out with my dog - TAG Mallory

First Sparky had spied somebody and David could see she was waving to them. Sparky and David came as a team and that wouldn't change. The dog could have anywhere between five or seven as he'd been rescued from a shelter but he was still energetic. A little dog noise was his greeting to the person speaking to his master and he pulled at the lease to get a better look. So David moved a little closer but still giving plenty of space.

Then he waved back. He hadn't made much in the way of friends either; he did know where he would be working but his start date was still a few days away. Hopefully he'd fit in smoothly.

"Hello Mallory, I'm David and this curious bundle of energy is Sparky" he replied. The dog pulled at the lease again and he led a but more go. The dog got another yard and seemed happy with this. "I'd say things are good. I start my job in a few days and Sparky loves being here too. He never had this much free space in Birmingham".

She seemed friendly and open. They way he tried to be himself.

David smiled back. Sparky looked curiously up at Mallory; at least as far as dogs could handle facial expressions and he was only a little dog. It was also a fair question he could answer quite freely. Only what they could get up might be classified.

"I'll be working in ARI. Not sure which part yet but I hope the work is enjoyable" he mused back as Sparky took a break and lay down. Having a job you liked doing was important; He was also fully on board off its importance to the island whatever he ended up doing.It might also be of importance to the world.

"So what do you do?" he cheerfully added. She could be doing any job on the island by now.It was certainly a young persons island and he could still call himself that even with a few more years on him. He also hadn't gotten to explore this community that much.

David didn't have that problem in his last post. It was interesting at times but ultimately the OSE might well have done him a favour. Them intervening in his life led here.

He smiled broadly and replied "I didn't have that problem in my last job. I do the work to the best of my ability then switch off from it and have fun. I was a biomedical scientist in a major hospital but then the OSE found out about me; they might have actually done me a favour". In the short time he'd been on the island he'd noted a vast improvement in his dog transformations. He didn't have to hide his practising anymore and there were people he could ask for help. He didn't have that asset before.

"I can transform into animals" he added before a chill got hold of him. How did people deal with winter here? He shivered and then mused back "a painter? That sounds amazing. I never was artistic".

Then he spoke a bit more quietly. "Sparky already knows that. I probally spoil him a bit and I've had dogs since I was a boy. He was a rescue animal but why would somebody abandon a cute dog like him?" A question that had crossed his mind several times.

"Mallory is there anywhere round where we can get a something hot to drink? Is it always this cold?" A valid question from a guy who rarely seen snow.

A cold David gave a little smile back. Even the heavy wool hat on his head wasn't doing much to help in this slightly increasing cold wind blowing their direction. He's no reason to be closed off to other people as he'd a pretty good life before coming here. Being here would only improve that even with fleets of OSE ships in international waters.

"Please lead the way Mallory. I've barely even seen snow before never mind this much of it" he mused looking to see which direction she'd move of in. He felt good about Mallory already and hoped for more that just a hot chocolate. Romance had always alluded him but having a friend was more important.

"I'm sure there's a special circle of hell for people like that" he added. If it was up to him they'd end up there.

David was happy to be given the offer. He'd been to the mall to get other things but thought his normal winter coat would be sufficent for here. He'd clearly been wrong. "I would certainly do with a hand and I do know about viruses in a small location. When Covid first started up the lab I worked in had to be closed down along with a few others. I got lucky and didn't get sick from it" me mused. He'd still been of work anyway as there was no point in going in to do all the work himself. Looking down at his dog he added "there's even something for you".

So the not so long walk continued until they reached the place.

Mallory Nottingham

Stepping into the coffee shop after Mallory it instantly felt warmer so David took of his hat for starters but kept hold of Sparky's lead. The little dog took a good look around and was as curious as his master was. David had always been a little cautious as any environment or work area had dangers but this coffee shop didn't seem to have any of that problem.

"Hot tea I think" David mused asking Mallory what she wanted? "Its my treat" he added before saying "what's a doggiechino?" One of the options on the drinks board. That seemed to fit the bill for Sparky. "I've always seemed to avoid covid or bad influenzas. It could just be good karma I suppose".

He smiled and looked back at Mallory. He'd have to remember this place. It looked like he might get a lot of use out of it.