|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 20, 2024 21:50:43 GMT -6
Markus smiled slightly as he watched Bucky but turned his attention back to Gwen at her question. "No, I...found him in a ditch," he said with a slight grimace as he thought back to that day. "I got a flat tire on my truck and had to pull over to swap it out with my spare. I was just getting started when I heard barking and followed the sound over to a ditch where this...thing, he seriously looked like a ball of mud, barking from underneath some stacked up pieces of wood. I couldn't leave him there so I turned my jacket inside out and grabbed him with it and put him in my truck while I changed the tire. When I was done I got him to the vet but he didn't have a microchip and I put up flyers and stuff but no one came to get him. He was a pain in the butt but he'd grown on me so I decided to keep him."
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 20, 2024 22:18:33 GMT -6
Gwen gasped softly, “Do you think he was abandoned?” The thought of someone just leaving behind a puppy made her heart ache. “How lucky for him that you got a flat tire in the right place.” It felt like one of those stories to prove fate was real. “How lucky for you to have found such a dog.” She chuckled, thinking it was amazing someone didn’t try and sell him first before dumping.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 20, 2024 22:48:13 GMT -6
"I think so, there's no reason for him to be out there like he was." Markus said with a small frown, not understanding how someone could just throw an animal away like that but he was glad that he had been able to find Bucky before it was too late. "I'm just glad I was there." He said, voice softening a little, not wanting to think about what could have happen if he hadn't been there.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 21, 2024 13:06:44 GMT -6
Gwen shook her head, wondering if people understood that dogs were a big commitment, something she hoped Lottie would understand. “Maybe I’ll be lucky enough to find a dog like that, despite how sad it is.” At least she might get lucky at the shelter too, she could only hope. “So besides wrangling a wild beast named Bucky, what else do you do in this town?” She wondered if he’d been to the zoo or the aquarium, and she found it strange she wanted to invite him along with her and Lottie.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 21, 2024 20:24:06 GMT -6
"I'm sure you will, it just might take some time." Markus replied. He hadn't been looking for a dog when Bucky popped into his life but the second he saw that dog he knew he was going to keep him, that they were meant to be a little family. He chuckled at her calling Bucky a beast, he could definitely be a feisty ankle biter. "Well in the next town over there's a zoo and aquarium and a museum," he explained, "but in this town there's different places for hiking and fishing, so I guess it just depends on what you want to do."
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 21, 2024 21:01:43 GMT -6
“Haven’t taken Lottie on a hike, I don’t know if she’d enjoy it or not,” Gwen thought she might like it for a few minutes, but then she could grow tired and cranky about walking. “Have you been to the zoo or the aquarium?” she hadn’t been able to venture very far, with unpacking and getting Lottie into school. “Been meaning to take her there.” Maybe this coming weekend she would.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 21, 2024 21:37:15 GMT -6
"You could always try a short one," Markus offered, knowing of a trail that bordered the lake that might be a good practice area. "I haven't been to either," he replied, "but it would probably be fun to check out, I can't get my niece and nephew to go, they're too cool to hang out with their uncle." He joked.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 22, 2024 17:56:17 GMT -6
Gwen chuckled, thinking back to when she was a teenager, and while she remembered going off and partying, thinking adults were evil, she would have liked to have gone if it was offered. “Well, they won’t know what they are missing till it’s too late.” She sighed sadly, knowing Lottie might end up the same way as a teenager. “So, you haven’t gone to either the zoo or the aquarium?” she asked, wondering if it was odd to ask if he wanted to join them.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 22, 2024 19:25:51 GMT -6
Markus chuckled a little, he hoped that wasn't the case but as they say: you can't lead a horse to water and make them drink. "I haven't gone to either," he answered, he had thought about going but it seemed lame to go by himself.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 22, 2024 20:00:29 GMT -6
Gwen let herself think, watching Lottie and Bucky, turning to look at Markus and finding herself growing warm despite the chill. “I plan to take Lottie to the Zoo or Aquarium this weekend, if you’d like to come.” She didn’t want to pressure him into agreeing, but she hoped the warm feeling she felt from under his gaze meant good things. It was different from the feelings she normally got from guys.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 22, 2024 20:48:23 GMT -6
Markus was surprised by her offer, looking back at Gwen and sure that his emotions shown on his face but something inside of him warmed at her offer. "Really? I don't think I'll be able to bring Bucky, I'm sure he's the real reason you're asking." He joked.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 22, 2024 21:14:47 GMT -6
Gwen laughed, “Yup, Bucky’s the reason, so you better sneak him in,” she teased, feeling her cheeks flush a little, though she wasn’t sure why. “I’m sure we can do without Bucky, it’ll still be fun.” She offered again, wondering if she should offer to buy him coffee to sweeten the deal.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 22, 2024 23:44:42 GMT -6
Markus laughed, the sound rumbling from deep in his chest, "I knew it, that's the only reason anyone wants to be my friend." He joked but his eyes lit up when she offered again for him to come. "Well...I wouldn't mind tagging along if you really mean it."
