#jazzborn

— Lovely as always, Peg.

Snow wasn't strange to the hell hound, not at all, but it's not something he is used to either. His circle of hell isn't exactly cold (that was reserved to lower layers) so seeing snow and ice like that was definitely different.

You Can’t Keep a Good Dog Down- Verse Two.

Charlie sat at the bar one night as thunder rolled in the distant skies, downing his second shot glass. It had been a decent day, and he supposed it didn’t hurt to have a couple drinks.

It never did, if you asked him.

Someone sat next to him, and Charlie looked over at her; a longhaired canine with pretty blue eyes.

He smiled. “Hello, darlin’. What brings you here on a night like this? Jus’ lookin’ for shelter?”

Fluffball tail wagged back and forth energetically as as Peg crossed the distance to lick and nuzzle her. For a moment she felt like a puppy again; she'd almost forgotten just how much she had cherished the affection of the canine who'd as good as raised her. She should have gone back sooner, Angel knew; but every time a family had fallen through, she'd become more and more reluctant to seek Peg out again, not wanting to tell the older woman of her repeated failures.

But now... that wasn't anything she had to worry about.

"I did! It took me... heh, more tries than I care to admit."

And that was as much as she was going to say about that.

"But yeah, I found someone... or, they found me, more like." It still seemed unreal, not only having a family, but having the very same family of...

Oh, she had to tell Peg that part, didn't she? After all the stories of the 'most famous street dog who ever lived' that Peg and the others had told her when she was little, to end up...

She shook her head, grey-blue eyes sparkling.

@jazzborn​ said:

Peg whistles, a little impressed. "Y'know, for a huge asshole, ya not too bad lookin' hun~" Running a finger up his chest.

Well... here she was again.

She didn’t... regret any of what had happened these last few days, not really. At times it may have been awkward, fearful... painful. But over all, Angel would firmly tell herself that the outcome had been the best possible. She’d done her ‘good deed’ by helping to return Scamp to his family; she’d got to meet her hero, at least briefly in passing; and she’d got out from beneath Buster’s thumb once and for all. She didn’t know where he was now - still trapped under that heap in the junkyard, maybe - and she didn’t rightly care. He had been knocked off his high horse, and she no longer bowed down to him.

Still, for a moment... just a moment...

She had almost hoped things would be different. Scamp had been inviting her back home with him, Angel knew, and she’d almost followed his lead... except she hadn’t, quite. She’d sworn off ever taking a family again, knowing far too well that they’d only end in tears, ultimately; and so she’d ignored Scamp calling after her, had ignored the ache in her heart, and had turned her back and left.

Alone, again...

Somehow, it didn’t feel as bad as she’d anticipated. In standing up to Buster, in walking out on him rather than begging and pleading to remain in his gang, she’d won back a sliver of the self-respect that she’d abandoned months ago... so, even as she nosed around in the trash for scraps, just as she always had... she could at least do it while feeling good about herself for once.

It was only as she raised her head that Angel realised she wasn’t alone in the dark alleyway. A flicker of movement, a shadow on the wall... she paused in her motion; not afraid, but still wary. It could be a rat, or an unwelcoming human, or...

Her eyes widened as they found the form of the other, an actual smile touching her face. There were very few people who Angel would greet with a genuine expression, but...

“Peg? My goodness, it’s been so long.”

— Nonsense! I think you are a delightful company, Peg.

One could say they had bonded and taken a liking of each other. At least, that's how Cerberus liked to see it. Were they dating? He wasn't sure. The hound would like to think so, but they hadn't exactly sat down and asked her about it. Seemed too complicated and they were more than happy to have things to remain simple. Especially with the fact that he would disappear days at time because of the Gates of the Underworld, it was better if it remained simple.

But they got along just fine and they seemed to enjoy both their dates and their quality time.