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You have to work and I need outta here. Brain needs a reset.

I love you and I'll be back.

Part of the reason, yeah. Just having a shit week. Fuck, I lost some guys fancy fucking dog. You have to leave for work. I just need outta here.

I prefer Fire Island myself.

I don't want you using any more favors, Jas. Not for me. I want you to stay with me so damn bad but I won't let you owe anyone because I'm having a bad week.

Don't even know the guys name with the dog. It got scared of me, could pick up on what I am and ran. Should be use to that shit by now. [He shakes his head.] Fuck the coffee table. Way I keep fighting with Oni, I'll just need another one.

Winter surfing doesn't really get good until December.

Winter surfing? Brr. I hope you plan on getting into a sauna after.

I have a good wetsuit. Also, not planning on surfing Fire Island.

Gotcha. Well, good luck with whatever you plan.

Thanks. I'll try to have fun.

I'm not familiar with Siargao Island. What's it like?

One of the most gorgeous islands I've ever seen. Cloud 9 beach has some of the worlds best surfing, especially this time of year. Sunsets there are out of this world.

That sounds lovely. I've never tried surfing myself. The weather where I grew up was less than ideal for that sort of thing. I'd love to go somewhere sunny aswell. But as a vet I don't really have the means. It's a shame.

Could use the G.I. Bill to further your education, get a better paying job that'll let you travel. Lots of discount programs for vets to.

The G.I. Bill was dissolved in 1956. [He smacks his lips.] But you have a point. There might be some program I could apply to. But I don't know. Just thinking lately is giving me headaches. I can't imagine studying.

[As they were talking, Jasper was texting in saying he was needed elsewhere and would use a favor to be away from Nathan's lockdown. He knew Nathan always had back up people who could help when he couldn't. And it was rare for Jasper to use a favor, when he did, everyone understood the matter was important to him. Ash was important to him.]

Already done.

You want to tell me what is going on between you and Oni? I get this person is important to you, how about you tell me why. Who are they and how do they fit in with you?

Jas...you didn't have to do that.

[He was relieved though. Ashley didn't want to interfere with Jasper's job but he also really want him to stay. Ashley sat on the floor and stretched out on his back, flopping an arm over his face.]

Oni, Onida, she's our pack alpha. Just not agreeing on fucking anything but...she's a stubborn fucking full moon. And apparently calling Alessandro, Al, pissed her off.

[Might have been that he threatened to shit Al out in the Hudson.]

There's a lot of history between me and her and with the pack.

Uh. No it wasn't. It was actually just expanded fairly recently so you can transfer your education benefits to a spouse or dependants. You look young enough, guessing you enlisted post 9/11? There's even a post 9/11 GI Bill. Unless you didn't serve in the U.S military.

That's news to me. I was under the impression that the original post-WW2 bill was dissolved and all expansions were just expansions in name. But eh, I have never been a studious kinda guy.

Yeah, I served in Iraq, two tours as an Airman. Got two shiny medals and a TBI. Fun.

Interesting. Figure a wounded war vet would be up to date on benefits. Speaking of you should check out the Wounded Warrior Project. My company works with them a lot to put vets into better paying jobs. Get training in IT related fields.

Eh, I'm just happy to be alive to be frank.

IT fields? Never been all that interested in it. I've always been a grafter. Physical labor and all. Dunno if I'd be cut out for that. But I appreciate the advice and will look into it. Unless I forget.

This time of year? The Philippines will be warmer.

Smart man. Question is, where are you gonna be swimming this time of year? [Cause it does scare him just a tiny bit to be surfing in the same water as the massive Rokea.]

Physical labor like what? Construction? Booming industry right now. Lot of money to be made. [He digs out a business card.] We manufacture green building supplies. Build and construct net zero homes. Do a lot of work with Habit for Humanity. If you are ever looking for something that might let you travel a bit more call that number and let Austin in HR know I sent you.

I'm not. Smell trouble near the girls. Headed back to New York. Might see if I can find Kacee. I could use a gym partner I won't break.

Yeah. Fucking Dancers been sniffing around for Kevin. The girls are safe. [He hoped NPR would trust that after what Ashley had gone through to protect them after the Oni incident.] There isn't a gym that you won't break.

Hmm. Ain't sure that's what I smell. There's some vampire bullshit up. Not directed at the girls. In general. Either way, though. Gonna hang close, make sure nothing fucks with any of y'all.

I didn't break the one in LA, Frost's goons did.

We should probably talk then. I didn't have any vampire bullshit on my radar. Not anymore then usual bullshit anyway.

