[ While it may not be a pet in the traditional sense, it certainly has the same effect. It's not something Jake is so sure he can share with humans, at least not exactly. How could he explain the trance-like state that takes hold at the nostalgic ministrations of a hand against your belly, or behind your ears, or at the base of your back just above your tail? It made Jake think of baths from his mother and the sunniest spot on the floor and that pleasant moment between a nap and waking.
This wasn't quite like that. For one, Itachi's hand was stationary. For another, for that whole thing to work usually the person doing the petting kinda had to want to be there; though, Jake couldn't help admitting that second thought was more a pity party than a fact. And besides... whatever the touch was, and however freely it was given, it was doing the trick. Jake could feel his anxiety ebbing along with his pain, blotchy color slowly fading from swirling gray blurs to the steely blues of the abandoned quarters.
Without realizing it, Jake's hind leg starts to bob. ]
Dang, Itachi. You undersold yourself, this griz is working a treat.
[ There's only one thing embarrassing in dog culture: being a bad one. Itachi doesn't say the dreaded words themselves, but he can't quite fight the tug at his chest at the man's regrettably correct assessment. ]
Solid burn, bro. Gotta give it up. [ Jake's voice sounds genuinely admiring, body relaxing further under Itachi's touch. It's with the clumsy probing of a still blind dog that he extends a paw towards his friend's voice, crawling carefully from his makeshift den and towards him. Jake isn't so bold as to settle into Itachi's lap, however tempting it is. Instead, Jake lays directly alongside the man's leg, leeching his warmth with a heavy lean. ]
But for what it's worth I don't...[ Jake yawns. It's a large one, swallowing up the back half of his sentiment. It also seems to swallow Jake's focus, paw rubbing wearily at one of his large eyes. ] I could fall asleep right here, man.
（ the... encroachment upon his territory does not go unnoticed, but itachi does not shift away. he lacks wei ying's aversion to dogs, but they are still not exactly his favourite four-legged creature.
he does, maybe, just maybe scritch at jake's ears just a tiny bit.
an old reflex, from when he worked alongside pakkun, maybe. ）
You should. I doubt you have gotten much rest in your condition. I will watch over you, if you wish.
Maybe it's the healing, maybe it's the begrudgingly offered ear scritch, maybe it's the company itself. But before Itachi can even finish making his offer, Jake is already snoring steadily against his leg. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
my specialty
This wasn't quite like that. For one, Itachi's hand was stationary. For another, for that whole thing to work usually the person doing the petting kinda had to want to be there; though, Jake couldn't help admitting that second thought was more a pity party than a fact. And besides... whatever the touch was, and however freely it was given, it was doing the trick. Jake could feel his anxiety ebbing along with his pain, blotchy color slowly fading from swirling gray blurs to the steely blues of the abandoned quarters.
Without realizing it, Jake's hind leg starts to bob. ]
Dang, Itachi. You undersold yourself, this griz is working a treat.
no subject
（ rude creature.
he eyes that back foot starting to jackrabbit away, and pointedly ignores it. he has no idea whether or not it's embarrassing in dog culture. ）
no subject
Solid burn, bro. Gotta give it up. [ Jake's voice sounds genuinely admiring, body relaxing further under Itachi's touch. It's with the clumsy probing of a still blind dog that he extends a paw towards his friend's voice, crawling carefully from his makeshift den and towards him. Jake isn't so bold as to settle into Itachi's lap, however tempting it is. Instead, Jake lays directly alongside the man's leg, leeching his warmth with a heavy lean. ]
But for what it's worth I don't...[ Jake yawns. It's a large one, swallowing up the back half of his sentiment. It also seems to swallow Jake's focus, paw rubbing wearily at one of his large eyes. ] I could fall asleep right here, man.
no subject
he does, maybe, just maybe scritch at jake's ears just a tiny bit.
an old reflex, from when he worked alongside pakkun, maybe. ）
You should. I doubt you have gotten much rest in your condition. I will watch over you, if you wish.
no subject
Maybe it's the healing, maybe it's the begrudgingly offered ear scritch, maybe it's the company itself. But before Itachi can even finish making his offer, Jake is already snoring steadily against his leg. ]