FSE

Furry search engine

formerly SoFurry search engine

Second Proposal copyright 2015 comidacomida

The Mein Hund project continued at pace or, more specifically: ahead of schedule. Paul was surprised at how well everything was going but, then again THIS time he didn't have to contend with a whacko-crazy woman sabotaging interpersonal communications and professional interaction. In apparent balance for the good fortune fate also threw a minor curve ball when Eizenzahn made another adjustment to the ad: he wanted another Human model.

In any normal situation Paul wouldn't have blinked twice about the addition of another model but in this particular case it made his job more difficult; Eizenzahn was so pleased with his selection of TeeSee he elected to leave the Human up to him as well... with two requirements: the Human had to be another non-model and needed to be a female. Paul didn't have much of a choice in the matter and so it was a simple "Yes sir." and he moved on.

The rest of the work week added up to more chaos but he actually managed to take it all in stride... even if he hadn't found a suitable candidate. Still, Paul refused to let it get to him and by the time he left the office on Friday he was upbeat and optimistic if for no other reason than it was the weekend and he was going to meet his favorite couple of friends at Como Abuela. Ray and Michelle were really worked up about getting together and something about their eagerness was infectious; Paul enjoyed having it to look forward to.

He and Tanner met up at the condo and took a few minutes to get ready then took Paul's car to the restaurant. As they were on their way over the inevitable discussion came up. Tanner had spent the first minute or two looking out the window but he glanced over to Paul. "So... how'd that project hang-up turn out?"

Paul issued a sidelong glance at his boyfriend, choosing to keep the majority of his attention on the road. He caught sight of a smirk on the Dog's muzzle and he wasn't sure he wanted to be led into the trap but he went for it anyway. "What hang-up?"

"Have you found the THIRD final model yet?"

It was a reoccurring theme with Tanner. Ever since Eizenzahn approached Tanner with the thought that he'd round everything out the German Shepherd was constantly pointing out that he wasn't actually the FINAL piece to the puzzle. After Bert bowed out and they replaced him with TeeSee Tanner had started in on things in general good humor but he'd become comedically unbearable after finding out that the Doberman decided he wanted a second Human added into the photo. Paul replied to the question as succinctly as possible. "No. Not yet."

The Shepherd's grin widened even more. "Maybe you should ask your sister. Kimmy said she wanted to see California, right?"

Paul fired back without hesitation, smirking the whole time. "Don't MAKE me aim your side of the car at a parked truck."

Tanner laughed at the response and slid a paw over to rest atop the hand Paul was using to hold onto the shifter; it was an automatic but he'd learned on a manual and the habit had carried over. The Human smiled. "Well... between our biggest client and my most important Dog both reminding me constantly of the fact that we need one more model I have a feeling it'll stay at the top of my list, thanks."

The Shepherd immediately became more supportive and less satirical as he gave Paul's hand a gentle squeeze. "Any leads yet? I mean... there are probably hundreds of talent agencies from here down to San Diego. I'm sure one of them's gotta have a--"

Paul sighed. "Eizenzahn doesn't want the second Human to be a model... he wants someone more natural so he can have something more candid... kinda like Jason Campbell, I guess."

Tanner's ears raised and he barely got the two words out before he started cracking up. "Like Jason? Natural?!?!"

Once they got to a stop light the Human turned to look at his passenger. He used his best sardonic tone. "What? He's a robot? Damn... I knew it all along."

The Shepherd continued laughing, his whiskers vibrating with the severity of the action. The light turned green again before Tanner got himself under control. He still had trouble speaking while trying to catch his breath. "No... it's..."

Paul sighed. "I know... he's some kind of God with Dogs... the second coming of Jesus kind of thing, right?"

Tanner finally had a chance to calm down. "Nah... I'm not even talking about that-- and it works with Humans too, by the way. What I mean is that he's a celebrity, Paul... even though it hasn't gone to his head it still puts him on a different level."

"So what are you getting at?"

