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[preseance]

@eugene.hicks | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[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.

[preseance]

( he sighs, tosses off the rest of that beer an' then shakes his head some. )

All right. So how can I help?

[reneger]

( what. no. hold on-- )

What?

[preseance]

You're in it, Jason. I know better than to walk direct into danger — I ain't a fool in that way, but there's bound to be somethin' I can do to help you out.

( he wants to have jason's back, frankly. )

[reneger]

I-- ( see you'd think after spending a year here, he'd be used to getting something that wasn't disappointment out of others. he's got roy for support, loki. occasionally damian. had a few others before they dissipated into the ether. )

Honestly, I'd prefer if you'd stay out of it. Less for me to worry about.

[preseance]

Then you ain't thinkin' smart.

( that's his pay attention voice. he shakes his head. )

Folks turn to drugs an' violence when the community ain't doin' enough for 'em as a whole. Now, I ain't gonna win in a pit fight any time soon, but I could run a detox group. Fewer folks buyin' drugs, cuts down on the risks over time.

[reneger]

You can't run a detox group from inside the system. ( bit of a softer tone, because he gets it. he really does. but. ) The folks who're in it don't want to get out of it. And have you seen the city? You know how crap it's doing by it's people.

( he doesn't really know how to explain it more clearly. )

I don't want you showing your face 'round those parts, Gene. They're dangerous. I don't even show my face.

[preseance]

Yeah, but they're sellin' drugs to folks who ain't necessarily all the way in the system. That's who I mean. I'm not sayin' force folks to go, but there'll always be someone on the line you can pull back some. We help that person, an' the next one after, an' the next one after that, an' that consumer base erodes over time. I know how rackets work.

( to the rest, he just. raises an eyebrow some. gently, )

I know how to be careful, Jason. But I ain't built to stand by an' let folks risk themselves without doin' somethin' myself.

[reneger]

Roy's plan was to dump the whole supply.

( valid. but then people will get desperate and needy, turn to something even more shady. he understands roy's viewpoint, he does, but.

jason lets out a breath through his teeth. slouches forward to press his forehead against the keyboard itself. )

A'right, fine. But if I hand over my resources, you've gotta swear to give me a ring the moment you even feel something off. If the hair on the back of your neck gets uncomfortable, call me. If you think someone's following you, call me. Immediately.

[preseance]

Only two medics in my Company survived the war all the way through, Jay. I'm good at trustin' my gut.

( he's intuitive. always has been. an' he has a good head for managin' folks just the same. could be that's on account'a long, long years talkin' to the dead.

he puts a hand against jason's back, mindful not to touch bare skin. )

If'n I think somethin's about to go sideways, I will call you. My hand to God.

[reneger]

( this wasn't his intention when he spilled to gene. hell, usually when people hear i took over numerous gangs they fuck off. he wasn't expecting that with gene; he's stubborn, too kind. but. nor was he anticipating this. he presses his tongue against the inside of his cheek. pauses for a moment. )

Fine. But if anything goes wrong, you're done.

[preseance]

Jason.

( he says it quiet. a little tired. )

I will take every precaution an' then some, I will do the utmost to keep myself outta trouble. But if it comes to my door, I ain't gonna flinch from it, an' I ain't gonna stop. An' as much as you may hate me sayin' that, I reckon we wouldn't be friends otherwise.

[reneger]

Then I can't let you in.

( he can't risk gene. he can't risk him like he had put others at risk. not when gene has supported him like this. not when he's--too kind. he'd get himself hurt, and jason couldn't forgive himself. )

[preseance]

( he lifts one shoulder up in a shrug. )

All right.

( all that means to him is that he'll find his own way. because now that he's got the idea in his mind, he ain't lettin' it go. but he won't argue that with jason. )

[reneger]

Don't take that as a challenge, asshole.

( there's no bite to it. but he is moving to stand himself up. )

Seriously. I don't wanna have to get rough with you.

[preseance]

( he doesn't look at him, just lets him stand up. he plays a few bars of an ol' song he knew from his pa, an' then lets his hands still over the keys. )

When I stand before God on Judgement Day, He's gonna tell me the worst'a my flaws is stubbornness an' pride.

( he scrubs a hand through his hair, an' then follows suit an' stands up, takin' the empty beer bottle into the kitchen. )

I can't do nothin', fella. I can't. Bein' helpless is the only thing that's ever brought me to my knees, an' if in the pursuit of doin' good I get hurt or worse, well. You can do everythin' right, an' still fail. I'd walk into Hell for you, Jason, but I won't sit by.

[reneger]

Oh, come on. There's so much other shit you can stick your nose into. ( hand in his hair, pulling what strands are long enough. he'll need to cut it again soon. )

There're kids. There's the crap the mobs pull! There's-- hell, there's a crapton of folks who're struggling to find decent housing after shit got destroyed. An' you insist on going after the one goddamn thing--