[OTA] How Much Is That Doggy In The Window (The butler will kill me)

[heartsthespades]

This had seemed like a wiser idea before he breached Spade Castle with a puppy technically on a leash - but really eating the leash as far as Jordan could tell

Comments

[aceofsorts]

When he hears Jordan muttering irritably to himself, Oliver glances up before going back to the reports he's read-walking. And then does a double take. His face is a mask of... exasperated disbelief, mainly.

"Tell me you didn't."

[heartsthespades]

"I'm holding a dog, Oliver," and oh Christ please stop with the dog kisses. "I think it's obvious what I did." What he was thinking, on the other hand. That was just a little less obvious.

[aceofsorts]

"Great." This isn't even butler sympathy. It's just having to put up with horrible, adorable creatures in his castle. Even more of them, that is. Does Jordan know how much Andrea's damn bird picks on him? "Knives not enough? Need to have a dog thrown at your head too?"

[heartsthespades]

"Oh, please." Jordan's eyerolling probably has more to do with the puppy trying to love him more than anything else. "Think back, deep into the sands of time, and remember which one of the Spades our age was constantly rescuing stray kittens and puppies." Of course, Meghana never got to keep any of them.

Hence the reason Currently Nameless was an immensely thoughtful gift.

And now for some whiplash with these accounts.

[piquedbutler]

Violently. In the night. With a metric ton of bleach out of which will come Knives, Knives Everywhere.

Or, quite possibly, just with the Stare of Entire Disapproval pointed in the direction of Novak and Dog.

People have been Mortally Injured by generations of Disapproving Chives with merely this sort of Look.

My brain hurts already.

[heartsthespades]

...Jordan remembers this stare. He got it - frequently, terrifyingly - from the current Chives' father for much of his childhood. Alas, it is too late for retreat, thanks to wriggling, affectionate Dog in his arms.

He doesn't shed, at least.

"He's for Meghana," he finally says. "She's always adored animals and has never been able to have what she wants."

[piquedbutler]

Ah. That means it's time for Calculus.

Novaks back in the Castle Spades. Good. Jordan Novak in the Castle Spades pushing Boundaries? Less. Anyone at all in the Castle Spades with A Creature? Horrible and Bad in Every Way. Letting one of his Beloved Tens have something she wanted, when really, life so rarely gave her what she Wanted? Really Quite Good.

He'll bring it down from Entire to Very Real Disapproval. "And will it be staying, then?"

[heartsthespades]

"I'm afraid so, Chives." He pauses. "It doesn't shed."

Whether this is actually enough to tamp down the disapproval is up for debate. But one has to try, at least, and he sighs as he leans away from earkisses. "She'll make Meghana very happy."

[oneirophiliac]

Well, that's one thing to come back to. From behind you, Jordan, will come a yelp of surprise and then a calmer speech. "So... he's just here for introductions and then back to Heart Castle, right? Y'might get lynched otherwise."

[heartsthespades]

Currently Nameless will peek over Jordan's shoulder before Jordan himself turns and looks behind him at Annie. "No, I've already decided I'm not cut out for pet ownership," he says dryly. "This hypoallergenic, non-shedding ball of fluff is for Meghana."

[oneirophiliac]

"Aha. Well." One more animal for the snakes to get used to the scent of. She's shrugging her backpack a bit higher as she comes closer. "Maybe you should have a card made up or something to throw at Chives before he gets all up in arms."

[heartsthespades]

"I've passed the Chives test already." Sort of, in a manner of speaking. He's not happy, of course, but what can you do? Other than not get your girlfriend a dog, of course. "'He doesn't shed' helped."

[eucre]

"Mr. Heart!" This is important. Very important indeed! She needs to skip up next to him, turn so she's walking backwards in front of him, glance between him and the dog and him again. "Mr. Tartsy! You have a pet!"

[heartsthespades]

Jordan pauses and raises an eyebrow, but just smiles at Piper. "She's not mine," he says. "But for Meghana. Quiet, though, it's a surprise."

[eucre]

"Piper will hush ever so much. Terribly fluffy puppy." She raises a finger to her lips, falling into step beside Jordan. "Who is he? Is he named?"

[heartsthespades]

"She," Jordan says again. "She doesn't have a name yet, since it's Meghana's puppy. But I'm sure she will very soon."

[wiredspade]

Meghana is considering things as she walks down the hallway. She's considering things as of late. Rumors about a damn ball, rumors about Jacks. Rumors about herself. Whispers she was a whiner but that one she can deal with. She thinks. Meghana's not entirely sure how much that is an act.

Oh, and Grandma Novak. The questions that Grandma Novak asked her. It made her nervous, Meghana didn't want to have kids. She had too many issues. How many of her issues would hang on her babies?

She pauses when she sees Jordan in the hallway, head tilted curiously as she looks at him. She gives something of a smile as she walks closer and then notices the fluff in his arms with a leash half chewed. A puppy.

Calm down, girl, don't go cooing in the middle of Spade Castle hallways. "And how did you sneak that pass the Butler, darling?"

[heartsthespades]

"She doesn't shed and she's hypoallergenic," Jordan says dryly as Currently Nameless turns adoring eyes on Meghana. "If any dog can get past Chives, it's this one." Of course, they still had the puppy reign of chaos to worry about, but...no hair?

It was a start.

[wiredspade]

There might be a ripple of emotion that dances over Meghana's face. She recalls all the cats and dogs she's longed to pet from afar, dashing over in Kate Spades to give the well adored stray cat pets or a cheerful dog a hand to sniff. And then she pretends like nothing has happened.

"Well, I've heard of such dogs, and here I thought they were myth." She walks over, holding out her hand to the little dog. "Is she yours and you brought her over here to taunt me?"

[heartsthespades]

His lips twitch into an amused grin as the dog scrambles closer. "Not quite, darling," he says. "She's yours, and I brought her over to introduce you."

And now, he thinks. It's time for the reaction. According to Tegan, this is the perfect gift.