[This time he managed to keep his expression neutral at the request, already mulling over how this was his fault to begin with. He should have just left the egg in the woods, but there were some old habits he apparently hadn't been able to shake even after all these years. Still, he had hoped to keep distance from this, what with all the animals on property being Gabe's choice and responsibility and Jack just happened to pitch in.
This was different. He was still waiting for the other shoe to drop on the chick, and it would somehow manage to take his emotions and twist them about. This place sent those his way a lot lately.]
Who did you have helping with you Roxy?
[He moved over to the set up bedding and gently shifted and set the chick into it, waking her in the process. She peeped and nestled down in the nest of material until he rose to leave, then she was awake and following after him.]
No, stay in the bed. [He growled, stooping to gather her up and put her back to bed where she absolutely wouldn't stay if he tried to move away. Finally he grabbed one of the small soft blankets to wrap her in and took her back to his arms.] This isn't working as well as expected. You want to take her and try?
No one. It isn't as if I had anyone I could trust then.
[Not exactly true- but it wasn't as if he could tell Jack he had helped here and there. Reason why he knew Jack could help with this chick, still knew more than he did when it came to a more technical farm-kid standpoint of things.
Of course Gabriel watched, chin rested against a palm-]
Try not getting up and walking away after you put her down.
And yet you managed. Raised her up right and all that, especially since there weren't adults at the time to foster her on.
[Jack understood that he had to stay, but he was still trying for distancing, maybe a touch too rapidly. Too bad for him that the chick was already falling back asleep in his arms, tucked comfortably into a blanket.
He tried to set her down again, but she was wise to his abandonment game and woke immediately to peep at him. He visibly gritted his teeth because this was damn manipulation! He knew she didn't mean it, but there was a small sliver of panic that she was using her fluffy baby-features to keep him here when really... she was just being a perfectly normal baby.
Finally sitting down on the bed, he cuddled her in his arms until she was asleep and looked over at Gabe.]
I'll... just wait until she's been asleep a bit longer and then transfer her over.
I wasn't sleeping in those days either. With how things are now? I can't do that again Jack.
[It was that simple as far as he was concerned, knew that the time and energy wasn't the same now as it was then, wouldn't be possible and still manage some better balance that how he had been. There was no endless amount of time, doing whatever he could to keep himself busy and handling everything by himself because of it.
Gabriel let out an amused huff of breath and scooted himself close. Leaning against Jack's side a bit, head just against his as he looked down at the chick.]
It's amazing how consistent sleep messes up one's schedule, isn't it? Too bad you're in a much better mood for it.
[He wasn't going to let Reyes go back to lurking around on any given job or task or hobby twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. They kept each other in check in that way, and he wouldn't change it, not even for a chick. Okay, so their routine might have to change somewhat to accommodate the chick.
He wasn't certain how long he was going to have to wait, but he wasn't keen on being peeped at for setting the chick down. It helped to settle him as Gabe slipped in close, and he turned his head a little until the older man's rested to his then he relaxed where he sat.
His eyes flicked down to regard the chick nestled there in the blanket and his arm, and he sighed heavily.]
All the time in the world at my fingertips, dashed away by getting a full night's sleep every night. Doing you better, too.
[Just a little adjustment here and there, nothing too major other than maybe taking the chick along on small things around the property. Keeping it out of trouble, whatever it was for a while at least.
Gabriel remained like that, an arm easily rested around Jack's back to sort of half hold him like that. All the easier for them both to settle. Even nuzzling a slight bit for just a moment.]
She's a baby, doing what baby's do because she doesn't know any better. Roxy was the exact same.
Imagine that. The great Gabriel Reyes defeated by sleep again. That will never jive with your reputation.
[Jack knew that a baby animal was much more time consuming than adults. They needed constant supervision and attention when they were awake and a safe warm place when they were asleep. They needed opportunity to learn and explore, and they were always prone to getting into trouble.
He was still waiting until she had slept enough that she wouldn't easily be disturbed if he set her in the new nest. For now that meant, sitting like this with Gabe, which honestly wasn't bad at all.]
These birds imprint a lot harder than I'm used to.
[Was easy to sit like this against Jack, hand rested near his hip with that arm wrapped around him, Gabriel tucked up against his side like he belonged there. Did now a days anyway, letting out a slow breath as he let his eyes slowly slip closed.
Hummed a little.]
They're loyal with those they bond with, enough to go in to battle. Makes sense.
Don't tell anyone that, or I'll lose my carefully built gruff reputation of invincibility.
