41 - action/dictated

[sexyhitchhiker]

[Natsuki is set up outside, in the shade. Her motorcycle is getting a nice coat of polish after some general maintenance work and serving as something of an hands-on experiment/application of whatever she could remember of engineering from that blasted family plot. It's soothing work. Not quite as distracting as actually riding her bike at breakneck speeds, but the issue is just irritating now, instead of anger-inducing. And still sort of mocking, but, like she said before, she won't give up what she has now for a mere fantasy she had (should have) given up on years ago.

Besides, she can't play fetch with her dog if she's riding the bike. Wagging his tail proudly, Blitz the husky comes running up to her with a tennis ball in his mouth. After a few murmurs of praise, she haphazardly throws the ball somewhere to her right as she turns back to her bike.

There's a small splash, a bigger splash, and then surprised quacking. She turns and.



Oh, come on!]

I just gave you a bath, Blitz! [happy bark!]

Comments

[deterrence]

[over the journal:]

Isn't it odd? Most dogs seem to dislike baths.

[sexyhitchhiker]

Diving headfirst into a duck pond doesn't seem to cou -

[and then there are droplets of pond water seeping through the journal]

Argh! Blitz, no! Down!

[deterrence]

[. . . gross] Maybe he's doing this so you'd have to give him another.

[sexyhitchhiker]

[aren't you glad Chinglings are somewhat calmer pets?

The dog whines. Natsuki growls.] Funny. He's never shown any sort of enthusiasm over baths before.

[dammit. She just polished the bike too.]

[deterrence]

[why not clean all the things!! it's long due]

Or is it the ducks?

[sexyhitchhiker]

[but she just did!!]

I'll throw a rubber duck in there and tell you how it goes.

[deterrence]

[but it's cathartic-ish]

Okay. [tbh Blitz is always crazy excitable, so she supposes even a rubber duck would get him splashing again]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[there's a sigh as she looks between the newly besmirched bike and the wet dog.]

C'mon, you mutt. [he tentatively gives a wag of a tail as she leads the way towards wherever the hose is located.

Grumble:] So are you having a better day than I am?

[deterrence]

Got a few things done. [mainly for the 15th. shhh.] And they stayed done, which probably makes that a yes.

Want me to go over?

[sexyhitchhiker]

[more grumbling]

If you don't mind wet dog.

[deterrence]

He's spraying on the journal as it is. [should she change for this...maybe not]

[sexyhitchhiker]

I guess I should apologize for that.

[that sorta counts as an apology, right? And there's the sound of a hose turning on and more barking.]

[deterrence]

[a chuckle. Must resist temptation to make some horrible joke...]

The thought's appreciated.

I'll leave you to deal with that, then. Be there in a bit. [only for you, girl]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[and she is truly appreciative. If you go outside, Natsuki's off to the side, hose in hand and filling up a small tub while a whining, muddy dog tries to edge away from her.]

[deterrence]

['suuuuup. Resigned to the fact that her outfit will be ruined, she gets close, laying a hand on Blitz's back]

Still having trouble?

[sexyhitchhiker]

[the dog turns, tail wagging tentatively, and looks up at the newcomer with the most woebegone face he could make.]

Not yet. [sigh]

[deterrence]

[has some immunity to that face. but. fine. soppy headpats.]

He keeps getting bigger every time I see him again.

[sexyhitchhiker]

Yeah. He should be full grown soon, though.

[she whistles and points at the tub.] Get in there, Blitz.

[the dog whines but comes up to her. She grimaces at the mud; looks like she'll need a shower afterwards as well.]

[deterrence]

[a pause. What do you mean, he's not fully grown yet?

...] Would it work if you took baths together? In your room, that is.

[sexyhitchhiker]

[he's almost there! A couple more months maybe?

She starts rinsing the mud off, but stops to stare at Shizuru.]

That's a bad idea. [at the pause, he tries to escape but she grabs his collar.]

[deterrence]

How so? [she has zero experience with keeping a dog, it needs to be spelled out for her]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[and she starts scrubbing at the dog again]

First, I have to keep an eye on him or else he'll try to escape. Plus the water can't be too hot and I've got to use the dog shampoo.

