Sweet Summer Memory

“I would hope I do or I’m in the wrong profession.”

Along with the laugh from her own comment, quiet chuckles slipped past Julia’s lips as she tried to finish the exam on Rosa. Clementine’s whiskers were tickling her face each time the horse moved her head to be nosy. She was a perfect example of what a Friesian horse should be like; willing, loyal, gentle, and docile. It was prominent in her mannerisms, specifically in her actions of gentle nudging and small steps forward. This was very different from breeds, such as thoroughbreds, that are known to be high-strung and overreact when something upsets or frightens them. From the one that Julia owns, she knew that the amount of work that went into a breed like that was exhausting and sometimes the results weren’t always worth the effort put in. It was the largest disappointment in temperamental breeds.

“I do!”

She turned to offer a bright smile. When a patient’s owner gave her the excuse to talk about her own pets, she took the opportunity and ran with it. After moving to the city, her dogs were all she had to keep her company for awhile and because of that, upon many other reasons, they mean the world to her.

“I have two dogs, golden retrievers. They are the loves of my life! ♡ And back home I have a few horses of my own, a cat, and some farm animals.”

Julia was known back on the islands to take care of any animal in need and if they were not able to find a home after getting back to perfect health, she would keep them. It caused her mother to have to buy them a plot of land and work with a local farmer just to have enough room, but she had no regrets about her growing family of animal misfits.

That must’ve been a stupid observation. The way she states it like its obvious makes him feel a little bashful, still rubbing the back of his head out of ever-prominent humility. Julia doesn’t seem to mind Clem trying desperately to get some attention, but he’s respectful of her personal space  regardless, hand on the reign attached to the bit in her mouth.

“That’s pretty impressive, too.” He knows all too well how hard it is to work on the farm. Even with the small size he has now, manning it all himself is a rough job, and there were no sick days or storm days to get out of it. Rain or shine, warm and cold, every day was a non-paying job. “Why don’t you try starting one up again here?”

Maybe it’s a sensitive subject, one she doesn’t want to talk about, but Wayne doesn’t realize how invasive it must seem until it’s out of his mouth. Again he glances at the floor out of embarrassment, mumbling a sheepish apology for prying about her personal life.

    ⌜♥⌟ “No need to worry about disappointing me. I hardly know what to expect from you except lovely manners and an even better smile.” Which is true. Julius doesn’t know too much about Wayne besides the fact that he’s a postal carrier, he’s handsome as hell, and he’s too polite for any one person to really be. (Not that Juli is complaining, of course.) That’ll hopefully be rectified tonight, because Wayne seems to be dead-set on just… talking.

   “Oh, then don’t let me keep you away from your darlings. I can say a lot in just a couple hours.” That’s fine, Julius can talk until he’s blue in the face if people let him. Even moreso, if he’s to talk about his beloved roommate.

    ⌜♥⌟  “I have a cockatiel, my precious Noah~. He’s been with me since I moved into my first apartment in college. That’d make him… well, age is a different question.” He hums, hands clasping together. “He likes head scritches and sings with me. I’ll show you pictures when you aren’t driving.” He has a whole album dedicated to the bird.

    “What pets do you have? I want to say you own at least five dogs.”

Lovely manners and a better smile. Wayne really should get better accustomed to being the one flattered, but it embarrasses him nonetheless and makes his cheeks deepen a few more shades of red. If he keeps his eyes on the road, he finds it helps him better handle his nerves.

“I guess we’ll just have to see how late the night runs us, in that case.” He clears his throat. “I wouldn’t want to take you home and keep you from seeing your Noah.”

Turning through the streets, he bides his time with light conversation instead of getting into anything too far in depth. No, Wayne will save that for the actual meal, where he gets the chance to learn more about the person Julius is underneath the glitter and jewels. An even more sparkling personality, he’s sure.

“A cockatiel sounds like heaps of fun. They live for a really long time, too. I hear some of them even learn how to speak, but maybe that’s just a rumor. Birds aren’t really my strong suit.”

Halloween Party: [xx].

Pool Table [xx].

    ⌜♥⌟  So pleasant, so full of compliments and delightful sincerity. Julius smiles, returning the compliment with, “And you look like a true gentleman.” The outfit isn’t shabby, which is all Julius will ask, and the adorable unruly hair makes him wonder what it would be like to comb his fingers through the blond locks. Later, later. Think about it later. “Thank you for picking me up, Wayne. ♥ ” He resists the urge to kiss Wayne’s cheek in thanks– perhaps he’s been spending too much time around friends or pleasant acquaintances, but he’s glad he catches himself. He doesn’t want to make Wayne uncomfortable.

