chippedsoul | The Journal [Inbox]

I should just put bells on them.

[Like they're cats, but honestly, it's not a terrible idea. They come and go as they please, so it would at least warn others of their presence, and in the event they ever get lost, they'd be able to listen for them. The town isn't big, and they never roam far.]

I suspect Aerona would just as easily slip out of any collar or leash, though. She's a slippery girl, that one.

[Case in point.

However, the mention of the name provokes a distant bark coming from further down the path, and likely around some corners, and Tifa perks up as if she were a dog herself.]

You hear that?

That's an idea. [Secondary approval given. He comes to a halt when the barking gets his attention.]

...Yes. [He glances over to her, remembering something she said earlier about Aerona possibly running if she saw her.] Should I try to find and approach her first?

[Tifa tips her head, and there's a small, drawn-out noise from the back of her throat.]

Actually... that's an idea.

[As much as it pains her to admit it, she's lost this battle with Aerona, and it might be best if she saw a friendlier, if not a bit unfamiliar, face. It wouldn't matter much—the dog is eager to make friends and show off her collection of things, it would seem.]

I'll stay back and out of sight... See if you can pick her up?

[There's another bark, louder this time, and the sound of paws tippy tapping against the dirt.]

[A nod.] I'll try not to be long. [Would he do for a dog treat right now to try and entice the dog with. But it's just him and the dog, let's hope she likes him.

He walks further ahead on the path, not rushing to avoid startling the dog. The tippy tappy of paws start to slow as he comes around the corner. Hoo boy, she's going to need a bath after this. There were roots showing where the dog had dug, along with some ruined flowers. No wonder this maze is pissed.] Hey... [Once he's gotten the dog's attention, he stops where he stands, kneeling down to be closer to the dog's level. Will she come or think this was a game is the question.]

[Tifa is right around the corner, resisting the urge to peek around to check and see that he's found her, but when she hears his greeting, she breathes out a small, very quiet sigh of relief.

Aerona is there, staring at him over her shoulder from where she had been digging and burying the flowers, as if she's just been caught red-handed, but her tongue comes out, and her tail starts to sway from side to side at him. Soon enough, she turns around and sits on top of her hole and stares back at him... as if waiting to see what he'll do next.]

[Kazuma is honestly concern the maze might try something than what the dog will do. He watches Aerona look at him and then just plop herself onto of her hole. Admittedly, that got a chuckle out of him.]

All tired out? [He scooches forward a little.] Want me to come over to you?

[Her bum wiggles across the ground, as if she's trying to hide the hole that she's dug, but besides that, her eyes never once leave him. She even gives him the famous puppy-eyed stare that has Tifa cursing at under her breath from around the corner...

But when she accidentally makes eye contact with Aerona and the dog barks at her, there's a rustle from behind Kazuma as she hides.

That would be a... yes??? To his question?]

Hm? [He could hear movement behind him and puts together why Aerona was suddenly barking.]

It's all right. [He'll stand and put some space between himself and Tifa. Now he was just a feet away from her.] I promise she won't come over here. It's just me and you.

[Was she trying to hide her mess or was there something inside said hole?]

[It's almost enlightening how calm Aerona is with him. She's sure that the dog could sniff Tifa out from miles away so she knows she's there, but... what in the world is she trying to accomplish with Kazuma?

Aerona's bum wiggles on the ground as her tail flaps even more violently, but she seems to be interested in what he has to say... So interested that she rises up from sitting and takes a step or two forward with a tiny little boof, revealing the very deep hole that she's been trying to cover up. If he takes a look inside the hole, he'll find some flowers, as well as a couple of small knick knacks, and a little stuffed toy that she likely snatched from the prizes at one of the game booths.]

[Before he turns his attention to what's in the hole. He wants to be sure Aerona will let him pet her, at least not actually try to run away. Once he's sure, he'll check the contents of the hole, eyebrows raised.]

You've been busy. [The flowers are one thing, but where did she find all this other stuff? He reaches in to the take the stuffed toy, giving a glance between Aerona and where Tifa is. Surely, it's safe for her to come out, now that Aerona has presented her stash.]

[Tifa is peeking around the corner again, and Aerona's eyes have already looked past Kazuma to her, and there's a mighty bark, as if signalling that the dog both knows that she's there and that she's allowing Tifa to approach... the bratty princess. But she's immediately looking up at Kazuma for his approval and for more head pats because look at her stash! Isn't she the greatest hunter in all of Reverein?

