Puppy Therapy

Log Info

• Title: Puppy Therapy

• Emitter: Telamon

• Characters: Ravenstongue, Telamon

• Place: Ravenstongue and Telamon's house

• Summary: Telamon and Ravenstongue find themselves puppy-sitting for a neighbor! Ravenstongue enjoys the fluffy little Derry puppy and allows some of her worries about her father to melt away. She spends some time talking with Telamon and they reflect on their relationship--and realize their six month anniversary is coming up. Perhaps plans are in motion?

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=- Dramatis Personae =--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-    
Ravenstongue         5'0"     99 Lb      Half-Elf          Female    Short half-elf girl with violet eyes and black hair.                       
Telamon              5'6"     140 Lb     Half-Elf          Male      A platinum-blond half-sil man with dancing dark eyes
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Lúpecyll-Atlon home, early afternoon

The brutal heat has relented for the moment. It's still warm out, and deliciously sunny, like a benediction of sorts. The flowers of the garden are drinking up the bright light, aided and abetted by a watering can carried by an unseen servant.

The master of the house, Telamon Atlon (soon to be Lúpecyll-Atlon), is sprawled indecorously in one of the simple chairs outside. Dressed in a loose-fitting tunic and breeches, his skin already becoming a healthy light bronze, he is engrossed in reading what appears to be a letter. A tall-tankard of chilled tea sits at his elbow.

Movement can be seen in the flowerbushes, as something seems to be prowling in the garden, and there's audible giggles coming from the garden pixies.

Cor'lana steps outside in the purple knee-length sundress, although (probably to Telamon's disappointment) there's not a bikini underneath it like there was the other day. She's holding a plate of small diagonally-cut sandwiches that she's made on a whim--two for Telamon, two for herself, and presumably two for Pothy, who's on her shoulder and staring intently at the plate like he's trying to figure out how he can eat all three of them.

"You looked like you could use a treat," Cor'lana says as holds out the plate with a smile. But her attention focuses on the flowerbushes, and she raises a brow. "Err... Bois? Lily-of-the-Valley? Mirabilis? What's going on over there?" she calls out.

"Probably nothing good, now gimme," Pothy says, snatching one sandwich off the plate and scarfing it down.

More giggles, and then a pale blur pops out of the bushes! Paws, ears, large dark eyes: a puppy that comes gamboling across the green backyard to come to a stop at Lana's feet, wagging its tail and gazing up at her meltingly.

Tel seems unsurprised by this, but he does blush a bit. "Oh. When you went out this morning, Burz came by with him. Carina had to go to the temples -- hopefully it's nothing serious, but she is eight months along. Burz didn't want to leave him by himself, so..." He gestures to the puppy. "Meet Derry. He's been exploring the backyard since."

A pause, then, "Sadly, we can't keep him, but it's a good way to see if our, ahem, residents mind a four legged friend."

Cor'lana blinks in surprise, but the reality registers with her quickly: a puppy! In her yard! She sets the plate down (carefully) on a table next to the chairs, as it's been nice enough weather to warrant taking meals outside, especially for the evening meals when the temperatures fall into cooler temperatures. "Aww, look at you," she says, a smile creeping across her face. "You look like a sweet little creature."

She kneels down and holds her hand out to Derry for him to sniff. "I think you're supposed to do that first?" she asks, looking up at Telamon. "Mother didn't have any pets in the house. Besides Pothy, that is."

"Not a pet," Pothy grumbles as he swallows the rest of his sandwich. "I'm a repository of knowledge! Big difference!"

Indeed, Derry seems to be very sweet tempered and amiable, as he happily begins wagging his tail and sniffing at Lana's hand before nuzzling at her fingertips. Licking as well, before sitting back and letting loose with a small, piping bark. As if to say, 'Yes, I am a good dog!'.

"It's generally a good idea. Burz grew up with dogs, and decided he just couldn't live without one. And this one is definitely the most even tempered of the litter according to him -- a good companion and guardian for Carina and his firstborn." Telamon picks up a sandwich, and begins munching happily. "Father and mother sent a letter. They're well, but -- unsurprisingly -- they're not going to be able to leave the Mythwood right now."

