Smile when your Heart is Breaking and even though your aching.

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

 Under a shady tree not far from some spot between one of the Cafe's and a announcement, or pin/cork board a black German Sheppard is nudging a pretty descent size cardboard/shipping like box into place. There's a quilt mostly covering the top, The smell of cheese crumpets and some other baked goods waft up from inside. There's a medium size dry erase board and marker hanging from a tack outside. With the question, 'What do you do when your feeling down?, In the Dumps or Melancholy? ' She checks to  make sure it's secure before hoping inside. An ear twitching or eye mite be visible now and again. But mostly she'd curled up feeling emotionally and physically drained, her head pillowed on a lovely blue scarf. She lovingly rubs her check against the soft cashmere. 

Which was on of the last gift's she'd gotten from a dear friend and heart brother and a well loved home made plush mouse, in a deerstalker and tweed outfit. She gently gums at an ear perhaps out of habit or thought between  Half heartedly trying to nibble on a snack, and laying a bit listless. Half hoping..she mind see a friendly face or two while the other half doubted anyone would be bothered or care to notice. A part of her trying to hold onto hope another part felt like she was running on fumes. A person could only take so much heartache let alone doing one's best and failing for the most part over and over again. 

Comments

[silverseamariner]

skekSa knows what a dog is from her reading about the Earth and from talking to its people. Judging from the note on the board, either somebody left it there or the dog wrote the message. Or the dog's a person in disguise. It wouldn't be the strangest thing she's seen in this place.

This spring's been relatively upbeat so far, and skekSa hasn't heard of anything bad that's happened lately. Spring is a time of healing, rebirth, and recovery. It makes sense that not everybody would be happy, though. Death and decay are always there to accompany new life.

"I tend to keep to myself when I'm upset," she tells the dog, taking the chance that she'll be understood. "In my quarters. I have an image to maintain as a leader, not that it's easy. When you're as old as I am, loss is inevitable, I'm afraid."

Gelflings live longer than humans, and Gelflings' lifespans are short compared to Skeksis. The Mariner's well aware that she'll outlive any human friends she makes here, as she outlived so many Sifan maudras, but she has as many mortal friends and allies here as immortals.

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

The furry ears perk up slightly first followed slowly but a furry head, blinking up at her semi cutely but eyes still a bit watery and tired soft. Though She leans it against the side of the box to listen. She blinks a few times and tilts her head to the right in curiosity.

Shifters like herself oft can regress a little or act more like there wilder counterparts in times of high stress and emotion. "Pretty Bird." Aal softly mimics the tone of a parrot in compliment back at her and despite the 'old' bit. She's sure the nice creature was still Young at Heart. Though she also nods a little in understanding. Duty and responsibility she knows very well. It was..is one of the few things that could sometimes keep her going but also her charges etc. and those she'd taken under her wing or tried to, along with other things that some times wore on her.

She takes the pen carefully in her teeth to erase the question and writes another.'And what do you do when you fail a duty? Ma'am'

[silverseamariner]

The Mariner is young at heart, in the sense that she's aged much more gracefully than her Skeksis brethren in the Castle. She's stronger and more agile, too, and unlike most of them she does her own fighting.

skekSa reads over the new message that the strange dog wrote on the board.

"What kind of duty did you fail, lass? I won't tell a soul - I know we haven't spoken before. I am skekSa, the Skeksis Mariner, though I prefer to be called Captain." She figures there's definitely something unusual about this dog, since it definitely understands what she's saying. "If it's to do with death...death is always a hard thing to deal with, lass. Death isn't common in the Nexus, so I imagine people here don't have to deal with it much. There's not much violence. No one seems to get sick."

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

She blinks and tries to give her a small but friendly little smile. Though naturally, it doesn't meet her eyes as of yet. She sighs softly heart weary. She twitches her nose in thought. "H-heart brother." She murmurs. "Miss him." She lowers her eyes and it wasn't only his 'face twin' or twins she couldn't help or seem to connect to these days. She gently tugs the mouse plush up for her to see. "Squeaky." She softly informs as she pets the plushes deerstalker covered head.

She reaches for the pen again, 'I was a Healer back home my family are usually guides/teachers too. I lost my younger brother and folks many years ago..Well, I suppose a part of what I do is in their honor. ' She tries to begin to explain. Though well it felt complicated to her but some parts of things always felt universal to her.