The Shepherd sat up in his seat a little straighter, his voice tuning in to that carefully cultivated tone of deep thought and analysis Paul had come to love so much about him. "I think Eizenzahn is choosing his Human models like he chose his Dog ones."

Paul slowed down for the turn into the Como Abuela parking lot. "Come again? How's that, exactly? He only has two Humans."

Tanner held up a finger, then a second, and finally a third, counting off all his points. "First, he got Jason as a recognizable face and wants a second Human who isn't established... second, you said he wants a female Human for his second advertisement 'Leasher'... and third, he selected the first Human and he wants you to find the second."

Paul shook his head in disbelief but his words slowed down even as he thought about it himself. "Even though that makes sense it's just plain silly. Do you REALLY think that Eizenzahn go to such great lengths... to.... oh my god... that IS what he's doing, isn't it?"

Tanner was just about to say something but he glanced past Paul and held up a paw in greeting. Paul turned to regard Ray and Michelle who had just got out of their own car. He offered the pair a wave of his own as Tanner added aside to him "To be continued."

Michelle was the first to meet them as they approached, offering Paul a warm hug and a kiss on the cheek then doing the same for Tanner. Ray was next and surprised Paul with a big, full-bodied hug followed by a nose bump. "Hey, Dakota. Glad you two could make it."

The Retriever repeated the greeting with Tanner as Paul smirked. "You kidding? I've been looking forward to the weekend all week, and that weekend starts HERE."

Michelle wrapped her arm around Paul's waist and walked with him inside even as Ray did the same with Tanner. She laid her head on his shoulder. "Good. Same here."

It was a strange gesture on her part but Paul let it slide as they entered into the restaurant. The usual hostess was there and it was obvious they were recognized. She did a double-take when she saw Michelle hanging off of Paul and the young man straightened up his posture, clearing his throat. "Uh... four... please."

The hostess smiled and addressed them clearly despite her strong accent. "Jes. Right dees way pleeze."

Paul didn't really know why but he felt a little more self-conscious having Michelle on his arm as they walked to their assigned booth. There was a time when he would have welcomed the societal norm of having a woman by his side but he couldn't place what it was that had him so ill-at-ease. Michelle let him get into the booth first and slid in next to him. "She's not Mexican."

"Huh?"

Ray slid into the booth next to Tanner, sitting across from Michelle, tail beating good-naturedly against the back of the booth. "Oh come on. Don't start that again, Shelly."

Laughing, she set her hands on the table in front of her with a shrug. "I'm just saying that this is a Mexican restaurant and their hostess is from Puerto Rico."

The Golden Retriever stuck his tongue out in an almost childlike (pup-like?) manner. "Sure... just show off your ear for accents."

Paul glanced to the booth-mate at his side. "How can you tell she's from Puerto Rico, Michelle?"

The woman gave a pointed glance at Ray. "Thank you for asking, Paul."

The Retriever gave an over-exaggerated eye roll. "Oh... HERE we go."

The next ten minutes consisted of an accent lesson disrupted only by a quick visit from the server to get everyone's orders. Michelle had learned to tell by ear where patients of the hospital were from when they spoke Spanish. Apparently it went a long way toward getting good reviews from patients when she was talking with them... especially in one case when she was the first Spanish speaking nurse who didn't automatically assume a Spaniard was Mexican. She finished with saying "It all comes down to listening. Just like how you can tell someone's from England, or Australia, or even the South--"

Paul cleared is throat. "Uh... I try not to... last time I asked if someone was from Australia she got mad at me."

A grin spread across Michelle's face. "Let me guess... she was from New Zealand."

Tanner laughed. "Yea... she was."

The laughter spread all around the table... even to Paul. As everyone started to quiet down he had to ask. "How'd you know?"

It brought up another round of laughter and even though Paul found himself blushing it didn't embarrass him as much as it made him laugh along. There was a difference of laughing with friends and being laughed at by friends; it was a feel good moment... and only disrupted a little by the appearance of the server.

