#ic || buck

[birdsofabristle]

     “ So this is where you go when you disappear at night, huh? I haven’t been to this place in years. “ 

And there’s probably a reason for that. Buck may have a bit of a relationship with alcohol, but that doesn’t mean he doesn’t have standards. Some bars are just too sleazy, even for him.

     “ Yeah, that’s why I chose the place. I didn’t think anyone in the house had low enough standards to, like, frequent around here. “ Although clearly he’d been wrong about that one. “ They do me right here. I get paid pretty good for a few hours, plus tips, and... free snacks and drinks. “ 

     “ You don’t drink. Isn’t soda free around here anyway? “

     “ But they know just how many cherries to throw in there for me. “ 

     “ Well I, for one, am impressed. “ He slaps a hand against Blu’s shoulder. He’s proud of him, not that he’ll outwardly say so. “ Seems like you got a pretty good gig going on around here. You’re good at what you do, kid. I don’t see why you don’t invite your family down to see you. You know they’d like it. “

     “ Because it’s pretty weird to have people actively stand up and cheer after every single song. You’d think it wouldn’t be as loud and obnoxious in a bar full of drunks. It’s actually worse. “ 

[birdsofabristle]

     “ You’ve never been married? Get right out of town. I don’t believe you. “ 

There could probably be an appropriately softer conversation they could be having right now, to match the town of the room. Soft music playing in the background, whole house to themselves, comfortably leaned into one another as they sway with no particular obligation to the songs that come on. It’s not often him and Buck get to hang out together unbothered.

     “ Nope, not once. Never been engaged, either. Between Jack, and work, and all the shit I personally had going on, I don’t know. Never really made an effort to make the attachment. “ He doesn’t seem too bothered by that fact, either. “ I’ve never been opposed to it. I think I always kinda wanted a nice little slice of domesticity for myself, y’know? Just never seemed realistic to me. “ 

     “ Mmh. “ That sounded a little more realistic to him. With a soft sigh, Everett moves to rest his head on Buck’s shoulder. “ Well, maybe that’s something we ought to get fixed between us someday. See just how realistic we can make it. “ 

     “ ..... I’m not taking your last name. “ Of course, the implications of that suggestion aren’t lost on him. He feels that pang of emotion hit in his chest, but he’d much rather push it to the side for his own snide little comments instead. That’s easier to deal with - especially when he isn’t sure what those emotions are.

     “ Well, as long as you take my ring in the end, I suppose we can call it a draw. “ 

[birdsofabristle]

     “ Y’know, one day it’s gonna fuckin’ snow out here, “ he’s muttering to nobody in particular. At least, nobody who can properly answer him. Maybe he does have his dog napping beside his chair. 

Sure, it’s chilly, and it’s a little rainy - which he enjoys anyway - but the lack of snow in the middle of December is disappointing. It’s... unlikely around here - it hasn’t happened in about 40 years - but come on. He can hope, can’t he?

     “ You’ve never seen snow. I think you’d like that shit, you’d like, uh, jumpin’ through it and all. “ He reaches down to pet the top of Beans’ head. “ Maybe we’ll go off and take a trip sometime this winter. I think it snows up in Mammoth Lakes. We’ll figure it out. “ 

[birdsofabristle]

     “ I had no idea you were such a cook, “ Florence mentions gently, handing off a soapy plate to be rinsed. “ You know, you just-- I mean, forgive me, you just seem so... “ 

     “ What, addicted to the fast food lifestyle? You’re not that far off there either, chief. “ Buck gives the plate a good rinse before setting it off on the rack. There was something... oddly peaceful about staying behind to do the dishes. Especially with the soft ‘karaoke party’ going on a few rooms over. It was weirdly comforting ambiance. 

