Sneaking this in before the event~

[kindly-done.livejournal.com]

Who: Jack Ryan (kindly_done) and Augustus Sinclair (worldentire) again more now.
Where: Outside, in the vicinity of the hills.
When: Not long after Sinclair goes out dog-walking.
Rating: PG
Summary: Sinclair happens upon a rather unhappy Jack, they conversate.
the Story:

Jack has finished his Mansion-climb, cleaned himself up, spent time with Cindy--taken care of business, in other words--but he's been distracted, preoccupied, something itchy in the back of his mind, getting at him every time he lets his guard down for a moment. It's that conversation he had with Delta--Johnny.

To get out of the Mansion is often his solution, so he's been ranging around the hills for a while, his stride even and loping, his gaze distant as if he's looking for something that he can never quite find.

Eventually he tires even of this, and settles himself beneath a small black-and-white rise, his knees drawn up, hands lying slack on the ground by his heels.

Comments

[worldentire.livejournal.com]

He nods. "I understand," he says as Jack takes a breath.

"..No. Can't imagine too long."

[kindly-done.livejournal.com]

"Three months to the day. In one week, I'll have been here longer than I've lived at home with my own kids."

He smiles bitterly.

[worldentire.livejournal.com]

He shifts slightly, somewhat uneasy. "I'm sorry, son," he says quietly.

[kindly-done.livejournal.com]

"It's killing me. I just want to go home."

He sounds more tired than anything, and leans forward, resting his head on his knees.

[worldentire.livejournal.com]

For a while, Sinclair just sits there, watching the puppies romp around nearby, puffing at his cigarette. Then, he puts an arm around Jack's shoulders slowly, sighing heavily. There's nothing he can really say; hopefully this very, very rare show of affection helps.

[kindly-done.livejournal.com]

"My memory's a funny thing. Am I going to lose them, too?"

He leans in a little, nothing more demonstrative than that, but it is a comfort.

[worldentire.livejournal.com]

"Of course not. You'll keep 'em."

His grip tightens juuuuuust a little, and his voice goes quieter than it was before.

"I won't let you lose yourself, Jack."

[kindly-done.livejournal.com]

"Promise?"

It seems like a stupid thing to ask--how could Sinclair promise something like that? But he can't stop himself from asking.

[worldentire.livejournal.com]

"Mmhm."

He sits with his arm around Jack for another moment or so, then lets go, giving Jack a small, tired smile. "You keep doin' the same for me. No way I'm goin' t'let you fall apart now." A pause, and he looks back at the pups. "...You don't deserve it."

REAL MEN DON'T MAKE EYE CONTACT

[kindly-done.livejournal.com]

Jack looks at the dogs too, because it's less awkward that way.

"Thanks."

EXACTLY.

[worldentire.livejournal.com]

"They're comin' on into their own, already," he says, to quickly avoid much more of this awkwardness, though he's still smiling slightly. "Growin' pretty fast, but they're puppies." A shrug. "Nice t'have'em around. Keeps me from gettin' bored." Or lonely.

[kindly-done.livejournal.com]

"I want to train Celeste to be a guard dog. Can you help?"

[worldentire.livejournal.com]

"'Course. She'll be a damn good one." A wider smile.