[It definitely was easy, and it wasn't even that bad adding the sleeping chick there in his arms either. He leaned his head a little more against Gabe's closing his eyes to just drink in the scene and the change to their lives. It seemed to him that Roxy and Reyes were already pretty darn attached to this little one.
He was... well, he experienced more complicated emotions on the matter. He would need time to sort it all out and get to the root of his unease, but until then, he was going to have to play nice with everyone involved.]
You act like you had one in the first place. Didn't Amari always call you a kitten?
[Hell of a difference between chasing and being chased across the globes, committing numerous acts of violence and murder. Playing the part he needed to in order to do whatever it took for one last self appointed mission, nothing left to lose.
To suddenly being here, not on opposing sides and just... taking something for themselves for once. So much of something, having moments that were more foreign than anything else after so many years.
Even when there were times he doubted so much, it was easy to sink in against Jack now, a hand rested against one of his arms and take the moment as a whole.]
People race them, use them for work like pulling things, transport, or ride them in to battle like I said. They're solid animal companions, really.
[There were plenty of differences between these lives and those lives, and he could admit that he sometimes missed the high octane, feral search for tech, answers and people. It was an adrenaline driven life, and he didn't have that nearly as much here, which was probably better for his life expectancy on the long-term.
He nodded his head as they sat there together, having overheard many of the chocobo uses while off loading the gystal greens. They sounded like the other world's horses, though perhaps they attached a bit more.]
Yeah, you've said and I overheard people at the stables talking about all they could do with them. Seem multi-purpose with less spook potential.
And yet you always got your face shoved in to your birthday cakes.
[Almost made him wonder some days, that if given the choice how hard of a decision would be be to make- to go back and finish what he knew he needed to do... or stay because he had something he wanted. To many times letting himself spiral whenever the thought came up.
Gabriel hummed a bit, letting out a huff of a breath.]
Hardier, too. Been compared against the horses here.
People should grow up and stop shoving my face into my cakes every year. It was funny once, but after that, I expect them to come up with something that less requires me to have a shower.
[Jack knew he would struggle with that decision himself, his sense of personal duty clashing with a personal want of his. He had lived with a sense of duty for more years than he could properly count these days, but this right here was some of the rare times when his head wasn't just cluttered up with ghosts of the past or the next mission.
In the end, would he make that choice for himself? He didn't know.
He glanced down to the chick sleeping in his arms, and he leaned head back to rest against the wall he was leaning against.]
Yeah, I imagine. They seem to fill the same kind of function.
You gotta admit, it was funny that Oxton got Wilhelm all hyped to do it that one time.
[All the more reason there'd been a picture taken of the before and only a rare few had the after shot of that one.
Right now? Right ow it was easier to have all of this, take it in and... exist like this, together. With each other and only things like this to worry about. As easy as it was to get restless at times, still having that need and push to do... Something. Down times like this were precious.]
You remember I had two shiners for the next day after that, right? That's how enthusiastic he had been about it.
[Jack remembered that day. He thought he had been under attack for a moment, but no, his face smashed into a birthday cake and right through to the table beneath. Everyone had a good laugh about it. That's what he got for turning forty apparently.
He nodded his head, figuring that was true. If there were horses, there wouldn't quite be the same need for these animals. And he could admit that chicks were cuter than foals anyway.]
They have these though. Helps they can get more out of females with laying anyway.
I had to in order to soothe the sting of betrayal of my friends. At least there were two cakes, though for that, everyone deserved to eat face-cake.
[He shook his head and finally shifted the chick in his arms to set her down in the nest of blankets that were there. However, instead of rising to leave immediately, he remained there and lightly pet her, which might have been the only reason she peeped and then went back to sleeping.
[At least that way the chick would stay and sleep- he had the idea she was tired of having him set her down like he was done and then walk away. Hell if he couldn't relate. Sometimes the most simple of things could soothe, and there was a slow exhale when the chick did start to go back to sleep.
Now if only Jack could remember this trick.]
Won't have to worry about any surprise chicks once she gets older, yeah.
How could I not? Good friends, good food, and plenty of booze to taste. Though I was picking cake out of my hair in the shower for days.
[And he didn't even have much hair! Well, more than he had now, but that was due to thinning anyway. Still, it had been a tale told far and wide across all of Overwatch. He had been teased here and there about it for weeks and months afterwards.
His fingers pet across her chest and down her back, letting her know he was still there for the time being. She was a baby, so he assumed that she needed sleep at this point.]
Which will be a good thing. You might have quite the parcel of land, but I figure we could get overrun. After all, their natural predators seem to be gone.
You exaggerate and you know it, boy scout. Might've felt like it, but I know better.
