sleepyhollowed | IC Inbox for redshiftrp

[ Reynir is still getting the hang of how to get himself on-screen for sending video messages, and his ability to do so right now is somewhat compromised by the fussy, bleating, day-old lamb that he is holding in his arms. It's managing to wriggle around quite a lot even wrapped up in a blanket, and so the video isn't exactly the steadiest. ]

Kieran! Hello! This is Reynir. Do you remember me?

[ He sort of assumes Kieran doesn't but just goes on: ]

You're helping with the ranch and I was wondering if you have any animals for milking, because this little guy just showed up and he's- oof!

[ The lamb had butted it's face against Reynir's chin, interrupting him. ]

-he's really hungry, and I don't know if the stuff in the mess hall is gonna cut it.

[ Sure there is 'milk' there but most of it is either powdered or some weird low-fat nonsense and this is just a baby, it needs nutrients and fats and Reynir knows it isn't old enough to eat anything else, yet. ]

Yeah! Howdy, Reynir!

[Kieran's attention is piqued by both the urgent tone in Reynir's voice and the loud bleating of that wriggly lamb wrangled in his friend's arms.]

[He nods as he listens, then grimaces when poor Reynir's on the wrong end of a stubborn headbutt. He understands that pain all too well.]

We, uh, we got a cow up in the ranch, but she ain't producin' any milk, yet. There's no bull around to get 'er started.

[And he has no idea how long that's going to take. His brow furrows as he thinks... then, aha!]

H-Have you tried mixin' eggs with some milk and cream fer the little guy?

[ Well, Reynir is delighted Kieran remembers him, but really bummed that there isn't some cow or goat or even a deer who could just stand as substitute for this little guy's mama, who is probably in another REALM OF EXISTENCE or something like that.

At least Kieran has some good pro strats. Reynir has never encountered this particular issue before - any time a mother died or had trouble giving milk, there were many other ewes around that would solve the issue. ]

I haven't. I guess that could work...

[ And now the video is just going to show Reynir mixing up a concoction of that particular kind, the lamb tucked firmly against his chest, like a baby. Because it is one. ]

He can't be more than a day or two old, poor thing. He's one of ours. From my parents's farm. I recognize the collar. It has our address on it.

[Hnnnngghh... such a little wee babbu lamb. Kieran already loves this new addition to the group.]

Poor little guy. He must be scared somethin' fierce with all the stuff goin' on here.

[He puts a hand to his chin and strokes at his beard. He's never been the philosophical sort, but when it comes to more practical matters such as taking care of the animals that, in their own way, took care of you, he has some ideas to spare.]

T-Try that with him! I've seen it work before in a punch.

I'll, uh, I'll get in touch with Pratt and see about findin' us a bull. It's about time that we got that taken care of anyway.

He was at first. He isn't too agitated as long as you keep him close. I think he doesn't like the quiet. I was a little worried he wouldn't get on with Kitty, but the second she saw him she gave him a head to tail bath so I guess they're friends already.

[ His question may be answered but Reynir is a chatty and gregarious person, and keeps talking with that lamb tucked against his chest, interjecting a little bleat now and then. He sets his device down on something or other in the kitchen so he can make the lamb a bottle of fortified milk with his free hands. ]

Well apparently animals just appear out of nowhere here so that might not be too hard...

[ And then, as he's cracking an egg into a bowl, it occurs to him to ask: ]

Would you like to meet him?

[That question alone is enough to get Kieran to light up.]

Hell yeah, I wanna meet 'em!!!

[Wait.]

[He stops and clears his throat.]

I-I mean, uh, yeah. Sure. Whenever yer available.

[ Kieran's cover-up of his enthusiasm comes much too late; Reynir saw that happy eagerness and the way the other man lit up, and he responded in kind, beaming even as the little lamb bleats loudly and interrupts him ]

Awe- Awesome. I can bring him up to that barn now if you'd like? Once I get him fed, I want him to get a chance to wander around a little and get his legs under him.

[ And sure, the lamb could do that anywhere, but it just seems wrong for it to practice walking indoors, on linoleum or concrete. He needs some soft earth or grass under his feet.

Reynir knows that small animals bring people joy, and he's happy to spread that joy around. ]

That's not a problem. Barn's always open to you and the little guy, Reynir.

You can bring him up once he's done eatin'. I'm sure the animals that are already there are gonna love havin' a new friend around.

[Kieran grins at the prospect.]

D-Did you wanna keep him here? There's space if you wanna stay and keep an eye on him, too.

