Comin' on strong with all the chit-chat

[senseisnotmystrongsuit]

Hawke really needed another dog.

Well, no, he didn't need another dog, but while Diesel was more than enough dog for any man, Hawke suspected he got lonely at times. So it just seemed like a good idea to look around a little, check out some of the local shelters, see if any of the dogs present really spoke to him. There definitely wasn't room for another dog as big as the Mabari at home, but maybe a medium sized dog? None of those little toy breeds, but a nice, mid-sized mutt. But since he hadn't been looking for any pets since he came to Kirkwall, a year or so ago, he wasn't sure where to go. He is currently deeply doubting his decision to take the advice of one of his fellow students who gushed about the shelter down in Darktown.

He'd told the nice woman at the front desk that he was looking for a smaller pet, someone to be a companion to his big dog, and she'd beamed at him and said he'd come to just the right place - the animals here had a wide variety of temperaments, and surely he would find one that fit his household. Then she'd handed him off to a man who'd only shown him cats, so far. Not that Hawke disliked cats, he just ... well, he was a dog person, plain and simple. And so he'd politely peered at the various felines he'd been introduced to, but he was getting impatient.

"So," he said to the guy, Anders, he thinks he was introduced as. Which sounded like a place and not a person. "Where do you keep your dogs? Kind of time to move on to the main event, don't you think?"

Comments

[mageagainstthemachine]

Staring a moment longer at the dog, Anders reluctantly nods and gestures for Hawke to sit in the waiting room. "Please, just... keep a good grip on him."

Then he's heading back to the cats, fetching the kitten and murmuring to her as he returns, including a prayer to the Maker for safety. Eying Hawke and the dog, he slowly sits on the ground, setting the kitten down in front of him. She mewls curiously, glancing back at Anders, then at Hawke and the dog, taking a careful step forward.

[senseisnotmystrongsuit]

Diesel is large, even for a Mabari, and he's just a touch overweight, like a warrior slowly going to seed. His tongue lolls out when he sees the cat, and Hawke leans forward, murmuring something to him and stroking his massive neck. Diesel lets out a soft whuff, and then flops into his belly, resting his chin on his outstretched paws and watching the cat with soulful brown eyes.

For all his casual, devil-may-care air, the human keeps his hand lightly on the dog's back, though there's no tension in his body. He watches the cat rather than Diesel, interested expression on his face.

[mageagainstthemachine]

The kitten sniffs at the air, straining slightly against Anders' hands until he finally releases her. Then she's trotting forward before stopping just short of Diesel's snout, regarding him solemnly.

[senseisnotmystrongsuit]

The big dog's muscles tense for a moment, but he doesn't get up, doesn't push forward. Hawke gently strokes his back, smile growing bit by bit, and still watching. It's clear Diesel is waiting for her to approach, letting the much smaller animal take things at her own speed. He does whuff again, though, and his tail thumps the ground - as Anders had said, he's clearly very excited to see her, while the kitten still seems cautious, uncertain.

"Good boy," Hawke murmurs. "Very good, stay ... "

[mageagainstthemachine]

Waiting a moment longer, the cat comes closer. A paw lifts to bat at the air just above Diesel's nose a few times before finally, gently, making contact, the kittens head tilted curiously as she mews. Anders is very much absorbed in watching, all his muscles tensed and ready to send him darting forward to grab the cat in case Diesel reacts badly.

[senseisnotmystrongsuit]

Hawke, much more sure of his own dog - he grew up with the beast, after all - lets his eyes drift up to Anders, noting the protective tension. He misses when Diesel's tongue flops out again, ostensibly licking his chops, but lightly swiping the kitten's paw in the process. His gaze, partially cross-eyed, remains on the kitten, but he still doesn't surge up to greet her or bowl her over, the way he might with another dog.

"I told you he was a big softie," Hawke murmurs, his voice low and soothing, almost a rumble in his chest, when he comments to Anders. The same way he might speak to a skittish animal, really.

[mageagainstthemachine]

Anders' eyes dart up to stare at Hawke, and the kitten continues batting at Diesel's snout and tongue, moving closer to the big hound. Then the small creature flops over onto her back, side pressed up against Diesel's cheek while her paws fly in the air.

Her caretaker meanwhile lowers his gaze, combing back a loose lock of hair as he clears his throat. "Well, then. It looks like they shouldn't have any trouble getting on."

[senseisnotmystrongsuit]

Diesel tilts his head to whuff doggy breaths into her side, tail thumping harder, and Hawke chuckles.

