Rendezvous //Tipsy.

[Noodle!]

<sub>That damned human had no idea how to fasten a chain. He was the dumbest thing Dahlia had ever seen, and now he seemed to come over just to spite the dog of his girlfriend. He'd taken her outside, teasing her and having no idea that she understood every word he spoke. He snapped the chain onto her collar and returned inside the house. Dahlia took a dive at his retreating back, and stumbled... Finding that he'd not grounded the other end of the chain. She smiled, rolling her eyes, and now, here she was; walking down the street again. She needed an excuse to get that miserable human male in trouble, and not securing the beloved pet would do the trick. That, and she found herself curious to meet up with and taunt that Junius character.

The chain was not long nor heavy and it trailed noisily behind her as she jogged down the street, trying to remember the way to the house she was searching for. You couldn't miss it, seeing as how it was probably the largest estate on Hawthorne Road, and had a fence large enough to keep the doberman guard dog in. She began panting, and was more than once jerked backwards by the chain getting caught on some random stationary object. She snorted, now slowing her pace to a slow jog as she rounded the corner that led to the estate.

She was panting heavily now, and the chain behind her made such a ruckus that she was positive the brute had heard her arrive. That and her run-in with the Dogo Argentino earlier on had left her with a fresh, slightly bloody scratch. If her noise didn't attract him, the smell of blood would. She sat down near the fence, but once again just out of reach, and waited.</sub>

[»Rie]

Sunlight turned the blades of grass in the lawn to a vaunted emerald green, the brilliant colors of flowers standing out like a carefully painted picture: Every bloom was situated just so to create the most picturesque image possible. The sky was a flawless periwinkle blue; the sun a distant glimmer in the sky that shed heat across the ground turning the pavement sweltering beneath its rays: Minute shimmers danced in the drive. The locusts buzzed in the trees, and a grasshopper sawed laconically somewhere nearby.

The man sat in his first floor study, in a chair behind a massive oak desk, his hand held his cell phone to his ear as he spoke into it. The man shifted causing the fine leather swivel chair he sat in to turn his dark eyes gazing out the massive picture window that sat behind him, immediately meeting the sharp gaze of the massive dog that sat right outside; staring through the crystal clear glass with an eerie gaze. The man smirked at the massive doberman, responding to something the person on the line had said.

Junius stared his sharp gaze burning holes into the Man, his jaws parted as his tongue dangled limply from his gaping maw. The sun beat down on his sleek black and tan body, making him warm. As the Man smirked at him he could almost fathom that the filthy human knew exactly what the Doberman was thinking; how very much Junius wanted to rip his throat out. Just as the demonic doberman was pondering making a go at the window (perhaps he could break through) he heard a loud, somewhat distant sound. Sharp erect ears twitched, turning and flickering honing in on the sound that had heightened into something fairly constant; and then abruptly stopped. Turning his head he broke away from his staring contest with the Man, looking toward the edge of the property. Tilting his head up, and back his sides expanded as he inhaled: Faint blood, female dog, and familiar at that. She was back. He bared his fangs reflexively and stood, body curving even as he rose from his sitting position to set off at a stiff stalk toward the fence line.

He could catch a glimpse of the shar-pei as he approached, faintly, through the brush and the fence it was swiftly obscured as he got closer thanks to the shrubbery. He weaved through the brush with practiced ease of familiarity. As he emerged into the area before the fence he flashed his fangs at Dahlia the fur along his back standing ridged in a show of aggression, and agitation; he didn't, however, lunge for the fence. His snout was still feeling awfully sore, and for once he showed a bit of caution. Staring at her through shark-like eyes he strode up to the fence pushing his snout through the gap between the bars and spoke in that dark toned, rumbling voice of his, "Back again Black Dahlia, morbidly fascinated or morbid fascination?" He growled, tongue sliding from his maw to dangle.

His muddy eyes flashed slightly, sweeping over her heaving form, taking in the chain she was dragging; that certainly explained the sound he had heard. He gave a tumultuous sound at the sight of it. Filthy humans, "Filthy little pet, escape your masters again?" He sneered, head tilting in a mockery of innocent curiosity.

[Noodle!]

