(OPEN) they're studying business i study the floor.

[oorah]

» WHO? frank, max & YOU
» WHEN? may from today on
» WHERE? throughout the station
» WHAT? mEET your fiRST spACE DOG REverie!!!
» WARNINGS? adorable pitbull & his crazy human (probably a lot of paranoia discussed)

» BACK TO THE START

[ a day after the mysterious roster appears, frank is waking up to another surprise in his quarters on deck 6. a dog he hasn't seen in almost two years, but one he would recognize anywhere, even in space. anyone who lives near room 19 might hear a dog barking happily before frank decides to make his way out into the station at large and take his chances. ]

Not cool, Max. You blew my cover.

[ it's not that serious really. he's starting to get to know people on the station and he believes on some level that they're all in this together. one rotten apple could still spoil the bunch, but he hasn't seen anyone truly rotten just yet. he has been monitoring the posts on the network closely though, and there have been... a few interesting responses, to say the least. catch these two doges on the way to the mess hall followed by the observation deck (basically anywhere you please!!!) max walks alongside frank dutifully without a leash, but he eyes anyone who comes towards them with a wary look, a low warning growl issuing from his muzzle. ]

Easy, boy, you're okay. [ frank puts a hand on max's head to try and get him to calm down. ]

» MESS HALL

[ those who have ever seen frank take a meal have never observed the type of focus he's exhibiting now as he punches in specifications for his dog's meal into the fabricator he's most partial to. he's basically the equivalent of the old lady who eats cat food except he'd make max a steak and then eat a packet of tuna okay. once he has their meals calibrated, he makes his way to the far end of the dining hall where he sets max's tray on the ground for him to eat off of and sits at the edge of the table himself to drink his coffee and watch over his companion, hoping space doesn't make him sick. every few minutes, he strokes a hand down the dog's spine gently, looking on with open concern though he usually goes out of his way to hide his feelings from people in this place. (it's not very successful...)

on the approach, max seems unconcerned with people if they sit quickly across from frank in a non-threatening manner. however, if they hover he'll look up from his food and do his warning growl again. ]

I just woke up and he was in my room. [ frank will tell anyone happening by. he sounds bewildered and worried, but also... happy. ] I wonder if they make magboots in his size.

» OBSERVATION DECK

[ frank has settled some after receiving his dog (and knife) and he's sitting by the windows so max can get a good look. the dog presses his face nearly to the glass, fogging up the area he's standing at while he watches over the planet with a seriousness only afforded to working breeds. he would much rather protect this strange collection of odd-smelling humans than the irish mafia in hell's kitchen any day. bring it on, his expression seems to say.

for his part, the ex-marine has his newly acquired knife out and is painstakingly ripping the stitches on his right palm so he can pull them out without injuring himself further. he flexes his hand once he's done and looks up briefly at whomever he might be sharing the deck with before addressing the dog again. ] How do you like that, Max? First rescue dog in space.

» OUT ON THE STREETS

[ on the way back to their room, max gets away from frank, clearly thinking it's a game. the pit hops onto an elevator with someone who either doesn't listen to frank's warnings to hold it or simply don't have time before the doors close. either way you are now accompanied by a stocky, brown dog with a white chest and a smile in his big, brown eyes for the duration of your elevator ride.

once the elevator lets off, it's max's time to go exploring without his overbearing dad breathing down his neck!! stop cramping his style, frank!! he will be found in corridors mostly, sniffing around at the empty casings or people's boots. some people he finds more interesting than others, of course. maybe he refuses to drop your scent, nose pressed to the side of your shoe insistently. TELL HIM YOUR INTENTIONS OR ELSE.

he will eventually make it back to deck six and frank himself, but you're also welcome to try and find his owner, or just play a game of tag with him. once he feels comfortable around someone (this will go quicker for women/girls and generally non-threatening individuals) he'll tap his wet nose against your arm and then run off, expecting to be pursued. ]

» CHOOSE YOUR OWN ADVENTURE

[ feel free to run into dog + man or just dog in any location you please and write your own starter if nothing pings you here! happy to roll with anything :) ]

Comments

[oorah]

[ he pants and goes on smiling. HI KAREN I'M MAX his eyes seem to say. he trots alongside her at he invitation like he does in fact know where he's going. and he doesn't seem to mind having her as a tagalong. with extraordinary focus for a dog, he makes his way back to deck six with her in tow and goes right up to door nineteen before letting out a bark to announce his presence. DAD I'M HOME I BROUGHT A FRIEND ]

[subplot]

[The funny part about this story is, Karen's actually wanting to find Frank so she can show him this amazing dog she's just found. She even takes the time to type out a quick message saying that she's found something she wants to show him. There's a moment when she thinks she might want to herd him down to the mess hall to get him some water and food, but by that point the dog's already stopped at a door and is barking like he belongs in there.