    Julius himself is not uncomfortable– yes, he’s prepared in case things turn sour, but something tells him Wayne isn’t a serial killer looking to wipe his name out of the history of fashion altogether. He takes the offered arm, already ready to swoon over the charm in being treated with such courtesy. Perhaps that’s a terrible sign for his own expectations, but being charmed is always fun. He hopes the night goes well, that they may see each other again so he can keep that in his life.

    God knows he doesn’t know Wayne well, but that’s what the night is for, right? Well. Hm.

    ⌜♥⌟ “Oh, please– I don’t have a curfew, don’t worry. We can talk all night, if the dinner’s nice.” This is where he ignores the depraved little murmur in the back of his head– no, he will focus on dinner. “I’ll answer any of your questions if you’ll answer mine.” Well, probably any.

Does he look like a gentleman? Wayne can’t say that’s what he was going for, but he can’t say it wasn’t. He just wanted to look relatively nice next to his date, and when Julius holds such an important position in the fashion industry, he’s almost certain the other man appreciates what attention he did pay toward his appearance-- even if he’s suddenly aware of the blush in his cheeks when he pays him such a sweet return compliment.

“It was nothin’.” Wayne’s fingers run through his own blonde hair reflexively, playing off whatever embarrassment he feels over melting under his appreciation already. “Just maintainin’ my gentlemanly reputation. Don’t want to disappoint.”

That said, he’s the type to open the car door for him and let him settle in first, one small kind gesture after another before settling back into the driver’s seat. Even the radio is turned down to a respectful level so he can hear Julius’ voice over the sound of music, the slow songs he usually enjoys when he’s riding alone.

“All night?” Julius probably doesn’t mean the statement literally, but Wayne quickly runs through a list of chores in his head he completed before he left this evening. “The pets are fed until tomorrow. I think I can spare a few hours if we run a little late.” However late that might be.

From the information given to her about Rosa, Julia felt that everything was fine. It really depended on her age, but if Rosa was only about a year old than her weight looked to be right on track. It was common for female Great Pyrenees to reach an average maximum of eighty-five pounds. But before she could start the check-up on the white fluffball, Clementine made it a point to put her face right in Julia’s, which wasn’t too difficult considering both of their heights.

“Aren’t you just the cutest ~♡”

Julia placed the clipboard down and happily accepted the horse kisses, gently scratching under the animal’s chin with one hand and behind an ear along the neck with another. She had a soft spot for horses, especially when she had been missing her own in the past days. This was the best and much needed animal therapy she could have gotten this week from any patient.

“Aw, thank you, Wayne! Your name is very handsome~”

She smiled over towards him, her cheek pressed against the side of Clementine’s head so they could nuzzle each other.

“Ahh, I could cuddle this beauty all day, but I need to check up on the lovely Rosa.”

One last pat was given to the black beauty before Julia shifted her attention to the dog on the table. She immediately began the physical exam, feeling for any abnormalities under the fur and along the front and hind legs, then she moved to check the condition of her teeth, ears, and eyes - all checking out to be in great shape. The last step was to check her heart, which she listened to while giving Wayne the summary of her condition.

“Miss Rosa here is in perfect shape! She’s a fast grower is all. She should slow down in weight in another year or so.”

There’s that embarrassment again, ever prominent as Clementine invades Julia’s personal space in pursuit of affection, much to his chagrin. The good part was that she didn’t seem to mind the sudden intrusion as Clementine makes it apparent she has no qualms vying for attention, and admittedly, Wayne is just happy she isn’t thrown off despite how bashful he feels in the presence of someone so pretty and intelligent.

Even as she mentions his name being handsome, he can feel his face still hot as his compliment in returned in an almost silly way. That doesn’t stop the corners of his mouth from turning upward into a smile, though he’s still a little shy even with how friendly he’s prone to being.

“That’s a relief,” and it is, knowing he isn’t overfeeding her or it isn’t a symptom of a larger problem. Having all his pets gave him a sense of belonging, but it also gave him a sense of responsibility over their safety. “I’m just surprised she’s being so quiet.”

Really, he anticipated more whining, but Rosa seems to be oddly satisfied with the way things are going. The Pyrenees isn’t a fan of being prodded, as he judges from the way Rosa stares at him like she’s unhappy with this choice, but not a single cry slips from her muzzle as Julia examines her over.

“You have quite a way with animals, Julia. I’m impressed.”

Wayne places a steady hand out on Clementine’s side as his horse tries to get a closer look. She’s been watching Wayne like a hawk ever since he walked her through those doors, but now she seems far more interested in what the veterinarian is doing, trying to reach her head around Julia’s shoulder for a better look. It’s the hand that stops her from meandering forward and continuing to harass her, but while Clem waits her turn, he’s asking a question out of curiosity himself.

