what_the_shock | A bar on the mainland

Miguel had looked around, found a pub with good food and plenty of beer, and called a taxi to get them there. The bar even had $1 drafts on Monday.

They might regret that after these two started drinking.

[Expecting one, and NFB for distance!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

From:

what_the_shock

"What's a dumbapple?" Miguel asked.

From:

puppy_fair

"It's an apple with blue skin that only grows in one particular place," Zack shared. "And the trees go to fruit at random times of the year. They're pretty good, actually."

And they had kind of followed him across the planet for a while there.

From:

what_the_shock

"Huh. Sounds interesting. You can live on them, though? Okay, never mind, not the point. Unless you're actually malnourished now, in which case I'm cutting off your beer after another ten or so."

He sounded so concerned, didn't he? Miguel was a good friend.

From:

puppy_fair

Zack shrugged dismissively.

"I've lived on less for longer. It's a SOLDIER thing."

Being on the run really hadn't lended itself well to eating three square meals and all.

From:

what_the_shock

"Just because you can, doesn't mean it's a good idea."

About then, the fries came, and Miguel ordered loaded nachos for next. Hey, at least they weren't only going to drink the place dry. They were also going to eat super-healthy bar food.

"So is it good to be back at the shelter? I'm sure the chickens missed you."

From:

puppy_fair

"It is," Zack agreed, nodding a little. "Mostly it's nice to be back somewhere familiar, but I can't deny it's great to have a dozen or so puppies at hand whenever I want, too."

From:

what_the_shock

Miguel grinned. "I thought a saw a few kinds of dog hair on you. Good for cuddling?"

From:

puppy_fair

"Great for cuddling," Zack replied, smiling lopsidedly. "I mean, I can't just sleep in the kennels from here on out, but it's kind of tempting."

From:

what_the_shock

"Easier to just bring them into a bed," Miguel said. "Or, well, easier on your back. Even if you have slept worse places," he headed off the protest.

From:

puppy_fair

Zack closed his mouth before even managing to get that protest out, yes.

"... Well, if you've ever tried to put a dozen puppies in a single place..."

Sure, it was easy on the back, but sleeping would never happen.

From:

what_the_shock

"Close the door and shove them in one at a time?" Miguel suggested.

You were bigger than they were, Zack.

From:

puppy_fair

Yeah, but they were way less likely to fall victim to his puppy eyes than he was theirs.

"... That's a lot of laps."

Yes, Zack. A dozen. Less if you double up.

From:

what_the_shock

"You lived in a cave for months; what's a few laps with dogs?"

From:

puppy_fair

"I thought the goal was me actually getting some sleep at some point," Zack pointed out, grinning crookedly.

And ordering another beer.

The bartender was seriously starting to look concerned, now.

From:

what_the_shock

The bartender could deal; it wasn't like they were making trouble.

"You saying you won't get any sleep buried under puppies?"

From:

puppy_fair

"I mean, there's no guarantee the puppies will be sleeping," Zack pointed out, reasonably.

From:

what_the_shock

"That just means you have to tire them out first," Miguel said. He thought about it. "Do they chase pointers like cats?"

From:

puppy_fair

"They do," Zack agreed, "but it's kind of mean. They never really catch it, you know? Which bothers dogs more than it bothers cats, I think."

From:

what_the_shock

"I've been working on these spider things," Miguel said. "Miniature robots. I could make some bigger ones. They fly. They could chase them."

From:

puppy_fair

"At that point I might as well still be sleeping downstairs in the puppy playpen," Zack pointed out, smiling crookedly.

From:

what_the_shock

Miguel laughed. "No, see, first you tire them out, then you all sleep."

From:

puppy_fair

"Oohhhhh," Zack smiled crookedly as he reached for the next drink. "Okay, that's the order that goes in, huh? And here I've been doing the puppy thing wrong this entire time."

From:

what_the_shock

"Dork." Miguel lobbed a napkin at him. "Go sleep in the puppy pen, then."

From:

puppy_fair

"You can't tell me you're not jealous," Zack teased, smiling.

From:

what_the_shock

Miguel laughed. "I absolutely can tell you I'm not jealous. Don't get me wrong, puppies are fine, but I'm kind of partial to a bed when I can get one."

He flagged down the increasingly worried bartender for another round.