Chicago, American Union
Bark started their stroll by having them take a ride into the city through one of the trains, which along the way the would catch a whiff of chocolate from one of the candy factories nearby still working in the city. He would direct them out of the train station and give money to one of the few homeless in the area who wanted to act as a tour guide. "First we're going to take a look at the Chicago Bean as I call it. I think it's officially called just The Bean. However it has been a marvelous sight to behold and they've kept it up since 2006!"
He was excited showing them some of the various spots they were passing up going along the way. Also showing them the new transportation systems that they were trying to implement, which of course money being the issue for why they weren't put up sooner.
Shade kept her arms crossed in th everpresent crowd of the city, eyes darting around every few minutes in some degree of paranoia. "Why would anyone build a bean? Is it's only purpose aesthetic?" Shade did not change hr outfit, wearing the same style as before. Black skintight bodysuit, long coat over it, and a datapad on her back.
"That's resturants for you," Bee said, putting her arm around Bark's as he led the way. She wore a white longsleeve sweater, black skirt and stockings, her red lipstick the only spot of color. "Hopefully their food outshines the 300 year old aesthetic."
Bark blinked a little, as he was partially distracted by Bee and her outfit, even a little by Shade however he stayed on point explaining. "No, no, no don't tell me you've never heard of The Bean? It's not food! It's a sculpture that reflects! Kind of like a shiny and metallic mirror, but it's in the shape of a bean!"
"So... it has absolutely no purpose?" Shade said, unimpressed. "Why build a bean? Beans imply food, agriculture, but there is none? It is chrome, shaped like a bean, but... why?" It's existence confused her, and she was already in a sour mood.
"Ohh," Bee said, thinking if she'd heard of the scultupre. "I don't think so? Maybe when we see it?" She gave an apologetic shrug and squeeze on his arm. "We almost there though?"
His tail wagged at what seemed like a hundred miles per half minute. "We're almost there, I made sure to let us off not too far from it! The bean was built as a result of a design competition I think? Something like that. It's art Shade, so it could be many reasons for it I think." His ears perked up, as he kept his ears open to listen for people. "Oh before I forget did you want to go around Shade? Less crowds that way." His cheeks were flushed a little at how forward Bee was, primarily being in the presence of Shade during all of this.
She looked away from him, growling lightly, embarassed at the offer of help. "I'm fine. There's just... too many of them. Wild, chaotic, unpredictable." Self-conscious, she kept walking. "Just lead to me to this pointless Bean art."
His hearing picked up on her growl, even if it is light, but he wished to respect her wishes at least to a degree. "Hey it isn't pointless! You won't believe that when you see it!" He now was a little self-conscious primarily because he hadn't shown much physicality with Bee during this. Until now when he placed an arm around her waist to hold her close. His tail still wagging as he led them on. Soon enough they reached the Bean through a path that had less crowds, with it's metal shining with their reflections.
"Behold! The Chicago Bean! You can see your reflection in it and see how beautiful you both are! All your glory in it!" His tail wagged as he stared up at the reflection. It was something similar to a puppy discovering it's first chew toy.
"Ohhhhhhhh, tha'ts what this is called?" Bee asked, taking a step to get closer to the metal, her hand still on his arm. "Okay, I've seen this before in movies. Thought it was supposed to be a cloud or something."
Shade meanwhile had been entirely blindsided by being called any reference to beautiful with such casual tone of voice by him, and so her cheeks had warmed, hidden by her fur. She looked into the bean, arms still crossed, and quietly huffed, "It's technically impressive," she admitted as her tail twitched happily before she managed to halt it.
"Let's go under it," Bee said, pulling Bark along as she went to stand under the sculpture. She smiled as their reflections twisted and multiplied as they stood under the concave surface. "Very technically impressive."
Bark smiled as he answered her question first. "No I never liked calling it that Cloud Gate or whatever. Look at it from a further view it's clearly a bean. Although when I first saw it? I thought it was some oddly shaped and lazy egg." He turned for a brief moment to Shade seeing her tail twitch happily. "Yes it is---" He was pulled all of a sudden after being told to go under it. "Yes! It is impressive Bee!" He stared for a brief moment at their reflection loving this moment, but also seeing other reflections that unfortunately weren't there anymore. It had been so long since he'd been here. More so not being by himself. "After this I can take you both over for some food or we can enjoy some more sights together."
Shade slowly followed the other two under the Bean, watching her reflection warp as she stood under it. "I am still hungry, yes," she said simply as she looked at herself. She looked over herself with an appraising eye, turning around as she judged herself.
"We can always look at more stuff after food," Bee suggested, smiling at Shade's antics before looking to Bark. "Think you said something about the pizza rivalry or something?"
