It's a big estate, he could say, mild and dull, of dogs with jobs to do. There was always something to be done, foxes to be kept out of not hen houses, but wine cellars, pool houses, stables. A year ago he might have clipped, Did it look like there were any horses left.

But Clark knows what the property looks like, and their time together has worn down some of the spines on his armor. Acclimated. So,

"Fifteen years or so since I owned any. Richard was very good, technically, but much more interested in trying to get me to adopt retired circus zebras than actually attending lessons."

Man. He bets Clark is great with kids. Bruce draws in a breath, pretending with serious skill that he didn't just accidentally stick a knife between his own ribs, and settles a hand against the other man's thigh. Bird video. He likes the Beach Boys one. Staunching that oopsie emotional bleeding by ignoring it.

"Animals just appreciate calm."