starhuevalley | Action

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Action

[It’s morning. The sun is shining, the birds are singing, and there are two new arrivals around town who seem convinced that something very suspicious is going on here. Dressed in what can only be described as tactical gear, they’re clearly some kind of military, and appear to be acting accordingly. In a situation like this, the best course of action is obviously to fall back on instinct in an attempt to get to the bottom of whatever this is supposed to be. For these two, that means proceeding with caution.

Clearly there’s nothing questionable about two men carrying big guns through farms and fields, speaking to each other quietly as if to keep from being overheard. Keeping together, never straying far from the other, or lingering too long in a single area. Not at all questionable, or scary, or yeah no what are these two idiots doing.

They’re doing recon, of course! And they’re fairly thorough about it, methodically searching, poking around, overturning anything that looks questionable and possibly pointing guns at it. Was that thing yours? Sorry, it’s being inspected now. Do you live in this house? No problem, they’re just going to check around back. See or experience anything strange during your stay? No? Are you sure?

Or maybe you just come across them while going about your business. They’re obviously friendly with each other, even if they’re regarding everything else with some degree of wariness. It seems like a great idea to approach, if only to ask what the heck they think they’re doing.]

(ooc: It’s a two for one deal with Jack

strikecommand and Gabriel

passedover. We’ll both be replying to all threads unless otherwise requested.)

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[Jack regards the setup for a long moment before his shoulders slump. They both know what this is, and that it's not going to do Jack any good. He backs off.]

Right.

[It's been a Day, not that he'll easily admit it.]

We should both get some rest.

[Better to pull him away than not, and Gabriel didn't mind being the one to do it when needed.]

You're definitely not sleeping on the couch with all of this out here, either.

[It's more teasing than not, had tilted to one side and shifting his weight on his feet.]

C'mon, after today you're better off in an actual bed.

[Without McCree around, it's much easier to relent--it helps that Jack is tired, too, running on fumes for most of the day and refusing to allow himself a break. As usual, Gabriel is right.]

I'm really okay on the couch.

[This is, however, an argument that he's lost, and his body language shifts accordingly. He takes a step towards Gabriel as if making to head upstairs.]

You say that now, but then you'll wake up and learn the hard way what a poor choice that was.

[More so if he kept to the couch until he was done with whatever remodeling he decided was necessary. Sure, they'd both slept in far more uncomfortable places and woke up stiff as hell, but they didn't have to here.

There was a bit difference between being out in the field during a mission and... this.

Gabriel rested a hand on Jack's shoulder briefly, a slight squeeze before nudging him on towards the stairs.]

I'll take it if sharing bothers you that much.

[He wouldn't have relented around McCree.]

No, Gabe, it doesn't bother me.

[It's not something they haven't done before. Jack accepts the nudge and starts making his way upstairs, resigning himself to his fate.]

It's just been a while.

[Since he's had to share a bed with anyone, let alone Gabriel.]

[Honestly, if he'd been thinking past his worries about something happening out of no where and them being separated, and the fact sleeping on the couch would suck for multiple reasons, he'd have suggested it more in private.

But that wasn't what happened. Just a moment of hesitation before Gabriel was following just behind Jack.]

Been a while for me, too. Figured it'd be better than all of us being separated in the house.

Would it help if I said you could be the big spoon?

[... Yep.]

Gabe.

[Jack certainly isn't going to confirm one way or another, and of course might be slightly mortified by the objection. Now that they've moved past anyone sleeping on the couch, it's time to address sharing a bed, though it helps now that he's worn himself out. Makes him less argumentative.

He heads up the stairs, feeling the wood creak beneath him.]

I'm fine.

You're exhausted and should've turned in earlier.

[Less chiding and more as if he were stating a very obvious fact. Been a hell of a day, that was for sure, and Gabriel was walking carefully up those stairs just behind him.]

Just saying, open offer. Even if you want to be the little spoon.

I'm turning in now.

[That has to count for something, right? Even if Jack won't admit to wanting to be either the big or little spoon.]

Tomorrow I'll go get a spare mattress.

[Gabriel made a noise in his throat rather than verbally replying. Yes, he was turning in now, but that wasn't the point.

Yet he was letting Jack have that.]

Need help getting it back here? Not like I have anything to do other than what you'd have me do.

Yeah, unless you want to make sure McCree doesn't get into trouble.