"I guess not. Seems like she'll be coming home with us. But I don't know the first thing about taking care of cats... Don't suppose you know any handsome blonds who'd be willing to help a guy out, provide a little education? Say, in exchange for dinner?"

[mageagainstthemachine]

The kitten practically cuddles Diesel's face, purring loudly, and Anders stares at Hawke for a long moment, weighing the options in his mind. Then there's a slight quirk to his lips.

"You have a specific type you need for tutoring?"

[senseisnotmystrongsuit]

Hawke nods solemnly. "What can I say, my brain is very finicky. I have a definite preferred learning method and type, otherwise it takes everything ten times as long to stick."

He leans in a little, adding in a low, conspiratorial tone, as he nods his head at the happy little kitten, "Do it for her?"

[mageagainstthemachine]

"That's cheating," Anders comments, just a bit accusingly, but he can't help glancing down at the kitten happily clinging to the mabari's face.

"... I suppose I could help you get her settled..."

[senseisnotmystrongsuit]

Diesel has started licking the kitten now, wet swipes of his big tongue as she grabs on to his muzzle. Hawke grins, totally undaunted by the 'cheating' comment - all's fair in hot men and war, after all, and he is something of a habitual bender of the rules.

"Great! When are you off?"

[mageagainstthemachine]

Anders looks a bit shell-shocked for a moment, just from how eager Hawke is, and then glances at the clock. "Ah... not for a few hours, yet. I can give you a list of things you'll need for her in the house, and you can either buy them here or at whatever petshop you usually go to?"

[senseisnotmystrongsuit]

"I was just going to ask you for that," Hawke chuckles. "I mean, I figured she wouldn't be eating Diesel's food, but I don't know what else cats need. ... toys, right? Catnip? Uh, a bed?"

He slides down to crouch next to his dog, tickling his fingers along the kitten's back. "Also, I need to know what you like to drink."

[mageagainstthemachine]

The kitten is immediately distracted and tries latching onto Hawke's fingers, releasing Diesel's face for the moment. Anders stares at them, slowly answering, "I... don't drink." Magic and alcohol isn't always the best combination, especially for an unregistered mage. "I'll go write that list for you, and we'll sort out the paperwork for her."

[senseisnotmystrongsuit]

"Anything? You must get really thirsty," Hawke comments, amused - while he himself can put back a fair amount of alcoholic beverages, getting people drunk to seduce them isn't really his style. He starts ruffling the fur on the kitten's belly, the way he would with a puppy.

"And Anders?" he adds, before the man can escape to the paperwork. His voice is a little more serious this time. "Thanks. Really."

[mageagainstthemachine]

Surprises seem to keep coming from this man. Anders stares with confusion and asks, "What for?"

[senseisnotmystrongsuit]

"Helping me with all this," he says, surprised himself at the other man's confusion. "Connecting me with this one."

He taps the kitten's nose with a little smile. "You're going above and beyond, and I do appreciate it."

[mageagainstthemachine]

He looks a bit embarrassed at that and looks away with a shrug. "Cats deserve good homes. You obviously love animals, so... she should be happy with you. I'll go get those papers now."

[senseisnotmystrongsuit]

Hawke nods, and turns his attention back to the dog and the cat. When Anders returns, he'll find the big man sprawled out on the floor with them, lifting up the kitten so she can bat at the mabari, who is now sitting up and looking slightly put upon at this game, though his tail still gamely thumps now and then, betraying his interest in the proceedings.

[mageagainstthemachine]

Unable to suppress the smile that automatically comes to his face, Anders comes to sit next to Hawke on the ground, clipboard in hand with all the necessary papers. "There's not a lot, thankfully. Did you want to keep her name or give her a new one?"

[senseisnotmystrongsuit]

Hawke rolls his head to he's looking up at Anders. "I have to decide now? Hm, well, what's her name now?"

[mageagainstthemachine]

The mage shrugs. "No, but it's easier to do it now rather than later. She hasn't been named yet, she was found on the street, not brought in by her previous owner, if she even had one."

Racking up approval by asking my companion's opinions~

[senseisnotmystrongsuit]

"Huh ... well, I've never named a cat before. What does she look like to you?" Hawke asks, tilting his head to one side as he looks at Anders, a distinctly canine affectation.

Anders APPROVES +5

[mageagainstthemachine]

Anders looks surprised (again), and shuffles awkwardly in place before focusing on the cat, reaching out to gently tickle her chin.

"... Nothing very serious. Maybe something sweeter... like Myrtle, Merrill... maybe Madame Puddifoot."