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 Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 3:41 pm
Jordan kept the surprise off his face. It sounded like Gale had done something he regretted; had he been the aggressor, or had he just responded in kind after being attacked? The way Gale had phrased it brought up some less than pleasant memories as well, and Jordan looked away for a moment to compose himself. "I guess I'd have to decide if I needed to do anything else about it," he answered, feeling out the response. "Whether I wanted to apologize, or just guard myself against it in the future. Or something else. It would depend on what they'd done and what I'd done." The words tasted bitter in his mouth, circling back as everything did right now, and he deliberately redirected his thoughts. It seemed like Gale had lost the fight, and so it wasn't likely that the younger man would have to face severe repercussions, at least past the injuries he'd already incurred.
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Posted: Mon Jun 30, 2014 3:57 pm
Out of all the people to have found him, Gale was beginning to be grateful that it was Jordan and not one of the others. Marcus and Bix were his best mates, but Bix was too laid back sometimes and Marcus was too forceful. Jordan, thankfully, was a safe medium between the two, calm and rational and easy to talk to.
"...I tried to strangle Jack Hawthorn."
The words came out abruptly, tumbling out of Gale's mouth before he could stop them. He closed his eyes at the memory of it, feeling the nausea rise again, though it wasn't enough to make him want to throw up just yet.
"He's...Stormy's ex-boyfriend, and I've always had an issue with him, and I just...I don't know what happened. I saw him, and he was drinking and he said...terrible things." Gale shook his head, just once, teeth gritted. "He always says terrible things, but I don't know, it was like it was worse this time, and then I was just...I had my hands around his neck and I...didn't want to let go."
He'd stopped walking, slowing his steps, his face pale.
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Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 6:43 am
Jordan nodded, slowing when Gale did so that Gale wouldn't lose his balance. He'd been half-right. Gale had been the aggressor, it sounded like, but he'd been provoked. "Well," he said, "nobody's dead, presumably, so the worst part is probably going to be the memory of it." He considered it, giving Gale a steady, neutral look. "It could have been better. But it also could have been worse, and it looks like you're already both in pain and regretting it. So I'd say that it's been its own punishment." He squeezed Gale's shoulder lightly, watching him. "What do you want to do about it? Other than the painkillers, I mean."
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Posted: Tue Jul 01, 2014 2:14 pm
He winced slightly. "No, he's still alive," Gale mumbled, though he seemed simultaneously relieved and disappointed by this, a conflict of emotions swelling up inside of him. He pushed away the latter and tried to focus on the former.
"...I don't know," he said, after a long moment. "I'm bound to see him again; it's a small island, and Jack is...a very violent guy. He's not going to just...let this go so easily. I feel like I'm stuck in this never ending cycle where the two of us just constantly hate each other."
He rubbed at his face. "And then of course I have no idea what to say to Stormy."
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 3:12 am
"You really can't avoid someone here forever," Jordan said sympathetically, "much as you might want to ... " He shook his head a little and refocused. "It would surprise me if you lost control again," he ventured. "You've always seemed very disciplined. If you decide what you'll do about it next time he gets violent," next time, he seemed to be taking Gale's word that another conflict was likely inevitable, "it'll be easier to stick to that, I think. You can't control what he does, only yourself." He stopped for a moment, his eyes widening slightly as he heard himself. The statement felt important, but he didn't have time to mull it over right now. "Do you want her to know about it?" he asked, carefully neutral.
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Posted: Thu Jul 03, 2014 9:01 am
Gale gave a slight laugh, in spite of himself. "This island is too small to hope to complete avoid him, yes," he said, and shook his head. His cheeks flushed a little. "I think...next time...I'm not sure if walking away would work, and the whole killing him with kindness idea would fail miserably, but...I think maybe next time I should just...not rise to his taunts, you know? Maybe if I ignore him, he'll get bored, the way bullies do."
He gave Jordan a sideways glance, eyes slightly curious, but he didn't comment, merely flushed a little more.
"I don't keep secrets from Stormy," Gale said hesitantly, "but this...she's always known me not to do anything irrational, and she's really fragile lately. I worry about...about breaking her if I push too hard."
