Waking the Dead 2.0 || August 6, 2063 || Saturday

[tagabigay]

[He got the news after the debriefings wrapped up, and Mandatory Tala Time. This is why you're all getting the message late.]

SENT: 8:32 PM
You all have my deepest sympathies, War Hounds. I can relate: I've also been placed on leave, although it is not nearly as strict as yours - Operation HECATON may need me.

Let's hope that we find something to do with ourselves during this month.

Comments

[atlas_shrugged]

[ The message from the Chief plucks at a heartsting, painfully. Brig remembers him dropping his Pure Sovereign to address them in Africa ]

SENT: 08:34 PM
Good evening, Chief. Maybe it's for the best as well. You should have some time with your wife and your kid. I read that a father's presence even while the child is still in the womb is very beneficial for the baby. The baby knows his or her father's there for her.

On another note: Have I been benched from Operation HECATON as well, sir?

[tagabigay]

[It's a little terrible at how he jumps at the chance to answer whoever just texted him immediately.

Yes, Alex. Yes, Ali. He knows he needs a life.]

SENT: 8:35 PM
Good evening. That is good advice to consider, yes. Tala and I have decided to use this time to be with each other more, as she is planning on taking a leave as well.

As for your query: technically speaking, we have. Inquisitors Brennan and Hawke will be handling things in our stead, together with Oyama and Mordechai.

[atlas_shrugged]

SENT: 08:37 PM
I guess they'll call us when the need arises. Or you can always pull rank when you see fit; although I hope you won't have to except in the most dire situations.

That's great news, sir. No point fighting the war if we don't have anything to come back to, or if the ones we come back to don't know us anymore.

[ It's true. Sometimes Brig has wondered why the Leitman's stayed with him all this time. It was only really M that Brig saved. J didn't have to take up her mother's torch and stay with him. He was barely ever there, really. Visiting only when he could. Like an OFW sending money home to his family.

Seeing the other side of the Chief has made him more invested in following this man. More curious about him as well. As someone told Brig before: "Files only tell so much of the story". ]

[tagabigay]

[Those words strike him more than he'll ever let on. Perhaps he'll tell you more about it someday, in detail.]

SENT: 8:39 PM
That's why the best of us do what we do. No point in winning a war if you end up destroying what you were trying to protect in the first place.

On that note, how is your family?

[Because they ARE your family, Brigade. A surname is just a surname until you make it something else altogether.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ He's read the Chief's file. But, yes, files will only tell you so much. And it's a topic better left in-person, and at Eli's own initiative. ]

SENT: 08:41 PM
We'll win, Chief. The different wars at different fronts.

From messages with J, they're okay, sir. But the first thing I plan to do when I get back to Falner is stay at home and stay with them. Already forming this month's schedule in my head; I've set two 3-hour, non-negotiable family time slots. I'll work the rest of my day around those. Sunday's are now completely family day.

[ He's suddenly itching for another drink. And a walk. Depending on the Chief's next text, he might just invite the boss for a walk around cape-town with bottles in brownbags. ]

[tagabigay]

SENT: 8:43 PM
That's a good move - I'm sure Miss Leitman will appreciate it.

Have you spoken to Inquisitor Vice regarding Methuselah operations within the Philippines?

[Because Jessie is in charge now: not him.]

[atlas_shrugged]

SENT: 08:45 PM
Yeah, she's been trying to tie me down since we arrived in Falner way back. But she kinda' loosened the grip when she understood it was making me uncomfortable. Not uncomfortable now. Looking forward to it really.

I have, sir. I plan to participate in Methuselah's day-to-day. He asked me to speak with Kaiser Batumbakal. Nice woman, I take it? A personal pick of yours?

[ Really itching to ask for a drink. Maybe after the next reply. ]

[tagabigay]

SENT: 8:46 PM
Actually, she's one of the children of my old bodyguard, and a man whom I used to view as my surrogate father. She's a great person.

[Amado had stood with him since he was young, had believed in him when few others would have, and served him and the Vigil down to the very end. He still visits that one's grave, occasionally in Tala's company.]

[atlas_shrugged]

SENT: 08:48 PM
I'm looking forward to meeting her and working under her then, sir.

You doing anything tonight? Wanna' go take a walk and brownbag drinks while we're at it? You can tell me about this old bodyguard of yours while we're at it. Seems like a story I'd like to hear.

[ Brig's not sure if drinking on the streets is illegal here near Cape Town. Hopefully it isn't. If it is though, maybe a little harmless "rule-breaking" may be good for the Chief. ]

[tagabigay]

[The invitation honestly surprises him. It's a good kind of surprise, though.]

SENT: 8:49 PM
I'm completely free.

Sure. Let's meet up.

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Truly, Brig is surprised too. He had expected Eli to still be busy even if the bench order was still fresh. Jump at the chance, Brigade! ]

SENT: 08:50 PM
Meet you side of the base headed to Cape Town, Chief!:)

[ He refills his two rum flasks with some drinks he bought at Two Blue Drinks earlier with Taning. And pockets in his coat a couple of other bottles which he hides in brownbags. He heads out to meet the Chief and waits for him at the designated base entrance ]

[tagabigay]

[Elias arrives promptly enough, and he's actually walking this time. He's puffing on a cigarette as he comes up to Brigade and nods, looking as calm and unruffled as ever.]

