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

[allucinator]

[After a hesitation, Jack switches on his own video as well. His expression is steady, but not unfriendly.]

I used to. Now . . . I dunno what I believe anymore. Maybe that I don't know a damn thin' about how anythin' works anymore.

[cowboycop]

I hear ya on that one, pardner. World's a whole helluva mess sometimes. Only thing I know for sure is that there is no knowin' for sure.

[He pauses, mulling over everything for a moment.]

You ever lose somebody close to you, 'fore you got here? Reckon everybody here's missin' somebody 'cause of the Core.

[allucinator]

[He nods.]

Yeah. Couple o' times, yeah.

[A beat. He grins rather humorlessly.]

'S a deadly occupation, bein' me friend.

[cowboycop]

[A weak chuckle that mirrors the other man's sad smile.]

Don't I know that feelin'. 'Course, bein' a detective, it sorta comes with the territory.

I'M SORRY I'M SO SLOW I really love this thread. ;;

[allucinator]

You ever think about doin' somethin' else?

sldfjlksd it's okay bb ;; take your time <3

[cowboycop]

... doin' somethin' else?

[He's not sure how to respond to that, it throws him so hard for a loop. He'd always just assumed that was it, that was all he was ever going to do until he was old and gray. He takes another moment, before replying:]

Naw, I ain't put much thought into it, pardner. Gotta look after the good folks of whatever city I'm in. Y'know, like a sheriff out in the ol' West. Somethin's always gotta be done.

<3333

[allucinator]

[He sighs softly.]

Yeah, I guess. Awful noble o' you, mate.

[cowboycop]

... ever since I was younger, y'know, Neil- my brother, I mean. He wanted to go into law. Prosecutin' specifically. I remember him tellin' me one day that the two of us together would make the best crime-solvin' team this side of Texas. And I believed him, and I worked as damned hard as I could to make sure I was a good enough detective.

And Neil, he was... a genius prosecutor. Hoowee, I'll tell ya what, Neil sure knew how to keep his cool while shakin' up the defense. He could send 'em runnin' loose and then rope 'em back in faster'n you could say "yeehaw".

I guess what I'm tryin' to say is... bein' a detective's my life's work. Bein' involved with the law's always been a Marshall sorta trait. Why should I toss that all away here, when I can do somethin' with it?

[allucinator]

[Quietly, fondly:]

I called you noble once, mate, don't try and beg it outta me twice.

[A beat.]

He does sound brilliant, though, your brother. How much older were he than you?

[cowboycop]

[A bit of a smile.] There's a difference between noble actions and a noble man, Jack. But I thank ya. Ain't sure I deserve them kind words. Guess I was just explainin' my thought process an' all that.

Now why in the hell does ever'body think I'm the young'un of the family? Naw, you got it all wrong. Neil was my kid brother, and four years younger t'boot.

[allucinator]

[He smiles.]

Cuz he sounds more responsible, mate. And usually the oldest is more responsible. You got me sympathy, though, bein' the older one. I always wanted to be the younger brother. You get away with everythin'.

[cowboycop]

Well I dunno 'bout more responsible - reckon we were both on an even keel. But I can see yer point.

That's the thing - Neil was such a sweet kid, he never had nothin' to get away with. But, well, I was a bit of a troublemaker as a young'un.