khajidont | MoM IC Contact: TAKE TWO

[Even for someone as observant as Will, there's not much to observe. There are the mainstays, of course (an Xbox with controller wires tangled about the TV; a ratty old book with a cheesy pastel cover dropped on the coffee table; a familiar schoolbook forgotten and shoved into the back of one of the countertops with a mysterious stain splashed across the cover), but otherwise there's no more clutter than one would expect from a home populated by three boys who are neither slobs nor clean freaks.]

You sure? You could have some of this with me, or some pan dulce.

[He keeps his house stocked well with sweet breads on a constant basis, because there's nobody around to lecture him on his diet, and he's got a shamefully large sweet tooth.]

I know I want to have some of this, but -- hold on. I left something in my room you'll wanna see.

[Or, rather, someone. Will's wishes for a fluffy dog may go unanswered, but there's a different sort snoozing on his pillow.]

Oh, I—I'll be here.

[He does his best to hide his confusion, but it's there just the same. Something in his room he wants to show Will? Wonder what that could be. Could be anything at this point, he realizes a few seconds later. Pun mugs, fishing stuff, a cute dog, a picture of some man with a truly magnificent beard, a write up of their art in a magazine that Jaime found especially humorous...

So he waits, like a good boy. And also like a good boy, he starts unpacking, putting what needs to be refrigerated away without doing anything obnoxious like rearranging the household fridge. Nope. Just wherever there's room is good enough for him.]

[Will gets a greeting from someone else before Jaime has the opportunity to as BB - a Blue Beagle, as befits his true name - comes scrambling down the stairs and charging straight into the kitchen to where he smells all those wonderful things. He does, in fact, crash into Will's leg, because he's not a clever dog.

Jaime jogs after him and enters the kitchen shortly thereafter, offering Will a crooked smile.] He's not mine. I mean, not really mine, I kind of -- co-own him? But Ted knew that my roomie got ported out, so he dropped him off.

[Nothing helps a recent wound like a dog. Does it actually help?

Hell yeah, it does.]

[Clever or not has no place in Will's mind whenever he feels the thump against his leg and spots what has collided against him. Jaime will be greeted with Will giving said Blue Beagle the hugest, happiest smile as he wastes no time squatting down. This is pure, unbridled joy on Will's end. All his carefully constructed guards come tumbling down in the face of a dog.]

Hey little guy. Look at you. [After the customary sniffing of fingers, Will ventures further to scratch at adorable ears and neck. There is, as always, a baggie of treats resting in one of his pockets. It's only a matter of time before they are sniffed out and Will is eagerly awaiting that moment. So absorbed in new dog friend, he doesn't look up when Jaime enters. Or speaks. He doesn't look up when he talks to Jaime, either, like this first impression on the beagle is the most important thing that has ever happened.] Looks like he's making himself at home pretty well. You keeping Jaime good company, boy? Takin' up half his bed and chewin' on his socks?

[Abruptly, still enamored with the dog, he tosses one Jaime's way.]

Where'd you and this Ted find him?

[Jaime probably shouldn't have expected anything else. He grins down at the back of Will's head, and even if BB is here for his own benefit, it feels a little like he's giving back to Will in exchange for all of that beautiful, beautiful food. He knew what he was talking out before, when he'd mentioned to Ted that they could probably pawn the sorry little thing off onto Will. BB would probably be better off with Will, frankly, but he's glad that they decided against it. Selfishly, Jaime enjoys the little thing too much, enjoys the basic responsibilities without having to pay for anything.]

He mostly likes my shoelaces. I've replaced 'em, like, three times.

[He almost bends over to pet BB, but no, he'll let Will have this moment.]

He belonged to a couple guys we saw getting arrested. We were gonna just take him to the shelter, but...

[Jaime gestures uselessly at BB, as if to say, just look at him. They were doomed from the moment they started holding him and trying to fight crime at the same time.]

[If ever there comes a day in the future wherein Jaime needs to shed himself of the doggie responsibility, yes. Yes, Will would take him in a heartbeat. Ask for something of Jaime's too—a shirt so the dog always has a reminder of him. For now, though, Will laughs at the idea of a shoelace menace. Once the dog has effectively propped himself up in Will's squatted lap, he takes that as a good sign and carefully stands with the dog tucked under one arm and safely nestled against his chest. Which means his scruffy neck is in prime dog kiss zone and this is his design.]

But then you saw his face. [A face Will turns from too much neck licking by giving him fingers to chew on. The whole dog loving process is so natural at this point he doesn't even have to think about it any more.] What's his name?

More than that, [Jaime says, a little mournfully.] I picked him up and he kissed me. It was meant to be.

[Love at first sight. He's just glad that Ted is as impulsive and irresponsible as he is, otherwise he would no longer have the joy of watching a cute animal demolish his things.]

His name's BB. It suits him, right? It's cheerful sounding, like him. [He crouches down beside him.] Nothing gets this guy down. I knew you'd like him, Will.

Awww.

