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[preseance]

@eugene.hicks | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[preseance]

( in faint exasperation, )

No. But I'm doin' it anyhow, because I get sometimes it's better that way. I hope you're payin' attention an' takin' lessons, Jason.

( he's hilarious.

also his place is absolutely immaculate, no dust anywhere, nothing out of place, it's honestly ridiculous. it's sparse, but homey in that 'i grew up with nothing' sort of way. he rinses the dishes, puts them in the rack an' then turns back to face jason directly, standin' hipshot against the counter. )

I had a fella in the war. Alex. We didn't — you know, it weren't ever official, but we liked each other. Had to slink around like beat dogs on account'a dishonorable discharges an' whatnot, though I think I'd'a been fine. ( his smile's a bit grim. ) Medics had one'a the highest rates of attrition on the front, I knew my worth back then. But he'd'a gotten it for sure. War ended, ain't seen him since. An' I guess after that I just... ain't had an interest, really, you know?

( he ain't pinin', exactly. he thinks that after alex hauled off an' punched jasper that one time he couldn't've felt real love for him no more anyhow, but he still... misses what it felt like just the same. )

[reneger]

You know that's shit, right? There's laws against that crap now. Not that they really do much of anything, but it's in writing somewhere. I mean. Not here, no one gives a fuck about any of that here. But back in my time.

( again, not his story. there are others who are probably better at conveying the current state of all that bullshit. jason hasn't even been legally alive in--years. none of that bullcrap matters when you're a large guy taking over underground drug rings, getting under roman sionis' skin, and causing havoc through gotham's underbelly.

then again, jason's never really had a person before ending up here anyway. )

But I get it. Relationships're hard. ( leaving the screen, his attention moves to the keyboard. ) Never really had one that lasted for shit, before here.

[preseance]

I've heard, yeah. An' don't get me wrong, it's nice to hear. But if'n we go back home when we're done here — an' I'd like to, believe me — I can't afford to get comfortable with it. Alabama ain't exactly... you know.

( a wave of one hand. he means — liberal in that way. he shakes his head, an' pushes his hair outta his face. )

You seem to do all right though, yeah? I can tell that fella of yours really cares about you.

[reneger]

( see the real question here is: why the fuck go back to a place full of assholes. why go back if they're just going to ruin everything. except jason also wants to go back to his own place, also full of assholes who ruin everything. albeit slightly. . differently. so he can't judge.

he can fantasize about beating up a bunch of hicks though. )

I keep trying to leave and Lo keeps refusing to let me. ( but there's a fondness to his tone that speaks a lot more than the words do. ) He's alright, most the time. Kind of a huge asshole, but who isn't.

[preseance]

( he laughs a little, goin' to get a couple beer outta the ice box. he chucks one to jason in an easy underhand. )

You ain't.

[reneger]

You'll take those words back eventually.

( fingers wrapping around the beer when he catches it in a hand, and jason finishes his inspection. sits down at the keyboard and pops open the beer. )

So, Anna and Alex.

[preseance]

I met Anna dancin'.

( he sees you dodgin' that compliment, but at least it weren't wholly graceless. while jason sits at the keyboard, he takes one of the large, overstuffed chairs by the window, bum leg restin' on the ottoman in front of it. )

She was a bit older than me. Cute dimples. Danced like a spitfire. An' Alex was one'a the replacements that came in after Italy. Just a normal infantry guy.

[reneger]

Is that what gets you going? A good dancer? Cute dimples?

( a safer topic. gene is cute, he's betting any romantic partners he's had in the past were just as if not cute. someone who loves so openly and wholly, whose as open as gene is despite his time--jason's guessing his partners must have been just as wholesome. )

[preseance]

( he drags his thumb through condensation on the bottle, an' then takes a draught. )

Why, you lookin' to set me up with someone? Trust me, Tabby's tried it. I'm prime eligible bachelor material down in Agathine, I think she's thrown half of Conecuh at me by now.

[reneger]

Maybe. Maybe I'm just adding it to my repertoire of Gene-isms.

( another name to add to it, too. tabby. whoever the hell that is. )

[preseance]

( a huff. )

Frankly, I don't know what I like. ( he rubs thoughtfully at his jaw. then, ) Folks I can be kind to, I guess. Ain't enough'a that in the world.

[reneger]

No? Most everyone has a preference. Red-heads, ( dick. ) brunettes, light eyes, darker eyes. Freckles. Soft smiles, snarky grins. Sass.

( beer bottle up to his lips to take a decent drink out of it. ) Nice legs, great ass. You know.

[preseance]

I don't much care about that stuff.

( he supposes he's mostly liked brunettes, but... well, there's also just more folks in the world with brown hair. didn't stop him from bein' sweet on clarke none. )

[reneger]

People you can be kind to is broad. You can be kind to anyone.

( doesn't mean they'll be kind back. )

[preseance]

Then I guess I'm into anyone.

( why is this an issue, jason. )

[reneger]

Oh?

( then, playfully. with a wiggle of his brows, ) You into me?

[preseance]

( gene absolutely throws the cap of his beer at him. )

You're taken, you don't count.

[reneger]

( it gets a laugh out of him. loud, boisterous. jason even snorts once or twice. it's not a laugh he gives often, and definitely not with many people. )

Sure, but I'm still hot.

[preseance]

Yeah, yeah. Maybe in another life, you damn hooligan.

( which is basically admitting it anyway. )

[reneger]

That one of the things you're into, Agathine? Guys who could bench press you?

( beer down on top of the keyboard and he's getting up to his feet, stalking across the apartment over towards gene. )

[preseance]

( idly, )

Maybe guys I can boss around an' step on, you ever think about that?

[reneger]

( wow. that. has him stopping for a moment. because damn, he knows that gene knows what he does but that doesn't mean he likes gene calling him out on it. brows furrow, arms raise to cross over his chest.

you know, as if gene was clearly incorrect this whole time. )

You can't boss me around.

[preseance]

Jason, you are ten kinds'a sucker for folks you care about, my hand to God.

( but his smile's easy an' warm. fond. )

You're a good man. Now, ( a little flap of his hand. ) go on an' get your hissy fit over with, I know how you are about compliments.

[reneger]

( he even opens his mouth to object. to throw his hissy fit. and then gene starts talking, says it plain as day and jason--shut up. opens his mouth again, just to close it once more. drops his arms down to his side before he's raising one up to shove fingers through his hair.

look there's not even room to leave after a statement like that. because that's still throwing a hissy fit. maybe he should anyway? except. god. he can't even tell gene to shut up.

there are no words for this. no escape route that isn't technically still losing, is there. so he turns back around, moves back to the keyboard, and drinks his beer. silently. )

[preseance]

( he just sucks his teeth in a moment of victory, an' takes the opportunity to savor the silence. once he figures jason has absolutely suffered enough (it don't take him long, honestly, he's a sucker too) — )

You play?

( the keyboard. since, you know. he sat down in front of it an' all. )