[People had always found it easy to tease Morrison after all, those who really knew him at the very least. The man outside of the painted picture of the Strike Commander.
He kept his head rested there against Jack's shoulder, humming a little. Honestly, it was a relief to not hear any more wanting peeps. She was getting exactly what she wanted at last.]
I don't even want to imagine that possibility, honestly. Good with what we've got now for the most part. Animal-wise.
[Those that knew him could easily crack the Commander Morrison front that he put up, and he was as willing to give a good ribbing as he was to receive it. It was a shame that the pressure of their situation prevented too many more parties like that, though they still tried a Halloween Party now and again.
He lifted his other hand to cup Gabe's cheek and stroke his fingers over it too. It was good to have Gabe relaxed like that.]
Right? I think that would get out of hand quickly. Though, you still adopt anything that comes in the yard.
I saw your hair daily, not a bit of cake of frosting, and you definitely didn't smell like vanilla.
[They always tried, whenever any of them happened to be in the same place when time rolled around. It couldn't be helped when something had any of them called off elsewhere. The point was that they tried, right?
His head tilted against Jack's hand, and really it was nice to be able to relax like this. Sometimes he just needed that reassurance, even if just physically, that he was wanted.]
Very, very quickly- and I do not. All animals I've adopted came from outside the yard.
You know, I wouldn't actually put it past you to be checking my hair every single day. You know you have an obsession with my hair, right? It's not healthy.
[He shook his head as if he were disappointed when he was no such thing in fact. The most Gabe tried these days was to mess up any work that he did to have it in any semblance of the old way, which he suspected was a hint to just leave it messy and stop worrying about what his thinning hair was doing.
He looked over at the blue chocobo still sleeping next to them, and he paused in petting to scratch the side of his nose. She didn't wake this time, which allowed him to have his hand back, though he made no motion to rise and leave her there.
Instead, he reached out to tangle his fingers in with Gabe's.]
That's definitely not better, you realize? That's actually way worse.
[There'd be some pointed look, but Gabriel was far more happy with his head where it was and simply nuzzled. Just some drawn out teasing that was no where near as interesting as what was being done, really. Content right where he was.
Fingers tangled right with Jack's, able to remain relaxed right there where he was.]
You're the one wanting to touch it and look at it apparently.
[He knew it wasn't an obsession, but he could needle at Gabe all the same. He passed his hand over to stroke the older man's cheek and scratched his fingers through Gabe's goatee.
Their fingers together squeezed, and he hummed low in his throat.]
I'd say you need a hobby, but you have way more hobbies than I do or most other people.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2020-03-20 01:55 pm (UTC)This was different. He was still waiting for the other shoe to drop on the chick, and it would somehow manage to take his emotions and twist them about. This place sent those his way a lot lately.]
Who did you have helping with you Roxy?
[He moved over to the set up bedding and gently shifted and set the chick into it, waking her in the process. She peeped and nestled down in the nest of material until he rose to leave, then she was awake and following after him.]
No, stay in the bed. [He growled, stooping to gather her up and put her back to bed where she absolutely wouldn't stay if he tried to move away. Finally he grabbed one of the small soft blankets to wrap her in and took her back to his arms.] This isn't working as well as expected. You want to take her and try?
no subject
Date: 2020-03-20 02:01 pm (UTC)[Not exactly true- but it wasn't as if he could tell Jack he had helped here and there. Reason why he knew Jack could help with this chick, still knew more than he did when it came to a more technical farm-kid standpoint of things.
Of course Gabriel watched, chin rested against a palm-]
Try not getting up and walking away after you put her down.
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Date: 2020-03-20 02:09 pm (UTC)[Jack understood that he had to stay, but he was still trying for distancing, maybe a touch too rapidly. Too bad for him that the chick was already falling back asleep in his arms, tucked comfortably into a blanket.
He tried to set her down again, but she was wise to his abandonment game and woke immediately to peep at him. He visibly gritted his teeth because this was damn manipulation! He knew she didn't mean it, but there was a small sliver of panic that she was using her fluffy baby-features to keep him here when really... she was just being a perfectly normal baby.
Finally sitting down on the bed, he cuddled her in his arms until she was asleep and looked over at Gabe.]
I'll... just wait until she's been asleep a bit longer and then transfer her over.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-20 02:29 pm (UTC)[It was that simple as far as he was concerned, knew that the time and energy wasn't the same now as it was then, wouldn't be possible and still manage some better balance that how he had been. There was no endless amount of time, doing whatever he could to keep himself busy and handling everything by himself because of it.
Gabriel let out an amused huff of breath and scooted himself close. Leaning against Jack's side a bit, head just against his as he looked down at the chick.]
