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Tweak says, "We don't need rings."

Callen, G. (g_callen) wrote in omega_reality,
@ 2012-03-27 07:43:00

Entry tags:

*complete, 2012 03, character: alexis castle, character: g callen, character: troy bolton, dead: jenna hanna, dead: mike renko

RP: A Few Casual Interviews
Who: G Callen, Mike Renko, Jenna Hanna, Troy Bolton, Alexis Castle
Where: All over the ranch
When: Tuesday, March 27, 2012 -- all day
Summary: G talks to a few people to assess training needs

The director liked his office and his meetings. G preferred being out with his team and seemingly casual conversations. For most everyone he had a good idea of what they could and couldn't do at this point. They'd been training as a team with their power for long enough what he hadn't seen he could extrapolate.

Still, there were a few people who had newly come into their powers or who had seen changes recently that he needed to assess before they went forward with any further training. And, now that they'd explained the day before about the new ruling on not training with powers outside group training or with G's supervision or approval, he wanted to make sure he touched base with those he had less firsthand experience with their powers.

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Callen and Renko -- Right after PFT (0900)

g_callen
2012-03-27 06:38 pm UTC (link)

Renko was the first person on G's list of those he wanted to talk to and so he was the first person G casually dropped in on during the short break between PFT and morning training. The man posed serious questions for G, most importantly being several related to trust and why he seemed intent on keeping things from them when they could help him. After Liam and the revelation of how extensive Renko's powers were, G had thought he might get a visit from the man. He'd held off doing so himself in the hopes Renko would trust him.

But, Renko hadn't and now the Director was involved and that always complicated things.

"So," he told the other man calmly. "Are we doing this the easy way where you just tell me what I need to know? Or are you going to make me ask the questions?"

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Re: Callen and Renko -- Right after PFT (0900)

m_renko
2012-03-27 07:25 pm UTC (link)

Mike wasn't surprised by the visit, in fact he'd been expecting it ever since the incident with Liam. Callen had always liked to do things his own way, that was well known even back home, and he didn't exactly like not being in control. Not sharing exactly what he could do? Mike knew that would annoy the other man. He'd been expecting this.

He smiled at the question though, unable not to. "You didn't just ask me if we're doing this the easy or the hard way, did you?" he asked, quirking an eyebrow.

"You want me to tell you what you need to know? I have sharp hearing, how sharp you've witnessed on two occasions. I'll hear an attack coming from a good distance away, depending on circumstances of course, but regardless we should have plenty of time to evacuate." He smiled knowing that wouldn't satisfy the other man.

"But you knew that and now we're talking so that's not what you think you need to know." Mike liked his privacy but he wouldn't have kept things from Callen and Sam which he thought they needed to know to keep people safe. That didn't mean he didn't know they'd want to know more than he thought they needed. He'd let Callen ask his questions though. Whether or not he was answering them depended on the questions. "Why don't we go for a short drive around the farm? I might be the only one we know of with these senses, but I'm not betting on it."

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Re: Callen and Renko -- Right after PFT (0900)

g_callen
2012-03-28 06:50 pm UTC (link)

"Asked the question,' G acknowledged with an answering smirk. "Doesn't mean I don't already know the answer. Unless you've gone soft on me all of a sudden."

The details weren't nearly detailed enough, when they came, of course. G couldn't plan strategy around 'a good distance away' or without knowing what circumstances affected things how. And it was a good thing Renko seemed to get that point. "We're talking because we should have talked a long time ago and because I don't think I need to know these things. I know you're even worse than I am about taking on solo ops. But, there are very few people here who shouldn't need it explained what team means to either myself or Sam. And, you're one of them. I get the reasons you didn't, but you should have come to me sooner, Renko."

G snorted. "Sure, now you start thinking security. Fine, quick ride around the ranch. I'm driving and you're talking, starting with why you don't trust us enough to come to us in the first place. Then we'll discuss the finer points of your skills. Come on."

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Re: Callen and Renko -- Right after PFT (0900)

m_renko
2012-03-29 07:01 pm UTC (link)

Mike snorted. "Right," he answered, not saying anything else.

He didn't say anything else until they were in the car and driving, just quirking an eye at the talk of the team and the 'you should have trusted me' speech. He had to remind himself that laughing wasn't the appropriate response when Callen talked of trusting each other. The man had as many trust issues as anyone he'd ever known, save for Robert.

