Sorry this took a while to put paws to keyboard, but when you read on, you will see why I found it hard to write … … … Anyway … … … :

The weekend of the 18th and 19th February saw the Mr Puppy Europe Competition held at Darklands, as part of LeatherPride.be; unlike last year where I was competing at the competition (whilst being filmed!), this time I was helping with some of the organisation. Additionally, I had also volunteered to help at a couple of other things along the way for the organisers of leatherpride, Camp K9 and the X-Awards!!!.

We set off from home, to fly out from Luton Airport to Amsterdam, (where we were planning a break at the end of the event) and then jumped on the train to Antwerp. This set the tone of the weekend where I travelled from the Airport Car Park with my blue neoprene dog collar on. The flight there was generally uneventful, and we arrived at our hotel in good time.

At this point, I got changed in to my puppy outfit, repacked the bag slightly and we headed off down to Darklands for the remaining aspects of the Friday, and the opening VIP drinks reception. This gave us the opportunity to see the layout of the venue, catch up with those we know and meet up with various friends. The drinks reception was quite nice, and after it finished, we headed off for food to the Italian we found last year, still in the Zentai (although with clothes over the top) and then retired back to bed for the night.

The Saturday saw Day 1 of Mr Puppy Europe, and also the first of my various other activities I was helping with. As part of the opening introduction on the Main Stage, the Mr Puppy EU Host RipperMoff was doing a sketch where I was involved and had to act with him as a puppy on stage – it was the spoof “Barbera Woodhouse” ‘Sit!’ sketch.

This was great fun *wags* and then it was on to helping the 5 contestants – Pup Bentley: Mr Puppy NL,Pup Farex: Mr Puppy CH,Pup Makke,Pup Barka&Pup Piglet: Mr Puppy UK(orPup Piglets Blog) and making sure they were OK having been through it myself last year.

On my return to Camp K9 it was time to relax for a bit with a chance to pay in the wonderful Ball Pit.

Then it was on to helping out with the Mr Puppy EU competition again … this time I was helping with the obstacle course as a “safety pup” and also as a bit of a distraction. I was like being a House Robot from the Robot Wars TV series – but in this sense the “House Puppy”… sitting in wait and then pouncing at the end.

My final bit of activity on the Saturday was to be involved in charity wrestling matches of “Pup v Superhero” wrestling matches – with two pups and two superheroes. I’m pleased to report that not only did I win all 5 of my rounds, but the other pup also won all 5 of his – so if you’re ever in trouble you need to call a pup not a superhero! *wags* This event also saw the debut of a new outfit for Spot – a twitter contact has turned one of my spare Dalmatian print zentai in to 2 Dalmatian print thongs – meaning that I can now be a puppy in even less clothes ;) !

The evening saw us going to the same restaurant as the night before, although this time I’d changed back into normal clothes, having been in the thong rather than the Zentai before hand. However, on the wander back from the restaurant we must have taken a wrong turning somewhere and we ended up wandering around the Red Light District of Antwerp which was an interesting experience!

Sunday saw the main part of Mr Puppy EU, with the Interviews and Stage Presentations. Again, RipperMoff had asked me to help with this part and so I came to be rehearsing on stage while also helping with making sure that some of the contestants got to their interviews.

As the final rehearsals were completed, and it approached time to go on stage, the scene was set. Jeroen, the overall MC for the Darklands event led me on to the stage, and I went and sat like a good puppy in the corner.

