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Thorne hadn't been at the art shop in awhile, but while recovering in the hospital there wasn't much to do. And at home there wasn't much to do. At least here he could get peace and quiet and a little bit of amusement every now and again without having nurses doting all over him. The soft ping and click of animal crossing being played echoed across the art shop as Thorne chewed the stylus between his teeth.

He was aware of his shop patrons, but he didn't mind much bothering them. He knew that artists usually preferred space, after all. And any questions would be attended to with his full focus. But until then... ping, ping, ping. He was going to kill Aleksy for cutting down all of his apple trees.

And then the door jingled and he looked up to see a familiar face ghosting in and up the aisles. Flipping the DS shut, Thorne tilted his head, wondering how best to say hi. Jamie had seemed much less forward than Shiloh. Shy, even. And Thorne wasn't exactly cut out as a very gentle figure. Still, he slid from his seat and came to lean against the shelves along the edge of the aisle.

"Hey there, long time no see," he called out, his tone soft and low with friendly intent.

Thorne blinked at Jamie, obviously gauging his reaction to him before making any particular mood. All he knew about the kid was that he was a were-bunny and that he was somehow in cohorts with Shiloh. How the two were friends and what that first encounter must have been like was something Thorne would have been amused to find out about, but not just yet. Instead he smiled, a lazy, amicable smile that promised a gentle approach.

"Hey there," he said, and added with amusement, "Occasionally. I'm a freelance artist, but even that gets boring sometimes. And I have to have excuses to get out of the house, yeah?" After all, money wasn't a problem for Thorne thanks to a grudgingly bequeathed trust fund and his own accomplishments on the art scene. But the need to have breathing space on the other hand - well...

"I didn't know you were an artist though," he added with obvious interest. "Let me know if you ever need anything." At the question he laughed, the sound lilting and pleasurable. His abdomen still ached and the painkillers were in a small bottle beneath his desk, but he was getting there.

"I survived, yeah? Physically, I'm getting there. Everything else though? I'm fine." He gave a shrug and looked at the other boy. "Are you though? That wasn't exactly a great place to meet... or a way to end our meeting."

Thorne chuckled and smiled at Jamie, his shoulders visibly easing more as he watched the other. After a few weeks loaded on intensive emotions at a nearly violent high, it was nice to be able to relax around someone like Jamie. "I'm glad to hear it. I'm sorry I wasn't able to keep you guys safe."

He gave a half-shrug, pushing away from the shelves and looking at the rows of art supplies. He ran his fingers over them with mild appreciation and turned his attention back to Jamie. Even with the events ruled over by Other Ashdown looming over them, he could still revel in this small moment of normalcy at least.

"You two are friends, right?" Thorne retorted, a grin on his face. He took a tentative step forward, hoping he wouldn't startle Jamie or anything. "That kids a whirlwind. But I really like him. Those are a good brand especially, I think he'd like them." Thorne rubbed the back of his neck with his hand, flashing tattoos and parallel scars. "I can show you around a bit if you want though."

Thorne laughed at that, a sound like warmth and honey. He was easily pleased, and the cat's smile was genuine, lazy and plump with satisfaction at knowing that Shiloh had someone his age to care about him like this. To go out of his way like this. "I'm sure it will," he responded, his tone low and crackling with fondness, "and I'm glad. I'm glad that he has you. And you're always welcome here, or wherever I am, if you need help finding something for him or yourself."

Thorne tapped his cheeks at the red face Jamie gave him and laughed. "Don't be embarrassed. I'd give anything for someone to want to make me smile like that. It's rare." People like Jamie. They were rare, and they made Thorne believe that there was a better world out there, beyond all of this.

Thorne dropped his hands and gestured for Jamie to follow him to another row of supplies. "Yeah, of course," Thorne responded with a laugh. "Here - " he pointed out a few sets of supplies, rattling off an abbreviated explanation for each of them from consistency to line-work to the vibrant, long-lasting nature of some. "What does he like to draw?" Thorne asked Jamie.

His smile curved, warm and friendly, on the edge of a wild tease. "How about we strike a bargain? I'll give you a discount for a smile."

Thorne tilted his head at Jamie, a low rumble of laughter spilling from his lips. There was a part of him, ruthlessly pleased, that Jamie didn't shy away from his presence the way a lot of other people did when they saw the tattoos. Thorne wasn't exactly the type that looked approachable, and he'd long since given up trying to subdue the masses with a false pretense.

That Jamie was able to look at him without shying away immediately... it was nice. It was different. And it made Thorne burn with a soft, hungry flame of happiness. "It's no problem at all," he said, his tone a purr of amusement, "Find me whenever you need me. I'll always be around if you need to call in a favor."

He laughed at the next set of words, running fingers through his hair and mussing it gently. "Turtles?" Of all the things... His face must have showed his surprise, eyes lighting up at the mention of turtles and fish. A low rumble of sound echoed in his throat and he shook his head, ghosting his fingers along the shelves of copic markers and sketchpads. Things he had horded vapidly as a teenager, back when it had been one of his only two escapes.

His eyes ghosted back to Jamie, merry with wicked delight, something mischievous glowing in them. His laughter curled, slow and warm and amused. "Of course I can. I'm magical, didn't you know?" Thorne shrugged his shoulders, offering his own grin in return. "There's no limit on what I can do."

Thorne laughed, the sound fond and raw, and grinned back at Jamie. His expression was mild, pleased. He ran an appraising finger over the art supplies on the shelf and sighed.

"I would have thought about honey badgers first," he remarked, teasingly, "or a shark. But turtles... turtles fit him. I like it." He dropped his hand, rolling it against the back of his neck. "They're clever devils too. They can sneak across to feeder tanks and eat all of the fish when they want."

He glanced over at the supplies, considering.

"He's a good artist. Depending on what medium he likes most, he could do a lot with turtles," Thorne mused, a rumble of laughter deep in his throat. He glanced back at Jamie, a wicked edge to his curved mouth.

"I suppose so," he remarked, softer than before. "And I remember. You were very handsome, not that the lack of bunny ears has made you any less." He grinned at Jamie. "It seems Ashdown has far more in store for us than we thought. I just moved here to finish pieces for an exhibit and get a bit of quiet, and look what came for me instead."

He smiled again.

"But I'm glad I was able to come here and meet everyone," he added. And his laughter turned wicked. "Very well, if you so dare."