Closed It's Not Something You Choose

[Arvel Ayers]

"I can't believe you're still not bored," Arvel muttered, as he bent down to pick up the soggy tennis ball for the twentieth time. He launched it as far as he could and watched Clover bolt after it with as much enthusiasm as the first throw. Someone should have warned him about adopting a greyhound. Not that he'd really had a choice. The shelter had given him a choice, after he'd turned in the flea-ridden stray, but those big brown eyes had told him in no uncertain terms that he had absolutely zero say in the matter, thanking you in advance, and please reserve me a nice comfortable spot on the sofa.

She was back already. She mocked him with all that energy - although Arvel had to admit, he'd had a lot more energy himself since he'd started coming to the dog park every day. "Well drop it, then," he said. Clearly her legs were quicker than her brain.

 

[Jacob Kingsley]

Jacob yawned for what felt like the hundredth time as he walked with his dog. Ambled was a better word. She was getting up there in age, and she didn't do anything in a rush anymore. It was nice to slow down every now and then. His life moved at such a quick pace these days. He was barely done with one case before another was being dropped on his desk, and his supervisor and the head auror didn't like to be kept waiting for updates. Jacob shook his head. It was his day off, and he'd set a rule for himself to avoid thinking about work and certainly avoid talking about it, if he could help it.

Wishing he'd thought to prepare himself some tea for the walk, Jacob continued on with a patience he only reserved for this dog. "You take your time sweetie" he murmured as they moved along. He lifted his gaze from her furry body to scan the area as a jogger passed by. The park was busier than usual for this time of day, but the dog park as fairly empty aside from a man playing with his dog. Jacob remembered those days. Now, she was just content to walk around, sniffing each tree and item to identify which of her dog friends had visited and the occasional dog to determine if they were friend or foe. Jacob picked her up and dropped her on the other side of the fence, watching her wander off for a second before lifting his gaze again, a smile crossing his face as he recognized the man within. "Arvel! Hey!" he called out, lifting up a hand in greeting. Jacob didn't realize what he'd done until it was done, and now there was nothing left to do but see if the man would respond.

 

[Arvel Ayers]

The dog park was close enough to the harbour that it probably attracted a lot witches and wizards, but Arvel had never imagined he would bump into anybody he knew. Jacob. Arvel had been served too much bad luck in life to believe in signs, but this felt like a sign. Their meeting at the Auror party had felt like a sign, too, but Arvel had ignored that one, partly because Analei was there, and partly because talking to Jacob made him feel like someone had stolen his insides. In a good way.

Move. Say hello. He half raised his hand, then something short-circuited and he nodded in greeting instead. Brilliant. He hadn't even said anything, and he'd already made a fool of himself.

No - it was fine. He was doing fine. Clover ran in circles around him as he walked over to meet his old friend. "You've got a dog," Arvel said, in a tone faintly suggestive of surprise. "So do I." Clover had now dropped her ball and was happily introducing herself to her fellow canine. "What's yours called?"