<sub>Dahlia's wonderful nightmare quickly arrived, his black maw being the only visible part of him for sometime. His teeth flashed at her immediately in the shadows of the bush, and then his entire skull came into view. She remained calm in demeanor, sitting on the concrete outside of the fence, finding herself somewhat embarrassed to be dragging around a rusty old chain. She smiled, a grim gesture, satisfied that he had came so quickly for she was not one to wait. She shook a fly from her head, small, triangular ears flopping back and forth and then they perked to hear the dark sound of his soul dripping from his mouth. She shivered lightly, having to remind herself why she’d come back, but preparing herself for a series of torture she had planned for the doberman before she returned to her own grassy lawn.

A fascination with morbidity. She yawned, lifting a paw to lick away some grime she'd stepped in on the way over. Filthy? The word made her cringe, but she knew he was not speaking of her hygeine when he taunted her with it. I must say, Junius, you are the poster-child of such.

While she spoke, she stood to lift her nose no sniff a flower hanging from a low vine on the fence. It was a pinkish color, somewhat like the color most dog’s tongues were. It smelled pleasant, a natural and clean odor. She did not realize it, but she could very well have teased him at that very moment; exposing her jugular and the tender veins in her neck just out of the reach of the Doberman’s maw. Had she realized this, she would have continued to look at the flowers above her, but quickly she returned her gaze to the guard dog, listening to him speak of her as a runaway. The female laughed at this particular statement, watching his dull eyes take note of the chain with a startling anger. She wondered what sort of past he had with humans, so that even the sight of a man-made chain cause him to go into a fit of violence. She moved closer to the fence, that very metal that she dragged making a slight scraping noise.

This was a dog day of summer, the heat beamed down on the two dogs, and the random insects of the trees and grasses sang their woes and glory about it. The shar-pei's black tongue continued to hang from the front of her mouth, sliding in and out as she took slow breaths and attempted to cool herself off as much as possible.

Afraid so. The man is back, and he forgot to chain me down. Pity. She smiled, returning his mock innocence with a look of sarcastic sympathy, Now I have to return and give you Hell once again.</sub>

[»Rie]

Hitching growling laughter dripped from his lips his jaws drawing apart in his humor to flash his teeth, widening with each peal before he settled again. As she moved, stretching upward to sniff at the dangling bloom his eyes watched her like a viper, his lips curling up off his gums in want to bite, his head hitching upward slightly in a jerky motion. The side of his muzzle clanged softly against the metal bar on his left, and he exhaled with a hiss as pain lanced up along his face to throb in his frontal lobe. Growling softly he jerked his head back lifting his fore paw to run it over the curve of his, trying to sooth away the ache. His long tongue flicked out, curving up over his muzzle a few times.

His head tipped back upward at the sound of her chain skittering against the pavement, and he moved forward again shoving his snout through the bars once more. His hind legs folded, dropping his haunches to the dirt and he slid down, one fore leg slipping through the gap in the bars to dangle over the pavement as though reaching out toward her. His sharp ears twitched forward, perking toward her as she spoke of the Man, he felt she spoke of the one he'd nearly gotten his teeth into. The memory caused a low groan to fall from his jaws, his tongue sliding over his black lips and darkening the tan fur of his muzzle with saliva; he'd nearly had hold of one of those filth humans; what he wouldn't give to rip them apart! Closing his eyes at the pleasure of the thought he opened them again as she mentioned giving him hell.

Once more he gave voice to that thrumming dark laugh, amused at the though, "Give me hell, will you?" He asked, shifting forward almost eagerly, his head pressing against the bars. Blasted fence. "I must say your version of Hell is most refreshing, pet." His jaws gaped in a sharp smile that had as much to do with happiness as his use of pet had to do with being a human's pet. "Why don't you come 'round when the men open the gate and I'll show you my version of hell?" He taunted, dead eyes taking on an amused gleam.

This whole thing was rather new to Junius, he'd never had someone come back to encounter him again. They'd always just left him alone after they'd met him the first time. Not that he was surprised, after all, he wasn't someone you'd make social calls to. This dog, however, amused him. Oh sure, he'd still probably bite into her at this point if he could... But given the choice between her and the humans he'd pick her any day.

[Noodle!]