Cor'lana's eyes sparkle a little as she just watches the puppy in front of her. It's that little look of fascination and wonder she gets from time to time that quickly builds as she carefully reaches her hand out to pet the little creature. "I've... never even pet a puppy before," she murmurs in astonishment as she seems to realize this.

She turns to look at Telamon, pouting a little at the news. "As I thought," she says. "Well, I've signed up to do my part. I intend on rooting out those wights so we can get married properly as we planned to do."

Then Cor'lana pauses. "...Although, I'd sure like to ask Grandfather some questions."

Telamon takes a sip from his tea. "I know. But sit down. Rest for a bit. Enjoy the sun, and a warm puppy." His eyes glint at Pothy. "Relax, you're not being replaced. This is temporary." He glances down at a small wooden bowl by his feet, and crooks a finger at the unseen servant. "Refill the bowl with water."

As the servant carries the bowl off, Derry watches in fascination, tail wagging, before rubbing his head into Lana's hesitant fingers. Clearly, this is a puppy that loves affection and has no objections to giving it back. Telamon smiles at the sight, and says gently, "Supposedly, the first dog was a gift from the gods to humans, and it's spread from there. There are many breeds, and they tend to be very loyal companions."

He chuckles. "I think Derry was chasing the pixies earlier -- hence the giggles. He's very curious, and he definitely enjoys the game of 'go get the ball'."

Pothy looks at Telamon for a moment, almost offended. "I didn't think you were replacing me. He's just a puppy. I'm a repository of knowledge! I'm much more important--"

"You're so cute," Cor'lana finds herself saying as she looks back at Derry, giving him more aggressive pets now behind the ears. Good boys get scritches behind the ears, and they also get called cute, and it just so happens to be that Derry is a good boy!

Pothy's beak opens slightly for a moment. He looks at Telamon with almost a glare in his blue eyes. "Okay, but I'm Lana's very first friend! I'm almost like a brother to her! I was the one who caught the scraps of food she'd throw down to me from her high chair! I was the one who sat by her as she learned how to read! That flearidden animal can't possibly replace--"

Cor'lana's kissing the dog on the head now, and that really makes Pothy's feathers puff up. "Fine! I hope you have a HAPPY LIFE WITHOUT ME!" Pothy huffs as he flies back into the house through the open kitchen window.

The pixies poke their heads up from the bushes. "Wow. What a drama llama," Lily-of-the-Valley remarks.

Telamon just shakes his head. "Pothy..." Then the familiar storms back into the house. "I wonder if other casters with familiars have this problem?" he says to no one in particular. The bowl of water comes back outside and is set down again, not spilling a drop. "He'll get over it. Hello ladies," Tel addresses the pixies. "Is Bois adjusting well? He was a little... well, twitchy, when he got here."

Meanwhile, Derry gives Lana a nuzzle, before bounding over to start drinking the water from the bowl. There's a lot of noisy slobbering, the way only a puppy can manage, and Tel smiles at Lana. "I think we both have questions for Grandfather. Though..." He sighs, leaning his head back, letting the sun beat down on his face. "I've not made my mind up yet. Oh, that reminds me..." He glances at Lana. "Where did you want to go for our honeymoon?"

"Bo is sleeping right now," Mirabilis replies. Apparently he's gained a nickname--perhaps the pixies found the fact that the Matron Mantidalia names all of her sons the same name as distasteful as Telamon and Cor'lana did. "He's a really nice fellow. It's a shame we can't keep him or the puppy--Bo's quite good at hunting down pests, and... Well, the puppy--"

"The puppy is SOOOO cuuuuuu-UUUUUTE," Lily-of-the-Valley exclaims, throwing her arms up in the air. "I wish we could keep him! He's so soft and cuddly and warm and have I mentioned that he's CUTE?"

Mirabilis's eye twitches, but she's smiling. "Yes, you did, Lily, you've made your point very clear."

Cor'lana, meanwhile, blushes rather brightly as Telamon mentions the honeymoon. "Err, well... I didn't have anywhere in mind. Maybe... somewhere isolated, but with a scenic view?"

"Oooh! What if you took him on the love boat!?" Lily-of-the-Valley cries out. "The one with the spooky cave and you go in and you smooch--"

Mirabilis just clamps her hand across Lily-of-the-Valley's mouth. "Lily, that's a festival ground attraction, not a honeymoon spot. It's not an actual boat for sailing. It's just a little thing they put around a pond. Besides, there's not enough room, logistically speaking, for honeymoon activities."

