NORO

“     if    i     remember    correctly     you    did    find    me    on    the     side    of    the    road     an’    took    me    in   an’    gave    me    a     home.   isn’t    that    the    definition    of       a    stray?    “       brow    raises   teasingly    at   tris    before    attention    is    called    back    to    the    pup    who    continues    to    jump    around               a   bundle  of   energy.     there    was    also    the    fact    that    jasper    had    been    struggling    and    in   quite   a   bit    of    pain    whenever    they    met.       from    the    get-go ,      it    was    obvious    that    tris    has    a    big   heart.        some    might    find    him    intimidating ,      but    jasper’s    always    known    what    a    softie    he    is.      “     hear    that    buddy?     i    think    tris    just    admitted    that    blonde’s    are    better.   “       a    chuckle   falls    from     his    lips    as     he     stands.      it’s    been    awhile    since    he’s    smiled     this    much    in    one     setting.       the    puppy    starts    sniffing    around    the room  and    bowie    comes    around    the    corner    to    inspect.      jasper    can    feel    some    uncertainty    coming    from    tris ,     so    he    turns    his   attention    towards    him ,     the    smile    on    his    expression    never    faltering.     “     if    yer    afraid    that    i   don’t    like    him ,     don’t    be.      i    love    him.     “         

a    hand    is    placed    on    tris’    shoulder    and    a    reassuring    gentle    squeeze    is    given.      “     did    you   name    him    yet?     i    can’t    just    keep    callin’    him     buddy.      unless    that’s    what    we’re    gonna   name    him.    “         it’s    not    a    name    he’d    be    opposed    to ,     but    he’s    sure    that    tris    had    much    more    creative    names    in    his    arsenal.      some    of    the    irish     names     he’s     heard    tris    throw    out    before    he    couldn’t    even    pronounce.     though    he    always    had    fun    trying    and   watching    the    other    react    to    his     attempts.      “     preferably    it’s     somethin’    i    can    pronounce.    don’t    wanna    confuse    the    little    guy.    “          

as    he    glances    over ,     finds    bowie    and    the    puppy    cautiously    sniffing    each    other.     jasper    has    a     feeling    that    they’ll    be    fast    friends.     it’s    ara    that    he    knows    won’t    enjoy    the    addition.      she    hasn’t    even    really    gotten    used    to    him    being    around    yet    it     seemed     like.     tris    would    know    better    than    him    through.     “     i    think    they’re    bondin’    over    there.    “       a    certain    lightness    passes    over     him                     happiness    in    its    purest    form.   

“i suppose so.” though, he still didn’t consider jasper a stray —- or the puppy he’d brought home for that matter. in fact, if he were to determine most of the people in his life, was there anyone who wasn’t a stray? himself included? perhaps his opinion of what made a ‘stray’ was skewed, he’d never put much thought into it. his gaze shifted to the puppy, a small smile tugging at the corners of his mouth. if nothing else, the fur ball brought a renewed sense of energy to the house. bowie was rather tame, and ara made her presence scarce so long as jasper was around. “i said blonds should stick together, i said nothin’ about a hair color hierarchy.” though, he and ara were certainly outnumbered, he didn’t mind that. tristan’s head tilted curiously as bowie entered the room, knew bowie loved babies, human or otherwise, which was nice. even ara, as reserved as she was, would probably warm up to him; though, only when he was calm. she had no patience for anything less. i love him. he offered a nod, briefly looking up at jasper before looking elsewhere, in rare form could feel a warmth creeping up his cheeks, and hoped desperately it would fade away as quickly as it appeared. “i’m glad, considerin’ i picked him out for you.”

the squeeze to his shoulder had him looking up again, a small shrug before he offered a reply. “he’s your dog, you can call him whatever you’d like,” thought buddy was cute, but didn’t know if it truly suited the puppy. “i was thinkin’ finn maybe.” like mccool, but he didn’t think jasper would know the story anyway. “you can pronounce that, can’t you?” a teasing lilt to his tone, knew it was better than tadhg or odhran, but would never consider those names anyway.

     Wouldn’t be the first time someone didn’t know what to MAKE of her. She’s good at that - amongst other things - keeping someone on EDGE. Waiting. Thinking. Straining, even to figure her out. Complicated is an understatement. As is troublesome. A long, LONG laundry list of nasty little attributes to be picked at like breadcrumbs. “Yeah, well you and every other GUY in this city.” A teasing remark as the ring is gently placed at her vanity. Easier to breathe now that she knows she hasn’t FAILED her father for the second time. God knows she barely survived the first. “You’re smart not to TRUST ME then.” Couldn’t blame him. Ulterior motives or not, Felicia would always be HONEST when it came to putting herself first. “Aside from the swipe - is that why you’re here? To Dissect?” Wouldn’t she like to know.