Adam Milligan (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
halfwinchester) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
entranceway2014-04-17 11:30 am
halfwinchester) wrote in entranceway2014-04-17 11:30 am
003 ♟ text/action
[By the looks of the network, there's something wrong again, something about missing people, but when isn't something going wrong in Wonderland?
Adam has more immediate concerns, ones that, in comparison, are far more innocuous. In opposition to missing someone, if anything Adam is still trying to adjust to an addition to his one-man family. Getting a dog had seemed like a great plan when the event had been in full swing and encouraging him to ignore the oh my god, I can't be responsible for another living thing panic, but now the event's long over and the dog's still around with no humane society in sight. The destruction the dog wreaks around his apartment spurs him to write a text message he figures can't do any harm. It's not the weirdest thing he's ever asked on the network, anyway, and if nothing comes of it, no loss.]
Anyone have any dog training tips? For a larger kind of dog if it won't listen.
[The warm and fuzzy honeymoon feeling has worn off and cold, heard reality has set in in the form of one barking, grunting, chewing, drooling, messy, smelly, furry giant.]
And if it won't stop chewing everything it's not supposed to.
[At the end of the message, he adds:]
Any good names for a guy dog?
[Not long after he posts his message, Adam takes his new responsibility out for his daily walk, phone in his jacket pocket and gun tucked into the back of his pants (hey, it's not like anyone's around to report him missing, but he's not about to become another statistic if he can help it). The mastiff, a soft fawn-colored dog nearing two hundred pounds and pretty much as tall as his owner standing on his rear legs, trots ahead of Adam, collar jingling merrily. Adam follows behind, rubbing his face tiredly. For once the redness around his eyes isn't just due to night terrors; lately, having a pet padding around his room and bumping him with its nose keeps drawing him out of nightmares and into the perils of having a dog that won't stop trying to crawl onto your bed.
It's a strange thing, having something there with him at all hours. Really strange. And comforting.
After a while, they end up on a patch of grass beyond the gardens. There, Adam tries once again to teach it the "stay" trick like he's been doing all week. He might not have picked a name for the bastard yet, but actually listening to him when he needs it to stay put is kind of important, and a command that has yet to stick in any meaningful way.
Housebreaking? Not really a problem. Sitting? Not too hard with enough commanding and maybe a beer to calm his nerves. But the staying...]
Okay, stay. Stay there.
[He leaves the dog lying down at a point in the field and tries to back away. The routine almost always ends the same way: by the fifth step or so, the dog seems to think the distance means "green light, go!" and launches forward to paw his legs and nip his bootlaces, tail wagging, where he has to push it back to the start again.
At one point, the dog rips his laces undone completely and bending down results in a dog frantically trying to lick his face from top to bottom.]
I'm starting to think you're just doing this on purpose. [Adam pushes its big head away, acting annoyed but not feeling it.] Take a pill. You want one? I have one. Might kill you, but at least you won't be able to get up and follow me. Now get over there and stay.
[Back to the starting point.]
Adam has more immediate concerns, ones that, in comparison, are far more innocuous. In opposition to missing someone, if anything Adam is still trying to adjust to an addition to his one-man family. Getting a dog had seemed like a great plan when the event had been in full swing and encouraging him to ignore the oh my god, I can't be responsible for another living thing panic, but now the event's long over and the dog's still around with no humane society in sight. The destruction the dog wreaks around his apartment spurs him to write a text message he figures can't do any harm. It's not the weirdest thing he's ever asked on the network, anyway, and if nothing comes of it, no loss.]
Anyone have any dog training tips? For a larger kind of dog if it won't listen.
[The warm and fuzzy honeymoon feeling has worn off and cold, heard reality has set in in the form of one barking, grunting, chewing, drooling, messy, smelly, furry giant.]
And if it won't stop chewing everything it's not supposed to.
[At the end of the message, he adds:]
Any good names for a guy dog?
[Not long after he posts his message, Adam takes his new responsibility out for his daily walk, phone in his jacket pocket and gun tucked into the back of his pants (hey, it's not like anyone's around to report him missing, but he's not about to become another statistic if he can help it). The mastiff, a soft fawn-colored dog nearing two hundred pounds and pretty much as tall as his owner standing on his rear legs, trots ahead of Adam, collar jingling merrily. Adam follows behind, rubbing his face tiredly. For once the redness around his eyes isn't just due to night terrors; lately, having a pet padding around his room and bumping him with its nose keeps drawing him out of nightmares and into the perils of having a dog that won't stop trying to crawl onto your bed.