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 23, 2024 12:49:56 GMT -6
“It’s hard to ignore the charm and cuteness of Bucky,” Gwen chuckled, though she could say the same about Markus. She found him attractive, funny, and very charming. She felt her face flush again when she thought about him, “I really mean it, again, if you want to tag along.” She didn’t want him to feel like he had to, but she thought at least, they were becoming friends.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 23, 2024 20:43:44 GMT -6
Markus chuckled, "you should see him when I can't get him to the groomers, you might say otherwise." He joked, giving her a smile. "I think it would be fun, gives me an excuse to use the fancy camera I bought from a pawn shop when I thought I would actually use it." He continued to joke, the camera sitting unused in a bag in the back of his closet.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 23, 2024 21:23:40 GMT -6
“He must be just a fluff ball of energy then,” Gwen could easily see it, since he would always be a fur ball, just maybe worse if he didn’t get groomed. “Are you an aspiring photographer?” She teased, knowing the feeling of wanting to pick up something new or start a new hobby and not being able to actually get into it.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 23, 2024 22:22:10 GMT -6
"Oh yeah." Markus chuckled, dreading the inevitable day that Bucky would get old enough where his energy would be little to nonexistent. He laughed at her joke, shaking his head, "maybe at one point I thought I could make it into a hobby." He chuckled, "turns out I it takes a lot of work to make pictures look nice."
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 24, 2024 18:28:41 GMT -6
Gwen laughed, “I feel like that’s how it is with a lot of hobbies, they can’t just have an easy hobby you can just pick up,” She had tried knitting, crocheting, sewing, cross stitching, it all took work and sometimes hurt her hand. It wasn’t worth it, even if she envisioned having cute outfits for Lottie.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 24, 2024 18:50:23 GMT -6
Markus laughed, "me too, I just want to be instantly good at stuff." He joked, knowing anything well deserved meant working hard.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 24, 2024 20:48:26 GMT -6
“If only it was that easy, download an update like a computer.” Gwen wished she could easily upload new skills with a USB or a CD in seconds, but that would probably make life too easy. She opened her mouth to say more when her alarm went off. “Ah, time to head home.” She sighed, knowing Lottie might through a hissy fit, cry, and make it difficult. “So, next Saturday?” She wanted to confirm that was still happening.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 24, 2024 22:20:14 GMT -6
"No kidding." Markus laughed, "but then where's the fun and frustration in that?" He joked, finishing off his coffee when her alarm went off. There was a glimmer of disappointment when she said she had to go but he tried not to show it on his face. "Yeah, Saturday, what time should I meet you there?" He asked.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 25, 2024 18:12:25 GMT -6
“Yeah, around ten?” Gwen hoped that wasn’t too early, knowing she would be sleeping in till noon if she could, though mostly because she was tired with having a kid running around nonstop. She then thought about how Lottie wanted to dress herself and how long that took, and worried they’d be late, leaving him standing there unknowingly, “Oh, um. Gonna sound weird, but can I have your number? Incase we are late.” It was the truth, but she felt her face flush a little, seeing as this was the first time she’d asked a guy for their number, ever.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 25, 2024 18:44:41 GMT -6
"10 will be fine." Markus smiled, he was usually up before then anyway thanks to years of being up early for farm work. Even when he was out screwing around he could hardly sleep in. "Oh yeah," he took out his phone and held it out to her, "makes sense."