[They've done their fair share of exploring today, but Jack thinks they could stand to investigate a little more around town. Doublecheck anything they've missed while they're out shopping.]

He'll be fine, hard as I am on him Jesse's a good kid.

[There was that trace of fondness to his voice as he trailed up after Jack, some light pat to the back of a shoulder while he was at it. Just some brief brush of touch.]

I know.

[Gabriel has an eye for talent, after all, and they've come to appreciate Jesse in the few years they've known him, even with all his quirks.]

We'll see if he changes his mind after a night in the barn.

[Hell, became someone Gabriel knew he could depend on when it came down to it. Quirks and all, Jesse was certainly something.]

With how stubborn he can be wouldn't put it past him to stay out there to try and prove a point he's decided he needs to make.

He's an adult. Let him.

[Jack knows that sounds kind of silly immediately following Gabriel calling him a 'kid', but the fact of the matter is that Jesse has been grown for a while. If he's most comfortable sleeping in the barn loft, then that can be that.

For now, anyway. Jack lets out a sigh.]

I should get some sleep.

I'm also the one who is supposed to look out for him.

[Even if the tone of voice speaks more of a fine than anything else. It's a worry about being in such an unknown and anything happening. McCree was one of his people, and Gabriel always, always looked out for anyone he considered to be 'his people' no matter what.

All the same, there was a little nudge directing Jack towards his bedroom.]

Yes, you should.

You’re his boss, not his dad.

[Though of course, all this is a bit frighteningly domestic, to the point where Jack says that a little forcefully. It’s nice, to have the extra hand, but as evidenced by the way he lashed out during the sleeping arrangements argument, he's clearly having some trouble adjusting to this.]

As his boss, when in unfamiliar territory, it's my job.

[Calmly and much more gently spoken than with.. most people, really. Hell if he wanted to argue over something like that again, and e didn't miss the way Jack said it either.]

The barn's too far away from the house. If anything happened in the middle of the night with him —or you— out there, capable as I know you both are, well.

[Shit could go wrong quickly, felt it much safer if they stuck together.

Also sleeping on the couch was bullshit, which he left out.]

Or it’s a first line of defense.

[You know, being outside, closer to the monsters, able to alert the house if there’s activity on the property. As Jack says it, he knows it’s a poor excuse and that someone like Gabriel isn’t going to buy it. His shoulders sag and he sighs.]

I’m going to bed before you come up with any more convincing arguments.

The space between is what worries me.

[Too many what if's about it all. Too many things that could go wrong no matter how well Jesse could take care of himself. They didn't know just what could be out there other than some vague as hell "monsters".

He let out a sigh then, stepping in closer as Gabriel nudged Jack, a slight brush of shoulder against shoulder with a chuckle just under his breath.]

Please do, Jack. Been wearing yourself thin all damn day.

Maybe you need to relax too.

[Jack knows full well by now that the two of them combined can turn into a feedback loop of paranoia very quickly. It sort of makes him wish Ana were here--she was always good at tempering the worst of their instincts, especially when they start to compound.

He reaches out and puts his hand on Gabriel's shoulder in response, not-so-blatantly ushering him towards the bed with a playful shove.]

[One of the worst echo chambers to exist.]

Maybe I do.

[Could relent to that, even if his own way to keep going and busy was a little more quiet than remodeling. Outside of the volunteering to help move or hold things in place.

Gabriel caught hold of Jack's wrist at that ushering little shove just to pull the man right along with him, corner of his mouth twitching.]

Yeah, you do.

[It's a small way for Jack to regain some control over the situation, by saying that Gabriel is not exempt from this either. They share a great deal of things, and some bad habits are included.

Jack expects to be pulled down onto the bed and tries to brace himself accordingly, but it's inevitable. He crashes down onto the mattress and gives a shout of protest.]

I haven't even taken off my shoes--!

Not going to argue.

[Because he was, in fact, tired himself. Likely not the same exact way of Jack but. Well. Well.

Corner of his mouth twitched as Gabriel just sat right down on that bed, or at least tried. Did manage it for a few seconds for the crash of Jack just had him on his back, letting go of Jack's wrist just to give his hair a god ruffling for his protest.]

Neither have I, not that hard to get them off. Not like I hauled you feet first.

[Jack wastes no time smacking Gabriel on the chest as he sits up, bending double so he can untie his shoes. He kicks them off unceremoniously, then collapses back onto the mattress, hands behind his head.]

Small mercies, right?

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