She nods and then turns the erase board over, 'Till Last Winter Leastwise.' She wasn't sure if the Captain was here for that. She scents the air again. She didn't think so though.

[silverseamariner]

"Ah, yes, the winter. So those scalawags that the Doctor told me about killed people, did they?" skekSa isn't very impressed by what she knows about the Fallen. She's a pirate, like they are, but she likes to think she has some standards about who she targets and why. "I suppose nothing can be done now. It's better we're at peace with them. More or less."

She snorts. The Nexus probably hasn't heard the last of those bilge-rats, but she's willing to help if they cause trouble again. Until then, out of sight out of mind.

"So you're a healer. I study healing, too, with herbs native to my home world, Thra. It's a useful path to follow. The Nexus can always use people with those kinds of skills, just in case. Something bad is bound to happen again sometime. Any sailor worth their salt knows how quickly storms can come on you. It's good to be prepared."

[chiron_survivor]

Adia is stepping out of the nearby café, a cup of mocha coffee in her hand (more chocolate than coffee, as she needs the taste of chocolate more than the caffeine of coffee) when she spots the dry erase board hanging outside a large cardboard box.

Hmm. She hasn't seen a question posed in writing in a little while.

She picks up the marker and absently taps it against the side of her cup while she thinks over the question. Cuddle one of my pets, she writes. Spend time with someone I care about.

Whoever wrote the question, she hopes that they have one or the other.

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

At the familiar scent, Aal lift's up her canine currently formed head and sniffs she peeks one golden eye out the flap at the 'tap tap' and writing sounds. The very tip of her tail wags a little. There was someone she hadn't got to see in a while.

Her ears slightly wiggle, and she softly makes a cute, quiet canine, "Roo?" After waiting for her to finish writing. Though she raised her head a little over the side of the box laying it against one of the flaps.

Trying to slightly squint at what was written.

[chiron_survivor]

Adia blinks in surprise when the canine appears from within the box. "Oh! Hello, I didn't see you in there," she says, automatically smiling. She doesn't recognize her friend, only having seen a partial aspect of her transformation, but Adia is never one to assume that an animal in the Nexus is merely an animal.

It's still easier to talk to one than a human stranger, however. She turns the dry erase board around so that the dog(?) can get a better look at it. "Did you ask this question? If you're feeling down, I can keep you company."

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

Aal blinks a little but smiles softly..it was nice to give someone a pleasant surprise now and again. Least she tried to doesn't always turn out so well.."Roo." She murmurs warmly with a little happy pant. She blinks and then nods. She gently reaches out her muzzle to try and gently nudge the other woman's hand and then tilts her head to offer her tween ear space for pets..Not dissimilar from back during a certain party.

That is usually why she does so. She makes a half pleased bemused little hum and wiggles her ears pleased by the gesture. Adia was always very lovely. "Roo." She murmurs softly her eyes, ears, and shoulders sag low a little with a soft nod. True she sometimes got bouts of such..But this was probably one of the worse ones in a long while.

Her ears go up a moment after the offer. And makes a soft happy "woof." Her tail wagging a smidgen.

[hesperussword]

He had been out hunting for the morning and after dragging his prize home he walked off to look around. He loved his animal form, and until recently hadn't dared take them in the Nexus. That aside he was happy and prancing in his walk. Then he smelled it, another canine, but it wasn't one of his siblings.

Nose to the ground and snuffling he starts tracking the scent until he sees the box. His large bat eared head tilted with curiosity about what, or who, might be inside. The large black backed jackal with white wings splattered in red came over cautiously. At the size of a larger Shetland pony, He really didn't have to worry about what was inside.

First a black nose pops over the edge sniffing, then snout and big ears. Big black eyes peered down before he yipped, excited and happy to see it was indeed another canine but it looked sick, or sad.

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

Heartsick seemed like a good term for it to her.

An ear twitches up at the sound, she scents the air slightly mmh different..But then that wasn't unusual in and of itself hereabouts. Not to forget to mention she'd heard tale..about what was it..large..dogs or such near the Villa from a fast becoming fave 'guardian'. Perhaps if she got some energy or spunk up again. She'd like to see about being able to visit them again. Mayhaps they or Miss, Lady Pen? she mentally tried out the possible nickname. Might have some advice about such matters..Wouldn't hurt to try/ask.