[ Reynir considers the kind offer for a minute before he answers: ]

Maybe after a couple weeks. He's so small now, I'm worried about him keeping warm, and he's going to want fed really frequently. I can't ask you to do all that.

[ It's more than that, though, and Reynir is someone who is both honest and upfront about his feelings, so he adds: ]

Besides... he's got me a bit homesick and I just want to keep him close for a bit.

[ He does, however, head up to Kieran's barn once the little lamb has filled his belly. Reynir's easy to spot from a distance, with the long bright red braid and the baby animal in his arms - wriggling a lot less now that he's had a good meal. ]

[Kieran nods in understanding. He gets it. All of it, really. The homesickness, wanting to keep an animal companion close, wanting to make sure said companion is well taken care of... they're all sentiments he can fully sympathize with.]

[He waits patiently for Reynir and Lamb Friend to show up, filling the time with some menial tasks that always need addressing on any kind of ranch. When he catches that stark red of Reynir's hair, Kieran calls him over with a happy wave.]

Welcome back!

Hello!

[ Reynir gives a small wave, although it doesn't last too long, since he needs both his hands to keep the little animal tucked close to his chest. He tucks the blanket that is wrapped around the lamb back a little to free his floppy little ears. The lamb bleats, expressing some opinion or another vehemently. ]

This is Anne.

[ The name had been simple to choose, the moment he considered giving the little thing a name. He thinks that, wherever she is, in whatever afterlife, the pastor would appreciate him using her name for this innocent new life. Reynir hadn't really understood her ancient religion or what lambs had to do with any of it, but he knows they were important and it seems like a good way to honor her memory. ]

He's a little troublemaker, I can already tell. Would you like to hold him?

[Kieran's brow furrows at the lamb's name, but chalks it up to some cultural thing he doesn't get. He's heard plenty of different names for plenty of different animals. He's not about to judge this one.]

[Instead, he's going to reach out with his arms so he can hold the little guy.]

Yes, please.

[Kieran takes Anne in his arms and brings him close, scratching underneath his chin and down his neck.]

Yeah, you can tell he's real new. He doesn't have that sheep smell yet.

[ Reynir places the lamb, and the blanket he's wrapped in, into Kieran's arms easily, and it's immediately apparent that he's perfectly comfortable holding small animals. It's what Reynir had expected, but still: he approves. And he grins when Kieran mentions that he doesn't smell like sheep yet. ]

Oh, you mean the way I tried hard not to smell my whole life? Yeah, I know that sheep smell.

[ He smiles broadly at Kieran and continues chatting away: ]

I never would've thought I'd actually miss sheep, but life's just full of unexpected twists and turns I guess.

[Kieran scratches underneath Anne's chin and along her tiny jaw as he listens to Reynir.]

Yeah, I get what yer sayin'.

It's like, uh, we take fer granted all the stuff we had until it gets taken away.

[He chuckles.]

Sheep smell counts too, I guess.

[ Reynir gives a quiet nod of agreement to the way Kieran puts it into words. He wonders if he is only talking about Reynir, or if he might have some personal experience with that particular blend of bittersweet regret. So, he asks: ]

Do you miss home much?

[ He has grasped from context clues that Kieran definitely wasn't from a city, at least not originally. He knows way too much about animals, and seems very comfortable just being out in nature. But Reynir hadn't actually heard much about where he's from. To him, 'America' is just a word. He has no sense of what sort of a place it is, how big or small, how warm or cold... ]

You really don't mind if he comes here to stay with the rest of the animals, once he's a little older?

[The question gives Kieran pause. He has to really stop and think to see if he does miss home. There are certain events he certainly doesn’t miss, and there’s one in particular that settles like an icy blanket of existential dread on him, but home wasn’t all bad.]

I, uh, I-I guess I miss certain folks, but I ain’t in any rush to go back.

[And he has no idea if he even can, or what awaits a dead man if he does.]

And yeah! Anne’s more than welcome to stay when he’s bigger. Hopefully by that time we’ll have lots of friends fer him.

[ There's something about the way Kieran pauses before he answers, and then says that, even though there are people he misses, he isn't in a hurry to go back, that sort of dissuades further questions. Perhaps another time, when it comes up naturally - or once he has a better sense of why Kieran might have mixed feelings about the place he comes from.

Reynir is trying to be better at not always chattering, even though he knows he is inclined to, sometimes. He had said he would bring Anne up so that Kieran could see him; that offer ought to come without an obligation to talk, if Kieran doesn't want to. So Reynir lapses into companionable silence, watching the other man interact with the tiny lamb. It's nice, really. Just being together, the two of them, and the little animal. ]

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