07-01-2014, 04:48 PM
Jagger said something about seeing what he could do about the crutches, but Jay wasn't going to hold his breath. He didn't doubt Jagger's determination, but it wasn't like there was a corner pharmacy down the road. Still. He really didn't intend on sitting around on his ass when the CEO strolled by. If he had two legs to stand on, he'd crawl to his feet. If he didn't, he'd hold himself up on the stumps.
The kitten turned in a circle and decided the soft spot under Jay's chin made for a cushy bed. It would. Throats were usually like that. Or he'd imagine they would be to a kitten not much bigger than his adam's apple. He held his breath for claws, and gently pushed it down a few inches. Thankfully, the little guy was already asleep. That sounded great. His head was full of fog.
His lids slid low. Just for a minute. The kitten purred a very tiny, but very powerful little engine on his bare chest. He'd rest his eyes for just a minute..
...two-hours later he was stirred awake by the trampling of boots. The kitten hadn't moved. For that matter, Jay hadn't either. Not until he realized the guys were carrying in another wounded man for him to share the floor with. The guy was awake.
Within the heartbeat that spaced being comtose and fully aware, Jay's senses returned full force and he jerked awake. Boots, voices, commotion.
He sat up, cradling the kitten at the last second so it didn't slide down his chest. His heart was pounding. His muscles tensed to strike at .. well. nothing he quickly realized.
The two Legionnaires carrying in the wounded stopped to look at him. One asked if he was alright, and Jay waved him on. The man understood. Being roused from sleep under strange circumstances shifted men like them to the edge of instinct.
The kitten wiggled out of his hand, and he gently placed the little guy on the floor next to him. Since he was wide awake, might as well see what the 411 was on Danjou's arrival.
The two wounded were chatting it up when a knock came at the door. Having just been talking about the CEO, both men shared a look and braced themselves to be greeted by their executive officer in command. Turned out. It was only Jared. At first glance, the Legionnaire was 1e class, like Jay, but he'd seen the guy around before, although they'd never met. He held himself typical of the Legion, but importantly, was bright-eyed and straight-backed. He was one of the fresh bloods called in to Freetown after yesterday's battle. Even more importantly, he had a cane.
A pleasant enough fellow, he knelt down by Jay who caught him eyeing his kitten. Jay smirked, "Glad to meet you, Vanders. Carpenter."
He offered a hand, noting another American accent. "Hollywood."
He added his real name on at the end.
"This little guy doesn't have a name yet,"
the kitten was chewing on a wad of Jay's shirt still in its box.
Since the kitten was entertained elsewhere, Jay accepted the cane with a glint and a wink. "Usually prefer flowers or a nice balloon set, Vanders. A cane's a bit unusual, but I'll take it."
About then someone pounded on the door and peeked inside. "CEO's coming down the hall."
A fellow Legionnaire warned them to get read. Moments later, Jay heard the guy pound on the room next door.
"Shit!"
Jay said and tried to scramble. He was in nothing but his shorts since the pants had been cut away to get to his leg and his shirt was kitten bedding. The CEO was going to see him in not but boxers and dogtags. But at least he had a pimpin' cane.
He managed to stand - aka, lean - on his good leg and the cane by the time Jacques' knock announced his arrival. The kitten was still chewing on the shirt in the box at his feet.
The CEO himself was younger than he'd imagined, despite the pictures and movies of the guy. There was something distant about his presence, though. Like he were fully immersed in both the present and the ancient past at the same time. Jay blinked to clear his gaze. That had to be the drugs talking.
The cane creaked in the moment it took for Jay to switch hands. At least he was on his feet when he saluted, steely eyed and determined. For that he breathed a sigh of relief. God bless Vanders.
"Sir! Hellcat Carpenter, Sir!"
He retured the greeting and identified himself, but said little else in the meantime.
Jacques' appearance wasn't lost on him. The man was armed and wearing a field uniform that wafted the telltale scent of smoke. Not only had he been in Dominance V, but he'd also been caught in the battle itself?
Jay wasn't about to ask. He just held his superior's gaze like he were ready to be ordered into the field at the moment's notice. Despite the .. lack of clothes and.. bum leg...
