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[Oh, dear. Perhaps she should've put her wards up, but it's normally not an issue when she's walking around the city. These dogs are new to her, though, which is doubtless why they're greeting her so enthusiastically.]

Sorry. [Daine offers the woman a sheepish smile as she holds her hands out for the dogs to sniff.] Animals just take to me, sometimes.

It's alright. [Michelle says, checking her forward motion by applying the brakes on her rollerskates.]

There's just some big guys there and I didn't want 'em to scare you. [An English mastiff and a pair of harlequin Great Danes, four other dogs of assorted sizes, all on leads which Michelle is holding.] Sit guys, come on now, be nice. [The mastiff sits but still gives Daine's hand slobbery, inquisitive sniffs.]

[ Claire was not paying attention, as she was sending a couple of texts to one of her friends, and this of course is a bad thing to do while walking in the middle of a public street.

Still with her head buried in her phone, Claire continued to text away without knowing that a bunch of dogs and the girl walking them were headed here way. ]

[Michelle let out a high-pitched whistle, both to check the dogs and hopefully get the girl's attention.]

Honey, you gotta watch where you're goin'! [She said, twisting her lower half to halt the progress of her skates. All her weight came to a solid stop and some of the smaller dogs found themselves unexpectedly sitting as they sharply reached the ends of their leads and stumble.]

[ Now that had gotten Claire's attention, as she jerked her head up all thanks to the warning, and started to blush just a little bit. ] I'm really, really, really, sorry. [ She went to stuff her phone in her purse, and she walked over to apologize again. ] I hope you're okay, and I still don't know how to say sorry anymore than I already have.

Oh, I couldn't be scared of such fine dogs. [Daine grins and uses the hand not being occupied by the mastiff to dole out pats and ear scritches to the others.] You must be good with them, to handle so many at once. [If she sounds approving, it's because the dogs have already informed her that they like this two-legger, and Daine trusts their judgment.]

[Michelle offers her a smile, since she seems so terribly apologetic.]

Hey, it's okay! I just didn't want you to get run over. Got some big guys here and I didn't want 'em to knock you over. [She explains, an enormous English mastiff snuffling at Claire's purse curiously. She's got about a half dozen dogs of various sizes.]

Yup! [She grins.] I'm a dog walker, these are my regulars. [She explains, gesturing to the wagging pack.] Glad you're not scared of them. Gordie there's the biggest goddamn softie anyway. [She points to the mastiff.] But people tend to freak out a little when a dog that big comes running up.

The biggest ones usually are the nicest. [She ruffles the fur on Gordie's chest. It'd take more than a dog to scare her; honestly, she's not sure any animal can frighten her since the rabid bear. But she's not most two-leggers, and she gives an understanding nod.] It's a shame folk are frightened of them when they're so sweet.

[The dogs fly around him, and he is spun. A hand goes to a hat, holding onto it, the other keeps firm hand of his umbrella, leaning back onto it to prevent a fall.]

[The entire time, there's a rather large grin on his face]

Well! Quite the dog's life, isn't it?

[Which is when the last dog bumps into him, finally knocking him over. From the ground, with a rolled 'r':]

I stand corrected.

[The leader of the pack, a huge mastiff, bends down and proceeds promptly to offer slobbery kisses for the fallen man, before Michelle skates up and begins the process of making all the dogs sit and untangle all the leads]

I am so sorry, sir. Gotta watch where you're goin'! [She told him, transferring all the leads to one hand and offering the now-free one to help him up.] Nothin' broken, I hope?

[Gordie's jowls flop as he tries to lick Daine's chin. Michelle nods.]

Yeah, it is. Though he is a bit of a handful when he gets excited, as you can see. [She laughed sheepishly.]

[ Claire was anything but scared of the large dog, and she glanced down at the purse that her adopted mother had given to her as a gift and she grinned. ] I'm sure getting ran over by a bunch of dogs isn't the end of the world, and I would have came out of that just fine.

And, I think... [ She pointed a finger to the English mastiff that was sniffing her purse. ] I might have something in my purse for him.

[He laughs, pushing the dog's head away.]

I thought I was. I was looking up, you see. [He stands, with her help]

Oh, right as rain, right as rain. Quite the zoo you've got there. I've a treat somewhere. [A searching of pockets commences, then an entire bag is produced. From a pocket entirely too small to fit a whole bag.]

Good doggies want treats, eh?

Yeah sure, as long as I can take a look at it first. I mean, I don't think you're some kind of dog-poisoning creep or anything. He's not mine though and I gotta look out for my business. [She said, with a crooked smile.]

I'll have to take a look at them first. [She says, putting out her hand.] Sorry, I know nobody wants to be mistaken for a dog poisoner but I gotta check anyway.

[The whole pack promptly sat and put up all their ears.]

Trust me, my mom would kill me if I considered giving her dog anything but the best. [ Claire tried to move her handbag away from the mastiff, and she returned the smile. ] Oh, the name's Claire.

Come on, Gordie, don't be rude and drool on people's stuff. [She says, giving the big dog's leash a little tug so he stops fussing at Claire's purse.] Sorry about that. I'm Michelle. Nice to meet you, Claire. [She shifts her leads to one hand and offers the free one for a shake.]

[A slight look of being taken aback.]

Ah. Yes. That happens. Right. [He passes her the bag, muttering to himself] Not when I thought I was then, if that's a standing worry. Oh dear.

[In the meantime, he'll introduce himself to each of the dogs in turn, with a quiet pet on the head and a 'Hello, I'm the Doctor.']

[Daine laughs at the attempted chin lick.] Behave yourself, sir. [It's a playful request, not an order, but the dog still obeys - after scoring a sloppy lick up her wrist.]

That's the only downside to these pony-sized fellows; there's no stopping 'em once they get going.

[Daine straightens, though Gordie and the Great Danes are large enough that she can still pat them without crouching.] I'm Daine.

[ Claire reached for the offered hand, and she gave it a good strong shake. ] It's a pleasure to meet both you and Gordie along with the rest of your friends.

[The mastiff, of course, responds to the introduction by trying to drown him in slobber, tail thumping on the concrete. There are also two Great Danes on a double lead, a cairn terrier, and a mid-sized mutt with a splotch over his eye.]

Michelle examines the bag of treats, and then, finding them normal-looking/smelling enough she offers them back.]

Just don't give any to the little terrier there, he's got a bad stomach. [She explains.] And don't let Gordie take your hand off on accident. [She points to the mastiff.]

I'm Michelle. Nice to meet you. [She says.] And yeah, he's a bit of a juggernaut. Normally I'm plenty enough weight to hold him back but on skates and with double trouble over here, [She points to the Danes.] They can really get the whole pack going.

Edited 2013-07-09 04:24 (UTC)

[He nods, gravely, fishing into the bag.]

Right, he did say, yes. Poor devil. He'll be right as rain in a few days. I'll leave the bag, shall I?

[Does he speak dog? Oh yes. But that isn't obvious from outside. He just looks a bit mad. Each dog other than the little fellow gets a treat, and he offers her the bag]

There's that, then. What year is it?

[Well there's all sorts in the city and as long as he's the harmless kind of crazy she won't worry about it too much. She takes the bag of treats, rolling it up to stow safely away.]

Thank you. And it's 2013, to answer your question.