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[preseance]

@eugene.hicks | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[preseance]

( he jabs jay in the damn kidneys with whatever he can reach with. it ain't a hard one, more the playful sort between — well, brothers. )

Put me down or I'm gonna bite you. Not the fun sort of bite, neither.

[reneger]

Make me.

( free hand under gene's shoulders and he moves to--maneuver him upright, so he can throw gene over a shoulder. )

[preseance]

( honestly he is laughing too damn hard to follow through with that threat, though his breath whufs outta him when jason tosses him over his shoulder. he twists a bit so he can hook his elbow against jason's throat and pull, which is either going to choke him out or make them both topple over.

three brothers, jason! he may not be much for fighting but lord help him he knows how to wrassle. )

[reneger]

( he's sturdy on his feet. stumbles back a step when gene manages to grab hold of him around the neck but--doesn't fall, just gives a quiet choked sound as he tilts his head back to avoid as much pressure as possible, corners of his lips twisted up.

takes a breath before he chokes out: )

Pressure points, right below my ear meets my jawline. C'mon, it's not that hard.

[preseance]

( gene eases back almost immediately, an' turns the gesture into a playful ruffle of jason's hair. )

Just lemme down, will you? You can give me lessons in how to kill a man later.

[reneger]

We'll work on you.

( but for now he does bend forward, puts gene's feet on the ground and makes sure he's steady before trying to straighten himself out. )

[preseance]

( gene swats at his shoulder playfully in the interim. )

Y'all do know I got the same combat trainin' as all the other boys in the 82nd, right?

[reneger]

Show me.

( easy, as he pulls himself back upright and puts a hand on his hip. )

[preseance]

( he just gives jason a sort of Look. )

Jay — why's that the important thing?

[reneger]

( a strange question. his lips purse, consider how to respond. )

Why not?

[preseance]

( well, he doesn't necessarily have an answer for that either. instead, he heads to the fridge an' takes out another couple beer. sets one on the counter for jay an' pops the cap off the other for himself. )

I've been in a fair few scraps in my life. But if'n I get into any sort'a trouble of a serious sort, reckon I'd have more luck talkin' my way outta it than punchin', you know?

[reneger]

The people you want to get in with aren't gonna be swayed over with a nice pie.

( or a nice talk, generally speaking. jason hasn't tried, violence is easier. but just 'cause he hasn't tried doesn't mean he doesn't know.

the second beer gets momentarily ignored. he eyes it, lifts his shoulders and leaves it. )

[preseance]

( dryly, )

I can do more than make pie, as it turns out.

[reneger]

Then show me.

( unspecified what because it's on purpose. if gene's so good with his mouth he can talk his way out of whatever, then great. doesn't mean he shouldn't still be able to fight his way out just in case. )

[preseance]

( gene sort of huffs an amused little laugh, and shakes his head some. )

Do you trust me, Jason?

[reneger]

Do you want an honest answer to that question?

( because it's complicated. )

[preseance]

Yes.

( his tone is faintly incredulous, because if jason expected him to prefer a lie then he's sorely misrepresented himself. )

[reneger]

Partially. I trust you not to be a dick. I trust you with my home address. I still don't trust you not to turn around and shove a knife in my back if something else comes up, but don't take that personally. I don't trust a lot of people.

( and the ones he does, it's only because he's either known them for years or because they keep stepping on him. )

[preseance]

( he raises his eyebrows. )

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't that fall square under the wheelhouse of bein' a dick anyhow?

( jason, that's real sad. )

[reneger]

There's different kinds of dicks, y'know. There's being a dick, then there's ( raising a hand, in some kind of a vague hand gesture. ) needing to stab someone in the back for reasons. Y'know.

[preseance]

( that sure is some kinda life. gene lifts the beer to his lips, shakin' his head faintly. )

Mighty low bar, Jay.

[reneger]

I try not to put unreasonable expectations on others.

( doesn't usually work out well in anyone's favor, honestly. there's a pat to gene's shoulder, easy. )

But I'd still count you pretty high up on my list.

[preseance]

Expectin' basic Goddamn decency outta folk ain't unreasonable.

( there's a sharp edge there. anger, maybe, but it ain't quite right. )

[reneger]

See, Genie? This's why you gotta know how to defend yourself.

( because he's soft. because hes a soldier, sure. but jason expects gene to get himself into situations that his words won't get him out of. and he's not weak. he's stubborn as hell, determined, definitely not weak. but maybe a bit easy to throw off guard sometimes and that's concerning enough on it's own. )

[preseance]

Not everything needs to come back to throwin' hands.

( his fingers tighten on the beer bottle. )

I've seen enough of fightin'. I'm not saying I wouldn't defend myself if needs be, an' Lord knows I've taken life before, but it's my last resort, an' I'd prefer it stays that way.