ArchivedLogs:Counsel

Counsel
Dramatis Personae Jax, Micah, Dusk
In Absentia	18 May 2014 Dusk visiting and...working out legal situations. (Part of the Perfectus TP.)
Location <XS> Forest
Quiet and shady, the trees rise all around here high and thick. In stillness, woodland creatures make appearances, though sudden noises scare them back into the cover. Dappled sunlight filters down between the thick foliage, and the ground underfoot is heavily overgrown, though here and there paths have been worn, by deer or years of students wandering familiar trails. It's a warm day, sunny and bright; Jax has changed since getting back in from church, suit traded out for knee-length black denim shorts, knee-high brightly coloured mismatched socks, shiny-shimmery purple Doc Martens, a purple and black tank top with a gauzy-light silver shirt over top. Silver-edged blue eyepatch with a sparkling silver star in its center. A wealth of jangling metal bangles on his wrists. The fresh chimaera tattoo on his skull is vivid and bright, and he moves just a little stiffly as he walks through the trees. He has a mesh tote bag held in one hand, weighed down with the food inside it. He's singing quietly as he moves deeper into the forest -- "Wonders", softly beneath his breath. Micah is tagging along on this little venture, a travel picnic blanket folded up with its strap over his arm. He never /was/ dressed for church, but rather in his typical not-at-work attire of a plain T-shirt (buttercup yellow today) and jeans with old sneakers. He has his olive newsboy cap on to offer his eyes some slight shade from the sun, auburn hair sticking out messily from beneath it all at angles. He reaches for Jax's hand as they walk, giving it a little squeeze. "-- cannot leave the cages locked, or well enough alone. I can only be myself when I am so far from home." Dusk picks up the song Jax is singing, deeper voice chiming in from somewhere overhead. He's taken up a perch in a maple tree, a dozen or so feet off the ground. He's likely been inside at some point in the past little while -- he's changed out his shorts for a new pair, lightweight and grey, and his hair is actually combed, his beard trimmed down to a neatened state although he hasn't actually /shaved/. His wings droop down to either side of the branch he's seated on, somewhat longer than they should be where they hang down towards the ground below. "It's the wonders that I'm after, even if I have to bleed --" Jax rocks to a stop when he hears Dusk's voice up above, his fingers squeezing tighter around Micah's as he tips his head upwards. "Hey, honey-honey. Brought you brunch. Y'up for some company with your food?" "Hey, Dusk!" Micah calls up at the sound of the familiar voice, tilting his head back to regard the other man. "An' by 'up for some company', I'm hopin' you're /down/ for some company. 'Cause if I'm gettin' up there, somebody's gonna hafta /haul/ me up there. M'definitely not in climbin' shape." His hand gives Jax's another reassuring squeeze in return. Dusk's singing trails off, his head tipping down to squint towards the other two. "You -- want to eat with me?" He sounds startled by this, though for a moment there's a small hopeful curl to his lips. It fades away, his wings twitching at his back. "I mean, you don't. Have to stay." Jax's cheeks flush dark, and he leans slightly into Micah's side. He offers Dusk a small smile, nodding once. "I want to eat with you. I'd like it kinda a lot. Got some eggs an' hash. An' a lotta mocha definitely can't drink it all ourselves." Micah finds a nice square of ground and spreads his picnic blanket out over it. "Yep. Been missin' Sunday brunch with Dusk time. It'll be nice. C'mon down." He finds a spot on the blanket, then pats it beside him. "Sit," he adds softly, eyes on Jax this time. Dusk still hesitates, looking down at Jax, but after these reassurances he nods. He crouches to grip the branch with his good arm, other shoulder largely healed but being favoured still out of habit by now. Swinging down, his wings flare out wide as he drops to the ground, teeth clenched as he lands in a crouch beside the blanket. 'Thanks,' he signs, eyes flicking between Jax and Micah. They linger on Jax, though, wings slowly and a little awkwardly folding back in behind him. "I'd -- like that. Too. Are you --" He looks down at the blanket, somewhat uncertain as he moves to take a seat on its edge. Jax sets down his bag, watching Dusk with a small inhale, a deeper flush at that spread of wings. "That don't never stop bein' impressive. Are they --" His brows furrow faintly as he watches Dusk's wings fold again. His smile brightens, and he moves to kneel where Micah pats, settling gingerly back to sit on his heels. Only then does he start unpacking the bag, cardboard takeout boxes marked with initials in purple Sharpie. D, M, J. He sets them in front of their respective owners before withdrawing two large thermoses. "One's got cranberry juice. I don't -- actually remember which is which," he admits with a blush. "An' I'm good. Really. I've missed --" He gestures almost shyly to Dusk. Dusk's descent from the tree catches Micah's eye for awhile, as well. He watches until the other man