Rick awoke to a cat jumping on him, a slight jolt coming from him as he looked up to see Duchess before groaning. "Come on, get up, you have to wake Dell up with me." She said hopping off him. His corner was now dark, the sun being on the wrong side of the house.
"Why would you need me to wake Dell up?" he asked as he rose from his spot, shaking himself a bit before sitting. He felt an itch right behind his arm, though his head couldn't reach to itch it. He hummed in thought before trying to get it with his foot, him missing several times and scratching the areas around it before actually getting it. He would get the hang of it eventually, or preferably not have to and be changed back into a human.
"Scaredy dog." Duchess said as she hopped up onto Dell's bed. He had only been here for three days and it seemed as though he was already part of the family. Rick propped his front paws on the side of the bed as he stared at Duchess.
"What exactly did you want me to do?" he asked, slightly curious as to what she could be planning and why. "Why do you even want to wake him up?" he added shortly after. Duchess flicked her tail at him as she gently made her way up the bed toward the sleeping Dell.
"If I don't wake him up that horrid blaring noise will. I like to spare my human from suffering. Now, bark or jump onto the bed. Something loud and obnoxious, dogs are good at that." Rick mocked what she said like someone would do with their sibling before hopping off, perhaps the horrid blaring noise was an alarm clock…it was most definitely an alarm clock.
For a second he stood there before starting to bark, it was a second before Dell started to shift out of bed. "Okay, I'm up." Dell muttered as Duchess purred, rubbing against him. This must be the perks to having pets. He stood up, going to the bathroom for a while before coming out looking better than when he entered. "Alright, breakfast." He said as Rick groaned slightly. How embarrassing that he ate dog food... and actually found it enjoyable. Dell headed to the kitchen, grabbing the soft cat food from the fridge and heating it up before putting it in a small bowl and placing it on the counter for Duchess to get to while he grabbed a mug full of dog food and poured it into Rick's bowl that had been placed just to the right of the kitchen entrance. "There you go Ricky." Dell patted Rick's backside as he walked back into the kitchen to grab himself some coffee. He had only been called Ricky due to the previous day when Dell was giving Rick a name.
He had to hand it to Duchess, she was clever when she used Dell's magazine to find a page that read about an actor named Richard Gere. It was a good thing Dell just rolled with it, shortening Richard to Ricky which was close enough to his regular name, only bothering him slightly since the only person who ever called him Ricky died a horrible death for doing so. Rick stared at it before starting to eat, his tail subconsciously wagging in short spurts as he did so. Why were his tastebuds so strange, what was he even tasting that was good? He managed to eat most of his food by the time Dell walked out of the kitchen with his coffee, sitting on the couch enjoying the morning silence as he drank his coffee. It was moments until Duchess, using Rick as a step, jumped to the floor and headed to Dell, Rick walking and laying down in a patch of sun near a window. The cool air outside leaked in using the cold glass, though the patches of sun helped warm the house.
Being a dog was lazy business, especially since it was Saturday and Rick couldn't leave the premises without Dell noticing. He wanted to keep this temporary accommodation until he could figure out what to do about his curse. It was only when Dell stood that he noticed Duchess looking happy "What's with that smile?" he asked as Duchess followed Dell.
"He is going to make me that sweet food, he always does that on this day." She informed Rick who remained where he was. He was curious as to what treat she was referring to but as usual patience reveals the answer. As he thought it was only a matter of time till he smelled something sweet, him standing up and following it to see that Dell was making waffles. Duchess waited impatiently, Rick not really caring much for what Dell was doing as he tried to deduce an answer to his situation. It was only when a torn piece of waffle was thrown at his feet, causing him to sit up and stare at it, that his attention as turned back to Dell and Duchess.
They now sat at the couch eating waffles while Rick made himself an outsider and sat near one of the windows, eating the waffle piece that had been thrown to him before laying back down. He laid his head on his paws, looking toward the two happily chowing down while Dell turned on the T.V to see what was on. Rick's ears twitched, that sound. It sounded like a car, he obviously ignored it until the engine stopped. He rose his head and looked to the door, getting up he stood on two legs, placing his front paws on the windowsill. Upon seeing someone he started to growl to alert Dell, after all he was a canine he had to somewhat act like one.
