I might add more to the fae thing later but I feel I should confess the Vorkosigan Saga AU that’s been sitting in my heart for a while: modern dog-owners Cordelia and Aral meet repeatedly at the dog park at like 5am when nobody else is there, because that’s the only time Cordelia can safely give her traumatized, bitey, ex-police rottweiler Bothari the freedom to run that he needs, and it’s the only time that Aral’s horrible work schedule allows him to take his jack russell terrier puppy Simon out for some relaxing dog time.
bonus level is they remember that they’ve actually met in passing before, because Aral was the one sneakily dropping Bothari off at the dog shelter just when Cordelia went in to look for a companion; Aral works with the police or military in some capacity?? and Bothari was supposed to be put down for viciousness and Aral legit smuggled this 150lb dog to safety. He got demoted subsequently for unrelated reasons, but he’s still a dog-handler which is why he has Simon who’s a sniffer and tracker instead of a “cool” attack dog. also, Simon probably has a tiny camera attached to his collar at all times, to Record and Report on Injustice, and also all the interesting things he sniffs! He’s a curious boy. But very well-trained, and Aral and Cordelia’s first actual conversation definitely involves Bothari snarling at Aral, partly for memory and partly because he tried to touch Cordelia when she tripped on a rock or something, and Simon-who-is-a-third-Bothari’s-size planting himself between them and barking back. They will be a family soon!
I have not decided who else are humans vs. dogs, except Bel must obviously be The Fanciest Poodle, out-fancied only by Byerly, who might actually be a chihuahua.