His expression saddened, his eyes lowering. "She's been through a lot lately," Gale said quietly. "I don't always know what she's thinking anymore."
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Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 5:25 am
"That sounds like a good plan to me," Jordan agreed. "It can be satisfying to watch how confused someone gets if you refuse to get mad at them, too." He smiled faintly. The curious glance was met with the smallest of headshakes, a clear, steady look: not now, maybe later."You know her better than I do," he said gently. He was quiet for a moment, and swallowed before he spoke again. "Ask her what she's thinking, maybe. Ask her what she needs from you. You're a smart guy. You'll know the right time. If you -- don't quite know what to do, talk to her, let her know you're listening and that you care. That means a lot." And maybe it wasn't the same kind of thing, but he had learned a starkly painful lesson about assuming that the person you loved would ask for what they needed, and maybe it would help someone else, just a little.
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Posted: Sat Jul 05, 2014 2:21 pm
Jordan's minute headshake was met by a small nod of understanding by Gale. He didn't comment, merely let it go and tried to focus on what Jordan was telling him. He twisted Jinhai's ring on his finger absently, the metal feeling warm and reassuring against his skin.
"I have told her that," said Gale softly. "I tell her that every day, but it never seems to be enough."
He pushed back his shoulders and took a small, shaky breath. "But you're right," he said. "Sometimes it just takes a while to get to the right moment. All I can do is be patient and be there for her and let her know how much I love her. And if it ends up with me having to tell her about Jack and about...all of this, I'll do my best to make it work."
Gale exhaled, and passed a weary look of gratitude towards Jordan.
"Thank you," he said quietly. "I'm sorry for...all of this," he added, his face flushing with embarrassment. "I'm sure you have better things to do than listen to my problems."
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Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2014 3:08 pm
"You'll be okay," Jordan said, and believed it; Gale would take care of Stormy. It was clear in his eyes and voice. Ferros rumbled softly, feathering a gentle brush of worried affection against his human's mind at the familiar taste of a bittersweet ache. "Nothing to be sorry for." Jordan shrugged a little, careful not to throw Gale off balance. "If I had something more urgent to be doing, I'd be doing it."
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Posted: Sun Jul 06, 2014 10:11 pm
He gave Jordan a wan smile, grateful for the staunch reassurance, and ran his fingers through his sweat dampened hair, exhaling a breath. Gale's hand went briefly, unconsciously, to his bruised neck again before he realized what he was doing, and then he quickly lowered, somewhat flustered, his cheeks flushing.
"You're a good guy, Jordan," he said, and it was sincerely meant, Gale beginning to walk again. "It's been a while since I've seen you, but you're still as good a guy as you were when I first met you."
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Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 12:59 pm
"Not really, but I do a good job imitating one," Jordan said, his smile faint, self-mocking. "Doing okay? We'll be there in a minute. Let me know if you're going to keel over so I can catch you."
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Posted: Mon Jul 07, 2014 7:05 pm
"I'm okay." Gale let out a soft snort. "And I've known you for almost three years," he said, "While it's true we're not...y'know, super close or anything," His cheeks were slightly red, Gale clearing his throat; but there was a soft expression in his eyes, "I've seen how capable you are. You are a good guy, Jordan."
A smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "A less-than-good guy would have left me behind that practice dummy."
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Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 2:55 am
"Nah, you're way too useful to be left on the field," Jordan answered, still with that faint and slightly bitter smile. "I strive to maintain my abilities to a similar level." The look in his eyes softened slightly, though. "I appreciate the compliment."
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Posted: Tue Jul 08, 2014 11:02 am
Gale would have rolled his eyes, but his head hurt too much. "Your faith in my abilities duly noted," he said, and smiled a little. "I'm still glad you're the one that found and not...say, Jack coming back for me. Or Bix or Marcus, as much as I love them, sometimes they can both be pretty overwhelming."
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Posted: Wed Jul 09, 2014 12:06 pm
"You'll be okay," Jordan said, then, quietly, "if you need a hand with things, just let me know, okay?" He could be useful, at least; whether or not he was redeemable, he could be useful.
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