More reason you should name her instead of me. Outside of Tripod, 'Zo, Trouble, Tahira, and Rafiq I've named all of the animals here.
[Trouble and Tahira being two of Graymalkin's litter, one of them had obviously belonged to Ana along with Rafiq while the other was that extremely talkative black one that nearly looked exactly like her mother. Tripod the three legged black cat he had helped Genji save, and 'Zo being the odd blue lizard that had belonged to the Shimada as well.
It was almost funny how he kept ending up with animals.]
Because I need the practice? That's a silly reason. I've named more animals than I can count back in the day.
[It had been a very long time since then, but he had been responsible for naming their animals on the farm once he was old enough to not go with childish names like 'butt' and 'poop'. It had been his job, and he took it very seriously for his parents.
He eased away so he could close the fridge and he turned to Gabe who was still moving around.]
Then you shouldn't have a problem, huh? Still, just think on it a while, doesn't need a name right this moment.
[Wasn't the entire reason- naming could be important and just... He had rather Jack name her than not, to take some deeper responsibility and ownership even if only in name alone. Not just taking care of animals because they belonged to Gabriel.
[Jack had a moment of looking sour, narrowing his eyes slightly before he wiped it away purposefully to just shake his head. He didn't want to name it. He didn't really want to keep it, not if he were responsible for it. This place didn't need a second chocobo to pull a cart, since Roxy had that handled. So this little one would be companion to her.
He stepped away, moving to the bag to check in it. Aside from some spools of thread and material that were obviously left behind, he didn't find anything else.]
Nothing but sewing supplies. [The chick was back, pecking at his pant leg curiously and then peeping up at him.] Want this up in your sewing room then?
If you wouldn't mind? Can just drop them on the work table up there- should be clear. I'll finish up in here while you do.
[Had just been a 'quick' run in to town after all, and maybe he had stopped by a thrift store or two just to check a few things out. Habit he had developed and all that, seeing if there'd been anything more in Jack's size he could alter to give the guy more options.
No luck, but he had found a rather nice deep purple fabric with a lovely black pattern on it. Could do a good bit with that.]
[He picked up the bag to take it with him, easier than just grabbing it all out and wandering off with it. He looked at the chick peeping up at him and gave yet another gentle nudge to coax it towards Gabriel still in the kitchen so he could head off to the stairs and up where the sewing room was in the attic.
He could tell immediately as he walked away that the blue fluffy chick was hurrying after him, dodging curious dogs and observant cats. She continued to talk in eager little peeps, but Jack ignored her as he hit the stairs and ascended. She met an obstacle she couldn't readily overcome with that.
She tried to hop, tried to scrambled and ended up running back and forth at the bottom of the step, chirping earnestly. He went up to the attic and left the items on the sewing desk for Gabe to put away properly before moving to head back down.
The little chick had managed to somehow get up one step and was hopping and stubbornly tried to persist in getting higher. He frowned from the top of the stairs. Slowly, he came down, eyeing the chick the whole way. Persist little thing.
He sighed when he reached the step just above and with a heave, the chick threw itself bodily up to his level, legs kicking, body rolling about and then it was righting itself to rush over to his feet.]
[He was listening to that little chick from where he was in the kitchen, still putting a few items away and the dried bowls up as well, a slight frown on his face since no one was there to observe it.
Seemed like Jack was fighting with himself over something, honestly, with how he was pushing away at this. He wouldn't have taken the egg at all if there was no care for what happened, let alone not bringing it to the stables anyway. This was something Jack needed to deal with, and while Gabriel wouldn't have left the care for it up to him alone-
This, all of this, was something Jack had to settle in himself.
Did finish putting things away, letting out a breath as he stepped back.]
You bring the saddle bags down with you, or will I just be dealing with them later?
[He was struggling with his apparent new-found 'fame', especially when it had seemed like the chick had taken so readily to Roxy and Gabe. It was easier to put a distance, to not attach to anything - let alone a baby animal - when there were others that could fill the role he wasn't certain he wanted.
But he knew enough about imprint behaviour to know the chick might like everyone but would gravitate towards him like he were her 'mum'. After all, he had fed her too, which probably didn't help in damping the bond she wanted.
What if this all went south on him? What if the chick was just another creature in this place set to mess with him? He had Gabe. Wasn't that enough?
With a deep sigh, he leaned down to scoop the chick up into his arm again, letting her pick the way she wanted to sit as her peeping changed from desperate to welcoming.]
Yeah, yeah, I'll bring them back down. [Turning on the stairs, up he went to the sewing room again to grab the saddle bags, but this time he had company.
