#rutgers

While that perculates, it should be noticed that Dagmar and the gang have a new friend, one speaks of course of Athos, who seems to have decided they're okay and whenver he is walked by Jayce or Trace insists on greeting them.

Sam loves dogs. And her dog is an hour away.

Soon enough, Sam can be relied on for a milkbone when Athos comes by!

"You're just encouraging him" Trace sighs

But Athos SITS on command

And even waits for it... until told he can take it

"If you don't want me to give him treats, I won't"

"Jayce said yes, but..." Shrug.

Athos gives BIG eyes hopeful to Trace. Trace sighs, "Athos this is emotional blackmail, and worse I think I taught you the concept of black mail. It's fine, Sam, but make him work for it. He must demean himself for our amusement. We also taught him how to play dead and roll over"

Trace is still stand offish, and slow to trust, but it seems Athos has over ruled him and folks must be talked to. Either that or he's slowly getting used to their neighbors

"Oh, I can teach him tricks!"

"You a dog trainer or something?" A brow lift but not as aloof as he might be

Athos looks ready to try walking on water if it means he can get a milkbone

"No, but I have a dog at home. I do train horses. Dogs are way easier."

"Huh" which might mean he's impressed, "Sure, you want to give it a try feel free. I mean, you realilze it's like us milking you for dog walker and trainer for free, right?"

"You're walking and scooping poop."

"I'm just showing him how to sit... sit. Good boy!"

And Athos does sit, and at the praise wiggles a bit

Frenchie's ARE cute

Even if , no, they'd die horribly in the wild

A brief smile. "He's a good dog. Is he yours or Jayce's?"

"Actually I guess he's both of ours. We're not his first owners. His last one died. Old guy, it happens"

Despite his cold blooded words, Trace does bend down to pet the dog

Grimace. "Hard on the dog, losing their person."

"it was.... get this, the guys who were hauling off his corpse? State types, got real excited. Heard them talking about how Frenchies were worth a fortune blah blah and trhey could make a little side money..."

SCOWL.

"Yeah, Jayce was furious... he'd mowed the guys lawn and we' both walked the go for the old guy. So.. I basically said 'don't you think his GRAND SON should have him'... and pointed to Jayce because you know, he's more all american 'decent guy' than I am.. also got more muscles. Jayce went along with it, and they decided rather than risk a lawsuit, they'd just hand us over Athos. I guess you could say Jayce and I stole the little guy fair and square"

"Good." Another small grin for that.

The normallly sour boy smiles just a bit too. Sardonic, a bit smug, but it's there. "Watch this." He looks at Athos "Athos, Play dead"

Athos rolls over, playing dead

"Athos, play European SOccer player"

Athos now kicks with his bottom leg dramatically, and makes little faux whimpers

"Ha! That's great."

"Good boy" Trace says and Athos bounces back up, bat ears alert

"Most of the tricks were taught by the old man. I had to admit, that one was cool"

"It really is."

"And you guys are keeping him safe from somebody only interested in cash."

"Don't get me wrong, I love cash, but the dog fakes an injury, somethings money can't buy" A mutters "ALso Jayce is such a tender muscle head, I can't stand to see him sulk." A sigh

"Yeah, being the introvert friend can be rough. Symon puts up with me somewhat begrdugingly."

A pause. "....Do you do D&D?"

"Have" he says "Didn't really go looking for a group"

"Well, no, like Symon won't, either."

"He's a good DM, though."

"Can he stand paladins? Jayce loves playing paladins... sometimes animal hugging neutral good druids"

"I do paladins a lot."

"Huh" He looks at Dagmar then "Well, if a game starts and we're invited, I'll let Jayce know"

"Don't worry, he won't let me play flat out evils"

"Well, I'll see if Symon is interested in running a game."

"Sure, whatever" he shrugs "I've run some too. I'm a little trap heavy. Something about watching a party scream as they realize the honey they almost drowned in in the last room is but part of the danger and they've just fallen into a chamber that's an immense ant farm, it makes my day."

Brow.