I want to walk with the animals...

[traveltobelize]

For someone like Belize, the most contact he had with the animal world came in the form of shoo'ing away a small squirrel,  batting off a  pigeon in Central Park or a glance at the caged beasts in the Bronx Zoo (and even that was pushing it. Belize hardly traveled to, through or near the Bronx.)

So naturally, it had caught him off guard when a

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[pere_callahan]

Callahan was taking Jake for an afternoon walk when he spotted Belize staring in horror at a parrot hovering in front of him. "Everything all right?" he asked Belize as Jake barked a greeting as well.

And what Callahan didn't know was that when Jake barked, what he really said (in an Irish accent quite a bit thicker than Callahan's subdued one), "Hallo there, Belize. Got a bit of meat on you? The old man was a bit stingy with the bacon this morning. Thinks I'm getting too much grease in my diet."

[Couldn't resist this one! How about we assume that their last conversation was interrupted by something so that Callahan didn't get to finish his story? That way he can keep telling it if Belize is interested.]

[traveltobelize]

Just as Belize was about to run up to Pere and clench him in a tight bear hug, he heard another accented voice speaking to him. This time, Irish he guessed.

Belize looked down at the dog and began backing away, just as he had done with the Cockney bird. "What...the...fuck...." Belize still had his mouth stretched open in horror and his eyebrows raised in confusion.

"Pere, did you have bacon for lunch?"

((hehe, that's totally ok!))

[pere_callahan]

Callahan blinked in confusion at Belize. "Ah, for lunch, no, but I did make some this morning with a batch of pancakes. Is my breath...?" He exhaled into his palm.

Jake just sat there looking up at Belize patiently.

[traveltobelize]

"Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck." Belize cursed over and over in hushed anger. "See, the reason I ask is because suddenly, I am able to hear animals, Pere." Belize laughed at himself, realizing just how this sounded.

"Did you know your dog thinks you stiffed him on breakfast this morning? He wanted more bacon."

[pere_callahan]

Callahan looked down at Jake. "Did you now? I keep telling you you're getting too much grease in your diet. Just because there's no proper dog food doesn't mean you should be able to eat anything."

And then to Belize, he sighed a bit and said, "Well, it's not the craziest thing I've heard all day, to be frank. We seem to be having some sort of... episode. And besides, it's not any crazier than sensing vampires. I shouldn't be a hypocrite in my suspension of disbelief."

Jake barked again. I'd think he was a bit crazy myself, the dog said, if it weren't for the nightmares. Wakes me up at all hours, this one!

[traveltobelize]

Belize quickly looked over his shoulders in fear. "What? You're sensing vampires?" Belize never had reached a verdict about Callahan's vampire stories, but he was still frightened today. After all, he had been talking to animals.

"I think I'm just going to head to my hut, lock my door and cry. I think a good, long cry is in order..."

Belize looked down at the dog. "Respect him. He's your owner."

[pere_callahan]

Callahan blinked. "What? No! Not here, I just meant..." He shook his head.

Then he put a hand on Belize's shoulder and said, "Come, my boy, there are worse fates than talking to animals. Besides, this sort of thing usually only lasts a few days."

Jake actually looked up at Belize with a somewhat sheepish expression, and whimpered a little. I know that. I like him. He's a good old fella.

[traveltobelize]

Belize sighed in relief. "Well good. I just remember last time we spoke and then with the whole strange happenings on the island and all..." He trailed off and smiled at Pere, glad at the familiar face.

"Just didn't want you being able to speak to Vampires the way I can speak with our furry friends, that's all."

Just before continuing on his way back to his hut, Belize stopped and looked at Jake. "Yes. Yes he is."

[pere_callahan]

Callahan wondered what on earth Jake was saying to Belize.

He hesitated, then cleared his throat and said, "If you want company..." He was worried about the young man. "Ah, and Jake's is optional, I can take him back to the church first if you like."

Jack made a snuffing sound. Hey! I'll be good.

[traveltobelize]

Belize had already began walking towards his hut when Callahan offered to accompany him. Thinking Prior would probably be out with Roger, he decided it would be ok for Pere to come with him. He wasn't sure how Prior would react to a priest being in their house.

"If you'd like to..." Belize told Pere, looking down at Jake with a grin. "Yeah, yeah, yeah. No bacon there, sorry."

[pere_callahan]

Callahan shook his head at Jake, looking amused, before falling into step beside Belize. "Jake is normally very well behaved," Callahan said. "Though there's no accounting for what he's actually thinking."

Probably less than you'd think, Jake admitted with a quiet bark.

[traveltobelize]

"Then today must be your lucky day." He stopped and smiled at Jake, petting the dog's head cautiously and not a moment to soon.

"I hear every word."