By the time he was downstairs again, the chick had fallen asleep in the crook of his arm. He returned to the kitchen and set the bags of the back of a chair.]
[He nodded his head, self-aware that he was holding the chick and didn't exactly have anywhere to put her back down, not when she was sleeping. Right now, he was her heat source, and she had made quite the effort to get up two stairs. Likely, she was exhausted.]
Are you going to set all those blankets up downstairs then or somewhere up here for her to sleep in?
[He stepped close and leaned against Jack a little, and pressed a kiss against his cheek. Something soft and affectionate as he passed by to go to the closet nearby.]
I figure I'll set them up by the bed? Be the easiest thing I figure so she won't wake up alone or something.
[He almost went to hand the chick off to Gabe, but the older man was on the opposite side, and he hummed at that kiss rather than make bold moves to shove the sleeping ball of blue fluff across at Gabe. His other hand lifted to stroke across Reyes' belly before Gabe was gone to the closet.
He moved to follow almost sheepishly.]
So uh... how long until she's big enough to mind herself on stairs and such?
[He went to the top shelf of the closet, reaching up and putting a few things out f the way, stacking up a few of the smaller blankets up out of there and also pulling out what looked like a worn cat bed. Be the perfect thing to turn in to a makeshift blanket nest for a chocobo chick by the looks of it at least.
He really had hung on to it once Roxy had outgrown it.]
Month at most? She'll at least have her feet under her by then and can make the little jumps needed, be a little bigger.
[A month? He looked down at the sleeping chick and considered how difficult that month was going to be. They couldn't put her out with Roxy all the time, not with the weather being cold overnight. She would have to stay with them, and he likely couldn't pawn off duties of raising her to just Gabe.
He lingered nearby as all the bedding was pulled out, and it was clear how much Gabe had gone to lengths to keep Roxy comfortable in those young early days.]
She's not even a day old, and while she can run and walk she's still not exactly well balanced. They're sturdy birds, sure-
[Roxy had been the first he'd taken in when still small, so he might have gone above and beyond requirements to make sure she was happy. Make sure she was safe.
Be a good fit for the blue chicabo, too. Already walking towards the basement stairs, a brush of shoulders meaning for Jack to follow him.]
-But they're still vulnerable enough to need care, and she doesn't have parents or siblings, so we'll have to do in making sure she can grow strong.
They are surprisingly precocious for being so young. She does fall over a lot.
[Which was something to take in stride. She had found her feet well, but she needed time to grow and be a chick. He still thought that she would do better with Roxy at the helm, but that was on Gabe to decide as Roxy was his chocobo through and through.
He followed behind the older man, not that he was necessarily needed right now. He rubbed the back of his head as he watched Gabe set up the bedding where the older man saw fit.]
[Going down those basement stairs and, well, he was basically making up that nest right by their bed, sitting down on the mattress as he worked. Made the blanket nest in that little bed like he'd done it so many times before. Who knew how any when Roxy was still growing.
Spoke easily as he worked.]
That's why she'll be spending time outside with Roxy during the warmer parts of the day. Supervised while she's still so small, just in case, but will be coming inside once the sun starts to set. Evenings and nights inside with us.
[It was clear to him from observation that Gabe had made this kind of nest before and often, which was telling on the care and adoration he had bestowed on Roxy as a chick. She had grown up well, and he had no doubt that if they did indeed keep the blue chocobo that she would also receive the same love and care from Gabe.]
Are you supervising her between jobs and work on the farm?
[He still wasn't so certain about keeping a baby chocobo inside with them, though he could make no actual argument against it at present. They didn't have a set-up to keep her warm outside or even in another part of the house, so for now, this would have to stand.]
I'll work on setting up a heat lamp and feeding station in one of the other rooms.
I need you to help with that- this is going to be some hands on work, and it is going to take both of us.
[He gestured for Jack to set the blue chicabo in to the blanket nest then once he was done, sitting up as it was being kept there at the head of the bed. All the better for neither of them to get up in the night and trip over the little thing.
Meant his gaze was focused on Jack once again.]
Think you could use the mudroom attached to the back porch?
[This time he managed to keep his expression neutral at the request, already mulling over how this was his fault to begin with. He should have just left the egg in the woods, but there were some old habits he apparently hadn't been able to shake even after all these years. Still, he had hoped to keep distance from this, what with all the animals on property being Gabe's choice and responsibility and Jack just happened to pitch in.