It isn't so bad, is it?
[Softly.]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-21 04:17 am (UTC)[He wasn't going to let Reyes go back to lurking around on any given job or task or hobby twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. They kept each other in check in that way, and he wouldn't change it, not even for a chick. Okay, so their routine might have to change somewhat to accommodate the chick.
He wasn't certain how long he was going to have to wait, but he wasn't keen on being peeped at for setting the chick down. It helped to settle him as Gabe slipped in close, and he turned his head a little until the older man's rested to his then he relaxed where he sat.
His eyes flicked down to regard the chick nestled there in the blanket and his arm, and he sighed heavily.]
No, I guess not. Demanding little thing.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-21 04:25 am (UTC)[Just a little adjustment here and there, nothing too major other than maybe taking the chick along on small things around the property. Keeping it out of trouble, whatever it was for a while at least.
Gabriel remained like that, an arm easily rested around Jack's back to sort of half hold him like that. All the easier for them both to settle. Even nuzzling a slight bit for just a moment.]
She's a baby, doing what baby's do because she doesn't know any better. Roxy was the exact same.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-21 01:37 pm (UTC)[Jack knew that a baby animal was much more time consuming than adults. They needed constant supervision and attention when they were awake and a safe warm place when they were asleep. They needed opportunity to learn and explore, and they were always prone to getting into trouble.
He was still waiting until she had slept enough that she wouldn't easily be disturbed if he set her in the new nest. For now that meant, sitting like this with Gabe, which honestly wasn't bad at all.]
These birds imprint a lot harder than I'm used to.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-21 01:43 pm (UTC)[Was easy to sit like this against Jack, hand rested near his hip with that arm wrapped around him, Gabriel tucked up against his side like he belonged there. Did now a days anyway, letting out a slow breath as he let his eyes slowly slip closed.
Hummed a little.]
They're loyal with those they bond with, enough to go in to battle. Makes sense.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-21 01:56 pm (UTC)[It definitely was easy, and it wasn't even that bad adding the sleeping chick there in his arms either. He leaned his head a little more against Gabe's closing his eyes to just drink in the scene and the change to their lives. It seemed to him that Roxy and Reyes were already pretty darn attached to this little one.
He was... well, he experienced more complicated emotions on the matter. He would need time to sort it all out and get to the root of his unease, but until then, he was going to have to play nice with everyone involved.]
Does make sense. Horses and dogs can be the same.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-21 02:36 pm (UTC)[Hell of a difference between chasing and being chased across the globes, committing numerous acts of violence and murder. Playing the part he needed to in order to do whatever it took for one last self appointed mission, nothing left to lose.
To suddenly being here, not on opposing sides and just... taking something for themselves for once. So much of something, having moments that were more foreign than anything else after so many years.
Even when there were times he doubted so much, it was easy to sink in against Jack now, a hand rested against one of his arms and take the moment as a whole.]
People race them, use them for work like pulling things, transport, or ride them in to battle like I said. They're solid animal companions, really.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-23 02:03 pm (UTC)[There were plenty of differences between these lives and those lives, and he could admit that he sometimes missed the high octane, feral search for tech, answers and people. It was an adrenaline driven life, and he didn't have that nearly as much here, which was probably better for his life expectancy on the long-term.
He nodded his head as they sat there together, having overheard many of the chocobo uses while off loading the gystal greens. They sounded like the other world's horses, though perhaps they attached a bit more.]
Yeah, you've said and I overheard people at the stables talking about all they could do with them. Seem multi-purpose with less spook potential.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-23 02:13 pm (UTC)[Almost made him wonder some days, that if given the choice how hard of a decision would be be to make- to go back and finish what he knew he needed to do... or stay because he had something he wanted. To many times letting himself spiral whenever the thought came up.
Gabriel hummed a bit, letting out a huff of a breath.]
Hardier, too. Been compared against the horses here.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-24 01:58 am (UTC)[Jack knew he would struggle with that decision himself, his sense of personal duty clashing with a personal want of his. He had lived with a sense of duty for more years than he could properly count these days, but this right here was some of the rare times when his head wasn't just cluttered up with ghosts of the past or the next mission.
In the end, would he make that choice for himself? He didn't know.
He glanced down to the chick sleeping in his arms, and he leaned head back to rest against the wall he was leaning against.]
Yeah, I imagine. They seem to fill the same kind of function.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-24 03:34 am (UTC)[All the more reason there'd been a picture taken of the before and only a rare few had the after shot of that one.