He leaned back in the seat, seemingly comfortable but he was weighing his words carefully. "Simple, what you don't know you can't be asked to share, to Morgan or the Director or anyone else." Something he was a bit surprised at having to say to Callen of all people.

"I get that your team is important, but it's not like I didn't share anything," he said with a casual smile. "You knew what my power was and I gave Sam an estimate on how far I could hear in the case of an attack. Granted it was rather miscalculated but it was the best I could do."

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Re: Callen and Renko -- Right after PFT (0900)

g_callen
2012-03-29 08:51 pm UTC (link)

G, however, couldn't help laughing softly at the response. "Renko, seriously? You've known me for what? Six years now? Since before Sam and I were ever partnered. When have I ever given away information just for the asking? I protect my team, even if that means keeping a few details from the higher ups. I did it at home. I did it on the base. And I'd have done it for you."

Shaking his head, he looked at Renko out of the corner of his eye. "I'll let you in on some of the things no one sees. When we started this a year ago, Morgan and I fought constantly because I wouldn't share pretty much anything he didn't need to know. There are things he still doesn't know because it's safer for the others involved if he doesn't. There are people on this ranch whose full powers are not known to anyone but me and Sam because that's what's required to protect them. If you've overheard as much as I suspect you have, then you know that's true."

The man would have heard his sessions with Marty, after all. He might not know the details and a lot of the 'conversation' might be taking place mentally these days, but G was pretty sure an intelligent investigator could put two and two together without counting on his toes.

"And Sam had to come to you to get that information," G pointed out. "Estimates are fine for awhile, but we can't plan strategy on guesswork efficiently, not when it's a group this large and most of the people involved will never have the level of skill the three of us do. You can hear a baby's heartbeat from a quarter mile or so away. What does that translate to in terms of how far away you can hear a Sikorsky coming in? How much filtering are you capable of? Can you pinpoint a whisper in a crowded room for instance? We know you're more sensitive to light. When your vision heals, will you even need NVGs? Do you see details better at a distance? How far? Do you see more colors or fewer? Pick up motion faster like a hawk? What about your other senses? Smell, taste, touch? You see where I'm going with this? It's about more than how many people you can hear having sex each night."

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Re: Callen and Renko -- Right after PFT (0900) -

m_renko, 2012-03-30 10:06 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Renko -- Right after PFT (0900) -

g_callen, 2012-03-31 08:56 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Renko -- Right after PFT (0900) -

m_renko, 2012-04-02 06:56 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Renko -- Right after PFT (0900) -

g_callen, 2012-04-02 08:00 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Renko -- Right after PFT (0900) -

m_renko, 2012-04-02 09:10 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Renko -- Right after PFT (0900) -

g_callen, 2012-04-03 06:54 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Renko -- Right after PFT (0900) -

m_renko, 2012-04-04 05:21 pm UTC

G and Jenna -- Lunch

g_callen
2012-03-27 06:39 pm UTC (link)

Two down. Four to go.

G tracked down Jenna at lunch, figuring this would be the longest conversation given the familial connections. She would also have more time during the day to try things out and they needed to set out how to do that safely since the people she saw most during the day now were likely Savannah, Blaze, and Liam. And while Liam might be able to easily find Daddy or Uncle G if there was a problem, the chances of either an infant or a woman pregnant with twins getting to them quickly were low.

"Jenna, how are you? Blaze? We haven't had a chance to discuss your power, yet, or training it. Got some time to do that now?"

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Re: G and Jenna -- Lunch

j_hanna
2012-03-27 07:48 pm UTC (link)

Most days recently Jenna had gone with Savannah to the office for lunch, but but today she'd decided that she needed a break, which was why she was at home when Callen called on her. She was still unused to talking to Callen alone without her father there, but figured she would have to get more used to it. Smiling she let him into the house. "I'm good, so is Blaze," she said as she closed the door behind him. "He's even awake for once." She hadn't expected him to sleep as much as he did, but right now he was awake and lying on the floor on his play mat watching the figures above him with great fascination.

She showed Callen into the house and gestured towards the couch. "Sure I got time, plenty of it in fact. There is coffee if you want some," she offered. The topic certainly wasn't her favorite. She wasn't fond of her power still, and even less Blaze's, but she knew that it needed to be trained and that that Callen was in charge of it. But at least she could get some coffee first, before sitting down to talk about them.

