(no subject)

[morethanprops]

Since speaking to Lady Margolotta, Moist has been feeling grateful for Franz and has been taking him for more walks and runs.

Today they got caught in an impressive downpour and Moist is using a towel to dry off Franz while some rats fetch him a hot cider, good stew and some treats for Franz. His clothing is damp but also not meant for anything more than playing with a dog, a dark sweater with suggestions of cables and some flannel trousers that hide all the mud.

The smile on his face is almost unguarded but that's completely due to Franz who's he's praising in Uberwaldian, which sounds as if German went walking around Eastern Europe and picking up parts of other languages that it liked.

Comments

[scots_wolf]

Which Urquhart understands quite well, having spoken both German and Bohemian in his lifetime.

He is standing on the last step of the stairs down, hidden behind a corner, and listens with a smile.

Franz deserves the fuss.

[morethanprops]

"She doesn't scare us, does she? No, not when you're around to growl at her and someday we'll show her that all her guesses are silly. Homes aren't for adventurers like us, we have worlds to see,"

He laughs and buries his head in Franz's fur while giving some impressive scritches and Franz's happy tail wagging upsets a rat.

[scots_wolf]

The rats drops a cup that rolls all the way to Urquhart's feet. He bends to pick it up and steps out.

The rat squeaks, upset.

"That dog has quite an impressive tail," he says to the rat. "Beware of the white end."

[morethanprops]

Moist looks up when he hears Urquhart's voice, "Hello."

[scots_wolf]

"Hello," Urquhart says. "That dog really deserves all the praise he can get. He scared off a mermaid, after all."

[morethanprops]

"And gave me an excuse to leave a conversation with Lady Margolotta. How are you doing?"

Franz looks up at Urquhart with a happy, lolling smile, he's all dry and a good dog. Moist on the other hand is still rather damp.

[scots_wolf]

Urquhart bends down to hug the dog and ruffle his ears and pat his rump and tell him he's a good dog, too.

"A conversation with Lady Margolotta," he says. "Charming as a shark, as always, I take it? I talked to the Ostrogoth and that girl he considers his daughter the other day. They still want to know who paid the Goth's former lover to do him again."

[smallgayjew]

That entire scene is entirely too endearing for Posner not to stop and watch a moment.

[morethanprops]

Franz's tail is wagging hard enough that rats are dodging it and Moist laughs and looks up to spot Posner,

"Hello, David, how are you doing?"

[smallgayjew]

Posner laughs a bit at that as well.

"I'm all right. How've you been, Alfred?"

[morethanprops]

"Not too bad. Join me. This seems like a night for hot toddies and long soaks in warm baths,"

He signals to one of the rats who is giving Franz a wide berth.

[smallgayjew]

"A hot toddy sounds lovely," Posner says as he moves to join him. Because he assumes he's not being invited for a bath.

"Is this your dog?"

[morethanprops]

"Yes, this is Franz,"

Moist would say it if he didn't mean it but he does this time, he'd enjoy seeing what Posner's like without his film of respectability and clothing.

[forgottenmotley]

"Hello again, Nobody," The Fool says.

He never did get Moist's name.

"That's Urqhart's dog, isn't it?"

[morethanprops]

Moist looks up and smiles, "Yes, this is Franz. I go by Alfred."

[forgottenmotley]

"I like Nobody better," the Fool says. "It suits you." Kneeling down he offers his hand out for Franz to sniff.

[morethanprops]

"Why would you say that?"

Franz is cautious since the Fool doesn't smell like a human and gives Moist a questioning look.

[forgottenmotley]

"Because. You said you didn't know who you were and when I asked you, you said you were Nobody. Men speak better truths while drunk than while sober."

[morethanprops]

"I don't think I meant it like that. I know who I am,"

He speaks quickly to Franz in Uberwaldian and he wuffs at the Fool before settling at Moist's feet.

[hey35andholding]

Perhaps Moist can hear a light clacking of the tongue before Clementine comes to sit down beside him.

Yes, she's met the dog too.

[morethanprops]

Franz knows her smell and wuffs happily at her which makes Moist look up and smile,

"Hello, Clem."

[hey35andholding]

She does smell of Liz Taylor's Passion and vodka; it's a unique scent. "How're you doing?" she asks, scritching the dog.

[morethanprops]

"Very well. How about yourself?"

He leans back as Franz gives her a soulful look up, she should give him pets.

[hey35andholding]

Clem, as always, takes the hint and keeps scratching. "Pretty good. Sam's back in Florida. And I'm hiding from my door."

[morethanprops]

"What's waiting for you on the other side that you're hiding from?"