ɢᴀʟᴇ (traps) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2016-10-13 19:02:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, agent washington, gale hawthorne |
Who: Gale & Wash
What: A reunion! And giving Wash his belated birthday present
When: After the out-of-town detox
Where: Wash's apartment
Rating/Warnings: Nothing of note!
Status: Complete
Gale had been worried about Wash, the uneasy feeling gnawing away at him - the time that his best friend was in ‘detox’ had been long, what seemed like heavy sand barely slipping through the hourglass. He worked as he normally did, and took care of things around the house, but Leliana could definitely sense his distress and likely the animals did too - it was a whole aura radiating off of him. Then when Wash was back, and ready for visitors, of course Gale jumped at the chance to see him. Besides, there was a birthday present to give - something from both he and Leliana, because they’d pooled funds to make it really nice for Wash - and while it wasn’t anything cumbersome to carry, when Gale arrived at the apartment he had with him a simple envelope tucked inside his jacket pocket. He completely supported Carolina’s decision to take her brother out of town and get him out of contact to focus on himself and getting on the right path to sobriety - though Gale couldn’t help but wonder how Wash was doing, if he was alright. Now he’d find out, finally, and knocked on the door. Wash knew he was coming over, at least. It’d be an epic brothers-in-arms reunion. Wash was doing…well he was doing alright. He wasn’t doing great, still reeling from his detox, trying to refocus his mind, figuring out what he was going to do to deal with the demons that still lurked just underneath – those whispering ghosts and frightening thoughts. But, over the week since his return from Yosemite, Wash had found he had one hell of a support system. The very people he had been terrified of losing, the people he wanted to protect - well, it was clear to him now they weren’t going to let him go either. Wash’s had some way to go yet, but he had a pretty damn good start. So, alright seemed pretty good for now. He looked better than he had, at least. His eyes were more alert, clearer with the same kind of focus he’d had a year ago when Gale had first met him. The bruise like bags that had lurked underneath them for months were lightening up as well. The skin on his face and arms looked healthier, less sallow. He had energy again, something he hadn’t realized he’d been lacking until it was back. His interest in video games, comic books, skateboarding – the things that made him him - had started to return as well. Slowly, but surely. Gale had sent him a text earlier, let him know he was coming by. Wash wanted to see him, wanted to show him that he was alive, and he was recovering. He was going to be ok, just as Gale had said. He opened the door when Gale knocked, grinning slightly, happy to see him. “Hey - damn, you look like a whole new person,” Gale teased as soon as Wash opened the door and revealed his sunshiney face. The lack of undereye circles that resembled the Inferno’s rungs of Hell were definitely an improvement, first and foremost. As for the rest of it, everything else would come in time. He reached over and gave Wash a hug, and a light and fond slap on the back. Man, Gale was just so glad to see him - the road to recovery was never easy, and neither was overcoming an addiction, but Wash could learn to live one day at a time without alcohol. And he’d be all the healthier for it. Stepping into the apartment, he bent to give Suda scratches under her chin when she appeared, purrrrring. “Happy belated birthday, by the way. Might have brought a present for you.” Wash was glad to see Gale too. Happy. His best friend, alive and standing in his apartment, not a figment of his imagination and decidedly Gale and not some kind of hallucination. He returned the bro-hug, his body still a little tense, but not any more than usual. He was working on it. Once Gale was in his apartment Suda was rubbing up against his legs purring for all she was worth. Apparently, she was happy to see the man who had helped save her human. Wash glanced down at her for a moment before looking back at Gale. He grinned a little sheepishly, a hand going through his hair. “I kinda feel like a new person,” he admitted. “Kinda scary, I’m not gonna lie. I got a lot of shit to clear out, but, I’m getting there.” He looked a little surprised when Gale hinted he had birthday present for him. “Yeah? Thanks, Gale.” Pause for a moment, thinking. “Is turning thirty some kind of milestone I wasn’t aware of?” He asked, genuinely curious. “Carolina, Anna and York got me something too. I honestly don’t think I’ve gotten this many gifts in my entire life.” He scooped up Suda so she wouldn’t trip Gale as he moved from the entryway into the living