Only once dinner arrived did the discussion really turn to something more serious and it was Tanner who brought up the obvious subject. "So... did you guys set a date yet?"

Ray smiled, reaching across the table with a paw. "We were thinking after the current Mein Hund project settled down... maybe the end of summer."

Michelle met the Dog's paw with her hand. It was a touching moment and Paul didn't have it in him to point out that Ray's shirt sleeve was dragging through the Dog's Chicken en Mole. Looking at the sauce, a thought suddenly struck him. "That has cocoa in it, doesn't it?"

Ray's eyes went from Michelle down to his dinner; at that point he noticed the sauce on his shirt. He withdrew his arm, chuckling as he dipped his napkin into his glass of water and began brushing at it. "Well damn it."

Michelle was apparently the only one at the table who picked up on what Paul was getting at. "Dogs are just fine with chocolate, Paul... just like Humans."

The young man shifted on the booth seat. "Oh... okay... I heard vets say that four legged dogs shouldn't eat chocolate so I thought--"

Tanner stared at Paul from across the table. "Did you know that most Monkeys have wheat and rye allergies? A lot of them don't do so well with Soy either."

"Uh... no. I didn't."

The Shepherd smiled. "Some Humans do too."

"Oh. Okay?"

Ray took over, elaborating. "Just like certain Humans have gluten issues some Dogs have Chocolate allergies. I'm not one of em."

To illustrate the point the Retriever took a huge fork full of the brownish-red sauce and chicken. Paul chuckled uncomfortably and Michelle just rolled her eyes. "I think Dakota gets the idea, Ray... it was just a question."

The Retriever smirked, setting his fork down. "I know... Dakota's a good sport. You're a good guy, Paul. Don't ever change."

It was at that point Paul decided it'd be a good idea to get things back on track. "We were talking about the wedding."

Tanner picked up on that. "Did you figure out who you're having officiate? Have you found a public official whose willing to marry the two of you?"

Michelle shook her head. "No... we checked around... but a friend of mine from the hospital got ordained online so she could perform a wedding for her sister and her girlfriend and she said she'd be happy to officiate one for us but we'd be on our own fighting the good fight against the legal proceedings."

She and Ray shared a laugh about the last part but it got Paul to thinking. The question came out unbidden. "How?"

Ray's ears raised and he glanced over at Paul after sliding his empty plate aside. "Oh... we found a way to make it happen."

Michelle leveled her gaze at the Retriever. "You didn't talk to them about it yet?"

He shrugged in response. "It's been busy at work. That's what tonight was for."

Paul sat back in on the boot bench. "Talk about what?"

Ray downed the last of his drink before answering the question. "Fill you in on the details of the wedding."

Michelle's grin stretched ear-to-ear. "We want you to be the best man."

Paul froze. "Huh?"

The Retriever's ears fell down and back as he shot her a playful glare. "Hey! We agreed that I was gonna tell him, Shelly."

She stuck her tongue out at Ray, sliding her credit card to the server who came by with their check. "You had all week... and I thought we settled on having Paul AND Tanner as the best MEN."

Tanner smirked, obviously handling the sudden reveal better than Paul. "I thought the talk was supposed to follow dinner?"

Ray laughed, giving the Shepherd a light elbow as he slid out of the booth. "Fair enough. You two following us back to the apartment?"

Tanner gave him an elbow back. "That's the plan."

The two Dogs headed out of the restaurant ahead, chatting with one another as Paul stayed behind for a few moments waiting with Michelle for the server to return. "So... movie night, huh?"

Michelle nodded. "Ray said you mentioned that you guys like Rin-Tin-Tin... I picked up the remake they released last summer. It just came out on blu-ray and figured it might be fun pick for the movie night tonight."

Paul laughed at that as the waiter came back. Michelle accepted the receipt, signing it and leaving the restaurant's copy on the table. He didn't comment until he and she were arm in arm walking out. "Yea... Tanner got me hooked... I guess Rinny was his hero back from when he was a pup. Things were kinda crazy and we didn't get a chance to see it, he'll--"

He fell silent when Michelle planted a kiss on his cheek. He turned slowly to regard her and she smiled. "Thanks for being such a good friend, Dakota."

