BACKDATED TO 6/26 CLOSED TO DAVIN

[callmeemily]

Packing up all of Oscar's toys, she tried again (unsuccessfully) to get him to go into his crate. He was barking at her heels with every step she took, staring up at her. He only took the time to sleep when she did, he tried to hop into her lap the best he could when she sat down, he tried to jump into the tub while she showered-- it was making Raleigh insane, and that's what'd sparked the twitter post.

Also, this had been going on for weeks, at this point. Weeks, of Raleigh trying to do the right thing, to figure out what's wrong, until she gave up. She just gave up, and that's why when someone knocked on her door, she immediately pulled it open, Oscar's bark finally fading from where it had certainly been audible for some time.

He moved away from her for the first time since she'd left the house, staring at Davin with his head cocked then looking back at Raleigh, almost like he wanted to lead him like Lassie to the well. Something's wrong, and the corgi knows it even if Raleigh doesn't believe it.

Comments

[davin]

Davin is glad that he saw Raleigh's tweet before she did something drastic. Joel, Davin, and others are working on a solution to whatever is going on with Raleigh, but he isn't going to tell her that, not yet. It wouldn't go over well, he's sure.

For now, he'll just take Oscar until this is all over. He likes the dog, and the dog likes him. He's always wanted one, and this will be fun. He can have a dog for a little while, and when they fix Raleigh, because they will, she'll want him back.

"What's up, pup?" Davin bends down to pet Oscar's head, biting back a sigh when the dog keeps barking and looking at Raleigh in alarm. "It's okay, Oscar."

He scoops up the dog in his arms and holds him on his back like a baby, rubbing his belly and looking at Raleigh with a tired smile. "Hey."

[callmeemily]

"I don't know what the hell's wrong with him," she says flatly. "I mean, you'd think that because I literally made him, it's not like he would have learned bad behaviors, but he's been doing that for like, ever." She rolls her eyes as Oscar finally quiets when Davin picks him up, but he's still staring at her. "I can't even do that anymore, when I do all he does is try to climb all over me. He's just lost his mind."

She huffs out a breath, and then-- "Hey. Here, come in. Do you want something to drink? I've got water, soda, juice - and I've got a liquor cabinet, if you want anything else. And, I mean. maybe he'll go into his crate for you, but the second you put him down it's going to be him barking again, I can guarantee it." Because she'd tried. When things had started to change, even though she didn't know, she'd tried. She'd tried feeding him more, she'd tried taking him on longer walks - she'd been worried, not annoyed. Now? She's just annoyed.

"I boxed up all of his stuff - It's so weird that he's got so many things, I guess, but I just..." It's because she'd loved him. Oscar was the first time Raleigh had something completely hers - even the bakery was partially Joel's, but Oscar was just hers, but now... now, she couldn't bring herself to care in any way that wasn't just this. She'd done her part, she'd put the time in, and he was still a furry jerk. Why should she try?

[davin]

"Maybe somethin' is botherin' him," Davin says quietly, rubbing Oscar's belly while he looks at him with his big sad puppy eyes. Davin leans down to kiss his head reassuringly, and then nods. "But I'm happy t'take him off your hands."

He sets Oscar down, frowning when the dog cowers behind his legs, and drags his box of stuff and crate over by the door. He fishes out his leash and leaves it on top, and then turns back to Raleigh. "Somethin' caffeinated would be great, thanks."

Davin doesn't really know how to react around Raleigh, not like this, not when it seems like anything could set her off. He just wants to get through his peacefully, and do what he can to get back their Raleigh. One thing he can do is keep her beloved dog safe, so she'll be able to have him back once she's back to herself.

[callmeemily]

"Maybe it's the neighbors or something, I don't know, but it's making me crazy." She's frowning. "I mean, it's not like I don't care about him, you know? I do! I made him! I just don't know what's wrong with him. I mean, he's ot like, sick or anything." She nods when he says he wants caffiene, and Raleigh goes over to the fridge, grabbing him a soda. "I am glad that he'll end up with you - he's was a good dog for such a long time."

She huffed out a sigh. "I just.... I want him to be like he was before. He was just better. You know? None of this stuff."

[davin]

"Well, we all gotta roll with the punches, I guess." Davin reaches out to take the soda, smiling tiredly at her. "Thanks."

He pops open the soda and takes a few greedy gulps of it before looking at Raleigh, licking his bottom lip and tilting his head curiously. "How've ya been? Other than Oscar pullin' a personality switch."

Davin knows that there's something wrong with her. Everyone knows that there's something wrong with her, he's pretty sure, other than her.

[callmeemily]

"Well, it's good of you to take him," she said after a moment, and Oscar's still wiggling and yipping these weird little barks and as much as there can be worry in a dog's eyes, it's there. Raleigh, though, is just tired of it. She's just tired in general, honestly.

"I've.... I don't know. Tired, I guess. Maybe I'm coming down with something? But everybody's being a dick, and I just.... I don't get it." She hangs her head, and pinches the bridge of her nose for a second. "Maybe it's just me, but I mean. Coop told me to go fuck off, so I don't think I'm going to be talking to him anytime soon, and Joel was supposed to fix my leg but he freaked out and won't, and my dog's nuts, and I feel like shit, so."

Her eyes flick up to Davin, but then she shakes her head. "So you know. There's all of that. But whatever. There's nothing you can do. I mean, past what you're already doing."

[davin]

Davin does his best to keep his expression neutral as she speaks. He can't really imagine Coop getting angry enough to tell anyone to fuck off, especially Raleigh, but he's been hearing all sorts of things about Raleigh's behavior. All of this is surprising, and none of it makes any sense.

"I'm sorry you've been havin' a rough time," Davin tells her, and he's sincere about that. Davin finally feels like he's coming out the other end of a tunnel after dealing with his kidnapping, and whatever is happening to Raleigh isn't nearly comparable, but he still wants it fixed. "I hope it gets better soon."

He steps forward and wraps one arm around her to pull her in for a brief hug before stepping back. "If I can do anythin' else, just let me know."

[callmeemily]

"It's okay, you didn't make it happen," she says with a small shrug. "You're doing me a favor already." She hugs him back, and she rubs the back of her neck with her hand, looking down at Oscar.

"I wish I just... knew what happened to him, you know? It just- he lost his tiny furry mind and I just can't deal. But he seems to like you more, I guess?" Her eyes flicked up to Davin's, and she shook her head briefly. "It's just a lot, I guess. But thanks."

[davin]

"I'm sure it'll all get better, aye?" Davin tells her, squeezing her shoulder before letting go. He leans down to clip Oscar's leash to his collar and rubs his head, trying to soothe him when he whines. "Anytime ya want t'come visit him just let me know, okay?"

This is all just so profoundly sad, but Davin has to believe that it's a temporary situation. It will be fixed. It just has to. All he's doing is dogsitting until Raleigh is better. Which will be soon.