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[reargunner]

ᴛᴇxᴛ | ᴀᴜᴅɪᴏ | ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ | ᴀᴄᴛɪᴏɴ



Leave a message if you want. I'll get back to you when I pick my comm up.

Or I won't.

Comments

[reargunner]

Mmn. Uneventful.

[Cain puts himself back on the floor and stretches his legs out, wiggling his fingers across the floor in front of Alex. He sets the cup down beside him, far enough away to not knock it over.]

Went to the library this morning, after the gym. Been in my cabin mostly, otherwise.

[inthebiblicalsense]

We should work out together sometime, I can show you my set, maybe get some advice? Angeal is giving me lessons here and there, but I'd like to hear your opinion too.

[He's been rather diligent in his routine and was happy with his progress. He'd used the facilities back on board the Sleipnir and trained because it was required of him, but here it was more for himself and the routine.]

Your routine and mine seem to be pretty similar. Though I've been swapping my run with laps in the pool in the morning. Change it up a little. Find anything good in the library?

[reargunner]

Don't think you want my advice. [He replies with a little snort, snagging Alex around his middle with one hand when he ventures close and setting the cat on his lap.] Don't really have a routine with it, just keep going 'til I can't.

[It's a way to turn his brai off... and it works, sometimes.]

And yeah, I guess. Been a while since I could sit down and read something that wasn't an engineering manual.

[inthebiblicalsense]

Well maybe keep going until you almost can't instead. I don't want you to hurt yourself... and I'm not above unorthodox advice. Some things you can't learn from a text book. Besides, it would be kind of fun, we didn't really get to work out together aside from training.

I bet I could spot you now without having to lower your set weight.

[Which is something he's quite proud of. He'd steadily gotten stronger the longer they'd been together, not quite so skinny, and while he's sure he couldn't lift what Cain could, spotting didn't require him to handle all of it.]

I've been trying to get back into novels...mostly been trying to catch up on history. It's a little frustrating when most people I know are either twentieth, twenty-first century. I learned about it at some point but the refresher has maybe helped? Or I at least get some of the references now.

[reargunner]

Mm. Maybe.

[He'll ignore the unsolicited advice, knowing that pointing out he didn't ask for it would just cause a argument, and he picks up his cup to take a small sip of the tea. It's fine enough black - he's not very fussy about his hot drinks, or drinks in general.]

Haven't looked into that kind of thing. Maybe if it starts to be a problem. [Though he can't see how it would, it does sound like Ethan to do that sort of research.] Can't see that it will.

[inthebiblicalsense]

I think it depends on who you're talking with, and maybe a little bit of a 'me' problem.

[because he knows that there are a lot if things he does that most people wouldn't for the reasons he does them. He rather likes being in the know.

But, he could probably draw out the small talk forever, but there actually was a reason he wanted to check in on him other than the company.]

Did you get to talk with your temp? I'm unfamiliar with him, but I hope that went well for you both.

[reargunner]

[He chuffs a small laugh out, sipping the tea again, then his expression shifts and cools, his eyes darkening, and he presses his lips together for a moment.]

Not talking about that.

[Another sip. Cain leans his head back and sighs a breath out.]

You learn anything interesting about the twenty-first century?

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Well, that was a hard no. He'd gotten one from Fitz before and he'd stormed out of the room when he'd attempted to push a little.

Abel sighs, grabbing his own cup to blow on it before taking a sip.]

Is that 'not at all' or this assignment specifically? I was kind of hoping to get your perspective, maybe some advice, but I'm not going to fight you for it.

[Which he hopes is a gentle enough ask that the clarification won't piss him off. He's new enough that this is all very raw, and that doesn't help in wanting to talk about things.]

Most of the people I've met have been from the first quarter of it. A lot of tech innovation happening there. Complete fascination on AI, which...I think we didn't go all in for, at least the way that I've heard Hilbert mention it.

[reargunner]

At all.

[He can't give any advice.

Can't. Won't. He just doesn't want to discuss it with Abel and that is a hard line he's drawing. Of course, he can't stop Abel going and talking to the warden in question to see how things went with them, but he doesn't think he will.

He'll take up the other topic readily enough, wanting to move on from Abel prying about his situation regardless of how gently it was done.]

AI, huh. Read about that a bit back home, how they were trying to develop it on Earth way back. Seemed like a stupid idea to me.