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Re: G and Jenna -- Lunch

g_callen
2012-03-28 06:50 pm UTC (link)

"So, I see," G replied, smiling as he knelt down to say hello to Sam's grandson. He ran a finger over one tiny fist for a minute, then stood up. "He has his grandfather's hair."

"No, thank you. I'm fine." Sitting on the couch, he gave her time to get a cup for herself if she wanted it. It also allowed him to watch her for a moment. G had a decent rapport with Sean, a product of living with him for so much longer as well as working as partners for a time. But, Jenna was...mercurial. She'd spent most of the time she'd lived with them either out of the house at Dom's or in her room away from the rest of them, except when she would have a moment in which she wanted to try with her father. Then she came to G for help. But, once that was done, they rarely spoke again. Now that they'd lived separately for months and she was no longer training with them, G suspected Sunday dinners were the only reason she was in a room with him at all.

"Mostly I wanted to touch base with you about whether you've been working with your power on your own, any problems, side effects, questions, that sort of thing. After the accident this past weekend, the Director doesn't want anyone training their powers outside of the group training unless they have my approval. But, if I'm going to give that, I need to know what you've done, what you know."

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Re: G and Jenna -- Lunch

j_hanna
2012-03-29 04:13 pm UTC (link)

Jenna watched him with for a moment with Blaze, and Blaze reaction to him. Blaze certainly looked content, and the smile on his face seemed genuine.

She took a cup for herself and sat down on the sofa as she listened to his questions. "I have, but not very much," she answered. After her reaction at dinner, she doubted anyone would be surprised at how little she enjoyed these powers. Of course her main concern then had been Blaze and she still worried about what that would mean for him. She looked at her son, before she looked back to the man in front of her and answered the rest of his questions.

"I haven't had any side effects, unless you count turning to wood during dinner without realizing it a side effect," she said with a small smile. "As for questions there are very few that Dom wouldn't be able to answer. Right now we're still figuring out what it is I can do. It seem similar to Savannah's in some ways but I've only been able to change into materials that I'm touching and the moment I stop touching it I change back. I suspect it's more like a chameleon than Savannah, but I don't really know for sure. My main aim with the training I've done so far is to figure out what triggers it, so that it won't happen by mistake again."

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Re: G and Jenna -- Lunch

g_callen
2012-03-30 06:24 pm UTC (link)

G intended to listen carefully before replying, but when she so calmly informed him there were no questions Dom wouldn't be able to answer for her, he couldn't help snorting. "A polite way of saying you don't need my help?" he asked with a smirk.

"What are you doing to test the power if you haven't figured out what it is exactly, yet?" From just what she'd told him, G was pretty sure he could give her the answer. But, he was willing to let her try figuring it out on her own up to a point. "Perhaps figuring out what it is you are doing first will give you a better idea of what triggers it and how to control it. Has it been happening spontaneously since that first time at dinner?"

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Re: G and Jenna -- Lunch -

j_hanna, 2012-04-01 05:37 pm UTC

Re: G and Jenna -- Lunch -

g_callen, 2012-04-04 02:54 pm UTC

Re: G and Jenna -- Lunch -

j_hanna, 2012-04-04 05:39 pm UTC

Re: G and Jenna -- Lunch -

g_callen, 2012-04-05 03:30 pm UTC

Re: G and Jenna -- Lunch -

j_hanna, 2012-04-05 05:27 pm UTC

Re: G and Jenna -- Lunch -

g_callen, 2012-04-06 02:43 pm UTC

Callen and Alexis -- during afternoon training

g_callen
2012-03-27 06:39 pm UTC (link)

Once they were all well back into sanitizing the remaining houses for the afternoon, G sought out Alexis. Of all of the people he was talking to today, she was the one he had the least concerns over regarding her power. But, as he wasn't as complacent as the Director believed everyone to be, he would still make sure he had reason not to worry. Invisibility was one of those powers that G had a love-hate relationship with, as well. And, she'd just lost friends. Given how some powers, though not all, had reacted to emotional upheavals, best to check.

"Take a break here for a minute and come look at the outside of the house with me," he told her, waiting until they were outside, looking for anything on the porch that would need to be cleared before he continued the conversation.

"How are you holding up?" he asked, genuinely concerned. "You and Reid were friends, right? If you need anything, you'll let us know?"

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Re: Callen and Alexis -- during afternoon training

alexis_castle
2012-03-27 06:50 pm UTC (link)

Alexis hadn't had time to think about Reid, not when she was so worried about Tim. It wasn't well into the night, when Tim had fallen asleep that she had time to concentrate on her own loss. Reid... maybe under the right circumstances, there could have been something between them, something that she hadn't shared with Tim, or anyone else lately. It was easier to think of Tim.