This was different. He was still waiting for the other shoe to drop on the chick, and it would somehow manage to take his emotions and twist them about. This place sent those his way a lot lately.]
Who did you have helping with you Roxy?
[He moved over to the set up bedding and gently shifted and set the chick into it, waking her in the process. She peeped and nestled down in the nest of material until he rose to leave, then she was awake and following after him.]
No, stay in the bed. [He growled, stooping to gather her up and put her back to bed where she absolutely wouldn't stay if he tried to move away. Finally he grabbed one of the small soft blankets to wrap her in and took her back to his arms.] This isn't working as well as expected. You want to take her and try?
No one. It isn't as if I had anyone I could trust then.
[Not exactly true- but it wasn't as if he could tell Jack he had helped here and there. Reason why he knew Jack could help with this chick, still knew more than he did when it came to a more technical farm-kid standpoint of things.
Of course Gabriel watched, chin rested against a palm-]
Try not getting up and walking away after you put her down.
And yet you managed. Raised her up right and all that, especially since there weren't adults at the time to foster her on.
[Jack understood that he had to stay, but he was still trying for distancing, maybe a touch too rapidly. Too bad for him that the chick was already falling back asleep in his arms, tucked comfortably into a blanket.
He tried to set her down again, but she was wise to his abandonment game and woke immediately to peep at him. He visibly gritted his teeth because this was damn manipulation! He knew she didn't mean it, but there was a small sliver of panic that she was using her fluffy baby-features to keep him here when really... she was just being a perfectly normal baby.
Finally sitting down on the bed, he cuddled her in his arms until she was asleep and looked over at Gabe.]
I'll... just wait until she's been asleep a bit longer and then transfer her over.
I wasn't sleeping in those days either. With how things are now? I can't do that again Jack.
[It was that simple as far as he was concerned, knew that the time and energy wasn't the same now as it was then, wouldn't be possible and still manage some better balance that how he had been. There was no endless amount of time, doing whatever he could to keep himself busy and handling everything by himself because of it.
Gabriel let out an amused huff of breath and scooted himself close. Leaning against Jack's side a bit, head just against his as he looked down at the chick.]
It's amazing how consistent sleep messes up one's schedule, isn't it? Too bad you're in a much better mood for it.
[He wasn't going to let Reyes go back to lurking around on any given job or task or hobby twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. They kept each other in check in that way, and he wouldn't change it, not even for a chick. Okay, so their routine might have to change somewhat to accommodate the chick.
He wasn't certain how long he was going to have to wait, but he wasn't keen on being peeped at for setting the chick down. It helped to settle him as Gabe slipped in close, and he turned his head a little until the older man's rested to his then he relaxed where he sat.
His eyes flicked down to regard the chick nestled there in the blanket and his arm, and he sighed heavily.]
All the time in the world at my fingertips, dashed away by getting a full night's sleep every night. Doing you better, too.
[Just a little adjustment here and there, nothing too major other than maybe taking the chick along on small things around the property. Keeping it out of trouble, whatever it was for a while at least.
Gabriel remained like that, an arm easily rested around Jack's back to sort of half hold him like that. All the easier for them both to settle. Even nuzzling a slight bit for just a moment.]
She's a baby, doing what baby's do because she doesn't know any better. Roxy was the exact same.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-03-20 02:38 am (UTC)[Trouble and Tahira being two of Graymalkin's litter, one of them had obviously belonged to Ana along with Rafiq while the other was that extremely talkative black one that nearly looked exactly like her mother. Tripod the three legged black cat he had helped Genji save, and 'Zo being the odd blue lizard that had belonged to the Shimada as well.
It was almost funny how he kept ending up with animals.]
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Date: 2020-03-20 03:05 am (UTC)[It had been a very long time since then, but he had been responsible for naming their animals on the farm once he was old enough to not go with childish names like 'butt' and 'poop'. It had been his job, and he took it very seriously for his parents.
He eased away so he could close the fridge and he turned to Gabe who was still moving around.]
Need help putting anything away?
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Date: 2020-03-20 03:10 am (UTC)[Wasn't the entire reason- naming could be important and just... He had rather Jack name her than not, to take some deeper responsibility and ownership even if only in name alone. Not just taking care of animals because they belonged to Gabriel.
His head tipped a bit-]
Check the bags for anything I might have missed?
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Date: 2020-03-20 03:16 am (UTC)He stepped away, moving to the bag to check in it. Aside from some spools of thread and material that were obviously left behind, he didn't find anything else.]
Nothing but sewing supplies. [The chick was back, pecking at his pant leg curiously and then peeping up at him.] Want this up in your sewing room then?