Ain't like I know exactly what's up, just somethin' dangerous. Might be that asshole from LA havin' a bad day. Who knows? [The fact that it's not clear which asshole vampire he's talking about is probably a strong indication there were too many vampires in LA.] Just figured hangin' near the pack is easier than runnin'. Easier on the girls too.

Something like that yeah. Small scale tho, house renovations. [He takes the business card and glances over it.] Very kind Mr. Cromwell. Net zero homes, aye? That's something new. Can't say it's something I encountered when I worked with my old man in the business.

Ew, no. Call me Ash. [He offers his hand.] You are?

Houses that make more energy then they consume. Solar energy. Smart appliances. No matter how fancy the technology gets, still need guys that can do framework, drywall and flooring, know know? And finish work.

Ash it is then. [He shakes the offered hand.] Staff Sergeant O'Connell. But you can just call me Brendan seeing as we're informal.

Ah that sort of thing. It's popular these days with solar panels. I've seen them everywhere. It's a good thing I suppose, with bills being hiked up nowadays.

Plus you know, we like having you around. [Even if Ashley found it mildly intimidating. He would never be done repaying Mike, Kacee and Netty for what they did for him in California. If they hadn't stood with Ashley against the other Garou, the girls they are talking about would have been killed.]

Which LA asshole?

Popular and necessary. Can't live on a planet if we destroy it. Plus it's kinda bullshit to let corporations get rich supplying a basic living necessity if we can just harvest it from the sun. Which is free.

Sorry, I can tend to rant a little about it.

That's alright. One of my little bros tend to rant about things like that too. I get what you're putting down and I agree. It's an investment though, most folk I know already struggles with getting through the month.

It's good ya do, cuz my two are gettin' to be old enough I need to stay closer. If they're gonna change, it'll be in the next few years.

[A snort as the Rokea thinks about it.] I forget if you met him. Probably not given he's still around. Some asshole shoutin' orders on one of the Endron boats. Me an' a friend have caught him sneakin' around New York. Smells worse than I remember, like...[The Rokea trails off, thinking.] The water near a volcano. It smells. So does he. [A shrug.]

I don't know much about women and what I do know isn't worth me trying to explain them to you. But, did you think calling Alessandro, Al, was I dunno, fucking up her shit for the day because she was dealing with other shit? And didn't need you up in her face. Kinda like when they say I'm fine but you know they are about to fuck you over.

Dunno who Alessandro is, if they aren't called Al or said you could call them that, don't do it. Can't believe I'm going to say this because fucks if I care about behaving, but it's respectful to the Alpha, Alessandro, and your pack. If you don't get it, you just up to put up with the shit fights and be the one to apologise all the time.

That aside, is something ticking you off about pack shit?

Edited 2022-11-08 19:40 (UTC)

...I didn't just call him Al. Which, in my defense, he didn't say I couldn't call him or correct me when I did. I maybe also said I would rip him to pieces and shit him out in the Hudson if he got her killed.

It's so much more complicated then just alpha pack bullshit.

But, this current load of shit, started by me telling her about you. I wanted to make sure because of the whole vampire thing, I wasn't breaking any rules. And she had to fucking one up me by telling me Al use to be a vampire too, but he was still one when they got together. Like sketchy enough shit we couldn't talk about it without a fucking totem in the room to make sure we weren't being spied on.

She does shit that will get her killed. Okay? That's it. She doesn't tell us...

[He lets out the most epic sigh.] Fuck....not us. Me. She doesn't tell me. They tried to kill her, we thought she was gone. I picked up the pieces. I can't do it again. And it just always feels like she's keeping shit to herself that is going to put me right back there.

Couldn't agree more. I have a strictly Robin Hood business model. Take from the rich give to the poor. Tiered pricing. Make the people who can afford it, pay for it, then give it away to those who can't afford it.

Sulfur? You have any other details you can get me? I've got a weekend of digging through intel I've been picking up. Don't mind one more name on my list.

[A shrug.] He likes to hang out near the docks but fucks off if he sees me. Smells a little more strongly of Qyrl than I'm used to, actually.

As far as I'm concerned, that's a good business practice. The world could use a few more Robin Hoods.

Yeah, this is something you need to talk to her about. I know you love her and want to protect her, but, I dunno, you have to find an off switch for your reactions Or a chill switch. Fucks if I know. Just, probably need to tell her what you told me I guess and work it out between your selves.

Is this vampire shit going to be a continuing problem for me and you? I know I'm not a vampire, but I was and I'm wondering if the loophole ins't going to fucking strangle me.