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Yes.

[next impulse is to ask something he really shouldn't. so instead-]

No, I'm not busy.

[still, some actual Concern^TM creeps through. The hell, Reaper?]

Come over?

I don't want to be alone with myself right now.

[there are a lot of thoughts that are running through his head right now.

a year ago, he might have pointed out that Reaper has his animals, to leave him alone - as much as the strange behavior would have worried him, they still weren't...whatever they are now. not friends, but not necessarily enemies, either. as for now?

now, there's surprisingly little hesitation before he responds.]

Am I picking up some gargleblasters on my way?

[A year ago this wouldn't be happening at all.

Wouldn't have considered it.]

If you want.

[He may need it.

Which 'he' is up in the air.]

Be there soon.

[And maybe it's a little odd getting a bottle of the drink, but he gets himself to the farm as soon as he can, touching his amulet and attempting to send a little wordless ping to announce his presence.

Ding dong.]

[Some he's going to need it.

There's no animal alerting to his presence at the door, which in and of itself was probably strange, but—]

Not locked.

Can't get up at this moment.

[..........the fuck.

76 opens the door maybe a little more forcefully than he needs to, but, really - what the fuck? Just gonna find the Reaper and see what emotion nonsense is going on tonight.]

[There was a sharp sort of scent to the air, the sort that only came with a certain sort of cold. Biting almost, but there was something hinting to it not being as bad as it might've been at one point despite how it clung to the air.

There were shreds of something with a deep golden orange collar littering the floor as well, which on closer inspection was the source of the bitter sweet edge of a scent that followed after that biting cold.

Really, Reaper could have been hard -or easy- to miss. Trapped on the couch under two very large dogs, two not so large dogs, a cat— could get the picture. Beanie pulled down low enough it covered his eyes. That familiar mask no were in sight.]

[Either way, it shouldn't be here. That's 76's first thought. Reaper is cold, yes, but it's not this kind; it's a solid cold, despite how ethereal he can be at times. This is less solid, more nebulous, and yet it's the sort that's all the more chilling.

He stares at the pile of animals heaped over...yes, that's him. A few of them look back, but it's clear he's not their priority, here. With a sigh, he moves to set down the bottle - corked - within arm's reach, then takes a step back.]

'mgonna check on their food bowls.

[That, and he needs a minute to...process this. May as well spend it being useful.]

[Mini had claimed her spot tucked in against his neck and shoulder, some steady purring going on as even she had simply remained there. Head perked up and some cat-like acknowledgement given to 76's presence.

A wagged tail from Sam who had one foot and lower leg trapped somewhere beside Angie. Thalia and Clio had his lap and torso pretty much covered. Might've been a ball of red feathers tucked into the crook of an arm somewhere there. The larger cat peered from the back of the couch, the kittens probably in the bed under it.

Reaper tilted his head.]

... Check and see if the water bowls froze over again.

[Sounded like he'd given up trying to deal with it- then again his voice sounded oddly hollow, albeit far rougher than usual.]

Yeah, sure.

[He was going to, anyway. For now, though, he's...

He's not sure what the fuck he's doing, other than what feels, at least, normal. In this surreal situation. Refilling the food and water, grimacing at the slushy water bowls and looking for a means to keep them warm, and then, eventually, heading back over to...well. Take a seat on the ground next to Reaper, and, after a moment, reaching out to scritch Angie.]

Good girl.

[At least there was some sort of sound in the house with 76 moving about where the bowls were kept, something else for him to focus on rather than dwelling in his own thoughts.

Sure there were the animals but it was... different.

Had gone quiet again, the air at least not as biting as it had been just seconds ago. Still a chill that couldn't be missed, some shards of ice melting on the floor amongst shredded petals; shriveled along the edges as if burned by something cold and sharp. Some attempts to clean up before were visible and things... weren't as bad as they had been.

Angie leaning into the touch, but refusing to budge from her place.]

Thanks.

[For coming at all. Or something.]

[There's more silence as he simply pets the dog, not expecting her to move. She's Reaper's, and it's clear she's worried about him. Kind of cute, actually, the lot of them; loyal, devoted, and there when there master so clearly needs them. So he just rubs his gloved hand along her head, finally making a light snort]

Yeah, well, didn't have anything else to do.