...and the kitten that had suddenly decided to crawl up his other shin. All twenty claws stabbed its way toward his knee, but damn if Jay didn't so much as cringe. He did try to subtly shake it off, though. To no avail.
The kitten turned in a circle and decided the soft spot under Jay's chin made for a cushy bed. It would. Throats were usually like that. Or he'd imagine they would be to a kitten not much bigger than his adam's apple. He held his breath for claws, and gently pushed it down a few inches. Thankfully, the little guy was already asleep. That sounded great. His head was full of fog.
His lids slid low. Just for a minute. The kitten purred a very tiny, but very powerful little engine on his bare chest. He'd rest his eyes for just a minute..
...two-hours later he was stirred awake by the trampling of boots. The kitten hadn't moved. For that matter, Jay hadn't either. Not until he realized the guys were carrying in another wounded man for him to share the floor with. The guy was awake.
Within the heartbeat that spaced being comtose and fully aware, Jay's senses returned full force and he jerked awake. Boots, voices, commotion.
He sat up, cradling the kitten at the last second so it didn't slide down his chest. His heart was pounding. His muscles tensed to strike at .. well. nothing he quickly realized.
The two Legionnaires carrying in the wounded stopped to look at him. One asked if he was alright, and Jay waved him on. The man understood. Being roused from sleep under strange circumstances shifted men like them to the edge of instinct.
The kitten wiggled out of his hand, and he gently placed the little guy on the floor next to him. Since he was wide awake, might as well see what the 411 was on Danjou's arrival.
The two wounded were chatting it up when a knock came at the door. Having just been talking about the CEO, both men shared a look and braced themselves to be greeted by their executive officer in command. Turned out. It was only Jared. At first glance, the Legionnaire was 1e class, like Jay, but he'd seen the guy around before, although they'd never met. He held himself typical of the Legion, but importantly, was bright-eyed and straight-backed. He was one of the fresh bloods called in to Freetown after yesterday's battle. Even more importantly, he had a cane.
A pleasant enough fellow, he knelt down by Jay who caught him eyeing his kitten. Jay smirked, "Glad to meet you, Vanders. Carpenter."
He offered a hand, noting another American accent. "Hollywood."
He added his real name on at the end.
"This little guy doesn't have a name yet,"
the kitten was chewing on a wad of Jay's shirt still in its box.
Since the kitten was entertained elsewhere, Jay accepted the cane with a glint and a wink. "Usually prefer flowers or a nice balloon set, Vanders. A cane's a bit unusual, but I'll take it."
About then someone pounded on the door and peeked inside. "CEO's coming down the hall."
A fellow Legionnaire warned them to get read. Moments later, Jay heard the guy pound on the room next door.
"Shit!"
Jay said and tried to scramble. He was in nothing but his shorts since the pants had been cut away to get to his leg and his shirt was kitten bedding. The CEO was going to see him in not but boxers and dogtags. But at least he had a pimpin' cane.
He managed to stand - aka, lean - on his good leg and the cane by the time Jacques' knock announced his arrival. The kitten was still chewing on the shirt in the box at his feet.
The CEO himself was younger than he'd imagined, despite the pictures and movies of the guy. There was something distant about his presence, though. Like he were fully immersed in both the present and the ancient past at the same time. Jay blinked to clear his gaze. That had to be the drugs talking.
The cane creaked in the moment it took for Jay to switch hands. At least he was on his feet when he saluted, steely eyed and determined. For that he breathed a sigh of relief. God bless Vanders.
"Sir! Hellcat Carpenter, Sir!"
He retured the greeting and identified himself, but said little else in the meantime.
Jacques' appearance wasn't lost on him. The man was armed and wearing a field uniform that wafted the telltale scent of smoke. Not only had he been in Dominance V, but he'd also been caught in the battle itself?
Jay wasn't about to ask. He just held his superior's gaze like he were ready to be ordered into the field at the moment's notice. Despite the .. lack of clothes and.. bum leg...
...and the kitten that had suddenly decided to crawl up his other shin. All twenty claws stabbed its way toward his knee, but damn if Jay didn't so much as cringe. He did try to subtly shake it off, though. To no avail.
Only darkness shows you the light.