"Yeah, hey. Sorry to call you out here. Again. In the same week," Jackson chuckled while opening the door to the plumber. He stepped aside to let him in, but quickly got in front of him when the frantic pitter-patter of dog paws scratched against the floor. "I think they missed you more than me," he chuckled. Spinning around, he gave a soft scold for both the large St. Bernard and the small Pomeranian to sit. They did, though they stared intensely at Gray, hoping for pets.
"I'm starting to think I need to just up and remodel the entire restroom. I don't know why it keeps doing this," Jackson sighed while walking Gray to the restroom. "You any good at remodeling? Know someone that could do it?" He leaned against the doorway while watching him do his work. Just when things go too quiet, he spoke softly, "Any plans coming up for the holidays? You seem like a family kinda person, I bet you've got kids that are ready for Halloween, right? Or any Thanksgiving dinners to plan?"
He briefly glanced back at his home, the empty, wide hallways save the two dogs still waiting for pats. It was awfully lonely here nowadays. It was part of the reason he didn't mind having to call Gray over so often to plumbing, there was just something about him that was... warm. His smile, his attitude, it reminded him a lot of himself back then. Hopefully... Hopefully that wouldn't mean this guy would face his own tragedies.
Jackson had always been a light sleeper, so when he heard his dogs getting restless he was already sitting up in bed. He couldn't immediately tell what was wrong, but the chill he felt was familiar. Then he saw that glowing, crimson grin. He clenched his jaw as the Fiend got closer, breathing heavily; hungrily. As if in reaction, he felt phantom pains for his right eye. He winced when the tongue felt his tattoo, but this didn't feel like the last times, it felt more like the Fiend was curious.
Time passed and strangely, the Fiend seemed to have a whimper of his own-- in a growling, monstrous way-- and laid down next to him, almost... as if to comfort? Jackson watched him then gave a tired smile. "It's been a while, big guy. It's nice to see a familiar face," he said, hesitating but putting a hand on top of the Fiend's head. "You're not all that bad, huh?" A pause. "Wish I could say the same for myself."