songerein | This Flame That Burns Inside of Me

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This Flame That Burns Inside of Me | OTA

Who: Soldier: 76 & Anyone
Which: Open Log | March Catch-All
Where: Farmlands, Wildlands, room attached to The Wild Harvest
What: Helping clean up the farm lands for the farmers, falling back in to old habits of spending a lot of time out in the wildlands and visiting bees, and a flower surprise that 76 has brought back to his room that's attached to The Wild Harvest pub.
Warnings: N/A, will add as any come up

Days in the Sun
A.
[76 was no stranger to farm work, far from it; he was born and raised helping out on the arm his family owned on the outskirts of Bloomington. Wasn't a big one, but enough so that he always had farm chores to do every day growing up before and after school. Weekends, too. Always had free time with that, too.

Reason that he was more than eager to get out there, burn some of the anxious energy out of himself in cleaning up the planting fields and mend broken fences to make sure none of the cows or other grazing animals kept could get in to them that easily. Also mean shoring and patching up fencing for the fields those animals would be let out in to as well.

There was a yetox close by where he was currently working on clearing a field. Grazing on a pile of weeds he'd gathered and gave to it. Still wearing a harness, but the topless wagon it was hitched to was closer to 76, filled with other debris he'd been collecting already.]

Hope you've got multiple empty stomachs, big guy. You're goin to be eating well and burning it off today.

B.
[The yetox that was out with him was currently resting in the sun, while 76 himself had spread out some fabric to sit in the shade of the wagon itself, checking over the amount of nails he had and the condition of the hammer. Just beside him was a covered basket.]

Hey.

[Passing by? There was that gruff voice-]

If you feel like it, should sit down and relax a bit. Even if not working it's quite the walk to get out here. Got a bit of food and drink. Rest up for a minute, won't kill ya.

Shade of a Forest
[Was keeping himself far more bus than usual, more so after- well, felt like a good two months or more where he just couldn't get out here like he wanted. Given the work he was doing out by the farms? He was taking it a little more easy. Not camping out in the Wildlands as he had been, but it wasn't stopping him from re-visiting some places.

Been a while since he'd gotten a good eye on the dreamhoney bees after all.

Still would be a bit of a walk, stopping by other areas in the Wildlands between each hive he knew of.]

Should probably see what I can hunt-up to bring back to the Harvest with me.

[On occasion? A rather large dreamotion made wolf would be walking either alongside or a little ahead of 76. Blue eyes scanning the area and ears on the swivel. Sometimes there'd be two more to make it three total. Moving together as a unit and sometimes one scouting ahead if something caught attention.

Rather peaceful looking should they approach someone, at least.]

Thorns & All For A Blazing Dawn
[Once the second half of the month hits, and when not working in and around the Wild Harvest itself, 76 could be found in a room connected to the pub itself and the garden as well. The walls of windows that could be easily looked in to from either passing by or from the garden itself was blocked off by various plants in pots and some rows of very colorful jaws that acted almost like stained glass by how they were arranged; a rainbow of colors and patterns. Both the plants and filled jars gave him enough privacy, so he felt.

But he was sitting on one of the cushioned benched with a pot on the table, what almost looked like a golden rose bush with glass-like blooms and buds sat before him. A gloved hand cradling one of the blooms carefully, blue eyes narrowing as he'd taken off the tactical visor part of his mask once he'd gotten it in and sat down.]

How the hell did these come from me?

[He'd gone back out, looking for the area he'd finally been pulled free and, well. 76 had found a single rose bush, just a bit below his knee in height. Looked like it had actually grown on the trip back.]

What does this even mean.

(OOC: Feel free to hit me up/PM me if nothing here catches interest. I'll also be putting some planned threads in here throughout the month.)

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[ In truth, the picnic is the only time she's seen Reaper in action. She has no doubts that he is formidable, but she doesn't really have a frame of reference over what he could do as a super soldier, and what he's gained on top of that, developing his dreamotion.

She hums thoughtfully, and looks at the Dawn flower she pressed with scrutiny. ]

He seemed to suck the life out of those weeds. You seem to do the opposite, now.

