asked while attaching the leash clasp. "I can loosen it if it's bothering you."
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Post by DB on Dec 12, 2008 16:48:03 GMT -5
... ... "It bothers me." Unamused expression. He had it.
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Post by Leda on Dec 12, 2008 16:51:07 GMT -5
The young adult blinked. Normally two fingers' worth of space was plenty, but, not everyone was normal. "Oh. Sorry about that, fellah." Undoing the catch, the teen loosened it for an additional inch or two. "There you go, that should be just fine now." Rising to his feet, the clerk then handed the other end of the leash to his customer. "Right this way please, ma'am." "Thanks." Phoebe glanced down at the tenrec and petted down the two stray spines that stood apart from the rest. "C'mon, let's go."
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Post by DB on Dec 12, 2008 16:53:23 GMT -5
... Aaand the tenrec was now tugging at the collar, grimacing. it wasn't that it was too tight. It was that he was wearing a friggin collar.How demeaning could you get?
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Post by Leda on Dec 12, 2008 17:02:17 GMT -5
Meanwhile, Dash's new owner busied herself with writing out a check. It hurt to spend that much money at once, and she hadn't really planned on buying a beast at her first browsing... But, Phoebe had a gut feeling that this was a smart decision. They'd managed to have some good chemistry when he let down his guard for a moment, after all. Having made her purchase, the overlander was rewarded with a few more complimentary items to help get the beast settled into his new home. The florist grabbed her bag, then opened the door to exit, giving a gentle tug at the leash around her wrist. "Come on, it's time to go home!" she announced with obvious pleasure.
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Post by DB on Dec 12, 2008 17:04:03 GMT -5
The tenrec's frown deepened at the tug at his neck, but with a grumble, he followed, giving the store one last wary glance before following his new apparent 'owner'. How wrong that felt.
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Post by Leda on Dec 12, 2008 17:05:36 GMT -5
As he fell into step, Phoebe again began to absently stroke the top of his head. "Feel good to be up and around again?"
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Post by DB on Dec 12, 2008 17:10:10 GMT -5
The tenrec twitched slightly at her touch. Once again, not because it was unpleasant, but simply because it was odd to have a stranger violate his personal space like that. "... it ish nice to be out and about again." And... now it was time to take in the -new- surroundings. He continued to frown, tilting his head slightly. It... reminded him slight of the old Mobotropolis, from when he was a child... almost... but not.
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Post by Leda on Dec 12, 2008 17:12:38 GMT -5
He flinches every time I touch him, Phoebe reluctantly noted. Frowning herself, she pulled away and said, "Sorry... I don't mean to bother you. I guess it's just a habit."
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Post by DB on Dec 12, 2008 17:14:38 GMT -5
Hm? "Oh... that's... it's okay... it's jush... kinda pershonal space..." And back to absent mindly tugging at his collar. "... thish place looks nice." Looks, that is. He couldn't say anything about his treatment here, so far. Well. Other than 'it sucks'.
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Post by Leda on Dec 12, 2008 17:18:33 GMT -5
As they turned a corner, a new smile spread across the forist's face. Why, what was that just down the sidewalk? A subject change, and a pleasant one at that. "Hey, look up there," Phoebe said with a nudge, pointing down the street. "That's an ice cream vendor. I like to stop there sometimes on my way home from work. ..." On the thought that he probably doesn't know what ice cream is, having just been domesticated, she added, "They sell nice treats to eat. How about we stop for a snack?"
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Post by DB on Dec 12, 2008 17:22:14 GMT -5
Blink. ... Well it -would- be a welcome change from the horrible food he'd been getting lately (honestly, how did they think ANY living thing could choke down stuff like that?) "... as long as it doesn't have dairy in it I'm good for it..."
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Post by Leda on Dec 13, 2008 13:19:01 GMT -5
"No dairy, huh?" the human noted. "Hmm... Well, they've got popsicles. Those are basically flavored water, for the most part. Think you might like one of those?" Phoebe patted his head; hey, he said it was okay. "Besides, the cold might make your cheek feel better, too."
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Post by DB on Dec 13, 2008 13:22:08 GMT -5
Dash frowned slightly. "I know what a popsishcle is... I jush haven't had one in a long time." Pondering, he touched his cheek slightly. "... it might be nish. ... Think they have watermelon?"
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Post by Leda on Dec 13, 2008 13:27:43 GMT -5
Phoebe shrugged. "Doesn't hurt to ask." The pair approached the small street cart, and after some exchange of words and currency between the overlanders, a pale red popsicle was offered to the tenrec. Cookies and cream was his owner's choice.
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Post by DB on Dec 13, 2008 13:30:49 GMT -5
Taking the offered treat, the tenrec gave it a tentative lick. Yeup. Just as good as he remembered. If not better with the crap he'd been eating lately. With a nod he thanked Phoebe before going to work on the frozen good. "... it'sh been a long time..."
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Post by Leda on Dec 18, 2008 23:37:54 GMT -5
Pleased to see him placated, Phoebe gave a light tug at the leash and lead him further down the street. "Maybe there'll be more of them in your future."
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