He felt his cheeks blush. "Well... uh... technically Tanner and I are a little MORE than friends, but I-"

She laughed, giving him a light smack on the shoulder. "I meant to Ray... and me... and pretty much every last person you meet. You're a good man, Paul Miller."

The two couples merged up after that which forestalled any response Paul could have given. Ray and Tanner broke ranks and the Shepherd returned to Paul even as the Retriever embraced Michelle. Paul let out a breath. "You know... I figure when the weekend comes around things get calmer, but I guess that isn't always the case, is it?"

* * * * * *

Paul had only ever been over to Ray's apartment when the Retriever had lived alone... and the apartment he and Tanner followed Ray and Michelle to was a different one. It took a moment for Paul to remember that the couple had moved into a new one together after their relationship became public knowledge. The new apartment was a LOT nicer... and had Michelle's feminine touch, making it much more welcoming and much less austere than the Dog's last home.

The apartment was two bedroom but Ray and Michelle shared one, leaving the other room available as Ray's at-home office or, for the sake of movie night (which had been promised to be accompanied by drinks) was great as a guest room. All four walked in together and Michelle went straight into the kitchen. "I'm no bartender but I know a few really great mixed drinks. You two make yourself comfortable."

Ray in the meantime had kicked off his shoes and went straight into the living room to mess with the television. Paul had great respect for anyone who was able to change the settings on the television from cable to DVD without any real issue, and that included Ray. Tanner didn't miss the way the Human watched the Retriever's use of the buttons on the remote. "See? It's REALLY not all that hard to do, Paul."

"Bite me."

Ray glanced over his shoulder. "What's that?"

Tanner spoke up to explain. "Paul has this... 'unique way' around technology."

Their host didn't miss a beat. "You mean like his computer at work?"

The German Shepherd grinned. "Yep."

Ray didn't relent. "Or his cell phone?"

Tanner's grin widened. "Yep-- phone too."

"Or--"

Paul interjected. "Yes, Ray... that too. Whatever you were about to say if it involves technology I think it's safe to say that it doesn't get along well with me."

It was about that time when Michelle joined them carrying a tray of tumblers. "Alright you two. The referee is calling an end to the match. No more double-teaming."

A few more laughs were had as everyone started to settle down. Paul wasn't able to put his finger on what it was about hanging out with Ray and Michelle that made him so at ease but he wasn't able to think of anyone else short of Tanner himself who made him feel comfortable enough to exchange witty banter and depreciating humor... he was actually able to laugh at himself and that felt surprisingly good.

Once everyone found a seat (Tanner in an armchair and Paul seated on one side of the couch with Michelle between him and Ray) the movie remained off as Ray got to the point of the evening and he started it with a very innocent "You two know how I proposed to Michelle and everything... well she and I were looking to get your input."

Paul glanced around the two at Tanner; the Shepherd was looking right back at him. They nodded in unison. "Okay."

Michelle reached out for Ray's paw and the fingers on both entwined. The Retriever continued. "In early colonial times Humans and Dogs both had a place in America but they were separated by the same societal values that governed the other civilized nations... it was pretty much the norm until the early 20th century."

Tanner nodded. "Yea... we studied that in the American History class I took in College... After the industrial revolution Dogs and Humans were hired equally to deal with the labor shortage that came about with the development of labor unions and strikes."

Ray chuckled. "Yea... you shoulda heard my old man go off on that any time someone brought it up... he always talked about it being 'the best thing to come out of the best thing to happen'."

A chuckle went around the room and Michelle laid her head on the Retriever's shoulder. "That was also back when Dogs were segregated based on breed and you didn't find mixed families any more commonly than you did among Humans of different skin color."

Ray nodded. "Right... that was around the same time as the civil rights movement... but that's skipping a few important things, Shelly."