[~~It's not like he gives half a shit about you or anything, b-baka~~]

[Probably be a fight to get any of them to move if Reaper decided to try and even sit up, and it didn't look like he was even going to try. Eyes still covered up by the pulled down beanie.

Just some grunt in reply that was even barely that.

Could have easily been left at that, did seem or sound like Reaper wanted to talk. No comfortable sort of silence, something that hung with that cold and added something heavy to it. A feeling that could have easily bee overwhelming to deal with alone.]

[Right, then. 76'll just take advantage of this drink he brought here to warm himself up, downing a swig before setting it down with a slight grimace. Sure, it gets him drunk, but it also makes a few other things happen.

Mostly, he's bemused, and, well, worried. Like a dull ember that's not sure if it's going to flare or not. He takes another swig in the silence, considering the chill, considering whether or not anything should be - needs to be - said. Sometimes company is all you need.

Finally, after what seems like hours, he grunts a 'hnh' and sets the bottle down.]

How long you been like this?

[Hell, he hadn't said anything when 76 up and appeared at the farmhouse one day and silently started in at repairing things. Fence got finished quicker than it was going to be and all; the dogs had piled on top of him once he came inside and sat still. Very much like they currently had on Reaper.

He kept still and quiet, not a bit tense as if he didn't have the ability to care to be considering...]

Lost track of time.

[So he could've been like this for an hour or so before he'd asked 76 to come over.

Long enough to know he didn't want to be alone with himself at the very least.]

[We're not talking about him right now, we're talking about you. Or not talking at all. He takes another swig before talking again.]

'Snot something on the crystals, far as I can tell. [Which means it's just Reaper's melancholy. And that's the most he'll press in to it; I know something's wrong with you. But that's it; he's not suggesting they discuss it, not even doing anything but settling in to be a bit more comfortable.

Actually, no. One more thing.]

Why me?

[Reaper - Gabriel, no, Reaper has friends here. People he spends time with. So why ask 76?]

It's not, no. [So it was an acknowledgement that it wasn't some bullshit thing going on with some emotion fueled world. Just him. More than he could've admitted to.

Then there was a laugh, no bit of joy or mirth about the sound. Instead it nearly cracked, some dog whining a little with the noise of it as he just curled fingers into that beanie. Kept it pulled down—]

First one who came to mind.

[And wasn't that something.]

[The admission's quite a bit in itself. 76 sighs, shaking his head as he reaches up to remove the upper part of his visor, as well.]

You're a real piece of work, Reyes.

[76 - Jack - lowers his hand with a sideways glance towards the other man, some mixed expression on his face as he arches his brow.]

You wanna keep talking?

[Not about him. Just...shooting the shit. Jack's sure out of his element right now, he's got no idea what's needed. Or what even he can do, period.]

[There was a sort-]

Like you aren't.

[For the time being that beanie was still kept over his eyes, but that could've been for several different reasons that just weren't being brought up. Fingers smoothing over it as if to just make sure it was secure, without nudging the white cat too much.

Facial hair sure was looking a particular shade of white for whatever reason.]

Be better than what I was doing.

[Which.. probably wasn't hard to guess as to what that was.]

Sure.

[That's not sarcasm; that's agreement. Jack takes another swig of the bottle, letting out another breath as the liquid continues to warm him.

In more ways than one.]

Can think of worse things than being in a dogpile. [beat] Dogcatpile. [Sorry, Mini.]

[At least they're both well aware that they're both pieces of work.

His nose wrinkled slightly, and maybe the fact he continued to lay there was a bit ridiculous. It wouldn't be hard to simply get himself free, a simple movement where they'd hardly be moved at all, and yet he stayed right where he was.

Clicked his tongue against the roof of his mouth.]

You know how heavy the girls are- or have gotten, at least.

[Thalia and Clio.]

[Must be comfortable. And somewhere in the back of his head, Jack knows it';d be easy as anything else for Reyes to get out of that. Therefore, he doesn't want to - or just doesn't care.

Ah. Apathy.]

Mm. They've been good for you.

[Something to be said about therapy animals, he guesses.]

Couldn't leave them bloodied on the streets.

[Had literally stitched them both up to different degrees and- Yeah. They had been, all of the animals now surrounding him in one way or another. Probably why there was one arm around Thalia since she was the one flopped across his upper half.

Easier to lay that way.]

Relaxed a good bit here.

[Him or the dogs?]

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