He introduced Ripper, and he then left the stage … off we went in to a Cruella De Ville sketch.
RipperMoff did a short ‘phone call’ – wanting the “puppies to be kidnapped tonight”

and then Ripper left the stage for a quick change into a spotty dress. This pup then gets cat-napped by KittyRony to the theme tune of Mission Impossible

(I did well … I got to the safety railings at the front of the stage before my lead was clipped onto my back) and I was dragged off stage to be turned in to a fur coat :( … BTW: From what the pups backstage said “it was quite funny to watch Ripper do a quick change to the theme tune of mission impossible” …
Anyway, RipperMoff re-enters on stage to do a song from 101 Dalmatians in the spotty dress …

meanwhile I remove everything except my hood, collar, paws and knee pads.
At the end of the scene, I was lead back on by ‘Cruella’ to prove that no pups were harmed in the making of the dress … and at this point I re-enter stage with nothing on except my puppy hood, collar, paw and knee pads – I had nothing else on! Much to everyone’s enjoyment – wolf whistles and a round of applause :) *wags*

This was fine, but due to the quick changeovers between this and the next section for RipperMoff, I was left backstage in just the hood and paws (completely nude otherwise) for a few minutes before I could be allowed to change!

I was then there to offer comforting words to the pups that had to go on stage for their acts – a nervous experience as I know only too well!

The afternoon of the Sunday event also saw me presiding over a film screening of the C4 Documentary as the first Mr Puppy UK Title Holder, and the main feature of the documentary, with a Q&A session afterwards. I was also involved at this point with being a pup on-stage for helping present one of the X-Awards. After this I was then backstage to support pups before they went on stage for the results. This was probably the hardest part of the weekend for me mentally, due to my experience last year; that and by the time everyone was either onstage or out front taking photos for the official twitter feed I was all alone :( I was quiet, but OK until the point at which the results were going to be announced, at his moment I had to wander off to give my head a chance to clear (pup hoods do well at hiding tears! :( ) – last year for me was hard in a number of ways: I still have a deep sadness I didn’t succeed for the UK, I feel I let the team down for not being the 2016 title holder for Europe, I had a very awkward experience at the competition last year – and so in all, I just had to wander off to clear my mind from these sad thoughts…. [as a serious point to those that took part this year, I wasn’t in the right place in my mind to listen to the results – sorry]. It was while I was away I met someone that I have known domestically for a number of years! Talk about shock… but it also helped me come back to the happy side of pup life and such like – so in many ways it was bizarre, but a blessing to meet this friend :) … I headed back to Camp K9 in happy spirits to give all the contestants a congratulations and hugs etc … They all did well – I’ve been there and it’s not an easy place to be – you are constantly on the go, with no time to relax, you’re there impressing the judges, being interviewed and just being the best you can be … so in my eyes, everyone deserves a medal for taking part, it takes courage!! FYI, Piglet (UK) came third, Bentley (NL) came 2nd and Farax (BE) was crowned the title holder for 2017.

As the end of the event wound down, the group of us from the Europe Competition went out on mass to the same Pizza Restaurant

– we had mentioned the night before to the waiters that we would be back – but I don’t think they were expecting the party of 2 to turn in to a party of 18 overnight! A fantastic meal was had by all – with me still in my pup gear, many others still displaying tails clipped on belts etc. and the majority, if not all, of the customers being from Darklands! “Cheers!!!” to all those that organised or took part in this years competition, and if any one (pups included) want support from me, then just *bark* at me and I will do what I can to help *wags*

After the meal we all went our separate ways, and said our congratulations and goodbyes … gave hugs to all, and then we wandered back to the hotel for a good nights sleep before setting off on the second part of our adventure.

The Monday saw us returning to Antwerp train station to depart for Amsterdam – but I wanted to travel as a pup, so bags packed, me in pup-gear, we set off (though I did keep the hood and paws in the bag, and only got them out for an odd photo or 2 on the journey). We ran in to RipperMoff at the train station before departing but other than that we enjoyed a nice train journey to Amsterdam, with me constantly as puppy. This did gather a few interesting looks from people on the way but I had fantastic fun doing it!

Amsterdam & our short holiday there is a separate blog post to follow :D

Oh, and if you want to, you can read Pup Piglets interview with me before the Europe Competition on his blog
Also here is a link to Piglets account of the Mr Puppy Europe Competition

*wags*

The Price Of A Coat - Cruella DeVil (101 Dalmatians)

Summary: When Cruella loses Anita as a designer, she turns her sights to you, a skilled designer of another fashion house in London. And she’ll do anything to get you to leave your current employer.

