APPLe: Thank goodness.
Wendy: Woof!
The result is clear; running is not a strength of bulldogs.
She is deeply bewildered by the situation; one of her hind legs is pulled up by the silk scarf and straightly pointing up to the sky.
Pickles: Woo … Woof, woof woof. <Lift it higher—ok, it's wrapping around your paw.>
Wendy: Woof, woof woof!
Pickles: Woof, woof woof. <Yes, I understand what you mean, Wendy.>
Pickles: Woo … Woo-woof woof. <It does have a smell similar to apple pie ... and that is because it—sorry, this gentleman is an apple.>
The Border Collie throws back his head and finally releases Wendy from the muddle.
Wendy: Woof woof woof?
Pickles: Woof, woof woof. <Yes, a flying apple.>
Pickles: Woof … <It's going to take some effort to thoroughly explain this ...>
Pickles: Woof, woof woof. <... but to put it simply, apples are not all the same.>
Pickles: Woof.
Wendy: Woof ... woof?
Hegel is apparently too much for a bulldog.
Pickles: Woo … Woof woof. <I'm sorry to sadden you ... But I believe Charlton will prepare you something more delicious than an apple.>
The bulldog gets herself together. Pickles turns and looks up in the air.
Pickles: Woof, woof woof, woof. <Good day, Mr. APPLe. I didn't expect us to see each other again.>
"Doggie": Greetings.
APPLe: Greetings to you, little puppy.
APPLe: This APPLe appreciates your help.
APPLe: We keep running into each other ... It has almost become an inevitable event that takes place spontaneously.
APPLe: This APPLe was really planning for the worst.
APPLe: But it would definitely upset the captain, if I were captured by that lady puppy.
Pickles: Woof, woof. <Although you have a captain friend, you strike me as a loner.>
Pickles: Woo, woof.
Pickles: Woof woof. <On the art of getting along with others, I'm still a humble student.>
Pickles: Woof woof, woo … <When one's personal needs conflict with external expectations, where will we find the master solution ...?>
"Doggie": The puppy had a fight with a friend too.
Pickles: Woof? Woo … Hmm … <Pardon? No, this is not true. I didn't have a fight with Charlton ... It was merely a …>
APPLe: I'm sorry if I have misled you. There has been no unpleasant event happened between Captain and this apple.
APPLe: Just that recently, Captain has been targetted by some strangers who would make eerie noises and her drinks supply has therefore become inconvenient to secure.
APPLe: This apple is merely running simple errands.
He shakes the invisible plastic bag. It rustles in the air.
APPLe: By the way, this new package of Dr. Papper with a puppy on it is quite popular these days.
Pickles: ...
Pickles: Woof.
APPLe: So what happened between you and this little bulldog?
APPLe: Perhaps this APPLe can humbly provide some advice.
Pickles: Woo … Woof ... Woof, woof … <No, not with Wendy ... In fact ... it was because Charlton has agreed to do a gig on a cruise tonight …>
"Doggie": The puppy is asking for your opinion.
Wendy: Woof woof?!
Pickles: Woof, woof ... Woof … <Yes, it is true, Wendy ... Charlton probably hasn't had the time to share this news with you ...>
The bulldog rounds her eyes in disbelief. She starts to spins around out of excitement.
"Doggie": The puppy will travel far.
APPLe: Is that so?
APPLe: But this APPLe begs to differ. It may be unwise to just leave your friend behind after having a fight with them.
APPLe: Your friend will be worried about you.
APPLe: What's more ...
APPLe lowers his voice, hinting with a meaningful look at the bulldog which wants to leave immediately. Unfortunately, however hard he strain his eyes, the expression is hardly observable to others.
APPLe: In this APPLe's opinion, a secret plan shouldn't be discussed in front of the concerned entities.
Pickles: Woof ... Woo. <No ... I have decided against the runaway. >
Pickles: Woo ... Woof. <Charlton is looking forward to this trip ... yet I don't feel ready to stand in front of a massive crowd.>
The bulldog is fidgeting. She cannot wait for a minute longer to go pack her bag.
Even she has nothing else to pack but that bouncey ball.
Pickles: Woof woof! Woof … <Oh, Wendy! Please, don't pull my tail ...>
Pickles: Hmm … <I'm still talking to Mr. APPLe ...>
"Doggie": The puppy feels uneasy.
APPLe: This APPLe is certain that, even between captain and I, there used to be tensions.
