15: Refresh (Open Action, Garden Park)

[enchantressofore]

[ At last, it's sunny again.

It's not the intense exercise she wants to do, but it is nice to actually be able to walk with her dog for once. Wearing blue-jeans and a button down blouse, Adela can't help feeling just a little bit more cheerful as she looks down to her swiftly-growing dog, making certain to keep him at her side rather than letting him take the lead.

It's only when Ash growls at someone getting too close to Adela that she lets her smile fade, instead kneeling down beside him to pet him and try to calm him down. ]

Easy boy, heel...

[ The dog does stop and bow his head a little, which prompts Adela to smile softly before petting him affectionately. She then tries to follow his gaze to the person Ash was growling at -- whether it 's someone she knows or someone she's never met, they deserve an apology either way. ]

I apologize for that, I am still training him. He will not bite unprovoked, I promise.

Comments

[fierybluebird]

[Marco just shrugs.] Better than Pops' dog. Stefan wasn't particularly bright, eh?

[enchantressofore]

I could not speak for him, I can only say that Ash is a very smart dog as far as I can tell

[ The dog in question leans into the pettings, seeming to calm down and sitting beside Adela when she gets back to her feet. ]

Nevermind that, how have you been Marco? It has been a while since I have seen you last.

[fierybluebird]

Has it? [Birdie head tilt.] I suppose so. [Amused soft grin.] Time is always a little difficult for me to place, yoi.

Part of being a phoenix.

[He waves a hand.] But as they say, no news is good news. How's your leg?

[enchantressofore]

It can be a little sore, especially on rainy days. Still, I am glad to learn to walk again, though elegant and exhaustive movements are still beyond me.

[fierybluebird]

By which you mean certain yoga poses? [AMUSED.]

[enchantressofore]

[ She might have just rolled her eyes a bit. ]

No, those I think I can manage, provided certain parties do not choose to be distracting again.

[Action]

[youfool]

[Perceptive mutt; Gengar was hanging out in Ted's shadow, which is *almost* taking a walk. Close enough. So long as growl isn't taken as a combat action; otherwise things could get battle-y.]

"Heh, wary thing, isn't he? Believe me, I know how hard it is to keep beasts in line. I'm still getting the hang of it with a certain picky poltergeist."

[Processing.]
"You're walking! How wonderful. Good to see you out of that chair."

[fierybluebird]

No promises. I hear the local wildlife is very rowdy in the park, yoi.

[enchantressofore]

"It likely is also because we are training him to be a guard dog, so unless I am here to help calm him down Ash is supposed to react like that."

[ Adela couldn't help smiling, her grin wide as she nodded to Ted. ]

"I am finally allowed to start re-learning to use my leg, yes. It has been a little difficult -- I cannot go for too long right now as my leg is still healing, and it does not always respond as it should... But I have to say it is a vast improvement. I can actually walk with Ash myself."

[enchantressofore]

I have seen so for myself, believe me.

[ In spite of herself she does chuckle, shaking her head and petting Ash again to help calm him further.

The dog does settle at last, stepping forward of his own accord and trying to sniff at Marco's hand curiously. ]

[youfool]

"Huh." [Ted's a pretty big softy when it comes to animals; that this one's destiny was to be more or less constantly on edge struck him pathetically.]

"What's he guarding you from? Robbers? Giants? Pirates? It must be something severe if Smoker isn't up to it."

[Meanwhile, Gengar is playing with Ted's shadow by making it do horribly suggestive and violent things towards the dog and Adela. Stabbing, shooting, growing a very large tongue and french-kissing. The usual. Ted, of course, is none the wiser.]

[enchantressofore]

"Ask Smoker, training him this way was his idea."

[ The dog goes back to snarling, confusing and concerning Adela as she tries to calm him again. ]

"Ash? What is it?"

[youfool]

"Oh, haha, that sounds like him. How's he doing? Are he and Mr. Law...at ease?" He chuckled to think of why, precisely, Law was tied up in his shop. He hadn't seen the conclusion of that mysterious meeting. He's so occupied with such thoughts that Gengar has free reign to continue teasing, making the shadow into every shape dogs are known to hate. Cats, mostly; he's not very well-read. And if that doesn't work, there's always Adela's head falling off.

[enchantressofore]

"I do not-- Ash?" Adela stopped herself mid-sentence, frowning as the large pup seemed more and more distressed, barking and whining at what Adela thought was nothing. She knelt down beside him again, frowning and petting down his head to try and calm him again.

"What is wrong, Ash...?"

[youfool]

"Ah, I appear to be upsetting him. I'll, uh, take my leave before he gets more stress than even a bad dog deserves." Ted began to walk off a little upset himself, having some vague idea that dogs can keenly intuit spirits. Was there something evil about him?

"What's wrong" took the time to become three-dimensional, normalizing Ted's shadow and tugging at his pants. Ted stopped in his tracks and looked down to find Gengar very insistent on staying. To help, Ted thought, though his naughty pet simply wanted to continue working the poor dog's last nerves.

"Oh, Gengar? What is it?" He tugged and pulled back to where they were. Then, the age-old art of Pokemon-pantomime. Gengar pointed to Ash, then made his eyes spin around while shaking his head, frothing. Then Gengar proudly pointed to himself, then to Ash, before breathing deeply, becoming the picture of relaxation.

Ted was a moment in translating. "...I think he's trying to say that he knows some trick to calm Ash down. Care to...trust in his expertise?"

[enchantressofore]

Initially Adela didn't answer Ted, still trying to calm her poor dog down as he kept whining. Finally Adela just hugged him, petting down his head and holding him close.

"It is all right, there is nothing to worry about Ash," She tried to speak calmly, though to Gengar it might have seemed like the dog was still defensive and ready to snarl or, worse, bite.

"... It may be better if I return home with him. I do not understand, he normally is not like this... I wonder what could have bothered him so."

[youfool]

Foiled again! Gengar's rictus grin held strong as he kept locked eyes with Ash Ketchum. Cause dogs love that. "Ah, well, Gengar can be a little startling. Probably for the best. May it go well with him; good afternoon."

[enchantressofore]

"Thank you Ted, and to you as well. It was good speaking with you again."