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[goesdown]

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[oversight]

Mm, coupla hours here an' there. The usual, more or less. [ Mostly less.

He carefully removes the plastic wrap and passes one of the plates to Crowley before moving on to the next. ]

Feel like there's not enough time in a day. How's that even possible? Don't even gotta job here, an' I'm workin' doubles again.

[goesdown]

It's because you think you're everyone's caretaker and then you forget to take care of yourself.

[ Which is part of why Crowley puts a little extra effort into making sure that Blake is rested and fed. ]

You're no good to anyone if you aren't taking care of yourself. I hope you know that.

[oversight]

I know that.

[ But he gives it no real credence, of course. Sleepless nights aren't new, aren't uncommon, so what's the difference?]

I take care of myself. Eat right, exercise, sleep some, at least. Eatin' cheesecake. That's takin' care.

[goesdown]

If it's all the same to you, I do like to make sure.

[ He picks up his fork and starts to dig into the cheesecake.

Sometimes it's surprising how easy he finds it to switch the topic off of himself. He's just not ready for Blake to know what's got him acting differently. He's not sure that he'll ever be ready. It doesn't matter, right? They're happy. ]

[oversight]

[It just buys Crowley some time, to be perfectly honest. Blake still thinks about all of this stuff, still weighs it heavily against what he already knows, but he isn't quite ready to be entirely insistent about it. Things have smoothed out some, right? And they are happy enough. ]

Right. Wouldn't ask you to be anyone but you. Should know that by now.

[ And then, maybe more pragmatically than usual, he points with his own fork, a slight smirk playing on his face. ]

But I do know how to blow dinner pretty well. We can agree on that to some degree, right? Nobody doesn't like cheesecake.

[goesdown]

It's certainly nice to know that you don't just like me for my girlish figure.

[ He gestures towards the cake. ]

This is a nice treat, though, darling. Thank you.

[ It's funny. He's known Blake for what, a year now? Who would have seen this coming when they met? He remembers Blake being helpful and friendly and he remembers himself, dressed like Castiel at that party and filled with glee over Cas's discomfort. ]

[oversight]

[ No one saw this coming. How could they? But Blake has always been his own man, making his own connections, and there isn't any way to dictate that. ]

Not great before bed, but I could definitely use the sugar until then.

Have any interest in takin' a walk with me after this? Gotta feed some beasts.

[goesdown]

I think walking this off is a good idea.

[ That is to say that after the weekend he's had, he's more than happy to spend whatever time he can with Blake. Maybe the intensity has worn off, but he wants to be with Blake regardless. ]

What sort of beasts are we feeding?

[oversight]

All kinds, great and small. Wanna drop somethin' off to Adam. Just outside his door. The croc, too, but you don't gotta go with me for that.

And then bed. Prob'ly. Or, my notes and then bed. Sound good? 'Cause I've got class in the mornin'...

[ Some company and accountability will do him so good for some part of that. ]

[goesdown]

Sounds fine to me, though Adam probably doesn't want to see me right now.

[ He pauses and puts his fork down. ]

Funny, when you mentioned beasts, I was hoping you meant something more canine.

[oversight]

Like a dog? Or a Hellhound?

[ A young man and a crocodile are adequate analogs. ]

[goesdown]

A hellhound preferably, but a regular dog sounds nice, too. It's been too long.

[ And the last dog he was around ripped his throat out, but he's trying not to think about that right now. ]

[oversight]

So, get a dog. Or a hellhound, I guess. Although, here's hopin' I stay on your good side, 'cause- [ He whistles appreciatively and then takes another bite of food before going on. He remembers the last event with those demon dogs and it wasn't pleasant. ]

Do they shed? Or drool? If they shed, you gotta leave 'em in your room. Not gonna get hair on my clothes.

[ Nag nag nag. ]

[goesdown]

They like me when they're not coming out of someone else's wretched memories. Even most of those liked me.

And they don't shed, but I can't promise they won't drool.

