OPEN LOG;

[stressbaking]

WHO: Ned, Digby and YOU
WHERE: Roaming the streets.
WHEN: June the 22nd, early to midday.
WARNINGS: extreme cuteness
SUMMARY: Ned is looking for the perfect place to open his new pie shop. Also to live.
FORMAT: prose but if you commentspam I'll follow along.

Comments

[xuffasch]

Damian is out for a walk when he encounters Digby, stepping back from the dog and looking down at him with a decidedly belligerent expression. When he spots Ned, he gives him a scathing look.

"As you should be." His tone is nothing short of disdainful, and he lets out a scoffing sigh. "At least you can control the beast." His manner was haughty, but Damian was looking down at the dog as though he'd like to pet him--an inclination he would stringently deny if it was remarked upon.

[stressbaking]

The tone immediately sends Ned into acid reflux territory, making a grab for Digby's leash. "I should be, and I am. Sorry." A beat as he tries to calm the racing of his own heart. "But Digby's no beast. He was only looking for a little attention."

Digby, having not nearly as much shame as Ned, turns his wide eyes up at Damian, all but begging for a pet.

[xuffasch]

Damian seems a bit mollified by how apologetic Ned is, but he isn't about to admit that. Instead, he looks skeptically down at Digby and then just rolls his eyes.

"Of course he is; look at him." He's about to add something about the sense of having him leashed, but given the past week's experiences with animals in the city, he refrains.

[stressbaking]

He tightens his fingers around the leash, his gulp nearly audible. "I assure you, he's harmless."

[xuffasch]

Damian notices that, because he's basically a stalker trained to read body language. So he just shrugs and lets out a huff. "Tt. Of course. But you have to say things like that. He's yours, isn't he?"

[stressbaking]

Thinking that over for a minute, he fumbles for a suitable answer. He doesn't want to sound argumentative but this man is, in short, acting like a jerk. And Ned doesn't exactly know what to do about it.

"I prefer to think of Digby as his own dog. He's quite old enough to make his own decisions." It was a silly thing to say, he knows, but Ned still feels the need to be defiant, even if it is in such a silly way.

[xuffasch]

That wasn't quite the answer that Damian was expecting, but after a moment he decides that he likes it. He lets out a huffy sort of laugh that is half amusement and half derision, but the real display of his approval is when he reaches down to pet Digby very lightly on the head.

"Well, he does seem more intelligent than most people."

[stressbaking]

Ned smiles, satisfied with himself for the reaction, letting up on Digby's leash a little so he can go to Damian's side more easily. "That's because he probably is."

[xuffasch]

Damian nods thoughtfully, still petting Digby. He likes animals a lot more than he likes people. After a moment he looks quizzically back at Ned. "What did you say his name was?" Because acquiring the dog's identity is more important that introducing yourself to the person in front of you, clearly.

[stressbaking]

Now that Damian is petting Digby, there isn't much he can do to offend Ned. Not that Ned was so much offended as he was confused and overly apologetic. With a soft smile, he repeats the dog's name. "Digby."

[xuffasch]

He nods again, and when he speaks it's directed at Ned, though he's still looking down at Digby. "So, what is it exactly that you're doing out here?"

[stressbaking]

"We're looking for a place to open a pie shop. Or maybe the term is 'reopen' being I already have one back home."

[xuffasch]

"You're a baker?" This...actually gets Damian's attention enough that he turns and faces Ned. In another moment, he's pulled out his phone and brought up a list. "There are three complexes in this area that have vacancies. One is next to a grocery store, one a dental office, and one a series of stores. Of the three, the best real estate is the latest. If you are willing to widen your search to a ten mile radius, there's more."

[stressbaking]

"Yes, but a pie maker by trade." He shudders to think of baking a cake, though he would and had done when the time arose. Then he's blinking as Damian listed it out for him so precisely. The order appeals to him, but he doesn't now the city well enough yet to follow his example. "Really? I'm willing to set up anywhere in the city, preferably on a corner."

[xuffasch]

Tap, tap, tap. He types something into the phone, and two minutes later he holds it up so Ned can see. There's a list of three city blocks with open corner stores, and even little maps. How cute.

[stressbaking]

Permission shines in his eyes before he takes the phone, studying the maps carefully and looking up to see where they are now. Tentatively, he hands the phone back to Damian, hoping he knows what he just looked at.

"Thank you, that should prove to be quite helpful." He tilts his head, wondering how an unpleasant start had ended up like this. He's hardly complaining. "I'm Ned."