#bythetale

[choicescreen]

@bythetale as b.a said: “just stand where you are, and keep a good lookout.”

jack series.

he salutes, sharp and giving fuck-all in equal parts, because they're talking via walkie talkie.

" sure thing, angelface. " sweet as spun sugar, with a fifties rock'n'roll superstar heartthrob growl to match.

back to his regular timbre, though never without humor. " you do the same, now, on your end. wouldn't want a pretty face such as yourn to get all smashed up, 'stead of doin' the smashing. you just reach out when ya' need me, same time, same station, and rrrrrr-oger that, wilco! "

[choicescreen]

@bythetale as susan said: “i don’t know that i can explain it any plainer than that. of course, it’s a big subject.”

jack series.

his -- impressed, giddy -- smile is a slow growing thing throughout her monologue, and his left hand fiddles with the ring on his right hand's pinkie finger. the kettle sings its soprano note, but he encourages her to continue.

he pours two mugs, and the wooden chair across from the one she occupies creaks with his weight. one is pushed her way, as he keeps a hold on the other. she finishes, after a spell, and he responds seconds after swallowing a mouthful of ginger and honey tea.

" my, my, susan, " he starts, affectionately razzing her, smile turning a tad schoolyard mischevious, " from the looks of it, i don't think you're passionate about photography, at all. "

[choicescreen]

@bythetale as woody said: you look like you’ve seen a ghost or something.

marvin and tige.

her heart hammers in her chest to the rhythm of fuck, fuck, fuck, what the fuck? words she wouldn't use around the presbytery, if there was any worry.

she peeks over, curious despite her trepidations. trepidations? hell, she's scared out of her wits! " you stay back there! not a step closer! "

her arm points, accusatory, an attempt being made at menacing. " i'm onto you, guy! " she's got to say, the illusion is damn good. " you're good, i'll give you that one thing, but i'll make you pay for this. you'll see! "

she stays comfortably, safely, at her distance. there's only one person to blame for this. a huge inhale heralds, " ssss---id! "

[choicescreen]

@bythetale as sonny said: i have a deck of cards. wanna play?

marvin and tige.

he's formed a messy sketch of dirt with the stick in his hand and determination to make anything pretty. his head lifts, grinning. " you bet! " he doesn't abandon his stick. it comes with him. it whooses through the air in arcs and circles as he twirls with it. their own personal majorette.

" say, you're one of hud's friends, right? " he doesn't wait for an answer. call him presumptous. " i always like the guys he brings around. they're cool. smooth, you know? always down with the causes. " it helps that the boys -- the men -- are always so, so fucking handsome.

[guttersniper]

@bythetale as woody said: all i did was lose my hat and coat.

wild boys of the road.

mutt stares him down as though his eyes could run an autopsy on their own, face utterly unreadable save for being too old for his years. finally, with measured hands signing, something in it that leans both unfazed -- if it were true -- and disbelieving -- if he were playing a trick: < think you lost more than that. >

[guttersniper]

@bythetale as gomer said: makes a fellow feel kind of funny, like saying goodbye to somebody.

wild boys of the road.

his face twitches, imperceptible if a body blinked at the wrong moment. gomer's not looking at him, as is, so he won't have to worry about explaining that break in the tight mask that is his usual expression.

" what? jesus -- " he twists his body a little more to look at him proper, both of their legs dangling from the back of a truck bed. " what made you say a thing like that? "

hard to say whether it's instinct or reflex, or if those are one and the same, when it comes to explaining the itchy deflections. he always looks like he's about to run at a moment's notice, and he was right when he figured this one to be smarter than he's given credit for, despite the small-town naivety.

[10ccs]

@bythetale said: you’ll be recognizable once you’ve washed your face.

his smile is lopsided, but relieved. sam knows he’s a strain, a bit of a thorn in her side, but he appreciates the way she still opens her door for him. most days he doesn’t feel like he has many people on his side. knowing he hasn’t worn through her good graces yet helps. 

“thanks, shirl. i owe you one.” 

[guttersniper]

@bythetale as sonny said: you should wash your face and hands before going to town.

an cailín ciúin.

he hadn't thought about that, but he figures sonny makes a point. he's got to take advantage of running water while he has it.

there's a pointed effort to avoid looking up into the small mirror in front of him. he splashes lukewarm water on his face, once, twice, stalls for a few seconds, thrice. after washing his hands, instead of rubbing them dry, he runs his damp hands through his hair, pushing it back and away from his forehead. it'll fall back, naturally enough.

" any last minute things you need before i go? "