Her ears go up, her fur goes up just out of instinct but also..well curiosity was both a canine and feline trait. She tries not to giggle to loud at the nose showing up kinda cutely. She wiggles her ears softly, "Roo." She murmurs softly back in as warm a greeting as she could muster at the moment and softly sniffs in the other..canines? direction. She blinks a few times..

It was a mite different then the sorts she'd met before though she was more used to perhaps seeing such either depicted least in parts in a lore or nature or history text etc. "Ello." She woofs softly. 'Can't say I've met a .." she tilts her head and hums softly. "are you a Jackal?" She asks warmly and curiously in canine. She was not gonna say an 'Anubis Dog' that might be insulting..but it's kinda what came to mind. Hieroglyphs and all such.

[hesperussword]

He disappears for a moment and then pops back up, soft paw coming over the side of the box to gently tap on her flank. This dog smelled and felt like a human and that had his curiosity.

"Hello!" The yip comes loud and smells a little of wine. His head bobs before leaning into the box farther to nose her. Enough of his body is showing now that she can see the wings. If he's a jackal, he certainly isn't a normal one. Mythologically, Set might be a better association but he was unlikely to mind Anubis either. Head cocked she gets a little play growl. "Human?"

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

She tilts her head, wondering if he's playing peekaboo for a moment. She makes a soft bemused sound tip of her tail wags. Even if she blinks at the paw for a moment. Before gently tapping the paw in a friendly manner. She'd shake if she could pop her thumb out but at the moment even the tiny bit of shifting was being, 'difficult.'

"Ello." She replies back, she blinks at that..but not unusual. She had a friend who was a vinter plus a few foxes she..kept an eye on now and again who had a liking for grapes..well more then she did sometimes. Though she did her best to only eat such when she was more human just to be safe. Though she was born in one form and learned the other.

"Mmmh, technically was born such aye..they call our kind Shifters back home.." She murmurs back she softly play grrs back gently nosing him back with a small smile. Her ears perk up and wiggle. "ooh pretty." She murmurs in complement. She murmurs at sight of his wing. Some did get born with features or able to change shape..others it was closer to puberty or after.

[making_sacrifices]

Princess Allura's never seen a dog before, and for that very reason, she's not surprised when the dog asks the question. The tree is a nice spot and she was planning to sit here, but now the creature caught her attention, as well as the attention of her mice, perched on Allura's shoulders.

"When I'm upset? I talk to my friends."

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

Aal's ears and then nose perk up a smidgen. Mices? Despite herself, a little smile creeps onto her canine face. "Aye?" She murmurs softly as she peeks up over the flap. "Good friends are important." She nods softly. Seeing as the young woman is hanging with wee fluffs makes her hope that doing such wouldn't startle her.

[making_sacrifices]

No, the princes isn't startled. One mouse, is, however, and hides in Allura's pocket. Allura seems to be listening to someone intently, the says,

"Eat you?! She wouldn't, silly."

Then, Allura turns back to the canine.

"Sorry about that. I'm certain you're not like that."

"And yes, friends. If you ever meet a young man in a Paladin armour like mine, and another young man who's an Altean, like I am... they're two of my close friends. This time, these two came to the Nexus with me, accidentally. Do you have any friends from your home reality here?"

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

She blinks her ears droop, feeling bad. Her ears go up in alarm, "No eats mouseies..groomy yes..I only bites baddies." She reassures..Or..ahem well love bites tween Mates was a whole another matter.

"Tis..alright." She treasures warmly..Not surprised really someone had that reaction. She pulls her plush up so they can see. "Basil, bestest of friends..Not..round here for a long time." She does her best to explain. Her eyes and ears droop. "Many face twins though." She informs softly. Some better than others. And she seems to always stick her foot in her mouth or trip up somehow.

"Ooh, I shall keep eyes out." She reassures and wiggles her ears. "Like armour..shiney and pretty." She murmurs in complement. Anything Knight like etc.always garnered her interest.