[ Bet his new abilities would make being a weed killer that much harder, for Jack. ]

That's something he could do back home- but he usually does it to people.

[He'd seen the news, the reports- the bodies left on a battlefield after some run in for himself. The twisted things that looked like they'd been wrung out of... everything.

Shaking his head a bit as he leaned back against the arm on the side he was sitting on, ankles hooked together as one boot kept flat on the flooring.]

Honestly? Be almost ironic if I did the opposite in more than just plants. [But even he felt he was just... a destructive force. All he was good at half the time.]

To... oh. [ That is a chilling, unsettling thought, but Reaper had been nothing but honest when he told her about the death he brought to the battlefield, so she can't be too surprised. Regardless, a bit of shock does show in her expression as it sinks in, before it slowly fades. ]

That... I suppose that would be. I wonder how it would feel, bringing a person back from death. Perhaps it would be similar to doctors or healers.

[A slow exhale-] Whatever happened after things literally exploded on top of us? I think that's one of the results of it.

[So Jack guessed at least, even if he couldn't be one-hundred percent sure of that. Something had been going on with Reyes in those last few years, but never to this extent for all he gathered.

He was looking at one of his hands, brow furrowed in thought.]

I expect it would be awful for the person brought back. [Softly. Knowing he was suddenly thinking a bit- morbidly? Deeper? Something-] There's no erasing what they felt after all- but some may still think it was worth it, to have that chance to keep going, pick back up.

Think it might depend on the person, huh?

Mm. [ She quietly hums in agreement, visibly shrinking. She had been so focused on the heroics of being able to save someone's life, and never really considered what the right option would be for someone who doesn't want to be saved, or was otherwise suffering.

Or the psychological repercussions, even if they did wish to be saved. ]

Is that when he started to call himself Reaper? Because he could do that?

[ How come Jack didn't get any terrible, destructive powers from the explosion? ]

[He was quiet for a moment, let some stillness just barely linger in the air. Of thought.

Was it? Or was it some other reason, a dramatics that only Reyes himself could pull because of a want to own. To take what control back that he could and just- become it and not allow anything else through.]

It fits the look he chose, and carries that with him death will follow- so it could be. Even if just one reason.

[Jack hadn't chosen what he was called, his was given to him by the news media, and just ran with it.]

[ So even Jack doesn't know for sure. It's still difficult to consider for her, that they had worked together for literally longer than she's been alive. Perhaps it's just as hard for to grasp how long he's been looking for answers. ]

Maybe I will ask him. Someday. [ Though she isn't just talking about his chosen name anymore. Funny as it would be, Susato isn't about to run to a man who has proven himself to be dangerous, just to be like, "Hey, so about Jack. Why did you betray him?" ] A fresh perspective may help. That was him, wasn't it? . . . In your photos?

[A soft chuckle-]

He'd possibly at least humor you a bit- because between you and me? You left a hell o a good impression on him. [A tone that carried don't let him find out I told you it it.] Pretty clear when I told him the sandwiches were from you when I caught up to him later.

[They'd had a talk then, too. About things Jack would rather not entertain much thought on.] Yeah, it was. Think if he ever found out I still had them, he'd shred 'em.

[ A what.

Although, hearing him mention the sandwiches right afterwards, she seems to understand. Even so, they were hardly anything special, and she wouldn't ever think she'd win over Reaper with them. ]

. . . Y, Your secret is safe with me. I certainly do not want that, though I seem to remember things differently between him and I.

In fact, I think I offended him very deeply.

[ But, he did seem OK by the end of that conversaion so... ???? ]

That? Is what did it, actually.

[Managing to offend the man to the point he actually felt that way-]

It's almost funny, one of the first things he brought up as a positive about you. [Reaper had always been a bit of a wildcard when it came to things like that.

Seems that much hadn't changed, at least.]

[ .........Susato opens her mouth

and then closes it again. Repeat once or twice more before she finally finds her words. ]

No, I still don't understand how he could see that as something positive. What... did he tell you exactly?