APPLe: Sometimes it was about our tastes for music, sometimes it was about food. Sometimes Captain mistook me for deserts and almost ate me while I was taking a nap ...
APPLe: But most of the issues between friends can be solved through communication. Based on my personal experience, if this rule is true for an apple, it should also be true for a puppy.
Pickles: ...
APPLe: Perhaps this is going to be too sophisticated for you—outside the realm of science, when it comes to the matter of sentiment, we have to admit that sometimes we don't have to fully understand our friend to be there for them.
Wendy: Woof woof!
Wendy is prowling up and down anxiously.
Pickles: Woof woof ... Woof, woof. <Yes, we are leaving soon, just give me a minute, Wendy ... I really appreciate your advice, Mr. APPLe.>
Pickles: Woof, woof ... Woof. <I know it's difficult for one individual to understand the other ... and it's equally hard to understand them only through verbal communication.>
Pickles: Woo ... Woof. <Nevertheless ... I think I should give it a try.>
"Doggie": The puppy accepted your suggestion.
APPLe: It's my pleasure to be of help.
APPLe: But ...
APPLe: Your friend seems to have left.
Pickles: Woof? <Do you mean Charlton?>
Pickles tilts its head, confused.
It is weirdly silent here.
APPLe: If this APPLe's eyes serve him well, your friend went towards Regent Street.
APPLe: Even though 30 minutes ago it was her who almost consumed me as snacks, I have to admit she has one adorable little tail.
Pickles: Woof.
Pickles: Woof! <Wendy!>
London apparently doesn't anticipate the sudden wind.
Police Officer: Hey! Keep order!
Pickles: special thinking noise <What is going on ... ?>
The queue before them goes on forever.
A group of fluffy, colorful cumulus "clouds," slowly rolling forward, flood onto Regent Street. Music, slogans, and flower petals pour down on the asphalt pavements like a shower of rain.
Young Man in Understated Clothes: No more Establishment! Peace and love!
Police Officer: Blimey, why are so many people here this time?
Pickles: special thinking noise
Pickles: special thinking noise <Such a complex smell ... >
Pickles: Woof, woof! <Wendy, Wendy!>
Wendy: Woof! Woof woof!
A muffled voice comes from afar.
Pickles: Woof, woof. <Oh, I think I've spotted her.>
Pickles: special thinking noise
Pickles: Woo, woof ... Woo ... Woof. <Ah, that silk scarf ... It's a shame that I have ripped it apart ... perhaps its owner is right in the crowd.>
The Border Collie lowers its body, agilely dodges the clubs and kicks and breaks through the siege of the police.
Young Man A: Oh, hey look! Here is a puppy!
Pickles: Woof, woof. <I'm sorry. It's not a good time to make acquaintance.>
Young Woman A: Hahaha! A free puppy! Aww, it's fluffy!
Young Woman A: This must be how Utopia would feel like!
Pickles: Woo, woof. <This is not the best petting I've ever had, but I guess this is more of a friendly gesture than an action for my own comfort.>
Pickles: Woof, woof, woo … <However, sorry, I have a business to attend to ...>
Pickles: Woo, woof. <Oh, this is bad.>
The tiny tail of the bulldog disappears in the crowd.
More hands and legs gathers around.
Pickles: ...
Pickles: special thinking noise <I haven't felt such a great amount of passion since the Flurry Puppy Games.>
The smell of Wendy is getting thin in the air.
Pickles: ...
Pickles: Woof.
His fluffy hair flutters in the breeze. An indigo blue glow flows around his body.
Pickles: special thinking noise <I hope pushing your high-spiritedness further won't ruin this get-together ...>
Pickles: special thinking noise
There comes a minor disturbance in the crowd.
Pickles: special thinking noise
A small swirl emerges in the middle of that colorful "cloud."
Pickles: Woof … <But ...>
The Daydreaming Man A: Oh, OH!!
The Daydreaming Woman A: The battleship turns into a flower! Whoa ... is it rose?
Pickles: ...
Pickles: special thinking noise <This is odd. Their emotions don't seem to be the only thing that has been affected.>
Pickles: special thinking noise <I don't reckon myself to be capable of creating illusions.>
Pickles: special thinking noise <Must be something else did this to them ... But for now the most important thing is to find Wendy ...>
"Pop."
Pickles: ?
Pickles flicks his furry ears. Even in a place noisy as this one, it captures a faint voice.
Pickles: special thinking noise <This is the noise of ... bursting soap bubbles?>