She hadn't expected anyone to ask and was surprised when Callen did. "Yes, we were, and thank you, but there's not much anyone can do." She smiled softly. "I'm okay... as well as I can be under the circumstances. I'm more worried about Tim. He and Tyra are- were close."

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Re: Callen and Alexis -- during afternoon training

g_callen
2012-03-27 10:31 pm UTC (link)

G nodded. "Maybe not much concrete, but the option is still there if needed." These kids all seemed to take care of each other and G was willing to let them do that so long as they were okay. It didn't matter how, who helped them, as long as his team was okay. "Just having you nearby to support him will help. But, that option is good for him, too. Any of you. If you need anything, just let me know.

"But, in the meantime, how are you doing with your power? No strange side effects or problems using it?"

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Re: Callen and Alexis -- during afternoon training

alexis_castle
2012-03-27 10:39 pm UTC (link)

"Thank you, that's very kind of you. I'll let Tim know." Not that any of them would go to Callen, because there was nothing he could do, and if they needed a friend, they had each other. "There is the question of where he's going to stay. Is it okay if he stays with us? Sean is fine with it, and it's even easier so no one is every alone at night." With all the bed hopping, it might be the only way for one of them not to be alone.

"It's fine, no side effect other than I'm invisible, and no, no problems." Not that she tried that hard either other than when they trained, but it was pretty simple. "It's not as complicated as some of the others."

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Re: Callen and Alexis -- during afternoon training

g_callen
2012-03-28 06:50 pm UTC (link)

"That's fine." G nodded. "I have no objections and if Sean doesn't mind, I don't see why Riggins can't move in with you." They would have had to figure something out. Even though he hadn't said anything, the longer those two couples remained together, the more likely they would have been to have to move people around to make sure single roommates weren't left alone on nights beds were shared.

"Maybe not. As long as you can switch back easily enough if you have to." G had read his H.G. Wells, though, and knew how deceptive that simplicity was. "I think in group training I'd like to start you turning only some body parts invisible, too. Just your hand, for example. What about touch? Are you still tangible when you're invisible? Or will objects pass through you?"

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Re: Callen and Alexis -- during afternoon training -

alexis_castle, 2012-03-28 07:02 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Alexis -- during afternoon training -

g_callen, 2012-03-29 03:14 am UTC

Callen and Bolton -- After Flying

g_callen
2012-03-27 06:40 pm UTC (link)

G waited until Rob brought Bolton back at the end of the day to talk to him. He'd told Sam to get Advanced Training started without them if they were late, not knowing how much time his brother allowed between landing and getting there. Knowing his brother, he was making use of every minute he could get in the air.

"Walk with me, Bolton." G started in the direction of training, but at a meandering pace. "I didn't have a chance to say it before, but you did well the other day. Circumstances sucked. But, you handled yourself well coming to get us. I won't ask if you've been experimenting with your power on your own, as I'm reasonably certain you're not the type to sit on it and do nothing. How has that been going? How far have you pushed yourself?"

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Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying

t_bolton
2012-03-27 07:01 pm UTC (link)

Troy was loving flying. Robert was insane in the air, and he loved it, loved that life and death feeling, even if he know deep inside him that Robert would never do anything too risky. The afternoon were quickly becoming the best part of the day, followed by training, which was something else that he enjoyed.

Callen's approach was not part of the plan and he wondered what was going on now. He almost blurted out that he hadn't done whatever it was, but that instinct had been tempered by years of playing for his father.

"Common sense," he answered with a shrug. He didn't think that he'd done anything particularly great. They had worked together, the four of them. The change of subject had him grinning. "Look for yourself." He thought for a moment and then he was floating, moving forward in the air and then landed again. "I can fly without a plane. I can move all sorts of things, the heavier they are, the less I can keep it going. I'm a pro at beer bottles, or food, or anything required while watching TV. I don't even drop the fork from inside the food container. I'm waiting for all this side effects everyone talks about: fatigue, headaches, but nothing. It's freaking awesome, dude."

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Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying

g_callen
2012-03-27 10:42 pm UTC (link)

"Common sense is not always as common as people assume," G replied drily. "And someone once told me that I don't tell people when they do something right often enough. So, I'm telling you."

