fandomtownies | Devil's Nest, Monday, 12/17

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Devil's Nest, Monday, 12/17

About lunchtime, Jack permitted himself one of the benefits of finally being of age and poured himself a finger of good Scotch. He didn't especially like Scotch, but he assumed it was a taste he'd acquire and he intended to start acquiring it.

He was about to take it back to his booth when three tiny reindeer trotted into the club and ... started rubbing against his legs.

They smelled disturbingly like food, was the thing. He forced himself to ignore that as he went to pore over some more thrilling business correspondence that required answers.

The reindeer followed, nestling in around him like cats with antlers.

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Mod your service, or get a drink from someone who has very little idea what he's doing!

"Jack?" Kaidan called on his way in.

The bar was starting to be a semi-regular rest stop on his jog on Mondays. Routine was always nice.

"Yeah, hi," Jack returned, sounding a bit distracted. "Do you know how to get a reindeer off your lap?"

It really didn't want to move, and the hooves were digging into Jack's trousers painfully.

"Wow, I guess it likes you," Kaidan observed. "You need some help with that?"

That... seemed like the most relevant question.

Jack started to say no, he'd be fine, but stopped himself. "Actually, now I'm quite curious how you're going to help with this particular dilemma. Be my guest."

"I was just going to pick it up," Kaidan said dryly, as he moved over to try just that.

"Well fine, if you're going to be sensible," Jack said.

The reindeer squirmed in protest, but couldn't stop Kaidan from lifting him. Jack slid out of the booth to stand before one of the others took his place.

"Thank you," he said. "Are there tiny reindeer in the house yet?"

"One made it into the kitchen," Kaidan said, setting the tiny reindeer down.

It promptly plastered itself to Kaidan's leg. "Gave him some milk, that seemed to calm him down."

"Probably they want cookies too," Jack mused. "It would go with the Christmas theme."

He smiled at the reindeer by Kaidan's foot. "I'm starting to think he just likes people."

"I guess we could be worse off than having a plague of cuddly reindeer around," Kaidan said. "I mean-- could be a birthday party full of tacky boas."

Jack half-groaned, half-laughed. "Could be another day as complete imbeciles in black and white," he shot back easily. "I'll take the reindeer."

Kaidan smiled briefly. "So I'm heading back to Vancouver Wednesday night," he shared. "Don't know if I'm going to stick it out all the way up to New Years' Eve, but..."

Jack raised his eyebrows. "Two weeks after so long away might be overkill?" he guessed. "I think I'll be in New York, but probably not for quite that long."

"I know my folks want me around," Kaidan said, "But... yeah. It might be overkill. Anyway, I hope you and Emma enjoy yourselves down there."

"We should," Jack said, smiling a bit. "And good luck with your parents. I'll be back here a few days after Christmas. I get a moon to deal with."

Kaidan winced a little. "Right, end of the month," he said. "You going to be okay out here?"

Look, protective instincts didn't go away just because you didn't spend as much time in the line of fire these days.

Well, if Derek quit being a giant baby by then...

"I should be," he said, regardless. "There are people I can ask for help if it feels like it's all going to go wrong."

Kaidan nodded. "All right," he said. "But if anything does go wrong-- let me know? I don't mind coming back here if I'm needed."

(It would also function as a great excuse to get out of being questioned about the Eden Prime war by his relatives, but... that didn't mean he was hoping for it.)

"Of course," Jack said, and then stopped to look at Kaidan for a minute. The blue energy during Emma's visit made him take the offer in a slightly new light. "How strong are you, exactly? The wolf is ... imagine wrestling a very mean superpowered Irish wolfhound."

Kaidan reached up and idly ran his thumb over the scars on his mouth. "Well, I'm one of the strongest human biotics in the Alliance," he said matter-of-factly, "Which is nothing against a well-trained asari, but... you're not a well-trained asari. Plus they put me through Alliance-grade gene therapy..."

"So what you're saying is you could take me down," Jack said, equally matter-of-fact. "As much as I hope no one ever has to."

He appreciated knowing that, especially as he trusted Kaidan not to do anything unless he had to.

"Probably," Kaidan said. "Unless you catch me unawares. Still not a mind reader."

"I don't think anyone needs more than one of those in his life," Jack said, with some (somewhat forced) lightness. "I'm glad, though. Means there's one less thing to worry about if I ever lose track of when the moon is and can't get to a safe place in time."

Kaidan nodded. "I'm an Alliance marine," he said wryly, "We're built to be thrown at things with big teeth and bad attitudes. Or so I'm often reminded."

"I never thought I'd have something in common with hostile aliens," Jack said, equally wry. "Strange how life changes."

Edited 2012-12-17 19:47 (UTC)

"Not just the really hostile ones," Kaidan said. "The krogan keep aggressive giant lizard-dogs with tusks the size of your head as pets..."

"Oh, those sound charming," Jack said idly, leaning back in his seat. "Have they caught on with humans yet?"

"Not unless you count Shepard wanting one as a pet to defend his property when he got old," Kaidan said, with a vague little smile.

"Shepard was smart," Jack decided. "From the sound of it, they'd scare off anything short of a rampaging elephant."

"And for the rampaging elephant," Kaidan said, "You had Shepard."

"Now that," Jack said, "sounds like a good friend to have on your side."

"You have no idea," Kaidan said wryly. "There's been this song out for a while that's a big hit among humans - 'You'll Never Be Better Than Commander Shepard'."

He shook his head, mildly surprised he could joke about it.

"The surprising thing is that people can admit it," Jack said, eyes bright. "You must miss him."

"Like a limb," Kaidan admitted. "Sometimes I still hesitate on a mission because I expect him to step in, you know?"

"It's weird when someone you thought would always be there isn't," Jack nodded. "I know that much."

"Not really a smart idea to be thrown in the middle of a war zone," Kaidan said wryly. "But yeah. That."

Since Emma's portal was going to be down the street, she'd come in to be with Jack for a bit before she'd needed to leave.

"Are we taking bets as to if my portal even shows?" she asked cheerfully. "Because the Portalocity app for my phone keeps breaking."

Jack eyed her. "Don't make me nervous," he said. "Your portal will show up, and next week I'll take one to New York so we can have Christmas together. Or we'll make Portalocity very, very sorry."

"I have a few party invitations to RSVP to, so I'll go through them after mt final this afternoon," Emma said. "We'll hit one or two, just so you can see the city over the holiday."

And not staying in bed the whole time, because that was the warmest spot in Emma's apartment.

"I could be dragged out of your apartment to do that," Jack said languidly. "Maybe a museum or two, too? Just so we can pretend we're cultured."

"Museums and parties, so pack appropriately," Emma promised. "How do you feel about ice skating? It's pretty much mandatory for any outing at Christmas."

Jack shrugged. "I haven't done it since I was small. Promise not to laugh too hard when I fall?"

For other club needs!

For a vampire, maybe?

So technically next semester Jack will be Eric's day person, a teacher, and a full-time college student.

Good thing werewolf powers include special time management skills.

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Devil's Nest, Monday, 12/17

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