Lily flails against Mirabilis's arm and manages to free herself long to say, "That just sounds like QUITTER TALK to ME--"

And Mirabilis's hand clamps back onto Lily's mouth. She just sighs. "Lord Lúpecyll-to-be, Lady Lúpecyll, I am so sorry. Please excuse us."

Mirabilis drags Lily into the tree line, where whatever verbal dressing-down the serious pixie is giving the other one can't be heard.

Telamon blushes a little. "Well, yes, I had figured someplace like that, but..." And then the pixies butt in, and Telamon mentally kicks himself for bringing it up in front of them. At the 'quitter talk' bit, though, he makes a funny sound, and keeps it contained till Mirabilis drags Lily off.

Then he just starts laughing helplessly, eyes closed as he enjoys a good, hearty laugh at the absurdity of it. Derry, for his part, has settled down in the shade, watching with interest and wagging his tail. Doesn't take much to keep a dog happy.

Cor'lana snickers as she also gets up from the grass and walks over to the chair next to Telamon's. She finally picks up a sandwich and nibbles at it. They do say the chef eats last, but they probably didn't mean 'the chef eats after the pixie comedy routine and the adorable puppy show'. Which, her violet eyes are still trained on the little fuzzball, but she quickly looks back to Telamon. "I guess my idea of a perfect honeymoon is that it's simply just the two of us somewhere quiet and alone. Just ourselves and the view. No worrying about the world, no worrying about other people, just us two for that amount of time. It might get boring at times, but I think we can find things to do."

Then she blushes at the implication. "Like... writing poetry," she says. "In addition to the obvious, of course."

Telamon nods, after he finally catches his breath and wipes the tears from his face. "I've written father and mother for suggestions. Father being a bit of a traveler, he may have some excellent ideas. I know there are some places that strike me as poor options -- Veyshan seems a bit unpleasant, and I'd rather not take our honeymoon in Am'shere -- but there are some very nice places in the Myrrish Kingdoms that won't notice a half-elven couple."

Derry, for his part, has happily flopped over. A funny little snore comes from the puppy, and Tel tsks. "Second nap of the day. Poor little fellow runs around, then just thuds over." Looking into Lana's eyes, he smiles at her. "But yes. Just us. We'll get there, love. Promise."

Cor'lana lets out a tiny little 'awww' as she looks over at the poor sleepy puppy. "It must be so hard to be a puppy. Poor Burz is going to have his hands full with both a newborn and a puppy." There's a look on her face that suggests she's picturing their poor neighbor dealing with a sleep-deprived wife, a cranky baby, and a begging puppy all at once.

She actually finishes off a sandwich--which is a feat, considering she doesn't need to eat and basically only eats if Telamon's eating--and she looks thoughtful. "Why not in the Mythwood?" she asks. "Just get a cottage a little further away from the rest of Ylvaliel compared to last time. We'll have to make sure not to tell anyone in your family where it is, exactly, we're staying, lest we have a cousin or two of yours thinking our honeymoon cottage is just an extended wedding reception party venue, but..."

Cor'lana smiles. "It just sort of appeals to me. Especially the further you wander."

Telamon reaches down to stroke the dozing puppy's flank, as he chuckles. "With any luck, it's just false labor. But... it'll be their first and, well... Burz was a little wild eyed when he came over. He dotes on Carina as much as I do with you."

Having finished off his sandwich as well, Tel looks thoughtful. "There's a couple of places in the Mythwood we can go, and I can at least arrange things with father so that anything less than an emergency gets routed to him." He taps his fingers on the arm of the chair. "And there is some beautiful scenery there in the Mythwood."

Cor'lana looks at the sleeping puppy, her gaze still thoughtful as she mulls over Telamon's words. "Mother once said, when I asked her about it, that I was an easy pregnancy and an easy delivery," she says, "aside from having to blast my father and Grandfather in the face, wrestle me out of Grandfather's hands, and then teleport with me all the way back to Rune while still recovering from the delivery. She said I'd only been an hour old when that happened."

She looks at Telamon with a bit of a smirk and says, "So I guess that means we'll probably be okay when it comes time for our turn. You'd probably still worry the whole time, not that you'd show it. You're better than I am at hiding your emotions."

