#rutgers

"Oh, man...." Sylvi says as she comes back in. "The place was packed." She sets a bag on the kitchen table and pulls out a few takeout containers. "Scarlet Knight, Maple Pepper, and mild BBQ. We can put some in the fridge for later if we want."

Odin hops up to sniff

Unlike Mic, Odin has one eye. Also, unlike Mic, Odin isn't a derp

"Hey, you. I don't know what you're allowed to have, so you don't get any unless Dagmar says so."

The judgement of a cat can be a withering thing

She gives him her best troll brow and folds her arms. "No."

Interesting word. Pretty sure it doesn't apply. Odin sniffs at a take out box

"You don't want me to get...a squirt bottle."

"Kssh-kssh-kssh!" she mimics the sound of the bottle.

A deeply offended look. Clearly, this threat has lowered her in Odin's eyes..er eye, as some kind of savage. Showing her his butthole, he leaps off the counter iwth dignity

Sylvi doesn't mind playing the heavy. It means Dagmar gets to be the Safe Haven and Recipient Of All Loves as far as Odin is concerned, which is as it should be.

And then, there's a knock at the door

Sylvi gives Odin one more warning look, then goes to answer the door.

"Uh...I mean, Hi?"

"Hey" says the guy at the door, "Sorry to intrude" He looks you over and for just a moment you can tell he's not that sorry to meet you but he keeps eye contact and says "You seen a loose dog wandering around? "

"Um, not that I can remember. Did you lose him? or her?"

"Athos, he's a french bulldog, my roome and I are looking for him. I don't know how he got out" The stranger looks out to the green behind him, a look of worry, then he remembers his manners "Oh sorry, I'm Jayce"

"Sylvi," she says with a smile. "You're sure he's not still in your place? Could be hiding. If you're new here, he might be scared and in a closet or something."

"I am new here" He admits "Roomie told me chipping in this area would be easier than a dorm, more freedom."

"Yeah, that's what we all figured, too," she says, nodding back over her shoulder to indicate roommates. "So, do you have a picture of your dog on your camera? If I see him, I'll try to catch him."

"oh yeah, here"

"Awwww! What a face!" This is clearly a heart melter.

"Sylvi? You got company?" Sam pokes her head out from her room.

"Yeah, Athos has more luck with the ladies than I do" Jayce chuckles

"Hey, Sam! It's our neighbor, Jayce. C'mon meet him."

The bathroom door opens and a scrawny, pale and very damp teen comes out, fully dressed but with clothes clinging to him in a way that accentuates bony angles. His hair drips.

“Who’s that?” Symon asks.

"Sorry about the trouble, Sam" Jayce calls out

"Hey, Symon. It's Jayce, he's our neighbor. His dog's missing!" She looks to him. "You can come in if you want."

"What trouble?" She heads to join them. "Missing dog? Oh no! Poor guy - how long?"

"Thanks, but my roomie is probably searching out there..." He sees Sam and answers "Like 3 hours. I mean, he's got LITTLE legs but still"

He looks over the guy with a suspicious expression.

And Jayce shows the picture of Athos to Sam now

"I was thinking he might still be in the apartment, like, hiding somewhere? Because it's a new place?"

"Three hours is a long time, but that means maybe we can still find him easy. Does he have treats he likes extra? Cheese or lunchmeat?"

"I mean, Frenchies like food."

"Dude, Athos will straight out savage a sock if it means getting cheese" Jayce grins

A voice from outside "Jayce, you found him yet?"

"That's your roomie?"

"Okay, so - cheese! And you got any dirty t-shirts or hoodies?"

"Yeah, that's Trace. And ..of course" Jayce nods

"Wait...Trace and Jayce?"

"Are you guys brothers?"

"Nope, but your'e not the first to think so..."

A muffled snort.

Through the window they can see a guy looking around

"So...okay. I'll help you look. Guys, if you want to help, too, just give Odin a wing in tribute first, he's being pissy."

"Okay, so you want to put the laundry outside your door so Athos can smell it."