Maybe there's a reason // open+return // to believe you'll be okay

[jacob w.c.]

Mel. Jacob could remember her from just before he left. She was a little weird but he liked her. She was just sort of awkward sometimes but that was alright. He was like that, too, especially on his bad days. He smiled towards the woman, finishing the song before looking up at her. "Oh, thanks. I really jus' do it ta' relax though. When I still lived in the city, Jersey n' I would play some shows n' stuff for extra money but it jus' calms me down when things get real bad, ya' know? I take herbs n' stuff too but when those don' work, this usually does, even if i's just for a li'l while. N', no, I didn'. I wish I could write stuff this good. 'S jus' one I found not too long ago. I thought it'd be nice ta' sing with Jersey sometime," he explained. He decided not to specifically mention his lack of sleep, the nightmares, or his hallucinations. Those would all be too concerning to put on a stranger. Then again, his thoughts drifted to Pincher. The man had seen him in his weakest, most helpless moments. Jacob had screamed in terror about things that weren't there, any conversations they had were only between episodes of panic. He told him everything. He wasn't sure why. Maybe because, even after it all, he stayed. When he saw him without his bandages, Pincher hadn't left. He hadn't left during the first episode he had, nor when he was shouting about things that weren't there or when he told him about his family. Not when Jacob shared his whole name or about what'd happened leading up to him coming to Snowbound or why it was so important he was a doctor now. The captain had stayed and listened to it all. He'd told him more than even Jersey knew. He certainly told him more than what his Babbo knew about. Yet there was never look of disgust or disappointment or anger. He'd just promised Jacob a safe place to stay for a few days and stayed by his side as often as he could. While he'd never forget the look of disgust Guru had given him when seeing him without his sweater and bandages, he'd also never forget the many kindnesses Pincher had lavished upon him.

Then Killua arrived and his attention was forced to the serval. "Thank you. 'S good ta' be back. It sounds like things were pretty crazy while I was gone," he answered. He hadn't gotten all the details yet but he'd heard rumors of murder. He wasn't sure what it was all about but he'd decided he'd tackle the problems in a few days. He wasn't sure if he could try that after all that'd happened. [color=#2954d0}"Killua, I wanted ta' apologize ta' you. I know why ya' didn' agree with me earlier n' I shouldn' ah' snapped at ya' or anythin' but after everythin' that happened while I was there... I... I jus' don' think I coulda' accepted that it'd all been just some kinda' scheme, ya' know? Besides, I like ta' believe in people, generally speakin', n' they seemed like a good bunch while I was there. I jus'... I wish I wouldn't ah' fought with ya' so much. I coulda' been nicer 'bout it n' 'm really sorry,"[/color] he stated, concern in his gaze. Killua was one of the few people in Snowbound Jacob had actually thought he'd be able to connect well with. In a lot of ways, he reminded him of the people that he used to live with. Even if that wasn't a good quality, it was familiar and therefore comforting in an odd way. His eyes moved back to Mel when he heard her voice and he quickly added, "Uh, I wasn' feelin' too good yesterday n' I made a buncha' cookies n' stuff if either of ya' want anythin'."

★ though the scars remain and tears will never dry, i'll bless my homeland til i die ━