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

[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.