Word Count: 1,592

Warnings: Suggestive, a bit of sexual tension, angst if you squint

You’d been working for your current fashion house for years now. You’d always considered yourself lucky to have gotten a job there, and now the brand was becoming one of the most successful in London. And your work for them hadn’t gone unnoticed. In fact, just recently, your designs caught the eye of the infamous Cruella DeVil.

You were sketching away as you typically did after grabbing yourself a cup of coffee, when a soft knock fell on your office door. It was one of the secretaries and it wasn’t often anyone bothered to summon you, so you were a bit surprised. Even more so when this secretary seemed frightened. “I, um, someone to see you,” she stuttered.

“Well send them in,” you said, but by the time you got the words out, your visitor had already made her way into the room.

She walked right up to you, and the secretary quickly shut the door behind her, excusing herself and leaving the two of you alone. “Cruella DeVil,” the woman introduced, offering you her hand, clad in a black leather glove. You knew who she was, of course. There wasn’t a single person in the fashion industry of London who didn’t know Cruella, but you never dreamed that you’d meet her in person.

You took her hand and she gave you a firm yet gentle shake. “I’ve seen your work,” she said as she released your hand. “And as I’ve recently lost one of my best designers, I’m in the market for another. You, specifically.”

“I’m flattered, Miss DeVil, but I can’t leave my fashion house. Loyalty, you see. I was with them when they started and I couldn’t bear to leave them now.”

“Ah, yes, loyalty is a tricky thing, isn’t it? How about I make you a deal? One fur coat. Design and make me one fur coat unlike any other, while you think about my job offer and if, upon completion of the coat, you still don’t wish to join the House of DeVil, then I shall leave you be. Agreed?”

It seemed a reasonable enough offer. One project aside from your usual work wasn’t asking too much, you supposed. Besides, it wasn’t often that you got to work with fur, faux or otherwise. It might be a nice change for you creatively speaking. “I accept,” you replied after having thought it over for a moment. “I’ll make your coat and consider your offer in the meantime.”

“Do stop by with it once you’re finished. I’d like to see the design before you have it made.”

“Of course,” you agreed. “Until then, Miss DeVil.”

“Please, call me Cruella.”

You had no intention of accepting Cruella’s job offer in the end. You simply couldn’t betray your current employer. They’d taken a chance on you at a time when no one else would and for that you swore to remain eternally grateful. So far, you had, without a second thought.

Designing Cruella’s coat in your free time, however, did give you much to think about. You considered it all fantasy though, a what if type of scenario. You wouldn’t seriously think of leaving. You couldn’t, could you? No, certainly not, but something about working for Cruella had started to tempt you, just a little.

When you finally seemed pleased with your design, you took it to the House of DeVil. You felt your heart hammer in your chest as you came up to the place. You assumed it was just the nerves of wondering whether or not Cruella would be satisfied with what you’d come up with. You’d felt things like this before when you tried out bold new designs, so why should this time be any different?

But there was a difference, and it was not at all what you expected. Sure, you wanted your design to please her, who in their right mind wouldn’t want to design a piece for a fashion icon such as herself? Though, as you were let into her office by Alonzo, you found that it wasn’t simply your design that you wanted to impress her with, but rather you wanted her to be impressed with you. As a designer, sure, but more so as a person.

“Ah, darling, you’ve arrived with the design for my coat at last,” she said, red painted lips curled up in a genuine smile as she sat at her desk, cigarette holder in hand. You smiled back, and that hammering in your chest became louder still and more erratic. “Have you given any more thought to the job offer?”

“I have,” you admitted. You’d thought it over more than you planned to, really. So much so that it was starting to sound better by the day, but you weren’t quite ready to give her hope of swaying you yet. “I remain undecided, but should you like the design, I’ll have an answer for you when I bring the finished product.”