Dell stood up from the couch, placing Duchess beside him as he walked to the window. Upon looking out Dell sighed and opened the door, Rick going back to lay down, which by now was driving him nuts. He wanted to get out of the house. He listened as Dell and the man began a conversation. "What the hell are you doin' here? I already paid you this month." Del said as the man on the other side nodded.
"I know, I know, but the price is goin' up again. An extra two hundred needs to be paid." Dell shifted his stance slightly, debating on what he should do. "You know my pa can take this house from you so quick your head'll spin." The man said as Dell seemed to make up his mind, leaving for a moment before coming back with the money and handing it over. "Thank you kindly." With that the man left, walking back to the nice car blocking Dell's truck in. Duchess' tail twitched.
"He is only supposed to come here once a month..." she muttered, Dell still standing near the door. It was a good moment before he went to get his coat, Rick sitting up as he did so. He didn't want to be the typical dog but he needed out of this house and if Dell was leaving he was tagging along.
"Y'all stay out of trouble-", Dell was cut off when he saw Rick standing by the door, a smile crossing his face as he used both hands to pet Rick's head "You don't have a collar or leash, I can't take you out just yet." Dell tried to get by but Rick kept blocking him until he just blankly opened the door and watched Rick walk out and to the truck. "Guess I got no choice." With that a pit-stop was added to Dell's journey that day. Petco. Dell opened the door to the cabin, Rick hopping in with Dell following soon after. The truck was started and the two were off down the driveway, though before they could get onto the main dirt road Rick heard a loud voice and felt the car pulled off to the side. Across the road there was a woman who seemed to be in the middle of getting her mail. Why did the country boy cross the road? To talk to his neighbours for ten hours.
"Dell!" A red-haired woman yelled as Dell came to a stop at the woman's fence.
"Howdy, Alice, good to see you this mornin'. How's Philip?"
"He's holdin' up, say I saw Mr. Fancy-shoes at your house. What'd he want?" She leaned against the fence as she awaited an answer.
"Just another payment." Dell answered with a shake of his head.
"Now that is boarder line robbery, Dell! That man is stealin' from you, you gonna let 'im?" She asked with a huff, Dell nodding in agreement.
"I can't let him take the house, my parents put everything they had into it." He mentioned, a silence consuming the two as Alice clicked her tongue at him.
"Still workin' so hard, Dell. You ever need help you just know we are just right here, you hear?" Dell nodded with a large smile on his face.
"I appreciate it, Alice." Dell told her before the subject dramatically changed.
"Say, that dog yours? She's mighty pretty!" At the words spoken Rick rose his head, ears flattening as he glared at the woman.
"His name is Richard, but I just call him Ricky." Dell let out a small chuckle at the woman's excitement.
"He looks mighty close to bein' a wolf, what breed is he?" She asked Rick staying still but not very fond of the woman's loud voice alongside her cooing voice as she looked at him.
"Not sure, but he ain't no wolf." Dell looked to his watch, "'bout time I head off, see you later Alice." Dell finally waves goodbye to the woman, Rick the first to walk away as the two got into the truck and finally headed off toward their first destination.
Dell seemed deep in thought as he drove, Rick not caring as he looked out the window in his own thoughts. Rick had thought about plenty, his own situation and, though only momentary, Dell's. He looked well off but the situation played it as though he was struggling. Well, it wasn't any of his business, he had temporary shelter and food and that was all that concerned him, Dell could take care of himself.
When it became apparent that they were going to a pet shop Rick's ears lowered as he glared toward Dell, he was not going to do this. Dell parked the truck. "Don't do this to me, mate." Rick said as Dell lowered the window a bit and got out, leaving him in the car, probably just long enough to grab a collar and leash from the store. When he came back that was just what he brought "I should have just gotten Duchess to let me out." He muttered with a growl, though the reason he chose to go with Dell was to enter the city since they were quite a distance from city centre. Technically they weren't in the city limits. Rick moved to the driver's seat to avoid Dell as he opened the passenger door.
"Come on, Ricky." He said holding a bulky leather brown collar in his hands. "Richard Conagher." WHAT. Rick's ears perked forward at what Dell said, his mind thinking back to what Duchess told him. At this point he debated on leaping out of the truck and just taking off. The collar lacked dog tags but he assumed those might come in at a later date, or right now if he was unlucky. Three days! He had to talk to Duchess about this when he gets back to the house.