room. She was skilled at that kind of thing, this tubby tabby cat. Cats seemed to always appear when you were walking, putting themselves in front of your feet so you risked a catastrophic, neck-breaking fall (the trolls they were). Gale just gave Suda another pat before her fat ass was lifted, and he went into the living room after Wash. “You’ll get there,” he agreed. “One day at a time, right? Important shit doesn’t happen overnight, but you know we’re all gonna be with you. Can’t shake us, Washington.” Before he settled on the sofa, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the envelope he had. Which he then placed onto the coffee table. It didn’t look fancy, but inside were two tickets to Chicago Pop Culture Con, at the end of November - there were travel deals too, ones that he and Leliana had taken advantage of to book a hotel room before they all filled up. But basically everything would be there - cosplay events, tabletop games, artwork, comics, celebrity panels. Kind of over Gale’s head, but he figured Wash would appreciate it since he loved all that stuff. And he could bring whomever he wanted - maybe Anna, if they were at that stage. Gale was close to her sister Elsa, he didn’t even really know Anna, but if she made Wash happy then that was what mattered. “I’d say thirty is a milestone. I’ll let you know when I get there,” he teased. Gale still had a few years to go. Wash glanced at the envelope on his table, brow raised. He reached out and picked it up to open it. Grey eyes widened at the two tickets to the Chicago Pop Culture Con. He’d never been to a convention before, but had always wanted to go, ever since he’d first found out such conventions existed. Now, here in his hands, were tickets to one of the biggest conventions in the country. This couldn’t have been easy for Gale to get. Excitement bubbled up and took over. He could hardly believe what he was holding. “Gale, are these really-? How did you-?” He grabbed Gale for one of the biggest bro-bear hugs he’d ever given in his life. “Jesus, Gale. This is amazing. Thank you!” “You’re welcome,” Gale chuckled, returning the hug, glad that Wash seemed to like the gift and seemed so happy. Arranging everything hadn’t been a cakewalk, but it was all worth it. Didn’t even matter now. “I have my ways?” he smirked. Well, he’d gotten them awhile ago, planning to give everything to Wash for his birthday since Gale always liked being one step ahead - just now, it seemed more poignant. A celebration of his return to who he used to be, him remembering what was important and what he was into besides drowning in the bottom of a bottle. “Who’re you going to bring with you, that’s the question. And what costume you’ll wear.” Wash more than appreciated whatever it was Gale had to have done to get the tickets. And not just the tickets, but accommodations. All Wash had to do was get there. He couldn’t help but stare at the tickets, hardly believing what he held. He laughed. “I’m not really into cosplay,” he admitted. “I don’t have any talent for it, although…” he glanced over his shoulder towards the hall that lead back to his room. One of the storage closets had been converted into a weapons locker - Carolina’s idea. And Wash’s own closet in his bedroom had become storage for his armor. A thoughtful look came over his face, “it might be interesting to wear my armor for something other than combat for a change.” He practically lived in it in his Dreams, he was pretty sure he could go an entire weekend in it if he wanted to. He kind of had already, when the rifts had opened up over the summer. He looked back at Gale, “it’s pretty futuristic looking,” he said, “kind of video gamey.” He had a seat in the chair by the couch, envelope still in hand. These were going into a safe and secure place until November. “I don’t know who I’ll take,” he admitted thoughtfully. “Maybe Anna,” He smirked, “she may get a kick out of all the costumes and exhibits.” In fact, Wash was pretty sure Anna would. Would she want to go away with him, that was the bigger question. They’d talked, the two of them. He’d told her things he hadn’t really talked about with anyone else and they were ok. But, Wash still wasn’t sure. Something had changed. “If she’s interested,” he amended carefully. He shifted a little in his seat, hand going to the back of his neck. Most of his symptoms had passed, the terrible ones. Some agitation and anxiety remained and he’d been told it could be a few weeks before he felt normal again. And for some reason, normal was a strange sort of concept. “Did I miss anything while I was away?” He asked. “Carolina had my phone so I couldn’t check. And...I haven’t signed on to the network yet since I’ve been back.” “Your armor would be cool to wear,” Gale agreed - and maybe people might even recognize that armor too? Loads of network dreamers were from video games or comics or