@eugene.hicks

[preseance]

Hey, all.

Brought to you by my going home a spell and returning here just about a decade later by my reckoning — what amenities would you say you miss most from home?

Now, for my part. I ain't a man of violence, but if I ever meet the fella or dame that outlawed smoking here I'd sure give them a stern piece of my mind.

For the newcomers, pleasure to meet y'all. If you're still in the process of getting settled, I'm happy to swing by to help get you situated.

Comments

@terrence.ephemera

[requiemshark]

You in one piece?
And since you're asking: cigarettes.
Think I'd shank someone for a pack of cigarettes.

[preseance]

Yeah. Unless you want to put up with me bitching about the quality of my knees. Life's been good otherwise, though.

﹙ things got better. life settled. the war ain't gone, but it's further away. even korea is just a thing of his past now. ﹚

And Christ, Ter, don't I know it.

[requiemshark]

Not unless you want me to start too.

[ It's expected, maybe. All the aches, all the old scars acting up again. Sometimes Ephemera feels very old, and surprised at his own survival. It goes against the odds and every story he told himself about what his life would look like. And yet, here they are. ]

Least there's still coffee. Even if it's pricy as fuck. Apparently they've got those vape pens or whatever, but do not tell me it's the same.

[preseance]

At this rate we should just get together to bitch about it. Maybe find a sauna while we're at it, ease our old bones, huh?

I mean, if it's got nicotine that's really all I care about. Ain't the same, but we could get by.

How've you been, pal?

[requiemshark]

Never actually been to one of those. They help?

They've got patches, too. Apparently.

Still alive. Haven't broken anything recently. Can't complain. What's it like getting tossed back and then ending up here again?

[preseance]

More than you might expect, honestly. I'm sure there are some locally here, we ought to find one so you can see for yourself.

'Apparently'. You sound a mite skeptical on the matter.

And what's recent to you exactly, Ter?

It was fine. Nice, honestly. Got to see my little nieces grow up some. My brother, he's doing better. Ended up — well, I ain't adopted him exactly, but I'm looking after the son of an old war buddy who needed a favor. He's a good kid. Jackie.

[requiemshark]

Hell, why not?

It's not the same. Maybe I'm turning into a hipster.

[ That's a scary thought. ]

Those are details. But I haven't gotten messed up since the last attack so I'm counting that as a win.

Fuck, you got a kid now? How old's he?

[preseance]

I'm free when you are, partner.

Given what I've learned of hipsters here, I would absolutely believe that. Next thing you know you'll be telling kids off your damn lawn.

Reckon that's fair. I'm glad, by the by. That you ain't been hurt. Lord knows I can only patch you up so many times.

Fifteen. He's a little greaser punk — don't know if you know what that is, but it's a subculture of sorts up north a spell. He was getting into all manner of trouble and his dad hauled him outta it, but Alex, he... ah, he's in a delicate line of work ﹙ read: 'spy' ﹚ and can't have a kid tagging along after him.

Didn't ever expect to have kids, myself, so it's kind of a pleasant change of pace.

[requiemshark]

I've got a day off coming up, let's do it.

I already got the creaky bones, might as well go full grumpy old man. Still kicking, though. You've patched me up just fine. But I'll try not to make more work for you. Only got punched in the head once in my last fight, anyway.

Huh. Fifteen. I was an idiot when I was fifteen. Good luck.

Seem like you'd be good at it, though. Dealing with kids.

[preseance]

Just say the word. I'll try and find us a place in the interim.

Only once? Wow, who are you and what've you done with my pal???

﹙ the shock! the horror! ﹚

He's a handful and a half, that's for sure. First thing he did was hotwire my truck and crash it into a tree about a half mile from my house. Woke him up at 0400 for a run every day for a month after that.

I do like kids, and I try my best, but honestly — it's mostly passing on what my folks handed down to me. They were both real swell.

[requiemshark]

You got it.

Ha hah. I've mellowed in my old age.

[ It...might actually be true. Shockingly. ]

Sounds like a handful.

[ Not that Ephemera was any better at that age. Dumb as a rock and twice as stubborn, when he looks back on it. ]

But it sounds like you know what you're doing, at least. Passing that stuff on.

[preseance]

I try to. We ain't much else but the sum of what's been taught to us.

It's a nice reminder that life goes on. In fifty years — Hell, a hundred — won't be no one that really thinks about the War at all.

[requiemshark]

That's the truth.

[ For better or worse. ]

It's a nice thought. Wonder what it'll be like back home in fifty years. War's over, but it felt like nothing really changed. Maybe it will, eventually.