[God, it's that drawn-out sort of "aw" people usually reserve for adorable babies, adorable old people, and adorable animals. Only it's coming from Will Graham and isn't forced or put upon. Jaime has seen him in class, he has seen him destroying a car, he has (secretly) seen him in distress, and now the social link levels up because they're sharing this incredibly personal moment of puppy love.]

Never met a dog I didn't like. Difficult not to like a dog. [Incredibly personal moment intensifies; Will lowers his voice like he's imparting a Sworn Secret while still showering BB with affection.] Animals in general. Cats too. Imagine BB with a cat who loves him and who he loves, that cheerful goes right off the charts.

[Seeing Will coo at BB is enough to make Jaime's grin grow just that much larger, amused at the way Will's practically falling apart over this little dog. It's kind of funny and cute all at once - not that Jaime will ever say that to Will's face - but however you categorize it, it's definitely an endearing sight. He reaches out, scratching BB's ass, because he's learned to be a true Dog Dad, and that occasionally means scratching that bit right in front of their tails.]

I dunno about a cat. You don't think he'd chase them? He likes chasing things.

He might! [Jaime can take the rear, Will is content to scratch that chin. Aw yes, maybe they can get one of those back legs kicking.] Part of the bonding process. Can be. If the cat allows it, the dog might get bored of it. If the cat scratches back, the dog'll learn to give the cat more respect.

[Kind of like a courtship. A friend courtship. But hah if Will is ever voicing that.]

You could always bring him by the house and see how he responds to our kitties.

If you really think it'd be okay. The last thing I want him to do is hurt anyone, even if it's by accident.

[Blue boys gotta stick together...! Even if one's idea of hurting someone by accident is throwing someone through a building, whereas BB just has very, very sharp teeth, though no moreso than any other dog on the market.]

But you gotta promise you won't try and keep him, [he can't help but joke. He knows Will has a proper zoo going on in his house.]

[Oh no. Does Jaime know his Darkest Secret? It's not that he's a cannibal, it's that he has a terrible vice of taking dogs that are not technically his. Has he been found out? Is this a warning?

Will laughs lightly in response, fading away into a sort of sigh. Haha, so funny, that would never ever happen. Will isn't pulling out a baggie of homemade treats from his back pocket to share with BB or anything. Except he totally is. This dog will love him even if they only meet once.]

'Course not. If you ever needed somebody to watch him for a while, sure, he could stay. But we don't keep guests at our place. [Enjoy that snack, BB. Enjoy the weird healthiness of it all.] Anybody who stays has gotta need to or want to. We don't take anyone against their will.

I didn't think you actually would, [Jaime says with a laugh.] Besides, BB here's loyal. He'd come back with me if I asked. Or if I rolled around in bacon beforehand, whichever one came first.

[Maybe Will has homemade snacks, but Jaime has junk food. Junk food will always, always prevail, even if BB is a world-class eater, when it all comes down to it.]

How many have you guys got now, anyway?

[That beaming smile seemingly incapable of quitting only grows at the mention of bacon, only to be struck down entirely at the question. Because Will looks at Jaime, slightly startled, and then puts on his best thinking face. There's enough pause to mentally list names before...]

Six. [Right? His face screws up before he decides yes, that's right. So close to his goal of having a pack like he had back home. So close.] April had Digby before we ever met, and Bark was some housemates' who've been gone for a while. Abigail adopted a Leonberger when I wasn't around. Sharkbait likes Jeff more than anyone else in the world. Charlie doesn't go out much...you know Gunther.

[As if Jaime needs the reminder, Will puts a crooked finger to BB's mouth to give him the appearance of being a mustached gentledoge.]

Whoa. Is that even legal?

[He holds his hands up, as if defending himself from Will's potential ire, because he has no intention of letting the po-po take Will's precious pooches away. They have a happier life with Will and April than they would anywhere else, he's sure.] Not that I'm gonna tattle or anything! That's just a lotta dog to take care of. I should have been giving you more tennis balls as road trip souvenirs this whole time.

[Potential ire never comes. An eyebrow shoots up, but that's the only reaction Jaime gets. Will has done so much illegal stuff, relating to dogs even, that this particular questioning of his moral choices when it comes to obeying the law doesn't scratch the surface of his defenses.]

Sure it is. They're all cared for, fed, up-to-date with their shots and the like. Only becomes a problem when you got too many to care for. Or you just don't care for them. [Then Will Graham is there to yoink dogs away and make them part of his family. That's how Baltimore rolls, yo. But he won't take BB. He'll just appreciate him with more scratches and another homemade treat.] Had eight back home, for a while. Never had a problem. 'Cept for when they all get sick at the same time, that's a problem.

[Jaime latches onto the wrong thing in that statement, which is not the eight dogs (why), or the dubious legality of the thing (he could have sworn you were only allowed to have three at a time in the city), but on dreaded, dreaded doggy illness. He reaches out, ruffling at BB's ears as he asks, earnestly,] Are there special things to watch out for for your dog getting sick? I read a little about it, but I've never actually helped own a pet before. 'Cept for a goldfish. A very dead goldfish, but that wasn't my fault.

[Jaime takes the ears and Will's hand roams down BB's spine, and he finally gives in and just sits on the floor with his legs crossed so BB can take over his lap if he's so inclined.]