She sighed, frustrated that you were playing so hard to get, but she was still confident that she’d steal you away in the end, one way or another. “Very well,” Cruella said, getting up from her chair and walking around her desk to view the design you’d brought her. “Let’s see what you’ve got.”

You took the drawing from your portfolio and laid it on the desk. Cruella stopped next to you to view it over your shoulder right shoulder. Tapping off her cigarette far away from your papers, you waited with anticipation for her reaction. “It’s gorgeous. Simply stunning,” she enthused. She leaned forward to inspect it closer, and her body was now partially pressed up against yours, her left hand finding your hip as if to keep her steady as she leant over the picture before her. You were certain that she could feel your heartbeat racing, but if she did, she said nothing of it.

“It’s perfect,” she concluded. “Do get on with making it. I cannot wait to view your final product.” She backed away from you at once, and you released a breath that you’d unwittingly been holding in.

“Thank you. I’ll get right on it. I’ve taken leave this week to devote my time to it. Shall I see you Friday?”

Cruella hummed in delight. “Friday would be marvelous. I’ll see you then, my dear.”

“Goodbye, Cruella,” you said, a shiver running through you as you used her name for the first time. How curious, you thought, as Alonzo showed you out.

Days and nights blurred together until Friday morning finally came. You checked over your stitches and hems, making sure the coat was without flaw before you put it in a garment bag and headed for the House of DeVil. You adjusted your own outfit before walking into her office, suddenly fretting about making a good appearance. There was nothing wrong with what you were wearing, but suddenly you felt self conscious for the outfit you’d decided on. Perhaps the skirt was too short after all. But it was too late to change it now.

“My coat,” Cruella greeted you, a look of pure joy on her face. She did love her fur, of that there was no doubt. “And my favorite designer. I hope to hear your answer about working for me today. But first, the coat. Alonzo, leave us.” Alonzo bowed out of the room, leaving you with Cruella. She wasted no time in unzipping the garment bag and revealing the finished fur coat you’d made her. It wasn’t often you got to complete a project solely with your own two hands anymore and you felt it was quite the accomplishment.

Cruella slipped the coat on as you held the hanger. “I adore it,” she said, running her hands over the soft fur. As soon as she stopped admiring the coat, her eyes landed on you. Raising a hand to your chin, her red painted nails briefly traced your jawline, “and I adore you for making such a creation.” You swore your heart skipped a beat at her words, and her touch.

Her hand dropped from your face and you once again, released a pent up breath. Did you always stop breathing when she was so close? “Now, my darling, have you reached a decision? I promise you won’t regret it if you say yes.”

“I—” you stopped yourself. No, you couldn’t. This project had been fun, thrilling even you dare say, but one project was nothing to trade an entire career for. You’d made a name for yourself at your current fashion house. Did that really mean so little to you? “I can’t,” you finally breathed out, deciding to stand your ground.

“Are you certain? Surely there’s something I could give you that your current employer cannot.” There was, but you couldn’t say it, you could hardly believe you were thinking it. The impropriety of it all. You felt your cheeks burn with some mixture of shame and embarrassment. Cruella only grinned, as if she were able to read your mind.

“What if I were to make you my personal designer? You create solely for me, not the House of DeVil, just me. That would grant you certain privileges that no one else could come close to. Would you like that? Unrestricted access to me personally?” She paused for a moment, but you refused to meet her eyes. “Look at me, darling,” Cruella cooed, placing a finger under your chin once more. “Think of the possibilities.”

“Yes,” you said, your voice unsteady.

“Yes, what?”

“Yes, Cruella, I accept.”

Cruella DeVil (101 Dalmatians):@adelleoliviadewittwilliams

evening kitchen kisses

Got the okay to share my first test on Cruella’s character design for the EVIL THING graphic novel adaptation by Serena Valentino. I really loved getting to put my spin on this character–she has such a malleable face for expression. ❤️ Thanks again to the team at Disney Books~

EVIL THING: A VILLAINS GRAPHIC NOVEL comes out next week on September 28~