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[good_dug]

So it seems that Jack was eventually successful in selling Dug. Signs pointing to this include a lack of 'for-sale' signage, a notable lack of Dug when he would normally be mooching around everyone else at the fireplace, and perhaps most telling of all, the fact that when he wanders into the bar this evening via the back door, he appears to be

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[isaysimplewords]

Milliways showed up for Cal in the middle of his shift at the animal shelter he volunteers at. To a canine nose, he no doubt smells strongly of several cats and dogs as he takes a seat near the fire and smiles as he sees the extremely contented-looking dog across from him.

Cal loves dogs and has one of his own, so he sees absolutely nothing odd in saying (complete with doggy-talk voice),

"Hi, there. Aren't you a handsome boy." Or pretty girl, whichever, but he doesn't see an owner around to correct him.

[good_dug]

Dug sniffs the air thoughtfully as Cal sits down, absorbing the scent but deciding that none of the cats are around and therefore not important. Of course, when Cal talks to him, it's a different matter - he wags his tail happily and lifts his head, trying his best to appear as handsome as possible.

"Thank you!"

[isaysimplewords]

. . . this is actually not Cal's first Milliways encounter with a talking animal, though they are few and far enough between that his eyebrows go up a bit anyway.

"Uh, you're welcome," he says.

Pause.

" - are you actually a dog or something else in dog form?"

He once had a dog he was petting here turn into a goddess mid-ruffle. She hadn't seemed to mind, but Cal had felt decidedly awkward about the whole thing. So he has his reasons for asking.

[good_dug]

Cal gets a look that is pretty clearly you are a stupid human. Because uh, duh, he's a dog. What else would he be?

"I am a dog." He cocks his head to one side, look fading into confusion. "What else would I be? I am a dog and dogs are dogs. They are not something else!"

This person is kind of dim, Dug thinks, not to have known that. It's only logic!

[isaysimplewords]

Cal can't help but laugh, because he does sound an awful lot like how Cal imagines some dogs would talk.

"You're right," he says. "That was a silly question. I get confused sometimes."

[good_dug]

"It is okay!" Dug wags his tail, panting cheerfully enough in Cal's direction. "I am smart! I can help you if you get confused!"

He pauses for a moment, trying to think of how best to prove this.

"...did you know the rabbits here are not like other rabbits? They have fire! And they bite. And chase dogs. But not me! I chase them!" TOTALLY, GUYS. HE TOTALLY CHASES THEM.

IN, UH.

THE OTHER DIRECTION.

[isaysimplewords]

One other thing to worry about in the event that he brings Penny here. He already knows he'll definitely be keeping her leashed, but that just keeps her in place, not the rabbits.

He nods.

"Yeah, they're pretty crazy," he agrees. "I see them in the bushes when I go out running."

They haven't come after him, though.

Yet.

[good_dug]

"They tried to get me," Dug informs him, with a very srs look on his face. "But I chased them! And...and they were scared! And I was brave. You could take me on your runs and I could protect you!"

Until the time the bunnies turned up again and he discovers that they actually think he's good sport to chase.

[isaysimplewords]

"Thank you," Cal says, smiling. "I'll remember that."

He'd be up for that, for the company, at least. That's one thing he couldn't do with Penny; she's part pug. She can handle more physical activity than a full-blooded pug can, but a run that long (Cal goes around the lake) is out of the question.

"I'm Cal." Because if a being can talk, it's only polite to introduce oneself.

[good_dug]

Well, let's face it. The run would probably do Dug good, considering he's about half an ounce away from being the approximate size of a T-Rex.

"My name is Dug!" He sits himself up, extending a paw happily to shake. "It is nice to meet you!"

And the thing is, it really is. Dug may be able to talk, but he's still a dog with a dog's way of looking at the world - a spoiled dog, who's gotten so much attention here it's amazing he hasn't burst yet. And he love love loves meeting people.

[isaysimplewords]

That particular exercise-related benefit occurs to Cal as Dug sits up and he general shape becomes clearer. Who on earth is taking care of this dog?

"Dug," he repeats to make sure he heard it correctly, leaning across to shake the offered paw. "It's nice to meet you too, Dug."

Which it is. Friendly dogs are Cal's favorite kind.

[good_dug]

In Dug's opinion, awesome people. Who feed him as much as he ever wants! Only silly dogs get kibble at set times of the day. Clearly, his life is just so much better, even when it gets hard to fit into easy chairs.

He takes the opportunity to slurp happily at Cal's hand with a large pink tongue before taking his paw back and leaning against the side of the chair, in order to maneuver a hind leg into perfect scratching distance to his ear. It...might be a surprisingly subtle hint.

Or just Dug being Dug.

[isaysimplewords]

Either way, there is clearly only one response, especially since Dug has made it clear that physical contact is a-okay.

(Cal does work at a shelter, after all. He is even more aware than he had been before that this is not always the case.)

Dug will be having his ears scritched now.

[good_dug]

Dug wiggles gleefully under the scratching, tail thumping the cushions as it tries to find space to wag. This person obviously knows dogs, by the way he's hitting all of the excellent spots. And he smells like them! Perhaps he has dogs.

One way to find out. "Do you have dogs? You smell like dogs. And cats. I like to chase cats. Kate has cats and I am not allowed to be with them so I sleep on her bed!"

[isaysimplewords]

"I have one dog," Cal says. "Her name is Penny. And I work with other dogs. And cats."

He's still scritching, expanding gradually to cover more territory.

"Is Kate your owner?"

[good_dug]

Dug wrinkles his nose. "Why would you work with cats? They do not talk and they are smelly and they scratch and bite and make funny noises and sometimes they chase me."

He has a pretty low opinion of them, as you might be able to see. But Kate is a happier topic, and he perks up some. "Yes she is! She bought me from Jack and she is lovely."