<sub>The shar-pei’s head snapped up at the sound of laughter, taken aback and caught off guard by the sudden outburst. The corners of her mouth twitched, threatening a smile. She let him have his little fit and then moved to settle back down comfortably, who knows how long she may be here. The doberman accidently smacked the side of his obviously sore maw on the bars and winced in pain. Her eyes went soft in sympathy for only a moment before returning fiery in their original splendor. One of his paws was draped through the bars of the fence, and was so close that it nearly touched her.

She looked down at the mahogany mud splash at collided with his ebony coat, before redirecting her attention to the wound on her chest, she began licking as he gazed at the chain in a trance-likes state; imagining doing the unimaginable to humans, or to her, Dahlia was unsure which was more likely. His eyes closed, and he made a pleasant shudder of sorts before laughing again. She occupied herself with cleansing her wound while he began talking, although she was hanging on every word he spoke. She raised her head at first, I wouldn’t expect my Hell to be less than pleasant, brute... For it was love at first fright, no? Her eyes narrowed teasingly and she snorted. She chuckled lightly, the sound strangely deep for the feminine as he made a violent suggestion, You’d like that, wouldn’t you?

Her eyes returned his taunting glimmer, matching that amusement that shone in them. Dahlia caught a somewhat surprised look in his face, perhaps he had not expected her to return. In fact, she doubted he got much ‘company’ at all. Few guard dogs did, but even Dahlia had guests over weekly when her master had her human friends over. She wouldn’t call those visitors ‘friends’, but they all shared a patience that was necessary to make their human companions happy by cooperating. She quite enjoyed coming out here to talk to someone who was brutally honest, no pun intended, and to get away from her duties as a bodyguard and her yard which was always void of other canines.

It was rare that another dog visited the house to see the shar-pei, but she couldn’t guarantee she’d allow them to hang around anyway.</sub>

[»Rie]

The tendons and muscles of his foreleg stood out rigidly as they pulled, causing his toes to splay slightly, before contracting, dragging his claws faintly across the cement, it created a low quiet scratching sound like something faintly scraping at the back door; wanting in. It was an almost pitiful pantomime of irony considering the situation, his shoulders rolled beneath his black hide, and he shifted hind paws twitching restlessly against the ground. It almost seemed that he was filled with to much energy; as though he had to constantly test the boundaries of his range of movement; and yet... There as a distinct stillness to him. He seemed to be rather contradictory, really. His shifting caused the bit of several inches of chain that dangled from his collar to clang against the fencing, the small metal hoop onto to which a tether would be attached twisting this way and that.

His teeth flashed in that reflexive way of is, as though he was always a moment away from snapping at biting anything within reach. Always ready to rip, to tear, to kill, his disdain was immediate and all consuming, his ears pinning back partially as he scoffed; a sound deep in his throat as though he were trying to expel something stuck in his trachea, "Love, pet? Is that what they're calling it these days? I'm afraid I thought this was a tragedy, my sweet." The last sentence was said with a bit of something, an indefinable tone, really. It seemed odd coming from him though, rolling off his tongue like honey, but bitter as vinegar. His head curved lowering, the bars slid against the sides of his head tugging the taut skin of his hide slightly. His jaws gaped open and he slid his fangs over his own fore leg in a taunting, rakish motion, "Yes, I think I'd like that very much." An unholy glow appeared in the filmy mud of his irises and pupils, his tongue absently curling along the side of his muzzle as he gazed at her from the lowered angle of his head; brows quirked and ears pointed in upward curve, looking ever inch a devil at that moment.

Lifting his head he flared his leathery nostrils having watched her lap at the wound, the blood scent was faint. It had the look of just being a scratch, but what caught his attention was what he hadn't perceived before; it was the mark left by another dog. Some other dog had attacked her between the time they had last met, and now. Some dogs may not have been able to tell the difference, but Junius had inflicted enough injuries on himself due to inanimate objects to know. It had a certain jaggedness to it that suggested fang or claw, he wasn't close enough to be able to tell; and the would really wasn't all that deep. Still... As far as he was concerned he had first dibs on the sharp-pei. His lips curled back, and a thrumming snarl rose from the depths of his chest, agitation causing the Doberman's flattening hackles to rise once more. He jerked his fore paw back through the bars, the bone of his ankling clanging against one bar in a marrow jarring second.

