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[ Jason listens as he cleans up, and at first, it just sounds weird, like the rest of the places that Jason has heard of. All the weird bullshit that people go through become here, it's definitely something. An abandoned amusement park is definitely a new one, and he laughs when Oz said he learned to make oatmeal, but as he continues, Jason's face turns more serious. The idea of putting someone into peoples' heads is bad enough, and he looks towards Oz as he gestures towards his head. But at the last part, he pulls back, regarding him more serious. ]

...Wait, a game? No shit?

[ There's definitely recognition in his tone, which is why he looks concerned. It doesn't sound like that camp in the details, but the idea of it being a game where you're killing people, that's unfortunately familiar. ]

[Oz catches the tone of recognition, pulling back a little from the toaster oven himself to look at Jason a little more carefully.]

Mm— Well, that's what they were told it was. In the end, no one really died, but it wasn't a "game". Calling it that... [He shakes his head, and the look on his face is one of clear, if not brief, disapproval.]

Toying with lives like that is never a game.

You're right. It ain't.

[ Jason says it with an almost chilly tone, but it's not surprising why, at least. He tosses the towel between his hands as a thoughtful gesture, but ends up just sighing heavily. He doesn't like talking about this, since it is how he died, but for someone that gets it, he figures it won't be so bad. ]

Ours wasn't Six Flags or nothin'. It was a summer camp, like you'd go to for football camp or somethin'. It's like you said, though. There was a group of people killin' everyone, but it ended up bein' because they were possessed. They didn't really know nothin' about it, I don't think.

[ There's a small flicker of something, maybe guilt, but he raises his shoulders into a shrug again. ]

I was the only one that could find out if they were the bad guys or not, though.

[Ah. Oz is well aware, of course, that there are plenty of worlds out there that aren't exactly pleasant. To hear of one so similar to the experience he had is almost a little frightening, though. Not only does he feel a deep empathy for Jason before he even mentions his role, but it tells Oz that there are multiple places like his own out there. It had just been speculation before, but now it's confirmed. That sure doesn't sit well with him...

But before he can speak to it, Jason goes into a little more detail, and Oz's eyes widen in something akin to shock.]

Wait— you were the cop? Did you have a partner?

[Considering he was one of two, and that wasn't even counting the detective. He doesn't know how close their similarities are, but it's enough that he has to ask.]

Cop? Uh—

[ Jason pauses, startled himself at the shock in Oz's reception. He can read between the lines here, see what that shock might mean, but at the same time, part of him wants to reject it. There's a deep sympathy that pulls at his heart too, because in his case, he had wanted his role. It's why he wanted to be a police officer at all, to help people, and it just came in a different form than he had expected. And Oz was just a kid. He knows that the game doesn't play fair, but still, this is... ]

Well, we didn't call it a cop, if you mean what I was just talkin' about. It was a Detective, and... Well, no it was just me. I had people helpin' me out a lot, since they were way smarter than me, but the only person pickin'... That was me.

Ah...

[What a difficult situation to be in. No matter how difficult things got for him, no matter how heavy his role pressed down on his shoulders, no matter how lonely he felt at times, he at least had Belgium to turn to. Missile was a lot of help too, even if he didn't necessarily understand things to their fullest depth. He's not sure what he would have done without that support.

And Jason had come over on such short notice to help him here, too - it seems like this is just the sort of person he is, then. A kind, caring and sympathetic one. Oz smiles.]

...It's a lot of responsibility to carry all by yourself, isn't it? And it would take a lot of strength too, even with people to help you out.

[ Jason doesn't answer that question fully, though his expression does grow a little more serious. At the very least, it's not an avoidance for the same reasons that other people (re: Ciel) avoid difficult questions. It's personal and painful for Jason, and in front of someone he considers a kid, that's not something that he wants to share. He has the idea that he has to be strong and dependable, after all. ]

...Yeah. Guess it is.