It's as good of a time as any to crouch down and give some more pets.]

So you do belong to someone here. I was going to ask if you wanted to go to dinner and stay with me.

[The door opens, and she glances up. She's really, really not expecting Frank to be standing there.]

[oorah]

[ he opens the door, relieved to find max standing there. with - karen? he tilts his head, looking bemused and yes, a little awkward too. ]

Trying to steal my dog, Page? [ it's obviously a joke, and he walks out into the corridor to greet her properly, his door shutting behind him as one hand goes to max's head automatically. he isn't looking and he accidentally touches the back of her hand instead, pulling away as though he's been burned, but still goes on seeming happy enough to see her. ]

[subplot]

I might. [She jokes like she can't remember the last time she saw him was incredibly awkward. In actuality, she doesn't remember, because the gift of binge drinking is the gift that keeps giving. If she notices his weird head touching behavior, she doesn't comment on it, because she's too busy paying attention to his dog.]

I thought he'd be good company.

[oorah]

Yeah, well, he seems to have taken to you quick. Not like I'm surprised.

[ karen has a way of doing that. growing on people like a barnacle. apparently dogs are also susceptible. ]

[subplot]

I guess he's like his owner.

[She presses her nose against his head and takes in a breath, triggering a memory of when she was a little girl and things were easier and safe. When she pulls away, she glances up at Frank with a smile before standing up.]

Does he have a name?

[oorah]

[ max barks again, just one little ruff! as if to tell her he'd already told her his name. what the hell lady. frank holds out his hand and max immediately slots in against his leg, accepting head rubs graciously. ]

Max. [ he wants to correct her. he doesn't own max, but this ship had sent him to frank for some reason so he'll take it anyway. ] We met a while back, took down the Irish together.

[subplot]

[Wait a second. Karen's face goes from smiling to concerned as he speaks, and she places a hand on Max's head to help stay calm. She doesn't need anymore conspiracy theories on her plate, but ...]

He just showed up here out of the blue?

[There's a lot of things that could mean.]

[oorah]

[ his hand switches to his pocket to avoid a repeat of a second ago. ] Yeah. Got my knife back too. Anything show up in your room?

[subplot]

[There's something that might be a flash of jealousy. But being jealous of Frank is ridiculous. ] No, nothing yet. But it's been a couple of days since I've been by. I guess I'll have to check later.

[The fact that they're being sent things and it's put in their rooms is pretty unnerving. Her mind is already working itself in circles trying to figure out what it could mean.]

Do you trust this?

[This being the fact that Max is really the dog he knows, and that the knife is really his knife. That they were given to him without strings attached.]

[oorah]

Where are you staying?

[ if not her room?? that worries him and it shows, though he's easily distracted for the moment by her follow-up. ]

Of course I don't trust this. Don't trust any goddamn thing I'm seeing with my own eyes. But what other choice do I have?

[subplot]

I've been working on some leads.

[So really, she isn't staying anywhere as much as just working herself to death. No big deal. At least the arrival of Max and a knife gives them something to focus on other than her own safety.]

This means that whoever brought us here knows us well enough to bring in things that are important. It can track us and knows where to leave them for us to find.

[That that means in relation to Matt and Foggy has her worried. She doesn't want them pulled into this place because of her.]

[oorah]

[ he's had the same thought about david, even dinah himself, but they can't afford to worry about it. they have to take this one day at a time. ]

Something like that. [ but then, softer: ] Even you need to rest, Karen. [ he knows he's the biggest hypocrite on this barge okay but he doesn't like where this is headed ]

[subplot]

[The way she smiles at him is with gentle amusement. He's definitely a huge hypocrite when it comes to taking care of himself, but she knows that he takes her staying safe more seriously than just about anything.]

