[Closed Post: Caught]

[timebethine]

Laertes is in love. He's in love, and he's carrying his whole heart tucked into his coat, held close against his chest. The pup wriggles and squirms and makes little noises that to Laertes's ears are more curious and interested than distressed. "Soon, pet," says Laertes softly as he undoes the lock on the door to his and Sagramore's rooms. Then, louder: "Sagramore! I've brought a friend for thee!"

And he pulls the tiny puppy out of his coat. It blinks ice-blue eyes at Sagramore, then gives an amiable bark.

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[timebethine]

She yawns and settles in, unbothered by the suggestion; once Laertes has squared away the towel, he comes to crowd in on Sagramore's side. "Her teeth are so small," he says, hushed and wondering. "So sharp!"

[sagramore]

"Aye, she'll chew on everything soon, if not already. Thou'lt want to keep thy boots out of her reach."

[timebethine]

"We'll need something she can chew, then. As thou say'st--to redirect her." Laertes moves on ahead to get the door for Sagramore, holding it open so that he doesn't have to free a single finger from Szarka's tiny body.

[sagramore]

Sagramore carries her out, nestled close; once they're outside he sets her down on the cold grass, where she sits, looking up at him expectantly.

"She can't really control her bowels at her age, and she has no training whatsoever yet, so this is really just optimism," he tells Laertes. "We'll see whether anything actually happens."

[timebethine]

"I had wondered at our plan for that--just take her outside, and take her back in when she's finished? So that she knows that finishing will bring her back into the warmth of the house?"

[sagramore]

"Ah, no, it's more take her outside every hour or so while she's awake and if she goes we make much of her, until she learns she wants to wait so she can be praised. I'll get the kitchen to make some kind of special treat for her for training. In the meantime-- we might lay down paper or towels or something on the floor, she won't be able to help making something of a mess."

[timebethine]

And Laertes thinks, in a private part of him, that maybe it will do Sagramore good to have a small creature depending on him who can't help making something of a mess. Maybe it will help him to forgive himself all the times he loses control of his own body, and to see the act of cleaning up after him as one of love and care. "I'll make sure of it," is all he says, and leans down to flutter his scarf enticingly again.

[sagramore]

Szarka growls and grabs the end of his scarf in her small jaws, shaking her head and pulling. Sagramore watches her tenderly. "Ferocious beast," he says, his voice soft.

[timebethine]

"A terror," he agrees, and unwinds the scarf further to let her keep pulling. "We'll sleep safely, with her to guard our dreams."

[sagramore]

"Safely, if not soundly. Christ, look at her--" His heart is overwhelmed with joy and love again, and he pulls Laertes into an embrace.

[timebethine]

"Our little girl," says Laertes, laughing and leaning into him. "Our Szarike."

[sagramore]

"I've taught thee the letters and sounds -- canst thou spell it?"

[timebethine]

"Ay, I can, but I'll check with thee before I etch it on metal." Szarka gives a tiny, forceful growl--then loses her grip on the scarf and plops back onto the ground with a yip of confusion.

[sagramore]

Sagramore grins and clicks his tongue. "What's this? What hast thou done? --I'm going to walk her up to the stable and back, tire her out a bit. If thou'rt cold thou canst stay, I swear I'll be back in time to help thee with supper."

[timebethine]

Much as Laertes hates the idea of leaving his new daughter alone (she won't be alone, she'll be with Sagramore; she needs to get used to being safe when she's alone sometimes), he can at least put himself to some useful employment. "I'll clean our rooms while thou art with her, and put up everything that she shouldn't chew. And I'll fetch some paper to lay on the floor for her." He'd seen some long rolls of soft, pulpy paper in the room with the printing press; those will surely suffice.

[sagramore]

"Thou art divine. Come, Szari, let's amble," with a whistle that makes her prick her ears but not much more. As he takes a step towards the stable path she looks between them uncertainly.

[timebethine]

And oh, Laertes wants to go to her then, to gather her to his chest and to be with her in every moment, to make sure she's never alone again.

He can't. He makes himself turn away and go, returning inside to the work of making her a home.