He'd stood half way up before he let all the air from his lungs in a single aggravated exhale and slumped back down. Narrow shark-like eyes. Burning his gaze into the other dog he said in flat, dangerous monotone, "When I make good my freedom, I'll have my ounce of blood for that. None touch what is mine, and you're mine, pet." His teeth flashed again, a razor smirk as he turned his head up jauntily. Maybe she didn't know it, but that was the truth as far as Junius was concerned, and the rest of the world could go to Hell. After all, she was the one who had returned to him. What he wanted her for he had no kin, he just knew she interested him; that was all Junius needed to know.

No one else had ever dared.

[Noodle!]

<sub>There was a brief moment of silence between the two, and only the brushing of her rough tongue against her equally bristly fur could be heard. She continued to watch him, observing what she could of his persona and soul. She acknowledge the strange air about him; like a living hypocrisy, a oxymoron of flesh. She couldn’t quite place her paw on it, but perhaps this was the secret to her attraction. A fatal sort at that. She smirked at his remark on her choice of words, but she returned quickly, words flowing as charismatically as possible for her, What is ‘love’ but a prelude to tragedy? His tone had been bittersweet, just as contradictory as the dog’s personality himself. She sidled a bit closer, causing the chain to drag once again, claws clicking on the sidewalk as she seemingly tried to escape a cloud of dirt that blew by. Her coat was the world’s worst to catch pesky particles.

Her licking stopped immediately when she realized he had noticed it. In all honesty, this was not part of her plan. Her eyes narrowed, tongue gathering spittle as the last metallic remains of the liquid were washed away. The pits of tar that were her small eyes became unreadable, and a single brow above her left eye raised and a surprised expression took over. Although, she had told that miserable Dogo Argentino that he would pay... She had planned on taking care of him herself, which would be completely manageable even for a female and one so much smaller than her aggressor. Letting someone else handle her dirty work with her signature? Now that sounded oh so sweet. And for the first time, he had authentically surprised her with such a dialogue as that. He openly lay claim to her and she laughed quietly.

Am I, now? She growled, coming across as a dull, nearly inaudible rumble, Laying claim to me from in there, are you?

Her eyes were taunting, teasing him behind that large cage of his. She took a look at the gate, the height of the fence, considering the fact that the posts were probably buried deep into the soil to deter digging. She smiled once more, teeth visible on her black and pink gums before she said, That piece of freedom could come sooner than you think.

Mischief was never so obviously displayed.</sub>

[»Rie]

As she shifted closer he slid his long muscular fore leg through the gap in the bars around, his outstretched paw brushing against the short bristly fur of her leg as he tangled his claws lightly in the links of her rusty chain. Though it was only loose, he'd broken claws before, and it was never a pleasant feeling. If she took off he wanted the chain to slip off, preferably without taking some of his toes with it. The look on his sharp features as he contemplated the metallic abomination with those flat eyes of his was mostly unreadable. His teeth hidden for the moment behind unmoving black and tan. When he looked back up his dead eyes were more inscrutable than ever, emotionless and depraved on a very deep level: The gaze of a beast, a monster; rather than a dog. He pressed against the metal of the fence, lifting upward slightly from his relaxed repose, and perhaps had been able to he'd have been nose to nose with her as he shot his rejoinder, "What is life, but a tragedy of our making?"

His lips curled back, flashing tantalizing glimpses of sharp teeth that held no qualms about marring man nor beast, "Who is there to contest me?" He drawled, dragging his fore leg back slightly, drawing the chain across the ground. His pointed ears twitched to the grating sound in made, like some absurd music. "The Man with his Chain and his Muzzle?" He spat the words like they were the filthiest he'd ever tasted. "After all, I'm the only dog here." While it was true that he could not get out, it was also so that no one could get in. "Besides, I hear no protestations, pet." She hadn't actually protested his words, just questioned him. Even if she had, he wouldn't have cared.

