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Why he agreed to pet-sitting is beyond him--well, no, it's exactly to be expected. He always says yes, but especially when someone asks him what sounds like such a small favor in the moment they ask--and especially when it's a coworker so new to the crew that she hadn't yet formed much of a foothold into the camaraderie. 'Could you watch Precious for me while the missus and I have a night out?'
What she had neglected to mention was that Precious was a spindlewolf with as much energy as a toddler, and the enthusiasm to rival one as well.
Cooking himself dinner had been an utter ordeal, her graceful, loping form trying to twine itself around his legs while he stood at the stove. He's tall, certainly, but she's tall enough that it afforded him precious (ha!) little advantage over her. Her snout, long and soft and curiously wet at all times, nuzzled under his hands and snuffled at the pan at every moment he had food about his person, and finally allowed him to eat only when he told her in a stern voice that it was not for her to share--and then shared with her anyway.
After that had begun the playtime, throwing balls for her, and giving her old bones to chew on, and simply watching as she ran hither and yon throughout the entirety of the household. He'll have to apologize to the landlady when he finally is freed from his duties of pet-sitting this beautiful creature.
The real problem is that now that he has finally gotten her to lie down, it's across his lap while he sits on the sofa. The whole evening has slowly been culminating into the terrible spore-fever symptoms that crop up in the presence of such furry creatures. It prickles deep in his nose and spreads up into his eyes, damp and itchy and quite irritated by her fur clinging to his clothes.
"huH-!" There's little he can do to stop it once it's begun--he's never been one able to hold back, but especially not when the source is so close to him. Precious lifts her head, looking at him with those beautiful, pleading eyes as she did when he was cooking. It's taken so long to finally settle her that he doesn't dare to rile her up again. "ngK--! -choo! ngK--! ...choo!"
He sniffles wetly, coming up from between pinched fingers. Oh, heavens. He's quite congested, especially after this, but he knows in his heart of hearts that if he gets up to fetch his handkerchief, or excites her with too much noise or too much jostling from the sneezing, he will never be able to settle her down once again. Unfortunately, this is a necessary evil, even if it's something he's loathe to do in most situations.
She lifts her head enough to nuzzle at his shoulder, to lick along his cheek and beneath his chin as if to appease whatever is so disturbing him. "Thagk you, Precious."
He probably shouldn't let her do this--in fact, he certainly shouldn't--but it's so difficult to deny her her will. Not only because she is as tall as him when she stands on her hind legs, but because she whines so softly and piteously with concern as she tries to soothe what ails him--even if her attempts at aid are rather counterproductive.
"Huh...sdF-! H-huh...! hDT--! --choo!"
Precious nibbles at his wrist, her teeth threatening to break skin as she attempts to commandeer his hand to return it to its previous occupation of scratching between her ears.
"Oww, Precious-! hDT--! --choo!"
Her persistence pays off when she pries his hand from his face, jamming her snout into his curled fingers and worming her way closer atop his chest to lick at his face enthusiastically.
"hH'DZZHhue! iIZZHhyue!" There's nothing for it. He's always been useless at stifling, but especially when he has no hands to do it with. All he can do is turn aside from her as best he's able and hope her owners return home soon.