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Date: 2020-03-20 03:25 am (UTC)[Had just been a 'quick' run in to town after all, and maybe he had stopped by a thrift store or two just to check a few things out. Habit he had developed and all that, seeing if there'd been anything more in Jack's size he could alter to give the guy more options.
No luck, but he had found a rather nice deep purple fabric with a lovely black pattern on it. Could do a good bit with that.]
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Date: 2020-03-20 03:38 am (UTC)[He picked up the bag to take it with him, easier than just grabbing it all out and wandering off with it. He looked at the chick peeping up at him and gave yet another gentle nudge to coax it towards Gabriel still in the kitchen so he could head off to the stairs and up where the sewing room was in the attic.
He could tell immediately as he walked away that the blue fluffy chick was hurrying after him, dodging curious dogs and observant cats. She continued to talk in eager little peeps, but Jack ignored her as he hit the stairs and ascended. She met an obstacle she couldn't readily overcome with that.
She tried to hop, tried to scrambled and ended up running back and forth at the bottom of the step, chirping earnestly. He went up to the attic and left the items on the sewing desk for Gabe to put away properly before moving to head back down.
The little chick had managed to somehow get up one step and was hopping and stubbornly tried to persist in getting higher. He frowned from the top of the stairs. Slowly, he came down, eyeing the chick the whole way. Persist little thing.
He sighed when he reached the step just above and with a heave, the chick threw itself bodily up to his level, legs kicking, body rolling about and then it was righting itself to rush over to his feet.]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-20 03:55 am (UTC)Seemed like Jack was fighting with himself over something, honestly, with how he was pushing away at this. He wouldn't have taken the egg at all if there was no care for what happened, let alone not bringing it to the stables anyway. This was something Jack needed to deal with, and while Gabriel wouldn't have left the care for it up to him alone-
This, all of this, was something Jack had to settle in himself.
Did finish putting things away, letting out a breath as he stepped back.]
You bring the saddle bags down with you, or will I just be dealing with them later?
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Date: 2020-03-20 04:04 am (UTC)But he knew enough about imprint behaviour to know the chick might like everyone but would gravitate towards him like he were her 'mum'. After all, he had fed her too, which probably didn't help in damping the bond she wanted.
What if this all went south on him? What if the chick was just another creature in this place set to mess with him? He had Gabe. Wasn't that enough?
With a deep sigh, he leaned down to scoop the chick up into his arm again, letting her pick the way she wanted to sit as her peeping changed from desperate to welcoming.]
Yeah, yeah, I'll bring them back down. [Turning on the stairs, up he went to the sewing room again to grab the saddle bags, but this time he had company.
By the time he was downstairs again, the chick had fallen asleep in the crook of his arm. He returned to the kitchen and set the bags of the back of a chair.]
All finished up in here?
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Date: 2020-03-20 04:12 am (UTC)[Kitchen was clean on top of that, everything back in place as he folded arms loosely across his chest. He could put the saddle bags up later.]
I think I remember where I put up the blankets and bed I used for Roxy. Cleaned up and ready for little blue there.
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Date: 2020-03-20 04:16 am (UTC)Are you going to set all those blankets up downstairs then or somewhere up here for her to sleep in?
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Date: 2020-03-20 04:19 am (UTC)I figure I'll set them up by the bed? Be the easiest thing I figure so she won't wake up alone or something.
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Date: 2020-03-20 04:24 am (UTC)He moved to follow almost sheepishly.]
So uh... how long until she's big enough to mind herself on stairs and such?
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Date: 2020-03-20 04:31 am (UTC)He really had hung on to it once Roxy had outgrown it.]
Month at most? She'll at least have her feet under her by then and can make the little jumps needed, be a little bigger.
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Date: 2020-03-20 04:44 am (UTC)He lingered nearby as all the bedding was pulled out, and it was clear how much Gabe had gone to lengths to keep Roxy comfortable in those young early days.]
She seems to be mobile enough as it is.
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Date: 2020-03-20 04:49 am (UTC)[Roxy had been the first he'd taken in when still small, so he might have gone above and beyond requirements to make sure she was happy. Make sure she was safe.
Be a good fit for the blue chicabo, too. Already walking towards the basement stairs, a brush of shoulders meaning for Jack to follow him.]
-But they're still vulnerable enough to need care, and she doesn't have parents or siblings, so we'll have to do in making sure she can grow strong.
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Date: 2020-03-20 04:58 am (UTC)[Which was something to take in stride. She had found her feet well, but she needed time to grow and be a chick. He still thought that she would do better with Roxy at the helm, but that was on Gabe to decide as Roxy was his chocobo through and through.
