drunkstrategist (drunkstrategist) wrote in madisonvalley, @ 2017-08-31 08:26:00 |
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Entry tags: | !completed gdoc, !log, !match-up, ~2017 august, ~50 points, ~~haymitch abernathy (drunkstrategist), ~~jesse mccree (fantheknives) |
Who: Haymitch and McCree
When: Pre-Plot
Where: Park
What: Chance encounter
Rating/Warnings: Low/None
Status: Completed gdoc
Having part-time acts both at Lou’s and the shooting range seemed to be settling in well with McCree. He was continuing working off his tab at Lou’s, but once he was done, McCree knew he’d maintain his position. He liked them both well enough, and it kept him busy.
When he wasn’t at either of those places, roaming and watching others seemed to be his usual activities. Were they creepy? A little. McCree didn’t put himself out there as a threat, though. Most of the time he kept his distance to have peace smoking on of his many cigars. It was another habit that was terrible for him, and one that had more potential of killing him than anything else.
He was seated on a bench in the park having just left his shift at the shooting range. He wasn’t working at Lou’s that evening, which was fine by him. Having the evening off to do as he pleased was a treat that he enjoyed. Sure he would probably end up there eventually, but at least he’d be giving the orders instead of taking them.
Though he was sans cigar, McCree hardly traveled without his cowboy hat and pistol around his waist. Maybe it was a force of habit, but it wasn’t loaded. His ammo bag was even back at his place. It was, in so many ways, simply a security blanket for him.
***
Haymitch had been settled for quite a while and was content to continue on but when the chance to educate himself and gain some qualifications came his way he’d found himself seriously considering it, which was how he’d ended up enrolling in an official counsellors course and now found himself becoming a student. Sometimes he thought he was too old for it but he couldn’t deny helping people felt good and if he could help more by becoming qualified then it’d be worth it.
Getting out of the house either with or without his daughter was a good thing and he did like the peace the park offered, people watching was something he enjoyed especially here where they people were free to live as they wished.
Today he did have a sleeping Stephanie with him and he joined a man on a bench with a nod, putting the brake on the buggy, “Afternoon”
***
“Afternoon,” he greeted, a nod of his head as well followed by a light tip of his hat. Habits were hard to break.
Lifting his chin, McCree noted the sleeping child with a grin. It seemed he was surrounding himself with all sorts of folks who had little ones lurking around them. Or had them on the way. Which was odd as he never considered himself much of a person for children.
“Nice afternoon to be out and about with those little buggers, huh? Fresh air’s good for ‘em, I hear.”
***
Haymitch quite liked the hat tip, it reminded him of the cowboys in some of the films he’d watched with Darcy.
“It certainly works on this one” Haymitch agreed, “Gives us a couple of hours of peace at least. You have kids?” he asked conversationally.
***
“No sir.” The desire to add a ‘not yet’ was bitten back from the tip of his tongue. Did he want kids? He hadn’t considered it, and he really wasn’t the parenting type. McCree couldn’t even begin to imagine what any kid he looked after would end up like.
“I’m happy to keep my distance unless absolutely necessary. Terrifying things in the most innocent way possible.” Which made them even more than terrifying; they were dangerous. McCree grinned and gave a chuckle. He hoped his jest came across as well as it could.
“Name’s McCree, by the way. Seems like this bench is a popular spot.”
***
Haymitch knew all about not being the parenting type, he’d never really given it much thought before he and Darcy had found out they were pregnant. But now he knew he would give anything to protect Stephanie and be there for her.
He chuckled, “I used to feel the same way” he admitted, “But I’ve learnt a few tricks since this one came along and they aren’t so scary anymore”
Nodding Haymitch replied, “Haymitch, it’s a popular place to people watch. Can’t deny I do that a lot, especially when I take her with me” he indicated the buggy.
***
“I’d say that they help keep the unsavory folk away, but here I am,” he joked.
McCree’s attention settled on a few people in passing. “Yeah? Can’t complain too much then when you’ve got them down pretty good. Still think they need a manual just like women do.” And a few other difficult things in life.
Life in general could use one.
“So did you find yourself just fallin’ into a routine with her? Gotta be hard to go from terrified to parent.”
***
“I’m not sure there’s enough paper in the world for a manual on women” Haymitch told him with a bit of a smirk, though a manual for life would be helpful. It still felt like he and Darcy were just stumbling around sometimes.
“Yeah pretty much. Can’t just keep on being terrified when you have a little life relying on you. My girlfriend and I are lucky to have a lot of friends, more like family I guess, and they’ve been great in helping us”
***
“Definitely seems to be a lot of folks like that ‘round here. Kinda nice to have the support. Probably could say the group I was with prior to a lot of this was like that. Most of ‘em anyway. Had your bad seeds, but what group doesn’t?” Even though one of those bad seeds had gotten him out of jail, McCree had come to know who to trust, and who to keep an eye on quickly after becoming part of Overwatch.
“Not enough paper, and not enough trees for that matter.” He let out a low laugh, careful not to cause too much commotion to stir the sleeping baby.
“Gotta say, you look like a man who’s seen his fair share of things, too.” He paused and shrugged. “No offense or nothin’ of course.”
***
“Yeah one thing about this place is it’s not short of friendly people” Haymitch agreed with a nod, he could understand where McCree was coming from. He’d had a good group with him too back home even if the actual place they’d been living had been awful.
Haymitch let out a chuckle, “No offence taken. I can’t say you’re wrong” he replied, “Seen and done a lot in my life, some good, most bad. But this is a second chance here”
***
“I understand ya there. Those good and bad parts is how I got this,” he said, flexing the robotic fingers of his arm. “Wouldn’t take it back, though.” McCree paused, and then laughed. “Well, maybe losin’ the arm, but it ain’t too bad.” Losing his arm made McCree realize both his humanity, vulnerability, and mortality. It grounded him.
“Watched people lose far worse, and seems folks here have been through far worse than this. Never thought I’d find myself thinking losin’ an arm was the better option.” But it was.
Which was mildly terrifying.
***
“Certainly puts things in perspective, coming here and hearing about the places other people have come from” Haymitch agreed with a nod, “Took me a while when I first got here but I’ve sorted myself out a bit. Found a purpose I never had back home. It definitely helps”
Haymitch had no doubt one of the ‘worse’ places would be Panem, people were horrified at the idea of kids being sent into an arena to fight to the death. With good reason, of course.