[ Leave them in your room, he says, as if the hound would be the both of theirs and suddenly Crowley can't tell if he's warm and content or overheated and claustrophobic with the idea of that. Shared pets is moving a bit fast, isn't it? Maybe they should start with a houseplant or a kingdom.

Quickly, he picks up his fork and shoves move cheesecake into his mouth. ]

[oversight]

[ Well, it's more about where they find themselves and each other all the time, and less about sharing anything, but Blake doesn't need to say as much. Instead, he just smirks right around the very last bite of his piece of cheesecake. ]

Woulda thought a cat for you. Isn't that more your style? For me, I'd take a hellhound over what I got. And prob'ly over a cat, too.

[goesdown]

[ Crowley gives him the dirtiest look he can muster, but it's got very little bite. ]

Cats are vile. I'm a dog person. You'd like my dogs. They're all very obedient.

[ Finally, he finishes his own cake. ]

You think I should just get one from the closet like I would get a snack?

[oversight]

Mm. Dunno. Guess that would work well enough. Seems to be how everyone else gets their pets, at least. Not exactly an expert in the whole life creation gig, though.

[ Collecting up Crowley's plate along with his own, he sets them by the door and then brushes his hands off. ]

When're you thinkin' of doin' that?

[goesdown]

I don't know. I'm going to have to think about the ethical ramifications of--

[ He's cut off by a growling closet. ]

Right now sounds good, don't you think?

[oversight]

Ahhh. [ Okay, so that's somewhat unexpected. Blake stiffens a little, eyeing Crowley and then the door to the closet. ] Yeah, okay... long as you're sure.

[ But watch as he maneuvers himself a little closer to the demon. ]

Don't s'pose there's some trick to this if things don't work out, is there?

[goesdown]

[ Crowley raises an eyebrow. ]

The trick is that I'm a demon and I'm great with dogs. She'll be fine.

[ He pulls the closet door open and the invisible dog comes trotting out and moves straight for Blake, stiffing heavily at the air around him and snuffling in his general direction. ]

Don't make any sudden moves.

[oversight]

[ Right, he's a demon. Except, he seems more human every day, and who's to say what that's going to mean as Crowley changes more and more.

Despite his trust for Crowley, though, Blake still holds himself stiff against the unseen investigator. He even closes his eyes as the breath skirts across the skin of his hand. ]

Not movin', don't worry... but I am trustin' you not to hold me to that if this thing gets much friendlier.

[ The crocodile is one thing, but a beast from Hell is an entirely different story. Hellhounds seem like they're better at holding grudges. ]

[goesdown]

Easy, girl. He's a friend.

[ Crowley moves closer, slipping an arm around Blake and resting his chin on Blake's shoulder.

Finally, the hound yips quietly and goes to lick Blake's hand, cold nose pressing against his skin. ]

See? She likes you.

[oversight]

[ And there's the drool. But Blake relaxes considerably once Crowley is wrapped around him. He let's out a breath and reaches a hand out to pat gently at the snout of the hound. ]

Not sure how I'd ever get used to somethin' like this. What's keepin' me from steppin' on her in the middle of the night 'cause I gotta go to the bathroom or somethin'?

Do I gotta feed her when you're out? Does she sleep in the bed with you? With us?

[goesdown]

[ Crowley's arm tightens and he presses himself up against Blake's back, smiling down at his new pet. ]

She'll learn to stay out of walking paths if she doesn't like getting stepped on. They're smart creatures.

[ He kisses Blake's cheek. ]

She doesn't need food and if you don't want her in the bed, she won't be there. Isn't that right, Perdita?

[ Looking expectantly at the dog, he's pleasantly surprised when it yelps in response. Really, they're such clever things. ]

[oversight]

Yeah, okay... [ Blake's not sure how this is going to pan out, but with time, he doubts there's much of anything he can't get used to, especially where Crowley's involved.

Stifling another yawn, he suppresses the urge to just suggest bed, and squirms a little too turn to face Crowley. Arms snaking around the demon, he leans in for a kiss. ]

Is Perdita gonna be okay here alone, or do we gotta bring her along now?