[inthebiblicalsense]

Well if you ever change your mind, I'm not going anywhere.

[And he won't be, probably for a very long time seeing as Fitz seems to want to be a record setter. But, at the very least, he let's it go. It's a small change, not that he forgets that it's sitting there between them, but he can let it sit. At least for a little while before gently prodding again. Maybe next assignment, depending on who it is.]

I'm not sure about stupid, I think it's more to make complex programs more palatable for your average person. I can understand and build programs that can analyze data, sort it the way I want, but this is like creating a person who does that for you just because you ask it to. You're cutting the expert out, which... I suppose isn't a bad thing, but relying on a program to interpret its own data leaves room for weak points, and I'm unsure whether I like it as a concept or not.

[reargunner]

... mhm.

[It's not just not wanting to talk about it. It's specifically not wanting to talk to Abel about it, knowing exactly how he'd react if he told him how things had gone.

Cain has no interest in getting to know any warden assigned to him or letting them get near to him and had made himself abundantly clear to Jesus, who will keep out of his way entirely if he's smart.

He listens to what Abel says but the words don't really sink in. Though he can follow it well enough he seems distracted, a frown drawing a line between his eyebrows as he rubs his fingers gently through Alex's fur.]

Too much room for error in it for my liking. Rather have it all under my own control than give everything over to a machine.

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Abel can at least notice that Cain is starting to shut down. Perhsps something familiar and personal might pull him back.]

Speaking of, I was having that same problem when I first arrived. I would go the enclosure, ask for the Reliant and it wasn't quite right. Just, little things but enough to bother me.

Took me about a month to get a model done that I was happy with, been fiddling with it since, just...putting some finishing touches on it outside of what I built for the enclosure.

You want to see?

[reargunner]

[He does remember Abel mentioning this and how eager he'd been to see it, but that same kind of feeling of excitement doesn't spark up again when it's brought up this time.

Cain mulls it over for a few moments as he watches his fingertips move through the cat's dark fur.

He wishes Abel hadn't asked about the warden. It prods at his nerves, an anxiety that he doesn't want to be feeling, closing around him like an invisible barrier.]

No, not right now. Another time though, yeah? Had a long day.

[inthebiblicalsense]

Sure.

[Options of what he knows Cain might be interested in and what might calm him down are limited. But he isn't going to just break him and leave him with the pieces all over the floor.

He quietly stands, pulling his iPod out of his pocket to find a spot on the floor next to Cain, popping one earbud in to offer the other to Cain.]

I'm terrible at this, but we can just, do nothing for a bit?

Fitz says I need to learn how to relax, so...it's good practice.

[reargunner]

[Cain sighs.]

Yeah. Sure.

[He takes the earbud and fits it into his ear, leaning his head back a bit and closing his eyes.]

Already been doing nothing most of today. Don't mind having company to do some more of it.

[inthebiblicalsense]

[Abel isn't going to comment on how that is a little worrying to him, but he's attempting to not crowd. Cain won't talk about it, but he's not leaving either. He can attempt to work with this.

To keep the cord from pulling if either of them moved, he puts his arm around his shoulder, pulling him in close and leans his head back against the bed frame behind them, scrolling for a minute before putting on something soft.

He'd felt like shit when he'd first arrived and Simon & Garfinkel has been incredibly soothing.]

Here, if you want to change it, I won't stop you.

[Which, in offering the little device over as a distraction for names of artists he's probably never heard of, is a rather big show of trust, even if Cain might not think anything of it.]

[reargunner]

[Cain doesn't stiffen at all against having Abel's arm put around him like that, only sinks down a bit and leans a little into the other man's shoulder.

The music starts to play and he takes the device when it's offered but doesn't even look at it, only fiddles with the shape of it between his fingers.]

This is fine.

[Not really to his tastes but not so much that he objects to listening to it.]

Just wake me up if I fall asleep or something.

[inthebiblicalsense]

[If he does fall asleep he probably needs it. There isn't any reason why he would need to wake him up. Maybe if it got closer to dinner.

The hand at his shoulder gently traces circles through his shirt, slow and methodical as he closes his eyes.

He wonders if Cain had gotten here first if he would have offered the same. Hard to tell. His other hand finds Alex in Cain's lap, rubbing his chin as he tries to focus on something else.]

