forgiveyesterday

[forgiveyesterday]

(Slim) “Just so you know, that could’ve gone a lot worse.”

[Prompt]

James was covered in blood and viscera and it took all he had not to level a heated glare Slim's way. After all, it wasn't the young man's fault. The mercenary wiped grime from his face and tried not to focus on the smell that was settling into his clothes.

"You're right... it could have."

[forgiveyesterday]

“Somebody’s followin’ us.”

[Prompt]

"Okay, don't look at them, just tell me what direction they're in," he replied calmly, continuing on his path forward with Nora at his side. There was a tightness in his chest, a worry that the Institute had finally stumbled upon him, but at least while they were out in public, they were safe.

[forgiveyesterday]

“If you think you can make her listen, be my guest.”

[Prompt]

"She'll listen to reason," he assured Parker with a firm nod, even though he knew if her temper was flared hot enough, Jimmy might have to drag her away kicking and screaming.

[forgiveyesterday]

“You didn’t see the way he was lookin’ at me.”

[Prompt]

Jimmy set his jaw, brows furrowing tightly and eyes darkening as Holly spoke. It was clear she was uncomfortable, and he could feel his anger starting to heat up.

"Well, he isn't going to like the way I look at him if he shows up again."

[forgiveyesterday]

(Starling) “Alright, c’mon. You’re just messing with me, right?”

[Prompt]

"No, I'm not, I swear!" James responded with a laugh, clearly amused at the reaction. "When I was growing up, that's what we'd do. Everyone in the neighborhood. It was tradition."

[forgiveyesterday]

“ everything okay?”

[Prompt]

"Yeah, yeah," he half-lied in an attempt to reassure Willa, shooting a smile her direction. He hoped she wouldn't notice the stiffness in the way he walked, as if he was favoring his right leg and trying not to move his torso too much. He had cleaned and bandaged his wounds and would heal fine without her assistance. Mostly, he didn't want to worry her.

"Sorry I'm later than we planned. Happened across some roadblocks while traveling. Had to make a few detours."

[forgiveyesterday]

(Slim) “ i don’t want to do it.”

[Prompt]

"And I'm not going to force you," James stated gently, resisting the urge to put his hand on Slim's shoulder reassuringly.

"Just let me know what you want to do, and I'll take care of the rest."

[forgiveyesterday]

(Starling) “ ah, that wasn’t so bad, now, was it?”

[Prompt]

"You and I have very different definitions of the word 'bad,' Starling," he replied with a shake of his head, wiping the blood and dirt from his face. "But we're alive, so... sure. It wasn't so bad."

[forgiveyesterday]

(Matthew) “ cold drinks?”

[Prompt]

"Yeah, sounds good," he said softly, trying to ignore the dull ache in what felt like his very bones. In a few hours, he'd feel fine, almost as if nothing had even happened, but for now, he'd revel in feeling like a regular person again.

"What's on the menu?"

[forgiveyesterday]

“ hello? is- is someone there?”

[Prompt]

"It's James," he said, stepping more into view, having not realized how obscured he was from her sight. "Didn't mean to spook you."

[forgiveyesterday]

(Slim) “I’m just saying, I might be able to help, y’know.”

[Prompt]

Something in the young man's tone struck a chord with James, reminding him of an old friend he had growing up who just wanted to help despite his own physical setbacks.

"I know," he said with a sigh, "but I can't risk you getting wrapped up in something neither of us are fully prepared for. Once I scout out the situation, I'll come back and get a group together."

[forgiveyesterday]

“ i’m not waiting.”

[Prompt]

"I'm not asking you to wa-- well, no, I am asking you to wait, but not for long," he insisted, knowing that Holly was more than eager to get her things together and head out to where ever her friend had been holed up these past few weeks.

"I just need to go hand off some supplies to the Grahams, grab my bag from the cabin and then I'll go with you," he offered, not wanting her traveling by herself, let alone that far.

"Just... give me two shakes of a lamb's tail, and we'll be outta here. I promise."

[forgiveyesterday]

(Matthew) “Who are they?”

[Prompt]

"If I was a bettin' man, I'd say troublemakers," James replied, eyes trained on the trio browsing wares at the various stalls in the makeshift marketplace. He could be wrong, of course, but something about the way they held themselves set off alarms in the mercenary's head.

"I'll keep an eye on 'em, don't worry."

[forgiveyesterday]

“ maybe we should just go.”

[Prompt]

"You're the boss," came the reply, but the mercenary continued to stare firmly at the man who had initially seemed to cause the young woman to become uncomfortable.

"Need anything else before we head out? I can get it for you."

[forgiveyesterday]

“ Live a little, James. ”

[Prompt]

The irony that James had actually lived a lot compared to most folks in the Commonwealth was not lost on him. He managed a short, wry scoff of a laugh and shook his head.

"Yeah, yeah, the list of people who've been telling me to loosen up lately keeps growing," he admitted, reaching up to run a hand through his hair and let out a sigh.

"I think I'm just getting too old."

[forgiveyesterday]

(Matthew) “ damn. dead, huh?”

[Prompt]

“Unfortunately,” he sighed, shaking his head at the situation - a dead end just as cold as the corpse in the next room. His frown deepened when he noticed a small caps stash and a basket of chems in the living room.

“This wasn’t some random deal gone bad either,” he said, pointing towards the paraphernalia out in the open. Worth a pretty penny in the right hands of a Goodneighbor goon.

“Looks like the guys we’re after are trying to tie up loose ends. If we’re lucky, they’ll get sloppy.”

[forgiveyesterday]

(Starling) “ i mean, y’know, if you’re agreeable to it.”

[Prompt]

“I could be agreeable to it, yeah,” he replied with a soft smile, standing from the metal fold-out chair on the porch. “Do I need to bring anything special?”