“You are very welcomed, Mr. Caelum. It’s no trouble and with a mare like this, I would gladly see you on any day you request!”

A light chuckle followed as she led them to the examination room, the one that is large enough to house large livestock species, such as horses. The clinic was specifically designed to house small domestic animals, but upon Julia’s request a few years back, the clinic was changed to be able to hold larger species as well. She had noticed an influx of farmers using city veterinarians and she didn’t want Sunset to close due to the lack of competition. It was a good thing, too.

“May I ask what you’ve been feeding Rosa and her last recorded weight?”

Once the four of them were situated in the room, she took the clipboard that was hanging on the side of one of the cabinets and began writing the animal names and breeds.

“Rosa is a Pyrenees and Clementine is a Friesian, right?”

Julia was certain of the breeds, but wanted to confirm in case there was some mixed bloodline in their lineage. It was important to note when assessing an animal’s health, especially during pregnancies.

“By the way, please call me Julia.”

Wayne feels embarrassed as Julia tells him she’d gladly see him with a mare like this any day, and though part of it is pride over his most beloved pets, another part of it is because it’s a compliment from a pretty girl that he’s not used to being the reciprocate of. It should be the other way around, and the fact that it’s not suddenly makes him feel bashful.

“Rosa’s on a hypoallergenic food diet. Purina with tuna and salmon. Sweet girl’s allergic to chicken. She was at 35 pounds the last time she was at the vet, about a year ago.”

Not as soon as he would’ve liked, but with selling the farm and the legalities behind accessing his inheritance, he just couldn’t find the time to take all his pets to the veterinarian separately. He took the ones who needed it the most, which at the moment seemed like these two in his care now.

“That’s right. Purebreds, as far as I know. Rosa is a rescue, so I don’t exactly have her history on hand.”

He hoped that wouldn’t be too much of a problem. Clementine, as shy as she was, had taken it upon herself to bow her big head down to Julia’s level for closer inspection. While Wayne hoisted the big dog in his arms onto the examination table, Clem was busy trying to nuzzle her lips up against Julia’s face, muzzle up against her cheek for impromptu kisses.

+ @summermemory

it was a bit of a drive out to the countryside, he thought - but that wasn’t a bad thing, far from it. the ever-changing scenery, far different from back home, the wide open air that reinvigorated him with each breath — it was a nice change of pace from the clutter and chaos of the city. he could definitely see why some people preferred to live out in the country like this.

today he had been called out to maple leaf way at the request of one wayne caelum, a postal carrier who worked in the tower. he’d interacted with him a handful of times as he came to hand-deliver his mail - a friendly guy, one who he had taken a liking to almost immediately. he always had an interesting story to tell or a kind word to say, enough so that he always looked forward to his visits, no matter how brief they were. 

he had to admit, he was pretty curious about what the guy was like outside of work. they always focused on pleasantries during their talks - the weather, the events of the day, and such - so he couldn’t deny that he was at least somewhat interested in seeing how he lived his life outside of the office. though he preferred building things to making repairs, there was something admittedly charming about these home visits : being able to get the smallest glimpse into his clients’ daily lives and getting a sense of who they truly were.

as it turned out, the other man lived in a moderately-sized house on maple leaf way, complete with a barn out back. maybe he owned horses? strangely enough, he mused as he knocked on the front door, the idea suited him. after a few moments of silence, he knocked again — still no response. could he be out back?

slowly he approached the barn, toolkit in hand. up ahead, one of the stable doors hung open. maybe he was in there? he hesitantly peeked his head in.

That’s what he was in the middle of when he heard a voice call, brushing through one of his stallion’s white manes meticulously and undoing any knots after a day out in the field. This particular breed, a white Abtenauer, was notorious for being quiet and energetic-- which becomes apparent as it lifts its muzzle out toward the entrance to the barn, Wayne following his gaze to find the same man he considered a close acquaintance standing at the door frame.

“Oh-- howdy, partner!” Wayne lifts the brim of his hat up in polite greeting, pausing in his motions to appear a little more welcoming. There’s a broad smile on his face, as per usual, pleasantly surprised by his sudden appearance despite just remembering he asked him earlier to repair a broken hinge on one of his stalls.

“Sorry about that, pal. If I’d known you were comin’ over already, I’d have met ya at the door.”

That’s not to say he caught him at a bad time. Wayne gestures him inside with a tilting of his head, standing close to his horse to avoid any anxious nickering as Wolf’s Bane is introduced to a new person from afar.

@summermemory || Fall Festival hosted by Pounce and Play

All seasons were wonderful in her opinion, but fall had to be her favorite. It had the perfect temperatures, beautiful colors, and when there were events like this, it didn’t feel like she’d melt under the sun. It was a tolerable afternoon among strangers.

