This crew depends on me...

[chaos_magnet]

As long as we're living and breathing, there's more we can do. We just have to be strong enough. captain . earther ACTION TEXT HANDWAVE

Comments

[minuteofangle]

Well, shit. There you go.

[ Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Gabe just shakes his head and goes back to his food. ]

Nah. These are prosthetics.

[ He motions vaguely at his face. ]

I got tricks, but I don't see.

[chaos_magnet]

[ Ah. It makes sense now, if Jim ever felt certain things were "off". ]

Well, I can't speak for others, but they're mighty damn convincing. Which I get is the point. Hang on, does that mean you couldn't see the patterns on the origami paper I gave you?

[ Replaying that scene in his head with the added knowledge of Gabe's eyes makes so more sense now. It's irrational to feel this way, and yet James can't help but feel just a little guilty. Or a tiny bit like an asshole. ]

[minuteofangle]

[ Gabe shakes his head. ]

What were they?

[chaos_magnet]

Galaxy prints in different colors. Sorry? Do I apologize?

[ Yeah, James didn't know, and yet he offers it up anyway. That's how Holden friends. ]

[minuteofangle]

No need.

[ Hiding it from people was the whole point. Gabe just shrugs. ]

I’m pretty good at making sure people don’t pick it up. Or not easily, anyway.

[chaos_magnet]

May I ask why choose to hide it?

[ James wonders what he would do. The only way he can even try to relate is through the port transplanted into his arm. But though he doesn't actively display it, neither does Holden seek ways to conceal it. ]

dw at the notif, my apologies!

[minuteofangle]

[ Gabe's eyebrows go up. You serious? ]

People use it against me when they know.

D:< Dee Dʌbəl.juuuuuuuu! No frets.

[chaos_magnet]

[ The answer is all too glaringly obvious now and James takes a moment to eat more breakfast. Possibly, he was in denial, because of how draconian and fucked up that is. Rather lamely, he promises with a tone of conviction -- ]

Well, you don't have to worry about that with me.

[ Even if they have a fallen out, a friendship breakup, Holden is never going to lord that over Gabriel, nor will he spread the secret like plague fleas on rats. And if the sharpshooter needs more proof than just words, James will make it a point to spend more time with Rodriguez in order to solidify their bond. ]

[minuteofangle]

[ Gabe shrugs at that. Maybe he does, maybe he doesn't. James hasn't fucked him over yet, that's true. And he had opportunity to.

Funny thing is, a lot of people in Hell haven't fucked him over. And it would've been real easy for them to. A conundrum.

He eats his food, in the meantime. ]

Fair enough. And now you know.

[chaos_magnet]

[ There's a moment of vocal silence while they eat, the garden and said actions a soundtrack in the background. When his mouth is clear to speak, James assures him that -- ]

Amos isn't the kind of guy that will hound me for answers, if you want to keep this between us.

[minuteofangle]

[ That hangs between them for a moment. Gabe considers it, turns it over in his mind, accepts it. Seems to fit what he's observed of Amos so far. Blunt guy. Sharp. But not the type to dig into an open wound unless it gets him something worth keeping. Right now, Gabe hasn't made himself an enemy.

Good enough. He eats his food. ]

Appreciate it. Figured he put it together in the cave, though.

[chaos_magnet]

More or less, just not the when, why, or how. He knows you couldn't see and that's all that matters.

[ Holden drinks to clear away the food he's been chewing. ]

Last question for now if you'll humor me; how long did it take you to adjust to the AI?

[minuteofangle]

[ That might be a problem later. Amos is smart, sharp. One of these days they might be on opposite sides. No much he can do about it right now, though. Gabe just shrugs. ]

Not long. I was up and fighting pretty fast. Maybe a month?

[ Needs must. And his team needed a sniper. ]

'course, I was out for six months before that, figuring out how to do this thing without eyes. Couldn't do shit. You ever walked into a door? I've walked into a lot of doors.

[chaos_magnet]

[ It's impressive, despite the length of time. James certainly looks impressed, smiling over at Gabriel and thinking of how to let him know that he's smiling. It's heard through his gratitude. ]

Thanks, Rodriguez, for trusting me with this.

[ James has his back now more than he had before. ]

[minuteofangle]

[ Gabe almost says that he didn't have much choice. The secret was out before he could clamp it down. No choice in that. But that feels cruel, too-sharp, and James has been decent about it. Guided him, didn't make a fuss, checked in on him afterwards.

It's nice. Strange, but nice. He hums to himself. He'll have to think about that later. Reassess. ]

You haven't fucked me over yet.

[ So, they're all right. He shrugs. ]

So. That's something.

-= FIN =-

[chaos_magnet]