Lots of human foods are bad for dogs. Alcohol, chocolate, some vegetables. Never, ever let him get a hold of grapes or raisins. Onions. Garlic. Mushrooms. There's an artificial sweetener common in gum that's very bad for doggies, too. [Doggies, Jaime has truly seen him at his most dog-loving.] Any plant with a bulb's to be avoided. Citrus-y things. Vitamins, especially iron. Nuts...

[And then it hits him, and he looks up at Jaime with a smile.]

I make all our dogs' food from scratch. It's a recipe I've used for a long, long time, never had a problem with it. If you'd like, it wouldn't be a problem at all to add another mouth. You'd save on pet food and having to figure out which one he likes best, is best for him. I could drop it off weekly.

[Jaime looks a little shellshocked at that list, desperately going back in his head to try and remember what he's absently fed to BB without thinking twice about it. Has he accidentally poisoned BB? Is he going to kill his dog? Oh god, who gave him this responsibility? That's it, he's giving him back to Ted permanently. He knew about grapes and onions, but the rest of it... not so much.]

But dog food's so expensive! [He blurts out, even if mentally he's wishing for a pad of paper and a pen to write down Will's expertise.] We'd have to pay you, at least.

[Jaime will accept food from Will, will accept a free coke every now and then, but free food on a weekly basis, just for BB? That's too much.]

[It's okay, Jaime. Will is always happy to talk about dogs. If Jaime called him at the buttcrack of dawn to ask about anything dog-related, he couldn't even be bothered, he'd just be happy to talk about dogs. Doge is love, doge is life.]

Not the kind I make. [He pulls out another treat to show Jaime, carefully keeping a hand on BB's neck so he doesn't snap it up. It's an odd, nugget-y shape, gritty from being in a bag.] Just different versions of this. I can draw up a list of what's what and what it costs if you wanna pay me back, no problem.

[Nothing is too much for a dog. Ever. Will Graham would beat a man to death to defend a dog's honor.]

[Jaime smiles at Will, a little ruefully.] So you came here 'cause you cooked for me, and now you're leaving promising to cook more. Thanks, Will. Seriously. I don't think Ted's ever owned a dog either. But I'll talk to him, see what he says.

[Jaime looks at the treat - which, honestly, looks about as lumpy and appetizing as most of the treats BB wolfs down - and shrugs.]

You ever think of opening a dog food business instead of a fishing store?

No, no no. God no. That wouldn't work. [He laughs, his smile a bit twisted. He couldn't control himself forever. Dogs would become his. He may play ball a little more hardcore than some but he knows his limits when it comes to dogs. He will collect them all without a single ounce of shame.] Too many nonsense rules. Wouldn't be worth the headache, probably'd have to change my recipes to be like the crap on the market.

[This is also true but mostly he'd steal the wrong dog at some point and get in Trouble.]

It's not like I know much about the dog food market.

[He didn't even know there were that many regulations! Though, thinking back on it, that seems like it'd be a given.] But I guess you already bring your dog to work every day as it is. Too bad I can't do that with this little guy; he'd get crushed.

[Then, after a moment, he voices something he's always kind of wondered about.] What is it with you and dogs, anyway? Did you grow up with 'em, or...?

[The look on Will's face is nothing short of Emotional Constipation. No one had ever really asked that before. Will was always just...he had dogs. It was a Thing. His Thing. Everyone knew. Everyone also knew he was a secluded, isolated, antisocial loner and so it was best to leave him alone with anything too invasive or personal.]

Uh—no. [Constipation covered up by putting the treat bag away and giving BB more attention because yes, that's one joy of dogs in his life, he can ignore Unhappy Feelings and focus on petting a dog.] I had a nice stretch of land in Virginia. People'd drop off dogs they didn't want nearby. It was open, not a lot of traffic...nobody's gonna see them dumping a dog off. [His tone is Factual, no trace of upset or bitterness or anything else.] Finding good homes for the cute ones was possible, sure, but most people didn't want mutts. Or older dogs. Dogs with health issues. The, uh, ugly leftover riffraff, if you will. So they stayed. And more were dropped off. And more stayed. And then the living room was full of dog beds and I never had to worry about anyone stopping by without me being aware of them first.

[Dogs also never made promises they broke. They didn't barrage him with questions about how his day was, how was he feeling, when he was going to do this or that or the other. They never told him he looked tired, or worn, or in need of a break. They just laid down for a scratch and all was well.]

[This isn't the story he was expecting, to be honest. He was expecting more of a whole, oh, you know, I always had a dog growing up, and once I moved out, I knew I had to have one for my home too... But this makes even more sense, from what he knows of Will. Whether they had fur or not, Will's always been the sort to speak his mind, quite sensibly, and use that very same sensibility to take in strays of all kinds. He's certainly taken Jaime underneath his wing too, in his own, funny sort of way.]

I don't understand how people can do that. They were lucky to have you around, huh? [He offers Will a small smile.] I always thought you lived in the big city, though.

MoM IC Contact: TAKE TWO

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