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[preseance]

@eugene.hicks | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[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. )

[reneger]

( now, now he's just going to be a huge brat about it. clicks his tongue against the roof of his mouth when gene speaks up again, although his eyes do turn down to look at the keyboard. )

Nah. Had a couple lessons as a brat, back when I was learning to blend in to. . richer environments. You know. Don't remember jack shit, and I don't have the hands for playing anyway. ( calloused, thicker fingers. not the thin fingers one would prefer on a pianist. )

[preseance]

( he gets up an' comes over to sit beside him on the bench. )

Scoot over. It's about dexterity more than size. You're about as big as my brother, he used to play just fine. We learned in Church.

[reneger]

( he's scooting. but he doesn't like it. jason grumbles under his breath, pulls the beer along with him. settles on the far side of the bench. there's a snarky i feel bad for anna comment he keeps under wraps. because gene seemed upset enough about alex, being snarky probably isn't a great idea. )

I didn't say I couldn't if I wanted to.

[preseance]

( gene nudges against his shoulder gently. )

You sore at me now?

[reneger]

No.

( even as his nose wrinkles and he. definitely looks like he's in a sour mood. like a child pouting and throwing a fit. )

Bet I can still play Mary Had a Little Lamb.

[preseance]

( lord, but he's a terrible liar. rather than call him on it, gene just takes a languid drink of his beer an' then: )

Yeah? I'll take that bet.

[reneger]

( he's a great liar, when he really wants to be. gene just brings out the brat in him. sure, he can lie out his ass when he's trying to accomplish things. he can pull off acting like the biggest, baddest asshole in gotham's underbelly.

except for when he's handling someone who straight up calls him out on his bullshit. fucking rude. jason rolls his eyes. looks down to the keyboard and--does a quick internet search on where the right keys are (thank you, implant) before he starts playing. he's one key off, but it's close enough. )

[preseance]

( he could correct him easy enough, but instead he just lets the man play, an' then laughs. )

Okay, fair enough. I concede. What were we bettin' for, exactly?

[reneger]

The satisfaction of being right.

( which he is, clearly! hands leave the keyboard, grab back onto his beer. finishes off the rest of it before dropping it down on top of the keyboard again. )

You know that those old as hell bastards with shit outlooks are absolute bastards, right? Do whatever the hell you want. If someone disagrees, I'll beat 'em up for you.

[preseance]

I ain't in the habit of lettin' other folks fight my battles for me.

( he shakes his head, an' then leans against jason's shoulder. )

But I appreciate the thought.

[reneger]

( he stiffens for the briefest moment when gene leans into him, before his shoulders go lax. comfortable. because he is comfortable with gene, even if gene opens his mouth and fucking ruins jason all the goddamn time. )

Maybe I just like punching bastards. Ain't even about you at all.

[preseance]

Oh, is that the right of it now?

( he says that playfully enough. he could argue, of course, but he's probably pushed jay enough for now an' so he lets it lay. )

Well, I'll keep that in mind if'n I need a knight in shinin' armour.

[reneger]

I wouldn't call myself a knight in shining armor. ( honestly, he's usually the opposite. the asshole covered in blood killing other assholes. putting down monsters. nowhere close to bruce's dark knight routine, but filling in the spots where batman can't. it's where jason likes to be.

when he isn't, you know, getting the crap beaten out of him and being told he's done and over with. but that's a conversation for another day. )

But there's no better way to get aggression out than taking it out on people who deserve it.

[preseance]

( he plays a little piece on the piano, part of la vie en rose. )

Well...

( it ain't condemnatory. he knows different folks do things different, an' it don't bother none. )

Ain't never met a bigot change their mind after a wallop. They just become — ( his mouth twists. ) — sneakier about it, I guess. But I've known a soul or two to change their mind when you can talk 'em down from it.

( reggie was real good at that. probably why he made a good spy, that ability to step into a situation and defuse it with his easy smile an' warm manner. )

[reneger]

No, you're right. ( easy admittance, as he listens to the tune gene plays. watches his fingers on the keyboard during. ) No one changes their mind when you try an' beat 'em into it. Why would they? You're only showing them that their way of using violence to be assholes to people is right.

( tongue to the roof of his mouth. he uses it to keep the nasty grin from spreading across his lips. )

They respond to fear. Some to respectful conversation. But fear? Fear's always a great way to get short-term changes. Using fear to then gain respect is another. But one beating ain't gonna solve anything.

[preseance]

( he hms faintly. )

You know why I'm a bad Catholic, Jay? I mean, I go to Church every Sunday, say my prayers an' pay my dues an' all, but. Long as I can remember I've hated the phrase put the fear of God into someone.

( he looks down at his hands, flexes 'em some. )

If you keep from doin' somethin' awful to your fellow man because you're afraid, it ain't the same as refusin' to do somethin' because you know it ain't moral or right. You might beat bitin' outta a dog, but it'll hate you, an' it'll just bide its time until your guard's down to do the bitin' anyhow.

[reneger]

Did you ever stop to think about why I was beat up in a fight club when I called you?

( gene never asked. because gene's just that kind of person: he helps without needing to know the reason. comes when someone calls him regardless of the reason. jason appreciates it, truly. but it also means he has no idea what the hell jason was up to. safer that way, even if it means they now get this extremely belated. . discussion. )

[preseance]

( he shakes his head, not feelin' the need to voice his lack of curiosity aloud. )

[reneger]

I took it over. The club. Two of the gangs that operate outside of there. The mobs--depend on the gangs for the lower level shit, so with what I've got, I'm that much closer to overhauling the entire underground ring of New Amsterdam.

( not something he talks about often. but he trusts gene, so it's not like he's afraid to get into it. )

They sell narcotics, steal shit, take part in the city's street races. But under me? They keep that shit away from more vulnerable circles. Anyone found dealing to underage kids never deals again. Anyone found breaking my rules gets fucked over.

( tilting his head to gene. )

People like that respond to respect. The only way to get it out of 'em? Show them you're stronger than they can handle.

[preseance]

( frankly, it don't hardly surprise him. he shrugs a bit. )

Don't change the fact they're beaten dogs, Jason.

[reneger]

You're right. One day, one of 'em is going to get it in their head that they can do the same, and they'll come at me.

( wouldn't be the first time. )

But it keeps them off everyone else for now.