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[atypical_echo]

What it says on the Tin

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[heydrb]

It was stupid to expect you to do that for me anyway.

I stalked

[atypical_echo]

Listen, I may spend a lot of time angry at you and maybe hate you at least a third of the time, but you still deserve a chance to grow. I wasn't expecting her to be fully agreeable.

Hehee <3

[heydrb]

Geeze, tell me how you really feel, Mark.

[…]

That’s a joke, by the way.

She’s not without her obvious doubts and reservations but she’s gonna look into it for me.

Re: Hehee <3

[atypical_echo]

Like that's even remotely the worst thing I've said to you. Literally said 'salted the earth'.

I guess I shouldn't prod her on it.

[heydrb]

Oh, don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten that one.

Nah. You don’t have to worry about it.
She’ll get back to me.
She said she doesn’t want to deter me from getting help, personal history aside.

[atypical_echo]

Not shocked. I think she's a bit more understanding of you now that she's met some of the other Tier Fives. Especially Helen.

[heydrb]

Maybe, yeah.

[He’s quiet for awhile after that, not entirely sure what else to say, where to direct the conversation. He isn’t done with it, he keeps idly picking up his phone and trying to say… something. Anything, just to not be done right now.

Eventually, what he settles on is: ]

I think I might get a dog.

[atypical_echo]

[That's actually... interesting. Mark's quiet too, because he has to think about this. Think of how to react.]

You have a job, right? I'm just checking because you need money to have a dog.

[But taking care of something with more pressing needs and that would still love him unconditionally might not be bad.]

[heydrb]

[His first, most immediate knee-jerk response is to want to snipe and say he knows it takes money for a dog, but…

…it’s a good point. And he knows Mark didn’t mean it in a bad way.]

Waitress at one of the diners downtown told me about a guy looking for help.

Doing what, I have no idea, but I’m supposed to talk to him Monday.

So… not yet, but hopefully soon?

[atypical_echo]

[Hopefully ti's not service industry. Damien would be shit at that.]

Well, dog might not be a bad idea once you're settled

[heydrb]

Yeah, that’s what I’m thinking.

I’ll let you know how this mystery meeting goes tomorrow.
Kinda wish Debbie had given me any clue at all about the guy, or what he does. Not a fan of going into things blind.

[He’s still getting used to not being the one holding all the cards.]

[atypical_echo]

Well, I'll keep my fingers crossed for you.

[heydrb]

[...]

That guy? He owns a ranch.
One of those fancy resort types.
Needs help with the horses.
Think I'm gonna take it.

[atypical_echo]

A ranch?
That's not just a job you randomly take up, Damien. Do you even know the first thing about horses? Or living out in what would have to be the middle of nowhere?

headcanons ahoy! lmao

[heydrb]

It's not that random.
My uncle had horses.
I grew up in the middle of nowhere Nebraska, Mark, I'll be fine.

Re: headcanons ahoy! lmao

[atypical_echo]

Wait you grew up in Nebraska? Your uncle had horses? Damien that stuff is so cool! You could have told me that before!

[heydrb]

[Fuck.

It's the only thought in his head when the message comes in. He can picture the look on his face, that mild-hyper tone in his voice when he gets excited about things.

Mark shouldn't be able to be this cute over a fucking text message.]

I didn't think about it...
I mostly try not
Nebraska was practically another lifetime.

[atypical_echo]

[Damn right that's the look on his face right now. It's adorable. You have to believe me.]

Yeah, so was life before the AM for me. Doesn't mean that all of it was bad.

[heydrb]

Yeah, I know.
It’s just the ones that stick out the most are the bad memories.

I know I wasn’t always miserable, but… it’s hard to remember what it felt like.

[atypical_echo]

Did you at least like horses?

[heydrb]

Yeah, I love them, they’re really fucking cool animals, man.
Chill as hell unless you give them a reason not to be.

[atypical_echo]

Well maybe that will be good for you too.

The ranch guy letting you stay there? Taking care of horses is a serious time sink, right? If so, getting a dog might be easier.

[heydrb]

Yeah, he's got a set of cabins for staff that's separate from the guest cabins. He said if I wanted a room, I had one.

It'll be better than the B&B I've been at. That shit's expensive.

[atypical_echo]

Damn that's pretty nice. I mean, don't let yourself get manipulated into never being able to leave, but sounds nice.

[heydrb]

I'm pretty sure it's not the Hotel California of ranches, but I'll be careful. Promise.