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[preseance]

@eugene.hicks | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

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[reneger]

eight years?
oh gee
don't think we can hang out anymore, gene
you may just be too old for me

[preseance]

It's the damndest thing. All I want to talk about is the economy, taxes, and getting my neighbor's pesky kids off my lawn.

A real shame.

[reneger]

you want me to find some nice hair dye for all your grays?

[preseance]

Would you, darling? I think I'd look pretty good with one of those neon dyes that's all the rage in New Amsterdam these days.

Maybe blue?

[reneger]

i was just going to blend them in with the rest of your hair
but if you wanna go bold, who am i to stop you?

[preseance]

Honestly, I don't really care all that much.

I think it makes me look distinguished.

Besides, I think most of them are on account of Belgium.

[reneger]

so mature
will you dispense some of that old, greying wisdom down onto me, mister hicks?

[preseance]

Only if you ask nicely.

And you've gotta call me Doc.

Them's the rules.

[reneger]

i'll keep it under consideration

[preseance]

Have you heard from your other folks yet?

[reneger]

no

[preseance]

So far as I'm aware, Loki's still here.

（ that'll be the important one, he reckons. ）

I don't know what he got up to in the Aerie, so I ain't much help there.

Roy's still here too and him I saw recently enough, but I don't know if he's still in the — alternate universe or if he's back yet.

Any other dance cards you want me to punch for you?

[reneger]

have you heard from damian?

[preseance]

（ they really only spoke once before jay died an' gene had to drag him back anyhow, but — lord knows they were close. gene starts to reply with just no, but then again. he didn't catch wind of damian in the aerie, an' a quick check of the network shows the i.d as being inactive.

which

jason might be able to tell himself, but it's also possible he doesn't want to look because he doesn't want to know.

ain't the first time he's told someone else somethin' hard. ）

I think he might be gone, Jay. Haven't heard hide nor hair of him in a couple months, and his ID's been deactivated. I'm sorry.

（ he doesn't even expect that jason will reply to him sayin' that, but it's fine — they'll catch up later. ）

[reneger]

fuck

( it's an answer more because he just wants--gene to give him something back. something to take his mind off the fact he lost the one goddamn person he swore he'd never leave. damian needed something sturdy to hold onto, and jason tried to be his rock.

and look where it left him. look what he did. he fucked off, he disappeared, and damian's gone. )

[preseance]

（ he hears it. much as anyone can. takes a deep breath. he doesn't know if he has it in him right now, frankly. there's too much goin' on in his head that he can only just parse. he feels a little like he did when he got reggie's memories of those awful weeks in france — trying to find himself beneath the goddamn rubble of it all.

but he cares about jason enough to try. he pinches the bridge of his nose, an' takes another long draught of the beer he's been nursin' since he woke up. ）

I'm lookin' after a boy now back home. His name's Jack. I told you about Alex, yeah? His kid. He's an artist. Rolled up into some trouble with a greaser gang up north, Alex dropped him on my doorstep almost a year back.

I think you'd like him. Punk kid and all.

[reneger]

( he's angry. at himself, at this world, at jimmy specifically. at everything. but jason--takes a few deep breaths. tampers it down a bit. )

you've got a kid of your own now?
you're really growing into those greys

[preseance]

Lord, ain't that God's honest truth.

Ain't married yet, though, so I've got that going for me.

I'd hate to break your heart.

[reneger]

i appreciate you thinking of me
my heart is very delicate, you know

[preseance]

Spun glass and candy floss, I'd say.

You're welcome for the consideration.

[reneger]

really though
whatever makes you happy would make me happy

[preseance]

It says a lot about my state of mind that I can't tell if that's sass or not, I reckon.

1/2

[reneger]

nah
nobody expects genuine shit from me

[reneger]

but i mean it

[preseance]

I will have you know I expect genuine shit out of you quite often, thank you.

But that does mean a lot coming from you, Jason. Thank you.

And to spare you the indignity of having to talk about feelings: how's the moon?