I've had a few naps in the mess hall.

[oorah]

[ frank sighs, but he knows he can't really lecture her when he's the same way. after a second, he inclines his head back toward the room. ]

You wanna come in?

[subplot]

[Somehow, she's surprised by the offer. She even glances down at Max like he'll have more insight into the invitation. He doesn't, obviously. He's just a dog. So she glances back at Frank with a smile.]

Okay. [Her fingers graze against the top of Max's head, and she waits for Frank to the lead the way.]

[oorah]

[ it felt weird to just hang in the halls, and he has nosy neighbors okay!! but that's not really why. he's been worried about her since the last time they spoke. he's always worried about her. the door reopens and he ducks back inside, matt happily trotting after. ]

I haven't heard from you since... [ she got white girl wasted and made shit awkward between them?? yeah, that. he shakes his head. ] Thought we were supposed to stick together.

[ it's meant to be light, he knows it's a two-way street and he hasn't kept up his side any more than she has hers. ]

[subplot]

Since I drank too much.

[She can vaguely recall things being said, but not exactly the specifics of what. But she isn't sure if he's avoiding her, so she's been keeping herself intentionally busy because being lonely in space is potentially the most pathetic thing anyone could ever possibly go through.]

I wasn't sure if you still wanted to stick together after holding my hair back for me.

[She can keep it light and about cleaning up literal disgusting messes. It's all ok.This is fine.]

[oorah]

[ sadness passes over frank's expression in a wash as max jumps onto the bed behind them and lets out a little doggy groan in contentment, curling up on frank's pillow. ]

That's what friends do, Karen.

[ friends, because that's what they are right? not more, but certainly not less. ]

You think you can scare me off that easy?

[subplot]

[She's never been so grateful to have a dog around as she is with Max. She looks his way and smiles, arms crossing over her chest. It's a slightly defensive pose, but she isn't sure she wants this conversation to keep heading into this territory.]

Friends also don't cling to people who are better off without them just because they're lonely.

[She doesn't want to hold him back. He seems to be doing well here.]

[oorah]

[ behold as he takes this exactly the wrong way. ]

...If you think you're better off without me, then why'd you come in? [ because it can't be HIM who's better off without her. he's nothing. ]

[subplot]

[She looks shocked by that, and has to retreat back to sit on the edge of his bed. Her hand idly pets and scratches behind Max's ears, as she thinks of the best way to spell it out for him.]

I'm the one that's lonely, Frank. You're the one that has people here, and some kind of life you're working at having. I don't want to get in the way of that.

[Especially since there's vague memories of her actually admitting she has feelings for him when she was drunk. She can't confirm it happened, but she has a sinking feeling it sure did.]

[oorah]

[ that gets a frown, and he takes a step towards her before just - hanging there. she takes it the wrong way when he gets close, he knows that now. ]

I don't have anyone, Karen. Except you.

[ he doesn't understand what she's saying. he's not - building a life?! on a freaking space ship??? it's been like, three weeks. ]

Did you know Captain America's here? [ cause that's a little fucking weird for him how about you. he still hasn't figured out wanda's an avenger too btw. ] I just don't wanna be strangers.

[ even if that's almost exactly what he told her he wanted on day one. his priorities have shifted since then by a landslide. ]

[subplot]

[Memories of that night are fuzzy but are playing through her mind, and she just frowns and frowns more as he talks and won't come in close to her. He's afraid to come in close. That hurts, but she can't hold it against Frank. He feels how he feels, and that's not his fault. So she looks back to him in mock exasperation as he names Steve Rogers.]

Of course I know he's here. I'm tracking the network. I'm keeping an eye out for incidents.

[Either ones like the doors, or ones caused by Avengers. Trouble is trouble.]

[oorah]

[ he nods, of course karen knew. he met the guy face to face and had no clue who he was until the network post. that's why he needs her, right? one of many reasons. ]

Right.

[ he swallows, looking down at his boots. he's not sure where to go from here without cracking open that conversation again. he doesn't think it will go any smoother sober, somehow. ]

Well, look. You don't have to worry about me. I don't have a life anywhere, especially not in space. [ ha-ha gallows humor. his favorite ]