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 25, 2024 19:38:06 GMT -6
Gwen was glad that wasn’t too early and pulled out her phone, handing it over to him after she unlocked it. “I just know she’ll want to try several outfits before picking the perfect one.” She rolled her eyes, but she was smiling big, knowing she might spend a little extra time picking something out, although there was a chance, he might not want anything but friendship.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 25, 2024 20:03:39 GMT -6
Markus chuckled and took her phone, "tell me what color she's wearing and I'll coordinate." He joked and entered in his phone number, saving it then handed her phone back.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 25, 2024 20:34:46 GMT -6
Gwen laughed, “You don’t have to do that, but she mostly wears pink.” Though Lottie started to show interest in purple and green more, so she wondered if she was about to change her favorite color. She took her phone back as she handed back his, “Alright, well. Saturday at ten. Text if you’re running late.” She hoped she wouldn’t but with Lottie, she never knew.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 25, 2024 22:38:57 GMT -6
Markus chuckled, "well I don't have anything pink unfortunately, but I'll try not to clash." He joked and nodded to their plans. "I'll make sure to remember." He offered her a smile before turning to face the park, spotting Bucky with the kids and whistled. The Pomeranian stopped what he was doing, head snapping to Markus then took off running towards him.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 26, 2024 20:04:10 GMT -6
“Don’t worry about it,” Gwen couldn’t stop the smile from reaching her eyes, though turned to watch Bucky and then Lottie come running around the jungle gym, a giant smile on her face. Gwen couldn’t help but straighten, feeling happy that she was smiling, made her feel a little better about uprooting her and moving.
“Are you leaving?” she asked Markus, picking up Bucky before he could reach him.
Gwen frowned, “Lottie, put Bucky down. We have to head out to the store for your new bike remember?” She had been excited when she heard that it had arrived and when she told Lottie she had wanted to wait outside the store till it opened. Gwen dragged her to the park after five minutes.
Lottie’s eyes went wide, and she carefully placed Bucky on the ground before running to Gwen. “LET’S GO!”
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Bri on Jan 27, 2024 1:16:13 GMT -6
Markus smiled back, feeling excited at the prospect of seeing Gwen and her daughter again. He looked at Lottie when she asked about Bucky, unable to stop himself from chuckling at how attached she seemed to be with Bucky and judging by the big smile on the dogs face he seemed just as smitten. "Yeah, we should probably get going, I promise my brother to help him out today." He said. At the mention of a bike and seeing Lottie's reaction he smiled again, "a bike? That's awesome! It'll be fun to ride around." He reached down and clipped Bucky back to his leash.
|
|
|
|
|
Post by Kiersten on Jan 27, 2024 11:34:54 GMT -6
Gwen took Lottie’s hand as Markus clipped Bucky with his leash, “She’s been excited about a bike since her last one was run over by our old neighbors.” She gave Lottie a knowing smile, knowing she had left her bike in the road and their neighbor left for work early in the morning, and hadn’t seen it in the dark. “So, with this new bike we won’t be doing what?” she asked her daughter, raising an eyebrow as she tried to keep her smile from growing.
Lottie sighed in defeat, “I promise to not leave my bike in the road again.” She looked sad, but her smile grew, because of course she was getting a new bike.
Gwen chuckled and turned back to Markus. “We’ll see you later.” She said, partially knowing they would, and hoping they’ll be more moments. She was beginning to really like him. She turned towards downtown, ready to get Lottie her new bike and get her riding on the nearby trails, but that didn’t stop her from looking over her shoulder to catch one last glimpse.
|
|
|