She blinks and listens intently. "Just Mate, he's getting food..Squeaky was from a neighboring..one..We all got.." She looks thoughtful and smooshed her paws together to illustrate. "Stuck together..came to find him.." She sniffles a little. "Lost his memory." She whispers low and hangs her head. "Not yet." She murmurs truth was they'd been trying to establish more of a safe spot or base.. But with some of the things happening..They'd been wary.

[thebluedevil]

While out on one of his runs, Sonic caught the whiff of freshly baked food. Intrigued, the teenager zipped to a stop next to the source: a large cardboard box with a dry erase board hanging on the outside. Frowning slightly as he spotted the question - he plucked the marker from where it hung so he could write out an answer on the board. Sonic was no stranger to melancholy or loneliness. He felt those emotions quite often though he did his best to keep them under wraps. He wondered who left the board. He bent forward, deciding on an answer.

'I run!' He printed carefully, adding a small happy face to his answer. He hung the marker back on the tack and then peeked curiously into the box, spotting both food and the dog. "Oh hi there!" He greeted cheerfully, holding out a hand. The only dog that he knew personally was Tom's dog Ozzie, so he was perhaps a little cautious as he tried to gauge what mood the German Shepard was in.

"Were you left here all alone?" Sonic wondered softly. "It will be okay. I know what that's like." His large ears drooped a little. "I know it can hurt." He added softer, though he perked up again, smiling. "I can keep you company. You don't have to be alone anymore! My name's Sonic." The dog seemed like a regular dog, like Ozzie was, so Sonic didn't expect the animal to answer or understand. But the speedster was used to spending long lonely hours talking to himself - and he still retained the habit even after moving in with Tom and Maddie.

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

Aal's fur goes up a little sensing..movement?..Yes. She scents the air and blinks upward. Ooh another fuzzy? A part of her thought the tip of her tail wags. "Roo roo." She murmurs back warmly in reply to the greeting.

Her ears twitches and peeks at his answer before gently noseing and turning it over for a moment to write, 'I waits.' on the other side. Before looking back at him almost expectedly.

She gently sniffs at the..She slightly squints..mmh Hedgyhog, yes she liked those. She tended to like most critters though..cept well snakes and such they're rarely nice and hurt peoples and other animals very bad.


She gently leans her head under the palm of his hand. Gently nudging in a 'would like pets please' sort of way. The box was a little high to shake in her position at the moment.

"Pack not here yet." She murmurs lowly. Thinking him a nice sort and trustworthy. She nods softly and then softly warmly, "Woofs." Her ears perking up slightly and wagging her tail. "Friends call me Ash." She murmurs back in introduction, and then paw paws at a spot near one of the pillows in the box. He looks like he could fit after all. Plus there's was room for a least a few other critters and the snacks. She used to love being able to make little like nooks and nests, and or blanket type forts back in the day and when she could now after all.

[thebluedevil]

At the nudges to his hand, Sonic smiled and leaned over the side of the box so that he could happily oblige by rubbing his gloved fingers into soft fur; stroking the top of the dog's head and rubbing around the ears. It was probably a touch that he'd probably enjoy himself, if he wasn't too shy to ask for it. He was impressed at the intelligent response on the board. Ozzie knew different tricks, but definitely nothing like that.

His fingers paused though, and his mouth opened slightly in awe as the dog spoke. Was she an alien like him? She wasn't humanoid in posture like he was, but wow! He saw the pawing at the pillow in the box. "Nice to meet you Ash! You want me to come in there with you?" He guessed. He wasn't that big and would fit easily enough.

For once, he moved slowly and carefully as he climbed over the side of the box and shifted to sit on the pillows next to Ash while not disturbing the food. "You got a nice little pillow fort here." He smiled, leaning against her warmth while being mindful of his quills. He resumed petting her fur gently in an idle motion, happy to offer the comfort of physical contact. "So your pack is coming for you? How long have you been waiting?"

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

She wiggles her ears and wags her tail with a happy squint. Yes, that was nice, she gently starts to lean toward the hedgehog in friendly affection. She wasn't the sort to just like lick people in either form. But she did give hugs and groomies if folks seemed inclined to like/accept them. "Sonic, nicey nice." She murmurs warmly. Firmly in doggy mindset at the moment.

