Ryan McCormick (mediumwell) wrote in remains_rpg, @ 2016-08-10 21:28:00 |
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Ryan turned to Violet as the doorbell rang, his gaze unconsciously lifting to the black eye she couldn't yet cover up with makeup, and smiled. "I think that's him!" he said, stating the obvious -- after all, who else would it be? -- as he pushed himself up from his chair, gesturing down the hallway with one of his hands. They'd been in the middle of making dinner for their guest, who'd had to cancel the night before due to his own altercation with the outlaws loose on the streets, and Ryan was glad that he'd been medically approved to come over the next day. "Watch the stovetop while I go let him in?" “Yeah, of course,” Violet replied easily, shifting over to the stove to check on what was cooking. Better to let Ryan deal with seeing anyone first - but that was how they'd started doing things. Re-opening the truck had been necessary and important, and Violet was fine with it as long as she got to be behind the grill for a few days - until the dark bruise around her eye was gone, or at least faded enough she didn't feel it was all people saw. It was easier to focus on cooking, because food didn't stare. But they had someone coming over, and she was okay with that. Ryan rounded the corner of their new, enormous kitchen, making his way through the hallway and to the front door. And to his surprise, the guy standing there once he'd opened it was… Well. He was really cute. Not that he was actively looking at him in that way, but it was still a fact as undeniable as the smattering of injuries on the man's face and forearms. Ryan stepped back, allowing Jackson enough space to come inside, then held his hand out to him in greeting which Jackson took without delay. This was Jack’s first foray into the Greenbelt since his arrival without simply passing through on his way to a patrol, though he’d been meaning to explore more of Austin in his downtime -- but between normal duties and the latest happenings with the rogue hellhounds, most of Jackson’s free time was spent working ‘off the clock.’ Not that he minded terribly, but tonight was still a welcome relief to get away, and he was beginning to feel a little protective over the citizens he was guarding; a warm meal with good folks while also having the opportunity to check in on Violet was just what the doctor ordered. "You must be Jackson," Ryan said, offering him a small smile. "I'm Ryan. I'm really glad you could come over." “The one and only,” Jackson returned with a toothy smile of his own, the hand not grasping Ryan’s rising up to offer a slightly worn copy of On The Road. “Ryan, it’s nice to finally meet you. I know it’s not much, but I couldn’t come empty-handed.. and if you have any special requests, I know how to get more.” "Wow. Really?" Ryan had packed a couple of his favorite books when they'd moved down, but it'd been done with the thinking that they wouldn't be able to get anything new once they arrived in Austin. He took the book with obvious gratitude, tucking it under his arm as they walked towards the kitchen and Violet. "Thank you. This is really nice of you, and I'm definitely interested in how we may be able to get others, too." “It was no problem at all, really! I just hope you enjoy it as much as I do. Maybe we can discuss it later on, book club style?” It was difficult for Jackson to find the free time the last several days to do much of anything, but he figured the scales would tip back into balance eventually, and meeting others with mutual interests would be a good excuse as any to mingle. Though their restaurant had been in quite a state, the home Ryan and Violet had purchased for themselves was in great shape. He gestured for Jackson to take a seat at the kitchen island as he joined Violet at the stove, checking on the food quickly before turning back to their guest. He was almost morbidly curious about the man's injuries and what had happened, but he didn't want to pry. So instead, he relied on the default: restaurant-style hospitality. "Would you like some water?" Jackson took the seat that had been indicated to him, hands moving to rub self-consciously against the tops of his legs as he settled in. “Oh yes, please,” Jack answered as he gave a polite smile, eyes shifting for a curious glance around the room before returning to land back on his hosts. “Thank you again for having me,” he began, pausing to think of how to word the question he wanted to ask but thinking better of it as he addressed Violet. “Hey Violet, it’s nice to see you again.” Violet glanced over her shoulder at her name, offering Jackson a slight smile. “Hi, Jackson.” It was much better to see him under those circumstances than the ones prior. Her attention went back to the stovetop as a timer went off, and she pulled plates out of a cupboard to be able to shift what was done onto them. The timing was working out perfect. She carefully plated it all, years of practice making her attention to detail more second nature than intentional, and took the plates over to the island, setting them in front of each setting. Ryan followed closely behind her with water glasses for the three of them. “How are you?” Jackson watched them move in tandem, a dance they had likely long since perfected over the course of knowing each other and working together. In some ways, it reminded him of his parents, and he felt a small twinge of homesickness at the thought of simpler times. Regardless, he envied the ease and comfort between Violet and Ryan, and wondered if people sometimes saw it that way between himself and Rose. “Trying to stay out of trouble, but,” he paused to wave a hand toward his face and opposing forearm, the effect indicating he had obviously found the opposite. “Otherwise doing well, thank you. How are you?” “Yeah, sorry about that,” Violet said almost automatically, even though she knew it wasn't her fault he'd gotten hurt - just like it wasn't her fault she'd gotten hurt. Still, he wouldn't be hurt if he hadn't stopped to help her so it felt like it kind of was. “I'm… here.” She'd stopped herself from saying she was fine, or okay, because she wasn't. She was working toward those, but wasn't yet. “But better than I could have been, so thank you.” “No need to apologize or thank me at all!” Jackson replied instantly, offering a crooked smile before attempting to further lighten the mood. “I always wanted to star in my very own western as a kid and look at me now.” Although the apocalypse with the walking dead hadn’t ever been part of those make-believe fantasies, he was - in some ways - the proverbial gun-slinging cowboy with a star badge on his hip to boot. All that was missing was the hat and spurs, really. “And listen, I might know you that well, but for what’s it worth: I’m glad you’re here.” Ryan busied himself with his food, listening all the while as they talked. Not for the first time, he wondered if he and Violet had gotten in over their heads by moving to Texas, but meeting people like Jackson seemed like it was worth all the bumps in the road. "I guess it's a good thing we all ended up in Austin," he agreed, looking up from his place to offer them both a smile. "As long as you're not just saying that because of the burgers." |