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Jet's too pretty.

-no, really. He kept getting picked up by families with no idea what to do with an active dog, is my guess. Got three strikes from the shelter, returned for chewing on furniture and supposedly nipping at kids.

[ It's clear from his tone that he doesn't believe that. Jet has never been aggressive towards people...well, people who weren't actively trying to murder Will, anyway. ]

I've been taking him on a lot of runs and teaching him military dog commands. So, uh-- thanks. Guess I'm bonded to him, too.

Thought you might be. Good. He's been getting along great, whenever I do see him.

Will you train me on those commands, too? I'll try to keep in line with them.

Come over now and bring Jet, if you want. I'm in my cabin; Bear's here.

Yep. See you soon.

[ He's hardly going to delay, hanging up and arriving with Jet within a couple of minutes. Jet's on a leash- he wouldn't normally be, but it's Will's protocol with meeting new dogs.

When Shaw opens the door for them, she'll get to see the rare sight of Will looking antsy for once. He'd been hoping to meet Bear, but thought it would be a lot longer than this. ]

[Bear sits in the center of the room, alert in a friendly sort of way - his ears are pricked forward, and his tail sweeps across the floor in a slow wag. But he's a good military dog, and so he waits for a signal - one that Shaw gives him once Will and Jet are in and the door is shut behind them.]

Bear, vrij. You doing okay, Graham?

[Bear trots forward towards the visitors, sniffing curiously at Will's legs and Jet's rear.]

[ Will watches Bear as he stands at attention. Once the signal is given, Will crouches down so he greet Bear on his level, giving him a hand to sniff. ]

Hmmm? Oh, yeah. Guess it's been a while since you've seen me meet a new dog.

Hi, Bear. I've heard good things.

[ Jet is already wagging his tail, turning to try to sniff at Bear as well. ]

Much cooler than meeting people, huh.

[A faint smile settles on her face as Bear sniffs at Will's fingers, then moves up his arm to his face, giving him a snuffle.]

I've, uh-- been thinking about it, ever since we started bringing your guys in. I wasn't sure how I'd feel about it - if it would make things feel even more weird and unreal.

Much.

[ He agrees, smiling as he lets Bear sniff at him, then reaches back to pet his head with a quiet 'hi, buddy.' ]

I can understand the hesitation. If Eddie hadn't brought in Winston when I really needed him, I don't know if I would've started this...dog crusade.

[ His eyes finally turn from Bear up to look at Shaw. ]

So how's it been so far? Okay? Still weird?

[Shaw sighs, and lowers herself to the floor too, crouching behind Bear and stroking a hand over his back. She wishes she could give a nice, easy answer, but--]

Yeah. Root being here is, too. Both of them make this place feel less real.

[She closes her eyes, exhaling.]

But it's a trade-off that's worth it. Having them is worth it.

Worth it.

[ He's rubbing Bear's neck now, a more friendly greeting now that he's been deemed all right. ]

Yeah. That's not an easy decision, but- I can see how it'd be worth it.

And of course, from where I'm at, with my different perspective...I'm glad you've got them here.

You know, it helps to hear that?

[Bear sighs heavily, snuffling Will's cheek.]

So, uh-- thanks. I guess it'll get easier as time goes on.

I think it will. And I'm glad it helps.

[ This dog is the best-- and that's equally true, no matter what dog he's petting. ]

Do you think Root's gonna be here a while? Me and her were wondering who was going to hit the finish line first.

[Shaw lifts a shoulder in a shrug.]

You're both smart. Pretty stubborn. You both have motivation to graduate, and motivation to not want to change.

[ Will nods. ]

Guess it'll be a close race, then. We'll just have to see which one of us gets our head out of our ass first, huh?

So far, you're winning. She caused an explosion in a common room; she's already giving me headaches.

Damn, she works fast. Yeah, I haven't blown up anything lately...

[ He sounds amused, though, rather than worried. It wasn't something he heard about ship-wide, so it had to work out at least relatively okay. ]

I do have something to ask you about. Might as well get into it while I'm here. Did you know Lark at all? Warden until he got pulled away, recently?

A little bit. We patrolled together. Why?

[ Will finally stops giving his most visible attention to Bear in order to look fully at Shaw. ]

He...let me attend Malcolm's first werewolf transformation. Apparently, he'd never done that before. But he thought I could handle it without interfering and making it worse. And- he was considering inviting me to his pack.

Well, I just heard from Harkin that I have an official invite now.

[Shaw frowns, though it's one of confusion and surprise.]

Lark Tennant wants to turn you into a werewolf? Do you want to join a werewolf pack?

I do. I've thought about it...I think I've wanted to do it for a while.

[ He rubs his chin, looking down at the floor thoughtfully. ]

I was more concerned with the sort of person Lark was, the sort of people he chose. I was more concerned on Malcolm's behalf. I wanted to know what he was getting into. But the more I learned, the more it became something I could see myself doing.

Tell me why, specifically? And have your concerns about Lark's judgement been cleared up, or--?

[ Will nods. ]

I believe he generally picks people who don't...fit, anywhere. He gives them a place to do so. I'd been concerned that there was a religious or semi-religious element to the pack mentality, and that's not the case. The turning 'ritual' was very practical.

As for why... [ He looks up and licks his lips. ] I'm sure you know already that there's a part of me that- if it wasn't wild before- it certainly is now. But when I start to...lose humanity, it's more of a- I see myself controlling the pack, letting it all ramp up without cause or care. If I was part of an actual pack, I'd have them to consider, to support and to hold me back. And I could 'go a little wild' without hurting anybody.

I'll say the idea of fitting someplace is appealing to me, too. Even if it's more like family than true friends.

Edited (repeated phrasing) 2023-09-05 22:40 (UTC)

[Shaw nods in acknowledgement at the end of his explanation, though her expression is as muted as always.]

And here that's Wildthyme, Bright-- anyone else?

That's it, for now. I'm assuming there might be some sort of blood-related connection to the rest of Lark's pack in LA, which has some former inmates and wardens. But I'm also more concerned with the Barge group.

I'm not sure how it'd work with my status as an inmate, either. If I'd be able to shift or- apparently there's an increase in the senses, as well. But Iris would probably know.

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