[ A pause, then he asks: ]

You did the same thing, Oz?

Not exactly.

[There's a difference to be made there, after all, since he only had one night where the responsibility was resting on his shoulders and only on his.]

We had a detective, too. Missile! Um— he was a dog. [siz] But he was a really helpful one and he tried his best to find the VIPs. I was one of the buddy cops with my partner, Belgium, so I didn't usually have to make a decision all by myself. We had to pick from a list of names every night and it would show whether or not that person was one of the VIPs... Did it work that way for you?

[ siz ]

[ Jason does boggle a little bit at it being a dog, since, well, he's definitely imagining Lassie, but that's also a short-lived thought, because at Oz's question, he nods. ]

Yeah. Exactly the same.

[ He considers something briefly, then tosses the towel onto his shoulder before he steps forward to put a hand on Oz's shoulder. He's not quite to the hug stage yet, but it's clearly meant to be a comforting gesture. ]

Listen, don't know if it means much from someone you just met, but... It's hard, man. Even if it was helpin' people, it sure didn't feel like it sometimes.

[ Which is part of the reason he prayed every night, not only for the people that had been killed, but for the killers too. He gives Oz's shoulder a squeeze. ]

But you're all right now. [ He's totally assuming Oz died too... ]

[AND OZ JUST ASSUMES that Jason says that in a "you're not in that shitty situation anymore" way... OOPS. But no, he's saving his megadeath for when he gets back home, probably.

For now, he just accepts the comforting gesture with a little more softness in his expression, clearly touched by it. Jason may be a stranger, but he's a stranger who's extending a hand and offering sympathy and commiseration. That's definitely more than enough to endear Oz, and it shows on his face when he turns it up to give Jason a sincere look.]

It means a lot, so— thank you. A situation like that doesn't really leave people with a perfect way to help. Someone ends up hurt no matter what, so even if you try your best, it's like - like you're saving with one hand and condemning with the other, right? [A little breathless, humorless laugh follows, and Oz's shoulders rise just a little. Not a shrug, but a somewhat tense gesture.

He doesn't talk about it much anymore and he thinks about it even less, but that weight is still with him.]

So even if this place isn't the best it could be, I'm still grateful that no one here has to make those difficult decisions.

[ The way he says it and that tense gesture pull at Jason's heart immediately, because even if he's not the smartest person and definitely has his glaring faults, there's also a big part of him that just has a warm, protective heart. He had forgotten it a little bit in Bon Temps, though he had been remembering the more danger Sookie and even Tara got into, and then going to that camp had forced him to mature. He wants to protect people, even strangers, and there's something deeply upsetting to him about the idea of a kid having to do what he did. It's hard enough for him to deal with the feelings that had come with it, and he mostly tried to ignore them or push them away, so he finds it deeply unfair that anyone else would have to, much less someone who looks half his age.

He's just met Oz, and he knows that might make it a little odd, but all the same, he feels it's important. He takes a step forward and gives Oz a tight, secure hug. It carries the meaning that Jason has trouble actually putting into words, because he's just not a very emotional guy, but this is the kind of hug that he would give family.

It says "I understand and I'm here for you," loud and clear. ]

[Oz, for all his easy attachment and love of the people around him, is not exactly a physical person. More often than not it's someone else initiating contact first; a hand to his forehead, or ruffling his hair - a tight hold, a reassuring pat on the shoulder or back. Other people may be able to express their feelings more accurately and freely this way, and even though Oz isn't very good at doing it himself, it's still a language that he can understand.

So the gesture and all the warmth and support behind it is a little surprising to him, because Jason is a stranger. Even sharing similar circumstances, he doesn't really expect anyone to react that way right off the bat. It's not really a poor reflection on the people around him so much as it is Oz just being aware of the natural distance between people (as much as it may seem he isn't attuned to those sorts of things normally.)