For a moment, he stared at Dell before climbing back over, grumbling to himself. He may not like this but he did give Duchess his word to obey her in order to get her help, and he was a man of his word. When she told him to obey Dell, he honoured his promise to her and obeyed Dell, even if it was quite terrible. The collar was clicked around his neck along with a somewhat rough pet to the head "Atta boy." He said soon after attaching a leash and letting Rick jump from the car.
Rick looked disheartened as he walked next to Dell, plenty of people giving him looks and ogling over how pretty they looked, either that or if Dell had a wolf with him. They both entered the store, cool air rushing over them as the doors slid open. "Hello, Mr. Conagher-", the woman at the front desk stopped, running from around the counter "Mr. Conagher, I didn't know you had a new dog!" The woman approached, "May I?" she asked, Dell nodding with a smile.
All of a sudden, the woman knelt next to Rick, letting him sniff her hand before she started to pet him "Who's a pretty boy?" she cooed "Who's the big pretty boy? You are, yes you are!" she said as Rick endured it.
"My dignity has been taken by baby talk." Rick muttered, the noise coming out as an almost groan to them as the woman finally stopped with her cooing. Thank fucking god.
"He is very pretty, is he a wolf mix?" she asked Dell who nodded.
"Definitely not a pure wolf, no wolf would act like this." Dell chuckled as the woman nodded. With that the woman started to go back behind the counter as Dell started toward the dog section. Dell lead Rick into the toy section where he gestured around "All the toys a dog could want." He told Rick who just stood there. This was humiliating. It was about that point that he felt something behind him, spinning around it saw it was another dog.
"Hi! Hi! Hi!" they said as a big, dopey looking dog entered the isle. He was larger than Rick who was softly growling at them as they approached. "I want to be friend! Please be my friend!" they let their tongue hang out of their mouth.
"Stay back ya Drongo." He growled, Dell giving the leash a slight tug to correct his growling but when Rick didn't get the point, Dell spoke.
"Easy, Ricky." He said as a large bald man came around the corner, just as big and dopey looking as the dog.
"Lizun! Do not run away like that!" The Russian man said as he grabbed the big dog's leash, pulling him back toward where they came "I apologise for trouble." He said as Dell waved a hand toward him to signal him to stop.
"No trouble at all." Dell told him as the Russian man rounded the corner, Rick hearing Lizun continue talking to him as they walked to an isle further down. He did not like that experience. "Alright, let's get you something entertaining to play with." He muttered as he picked out a few toys, holding them out for Rick who stubbornly refused to take them. With a hum Dell looked around, picking out a pack of three tennis balls and nodding, "Ain't no dog that can resist fetch." He said as he started off again toward the dog treat isle.
"You're about to meet one, mate." Rick muttered as Dell started to hum a song as he grabbed a few bags and looked them over before finally choosing one and moving back toward the front where the Russian man had beaten them to the singular register. "Great, dim-witted and brainless." Rick said with a groan as the big dog turned to see him, hopping with joy. He spoke in, what Rick assumed, was Russian as he tried to get over towards Rick. Surprisingly, despite the big dog, the man wasn't budging and wasn't bothered. Already Rick found himself hating them.
Dell waited in line till the Russian left the line and moved up to pay for the items he picked out "I also forgot to ask about Duchess, how is the little princess?" the woman from before asked as Dell set the items down.
"She's doing well, her shoulders haven't caused her too much pain recently." Dell nodded, Rick's attention peeked. What was wrong with Duchess' shoulders? Injury?
"That poor girl, is she taking her meds?"
"She never does, still have to hide it in cheese." He chuckled as she bagged his items and bent over the counter to wave goodbye to Rick. The Aussie backed away, following Dell away from the woman cooing at him…again.
They headed back to the truck, both of them hopping in as Dell headed to his original destination, Home Depot. It was a quick stop around back, Rick hopping out along with Dell who spoke to a few people about something before items were packed into the back of the truck and they were off back toward the house. Sadly, Rick's original plan when going with Dell into the city failed, turns out that his nose picks up much more exhaust than he had originally expected and was not able to pick up anything that would help him, not even a stray animal to help him. Now he did need Duchess' help.