#52 -- Woken from the Nightmare

[inthecenterfold]

[His handwriting's pretty messy since it still hurts to write.]

Here's a tip for all you new kids - don't ever leave your journal behind. Ever ever. Or you may get lost in the Wilderness alone for 3 weeks (or more!) with no way to ask for help and no way out.

And if you do, then all you can do is hope the Adventurers do their job - and they do; try thanking 'em sometime - 'cuz it'll have to be one of them who drags your sorry ass back out of there.

Smoke

[Not that he's bitter about the experience, of course not. He's been here long enough to know better and not make these mistakes, you know.]

Comments

[Friday QL!]

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

Oh, right. [He kept forgetting there were people who'd never seen his weapon before, but especially Jeep because he was still so new.] It's uh... this really weird staff thing with a chain. And this was long before I took up Guard work - this was back when our evil twins showed up and I had to fight mine.

Re: [Friday QL!]

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

[Jeep looks thoughtful at that, tapping his lower lip as he ponders for a brief moment.]

Well, I suppose that makes sense. One leader, one fighter and one supportive member of a team.

[That didn't include the child, though. Mascot?]

[Friday QL!]

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

[It said a lot about how long Smoke had been in Edensphere - and why he wasn't the brains of any outfit - that he had absolutely no idea what Jeep was talking about.]

Haaaa?

[Friday QL!]

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

[Blinking, Jeep looks at Smoke and the chuckles.]

Ah, I'm sorry. I was thinking about what Moon told us about traveling together. It seemed like a good setup for a team.

[Friday QL!]

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

[He laughs and throws his hand on the table.]

You think we were a team? Hell man, have you seen how well we don't get along? I can barely believe we were able to travel together and not slit each other's throats. I wouldn't have believed it if I'd heard the first hint of it from Moon himself.

[Friday QL!]

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

[He calmly smiles at that.]

Now, now... I'm sure he must have some forgiving factors that makes it possible for us to travel with him? I do not see why we would, otherwise. Especially not if we are supposed to protect or follow him.

[Then the smile becomes slightly more taunting, finishing his glass of beer.]

Or perhaps he has us bound.

[Friday QL!]

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

Bound sounds about right to me. Can't think of any good reason I'd volunteer to walk down the street next to him, let alone go on that kind of journey. And he pisses me the hell off, but I still take the time to watch over his rude ass when he's being stupid.

[Then he chugs for a bit.]

[Friday QL!]

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

His personality seems a bit endearing, though. It is almost as if he tries far too hard to be distanced from others.

[Like a prickly porcupine, all needles out in defense.]

But I suppose you know him better.

[Jeep raises a brow at the chugging, somewhat disapproving with just a simple look.]

[Friday QL!]

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

[The bottle comes down as Smoke just stares at him.]

I don't know him hardly at all, that's part of the problem. And you call that endearing?

[Friday QL!]

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

[Smilesmile~]

Endearing in the way of an angry cat? Ah ha ha, I'm not sure what I mean.

[Friday QL!]

[inthecenterfold.livejournal.com]

[He had to laugh and shake his head.]

Whatever, man. I don't have to like him.

[He set the drink down and crossed his arms while leaning on the bar.] Doesn't mean I'm gonna give up on him, or you, or anybody else really. [He knocked on the bar's top.] Part of what this place is for, really - you wanna come in and talk whatever, I'm here.

[Friday QL!]

[drivetothewest.livejournal.com]

No, I suppose you do not have to.

[Taking off his glasses, Jeep puts them neatly on the bar disk and then takes another sip of beer.]

That's... very kind. [He looks slightly solemn at hat, tracing a hand over the bar. He probably wouldn't take him up on that offer, though. He was bothering enough people as it were.] It's good to know.

[Relieved that Gojyo seemed to have forgotten about the mention of a memory, Jeep empties his glass.]