undergrounds | The boy is back in town

[A]
After years of imprisonment, freedom is amazing.

Even now, even though it's been a few days, he still can't get over the feeling of being back in the world. Being around people and breathing fresh air (as fresh as a city can manage anyway). Sirius trots along the street and back alleys, keeping up the act as a stray dog and generally trying not to be noticed. He'd forgotten how easy it was.

However, his ability to enjoy himself is currently at war with the realization that he's pretty vulnerable. It's been twelve years and he really has no information about what the city is like. He has no idea if he has any friends left, or if there's anyone in this city who would be willing to help him. He needs allies, he needs information, he needs clothes.

Food should probably be added to that list now. Sirius can't recall the last time he ate a decent meal. (not counting the garbage can he raided out of desperation).

For now though, he needs rest. He's been on the run constantly and all of that energy has finally caught up with him. He collapses under a tree in a park, and from a distance, it might look like he's dead.

[B]

Information and allies will likely have to wait for a bit until Sirius can reorient himself in the city. Clothes and food, however, are slightly more accessible. Thankfully someone's got their laundry out on the line, and he can smell a few things from a garbage that he would be able to stomach. Desperate times call for desperate measures that he's actually thinking of doing that a second time.

[ooc: Sirius can be caught doing either in Option B]

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It takes Abby a few moments to realise that, no, there is a dog following her. With the bowl in its mouth. She looks back, stops, and stares for a few moments before smiling wide.

"Still thirsty? Okay, okay." She isn't sure exactly how dog commands work, but she tries. She holds her hand out, palm facing the dog, then lowers it. "Put it down and I'll give you more water."

It's no hardship to her to have to buy another bottle if she needs more after this one's gone.

Sirius wags his tail enthusiastically, setting the bowl down and nudging it with his nose. He gives a small "wuff" as if in thanks and sits, his tail still wagging eagerly. He seems to be smiling as he watches her.

"Aren't you adorable?" Abby asks, reaching out to scratch behind the dog's ear, grinning wide.

Then, she reaches into her bag and pulls out her water bottle. She then pours out the rest of it into the bowl.

"There you go, boy."

Sirius hasn't been called adorable in years, and even then it was used rarely. He smiles, vaguely hoping it looks like a dog smile before turning his attention to the water, his tail wagging happily. It's hard to tell how much water actually ends up in his mouth.

Abby stays knelt down near the dog, still smiling. After all, it's a friendly dog, which makes her wonder where his owners are. She feels his neck as he drinks.

"Where's your collar, huh? Bet your family's missing you."

Unlikely, Sirius thinks. He'd been disowned years ago after all, and the chances of his family taking him back were less than zero. He doubted they'd thought of him, and if they did, it wasn't fondly.

He looks up at her, water dripping from his mouth less than elegantly and sort of shakes his head. No collar here, he's just a lovable stray.

"Guess I'll have to keep an eye out for 'lost dog' posters, huh?"

Because a stray wouldn't be this friendly. It had to be a pet that got away. ...Or one that was dumped. Left somewhere while its family drove off. Sure, the dog won't answer her, but she still talks to him. Not like she can get much weirder, after all.

"...You do have a home, don't you?"

Something told Sirius that that would be unlikely as well. Wanted posters maybe, but lost dog was unlikely. He ignores memories of his friends making threats that they would have to make some if he ever went missing.

A home is something he hasn't had in a while, and places that he could call home were few and far between. His family home was a no go (and he wouldn't go back there if he could help it), his old flat was probably not his anymore, and he still didn't know his status within the Hillingdon clan.

He shakes his head again, dripping water everywhere.

Abby can't help but smile as she scratches at his ears again. "Keep doing that, and I'll think you actually understand me."

Dogs didn't, of course. She didn't think that a thing. At least not with magic. But it might be. She might have learned it without even knowing she had. Who knows, really.

"Y'know, my flat doesn't actually have a no-dog policy." An additional security deposit? Not a hardship for her. Or the vet bills for taking in a stray.

There's a part of Sirius that wants to admit that he does understand her, that he's mostly human. Except for the fact that that would likely cause chaos on a number of levels, lack of clothes only being the first.

His ears perk up at the offer. Sirius is reluctant to be adopted completely, but a few days in a flat would be rather nice, and he supposes he could always leave if he needed to (rude as it would be). But it would give him a chance to collect his bearings and see if he could get any information.

"Wuff" is his response, with a wag of his tail.

The boy is back in town

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