G raised an eyebrow. "The heavier something is, the less you can keep it moving? That would seem to imply a level of fatigue, at least temporarily while your power grows. Those side effects can take awhile to sneak up on you, or go unrecognized for months. So, don't push it." Still, he couldn't help the chuckle at the list of things Bolton was accomplished at moving. If there was a more stereotypical carefree college boy, G would be hard pressed to find him. At least, on the outside. G was too experienced at life to think that was all there was to a person. "I'm not going to ban you from moving a beer during the game, but keep the heavy stuff confined to the group training sessions for now, okay? I want to see for myself what the difference is and if you've got enough control to keep yourself aloft, I want you to spend part of each session working on more finite control, more complex actions that just moving things from one place to another. For example, tonight you can try tying your shoes."

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Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying

t_bolton
2012-03-27 11:31 pm UTC (link)

Troy snorted. "Coaches only bitch when something is going wrong." Which only reinforced the idea that Callen must think he did something wrong, or why else would they be talking. They never did unless it was training.

He shrugged. "Maybe, or maybe I just get bored. I really don't care if I can move a cow." He grinned unrepentantly, because if he was going to get rimmed about something, he might as well try to get something. "We could get a keg, a full one. Let me tell you, I'm not getting bored with that." He snorted. "You can try banning it." He left unsaid that it wouldn't work. "But sure, there's nothing really heavy at home unless we're moving furniture." He shook his head. "Moving myself isn't that easy. I can move Nell, she's lighter. It's the same with people. The heavier they are the less I can hold it, and that applies to me or others. I can move different things at once." He bent down and picked a few stones. He tossed them in the air and then began juggling them in the air for a few moments, before letting them drop to the floor. "Laces? That's boring and useless. Nell mentioned pulling a person's bone structure out of their body." The woman was insane, but in a good way. It was yucky in a way that was totally cool for boys. "I guess we can try with pulling things out of the water, or bones out of meat, that's be bloody and cool. Oh I know, how about sponges to clean the bathroom. That's a great use for a power."

He was already thinking of all the uses that could make his life easier when he stopped, because the original question was still flipping in his head. "Why are you talking to me? I didn't do anything, and if this is about Sean, then ... with all due respect, you can all fuck off, because he doesn't need anyone to butt in. I know that Sam has decided to kick my ass for it, but that I can deal with. Discussions about him aren't going to happen."

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Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-03-28 06:51 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

t_bolton, 2012-03-28 07:11 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-03-29 03:10 am UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

t_bolton, 2012-03-29 03:17 am UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-03-29 03:39 am UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

t_bolton, 2012-03-29 03:50 am UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-03-29 04:31 am UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

t_bolton, 2012-03-29 12:15 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-03-29 01:49 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

t_bolton, 2012-03-29 02:03 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-03-29 03:38 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

t_bolton, 2012-03-29 04:38 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-03-29 05:42 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying

t_bolton
2012-03-29 06:34 pm UTC (link)

"Right, we can graduate to asshole, but only to your face," he said with a sarcastic smile. "Have enough beer and you don't need people for a party," he added, because he simply couldn't resist, not that he was planning to go get drunk, but it was always an option.

"And you weren't there, you don't know, let's skip the BS, okay? I've made it very clear that I'm not looking for an opinion on the matter. I know what happened. Nell is the only one who gets any say." Not that she had said anything, but Troy knew what it had been hard for her, losing Hetty, her ribs, Eric, and he'd done what he could to make things a little better for her.

Okay, so now Callen had really lost it. "I think that conversation was a conversation, that thing people do when they talk to each other, exchanging words. You said you wanted to tell me that I did good, you asked a question, I answered. The end. Now, the word instructions would imply that you were instructing, as opposed to just asking questions while we walked. There was nothing in what you said that had anything to do with instruction. That was no more or less what I could have asked Alexis or Sean or anyone, because after people die, you might be slightly concerned that other people did something stupid too." That was probably his fault, for thinking that the man gave a shit. He really should have learned that Callen was all about appearances and that was it. "Since we have this problem communicating, let me make it very easy: we don't talk. You tell me what you want me to do in training and I do it, which I was doing before today. I'll skip all Sunday dinners until eternity, which is really not an imposition, and we have solved every problems."

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Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying

g_callen
2012-03-29 07:48 pm UTC (link)

"And here I thought you were trying to insult, not compliment me." G couldn't help it. The kid brought out the worst of his own cockiness.