Michelle slid her hand into his paw again. "Right... the MaB Act."

Paul hadn't spent a lot of time studying history but he DID remember the MaB act because of a little phrase his teacher had used in high school. "The MaB Act made lots of people M-A-D."

Everyone else laughed at that and Michelle shifted her weight so she could rest her head on Paul's shoulder. "Right... it was a morality based proposed-law appearing after World War One came to an end when lots of young Dogs ended up getting pregnant due to so many soldiers coming back from the front..."

Paul thought for a moment before speaking. "There was a big controversy over the proposal at the time because it all but ordered Dogs to get married if they were having a pup but there wasn't an equal bill submitted for Humans, right?"

Tanner nodded. "Yea... so they made it an 'Act' without fully enforcing it as a law. People heard about it and that was good enough for the people who were trying to get it to be put into effect. It was laid out as a formally proposed act and only loosely enforced... but what does that have to do with--"

Ray held up a paw. "Just one piece of the puzzle, Tanner."

The German Shepherd leaned forward in his chair, elbows on his knees. "Okay."

Michelle picked up where Ray left off. "At that time one of the requirements for Dogs to be able to marry was that they had to be able to produce pups."

Paul was surprised yet again. "Why? That doesn't make any sense."

Ray waved away the objection with an errant motion of a paw. "More moral laws. It was a subtle jab at Human/Dog relationships back then... a reminder that Dogs were Dogs and Humans were Humans and if they couldn't have offspring then it was an 'act against god'. Nobody back then wanted to acknowledge any taboo relationships so they just went a round-about way to condemn them. Humans and Dogs, Man and Man, Woman and Woman... an easy way to oppress all of it."

Paul nodded thoughtfully. "So you think they're going to use that law to challenge you two?"

Ray grinned, taking a sip of his drink. "Nope. We're going to use it to our benefit."

"How?"

Michelle took over again. "Well... after World War 2 when soldiers and POWs came back from Europe there was the issue of neutered Dogs."

Paul was taken aback. "WHAT?"

All eyes went to him. Tanner was the one to elaborate. "One of the things Nazis did to keep Dogs from enlisting on the Allied side was to castrate any that they imprisoned."

The Human thought he was going to be sick; he never read about any of that. "Really?"

Michelle nodded. "Really. And at that time one of the requirements for Dogs to be able to marry was that they had to be able to produce pups."

Paul was surprised yet again. "So... what happened? The GIs couldn't get married because they couldn't have pups?"

She continued, shaking her head. "No. The laws acknowledged that Dogs approach intimacy and intimate relations a little differently than Humans. There was a bill that passed allowing a Dog to marry a Bitch if his friend sires pups with her for him, thereby bypassing all other requirements. He legally becomes the father to the pups and the husband to the mother."

Paul thought about that for a moment but it was Tanner who ended being faster on the uptake. "The law didn't specifically say that the Dogs had to be the same breed, did it?"

Michelle's smile widened. "No... because lawmakers didn't really think that much into setting a precedence, which is what they did. Later during the civil rights movement Dogs in the 1960s successfully challenged the status quo. Dogs of different breeds would get the aid of a friend to impregnate the prospective bride and then force the 1940s law of Father-By-Friend into effect... and they won time and time again."

Ray finished off his drink and set his glass to the side before finishing the thought. "None of these laws, acts, or precedents have been repealed, cancelled, or successfully challenged... and we plan on using all of them to win us our right to marry."

Tanner sat back in his chair rubbing his chin. "Except Michelle isn't a Dog."

Ray smirked. "You learned about the American Civil Rights movements and the equality act of 1969 in your history class, right?"

Tanner nodded. "Yea... Humans and Dogs are considered for the same rights and responsibilities... that laws won't be made separately for either Dogs or Humans and that all laws in effect--"

The German Shepherd's eyes lit up. He and Ray finished the thought together "--will apply to both equally."