whatever, their stories played out for the masses in this reality. He couldn’t even imagine - that just seemed so weird. “And Anna will be interested, I’d bet on it. If she’s not, it’s her loss.” Because really, who would turn down a fun getaway like that? Even if you weren’t into comics specifically, pop culture was everywhere. He turned a little on the sofa to face Wash, as Suda jumped up on his lap. Or hefted herself into Gale’s lap, either one - he accommodated her silent request for scritches behind her ears, the spoiled thing. “You didn’t miss anything though.” Nothing noteworthy, that could be recalled - mostly Gale just worrying a lot, trying to go through the motions. But he meant it when he said he loved Wash like a brother, so of course he would be concerned. “I’ve got an appointment to get my dress uniform altered. We need to get you a tux or something too, if you want to come with - won’t be much fun, probably, but we can do something fun afterwards.” Wash hoped Anna would be interested. She probably would be. He was probably worried for nothing, but what was new there? Wash watched Suda as she made herself comfortable on Gale’s life, uninvited. She had become a very social kitty, a glutton for attention in anyway she could get it. And she was loving the attention Gale was giving her. What a good human, already trained to give scritches. Wash chuckled a little bit and looked up at his friend. “Glad to know the county has been behaving itself. There’s something to be said for these normal periods. Gotta enjoy them while we can, right?” Though, it was these lulls that always made Wash anxious, wondering what was going to happen next. But normal, for now, was definately a good thing, especially for Wash as he readjusted to life without alcohol. Going for a fitting was about as normal as it got. He tilted his head a little. “I’ll go, sure.” Seemed like a thing a best man should be present for. Make sure the tailor got everything right and all that. “Do you want me in a tux? I’ve got my dress uniform,” he gestured towards his room. “Actually, yeah,” the more Gale thought about it, the more sense it made for Wash to wear his own military dress uniform too. He was a Marine Corps veteran, after all, even if he wasn’t active duty - but he’d served in a war, and a military wedding was a special occasion that meant wearing the uniform was deemed ‘appropriate.’ Gale was enlisted personnel anyway, so he basically was going to wear it no matter what. Not that he minded - Leliana seemed to like the way he looked in that particular ensemble. “Bring it with us, we’ll get you all nice and altered too,” he grinned. “Then go for lunch - hot wings, or something. Or burgers. Something to bust a seam on the next round of alterations anyway.” He was teasing, mostly. Purrrr, purrrrr said Suda, and Gale just laughed as she stretched in his lap and kneaded there happily making biscuits. “Skyhold’s coming together though - I think Leli’s friend Max just arranged for the solar power, it should be set up.” So it was less ‘random fortress in the mountains’ and more ‘wedding destination,’ which was nice. It was kind of exciting, listening to the plans for his buddy’s wedding. And, truth be told, Wash felt more comfortable knowing he’d be wearing his dress blues rather than a tux. The irony that the last time Wash had worn his dress uniform had been for Gale’s funeral, walking with a coffin on his shoulders along with five other of Gale’s closest friends. Had it really been only a year since then? And now Wash was going to be wearing the uniform for Gale’s wedding, and the happiest day of his friend’s life. God damn, but life here was weird as shit. “Burgers,” Wash nodded his head, liking this idea very much. “Huge greasy ass burgers. Too bad you can’t find fair food anywhere else. I’d totally go for another bacon bomb.” Because that thing had been amazing. Suda stretched her long body over Gale’s lap, her rear end hanging off the side of his legs onto the couch in a haphazard kind of way. One wrong move and she would roll right off him and the couch. She didn’t care. “Feel free to shoo her off,” Wash said as he leaned back in his own seat. “She’ll tear a hole in your pants if you let her.” He had one pair of jeans and another pair of sweats with tiny catclaw sized holes in the thighs. He tried to keep the cat’s nails clipped, but getting her to sit still long enough was problematic enough, never mind the battle Wash had to engage in every time she saw the clippers get anywhere near her. But, back to wedding plans. “Max…” Wash tilted his head. “The inquisitor guy? I thought his gig was psychology...and talking to the dead...and closing rifts?” How could he possibly tell such a cute little cat to fuck off? Well, not really that little, but you know. Tella would smell the offending stench of feline on Gale, when he got home, and would no doubt