He followed behind the older man, not that he was necessarily needed right now. He rubbed the back of his head as he watched Gabe set up the bedding where the older man saw fit.]
I think Roxy is the best option for teaching her.
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Date: 2020-03-20 05:04 am (UTC)Spoke easily as he worked.]
That's why she'll be spending time outside with Roxy during the warmer parts of the day. Supervised while she's still so small, just in case, but will be coming inside once the sun starts to set. Evenings and nights inside with us.
At least until the nights are warmer.
[Seemed reasonable and doable to him.]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-20 01:36 pm (UTC)Are you supervising her between jobs and work on the farm?
[He still wasn't so certain about keeping a baby chocobo inside with them, though he could make no actual argument against it at present. They didn't have a set-up to keep her warm outside or even in another part of the house, so for now, this would have to stand.]
I'll work on setting up a heat lamp and feeding station in one of the other rooms.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-20 01:44 pm (UTC)[He gestured for Jack to set the blue chicabo in to the blanket nest then once he was done, sitting up as it was being kept there at the head of the bed. All the better for neither of them to get up in the night and trip over the little thing.
Meant his gaze was focused on Jack once again.]
Think you could use the mudroom attached to the back porch?
no subject
Date: 2020-03-20 01:55 pm (UTC)This was different. He was still waiting for the other shoe to drop on the chick, and it would somehow manage to take his emotions and twist them about. This place sent those his way a lot lately.]
Who did you have helping with you Roxy?
[He moved over to the set up bedding and gently shifted and set the chick into it, waking her in the process. She peeped and nestled down in the nest of material until he rose to leave, then she was awake and following after him.]
No, stay in the bed. [He growled, stooping to gather her up and put her back to bed where she absolutely wouldn't stay if he tried to move away. Finally he grabbed one of the small soft blankets to wrap her in and took her back to his arms.] This isn't working as well as expected. You want to take her and try?
no subject
Date: 2020-03-20 02:01 pm (UTC)[Not exactly true- but it wasn't as if he could tell Jack he had helped here and there. Reason why he knew Jack could help with this chick, still knew more than he did when it came to a more technical farm-kid standpoint of things.
Of course Gabriel watched, chin rested against a palm-]
Try not getting up and walking away after you put her down.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-20 02:09 pm (UTC)[Jack understood that he had to stay, but he was still trying for distancing, maybe a touch too rapidly. Too bad for him that the chick was already falling back asleep in his arms, tucked comfortably into a blanket.
He tried to set her down again, but she was wise to his abandonment game and woke immediately to peep at him. He visibly gritted his teeth because this was damn manipulation! He knew she didn't mean it, but there was a small sliver of panic that she was using her fluffy baby-features to keep him here when really... she was just being a perfectly normal baby.
Finally sitting down on the bed, he cuddled her in his arms until she was asleep and looked over at Gabe.]
I'll... just wait until she's been asleep a bit longer and then transfer her over.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-20 02:29 pm (UTC)[It was that simple as far as he was concerned, knew that the time and energy wasn't the same now as it was then, wouldn't be possible and still manage some better balance that how he had been. There was no endless amount of time, doing whatever he could to keep himself busy and handling everything by himself because of it.
Gabriel let out an amused huff of breath and scooted himself close. Leaning against Jack's side a bit, head just against his as he looked down at the chick.]
It isn't so bad, is it?
[Softly.]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-21 04:17 am (UTC)[He wasn't going to let Reyes go back to lurking around on any given job or task or hobby twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. They kept each other in check in that way, and he wouldn't change it, not even for a chick. Okay, so their routine might have to change somewhat to accommodate the chick.
He wasn't certain how long he was going to have to wait, but he wasn't keen on being peeped at for setting the chick down. It helped to settle him as Gabe slipped in close, and he turned his head a little until the older man's rested to his then he relaxed where he sat.
His eyes flicked down to regard the chick nestled there in the blanket and his arm, and he sighed heavily.]
No, I guess not. Demanding little thing.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-21 04:25 am (UTC)[Just a little adjustment here and there, nothing too major other than maybe taking the chick along on small things around the property. Keeping it out of trouble, whatever it was for a while at least.
Gabriel remained like that, an arm easily rested around Jack's back to sort of half hold him like that. All the easier for them both to settle. Even nuzzling a slight bit for just a moment.]
She's a baby, doing what baby's do because she doesn't know any better. Roxy was the exact same.
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