     ‘ I will always think of you- ‘

     “ But sometimes I like to stay in and do a little cooking. It was just me and, uh, my boy for a good long while there. Had to figure out how to feed the darn kid, right? “ 

     ‘ I see your face when each day’s through- ‘

     “ Can’t hurt, that’s for sure, “ he gives a laugh as he hands off another plate. “ I’m glad you came over this year. I’m sure it’s a lot for you to take in after being on your own for so long, but we appreciate it. It’s nice to have the whole family come around, isn’t it? Plus, if you’re going to be bringing around a sweet potato casserole like that one, you’ve already earned yourself a permanent spot around here. It’s inevitable. “ 

     “ C’mon, now you’re just being nice. I burned the damn thing and you know it. Walked away for too long. “

     “ No, it was perfect! You’ll have to swap recipes with me before you go tonight. You liked the, um, those roasted vegetables, didn’t you? I’ll give you mine if you give me yours. “ 

     “ Done deal, man. Those were the shit, I gotta tell ya. “ 

[birdsofabristle]

     “ You know it’s only about 68 degrees right now, right? That’s pretty much spring. “ Not that there’s any use in talking down a man already wearing two jackets - his own and Buck’s. But that one stop him from pointing it out.

     “ I hate this, I’m cold, “ he grumbles, shoving his hands deeper in his pockets. “ It’s windy, it’s rainy, it’s cold. “

     “ Well, maybe if you freeze to death on the way back, we can try t’stick ya up on the lawn as another decoration, you fuckin’ wimp. “ Nevertheless, he throws an arm around Everett’s shoulders, pulling him in closer. “ It’ll just scream authenticity. That’s what puts you over the top - the authenticity. “ 

     “ You’ll miss me, don’t act like the thought doesn’t make you miserable. You’ll have that guilt on your conscience. You’re the reason I’m dead. You and your incessant need to walk around and look at decorations. “ 

     “ No guilt. I take comfort in the fact that you’re a total wimp, and it’ll just be your body betraying you. You can take that shit up with God when you see ‘im. “ 

[birdsofabristle]

     “ Your brother threatened my life yesterday. “

     “ Hm? “ 

     “ Your brother. Uh, Milford. I’m pretty sure he threatened me yesterday. “

     “ Right, and what did you do? “ 

     “ I didn’t do anything; what was I going to say to that? “ 

     “ No, what did you do to make him threaten you? “ 

     “ What do you mean what did I do? Why was it something I did? “ 

     “ Because that man’s the sunniest one I’ve ever met. He doesn’t just do that. So? What’d you do? Make fun of his kids, what? “ 

     “ Do I look like someone who would make fun of a bunch of kids? “ Buck doesn’t appreciate that silence in the least. “ Are you kidding me? “ 

[birdsofabristle]

     “ You’re just gonna up and snap one day, aren’t you? “

     “ .... Hm? “

     “ I’m just saying, you’re like... a really happy guy, right? Like, almost impossibly so? So you’re just gonna up and snap one day. You’re gonna find some, uh, ‘we live in a society’ thing and lose your shit. “ 

That’s... Boy, where are his brothers right about now?

     “ Uh, I mean, I’ve been around for... y’know, a minute or two, and I haven’t found anything yet. But I guess anything’s possible. “ Not that he would want to think like that. “ Since you brought it up though, I can come up and find you when it happens, if you want. “

     “ ... Are you threatening me? “ 

Well, it seems Milford doesn’t really have much to say to that. He does manage to let out an odd little chuckle though, which... does absolutely nothing to ease Buck’s sudden bout of nerves.

[birdsofabristle]

     “ Where’ve you been all day? Had me worried for a bit there, you weren’t answering my text messages. “ 

     “ Same place I always am, every single day. “ Despite the sassy commentary, Everett’s still taking his hat to hang up, though not without a kiss on the cheek. 

     “ Sure, but you usually answer me back at some point. Busy day? “ 

     “ Sorta. I meant to shoot you somethin’ after I left, but I ended up, uh, getting whisked out by a couple’a guys at the station. I guess I was due for some birthday drinks. “

Hm.

     “ You what? “ 

     “ What? “ 

     “ You’re due for some birthday drinks, you were saying. Why’s that? “ Not that he hasn’t already gathered what exactly’s going on.

 Ah, shit--. “ You’re not gonna turn this into a thing, are you? “ 

     “ You didn’t think you should have, at any point, told me it was your birthday? Or that it was coming up at all? “ 

     “ I don’t care enough about it to bring it up! I already turned 50, all my important birthdays are done with. I don’t see the point. “

     “ That means absolutely nothing. Your birthday’s almost over and you didn’t let me do a damn thing for you! “

     “ Big deal. You do shit for me all the time; what’s the difference? “