Bark gave a small and almost comedic huff with his nose. It is possible Shade would recognize the telltale signs of a pup Chongwu who was certain of something in an almost childish way. "Pizza rivalry? No more like pizza victory! Chicago pizza will always triumph over New York pizza! Also yes we can eat first before exploring more." He chuckled a little, but did notice Shade's look into The Bean, curious but definitely wasn't going to say something. After all his big mouth said some words before and erased a smile in roughly what felt like an instant. "I'll take you both to Giordanos, which they might have changed the name but my Handler referred to it as such so I kind of just did."
Shade stopped looking at herself to refocus on the conversation, and her arms crossed again. "Then take us to your American food, Bark." She gave a final showy glance to herself for herself again, before she left the Bean's shade. "We will eat excessive amounts of carbs and shave a few seconds off our lifespans. As is the American way."
"We can always eat a salad when we're not in foreign lands," Bee said, nodding in agreement.
"Salads are for omnivores with no self-respect," Shade mewed. "We will eat meat and pizza because we are free."
Bee looked like she wanted to delve into what the low-calorie diet looked like in a carnivore's eyes, but decided to shurg it off. "Lead the way, American," she said, sliding up to Bark's side again.
Bark smiled having Bee at his side, as he offered his arm once more for holding. "Hey! We don't mention the excessive amounts of carbs, it makes us self conscious of our weight! Although for once in a long time I have to agree with Shade. Salads are nasty, may as well be punishment food. However if you add some bacon and bits of meat in the mix? Not too bad." His ears twitched, as he looked uncertain. "Er I don't think I'm the American here in these parts." He chuckled a little and led them to the Giordanos or whatever name the place may have called itself now. "Hey does Jacob Marques still work here!? Food for an old friend, that iron didn't eat itself out of him!"
He seemed excited and spoke slightly different referring to the man, but sure enough to find a half-circle booth with space for all three of them and menu's were given. "Choose whatever you want on the menu and if we're lucky? It'll be free, if not? Probably half off." He chuckled already figuring out what pizza they most likely were gonna get.
"I do not need handouts," Shade said grumpily as she sat at the booth. She looked down at the menu, eyes drifting along it for food. "Are we ordering independantly, or are we sharing something? That's far cheaper."
"I mean, if we're all good with a deep dish with meat, think we can share," Bee said, sitting down next to Bark.
Bark squinted at Shade with her mention of not needing handouts. "No it isn't a handout, but it is a reward for a job well done with a hundred percentile of success." It may have seemed odd, but even he could use big mathmatical words. Not very often because it wasn't his job to be the smart one. "Although if that is what you all wish? I can order a deep dish with meat. Maybe three meats? Unless you both want more."
Bark started their stroll by having them take a ride into the city through one of the trains, which along the way the would catch a whiff of chocolate from one of the candy factories nearby still working in the city. He would direct them out of the train station and give money to one of the few homeless in the area who wanted to act as a tour guide. "First we're going to take a look at the Chicago Bean as I call it. I think it's officially called just The Bean. However it has been a marvelous sight to behold and they've kept it up since 2006!"
He was excited showing them some of the various spots they were passing up going along the way. Also showing them the new transportation systems that they were trying to implement, which of course money being the issue for why they weren't put up sooner.
Shade kept her arms crossed in th everpresent crowd of the city, eyes darting around every few minutes in some degree of paranoia. "Why would anyone build a bean? Is it's only purpose aesthetic?" Shade did not change hr outfit, wearing the same style as before. Black skintight bodysuit, long coat over it, and a datapad on her back.
"That's resturants for you," Bee said, putting her arm around Bark's as he led the way. She wore a white longsleeve sweater, black skirt and stockings, her red lipstick the only spot of color. "Hopefully their food outshines the 300 year old aesthetic."
Bark blinked a little, as he was partially distracted by Bee and her outfit, even a little by Shade however he stayed on point explaining. "No, no, no don't tell me you've never heard of The Bean? It's not food! It's a sculpture that reflects! Kind of like a shiny and metallic mirror, but it's in the shape of a bean!"
"So... it has absolutely no purpose?" Shade said, unimpressed. "Why build a bean? Beans imply food, agriculture, but there is none? It is chrome, shaped like a bean, but... why?" It's existence confused her, and she was already in a sour mood.
"Ohh," Bee said, thinking if she'd heard of the scultupre. "I don't think so? Maybe when we see it?" She gave an apologetic shrug and squeeze on his arm. "We almost there though?"
His tail wagged at what seemed like a hundred miles per half minute. "We're almost there, I made sure to let us off not too far from it! The bean was built as a result of a design competition I think? Something like that. It's art Shade, so it could be many reasons for it I think." His ears perked up, as he kept his ears open to listen for people. "Oh before I forget did you want to go around Shade? Less crowds that way." His cheeks were flushed a little at how forward Bee was, primarily being in the presence of Shade during all of this.
She looked away from him, growling lightly, embarassed at the offer of help. "I'm fine. There's just... too many of them. Wild, chaotic, unpredictable." Self-conscious, she kept walking. "Just lead to me to this pointless Bean art."
