#anywhere

and she slams the door closed behind her

---------

******************************
Adam, slightly sore and bruised, has showered and changed; he goes to do his evening animal check and service.

The dogs are hapy to see him..including... HIS dog..

not that he told the dog he's his dog

None of his efforts yielded fruit; the dog is still here. Adam sighs. "Guess I gotta find you a home, since no one will claim you."

WAG! How's my boy? Who's a good human, YOU Are!

"oh no, you're going to put him on a bun aren't you?" A tiny voice

Adam pauses in petting him and looks around for the speaker.

Another pooka, a boy, with curly hair, and a poof tail, a poodle poooka in fact. he's dressed a bit well... effeminate or fancy depending on how you look at it "You're going to banish him now?"

"Hi. No, not banish. Find him a home."

"Oh so he wont' be homeless like you?" The boy looks up at the ceiling, and the walls

"I'm not homele.... oh. Uh, I'm not sure I'm allowed to have him."

"Because you asked everyone and they said NOOOOOOO" He nods "You worked hard to make sure it was okay and they said he was a bad boy... and now he'll go to a stranger because that's where bad dogs go... " A beat "That..." A whisper "And the farm. That's where they send the OLD dogs normally, but sometimes the ones that is one plus one plus one too many"

The dog in question does not know what the Pooka boy is talking about. He does put a cold nose against Adam's hand

"Jeeze, kid, I'm going to find him a good home......." He pets again, absently.

He blinks "Are you beating him!" Horror "is that why you can't keep him? Because it's not a good home because your a puppy popper? A dog dinger? A canine kicker? A Fido Fonger? Do .. you want to protect him from your evil addiction for Yips and Yipes?"

The dog looks at Enri, then gives a wagging tail and grin to Adam with total trust

Adam gives him an incredulous look. "No!"

"Good. We had a Lion tamer here, but he likes her so it's okay" Relief "So why are you trying to get rid of your dog?"

"Look, he's a good dog but I'm not sure I'm allowed to keep him. Sir Sergei said to keep him away from the b.... girl dogs here. I haven't asked if I can keep him but... I mean, it's not like I'm... you know, anyone important. Not like they owe me a dog."

"Oh.. so you're not House Fee Owner?"

A sigh. "No. Not yet."

"Because the Slivered Leons fight for Wuv... womantic Wuv, Fam-ill ya love... and.. .puppy wuv. If you want to be house Fee Owner, you got fight for wuv..." the boy says with HUGE eyes "You got to BELIEVE in Wuv... and that everyone needs some Wuv..." he lowers his head "Even those of us that ain't always good boys"

"I believe in love...."

WOOF The dog says happily at that

"Oh... then... " The boy looks at Adam, and the Dog "So you'd fight for wuv ? even puppy wuv?"

"I guess I could ask."

"you could, because you got the power, you got the touch, like a giant robot for justice" the boy nods

Adam frowns with confusion. "Not really, but I can ask."

"Who you gonna ask?" the boy says

"Sir Sergei, I guess."

The boy nods, then races off "Sir Sergei! Adam has demands because he's not afraid of you when there's WUV to fight for!"

The dog looks at Adam like 'what the wuff was all that about?" but wags

"Hey!" Adam is too late, the kid's gone. "Damn it." Huff, and he goes about finishing his chores.

Sir Sergei comes in way too soon, "Adam? I am told you wish to talk to me? Mind you, Enri ran away after telling me"

"I'm sorry about that, Sir, I'm not great with pooka and I'm not sure I understood everything he said."

"Something about 'Wuv' and 'Puppy Wuv'?" He says, then sees the dog near Adam "Ah. I see"

"Sir, I've tried really hard to find his people. I hit up different apps and social media, and I even hung flyers. No luck."

"Could ... would it be possible for me to keep him here?"

A look at the dog "he's an inferior bloodline. you realize this?"

the inferior pooch wags anyway.

"Yes, sir. He's not a hunting dog or anything he's just a... a dog-dog. A pet."

"Mmm I still expect him to be trained," A nod "And he'll be fixed"

"Y... yes, Sir."

"Don't worry about the operation, I know someone who can do it gently and he'll heel fast. " A nod "Very well. That said. .. your dog may stay here. Oh.." A brow "Name him."

"You can't call him Howlington, that's taken" A small voice says from down the hallway

"N...." Adam glances down the hall. "Name him?" looking back at Sir. "Uh....." he regards the canine in question.

He's. .uh.. got some... of one breed..and another...

and..maybe another