[closed] ✨✨✨

[no_kyouken]

Who ⬤ Polycule people & friends
What ⬤ A picnic
When ⬤ Nowish
Where ⬤ A park
Content Warnings ⬤ Swearing, alcohol, etc


code

grasshopper picnic hydrangea on the menu beauty and the beast Majima had a lot of people to coordinate, so the calendar invites were sent to phones a few weeks ago. The festival was a working event for him, not something he could really relax for. As a compromise to those who wanted to spend more time with him, he's arranged the picnic. No, he didn't make any of the food, don't be ridiculous. He paid a caterer. He and the birds did, however, find a few thrift stores to rummage up blankets, baskets, and pillows. The flowers arranged around the area are an array of different colored hydrangeas chosen by Emily from Aerith's shop. There is also a corgi puppy lying on a blanket and watching with curious, baleful eyes. He is a visitor from Izo's shelter. Taro needs help with his socialization, be gentle with him! 🧺🌺🐶 The three of them are there ahead of everyone, playing with the puppy and drinking tea and snacking on fruit. But they're waiting for you; the river glittering at a distance. The weather is good and the company is fine. Say hello to your illustrious hosts: 🐍🕊️🦅

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Comments

[demonrebel]

A new best friend, huh?

[Dante smiles as he regards the cheerful pup but eventually his gaze drifts towards the woman. He stares at her for a moment before glancing over at the ball. Uh oh. Dante is going to have a hard time prying Taro off him if he takes the ball. This excitable little corgi is a bundle of joy now after befriending his newest friend. However, Dante isn’t going to pass up the opportunity to play fetch with Taro.]

Alright then! I’m up for the challenge.

[He agrees after taking the ball. Taro stares at him expectantly with those big round eyes. The corgi wags his stubby little tail back and forth with such glee as Dante stands. It’s all too cute for Dante to bear but somehow he manages to ignore those adorable puppy eyes for now.]

Okay, boy! Show me what you’re made of—-

[He tosses the ball towards a nearby tree several feet away. Dante made sure to throw the ball away from the picnic lest he wants Taro to charge into the gathering head first. The puppy is cute and all but Dante suspects he’ll be a real menace if given the chance.]

Fetch, boy! Fetch!

[medicative]

[the pup bolts as could be predicted, barreling towards the ball as fast as his little legs can carry him, and then running around the tree with his prize before running to make his way back. Emily's charmed - she helps out at Izo's shelter enough to know that when they want to burn off their energy, it's always a good idea to help out. the question is, will Taro give the ball for more, or will he sneakily want to hang on?

bending down, she sees the answer. he's refusing to give it to her, bounding back as if somehow she can throw what he has. maybe Dante will have better luck?]

[demonrebel]

[An amused chuckle escapes Dante as he watches Emily interact with the mischievous pup. Taro is being a bit of a brat but that’s to be expected since he’s still quite young. The pup doesn’t want to let go of the ball but Dante might have a solution here.]

Aw, don’t be like that, Taro.

[He lightly admonishes as he kneels down before the pup.]

C’mon, champ. Hand it over.

[Dante holds out his hand for the ball but the dog refuses as expected. So instead of asking for the ball again, Dante whistles to Taro and pretends to throw something behind him. Maybe if the pup thinks there’s another ball, he’ll let go of it. That could work but only if Taro doesn’t realize this is a trick.]

[medicative]

[Taro, full of wiggles, falls for the deception. the ball falls out of his mouth, and he runs to find the imaginary object. and Emily can't help but just laugh at the earnestness of it. it means Dante has free reign to get the ball, but...]

Careful, he's wising up.

[sniffing, ears up, turning back Dante's direction with a look that says hey now.]

[demonrebel]

You think so?

[Dante does his best to look as nonchalant as possible once Taro glances towards him. He lets out a little whistle as he idly hides the ball behind his back. If he's lucky, the pup won't wise up to what's going but corgis are notoriously smart. A little too smart since the pup is giving him the eye now. He can tell the gig is up once the pup lets out a seemingly frustrated bark. Taro is too smart to fall for his tricks here and that's great.]

Alright, alright! Let's try this again.

