[ It's hard to miss the scattered way Cal replies in the affirmative. There was something almost comforting in how familiar it was, for all Cal's world was so alien and distant from Jake's own. It's as if teenage boys all read from the same playbook or something. Jake included, once upon a time.

Jake smiles, a second eye rejoining the first; he had six in this form, he could spare an extra set. From the little face, an entire Jake grows. It's a bit of a surreal thing, seeing a (very blue, very dog-shaped) Jake sitting on a body he was still very much connected to. The effect of it made it feel as if Jake was simply another passenger along for the ride. He reaches out, cuffing Cal gently on the shoulder. ]

Don't worry about me, bud. I'm plenty strong, trust me. You look like maybe you oughta save your strength a little. [ Jake hadn't seen it, but he'd heard the way the Skullmasks fell all around them. Whatever magic the kid was working with, it was powerful. ] You could even get some shuteye, if you wanted?