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 Posted: Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:21 am
Hitch looked totally captivated by Shale's story of his training, especially the whole thing with the chicken. "Wow - ******** - how old were you when that happened?" he asked, and wondered a little more deeply about Shale's background. Hunters living in a cabin, maybe? Was the 'we' in his story just his family, or were there more people involved? - he didn't really feel like he was at a point to ask (there was a limit to the questions he could ask on a first meeting), but the questions lingered. He grinned wryly as he tapped his fingers lightly on the table, unconsciously. "I feel that. I mean, Bambi's mom, right? Course it'll feel different from a cow or somethin'."
Hitch's eyes widened and his fingers were hesitant at first, because barring the collision today, he was generally super (overly) aware of respecting other people's personal space and things. Even when he touched them, he did it delicately, turning them over and examining them. Coins, skulls, teeth - "These are incredible. Like, really ********' cool, " he breathed out, and that was sort of an understatement but whatever. "Your patience levels must be off the damn charts if they're this good."
The moment that question left Shale's lips, a wide and varied spectrum of emotions flashed across Hitch's face - ranging from surprised to defensive and even self-conscious - until he realized it was just another observation, not a verdict. He relaxed again, cracking a wry, almost tired smile. "I guess not. I'm still ... I don't know. My life's super dull, y'know? I like hearin' other peoples' stories." It wasn't so far from the truth, really. Hitch didn't know anyone here. Most of his days were comprised solely of work and sleep nowadays. There was nothing worth talking about.
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Posted: Sun Jul 26, 2015 6:07 am
I was about twelve years old." He watched Hitch toy with the bracelets delicately - those with scanty bone deserved that kind of treatment, but the teeth bracelets held up well and a few of them were already faded. He didn't mind - if that comforted Hitch to treat them as glass, then Shale offered no objections. "That's a common time in someone's life to start on a hobby like that - hunting, carpentry, farming, music, anything. But most other 'professions' don't require breaking sympathy and empathy toward others." It might've given too much to the man, but Shale doubted it would be a problem.
Shale's eyes half-lidded at the compliment; he looked neither disturbed by it nor particularly flattered. "You overcome patience when you realize necessity. Making bracelets meant making money."
"You can make your life more interesting." Shale continued to watch him, hands laced together and palms flatted to just barely obscure his mouth. "There's nothing to stop you but death." His attentions returned to the food he'd been picking at, and he pried off another chunk of scone to pop into mouth. About half of it was gone - it tasted too sweet for his interests, but he would finish it regardless. And Hitch looked ensconced in stories that Shale considered run-of-the-mill, though he supposed his background was different enough to hold interest to others.
Bambi's mom, though. What does that even mean.
"I'm sure your life will find interest at some point. It seems difficult to skirt it here."
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Posted: Thu Aug 13, 2015 3:33 am
"Twelve... " Yeah. Shale's comment about the age was about right, and he idly nodded along with it. That was around when he'd taken an interest in drumming. But really, to compare drumming and hunting felt like comparing night and day. It wasn't that his drumming wasn't passionate or anything (even if he hadn't really done it much lately), but the idea of learning to take another life and make something new felt like it was on another level. "You're right - they don't." Although Hitch paused, frowning faintly. Breaking sympathy towards others... it was kind of a generalized statement, not one specific to his prey. He didn't really know if he should ask. But, "Is that rough? I mean... y'know, havin' that kind of hunter mentality. Do you turn it on and off, or... ?"
Somehow he didn't think Shale would be offended (or hoped not), but that didn't mean he would answer. But Hitch, well, the way they'd met sort of showed what kind of grasp he had on his emotions. He was as temperamental as understanding, and as empathetic as he was stubborn and difficult. They were not a good combination. ********, if he could shut that s**t off, he probably would.
Money; somehow the candidness of it made Hitch's face split into a smile, a low laugh bubbling in his throat. "You are so ********' right, " he murmured. "s**t, you should write that one down. Get a patent on that, you'd never need money again."
Hitch snorted softly without really meaning to. More interesting, right. With what time? "Easier said than done, Shale - necessity always wins over fun, y'know?" A little candid for him, but it was fine. He didn't need to go into detail or anything. "So dumb question - you're not from here either, right? - you grow up outside the city, or like, further than that?"
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2015 8:55 am
'Is that rough?'
Why would it be? Shale blinked once at the question, and regarded Hitch with a quizzical look that immediately spelled his lack of understanding for the question. "I don't find it tough, and I don't want to turn it on or off either. Do people dislike clarity about their own thoughts?" Destiny City seemed muddled in its culture, as it expected often for people to act against how they truly felt. He imagined, then, that ambiguity formed a sort of comfort for them. Did they think it better to remain unaware of how they felt about others? Did they prefer to assume they cared about everyone, even the strangers across the road? Shale found it terribly odd to consider.
