for striker_eureka

[suoxi]

It took longer than Inara would have liked, but eventually her position was solidified and validated, and she was successfully employed as a contracted civilian on Herc's Shatterdome. She officially retired as a Companion and received a lump sum 'pension' from the Guild for her efforts, and her four sisters that came with her remained, which maintained the 'Domes status.

She's coming back from one of her trips planetside, piloting a small shuttle with a very precious package on board. Once she's docked, she made her way straight to Herc's quarters, tapping once to see if he was busy.

Comments

[suoxi]

She follows after him with a smile, kneeling down beside him and resting a hand on his back.

"Yes. Her name is Priscilla."

Inara didn't name her, for the record.

"She's Max's breed."

[striker_eureka]

It's a nice name.

He sits back on his heels, looking at her even as his hand is still trying to coax Priscilla out of her carrier.

"What, our current dog isn't enough for you?"

He's teasing.

[suoxi]

She's relieved that he doesn't seem angry with her, and she rests her hand on his shoulder, smiling gently.

"I thought he might like some company."

Fertile company.

[striker_eureka]

"Oh, so we're not enough for him, I get it."

He couldn't be angry with her. Not over something like this, objectively not a big deal to anyone with any kind of common sense.

He's very careful to keep his attention on her and not on the scared dog creeping slowly out of her crate, even when he feels a wet nose pressed to his fingers.

[suoxi]

His shoulder gets a gentle squeeze at that.

"You never know." She's got her eyes locked on him, and she leans over to give him a kiss, pointedly keeping both his and her attention off of Priscilla, who seems to be interested in licking Herc's fingers.

[striker_eureka]

He leans into the kiss, humming a little against her lips.

The kiss gets a little sloppy as he smiles when he feels a warm tongue against his fingers, and he carefully twists his hand so he can scratch Priscilla's jowls.

[suoxi]

That's okay, she can do sloppy. Just means she'll slide her teeth over his lower lip and nibble.

"I think she likes you."

[striker_eureka]

No, stop that, it makes him want all kinds of things he can't have right now, not with a skittish dog on their hands.

"What can I say," he murmurs, pulling back just enough that he can wink at her.

"I have a way with women."

[suoxi]

She can feel her lips pulling into a smile against his.

"You certainly do."

She cups the back of his head gently, fingers smoothing through his hair, before she chances a glance over at the dog that's now sitting at their feet.

[striker_eureka]

He chuckles quietly, stealing one last quick kiss before turning his attention to Priscilla.

"Hello, sweetheart," he coos, using both hands to stroke her massive head as Max tries to muscle past him and investigate.

[suoxi]

Watching him with animals is one of Inara's favorite things; he immediately turns into this cooing, adorable man that makes her love him oh so very much. She's content to watch him here with the two dogs, hands still on him, amused as Priscilla seems to bask in his attention, pushing her head into his hands.

[striker_eureka]

Hercules has always been better at communicating with animals than he has with people. There's a reason he and Chuck used Max as a sort of conduit for their relationship. He's not the best when it comes to human interaction. Not always.

But he's very good at interacting with animals. He gets down on the ground, scratches Priscilla around the collar, down her spine, across her belly, until the big dog is panting and wiggling, all her earlier apprehension gone. Max, the jealous creature he is, muscles in under one of Herc's hands, and then he's busy spoiling two huge bulldogs instead of just one.

[suoxi]

He's not, but that's alright. Inara enjoys Herc as he is, because watching him do this?

Is one of the sweetest things that she's ever seen in her life. Her new lifestyle may not be as glamorous or rich as it was before, but it's full of love and beauty, and she wouldn't have it any other way.

"I take it you like her.

[striker_eureka]

"She's beautiful," he murmurs, looking up at Inara. Whether he's still talking about the dog or his girlfriend is up in the air.

Hercules has a habit of talking around things, thinking it makes him sound clever.

It doesn't, but there's no need to point that out to him.

[suoxi]

Inara smiles -- she doesn't know who he is talking about, but she can assume that it's both her and the dog. She leans over, drops a kiss to the top of his head, and gets to her feet.

"I'll leave you three to bond then. I'm going to get something from the kitchens, see if there's anything left from dinner. Are you hungry?"