Telamon seems to take the remarks with good grace. "I doubt there's a father who lived who didn't worry about his bride. Father did, after all." He reaches over to catch her hand in his, squeezing gently. "We'll face it like everything else we do: together."

He heaves a sigh. "I just wish things would calm down for a little bit. It feels like the world's spinning so fast and we're trying to keep up. And if it's not one damned thing it's another."

Cor'lana can't help but smile gently as Telamon takes her hand, looking at him with that sparkle of adoration that's been in her eyes as long as they've been courting. "Oddly enough, Tel, I feel like it's going by... And yet also slowly. I was doing the math the other day and I realized we're coming up on half a year together--it's been almost six months since the 26th of Khael, when I confessed to you how I felt out in the courtyard of the Arcanists' Society."

She blushes a little. "Really, we didn't even know each other much longer than that, either. I still can't believe I was so dense that I didn't realize you'd asked me out on a dinner date. You must have thought I didn't care for you at all when I showed up the way I did."

Telamon looks startled. "Wait... really? Six months? Has it really been...? It almost seems like a lifetime ago." He does some obvious mental figuring before blinking. "Gods... they say this sort of thing can change your life, but they don't mention that it might feel longer."

He laughs softly at her recollection of the dinner date. "Well... we hadn't really started seeing each other. I viewed it as a pleasant social interaction with benefits. Forging connections with another half-elf, sharing information, and of course, dinner with a lovely lady? How could I pass up the opportunity?" He grins. "It only came a little later that... I realized you were the only lovely lady I wanted to dine with."

That really gets Cor'lana blushing, and it's definitely not a result of being outside on a sunny day a bit too long. Sunburns don't typically make people look rosy with the sort of radiant joy that's on Cor'lana's face. "Right?" she says with a little grin. "If love makes things feel like they've gone on for so much longer, I think I'll be more than happy to spend the rest of my life with you."

The grin widens as she says, "Although, I don't know if that means I'll get enough of you by the time we walk the Halls together. We'll see, I suppose."

She turns her hand around and squeezes his, just closing her eyes to allow the summer sun to wash over her. "Honestly, Tel... this will sound awfully corny. But I remember thinking, "I love him," for the very first time after we kissed on that riverbank shore. And I remember hoping that you really felt the same. Hoping beyond hope."

He chuckles at her blush, smiling at the sparkle in her eyes. "Gods and fate willing, we'll have a lifetime together. With children, and happiness to spare." Telamon raises her hand to his lips. "I think... I let myself start to open up when Grandfather pushed us together. Prior to that, I'd thought... 'Oh, she's spoken for, she has to be.' And then I realized you weren't. And then I realized... when I'd demanded Grandfather explain himself, after we'd called him, that I wanted nothing less than to protect you, to stand by your side."

It's his turn to blush now. "The kiss by the river just ensured I was serious, that I knew what I wanted and what I wanted was you. Does that make sense?"

At this point, Cor'lana's suddenly finding herself wishing they had a nice big couch-sized seat for their backyard. She has to make do by standing up slightly and pulling the chair right next to Telamon's, sitting back down into her chair and leaning onto his shoulder, her hand going back to take his. "It makes perfect sense to me," she says, smiling as she settles into a good spot. It's no under-chin happy place, but it'll do. "For me, it was what gave a firm name to what was already there--like seeing a cluster of stars in the sky and coming to find later that they were a named constellation, but somehow you felt you knew that all along."

She opens an eye with a grin. "Not that I'm sure you've ever had that experience, my starborn prince," she says playfully. "You must have known the names of all of the stars from the moment you breathed in life."

As if to illustrate that Telamon is, indeed, quite the catch, Derry suddenly sits up as Lana moves her chair next to Tel's. The puppy gets up with a yawn, and then suddenly vaults into Tel's lap, resting his head on the arm so that he can get pettings from both of them.

"Goodness," he says with a smile. "You and Derry are going to spoil me." Gently, he strokes the puppy, and it settles again, before Tel turns to kiss Lana lightly. "Queen of my heart, all the stars in the sky pale in comparison to the light in your eyes." And so the two sit comfortably together, relaxing, whatever lies ahead a little less worrisome now. For now, being together is enough.