Remnants of the Earth
EDANITH => The Frontier => Topic started by: Anonymous on December 26, 2011, 11:39:24 am
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As much as he had been looking forward to spending all that time in close quarters with Blaine, this was really fucking sweet. There was something about the frontier cowboy had appealed to Christian and now he was dressed up as one. His blond hair, the dyed hair stood out too much, was slicked back and under his cowboy hat. Button up, vest, rugged pants, boots, everything. Christian looked every inch the cowboy.
He blew out smoke in Gabe's direction, grinning at his cousin, "Alright cuz. According to the data, we gotta get here." He pointed to the map they had spread out in front of them. There was a long way to go. In order to avoid looking suspicious, they had to arrive planetside rather far from their target. Not many ships landed in the frontier, at least not ones from space.
"We had better pick up a ride and supplies." They had most of what they would need, including one tent. Gabe would just love that when he found out. But they should stick to fresh food as long as they could, use the preserved stuff later.
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It was kind of surreal being able to just...walk around outside without a mask. Gabriel felt a little naked as a result, actually, and couldn't quite stop holding his breath whenever a dust cloud rose, half expecting it to be filled with toxic fumes and poisons that would kill him in one sniff. The worst it did here, however, was make him sneeze.
In fact, he was discovering allergies he didn't know he had; he'd gone his whole life without having to deal with them but apparently all this fresh, natural air was having a blast with him.
Still, he was excited! He'd never been to Edanith before and it was both a little intimidating to be in enemy territory and hella fun to be in a new country experiencing new things and, well...
Cowboys.
The cowboys cinched it.
Even if he was stuck out here with Christian.
The key to any successful mission was dressing for the occasion. You wanted to blend with the natives, look like you belonged, make sure you didn't stand out like a sore thumb.
So Gabriel had lost his usual colorful attire, shed the neon-accented bondage pants and silkscreen character T-shirts and spiky bracelets and plastic wrist-bands. In their place he donned a wide-brimmed cowboy hat, flannel button-up, vest, blue-jeans, boots, gun holster and--because he just had to--spurs that jingled when he walked.
Never mind that he'd never rode a horse in his life, much less touched a pony outside a petting zoo as a child.
Face scrunching up in annoyance, Gabriel plucked the cigarette out of Christian's mouth and ground it under his boot. "Stop that, that's gross," he said, waving the excess smoke away before scooting his chair closer. They were in a small restaurant, a hole in the wall place that allowed smoking--much to his dismay--and served way too much cheap beer.
"Anyway," he continued, "I think I saw a general store across the street."
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Christian just pulled out another cigarette, "Hey now. Is that anyway to treat your favorite cuz?" He lit up, leaning back and out of reach of Gabe's grabbing hands. He had been on Edanith before, and while it still awed him, he was able to keep up an aura of nonchalance and act like it was no big deal. Had to keep up the image and all.
"We should get you a tissue. Because if I see another snot bubble, I'm shooting you." He drained his beer, so much richer than the stuff back home, "That'll cover food. I think there was a place selling trucks back toward the hotel."
Christian wanted a big truck. A really big truck.
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Gabriel flushed and grabbed a napkin, holding it up to his nose. "Not my fault everything here's so...real," he said. "The smoke's not helping, either. Wait until we're outside at least, that crap's so bad for you."
Turning to the side, Gabriel blew his nose and sniffled, then gave Christian a sidelong look. "Trucks? Seriously? Uh, hello? Horses? I can't use spurs on a truck."
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"Oh? Well, I must admit that I am shocked to learn that you know how to ride and care for a horse. Now, when exactly did you learn to do all this?" Christian could ride and actually liked too, not well, but he could stay in the saddle just fine. But he wasn't very good at the whole taking care of the animal part and actually putting the tack on? He was clueless.
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Gabriel arched an eyebrow at Christian and gave him a look like he was speaking crazy. "Uh...Christian? I know how to ride a freakin' dragon. If I can ride, clean, and load up a dragon, I'm pretty sure I can handle a horse."
