A drop here, a drop there (a one-shots/snippet book)

Pets and Progression of Relationships (WtNV)

"I'm planning to cook something new for dinner later. I'm sure you'll love it," Carlos says.

"I always love your cooking, dear Carlos. Even that first time you cooked and made a mess because you hadn't known how to handle the ingredients yet, I loved it," Cecil happily says back, leaning in closer to the window.

"Vegetables and fruits outside Night Vale typically aren't sentient. Or have that much teeth," Carlos huffs out a bit in amusement before he leans forward for another kiss.

Cecil waves until the scientist drives out of sight, and then he enters the radio station with a dopey smile on his face. Even the waves of existential despair emanating from Station Management's door isn't enough to dim it, and he starts off his broadcast with a cheerful tone.

Later, he spends the weather segment gushing to Khoshekh about how amazing and thoughtful his husband is while the cat plays with his new toy.

Nothing new there.

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Carlos is thinking. As a scientist, he always thinks about a lot of stuff, his mind jumping around from one thought to another. Sometimes these thoughts seem to have little or no relation to each other in other people's view, but that is just how his brain is wired to work. And Cecil did admit that he doesn't mind and that he finds it cute.

But Carlos is thinking about something not-that-scientific but is pretty important relationship wise.

He is thinking about getting a pet.

Carlos had been looking through their closet, when he saw the cat bed stored at the back. That led to him thinking back to when Khoshekh stayed with them due to an injury, and now Carlos is thinking about that first time Cecil held Khoshekh in his arms, that look of wonder and fear in his face.

Carlos thinks that, despite the circumstances that led to it, Cecil enjoyed having a pet to take care of in their place of residence.

Besides, it's normal for couples to get a pet together, right? They're long enough in their relationship that thinking about pets isn't weird, right? Cecil didn't think it was weird, or too soon, when Carlos thought it was time for them to move in together, or when Carlos proposed for them to get married, so Carlos can't be too wrong in his idea of the logical progression of a relationship... right?

(And Carlos did notice that Cecil lets Carlos decide on when to move into the next stages of their relationship. Not pushing him, just letting him move in the speed he is comfortable with and is ready for. And Carlos loves him for that.)

Carlos thinks they should get a dog. Despite Cecil's fondness for Khoshekh, he stated multiple times on air that he was more of a dog person, so it's only logical that they get a dog.

Carlos tells his husband over dinner about his thoughts. He can tell that Cecil is surprised and a bit unsure, but he agrees readily enough. The next day they go to SPCA and look over the dogs they have there. Carlos is adamant not to get the more dangerous breeds like spider wolves and flesh-eating spaniels, even though they had no children in their home.

At the end, Cecil practically melts over the puppy that they adopted, cooing and playing with it by wiggling his fingers over the holes of the pet carrier all through the drive home. Carlos' chest fills with warmth and happiness as he listens to his husband in the passenger seat beside him.

"What should we name him?" Cecil asks once they're in the living room. They watch, sitting on the floor, as the puppy gingerly exists the carrier and curiously explore the new environment he found himself in.

Carlos smiles, letting his head fall on Cecil's shoulder. Carlos mostly decided to get a dog for Cecil's happiness, not his, so he says, "I don't really know, any ideas?"

Cecil hums thoughtfully and reaches over to run his hand through the puppy's purple fur. He lets out a happy squeak when the puppy wags its little tail and licks his hand with a tongue.

"I'm thinking... Aubergine? Because he's purple, like an eggplant, and he's European!"

Carlos kisses his cheek. "That's a good name for a dog, honey."

"It is, isn't it?" Cecil agrees, "I just like the sound of it." He picks little Aubergine up, making sure the puppy had no problem with it before doing so, and holds him in his lap. Carlos scratches the young canine under his jaw and chuckles when Aubergine gnaws on his finger lightly. Aside from the purple fur, Aubergine thankfully doesn't have anything else unusual about him, so Carlos doesn't have to worry about poison, tentacles, or fire. Aubergine also doesn't float at a fixed point in space.

Cecil carefully holds up the puppy in the air in front of them, enabling the dog and two humans to have a good look at each other's new addition to their respective lives.

"Welcome to the family, Aubergine," Cecil says in his radio voice, with gravitas in his tone that somehow  fills this moment with an inexplicable importance.

"Welcome home."

----------------

Later, Carlos makes a connection with the word "eggplant" in his mind. He remembers when Cecil's cousin was pregnant, and an ecstatic Cecil bought an eggplant to practice holding the newest member to the family. Carlos feels his heart skip a beat.

While he's not sure he's ready to take care of a smaller and more fragile human being yet, a dog, well, a dog is a nice start.

Carlos falls asleep nestled in his husband's arms, a comfortable warmth on his heart and a touch of a smile on his face.

Nothing new there, either.