Despite his parents eventually disowning him, Hartley had had a very happy childhood. His parents loved him (though apparently not unconditionally as he later found out), and they encouraged his interest in science and, despite his unfortunate lack of talent, his interest in music. That said, his upbringing hadn't been like most kids. He had a nanny, went to the best schools, and played with kids with similar upbringings. There had been no running around the neighborhood, or sibling rivalries or plotting schemes. It hadn't been bad (far from it, really), but it had been different. Still, there are enough similarities between them that might actually have been friends back then if they had known each other. Hartley certainly would have been more open to it as a child than he'd been as an adult.
"Good, then there's no reason you shouldn't have a pet," he says. "There are a lot of benefits to having a pet. They can be pretty good for your health." And Hartley can't imagine not having a pet at this point. His rats have gotten him through a lot over the years. They're his babies. "I don't really have a preference," he replies. Because rats are obviously more his thing. "Cats tend to be pretty independent, and don't require a lot of space, but dogs are much easier to train and they're more affectionate. But I like them both pretty equally," he says with a shrug. He'd be comfortable around either, really. But Cisco seems more like a dog person.
"Sure," he replies with a grin. "I'd like that. Maybe karaoke for our second date and a Princess Bride date for our third?" he suggests. "If there are more dates, I mean." But he's pretty optimistic that there will be.
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Date: 2016-07-16 10:20 pm (UTC)"Good, then there's no reason you shouldn't have a pet," he says. "There are a lot of benefits to having a pet. They can be pretty good for your health." And Hartley can't imagine not having a pet at this point. His rats have gotten him through a lot over the years. They're his babies. "I don't really have a preference," he replies. Because rats are obviously more his thing. "Cats tend to be pretty independent, and don't require a lot of space, but dogs are much easier to train and they're more affectionate. But I like them both pretty equally," he says with a shrug. He'd be comfortable around either, really. But Cisco seems more like a dog person.
"Sure," he replies with a grin. "I'd like that. Maybe karaoke for our second date and a Princess Bride date for our third?" he suggests. "If there are more dates, I mean." But he's pretty optimistic that there will be.