His hearing picked up on her growl, even if it is light, but he wished to respect her wishes at least to a degree. "Hey it isn't pointless! You won't believe that when you see it!" He now was a little self-conscious primarily because he hadn't shown much physicality with Bee during this. Until now when he placed an arm around her waist to hold her close. His tail still wagging as he led them on. Soon enough they reached the Bean through a path that had less crowds, with it's metal shining with their reflections.
"Behold! The Chicago Bean! You can see your reflection in it and see how beautiful you both are! All your glory in it!" His tail wagged as he stared up at the reflection. It was something similar to a puppy discovering it's first chew toy.
"Ohhhhhhhh, tha'ts what this is called?" Bee asked, taking a step to get closer to the metal, her hand still on his arm. "Okay, I've seen this before in movies. Thought it was supposed to be a cloud or something."
Shade meanwhile had been entirely blindsided by being called any reference to beautiful with such casual tone of voice by him, and so her cheeks had warmed, hidden by her fur. She looked into the bean, arms still crossed, and quietly huffed, "It's technically impressive," she admitted as her tail twitched happily before she managed to halt it.
"Let's go under it," Bee said, pulling Bark along as she went to stand under the sculpture. She smiled as their reflections twisted and multiplied as they stood under the concave surface. "Very technically impressive."
Bark smiled as he answered her question first. "No I never liked calling it that Cloud Gate or whatever. Look at it from a further view it's clearly a bean. Although when I first saw it? I thought it was some oddly shaped and lazy egg." He turned for a brief moment to Shade seeing her tail twitch happily. "Yes it is---" He was pulled all of a sudden after being told to go under it. "Yes! It is impressive Bee!" He stared for a brief moment at their reflection loving this moment, but also seeing other reflections that unfortunately weren't there anymore. It had been so long since he'd been here. More so not being by himself. "After this I can take you both over for some food or we can enjoy some more sights together."
Shade slowly followed the other two under the Bean, watching her reflection warp as she stood under it. "I am still hungry, yes," she said simply as she looked at herself. She looked over herself with an appraising eye, turning around as she judged herself.
"We can always look at more stuff after food," Bee suggested, smiling at Shade's antics before looking to Bark. "Think you said something about the pizza rivalry or something?"
Bark gave a small and almost comedic huff with his nose. It is possible Shade would recognize the telltale signs of a pup Chongwu who was certain of something in an almost childish way. "Pizza rivalry? No more like pizza victory! Chicago pizza will always triumph over New York pizza! Also yes we can eat first before exploring more." He chuckled a little, but did notice Shade's look into The Bean, curious but definitely wasn't going to say something. After all his big mouth said some words before and erased a smile in roughly what felt like an instant. "I'll take you both to Giordanos, which they might have changed the name but my Handler referred to it as such so I kind of just did."
Shade stopped looking at herself to refocus on the conversation, and her arms crossed again. "Then take us to your American food, Bark." She gave a final showy glance to herself for herself again, before she left the Bean's shade. "We will eat excessive amounts of carbs and shave a few seconds off our lifespans. As is the American way."
"We can always eat a salad when we're not in foreign lands," Bee said, nodding in agreement.
"Salads are for omnivores with no self-respect," Shade mewed. "We will eat meat and pizza because we are free."
Bee looked like she wanted to delve into what the low-calorie diet looked like in a carnivore's eyes, but decided to shurg it off. "Lead the way, American," she said, sliding up to Bark's side again.
Bark smiled having Bee at his side, as he offered his arm once more for holding. "Hey! We don't mention the excessive amounts of carbs, it makes us self conscious of our weight! Although for once in a long time I have to agree with Shade. Salads are nasty, may as well be punishment food. However if you add some bacon and bits of meat in the mix? Not too bad." His ears twitched, as he looked uncertain. "Er I don't think I'm the American here in these parts." He chuckled a little and led them to the Giordanos or whatever name the place may have called itself now. "Hey does Jacob Marques still work here!? Food for an old friend, that iron didn't eat itself out of him!"
He seemed excited and spoke slightly different referring to the man, but sure enough to find a half-circle booth with space for all three of them and menu's were given. "Choose whatever you want on the menu and if we're lucky? It'll be free, if not? Probably half off." He chuckled already figuring out what pizza they most likely were gonna get.
"I do not need handouts," Shade said grumpily as she sat at the booth. She looked down at the menu, eyes drifting along it for food. "Are we ordering independantly, or are we sharing something? That's far cheaper."
"I mean, if we're all good with a deep dish with meat, think we can share," Bee said, sitting down next to Bark.
Bark squinted at Shade with her mention of not needing handouts. "No it isn't a handout, but it is a reward for a job well done with a hundred percentile of success." It may have seemed odd, but even he could use big mathmatical words. Not very often because it wasn't his job to be the smart one. "Although if that is what you all wish? I can order a deep dish with meat. Maybe three meats? Unless you both want more."