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"Well, all right then. You can go get a horse and feed and tack for it and I'll go get my truck. But you can't keep anything in my truck and no riding in it." Christian smiled brightly, exhaling another stream of smoke at Gabe.
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Gabriel hissed in annoyance and waved the smoke away, coughing. "I think I will. Can't be that different from riding a dragon. Just smaller." He shrugged and finished off his soda, then rose to his feet--and buried his nose in the napkin again to cover up another sneeze.
"If I'm gonna dress like this, I'm gonna go all the way, not just be some poser."
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"Uh-huh. You have fun with that." Oh. This was going to be fuuuun. Christian stood, dropping some money on the table and headed out the door, "We'll leave first thing tomorrow." He wanted to make sure Gabe got a full day of riding in.
He managed to find a truck, a sort of dusty red brown, huge and able to drive over just about any terrain. And air conditioned and pollen proof. He lounged in his seat, smoking as he watched Gabe, "Remember, you ain't getting in this truck."
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Gabriel managed to get his hands on a pretty palomino gelding named Storm, as well as the equipment for it--though he'd had the stable hands saddle him up. He'd watched closely to try and figure it out, but it didn't look that difficult to do. They made it look easy and, well, if he'd handled dragons then a horse should be nothing.
Come morning, he was so ready to go!
Standing by his horse and packing his supplies into the saddlebags, Gabriel waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. I know," he said. "You enjoy your cancerous clunker there."
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"I will." Christian waved and started off. He wouldn't go too far, but it was fun leaving him behind. They didn't get to make it very far before night fell, as the horse couldn't go very fast. And Christian was annoyed at having to drive so slowly.
He parked and began unloading the truck, "Well Gabe. Better get that horse taken care of."
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Gabriel realized a couple hours into the trip that this had been a bad idea.
Mounting the horse had been tricky, the stirrups swinging and feeling unstable, and it had taken several tries to get into the saddle. Once there...well, it was quickly becoming apparent that horses and dragons were two totally different animals, literally and figuratively.
For one, the horse wouldn't do what he wanted it to do, and telepathic goading did nothing. Then, when he finally got Storm to pick up his pace from an amble to a trot, Gabriel gave a yelp and had to cling on hard because it felt like he was going to get jolted right off.
Needless to say, the ride was not a smooth one. He felt every bump, step, and jostle and had to keep squeezing his thighs to feel like he wasn't about to just topple out of the saddle. He didn't think he'd relaxed for a second of the ride and it was only pride that kept him quiet.
A little too quiet. After a while, he was too miserable to even bitch.
When they reached camp at the end of the day and Christian parked, Gabriel practically rolled off the horse and his legs nearly crumpled out from under him when he landed. He had to grab onto the saddle to keep upright, butt sore and thighs aching and back hurting. He was sweaty and hot and felt gross and dirty, covered in dust and smelling like horse. For a few seconds he just stayed there, not really wanting to move.
Then Christian spoke and he let out a low groan. "What?"
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Aaaaah. That was some mighty fine misery. Christian paused, leaning back to savor it. It did wonders for his mood, "Ya gotta take care of the horse. Get us settled for the night, then come help me set up. How did you like your first day in the saddle cuz? We got another long day tomorrow."
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Gabriel bit back the string of curses he wanted to snarl at Christian--mainly because he wanted to cry when Christian said 'long day' and 'tomorrow' because he felt if he went another day, he'd completely lose his ability to have children. Or feel anything down there. Ever again.
He wiped dust off his brow. "You go set up," he growled, Christian's cheer only adding to his misery.
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"Oh, now, that is just unfair. Why should I have to do all the setting up? Or will you be doing all the set up tomorrow?" Christian batted his eyelashes at Gabe.
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"I am gonna stay right here and never move again," Gabriel said, letting his head hang.