There are a few seconds where Oz stands there in his surprise, uncertain of what he's supposed to do. Offer reassurance right back? His arms rise, hesitate, hands hovering-]

[But eventually, his little beanpole nerd arms rise up to return that hug. There's not as much power or warmth behind it, but the tension has left his shoulders to a degree.

This reminds him of something.

It hurts a little to remember, now. He still hasn't stopped moving forward long enough to process the guilt and grief of losing the only parent he had really ever known, but he imagines that if it was Oscar instead of Jason here right now, nothing about the current situation would be any different. That's the kind of reassurance he feels here, momentarily hiding his face from the mess that is his kitchen.

It's funny how tired a person can be when they actually give themselves the time to feel it.]

[ At first, Jason almost pulls back, because he realizes he probably went too far, and it's a show of emotion he usually doesn't give. It's a little frightening and disarming for him too, since he always wants to hold himself to that ideal of the manly man, and this wasn't really a part of it. But still, when people are hurting around him, he wants to help, especially since he went to that camp. He's hesitating too, the grip lessening, until Oz hugs him back, and Jason is relieved despite himself. He's still worried, so he just decides to talk, or to try and explain. ]

Sorry if I made it weird, man. But— Well, I got a little sister, back at home. She's grown now too, so it ain't like we do this anymore, but, well, I been thinkin' since I got here maybe I should have.

[ At this point, he pulls back a little to put his hands on Oz's shoulders. ]

There ain't no one that should go through somethin' like that. And I dunno, I ain't the smartest crayon in the box, but... I know that much. And I know that even though I was prayin' for everyone there every night, it wasn't easy. So, shit, I don't know, guess what I'm tryin' to say is... You're not alone. I get it.

[The sudden deluge of an explanation actually makes Oz laugh a little, though it's not quite as spirited or energetic as it would usually be. Jason's really trying hard for him, isn't he...]

—Thanks. I mean it, really - thank you. And you aren't, either! [Even if he hadn't technically been alone wherever his game had played out, he'll try to provide the support of someone who has an immediate and complete understanding of the sort of pressures that role in particular came with. He may not have been the "detective", but he still understands exactly how Jason must have felt.]

You're a really good person. [A smile! Not beamish or energetic, but warm and soft all the same - one that's completely genuine.] I'm glad that you're here instead of there.

[ He gives Oz a pat on his shoulders, then pulls away fully with a warm, gentle smile of his own. That's the allotted amount of moements for a grown man, so he reverts to something a little more shy. ]

Well, I don't know about that. I just try to do what's right, that's all.

[ And in matters like this, Jason is at least humble. He rubs the back of his neck, then shrugs. ]

Either way, me too. This is weird on a whole 'nother level, but it's definitely better. Glad you mad it too.

[JASON AND HIS MOEMENTS. Oz will cherish this one... What a great first impression, honestly; there's no faster way to really endear yourself to Oz.]

It sounds like you've been doing a good job with that, at least. [Just from the very little he already knows. Every person has their flaws, after all, but as long as they keep trying and fight for what they believe is right with all of their will - well, isn't that about all that can be asked for?]

Mm, it's still better here! And I think that the problems we do have are ones that can be fixed.

Well, I'm at least hopin' so. Would kinda suck if we couldn't.

[ TO SAY THE LEAST, JASON... But he steps back, putting his hands on his hips, then nods as he looks at the mess. ]

Anyway, you think you got this under control now? I probably should head back to the station.

[DON'T BE SO CASUAL ABOUT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT POTENTIALLY BEING FULL OF FAILURES, JASON...

But Oz makes a little sound of acknowledgment at that, nodding once in return.]

Ah— yeah! I can finish cleaning on my own. Thanks again for helping.

Yeah, no problem. That's what I'm here for.

[ He gives Oz a pat on the shoulder, then tosses his towel onto the counter, since it's pretty full of extinguisher foam at this point. ]

You take care.

[ At which point he will just head out!! And that's the story of how Oz got yet another babysitter... ]

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