— 𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝙋𝙪𝙧𝙧𝙛𝙚𝙘𝙩 𝙀𝙣𝙙𝙞𝙣𝙜

I think I liked it better when there was only one of us each...

I just hope you're able to realize that it isn't too late before you get yourself hurt...

You might not believe it, but that's not something anybody would be happy to see.

[ She sighs, glancing away with a look of defeat on her face. ]

I get it, you've already made up your mind...

But whatever you think you're going to do here, it won't work.. the people here are different; more capable, more prepared.

[+]

[ Her eyes go wide, falling silent as she stares at Patches with an expression full of hurt. ]

You're wrong, Patches... I've seen the good that you can do when you let yourself.

[+]

Maybe you're just too trapped in your own head again, but I'm not going to make you fight me into leaving you alone... I just want you to know that it doesn't have to be like this for you, not anymore.

I won't pretend to know everything that you've gone through, but I know that part of you is still that same hurting dog that I've met before...

You still have a chance to leave behind whatever happened to you, there are people who will care about you here if you just let them.

[+]

[ Ginger jolts in surprise, scuttling backwards slightly, though she still doesn't have it in her mind to flee entirely. ]

.. I figured you weren't him, but I still don't take back anything that I said.

[+]

I know I'm not Olive, and I know I can't force you to talk, but... you don't have to hide yourself any more.

Maybe just this once..?

[ She glances back up at him, her eyes hopeful as she takes another tentative step forwards. ]

Patches...

[ She follows his gaze, her eyes lingering on the ground for a moment. ]

You don't have to lie to me... I know you don't like talking about yourself, but.. aren't we supposed to be friends now?

[+]

N-Not long!

[ She squeaks, immediately hiding herself behind her long hair. ]

Sorry, I just.. thought I should see if you were alright. You looked, um...

[ She awkwardly gestures to him with her paw, doing her best to convey her point without having to say anything that might come off as rude. ]

Patches?

[ A small, familiar voice rings out from behind him. She seems uneasy, rooted in place as she watches him from afar. ]

Are you..?

[ Her voice trails off, her question going unspoken as she tentatively takes a few steps closer. ]

// just realized i still haven't made an actual pinned for this account. Hell yes

‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ I'm 𝗢𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲, and I've c-come
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ to terms with my own
‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎ ‎‎ death...!

Haha.. I had a feeling you'd say something like that.

.. I just hope that I'm actually worth the trouble, I'd hate to burden you all just because you feel obligated to keep me around..

🍫 - Preeetty sure that it just makes you look like a dork.

Dork.

What they think about me isn't the issue.. I just can't help but feel like a burden for all of the negative attention that I bring.

You've all done so much for me, and yet all I seem to do is tarnish the family reputation by just being here..

I'm.. not sure I will.

They might not say anything, but I know what those stares mean.. it's how the other dogs would look at me in school, like I'm some freak of nature.

The worst part about coming from such a high profile family is having to attend so many important events.. There's always so many stares..

You ever meet Patches? He's that Dalmatian who helps run the literature club-- kinda keeps to himself most of the time, so I dunno if you've ever met him.

I wouldn't say he's exactly a shoplifting prodigy like us, but he sort of does whatever he wants, even if it isn't super legal.

Hey, thank yourself for being so freakin' cool.

I mean seriously, I can only think of one other guy in town that wouldn't tear my head off for shoplifting.. and we aren't exactly compatible like *that.*

Plus, you're just a real cutie.

I dunno, are you ever gonna stop being a dork?

[ She giggles, fishing a paw into the bag of treats that sat beside her. ]

Don't, by the way. You're just perfect the way you are.

Hey, it's okay!

[ She gives his paw a reassuring squeeze, leaning in to plant a kiss on his cheek. ]

And yeah, I'm real lucky..
Even luckier now that I have you, ya' big dork.

It.. was pretty terrifying. I didn't know it was possible for people to lose that much blood, haha..

[ She laughs awkwardly, her gaze drifting off as her expression darkens. ]

I mean, I hid in the bathroom for most of it, but I really didn't think I was gonna get to go home that day.

What do *you* have to be smug about?

Puh-lease, the only time you aren't smirking is when you and Patches are swapping spit.

Right?

[ She smiles, interlocking her fingers with his as she uses her free paw to fish into the bag of dog treats. ]

It's kinda crazy to think about considering how awful things were just a little bit ago..

I never would've guessed that things could turn out like this, but I'm glad they did.

You've got arms and legs, don't you? Sure we could find somethin' to do.

And, I can tell that you're just as bored as I am. You don't ever sit all.. zoned out or whatever; you're always doing something, even if it's just reading.

Yeah, don't act too excited to see me.

Look man, I'm bored as hell, and you're the only one that's any fun around here.. even if you're still a creepy serial killer right now.

Nah, just when I'm spending time with my super cute boyfriend!

[ Reaching the field, she finally lets go of his paw, plopping herself down in the grass and patting the spot next to her while she glances up towards the clouds. ]

Oh man, this is the life.