Michelle joined them in smiling. "There shouldn't be any reason we can't use the same argument as the Dogs in 1960s used."

Tanner's ears perked. "So you're using the Dog rulings and asserting that they should be able to apply to Humans as well."

Paul glanced first at Michelle then to Ray before asking the most obvious question. "So... how do you expect Michelle to have a 'puppy' for you to adopt, exactly?"

Michelle chuckled next to him and Ray grinned ear to ear. Tanner sat up a little straighter, apparently understanding. It wasn't until Paul had six eyes on him that he realized the answer but Michelle voiced it regardless. "We want YOU to help us conceive."

Ray nodded in agreement. "Once Michelle gets pregnant we can use already established precedence so I can claim parentage and then press the issue of marriage by citing the morality act of the 1920s. It's not going to be easy but we'll have one hell of a case."

Head still spinning Paul was barely able to digest anything of what was said. In the end the only answer he could muster was "...it's kinda sudden."

Michelle reached out and took his hand. "You don't have to decide right away, Dakota. We didn't expect you to have an answer immediately and we're not springing it on you without a reasonable time frame for you to think it over."

Tanner nodded thoughtfully. "How long do we have to decide."

The way his boyfriend used 'we' immediately made Paul feel better. Tanner was right; they were in it together. Choosing to lean on that thought the Human asked the Shepherd "So... what do you think about it?"

Tanner shrugged. "Honestly? Well... I mean... it makes sense. If you're okay with it then I don't see any reason why not."

Paul rested his hands in his lap as he considered what they were asking. "So... I mean... I go to a fertility clinic and they give me a cup or something? How does it all work exactly?"

Michelle blushed a little as she reached over and rested a hand on his thigh. "You're a good friend, Dakota... and Tanner too. We actually were hoping for something a little more intimate and meaningful."

Paul's response consisted of clearing his throat then pausing; he rubbed the back of his head to delay his admission. Eventually when he couldn't stall any further he tried to bumble his way through explaining the problem he foresaw. "I... uh... I'm not... entirely... sure I could... you know... make it work."

There was a silence pervading the room and he blushed, suddenly realizing what he said might have been taken the wrong way. He quickly added "No I mean it isn't you it's me and I'm not sure I could manage to make things work because you're a woman not because you're not beautiful or not because I don't like you I just don't think that I would be able to do it because I'm not really attracted to women and the only other time I got anywhere near intimate with--"

Michelle butted in when he paused to take a breath in his rambling. "DAKOTA! It's fine... honest, sweet-heart."

Letting out a shaky breath, Paul sunk down against the sofa as he tried to put his thoughts into word. "I just don't think I'm wired that way, Michelle... I'm not sure I could... you know... uh... get... it up..."

She smiled patiently, leaning forward to kiss him on the forehead. "Like I said, Dakota... you don't have to decide now, and if you say yes you know everyone here will do everything we can to make sure you're comfortable. We're understanding and we'll all love you and you shouldn't be embarrassed no matter what."

Ray leaned forward in his chair a little, tugging at his tie uncomfortably as his ears reddened. "You'd really be doing us more a favor than we could ever repay, Dakota... of COURSE we'd be supportive. We can all be together if it'd help-- all four of us."

It was everything Paul had ever heard of or known to be the intimate connection in a Dog relationship... friends joining friends with their respective partners... only in this case Paul would be with Michelle. It didn't make sense! Did it? He let out a breath and then downed the rest of his drink. "And you really want ME to help you?"

Michelle and Ray both nodded. The Retriever answered with certainty. "You're a good man, Dakota... I wouldn't want anyone else helping me father a child with Michelle."

Paul's head was spinning, and it was from more than the alcohol. He and Tanner hadn't had the time to be intimate for most of the week and his mind was awash with the situation's 'how's and, despite his fear and trepidation his body seemed to be receptive to the idea... but would it be on the night they chose to execute the plan?

He surprised himself with his own declaration. "Okay... but if we're gonna try it we should... uh... probably try tonight."