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"Whaaaat? But I could swear I recalled you telling me that you were up for this." Christian moved closer, slapping Gabe on the back, "Something about posers I think?"
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Gabriel went stiff at that slap and let out a sharp curse. "Oh, shut up."
With a groan, he slowly stood upright, grimacing, his legs trembling. Well. Now he was learning why cowboys always walked bow-legged. "I didn't say I wasn't up for this."
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"Well, best take care of that horse. Not fair that it has to suffer for you being an ass." Christian gestured to an area a little ways away, "Take it over there and take care of it. I'll set up camp, but just this once. After tonight, we split duties and that is an order."
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Gabriel let out a sigh of relief and snapped a sloppy salute, feeling far too boneless to much effort into anything. "Yes, sir."
Taking the horse by the reins, he walked awkwardly toward the area Christian had pointed to, a small, clean stream snaking through the place. He lead the horse to the water to drink and then just sort of stared at it, trying to figure out where to even begin.
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Christian went about setting up the camp. It took a bit for it to all come back, but he had spent enough time in the field that it wasn't too bad. Soon he even had a fire going, but he did use his pyrokinesis for that one.
He called over to where Gabe and the horse were, "Hey, cuz, you done yet?"
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"Uhh..."
Gabriel had managed to get the saddle unbuckled and set off to the side, but he hadn't touched the bridle and that was about as far as he got. "Um...it's...coming along?"
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"It's been an hour. How long are you planning on taking? And have you fed it yet?" Christian didn't know a lot about horses, but he seemed to know more than Gabe. And he wasn't comfortable making Glue suffer.
"And did you wipe it down?"
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That made Gabriel freeze. "Wipe it down?"
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That was the last straw. It wasn't funny anymore and Glue was standing there, sweaty and hungry because Gabe was a selfish tool. Christian stood and hurled a rock at Gabe, missing his cousin, "YOU LITTLE SHITSTAIN! Look at that horse! It's fucking covered in sweat, you haven't fucking fed it and it's still got half its tack on! Don't you fucking dare make that animal suffer because you are too fucking proud to listen!"
Gabe walking funny was awesome. Animal abuse wasn't. Christian was an asshole, not a sociopath.
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Gabriel jolted when the rock came hurtling by, startled by Christian's sudden rage--
And feeling like an asshole in the face of it.
As he had quickly learned over the course of the day, handling a horse was not like handling a dragon--independent, sentient, able to take care of themselves and feed themselves and clean themselves. And he didn't have the slightest clue what a horse needed, didn't even know they needed to be wiped down after a ride.
He grimaced, looking to the horse and back. "I...I was trying to get the face thing off," he said, flushing with guilt.
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"Oh? So that makes it okay? That you were trying?" Christian marched over, though he kept his movements slow once he got close to the horse. He didn't have much experience, but he had seen it done a few times, "Glue is miserable and suffering, but you were trying so that's okay? If I had realized you were going to be this much of a shithead, I wouldn't have let you take the horse."
Stroking the horse's neck, he slipped the bridle off his ears and down his nose, "Now wipe him down and get him some food."
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Gabriel had no good answer for that do he remained guiltily silent, painfully aware that this was yet another thing he hadn't thought through.
Pulling a blanket out of the saddlebags, Gabriel went about wiping the sweat from Storm's body. He at least knew enough about horses not to walk behind him, and Storm seemed to like it. The food thing, though...
He was cleaning Storm's face, petting his velvety nose, when he finally spoke up. "Uh...the guy that sold him to me said he'd eat the stuff along the trail. That he was used to it." So he'd bought some apples and oats to treat but hadn't really bought any feed; Storm couldn't have carried the amount he needed, anyway, and the guy had said he'd feed himself.
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"Then go take him to graze." Christian was still pissed and he headed back over to camp, muttering under his breath. He started food, using the camping supplies from the truck and soon had foil wrapped potato, cheese, veggie and bacon scrambles cooking.
