use somebody.

who / stella garcia ; 33 year old guidance counselor and absolute disaster of a human being  what / evening at the desert botanical garden, stella’s dog bear ( a maltese ) has gotten off his leash and come to say hi  open / @phxstarters​ 

taking bear with her for a walk through the gardens was a fairly regular occurrence - sure, she could run with him around their neighborhood, but sometimes she liked to stretch her legs a little further, treat herself to some froyo and let bear run himself ragged. he was always quieter at night when she did, a little more settled and with the weather refusing to change from summer to fall ( her two years in the city told her there was no seasonal change for her, not anymore ) he’d been more restless than normal.

he was a well behaved dog, but that didn’t mean he wasn’t still just that - a dog who got excited, and though he was good about staying close when he was off leash, he took off without warning, stella almost tripping over herself to catch up to where he’d gone, licking another’s hand and spinning around for them, clearly lavishing in the attention. 

“you’re going to spoil him,” she teased lightly, kneeling down to clip his leash back to his collar. “he loves attention - as if i don’t lavish him in it enough. sorry about this - he didn’t accidentally nip you, did he? he can do that when he’s overly excited.” 

.

     Any other night and he would have had his own dog accompanying him by his side, though tonight he left Hades at home to rest. The dog was his loyal companion, his trusty sidekick-- he deserved rest as well. Though, that made for a lonely stroll through the garden, hands stuffed into his pockets and his gaze downcast to watch his feet. Making sure he stepped on nothing, but hardly paying attention to what could be in front.

     It was only when Matias spotted the little thing running up to his feet, jumping slightly at his side to what he assumed were the left-over treats hiding with his hands in his jacket pockets. Bending down, the male stuck a hand out for the dog to sniff as he bent to a crouch position, eyes only looking up when he heard her voice from the distance.

    “It’s all good-- I think he just wants one of the goodies in my pocket.” Arching a brow, a smirk tugged at the corner of Mati’s lip, “He allowed one?”

      Matias sipped on his beer while his free hand ran a hand over his shaved head of hair. When the mug was placed back on-top the bar, dark hues turned to study the man he considered one of his closest friends, “She’s pregnant.” His ex, the one he left when he joined up, only to keep connection with and sleep with when he came home. Emotions were always there, though-- apparently protection wasn’t. “How do I break the news to my niece? Maybe get her a piñata to break or something, with candies and a note or some shit?” A baby, with a pre-teen niece, and a chaotic job. Yeah, this would be fun. “Think if I change my name and run for the hills I’ll be found? You can take her on, second-godfather.”

      “You need to stop tagging me in your posts on Hades’ page.” He muttered as his head peeked in his own fridge, rummaging for something to find, something to actually make. The half-eaten bag of Doritos brought over just wasn’t cutting it. As he pulled back, with food in his hand, kicking the door shut behind him, hazel hues found the brunette, “I’m getting really tired of people messaging me,” DM’ing as the kids would say, “Asking if I’m single.” It happened more often than he’d really like to admit, “Secondly-- if he comes home with pink nails one more time...” His head shook, though Matias was joking the entirety of the time. “You’ll be on supervised visitation rights.”

named MATIAS FRANKLIN SOTO, but call him MAT OR MATIAS. born in new mexico but moved to phoenix when he was fifteen. he’s THIRTY-SIX years of age and a FIREFIGHTER, just trying to make everyday a better one.