Hey.

[One would think that the laughing child during that engagement out in the badlands of Africa and this linefacey young man were two entirely different people, really.]

am I gonna' get to meet his dodo??????:D::D:D:D:D hahaha

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brig throws him a grin and holds out one of the brownbagged bottles he had in his coat. Jameson Irish Whiskey. Something strong but suave, laid back but not too "gentlemanly". ]

Well this is a sight. I usually expect you to just pop into view out of my peripheral vision, Chief. [ He lets out a chuckle ]

Shall we?

i am not sure! possibly later in the thread. :))

[tagabigay]

[Taking the bottle with a smile and a nod.]

Yeah, well... I think I've used more than enough magic for the day. Let's go.

Didi~ hihihi

[atlas_shrugged]

I was planning on us walking, but if you're tired and want to take a cab, Chief, I can flag one down for us. [ If the Chief's tired, Brig doesn't want him to exert himself too much ]

[tagabigay]

It's all right. I like walking.

[He likes it just as much as he likes porting around, which is actually one of the main reasons why he just ports all over the place. Makes getting from Point A to B easier.]

[atlas_shrugged]

Walk it is. [ He takes a swig from his brownbagged whiskey and starts to walk alongside the Chief ] How are you, sir?

[ Much like Brig and running then. Brig only likes vehicular transport when it's faster, or if he's with other people. Efficiency. And the wind in his face actually. ]

[tagabigay]

I'm all right. Trying to keep myself occupied with things that don't ping on my wife's radar.

[And unfortunately, MANY things ping on Tala's radar right now.]

How about you?

[atlas_shrugged]

Good luck with that, sir. [ A jest full of concern ] She only has in mind what she thinks is best for you, I believe.

My end, sir? All right enough. Still a bit rattled about what happened to Kaz but Hikaru listened to me and helped me piece my thoughts together.

[tagabigay]

Did he?

[Blinking at that, then smiling a little.]

I'm not too surprised to hear that. He looks out for his own, especially when something fucked up happens.

[atlas_shrugged]

He did, sir. [ Brig smiles as he remembers Hikaru coming up to the roof with a six-pack ]

I'm guessing he did a lot of that for you and the others too, when you were younger?

[tagabigay]

Yes. I'm not sure if you've looked into things the same way Joshua LaRue has, but... he's the reason why Wolf's Choice, the Rockin' Rollas, and the Pack came together. He continued to look after us long after we each came together.

[atlas_shrugged]

I've kept an ear for the stories that go around, sir. And have read what files are out there for public consumption.

[ A swig ] He pops up in nearly every dossier I've read. Files will only tell you so much though, so I connect the dots with my personal experiences with him.

All the pieces point toward him being good to everybody as he is to us Hounds. More so with you Big Three Blades he's come to consider as family.

[tagabigay]

[Nods. You can tell from the look on his face that he really, really likes Hikaru.]

I view him as a brother. I would like to think that he feels the same way.

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brig smiles at the sign of emotion on the Chief's face ]

With how you two carried yourselves at Ebi-san's sushi train, I'm pretty sure he does, sir.

[tagabigay]

[Ah, yeah, It does come out in the small ways...]

He's looking a lot better these days. I suppose I have you guys to thank for that.

[atlas_shrugged]

I like to think it's all him, sir. And we're just good company. [ Brig takes a swig of his brownbagged whiskey bottle ] That one is stronger than he thinks.

[tagabigay]

[Nods.]

So, you wanted to ask me about Amado.

[There's another guy he doesn't mind expressing genuine fondness for.]

[atlas_shrugged]

I do, sir. Seems like a guy I would like to have met. [ It's the show of fondness on his face ]

[tagabigay]

He's one of the best men I have ever had the honor of knowing, and he is also the reason why I did not end up being killed as a child.

[Saying that with a great amount of love.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ There's a tick. ]

Killed... as a child, sir?

[ This man Amado is immediately a good man in Brig's mind from that statement of the Chief's alone.

Brig remembers the Chief's file. He's read it. But it didn't mention anywhere that he almost died. All Brig recalls was parental neglect. ]

[tagabigay]

[Nods.]

The magic was strong in me at an incredibly young age. The Methuselah was different back then, so there were... concerns.

[atlas_shrugged]

Well, the magic in you still seems very strong right now, sir. [ A chuckle and a swig. Somber though ] Some people wanted to kill you, sir?

[tagabigay]

No, but they were prepared to if things did not go as well as they ought to have.

[And honestly? He gets why. Pragmatic and all.]

[atlas_shrugged]

And Amado kept the sharks at bay, sir?

[ Power. People always want to control or destroy things with power. Brig kind of knows. Hawke kept the sharks away from him when he was younger ]

[tagabigay]

He did. He felt that a boy, Awakened or not, simply needed guidance. He believed in me.

[And Elias wasn't ever going to forget that.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Why couldn't all men be like this man the Chief was telling him about.

He holds his brownbag up for a toast. ] To Amado, sir. I truly wish I could've met him.

[tagabigay]

[Smiling at that, and toasting.]

His children take after him. You'll probably run into them in the future.