Tifa is careful in her approach, inching along the hedges so as not to spook Aerona away with the stern glare she's fixing her with, but when she gets a look at what's inside the hole, she can't help herself—]

Aerona! Did you steal that?

[Aerona whines. Kazuma??? New friend?? Help????]

[Rewarding a dog for the wrong habits is probably not the best plan, but Kazuma is only giving Aerona headpats to ensure she won't just run away again. He's still holding onto her when Tifa speaks up in her scolding motherly way.]

When did she have a chance to do that? [Did she leave the maze and come back to bury all this? In that short span of time? He doesn't doubt Aerona probably is a mischievous dog, but right now, yelling at her probably won't help keep her from running.]

I don't know.

[It comes out as a sigh of defeat, because this dog makes it so very hard for Tifa to stay mad about it.]

She's gone off on her own a few times now before she ran off on me, so she might've found this spot and kept coming back to it.

[And then it became the burial site for all of these poor flowers and that stuffed toy. Tifa can hardly stifle the snort of laughter at the image that it conjures up—]

Either she stole that toy or she went up, asked nicely, and got it for free.

[He quietly listens to their surroundings. Besides the occasional frustrated noise of a patron finding yet another dead end, he hasn't heard anyone raving about a dog having stolen something of theirs, but who knows. He gives Aerona a questioning look, her expression remaining that cute happy pupper with her tongue sticking out.]

Heh. With a face like this, who could resist? Although... [He looks to her and then to the digging site.] She really wanted to show me this, despite knowing she'd probably get into trouble. Maybe she was gathering all this for someone.

[Aerona barks, as if confirming Kazuma's theory, and steps aside to show off her collection even more.]

For you, if I didn't know any better.

[Which would have been a sweet gesture if she didn't know that it was probably for her and Eustace. As nice as it is that she tried, some poor game attendant is wondering why a corgi had just leapt in and stole one of the prizes.]

You think the guy at the game booth'll want that toy back?

Really? But I only just met Aerona. [At least take him out to dinner. He glances down at the poor stuffed toy covered in dirt.]

I wouldn't. She worked hard to take this from them. Especially when they make those games difficult to even win something. [With a huff. He seems to speak from experience?] I'm sure they not concern about missing one toy.

[Tifa nods knowingly at his comment. Those games are never easy to win, but she's managed to somehow get lucky with... most of them. Maybe the trick all along is to just have the dogs go up and ask nicely...

At the mention of the toy, Aerona digs her nose into the hole and picks it out. It's a small bear with a top hat covered in dirt and looking a bit worse for wear, but she drops it right at Kazuma's feet and barks at him.]

Oh? Maybe it really is for you.

[He blinks, watching the dog's insistence to give him the toy. He comes forward to pick up said toy, Aerona's bum wiggling excitedly.]

You sure, huh...? Well, thank you. [May be covered in dirt and dog slobber, but he appreciates the gift. She gets a few headpats.] Satisfied now? No more running off then?

[Aerona barks again, her tail waggling so uncontrollably that her back legs are almost lifting off the ground, and so Tifa wanders over and picks her up to help with that. Meanwhile, she's already trying to plant some wet kisses on Kazuma's face for accepting her gift.]

That sounds like a yes to me. Going to take her home so she can rest for a while.

[And not cause any trouble.]

[Tifa lifts one of Aerona's paws and waves it at Kazuma.]

Say thank you to the nice man for helping me find you!

[Oh god, dog slobber! He's helpless to stop her attempts as he laughs it off.]

Glad I was able to help you find her. [Who knows how much more trouble she would have dug herself into. He gives Aerona a few headpats.] Will you be able to find your way out? [He still needs to locate Susato in this maze.]

[Aerona obediently barks at Kazuma.]

I think so. I'll have her sniff our way out of here if I have to. She'll do anything if there's the promise of a treat at the end of it.

[Tifa is next to give Aerona a scratch behind her ears. For all the trouble she can cause in a single afternoon, she's still a sweet girl.]

Might stay behind and patch up that hole a bit. I don't wanna have to fight my way out the rest of the way, but don't let me keep you. We'll be good from here.

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