Right now? Right ow it was easier to have all of this, take it in and... exist like this, together. With each other and only things like this to worry about. As easy as it was to get restless at times, still having that need and push to do... Something. Down times like this were precious.]
Aren't horses in those worlds after all.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-24 01:51 pm (UTC)[Jack remembered that day. He thought he had been under attack for a moment, but no, his face smashed into a birthday cake and right through to the table beneath. Everyone had a good laugh about it. That's what he got for turning forty apparently.
He nodded his head, figuring that was true. If there were horses, there wouldn't quite be the same need for these animals. And he could admit that chicks were cuter than foals anyway.]
They have these though. Helps they can get more out of females with laying anyway.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-24 02:29 pm (UTC)[One of the last few that were thrown, really.
His breathing kept slow and steady, sitting there against Jack with fingers curled against one of his arms.]
Suppose they do, yeah.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-25 12:52 am (UTC)[He shook his head and finally shifted the chick in his arms to set her down in the nest of blankets that were there. However, instead of rising to leave immediately, he remained there and lightly pet her, which might have been the only reason she peeped and then went back to sleeping.
He looked over at Gabe sitting next to him.]
At least it's two females here, yeah?
no subject
Date: 2020-03-25 06:11 am (UTC)[At least that way the chick would stay and sleep- he had the idea she was tired of having him set her down like he was done and then walk away. Hell if he couldn't relate. Sometimes the most simple of things could soothe, and there was a slow exhale when the chick did start to go back to sleep.
Now if only Jack could remember this trick.]
Won't have to worry about any surprise chicks once she gets older, yeah.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-25 01:33 pm (UTC)[And he didn't even have much hair! Well, more than he had now, but that was due to thinning anyway. Still, it had been a tale told far and wide across all of Overwatch. He had been teased here and there about it for weeks and months afterwards.
His fingers pet across her chest and down her back, letting her know he was still there for the time being. She was a baby, so he assumed that she needed sleep at this point.]
Which will be a good thing. You might have quite the parcel of land, but I figure we could get overrun. After all, their natural predators seem to be gone.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-25 02:04 pm (UTC)[People had always found it easy to tease Morrison after all, those who really knew him at the very least. The man outside of the painted picture of the Strike Commander.
He kept his head rested there against Jack's shoulder, humming a little. Honestly, it was a relief to not hear any more wanting peeps. She was getting exactly what she wanted at last.]
I don't even want to imagine that possibility, honestly. Good with what we've got now for the most part. Animal-wise.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-27 03:02 am (UTC)[Those that knew him could easily crack the Commander Morrison front that he put up, and he was as willing to give a good ribbing as he was to receive it. It was a shame that the pressure of their situation prevented too many more parties like that, though they still tried a Halloween Party now and again.
He lifted his other hand to cup Gabe's cheek and stroke his fingers over it too. It was good to have Gabe relaxed like that.]
Right? I think that would get out of hand quickly. Though, you still adopt anything that comes in the yard.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-27 09:07 am (UTC)[They always tried, whenever any of them happened to be in the same place when time rolled around. It couldn't be helped when something had any of them called off elsewhere. The point was that they tried, right?
His head tilted against Jack's hand, and really it was nice to be able to relax like this. Sometimes he just needed that reassurance, even if just physically, that he was wanted.]
Very, very quickly- and I do not. All animals I've adopted came from outside the yard.
[He could joke right back about that.]
no subject
Date: 2020-03-28 09:01 pm (UTC)[He shook his head as if he were disappointed when he was no such thing in fact. The most Gabe tried these days was to mess up any work that he did to have it in any semblance of the old way, which he suspected was a hint to just leave it messy and stop worrying about what his thinning hair was doing.
He looked over at the blue chocobo still sleeping next to them, and he paused in petting to scratch the side of his nose. She didn't wake this time, which allowed him to have his hand back, though he made no motion to rise and leave her there.
Instead, he reached out to tangle his fingers in with Gabe's.]
That's definitely not better, you realize? That's actually way worse.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-28 09:08 pm (UTC)[There'd be some pointed look, but Gabriel was far more happy with his head where it was and simply nuzzled. Just some drawn out teasing that was no where near as interesting as what was being done, really. Content right where he was.
Fingers tangled right with Jack's, able to remain relaxed right there where he was.]
Probably.
no subject
Date: 2020-03-29 12:48 am (UTC)[He knew it wasn't an obsession, but he could needle at Gabe all the same. He passed his hand over to stroke the older man's cheek and scratched his fingers through Gabe's goatee.
Their fingers together squeezed, and he hummed low in his throat.]
I'd say you need a hobby, but you have way more hobbies than I do or most other people.
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