It's a strange thing, having something there with him at all hours. Really strange. And comforting.
After a while, they end up on a patch of grass beyond the gardens. There, Adam tries once again to teach it the "stay" trick like he's been doing all week. He might not have picked a name for the bastard yet, but actually listening to him when he needs it to stay put is kind of important, and a command that has yet to stick in any meaningful way.
Housebreaking? Not really a problem. Sitting? Not too hard with enough commanding and maybe a beer to calm his nerves. But the staying...]
Okay, stay. Stay there.
[He leaves the dog lying down at a point in the field and tries to back away. The routine almost always ends the same way: by the fifth step or so, the dog seems to think the distance means "green light, go!" and launches forward to paw his legs and nip his bootlaces, tail wagging, where he has to push it back to the start again.
At one point, the dog rips his laces undone completely and bending down results in a dog frantically trying to lick his face from top to bottom.]
I'm starting to think you're just doing this on purpose. [Adam pushes its big head away, acting annoyed but not feeling it.] Take a pill. You want one? I have one. Might kill you, but at least you won't be able to get up and follow me. Now get over there and stay.
[Back to the starting point.]
no subject
[Mr. Nameless Dog hasn't quite mastered the art of not jumping up on everyone and everything, but luckily for Quinn the mastiff shows her mercy by merely checking her out thoroughly, sniffing her in some places and nosing her in others. The pats, he accepts with a wag of his tail. Petting, good! Never enough of that in a dog's life!
With Adam's fight tight around the leash, he won't get very, either; Adam makes sure of that, though he does smile a little wryly.]
Tell you the truth? I heard about them, that they're good apartment dogs. Low maintenance. Kind of my own fault.
no subject
[ She would definitely also never have one this size. It's definitely big ]
I guess that's a good reason. It helps for your first dog. [ Or not first but first Wonderland dog? ] Have you had a dog before?
no subject
[And that's Adam's way of saying that despite the utter ridiculousness of the event and what it'd made people do, it could be worse. He has fewer regrets about this decision than he does about most others.
He clucks his tongue at the mastiff, who flops his ears back.]
And he's not rabid or anything, so that helps, too. [You're safe, Quinn, Adam is pretty sure he hasn't adopted a biter. He shakes his head at the question.] Nah... never really had a chance.
no subject
[ About the name and the training tips, anyway. Someone had to know how to train a dog like that. But the dog seemed okay so maybe the training wouldn't go so difficult? ]
And enjoy it. He should be good company. Have you thought of any names yet?
no subject
Same. It's not like you can send stuff back once you order it. You probably figured that out by now with the closets.
[Adam has to shake his head, though.]
Not yet. Soon, when I can think up one that isn't dumb, I guess. It's getting weird calling him Dog. Not that he minds...
[No one's told him dogs can talk, so as far as Adam knows, it's true.]
no subject
[ Just like naming this baby - or at least in Puck's mind naming the baby. He kept trying to give her name, but she wasn't so interested. It wasn't going to be her baby ]
You don't seem to be doing that bad, though. He likes you.
no subject
He nods, head bowed a little.]
Yeah, maybe.
[Adam still ends up smiling a bit when Quinn says the dog likes him. Inwardly, he'd like to hope so.]
Not hard to win this guy over. [He reaches into his pocket and pulls one of those small, treat-sized dog biscuits before holding it out to Quinn.] Here, give it a go if you want. Still in for a walk?
no subject
Quinn takes the biscuit from Adam before getting the dog's attention again ]
Hey. Hey there. [ She smiles, giving his head a little rub before showing him the biscuit. Look what she's got for you ]
no subject
[Whereas the dog's owner has both his hackles and his guard up most of the time, the mastiff is quicker to warm up to a friendly face when he determines a person isn't a threat. And a person with food? Even better!
Adam watches with a smile as the dog zeroes in on the treat, eyes bright. Its tail starts to wag.
In moments like these, it's almost easy to forget this is Wonderland and that they're not all trapped here where crazy events happen.]