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The world that had gone by, the one they were no longer part of, had had a K9 unit. It was not, however, the same dogs. They had actually been an older pair that no one was particularly fond of sans their keepers.

This was not the case with the new world they were in. Waffles and Habanero were well loved by everyone it seemed. Including, it appeared, Hellbine. The Chief of Police did not expect to be pulled aside and told that his familiar (though the office said cat, Jeremiah knew otherwise what Hellbine was) was playing with the dogs.

People were worried, the cat was quite small and the dogs quite large. Also it was time for them to go for a walk (never a problem to find someone who wanted to walk them). Which was why Jeremiah was heading to where they were kept during the hours their caretakers were working but not using them.

"'lo, Nathaniel." Jeremiah flicked a hand in greeting, a truer smile on his face than when he greeted most. He approached and crouched down, fingers going to the scruff of Hellbine's neck and plucking him up.

"So you're the one walking this troublesome pair today?" he inquired, amusement clear. "Hellbine probably thought he could." Judging by the way he was getting a lick to the side of his face (right at the scruff) he was right.

"We never really have to worry about them getting walks or exercise with all the people who want to help out." Jeremiah was chuckling a little, mostly because of Waffles and the very serious but still pouty look he had on his face at being denied face licks.

Hellbine was settled onto his shoulders, a few scratches given to under his chin, before Jeremiah was gesturing for Nathaniel to go ahead and start walking. He'd go along with.

"I've been busy," he had a wry look on his face, "between what happens in Ashdown proper and over on the other side. There's always something going on and still have a few moments of ... having to adjust all over again." Since sometimes the changes to this reality snuck back up on him. Speaking of ...

"How have you been doing? Everything going alright?"

"It's good to have repeat volunteers. Though it's good for the dogs to be used to multiple people, them having someone reliably helping is also good." Animals, of all kids, benefited from stability in their lives. It would certainly improve the demeanor. Waffles and Habanero's behavior around Nathaniel certainly spoke volumes about the young man and their trust of him.

Hellbine was still, rather lazily, grooming his owner's beard. Jeremiah was completely not bothered by it.

"It's been," he let out a breath, "different. Algie and myself have been married longer, as well as both of us having dual citizenship since he's also been in the States with me for more years." It was still something that bothered him: that a different version of him had made a better choice when it came to Algie. Had been able to speak up when he had not been able to do so.

"Nothing new or exciting?" Jeremiah asked with a raised eyebrow. "Not even normal life?" ... and not necessarily magic related.

"Very much so," Jeremiah replied. "No memory of them and while things are mostly the same, Algie's entire book collection is here now." Which meant that there were even more book shelves in his home.

"Ah, and something - when we got back home - had torn up the garden though it was wildly in bloom. I've still got some pictures of it, if you'd like to see, it was something else." His head tilted as Nathaniel explained what had happened with him, lips pressing together before he nodded.

"I suppose that's a bit more fortunate then. Money towards your own nursery someday?" Then he was chuckling. "... and maybe I should have you come by to look at the garden if you can grow vines." Jeremiah went quiet a moment before he looked at Nathaniel seriously.

"Do people know you are capable of magic, Nathaniel?" He, himself, had little to no choice in the matter. His eyes had taken on a near perpetual reflective quality and there was no way around his status as being capable of magic not being known considering his job.

"It's in recovery but I've not been able to put in as much time as I would like to putting things to rights," said Jeremiah, looking a bit rueful himself. It was not something he was happy about but with his job and with things within other ashdown constantly on the move he had not nearly enough time for his garden.

"Let me know if you're free some weekend and we'll have you over." Then, of course, he was nodding. "It's ... best you don't. The freedom of the world knowing about magic is an illusion. It's more restrictive in the long run."

His fingers brushed along Hellbine's fur, almost as if it was to make himself remember that magic was a boon and not a bane.

Jeremiah had made a similar noise, though it had gone on longer in frustration because it had not been what he wanted to find upon returning home from the void.

Nathaniel was given a smile and a polite nod, meaning Jeremiah would definitely give him a call to have him come by.

"None of us do, in a way. Not those of us who remember the world that was." Fingers continued to smooth against Hellbine's fur. "... but I am certain it's more disconcerting for magic to be a known quantity and for yourself to discover more abilities you did not know you had."

Jeremiah nodded, understanding a little bit what Nathaniel meant. "That perhaps you're just someone who is on the outside looking in? Though the magic seems to have a mind of it's own and prefers those kind of people to pull in ...

"However," he let out a breath, "for some this is because they've been part of this all before. People saw other times within the void and, more so, they saw other versions of people who live and breathe now."