[another grimace] And fur gets everywhere.

[deterrence]

[eyebrow waggle]

Everywhere, hmm. [she tried taking this seriously! IT'S AGONY OK]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[yeah that just goes over her head. She's busy.]

Yeah. He sheds more in the spring, though.

[deterrence]

[no fun :(]

You knew what you were getting into when you decided to let him stay. [is it just her, or did the water make him look even wider]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[at least she's well on her way to becoming thoroughly soaked?

Sigh.] I wish I could deny that.

[thoroughly doing your research sucks]

Can you hand me the shampoo? [she keeps a hold on his collar while nodding at a bottle off to the side]

[deterrence]

[would it be too much to ask for dat shirt to be pastel-coloured

yes it would

reaches for the shampoo and --

sdljkfga the smell...

congratulations! That actually got a reaction out of her!]

Here.

[sexyhitchhiker]

[Pastel, yes. White, no.

She gives a nod of thanks, takes it, and starts scrubbing.

A glance.] You don't have to stay, you know.

[especially with the wet dog smell]

[deterrence]

[good enough

leaning back to put some, negligible as it may be, distance between herself and the bath -- though also to make herself comfortable]

But I want to. If you'll have me.

[sexyhitchhiker]

[almost absentmindedly:] Of course I'll have yo -

[and Blitz makes a desperate bid for freedom. Lunging forward, Natsuki only manages to restrain her dog by bodily dragging him back into the tub.] Dammit, Blitz. Stay!

[deterrence]

[did they just have A Moment...nah.

She's going to twirl a lock in her fingers and do absolutely nothing to help :)b]

I think that proves my theory wrong.

[sexyhitchhiker]

[there's a few moments before she replies. Kinda busy here, having no help and all. :|



Not that she really expected Shizuru to help.]

What theory? Blitz liking water?

[deterrence]

[what is she doing here again.

Oh, right, for the excellent company]

He likes it, it seems. Just not what you use it for. [and the funny soap]

[sexyhitchhiker]

Only when it suits him, of course. [sigh] I'd have him chase a ball into the pool, but I don't think chlorine is good for dogs.

[deterrence]

There's a reason it's used in detergent, after all. [and who knows what people get up to in a public pool]

... Is the situation the same, with your Eevee?

[sexyhitchhiker]

No. When we got back, she was a stuffed animal on my shelf.

[which was probably a good thing for Blitz. He would've been bullied.] I don't think I could've handled that many animals anyway.

[deterrence]

[well, that explains how she hasn't been seeing the Eevee. No loss!]

One looks to be more than enough. [really, how do you DO this]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[yup. Those ambitions would've had another obstacle to overcome.]

At the moment, one is too much. [and the dog gets one last rinse before she lets him step out of the tub. Upon which he immediately starts shaking the water out of his coat.

Too late, she groans and throws a towel over him and starts rubbing him down. She's thoroughly soaked by now.]

[deterrence]

[finally gives up on keeping her laughter contained. Never has she been so glad that they're alone (if only for now)]

When you're done, we should get in before you catch a cold. [in the middle of summer, too, which would be both awful and hilarious]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[and she just scowls, taking a moment to wring the water out of her hair and as much of her shirt as possible without actually taking it off.]

Next time, I'm doing this in a bathing suit. [still scowling, she retrieves a slightly damp leash from a back pocket and clips it onto Blitz's collar before handing the other end to Shizuru.]

Don't let him roll in the dirt. [and she starts gathering up the rest of her stuff before heading back towards the castle]

[deterrence]

[see? Privacy = good. When you say such things, she ends up looking forward to them. Rather unsettling]

I'm quite expecting it to be other way round. [with one last snicker, she takes the leash, tugging gently for Blitz's attention]

[sexyhitchhiker]

[Blitz follows along quite amicably, tail a-waggin' while Natsuki shoots him an aggrieved look. Of course, he's perfectly well behaved now.

Grumble.] He's not usually this bad.

[deterrence]

If you say so. [still tres amused. Might have something to do with that cranky-mom-with-embarrassing-toddler attitude...but she doesn't point it out]