His jaw clenched up and G had to relax it before he trusted himself to speak. And when he did, he gave Bolton what he wanted. He dropped all conversation about Hetty and he didn't care if that let the little punk think he'd won that round. It was either back off or punch a kid.

And, really, what was with this kid? G backed down from the argument and did exactly what Bolton wanted. he asked a damned question for clarification. And the kid still went off on him. Really, there wasn't anything he could say, he had a feeling, that wouldn't just get twisted in Bolton's head to prove whatever fantasies he was harboring about G's motives and reasoning. But, he tried anyway. "I'm more than slightly concerned other people are doing something stupid. That's why I push the training. As much as I might want to, there's no way I can physically protect all of you. But, I can give you the tools to protect yourselves. So, yes, I ask the question because without the answer, I can't train you effectively. I give instructions, directions, in conversations outside of training sessions so we don't waste time we could be spending on the actual training. I also don't give detailed instructions when something simple like 'I want you to start practicing tying your shoes with your power' should be clear enough. Anything else I would have said after that had there not been the joking around and out of the blue questions about if the conversation was because of Sean, would have been further instruction.

"All of that being said, I'll apologize for misreading the joking around. You have done everything that's been asked of you. I made the mistake of assuming you'd understand that I was trying to have a serious conversation." The subject of Sunday dinner he ignored. Sunday dinner was for family and Bolton wasn't family no matter who he'd been dating for two weeks.

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Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying

t_bolton
2012-03-29 08:07 pm UTC (link)

"Time out." The hand signal was so ingrained that he didn't even try to stop himself from doing. "I don't even know what we're talking about anymore. This started with a simple question about how I was doing and we're talking about..." He shrugged. "Yeah, I'm totally lost.

"What I don't get... oh hell there's so much that I don't get, but at the moment, I don't get why you can't have a serious conversation and joke too. You want me to tie laces, it's boring and not as cool as Nell's idea, something that by the way, we've already excluded, because it sounds cool, but ewww, I say that and I still do what you want. Isn't that the important part?" he asked.

"And it's not out of the blue, no matter how much you want to make it sound like it doesn't. I've had reactions from Sam, Robert, Savannah. Dom wished me luck. I'm checking off names. I got a few people left," he said.

"Now, you want to know about my powers? Again, if I can think of it, I seem to be able to do it. I don't know why it's so easy." He looked down and undid Callen's laces and then laced the two shoes together. "There, see? I don't practice. I just use it. The more I use it, the longer I can go, but it doesn't matter what I practice. Pulling a bullet out of someone, probably much easier than this because it takes less time. Do you want to know anything else?"

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Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-03-29 10:08 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

t_bolton, 2012-03-29 10:30 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-03-29 11:29 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

t_bolton, 2012-03-30 12:21 am UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-03-30 04:36 am UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

t_bolton, 2012-03-30 12:40 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

t_bolton, 2012-03-30 12:40 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-03-30 03:58 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

t_bolton, 2012-03-30 06:34 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-03-30 09:27 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

t_bolton, 2012-03-30 09:45 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-03-31 04:40 am UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying

t_bolton
2012-03-31 04:57 am UTC (link)

Troy sighed. "Look, I'm not criticizing nor am I looking for explanations. You don't owe me one and I certainly don't expect one. This is more than you should say, I get that. I'm not even asking you to change anything, but-"

He turned in the truck seat, staring at Callen. "We might not have normal, and nothing about our lives might be normal, but we are human. Now, I get that you and your people work on a different standard, bu the rest of us don't. We might have super powers in a fucked up situation, but we're still normal, if you know what I mean. You won't turn the groups into a team by saying that we should trust each other and help each other. Honestly, people don't work that way, especially when you're asking to trust blind, to trust already knowing that there will be secrets. That pretty much guarantees that people view everything you do and say with suspicion regardless of your motivation. Oh sure, you have the people who knew you from before who understand... maybe, but the rest, why should they?" He sighed again. "You like that secrecy so much, but right now only inertia keeps us together. It's easier to stay here where there's money and people like us than to go out there. There's no loyalty, no unity. And maybe that's just my dad talking, but even the best player is going to fail if there's no team unity. Maybe that's why people keep dying, because you can be perfect, but it's still not enough. You need a team, and yeah I know that the basketball analogies aren't perfect, but it's the best I can do, and as I said, you don't have to even listen, but maybe you should think less about drills and efficiency, and more about building a team."