He finished the last of the blueberry scone and was glad to do so; he already felt the sugar crystallizing on his teeth for how little he ate it. Already he felt the need to brush. "Being a hunter means always knowing what to do and how to act in pressured situations. You learn to work with your adrenaline instead of fight against it. You simplify down until all parts of your life become yes or no. Your boundaries are clear. Your goals are clear. And then you hunt."
Hitch's comment on necessity was correct in his mind. "It does," he started as he excused himself from his seat. Shale gathered up the napkin and crumbs from his eating and wadded them in hand. The trash wasn't far, but Hitch asked a question - it would be easy to ignore him and toss his trash regardless, but Shale figured that would be seen as impolite.
"I lived outside the city, but not far." 'Either' - so you must be a transplant too. "It's a small town. I'm not adjusted to the city yet, but if you want someone around that you can learn it with..." He paused to grab a different napkin and one of the nearby cafe pens, then set about writing down name and number on the front. He tore the napkin partially with writing the parentheses for the area code. "Here," he offered at last when he handed the napkin to Hitch.
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Posted: Tue Aug 18, 2015 10:22 pm
He hadn't meant to catch Shale off guard with his question - no, not so much off-guard as confuse him, that was a better way to say it - 'off-guard' better described what Shale had done to him. So much so, he couldn't do anything for a second but laugh. "Yup. You're right. People ********' hate it, " he finally managed to get out, brushing his hair out of his face. It didn't do him any good; it always fell right back where it started again, too long and too shaggy. "********. Hit the ********' nail right on the head - y'know what, you're better off, really."
Yeah. Not to exclude himself from that, either - the world was full of ******** hypocrites, and he was right there with them. Maybe that's what made it so ******** funny. "********, I'm a little jealous - I mean, you see how well I ********' handle pressure, " and he flung his hand up into the air, because this whole thing had stemmed from that one stupid meltdown. "Sorry again, by the way, " because it seemed like as good a time as any.
When Shale gathered up his trash, Hitch followed his cue, gathering up his stupid paper cup and the little stirring straw to fling them into the trash. By instinct, he'd already grabbed his pack of cigarettes from his pocket, cradling them in the palm of his hand while Shale answered his question. A small town - he couldn't imagine going from there to here. It'd been bad enough coming from a smaller city to this one. He took the paper gratefully between two fingers, dipping his head to Shale once in acknowledgement. "Cool. I'll text you later so you've got mine - I work a lot, but Wednesdays and Fridays are usually free." Always free. He didn't ******** do anything.
He glanced down at the pack of cigarettes for a minute, entertaining the thought of offering Shale one out of politeness - but look at him. The man probably hadn't smoked a day in his life.
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Posted: Wed Aug 19, 2015 9:25 am
"It's not a problem to me." The whole incident would've faded from the hunter's mind were it not for the overblown apology following it. Not that Shale particularly minded the company - he had few other places to go at the time - but the whole ordeal sounded needless to him. Still, the companionship proved worthwhile and Hitch may contact him at a later date to continue their respective perusals of the city.
"I'll look for your text then. Keep well in the mean time." Shale offered a nod toward the other man before he turned away from him. Leaving the cafe was a short few paces back to the serving area and out the door, and in the interim he had time to reflect on what kind of meeting just transpired. He wondered if Hitch knew of powered life yet, if he were a part of it or if he even met his first youma during his stay here. He wagered not, else it might've played a larger part in their conversations.
What Hitch did with the number was entirely up to him, and Shale thought little more of it when he departed. Instead his focus was on how many others Hitch might meet in that manner, and how many friendships might stick with the man over the course of his stay here. The same thought applied to the hunter himself, and all the trials and tribulations that awaited a new officer to the Negaverse.
It seems the city was full of surprises.
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Posted: Fri Aug 21, 2015 6:11 am
"You too... " And Hitch watched him go, planting the cigarette between his lips before he followed in Shale's footsteps - only out on the street, he handed in the opposite direction. The napkin with the other man's number was tucked into his pocket, safe, secure, and appreciated.
He half-wondered if he should actually text him or not, or if it'd been a gesture done out of politeness - and for once he was able to discount that theory. He didn't know Shale that well, but he felt safe assuming he didn't give his number to anyone he didn't want having it.
So the next day, Shale would get a text from him - and a few would more follow, sporadically, in the weeks and months to come. Hitch was, after all, a man of this word. He wouldn't have the time, the inspiration, the energy for much else. But it was not a door closed, just left ajar to swing where the winds saw fit to push it.
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