6th Standoff ☆ Voice

[cowboycop]

(( ooc: Forward-dated to about 7PM, action opportunity for housemates. ))

Got a question fer all y'all. You ever... wish you could change somethin'? Y'ever had one of those moments when you just... wish you could go back'n... fix it all?

[A pause, as he seems to tap his foot down. His spur jingles in time, so one can only assume.]

... though I figger that here, it'd be goin' forward an' fixin' it. Three years ago fer me, three years ahead fer Siren's Port, I reckon... [One could probably hear a faint sigh if they tried. This is hard for him to admit, even bring up again.] ... a man named Neil Marshall was killed. Man I loved like a brother, 'cause... he was my brother. An' no matter how long ago it's been, I keep wonderin'... maybe I coulda... done somethin' different. Maybe I coulda jus' stayed behind a bit longer. I dunno.

... so how do y'all keep it from gettin' to ya? Even I'll admit I ain't got a clue. Guess that's my real question I should be askin'. Jus' lemme know. I'll... I'll get back to ya.

[He tries to turn off the voice, but just before, in a quiet voice that was meant to be just for himself:]

Dammit, Marshall, keep it together...

Comments

[awakenings]

[Almost got him to use her first name only. Almost.

Re-l's a little closer to the area in question and so she's there long before he is, trying to find the exact spot so she can lead him to it without any sort of issue. It wouldn't be much of a show-and-tell otherwise. When she hears his truck, she doubles back to find him so he doesn't get lost.

She sees his hat first, then him, and she calls over.]

Jake.

[She picks her way over to where he is.]

Thanks for coming.

[cowboycop]

[Hey, he's working on it. He was always taught to be polite to ladies, so it's a hard habit for him to break.

Jake strides through the field towards the trees, when all of a sudden he hears his name called. He turns his head and sees the familiar form of Re-l, and immediately shifts course straight for her. He can feel the much lighter feeling in his body already, shifting to his mood just enough to make him smile. He continues approaching until he gets to a few meters away from the edge of the woods, stopping as Re-l makes the rest of distance up.]

Ain't no trouble. My pleasure t'head on over.

[He gives a quick look around their surroundings, just to get a little more familiar with a part of it, at least.]

So, what is it ya wanted t'show me?

[awakenings]

[He looks a little more at ease already. That's good. She had been afraid that he would be hesitant about doing anything with anyone, and considering Diego Armando is his roommate, she has every reason to believe that. She motions for him to follow her and she starts back towards where she came.]

Follow me. I'll show you.

[She takes him up a small hill and into some trees. In the distance, it opens up into a grove.]

Almost two years ago, someone took me here to show me something outside of the city. He thought I could use some time away to enjoy the things the tall buildings and bustling people couldn't offer, and he was right. I want to show you the same thing.

[cowboycop]

[Well, he's still hesitant to live a little with most people, but his cop buddies and Diego and Maya are the exception. And he's more than happy to hang out with Re-l, he's just too polite to ask because she's such a busy woman to his eyes.]

All right, I'l be right behind ya.

[He slips right into step behind her, still taking a look around here and there. He listens quietly to what she has to say, flattered that she singled him out. She knows she probably only did it to get him back to some semblance of normal, but it's a nice feeling to be sure.]

Well, miss Re-l, that'd be... mighty nice. Thank ya kindly. Reckon the countryside's always put me in a better mood when I was a young'un. Ain't convinced that's changed at all.