be a jealous and sad chocolate lab. “Shoo, Suda,” he attempted, nudging her, but she was just back up there a second later. You really couldn’t tell a cat what to do - they were as stubborn as their humans, perhaps more so. Oh, well. Gale resigned himself to his fate. “Anyway, yeah,” he chuckled. “Max, the Inquisitor. Shares a dreamworld with Leliana. Skyhold was their base of operations for the Inquisition, so I guess technically it’s his to do what he wants with it here. It appeared in the mountains about the time all those rifts opened, back in July. It’s just been a matter of kind of modernizing it a little.” Which was easier said than done, but he was pleased to see the progress - this is where Leliana wanted to get married, so, she would have it. Gale was a simple man, with simple wishes. “It’s kind of amazing though, to see it. I’ll have to take you up there with us next time we do a supply drop-off,” he offered. “At least something good came out of the rifts,” Wash mused, “and it wasn’t all demons, stormtroopers and nightmare vampires - Suda, for the love of…” Wash got out of his chair to retrieve the insistent feline off of Gale’s lap. She squeaked at him in protest. For a cat as large as Suda was, she certainly did not have a robust meow to match. “Gale doesn’t need airholes in his pants, thank you.” Wash told her, and for the most part, the Suda didn’t seem to mind being held by her human. She placed her paws on his shoulder and seemed content to look around the apartment from her new vantage. “Skyhold, yes.” Wash went on. “I really would like to see it.” Castles were fucking cool. And castles that came from another world? Even cooler. Gale was kind of a similar mindset, that castles were pretty damn awesome. It was like a slice of medieval life right here before their very eyes, in the year 2016. “Good, then we’ll go and have a look around,” he said. “It’s pretty...magical. Literally.” The place was imbibed with magic and there was a whole mage tower, apparently, but he hadn’t ever seen what it looked like inside - spellcasting was kind of beyond him and could be filed under ‘weird shit’ but it also had saved him from bleeding to death after waking up flogged, so he harbored no ill will toward...witches, or warlocks, whatever. “But hey, now that we have a free moment? You should definitely show me something videogame...ish. So I know what the hell you’ll be looking at in November.” He wasn’t too awful at skateboarding now thanks to Wash’s teachings, but comics and video games? Gale didn’t think he would ever have a knack for them, but some pop culture education couldn’t hurt either way. The entire concept of magic, that it was real and not all stage tricks was one of the things about Orange County that Wash liked. He was a geek at his core, playing video games like World of Warcraft and Diablo, or - even geekier - playing tabletop role-playing games that heavily featured magic and witches and demons. It was exciting and fun and a trip to know a handful of people who could actually perform magic. And, like Gale, magic had saved Wash’s life as well. Had he not been in excruciating pain at the time, it would have been the coolest thing he’d seen in his life. But, speaking of video games, Wash raised a brow at Gale’s request to see something “videogame-ish”. The term alone made Wash laugh a little and he had to admit, it was the last thing he thought Gale would be interested in. But, eh, why not? Actually, it made Wash kind of happy Gale wanted to experience one of the things that made Wash happy. Something he did for fun. “Sure, if you want.” His Xbox - the new console he’d gotten to replace the old one his armor had accidentally fried with the EMP blast - sat on the coffee table, with two controllers on top, neat and tidy. Wash leaned down to turn it on before going to a bookshelf containing his library of games to select one that featured a multiplayer co-op in case Gale wanted to actually play. After looking over a few titles, he chose one of the Lego games. Lego Avengers, to be specific. It was easy enough to learn the mechanics and pretty damn fun and since Wash had unlocked most of the characters, Gale had his pick of super heroes to play as, if he so chose. Lego Avengers - not so surprisingly, Gale never heard of it before. But may as well give it a go? He picked up the controller like it was a grenade, looking at it strangely - there were so many buttons, damn. Military strategy was one thing, state of the art simulations, he’d mastered all that pretty well - but Xbox remained an enigma. That’s what Wash was for though, to guide him on this journey. “This is going to be interesting. Just don’t laugh if I suck too much.” He went for the gold and picked Ghost Rider, too. That guy just seemed super awesome - he had like a flaming motorcycle or something? Yeah, this was definitely going to be interesting. |