[ Maybe he didn't mean it. Or maybe he was making fun of her. She said some offensive things she wasn't proud of during That trial, too (of the misogynistic flavor), but at least she could blame it on Ryutaro then. Not anymore... ]

That you called him a dumb soldier- and he brought it up a few times, more so when I told him the sandwiches were from you.

I know that tone he took far too well. [His head tipped a little bit-] You've got a sturdy spine and a fire in your soul was something he said, too.

You impressed him, kid. [Of course he couldn't help the chuckle, the way he shook his head-] Not easy to do, ad probably harder these days.

[ She winces, hearing that from his mouth. Eeeevery bone in her body is aching to use words and explain, because the last thing she needs is to offend Jack too, as a solider himself. Since she can hear him chuckling, though, she can guess he's...not...offended???

Is this a 25th century cultural barrier or is her age just showing. ]

Did he tell you I apologised?

[ Honestly, she doesn't even know if he say that; it wasn't acknowledged. BUT...? ]

[Could be both- then again, the two old soldiers were a bit of a pair; even now despite all of their denial and everything messy between them in their histories together.]

No, he was having more fun over the idea you offended him so deeply to the point it charmed him. [Which mean that Reaper was going to bring it up at every opportunity to mess with her.] He won't admit that part either, of course.

. . . [ She might have grumbled. Definitely made some sort of whining noise, before she realized how undignified that sounded and stopped. At least know she'll know what to expect. She should thank Jack for spilling the beans, probably. ]

If he was charmed, he certainly hid it well. Though he did offer me his services, after all was said and done. So long as we kept you alive, that is.

[ Never was able to confirm what that meant, but she can guess well enough. ]

He has a reputation to keep up, and he's always been -to put it nicely- one of the biggest jerks I've ever met.

[A complete asshole, a jackass, a right bastard— he could go on in his head like that, but that was the nicest way he could say it at the very least. Still, even back then when Reyes was very clearly a pain in the ass he'd been Jack's best friend. Could take everything he threw and give it right back.

No one could stand in their way when they had each other's back.]

Probably easier to think of it as him owing you a favor.

[ Susato could definitely feel Jack holding back his words. Just based on what she'd seen at the picnic, she already knows there's a lot more Jack could say about Reaper. Still, she could sense the bond they shared, and it obviously meant a lot to him.

Maybe he could weight in on this. ]

Father and I have yet to find a reason call in this favor. He doesn't seem like the type to just forget, though. Do you think we are likely to require his services...?

He has already saved you twice. [ At least, that she could tell. ]

[There were quite the number of things he could call the man, and some he'd never let a thought linger on. Something was happening, the fact they they were no longer launching at each other and going for the throat as they had in the first few months.

Something had changed, but what? Other than Reyes clearly not wanting him to die here—]

In a place like this? You very well might- at worst you might need him to act as a guard of some sort, and on some other hand he does now how to make clothing- or personally tailor something to better suit tastes. [He damn well knew that, too.

Jack finally leaned back against the back-support of the bench-like couch.]

He has, on top of patching me up and- well you saw for yourself he's making sure I'm not pushing myself too hard.

[ Seeing him lean back, Susato might just do the same, taking a break from her flower book. She does recall Reaper saying something about darning socks, and it did turn out he was serious, though she didn't know how serious.

She nods. ]

I know. I've done my fair share of mending back home, but I would hardly call myself an expert. He could probably teach me a thing or two. [ But that'd probably be a waste of a favor, and she's certain Kazuma would rather her go to literally anyone else. ]

[Legs could have crossed, but instead he rested his heels on the short "coffee" table, angles crossed as he at least looked relaxed. Even tilted his head back with a slow exhale of breath. There were some things that he just didn't want to unpack when it came to whatever the hell was going on here between Reyes and himself.

He used claws to brush back through his hair, ruffling some of it up and other parts combed down.]

He could- but it's something to think over if you want to hold on to it or not. Honestly, he might take you up if you asked and he was feeling generous. [Jack knew he could mend and patch, but he couldn't sew to the extent that Reyes could.] Otherwise- well, already know he's a capable fighter, too.

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This Flame That Burns Inside of Me | OTA

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