Junius idly rolled his shoulders once more, tilting his head slightly watching her gaze travel as she observed his gilded cage. His tongue flicked lightly against the upper lip at the front of his music, an almost bemused; tongue-in-cheek gesture, "Oh?" He questioned in reply to her comment. "What's going on in that wonderful little head of yours?" He'd give just about anything for his freedom, not that he had anything to give. He'd never had a moment of it since his birth on the damp, feces and urine smeared cage floor. At times his muscles and bones still ached from that year or so in confinement as his body grew, until the cage had made him feel as though he breathed death. Claustrophobia had griped him until madness had set in and washed in away.

Even now, it was only the sheer size of the enclosure that kept him at all near sanity.

[Noodle!]

<sub>She nodded appraisingly at his reply to her comment on tragedy. He was absolutely correct in the ways of irony. And what was this situation but dramatic irony? Nothing was to turn out well, it was inevitable. Disaster was sure to come, and foreshadowing was not needed. He reached for her chain, dragging her slowly closer. Her black studded collar started tugging at the back of her neck in a continuous and persistant way and she moved gently forwards. Keeping her defenses open, she seemed more at ease. This meeting had seemed less violent than before.

Dahlia's pride took a blow at the Doberman's words. Though he did not notice it, nor would he realize or care that his comments had done so. Who is there to contest me? He asked, and she scoffed to herself, No one. Even if the whole street of pets and strays were here he would have no contest. The male had not steered his words for his effect, but was a simple reaction. She was by no means desirable; mentally, physically, or emotionally. And she had not yet denied him, this was true, but neither had she accepted him.

She now looked towards the fence, nodding, As I take leave, I will attract a guard. Humans have the curiousity of a dead cat, and trust me one will come. You hide yourself, and control your urges to attack the man. She looked up at the height of the fence once more, she'd seen him nearly clear it flat footed before and she was sure the plan would work. The guard will hunch over, exposing his back, and you will use him as a leg up. And you're home free.

She laughed at the animated humor as she invisioned the act in her head, At least... That's how I hope it happens.</sub>

[»Rie]

He regarded her keenly for a long while after she had outlined her plan to him, his flat eyes simply staring right at her as he mulled the proposition over in his head. If her plan worked he'd owe her one, though he didn't say it; and he certainly didn't act like he acknowledged that fact. He did, however. He already liked her as much as a beast like him could like another dog. She was interesting, meeting him wit for wit; and not at all deterred by his vicious nature. He'd not met another dog like her. Given, he'd met very few dogs in his life time... All the same.

Giving his paw a deft jerk he released her trailing chain from his claws and pulled his leg back onto his side of the fence, his claws hissing as he dragged them over the metal before setting his paw on the dirt and hefting himself up. He gave his body a deft shake, then turned his head looking toward the manor house, "I will get their attention, if I make enough noise the a Man will come running." He glanced at her from the corner of one muddy brown eye, his jaws parted as he panted lightly; ears swiveling as he tracked the distant sound of voices from where the day guards were stationed.

Turning he began to tread off along the fence line as he went he called back, "The fence is slightly lower near the gate at the driveway." He stated flatly, jerking his head as though to motion toward said point. "Set yourself up, around there I'll bring the humans, then lay low."

He waited several minutes to give the shar-pei time to get into position before he left off a volley of booming barks, followed by his usual snarl, and thrumming growls. It wouldn't be long before the humans came to investigate; as that tone certainly wasn't the same he used for other dogs, nor for the annoying neighborhood children. Though, by the time one came Junius wouldn't be in sight.

[Noodle!]

<sub>She nodded to him, lingering a glance before standing and making her way towards the fence. The doberman disappeared into the shrubbery, leaving her with a vital bit of information about the gate. She trotted to it, not paying attention to the details of the world. Everything was grey, and the only thing that mattered was the bit of chain and the fence. She took a large paw and pushed the very end of her chain, the only bit still shining and not covered in rust, and placed in just in front of the fence's bars. She then moved herself, gently as to not disturb the chain's delicated position, and lay herself down in an inconspicuous position.

Almost immediately, a series of barks, snarls, and growls erupted from inside. The sounds where familiar to her, and she knew soon the humans could come. She prepared her haunches for launch, when the human reached down she would jerk the chain away, perhaps giving Junius more time if needed.

It would take some dexterity, and she could only hope he had it.</sub>

[»Rie]

"Christ, what's that beast trying to kill now?" One of the men yelped craning his neck and trying to see the massive doberman their boss had running around. "It's coming from down near the front gates, you'd better go have a look."