Fucking brat! He always did that! Selfish little Gabe never thought past himself. How everyone fucking loved him was beyond Christian.
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Gabriel was about to ask how he was supposed to take Storm to graze when his bridle had been removed, but he swallowed the words. He was too tired, too sore, and felt like too much of an asshat to want to deal with Christian's temper so instead he let him go. And in any case, Storm knew what he wanted and where to go and started to head off, nibbling at grass and shrubs.
And Gabriel was totally okay taking a seat under a tree (if sorely) and letting the horse do his business, giving Christian a wide berth. Normally, it wouldn't bother him; he tended to meet peoples' temper with his own. The problem was, Christian was right.
After a while, Storm seemed pretty done and had stopped grazing and started wandering, so Gabriel got a couple apples out of the saddlebags and lured the horse back to camp, where food and Christian were waiting. It was only when they'd entered the wing of light the fire cast that Gabriel gave Storm his apples.
"Oh, uh...smells good."
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"Still mad." Christian was stewing. He wasn't really pissed about Glue anymore, it had moved on to an old, festering wound. The fact that everyone loved Gabe, vied for his attention, he was the center of everything, yet he was a shithead.
He treated people like crap, and everyone just tried harder to be his friend. He didn't have the time of day for his fat little cousin. Oh no, he was too busy. It was bullshit and totally unfair.
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"Storm's fine, now," Gabriel said, shifting awkwardly. "He ate."
Ugh. Christian was a lot of things, and a lot of things that disturbed and pissed Gabriel off (for the guy pushed almost every one of his buttons and he was trying hard not to think about Finaa and Shiloh), but despite all of it he was still family and he still cared about him. And, as with anyone you cared about (even if you didn't even get along), it also meant he cared about what he thought on some level. Which meant it bothered him that he was angry with him and he wasn't quite sure how to handle that.
He motioned toward Storm. "See? He's alright."
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Christian lifted his gaze from the fire, "That isn't the point! You are such a selfish little shithead! You never think about anyone else! Did it even occur to you that Glue is a living creature? That you had to take care of it? No. You just wanted to be the big, bad cowboy and not listen to anyone but yourself. As long as you get what you want, who cares who gets hurt along the way!"
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That was it. That was the push Gabriel needed to switch from startled to defensive to flat out offensive. He stiffened, straightening up.
"So what's that make you?!" he snapped. "You're worrying more about that horse than you ever have about anyone! So, what? It's okay to shove people around and treat them like shit?"
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"Why not? A person can stand up for themselves! Oh, what? Now you suddenly give two shits about people? All you have ever cared about is yourself!"
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"Fuck you!" Gabriel yelled, losing it at that comment. A person could stand up for themselves. He'd tried. He couldn't. He'd been too fucking weak and it was his fault and Christian was right and he hated that he was right, hated that reminder, hated the feelings those words dug up.
"Fuck you! No they fucking can't, you asshole!"
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"Yes they fucking can! They might not win, but they can try! That horse can't! But you never fucking care! And when do you give a shit if someone can't, huh? Where are you when that happens? Off being a self centered prick who knows better than everyone else! Look at Rachel!"
Christian hadn't meant for all this to explode up, but it was and he was yelling back, "You don't care about her! You never have! She just has to be your perfect little sister and you flip if she doesn't fit that mold! She's a candidate Gabe! And you wont even help her! You just scream at her that she's a slut!"
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"I'm trying to fucking protect her from people like you!" Gabriel yelled back. "I fucking know what happens! I don't want that happening to her so fuck off and don't tell me what the fuck I care about! You don't know shit!"
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"Protect her? How!? You don't ever listen to her! You just charge in and scream at people and make her a giant target!"
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"Because she doesn't know! She knows there's bullies but she doesn't get it, it's not like fucking high school! She's hanging with a fucking sociopath, Christian! A diagnosed sociopath! She thinks everything's all goodness and that bad things happen to bad people and I don't want her having the reality check I--" He cut off. "I don't want her hurt, alright?"