[He presents the ball once more with a playful wink but doesn't throw it just yet.]

I'm not much of a dog trainer but I could kinda get used to this.

[medicative]

Are you sure you don't have a knack for it? This little one seems to have taken to you.

[statement punctuated with a little bark! come on, big guy!]

[demonrebel]

[Him? A dog trainer? Dante doesn't know the first thing about training pets outside of what he has seen on reality TV. It's not a topic that normally gets brought up in his line of work. Even so, he seems to be making strides with Taro here. That within itself is quite rewarding.]

No, I'm a dog trainer but I definitely know how to handle rowdy fellas.

[Now that he has Taro's undivided attention, Dante finally throws the ball. He tosses it towards a nearby tree just a few feet away from two picnic goers. Dante trusts that the little pup won't cause too much of a ruckus but then again, Taro is Taro.]

C'mon, boy! Bring the ball back!

[medicative]

[there's something about watching the puppy run that just...makes her want to laugh more. the determination, the speed. the way it seems like he'll take on the world. the way he overshoots it a little and has to skid to a stop.]

Well, if you ever decide to hone that skill a little more, I'm sure you'd be welcome if you stopped by the shelter. Not to talk business here, of course - just that there's enough of them who appreciate a person's touch.

[the more people that go and socialize with them, the better. and she's noticed the happiness it's bringing Dante as well.]

[demonrebel]

[A thoughtful hum escapes Dante as he thinks about the offer. It never really dawned on him that he could have a normal job. Usually, most of his gigs are monster related in some form. Whether it be demons or humans, it doesn't matter. Monsters are monsters and Dante is here to eradicate them all. He rarely gets to do anything else, especially anything involving animals.]

You know what? [He can't help but grin as he watches Taro search around for the ball. The little pup is so short that he completely disappears into the tall grass nearby.] I think that's a great idea.

[He glances over at Emily again with a genuine smile.]

I have plenty of free time too. So yeah, count me in.

[medicative]

Wonderful. You'll want to mention it to Izo - the shelter's been his project, and I know he'll be glad to have your help. I just volunteer every now and then when time allows.

[because helping with the animals is a lot simpler than clinic work. they get adopted, they get loving homes, and in the meanwhile they get food and a place to sleep and friendship. easy, really.]

[demonrebel]

Wait, the whole animal shelter stuff was his idea?

[Huh? Excuse him if he looks a bit taken aback. Dante crossed paths with Izo a few times and the wannabe samurai comes across as a hard-hitting bruiser most of the time. The guy damn sure knows how to swing a bat, that's for sure but who would've guessed he has a soft spot for animals? For some reason, Dante can't help but find it a bit adorable.]

I'll be sure to ask him. I'm not about to let Izo have little Taro all to himself.

[He kinda loves this pup already. Corgis are the best!]

Have you thought about adopting a few pups, Em---I mean, Emily?

[Dante was this close from giving her a new nickname. He tends to do that with everyone.]

[medicative]

[not as though she'd mind. they're a nicknaming bunch, and by now she answers to Em almost as much as her full name.]

I've thought about it, but I don't know I'd be able to give a dog the right level of commitment. I work quite a bit - it wouldn't be fair to leave them cooped up at home alone.

[even if she does love them. some lives don't lend themselves to being pet owners, and even with her "free time," well.]

That's why I help him out. It's the experience without having to worry that they're lonely.

[demonrebel]

Yeah, you and me both. While business wasn't exactly booming at home, I hesitate to leave a dog at the office for too long.

[ Even though he's no mere paper pusher, Dante's profession doesn't allow for pets. Demons could easily rip a dog to shreds and despite his best efforts to keep the Devil May Cry vermin free, demons can sometimes sneak past his security measures. That's one of the reasons why he was so against having Patty stay with him years ago but Morrison convinced him otherwise.

The girl was the safest with him when those nasty demons came hunting for her. ]

From what I can tell, there's no such thing as a bad dog---only bad people.

[He doesn't even want to get into some of the horrific things he saw people do throughout his life, especially towards animals.]

I'm sure all the dogs at the shelter will get a second chance at least, especially if they're half as cute as Taro here.

[Mentioning Taro, the pup is already back to pawing at his leg.]