The other man gave him a 'You're kidding, right?' look, but eventually sighed and nodded, heading toward the place where the barking had been coming from. He didn't even notice when he walked right passed the doberman who was crouching among the rhododendrons. By the time the man reached the fence he was looking rather nervous, and kept wiping his palms on his pants. After all, it wasn't like that bastard of a dog to go so quiet. He reached the fence and glanced around, seeing no sign of the doberman; his anxiety increased tenfold. It was then that he spotted it: A chain, "What the...?" Moving over to the fence he leaned over, reaching for the bit of metal; it certainly didn't belong there.

Humans really were foolish creatures, Junius thought. Swallowing a belly full of snarls as the Man paced by him. He'd fight all his need to rip him to pieces just to get out of here: A means to an end. So far the shar-pei's little plot was working; what a wonderfully devious creature she was. He couldn't help but wonder if things might have turned out differently if there'd been someone like her at the place he was born. Shaking off the thought as the man leaned down, to examine Dahlia's chain just as she'd said he would; the doberman jumped up and straight into motion. Powerful legs propelling him at top speed toward the human, faintly he heard the shout of the other human: He'd obviously spotted Junius and was trying to warn his companion.

His nostrils filled with the scent of human fear, making his emotions fly even higher: The prospect of freedom, and their fear! What a wonderful combination. His lips drew back in a grim smile, and he pushed off the ground forcefully, slamming into the stiffening spine of the guard, pausing for a millisecond before propelling himself further upward. He hit the top bar of the large fence, balancing for a second or two; front paws between back, the fence vibrating from the dual shock of the massive dog atop it, and the human being smashed face first into it. Then, he was soaring off it, body uncurling as his front legs stretched out before him to absorb the shock as he hit pavement with a thud of large paws; his hind legs immediately coming down to even out his balance.

Standing there; free for the first time in his life he turned his head to gaze back at the female who had aided him and curled his lips back in a feral smile before leaping into motion and darting off down the road to the chorus of shouts from the guards, his dark laughter thrumming in his chest. He'd need to lay low for short while, otherwise they'd drag him right back... But when he had the chance... He glanced back to catch another look of his Black Dahlia.

He'd be the one doing the 'visiting' the next time.

[Noodle!]

<sub>The plan was set into motion as soon as the two humans heard the sounds of the Doberman barking. Dahlia could not physically see what was happening inside the enclosure, so she closed her eyes and allowed her other senses to play it out for her. She could hear human voices, and then the crunching of gravel underfoot, grasses giving way to hard shoes, and then the light clatter as the human reached for her chain. She felt the gentle vibration as the man physically touched it and she remained still. A wave of fear’s scent reached her nostrils and she snorted to avoid spiraling into a frenzy. There was another yell, a gasp, and a series of clangs and clatters. She heard claws land on pavement and she spun around.

At the swift movement of her repositioning, the chain snapped in a whip-like motion into the sides of the metal fence and she took in the sight as her eyes adjusted to being open. A guard clutched the bars with both hands, his face bleeding from making contact with the bars. And then she saw Junius. He was standing on the concrete in full view of her, and she now took note of his height advantage over her. He was panting, giving a look that one often gives to last a lifetime. And then he was gone. The look wasn’t just sentimental, it was literal. Like one carving the mental image of a friend who’s been laid to rest.

Her eyes narrowed and she snorted a growl.No thank you? No its been fun? She spun around to send a few barks at the humans behind the fence, jumping against the bars and growling. She snapped at their fingers as they tried to open the gate and chase after their boss’s valuable dog. At least she’d give that dastardly Doberman sometime to get away before these humans exited. She saw him disappear out of sight and lowered herself from the fence, walking away slowly. Dragging her chain down the path, her head was hung in a sign most comparable with defeat. For once, perhaps, Dahlia felt that she was put at the butt of her own joke. The chain made gentle scrapes down the stone path, and the dog whimpered lightly as she contemplated her reasoning for expecting gratitude. She growled again, deep in her throat, raising her head back to its normal stance and pranced down the sidewalk like a proud gladiator.

She had no idea.</sub>