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Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying

g_callen
2012-03-31 07:04 pm UTC (link)

"I haven't told you anything I shouldn't," G pointed out. He might be more open with his team than ever made him comfortable, but he didn't tell them the things he shouldn't tell them.

"You make good points. But, let me look at it as two primary points because I see two real issues in what we're discussing. The first being the focus. You've gone out on a limb this far and while I don't have to listen, I am listening. So, give me some concrete suggestions. One thing I have learned is that everyone here has their own definition of normal and what makes a team. Even agents don't agree." He couldn't help thinking of Renko when he said that. That first conversation of the day had affected G's confidence more than he wanted to admit.

"You have a unique perspective the others don't, except for Savannah and Sean a little, because you've worked as part of a team. A basketball team isn't the same as an investigative team or a SEAL team. But, you understand different dynamics. So, put yourself in my place for a minute and tell me what you would do." G could count on one hand the number of people he'd asked for concrete suggestions during a conversation like this and who had actually given suggestions. So, he was curious to see if he was adding Bolton to that list.

"The second issue is the secrecy. Or, rather, I think secrecy versus privacy, particularly when people deal with me. There are things I don't share. They're not secrets, but they are private. Nobody needs to know things I've seen or experienced and they can keep their pity. When the team needs to know, however, they know. Mo matter how much it makes my skin crawl to talk about myself or my past, they will be told if they need to know.

"Secrets are a different matter. There are two reasons why I keep them. To be honest, some of the control is out of my hands. We keep casting me in the role of the coach in our basketball analogies. Well, every coach has a Dean to answer to as well. That's the first reason. The second is to protect my team. I know you and probably others don't understand and just chalk it up to my insane paranoia. But, I'm not putting any of you at greater risk than I have to. It's not happening."

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Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying

t_bolton
2012-03-31 07:27 pm UTC (link)

"I meant that you shouldn't have to explain to me, not that you said more than you should. You really take every word literally, don't you? I had a friend who was like that, he wanted to go into journalism at school. He drove us nuts, because we'd say something and he'd turn around and say 'this goes against what you said on such and such day', except no one remembered, because we didn't mean it literally," he said, chuckling.

"Okay, let's see if I can be more precise. I'm taking about the training here, nothing to do with the private life. You can't force people to share. If you build the team right, then the sharing becomes a consequence. So you built the team first, right?" he said.

"You're right, Mr. V is the head of the Athletic Department. You're the offensive coach; Morgan the defensive coach; Sam and Emily are the assistant coaches, and yes we just changed sport, but it fits." This was something he knew, something he understood, something he could get excited over. "For the past whatever, you've done drills, got people physically ready, they know how to jump fences, how to shoot. Not everyone is at the same level, but there is a minimum with few exception. So now, I'd do two things. One, more practical approach to the game. So instead of simple exercises or individual training, you create two major teams, and create scenarios where they have to go against each other. You'll see that those secrets that people don't want to share suddenly slip through because you have to help your team mate. You rotate the teams as well, so you don't have the same people working together. Two, you become a little more flexible with your schedule. Instead of those strict nine to five, you have night games, training, you know what I mean. Make it varied, because while it's horrible to be woken up at four am, shared misery helps you connect with the rest of the team.

"You've gone out of your way to make life perfect for everyone, but the struggle makes the team bond," he said. "I guess a related thing would be that punishment you talk about. You're big on personal responsibility but again, you're trying to build a team. Someone fucks up, punish the team, every single person, and there will be a lot of bitching, that's for sure, but slowly, people start to help each other, first because you don't want your day ruined, and then because it becomes habit, and finally because you relate to the other person. Dude, that thing with me and Ash? Sure, I think she's totally wrong and I'm sure that she thinks the opposite, and your solution was to avoid each other, and you know what? You're right, we will and she will be completely cut out of the group. Go the opposite. Make her part of her group, make sure that we need to carry her along. We might not like it, but she is the weak spot, and we have to help her. It's amazing how less you tend to hold a grudge when you're running up and down the football bleachers at two AM under the rain and you know that helping the person that you dislike the most is the key to finally getting a shower and getting some sleep. Stop trying to be nice and accept that the only way you build a team is if the people dread the moment you open your mouth, even if they respect you."

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Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

g_callen, 2012-04-01 08:16 pm UTC

Re: Callen and Bolton -- After Flying -

t_bolton, 2012-04-01 08:27 pm UTC