That is. until he spots her wandering by herself in the same fashion. Wayne doesn’t think he knows her, having a hard time placing such beautiful black hair to a name, but the way the girl appears to stare longingly at the face-painting booth makes a familiar loneliness resonate somewhere within him. 

Maybe she’s just waiting for someone-- that’d be more believable than such a pretty girl not having a friend to attend the festival with-- but he stops himself from cutting his time here short and instead opts for adopting a friendly smile and a charismatic aura when he greets her. Not too forceful, he doesn’t want to come off too friendly, but he moves to stand beside her with his arms behind his back politely.

Other than Pounce and Play, there was no other working joy than Sunset Veterinary. She loved being able to work in all types of environments with animals and seeing how they behaved. There were so many things that differed between how they acted in various environments and how they saw the different people. However, she was lucky enough that animals didn’t see her as a threat. She was often told that it was her cheery personality, but she believed that it was because she could understand them. From a young age, the blonde believed that she had a special connection with any creature she met, but maybe that was a child’s wishful thinking.

“What a gorgeous horse?!”

Julia immediately stood up from behind the counter, her hands hitting heavy against the low counter. It had been so long since someone had brought in an animal larger than a dog and lately, she had started to miss home - her own pets, her own horses. …could this have been a sign? To tell her that it was about time that she made a trip back home to greet familiar faces.

“Wait- Caelum. I’m sorry, let me check you in.”

She was so absorbed in the sleek black look of the horse and its long, wavy, untangled mane that she had almost forgotten that there was a job to be done. But it all worked out in her favor being that she was the only veterinarian here.

“Clementine and Rosa, right? If you’re ready, I can see them now.”

The voice behind the counter belongs to a woman. From where he can see behind a mountain of Rosa’s snow white fur, the voice belongs to a beautiful woman, and immediately he can feel his shyness threatening to make his face break out in an embarrassed blush.

“The sooner the better, I have to offer my sincerest thanks for seein’ us on short notice, ma’am.” Having Rosa whining away in his arms would get tiring for others fast, as he’s learned patience isn’t a trait everyone holds. Shifting her around more comfortably in his grip as she tries to wiggle, he’s thankful his dog is obscuring most of his face from view as he prepares to follow her into the adjacent room.

His horse, on the other hand, is falling in stride with every single step he takes. Her feet are rhythmic on the floor, an elegant stride as she refuses to let Wayne out of her sight. He’s not worried about the anxiety, he’s had mares far more skittish than Clementine in the past, but his hands being full with Rosa means she’s walking mostly on her own without Wayne guiding her through the motions.

    ⌜♥⌟  The seemingly quick response doesn’t surprise him more than the message does. He’s already here? So he’s… excited? Cute. Either that, or he’s just an early person. Both are fine, by Julius’s standards. But now he can’t lounge around waiting, he has to actually be ready.

    “Come on, love,” he coos to Noah, who hops into his hand so he can be deposited into the spacious bird cage Julius bought him when he first brought him home. “I’ll be back tonight, don’t you worry. ♥ ”

    He steps outside, heels hitting the ground with succinct clicks. The car is a pleasant surprise– he doesn’t know what he was expecting, really, but he knows that it’s nice that he won’t be toted around in a shitty car tonight. He’s not some sort of paparazzi magnet, so it’s not too bad to be in a less-than-stellar vehicle. It’s more a personal preference than anything.

    ⌜♥⌟  “Well hello there!” Julius chimes, waving. Door shut and locked, he meets Wayne with a smile. He’s still shorter in these heels– a conscious choice. “Were you waiting long? I had some last-minute to-dos– but we should still get there on time, yes? ♥ ”

Julius doesn’t waste any time coming outside, so Wayne assumes that he must’ve been ready already-- not as prepared to make apologies for being an early bird, courteous even still as Julius strides up to meet him next to his vehicle. He opted out of the cowboy hat for formalities sake, but he feels naked without it, blonde hair curling at the edges despite washing it three times before leaving.

“Naw, I’ve got plenty of time to wait for you.” That much is truth. Patience was a virtue, especially living on a farmstead like Wayne does. “You look beautiful. That smile pieces everything together.”

Maybe it appears a little too flirtatious, Wayne worries quietly in the back of his mind. It’s a genuine compliment borne straight from the heart, but he knows his friendliness can misconstrue itself as shameless more often than not. He wouldn’t want to make Julius feel uncomfortable before they even left his driveway, or worse, decide he didn’t want to be his friend after all.

There are absolutely no expectations for tonight, and Wayne offers his arm for him to take while he walks him around to the passenger’s side. It would make him feel more comfortable if he opened the door for Julius, as is his gentlemanly nature, polite right down to the bare bones and interested in making a best friend.