Gabriel took a deep breath. "She leaves herself wide open and fuck! How can you not see that? Oh! Right! 'Cause you're the bully!"
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"Yeah. I am. Because I learned to hit first. But you aren't doing her any favors. Because that fucked up kid? Protects her! Who's going to fuck with Rachel with the freak kid will eat their face off? Oh, but that's right, you don't care! Things have to be your way or they aren't right!"
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"And what the fuck's to stop him from turning on her?" Gabriel felt bad for Nika, but he was also realistic--he was a sociopath. He couldn't help it and he seemed depressingly desperate to learn, but that fact remained. No matter how much he pitied Nika, no matter what he felt for the kid, Rachel was his sister and her safety came first.
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"The fact that your sister isn't a moron! Why do you act like you are so much better than everyone else?"
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"I'm not saying she's a moron, dumbass! Fun fact! Smart people get taken advantage of too!" Gabriel snapped. "Fuck! You really have no idea, do you? Is that how you justify it? They were just too stupid so it's okay?"
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"What? That doesn't even make sense!" Christian gave Gabe a confused glare, "Stop treating people like they are less than you! You aren't that great!"
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"I'm sorry, clearly I'm not as fluent in asshole as you are!" Gabriel shot back. "It makes total sense when you're not a fucking dick!"
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"Fuck you!" Not his best come back, but honestly, he was a little lost. He was angry and pissed and years of issues were running around his head. He stood up, "You are suck a fucking prick."
Turning, he stomped off into the night, wanting to clear his head.
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Snarling curses under his breath, Gabriel turned on his heel and stormed off in the other direction, if a bit more...sorely and awkwardly. He, too, needed a breather before he wound up punching something--like Christian--and anger and confusion and hurt left him feeling kind of overwhelmed. It was always best to withdraw then before he did something drastic, because when he couldn't mentally deal with his problems, he dealt with them physically.
He flopped down at the edge of the camp to fume, appetite gone and replaced by a sick, twisting feeling in his gut.
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Christian didn't come back for a long time. He just stayed out, under the stars. There were too many thoughts, too many feelings he didn't want to deal with. He needed time to shut it all down, build back up those barriers that kept everyone at bay.
Reject them before they can reject you.
But Gabe always rubbed him wrong. He had hurt Christian and the barriers had never really been able to deal with that very well. Hours later, he finally made his way back to the camp. He didn't even bother with the tent, just opened the truck door, climbed into the cab and went to sleep.
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Some time during the night, Gabriel yanked out a bedroll and got as comfortable as he could near the fire--which wasn't very, because no matter how he tossed and turned and moved spots, there was always some rock or other poking at him. Even without the rocks, though, it was an uncomfortable sleep and took him hours to drift off, too angry to relax enough to do so. Eventually, though, he nodded off, but even when he woke up he didn't feel rested.
...It also didn't help that some insect of other had decided to make a snack of him.
The fire had gone out in the night and he woke up cold, stiff, and itchy. And hungry. And with a headache. With a groan, he sat up and scratched at his arms and neck, finding a number of small, inflamed bumps there. Wonderful.
Neck stiff, he had to twist most of his body to get a good look at the cab, and then he looked back to the fire pit. He wouldn't wake Christian, now just feeling uncomfortable and awkward in the wake of their fight--made all the worse since, unlike in other situations, there was nowhere to really go to escape having to deal with it.
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Christian hadn't slept well, too angry to really drift off well. He woke up with the sun, sitting up and stretching. He was a bit too long for the cab, but it was nicer than outside, being a little too cold to be comfortable. He was too used to Haviah's constant weather. In a few days he would probably be sleeping under the stars.
Getting out, he shot Gabe a dark look, heading over to the fire and starting to rebuild it so he could make some coffee and breakfast, "You better get your ass up and take care of that horse."