[reargunner]

[It's bothersome at first, somehow, that consistent touch against his shoulder. Distracting in a strange way that has him missing the first half of the song playing. He watches Abel's hand stroking Alex for a minute and then grabs it, laces their fingers together, and pulls it up to press his lips to the back of it.]

Haven't been sleeping well without you, y'know. [He says, his head resting against the bed and half tilted towards Abel's shoulder.]

Got too used to you being there.

[inthebiblicalsense]

[The constant motion almost stops when Cain pulls his hand up, opening his eyes to look at Cain for a moment, quiet as he considers what to say in response.

He's trying to be honest, be a presence for Cain, but he keeps doing these little things that just catch him off guard in the worst way.

He doesn't pull his hand away, doesn't want to make him feel like he doesn't want him to be here when he asked him to come by, but there was a moment when he considered it.]

That tends to happen when you sleep next to someone on the floor for a year.

[Those thin pads weren't the comfiest thing ever, and the best thing about it was resting his head on Cain's shoulder or his chest, draping an arm over him and just catching sleep when they could. It had felt more safe than just being alone. He still wasn't sleeping well and it had been three months of trying to get over the loss of it.]

How do you think I've felt these past three months by myself? And I know I look like shit, you don't have to sugar coat it.

[reargunner]

Heh. I didn't want to point it out, but yeah.

[It could have been because of anything, after all, and after three months he wasn't going to assume that it was still because of him. He lets their hands drop down but doesn't let go, not unless Abel works his fingers free first, but he does straighten up to look at him properly.]

You've looked better.

[He's still pretty cute, though.]

[inthebiblicalsense]

[His expression turns a little flat, turning his head fully to frown at him, though there isn't much bite to the look, this at least feels a little more normal. Teasing, though as much as he liked the idea of holding his hand, it's strange how it irritates him that it wasn't his decision. Just one more thing to try and figure out amongst all the things that he should have figured out in the three months he'd had without Cain.

He'd never been one to drag his heels on anything, and yet the first time he did it truly came back around to bite him in the ass.]

You don't have to ask, you know? Well, maybe a heads up would be nice, but... If we're just sleeping, that's fine. No point in making you go through what I did.

I'm here, I can help...It would be good for me too.

[reargunner]

Yeah?

[Those three months of space between them are strange to think about and often forgotten, and Cain is so very willing to simply let himself act like nothing is really wrong at all when the thought of bringing any of it up feels like putting a flame to gunpowder. Things are already difficult enough.]

Same to you. I mean, you know where I am. [The corner of his mouth twitches in a half smile.] Any time you want.

[He can't imagine a time when he'd kick Abel out of bed.]

Just sleeping.

[inthebiblicalsense]

[And here is Abel, itching to bring it up, but shoving it down so that he can give Cain some time. It's entirely horrible for him, but of course, when was he ever healthy in his relationship with Cain?]

When I finally figure out what I want to do with this room, I'll ask for a different way to get in, so I can change the room filter and not have to deal with asking for keys.

[His knee shifts, bumping Cain's before looking down at their still linked hands.]

You asked me the other day, where you stand, and I told you, but you never answered my question. You still don't have to, I suppose...but I'd like it if you thought about it at least.

[reargunner]

[Maybe Abel would expect it but this question doesn't get the same sort of tension in response as his light prodding about the warden had. Rather, he looks at Abel in steady silence for a couple of seconds then exhales lightly through his nose.]

I've been thinking about it.

[Though the way the conversation had gone had left the question behind, he hadn't forgotten about it.]

And... it's fair. We didn't get to talk about it before. [Not just before here, but before, back on the Sleipnir, when he'd wanted so much to be able to even try to explain.

Cain sits up straight and leans forward, taking his hand back and moving himself out of Abel's arm. Music keeps playing quietly in his ear.]

You were supposed to just be a mission, like the others - something to deal with so I could just... go home. [He keeps his eyes down, looking at his hands.] I didn't want to go back to prison. I would have done anything to not go back to that place.

[A pause. He exhales an almost-laugh.]

But you—... you got under my skin before I realised. And you know who noticed it first? Fucking Deimos. [Fuck that guy.] And I denied it, but he was right. You're... special. I care about you. More than I wanted to; more than I should. Probably. I don't know.

[Cain shakes his head. He's never claimed to be good at expressing himself like this, but he's trying.]

And it doesn't fucking fix anything. It doesn't make it right. I know that. [The corner of his mouth twitches in a smile.] I know.