Who let the dogs out? ...IT WASN'T ME. I SWEAR.

[reactivates]

It's true that Trailer is more Artie's dog than anyone else's, but they all enjoy his company. Pete likes to toss a football around with him. Myka even cuddles with him on occasion. And Claudia enjoys taking him for walks because it's an excuse to be by herself without being accused of being "mopey" (she's not mopey, Pete, she likes to listen to her own thoughts sometimes, okay, not everyone can handle you talking about your past girlfriends for three hours straight, oh my god).

This is one of those walking with Trailer times, and it's usually pretty relaxing because Trailer is a good dog, quite relaxed and steady-paced, never drags her around... Except the fact is, they have never encountered a squirrel before. And it's just the right time of year, just the right weather, that the chittery little creatures are starting to come out.

Claudia is actually reading as she walks him, loosely gripping the leash in her hand because, hey, Trailer's a good dog, remember? So it comes as quite a shock when the "good dog" takes off running at speeds she has not previously ever seen him reach, pulling the leash straight out of her hand and chasing a small, bushy-tailed menace across the street and past a corner and...

And Claudia stands there like a dumbass in utter shock, mouth hanging open, because... "What. The frakk... TRAILER?!" She pretty much drops her book and takes off running after him, except when she turns that corner, she runs smack into someone else, and falls ever-so-gracefully onto her ass on the sidewalk. What did she do to deserve this karma? Really?

"Uuughh, crap. Crappity crap. I. Am so sorry," she quickly apologizes to the other person.

Comments

[not_really_charlie]

"What the fra..... cute." Those were the words that tumbled out of Charlie's mouth - not the best mixture, unless the goal was to make her blush as she started to dust herself off, and scramble to her feet. "Wow. That was..."

[reactivates]

"Ugh, yeah, again, sorry." She forces herself up off the ground and gives a sheepish, apologetic smile. "I, uh, I'm chasing my dog." She looks down the street, and around a bit, then returns her gaze to Charlie. "Apparently he's faster than I gave him credit for. You didn't see him run past, did you? About yay high--" she brings her hand up a little past her knee "--mostly copper-colored? Probably chasing a squirrel as if he hasn't eaten in weeks? Which, by the way, we do feed him, I swear."

[not_really_charlie]

"Oh... um... Yeah; I think I saw it actually." She turned about, trying to get rid of her blush; cute girls didn't bump into her all the time; except when they did...

[deshabille]

It really is nice out. Mal's been hanging around for a while, just walking, not doing anything of any use other than people-watching, which is always fun. Of course, when a dog zips past her and someone subsequently yells and runs right into her, she straightens up and takes notice, peering down at Claudia, who's currently sprawled inelegantly on the ground. After a moment of study, she grins.

"Not a problem," she says, extending her hand to help the girl up. "Was that yours?"

[reactivates]

"Thanks," she takes the offered hand and pulls herself up, dusting herself off a little. "The dog? Sort of. Ish. Technically he's his own. But we like to feed him and keep him around because he smells so lovely." He doesn't. "I swear he usually is totally chill, but apparently squirrels are his kryptonite. Or his Lois Lane. Whichever reference works. Uh. Did you see which way he went, by any chance?

[deshabille]

Mal looks at her and pays attention politely, even though she has no idea what in the world a Lois Lane might be. After Claudia is apparently finished, she squints to the left and points vaguely. "That way. I think. But I could probably help you find him more easily than I could give you directions." He really did smell.

[reactivates]

The fact that Mal could track Trailer by his scent obviously does not occur to her, nor does she realize that's what Mal actually means. It just makes perfect sense to her that helping her look for the dog would be easier than trying to assume which way he went. "That would be awesome. Seriously, I'd really appreciate it, I'm pretty sure my boss is going to banish me to boring chores for months if I don't bring Tray home safe and sound and with a stomach absent of wild squirrel meat."

[deshabille]

She grins. "Surely there are worse things he could be eating than squirrel meat." As she sets off in the direction she thinks Trailer went, she glances over her shoulder at Claudia. "Something that's been dead for a while, for example. Isn't that what dogs love best?"