She blinks and looks up at him, and gives him a little shy but warm smile. Various beings reacted differently to that. She tries to see if her paws had an extra digit yet..or..mmh not... She sighs softly. Emotions both could facilitate and make shifting tween them difficult. "And you Sonic, and mmh if ya like." She murmurs and then her tones soft and a wee bit shy. Not wishing to overstep but she liked the little guy she didn't want him uncomfortable.

She smiles softly when he does so. "aww thanks.. I thought it might help a little.." Plus she was semi in a nesting mood. She half-closed her eyes at that after a moment her tail wags a bit. "Mmh, well in the Nexus? a couple of years off and on." She informs him. "Found my Mate..Though..he's out hunting right now.." She informs him. "He a Goldie." She smiles softly certain Dor would like the little blue ball of cute.

[smartass_captain]

After so many years in the Nexus you'd think a guy would get an ingrained level of mistrust for New Things cropping up out of nowhere. And for the most part Jim has become a more careful man! Certain things, however, can get in a guy's blind spots.

Like animals.

Jim Kirk approaches the box carefully so as to not spook it's occupant. But he is looking to give this unfamiliar canine a headpat if he'll be allowed. Let no good boy or girl go sans attention. It's sacrilege.

"Someone left you out here to guard the post, huh?" At least they seem to be comfortable and well looked after. He'll squeak out a hastily written 'Snacks and drinks. Lots' onto the board before he crouches down to inspect the dog. "Hope there's something in it for you after a day of good work then."

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

Her ears perk up first then her nose starts sniffing. Well, the scent was familiar she slightly squints. But her head almost shoots up at the voice. Ooh, one of her fave Captains come for a visit? That was lovely that is. Her tail starts a waggy thumping. As she smiles and "roo.'s" softly in 'Ello.' Before leaning her head out slightly to gently nudge at the nearest hand warmly and friendly-like.

She eyes his reply and her ears wiggle a bit. She bends down to nudge the containers closer into the edge and light with a little, "Woof." there were some paper plates and napkins on top if he would like something. The cooler was more near the shaded corner to keep things additionally cool.

"Roo." She murmurs and tilts her head in a cute puppy-like manner. Some people brought it out in her than others. Like her beloved mate whom if Jim Jim sticks around long enough would get to pets as well. He oft went in the glamour of a Golden Retriever when they weren't in the wooded areas or somewhere/with someone they felt safe and could let their guard down so to speak.. Not everyone reacted well and such round wolves after all. And they didn't want to unduly scare etc anyone that didn't say deserving of it.

She took in a breath and then let it out..before murmuring as if going to try something but also racing. "N-Nest-Nest, waiting for pack." She informs him softly. And she was not above 'adopting' folks furred or otherwise into it. If they liked or she and Dor took a shine to them.

[smartass_captain]

Oh that voice is precious. Lookit the tail wags. The head bumps into his hand. Jim can't help the grin that spreads across his face. All the more so when he sees the canine offering him food.

"Oho. I see how it is. You're hoping I give you some of this huh." There's no sign anywhere saying not to, but Jim feels a bit conflicted all the same. Maybe if he took just a wee bit off one of the crumpets to share it'd be alright? He's going to scrounge one up with a napkin and take a seat next to the dog.

He freezes entirely when she speaks to him though. In human words. The dog talks? The dog talks. Which means the dog is probably sentient. And he's been treating it like a pet. Color rushes into Jim's face a moment though he tries to hide it by bringing his free hand up to cover it as best he can.

"....Oh man. You...really got me good, there."

[delphicbooksandbaubles]

Her tail wags a bit more cause, Jim Jim is nice yes. She wiggles her ears and tilts her head cutely but curious at him.

"roo." she murmurs and leans her head on the box edge twas very much up to him. She watches with a fond softening of her eyes.

She freezes and braces a bit, trying not to wince but she also had enough of her human-ish side near the front of her mind to feel bad if she did not answer him if she was able. "Roo? Jim Jim?" She murmurs softly half hopeful half apologetic. And tries to nudge his hand a little. Her eyes soft and owlish. "Not trick." She murmurs warmly and soft but firm. "no mean." she murmurs and rise to take the white board pen in her mouth to write, 'Price of magic.' Trying to express the best she can in this state. And reaches a gentle paw towards to try and pat him in comfort. She hate to be the cause of embarrassment to folks or something.