[sweetest damn parrot you ever did see. slightly rough around the edges.]

[brotimaeus]

damn, this place really hasnt changed.
i remember the whores bein much friendlier though, what happened there.
maybe the getup aint doing it for them.
guess i could use a bath or somethin.
lieutenant-commander strider here, reportin in if they didnt already strip my rank and brand me a deserter.
who am i kiddin they probably had that done within a week lets be honest here.
cant get hauled out by filthy fuckin pirates for a decade and come back expecting to be in anyones good graces anymore am i right.
and shit, i almost forgot what land feels like.

Comments

[existechialism]

Well, personally, I kinda figured you were out cruising for booty.

[brotimaeus]

wow, rude.
what kinds of terrible lies have people been spreadin about me in my absence.

[existechialism]

No lies, just he purest of truths gleaned from first hand experience.
I mean, the last ten years kind of skewed the numbers but I can probably give you the percentage breakdown of nights of the week you took a wrong turn off of responsible parent boulevard.

[brotimaeus]

yeah thats not gonna be necessary.
i dont need my life story related back to me by someone who was barely in short trousers last time he saw me.
assumin that i am actually talkin to the elder of the spawn i saw fit to inflict upon the world before my untimely abduction.
somethin in the syntax.

[existechialism]

Yeah.
My trousers are regulation length now.

[brotimaeus]

im so proud.

so are you gonna show your face or is this obnoxious shade of orange all im gonna see of my eldest offspring.

[existechialism]

I'll be with Dave.
You know,
Where you haven't been the last ten years.

[brotimaeus]

huh.
so you got a mouth on you just like your old man.
but dont pull that shit with me it aint as if ive been away this long because its somethin i wanted.
i came back for both of you, dirk.

[existechialism]

Right. Let's save the touching reunion until we're actually reunited.
I'll believe it when I see it.

[brotimaeus]

you aint gonna see shit if you keep this act up.
haul yourself front and center right now and drop the fuckin platitudes.

[existechialism]

I wasn't carrying any platitudes, Lieutenant Commander.

[brotimaeus]

Shooting off tired shit like 'I'll believe it when I see it'? You gotta be kiddin' me. It just don't get more platitudinous.

[Arms folded, he looks the boy up and down. Dave carries more of his mother's looks but there's no denying Dirk. The kid looks just like him.]

Didn't doubt who I was for a second, huh.

[existechialism]

... I sound just like you. Except I have better grammar and not as much of fuckin' accent. Sir.

[brotimaeus]

Heh.

[Smirking crookedly, he folds his arms and rests his weight back against his heels.]

Sure you do. [One hand lifts up to rub the rough stubble along his jaw.] I tried to get word out, when I could. Nothin' made it back here?

[existechialism]

That's obvious enough.

[unthinking, he mirrors the gesture, not noticing until it's too late]

Jesus fuck.

[brotimaeus]

[He notices too, dropping his own hand slowly with a faint softening of his expression.]

I'm not expectin' you to be happy to see me. [That Dave had been had surprised him enough.] But how 'bout you give me a chance.

[existechialism]

[gets over his singular moment of uncoolness, expression sobering. His voice is ominously toneless]

I will give you a chance to not leave again. If you leave us a second time, you're toast old man.

[brotimaeus]

[It doesn't ruffle the elder Strider in the least, he simply arches one eyebrow.]

That's fair. I gotta spend a hell of a long time makin' it up to you kids.