settles on the blanket. When Jax kneels next to him, Micah reaches out a hand to rub at his back. He lets his husband take care of the food and drink delivery. "Well, figure if one's delicious mocha an' the other's delicious juice, s'gonna be a pleasant surprise no matter which one y'end up with." His teeth meet with his lip watching the shy-blushing interaction. "Y'can give 'im a hug if y'want, honey," he informs Jax in a slightly lowered voice. "I know y'got a little stockpile built up." "Doesn't feel impressive." Dusk's wings fidget restless at his back. "Still strange, you know? Like just -- a little. /Off/. Kinda been. Murder on the muscles back --" He waves a hand over his shoulder. "Feel too heavy. Haven't really. Quite gotten the hang of -- flying again yet it's --" /His/ cheeks darken, too, eyes dropping to look at the container that is pushed towards him. 'Thanks,' he signs again. He peeks back up from beneath a thick floppy fringe of dark hair, watching Jax uncertainly. One wing curls -- just /slightly/ outwards, not actually reaching much /towards/ Jax but opening in tentative invitation all the same. "Prob'ly -- take a while t'get used t'your. Body bein' -- your body again." Jax's breath catches, a shiver rippling up his spine at the rubbing against his back. He leans back into it with a very small whimper, his head bowing. He nods to Micah, scooting forward on his knees to accept that invitation; his arms curl around beneath Dusk's wings in a slow but gradually tighter hug, his head tipping forward to press against the other man's good shoulder. "Love you," he whispers, drawing in a deep breath against Dusk's skin. "I've saved up /so/ many hugs." "Yeah, it takes a good while for your body t'get used to...major limb changes. An' alterin' your movement patterns at all seems t'trigger some serious muscle soreness. Y'wanna back rub after food?" Micah falls quiet, then, letting the others have their moment uninterrupted unless something particularly /warrants/ interruption. "That -- would be very awesome." Dusk's wing curls back in just as slowly, wrapping softly against Jax's back and cradling the other man against him. He bows his head, lips pressing gently to Jax's head in a safely un-inked stretch of skin. His eyes close, wing rubbing slow and gentle against the other man's back; by the time he opens his his eyes again they're glistening brightly. 'Love you.' It's signed with one hand, somewhat lopsidedly. And then, 'Sorry. I love you. I'm sorry. I love you.' "I know," Jax whispers, against Dusk's shoulder. "I know, honey." He trembles as Dusk's wing curls in, back tensing before he nestles into the fuzzy-soft blanketing. "He does give good backrub. I give good backrub." His hands slide up, fingers kneading slowly against Dusk's shoulders. "Should eat, eggs don't. Stay great." Though he isn't moving, just nuzzling his cheek against the front of Dusk's shoulder. "Could just do /all/ the back rubs. Prob'ly could use it." Micah blinks several times before busying himself with opening his take-out box and locating a fork to poke at his omelette. 'Sorry,' Dusk signs again, and, 'love you. Love you love you love you.' The glistening in his eyes spills over, tears streaking down his cheeks. His wing presses in at the back of Jax's head, brushing against his scalp. It takes a moment before he finally lets go, wing tucking against his back as he reluctantly settles back away from Jax into a crouch. "Right. Right, yeah, that'd. Be." He rubs his palm against his cheek, signing 'sorry' again with his other hand. Jax presses a kiss to Dusk's shoulder and moves back to Micah's side, his eye a little bright and his breathing a little unsteady. He reaches back into the bag for utensils to hand to Dusk -- together with a small soft-sided cooler, two packets of blood tucked inside. He folds up the bag, emptied now, to set aside, and opens his own container to poke absently at his grits and tofu benedict. "... you been sleepin' out here, sweetie? It gets cold. At night." "No, honey, it's okay," Micah answers the last silent apology. "It's a...thing. S'okay." His hand immediately seeks out Jax's back when his husband returns, rubbing in small circles there. "I'd been thinkin' we could maybe get you a sleepin' bag, at least. Tents are...prob'ly miserable for wings an' maybe defeatin' the purpose of you bein' out here t'begin with, dunno." He breaks off a bite of omelette to chew on. Dusk pounces on the cooler before his food, opening it hastily to pull out one of the packets, fangs sinking into it with a hungry growl. His eyes flutter closed, mouth closing against the plastic to suck at it greedily. He nods quickly in answer to the question, one shoulder lifting in a small shrug. "Yeah," he finally pulls enough away from the packet to say. "It's not so bad. Better when it's dry." He closes his lips against the plastic again, wings shivering at his back. "-- the purpose?" he finally asks after another long swallow. "I don't -- know what's. The -- purpose." Jax quivers, leaning heavily back into Micah's hand with another small whimper. He breathes slowly, pushing his scramble around with his fork. "I think the purpose is jus' to. Be somewhere you're comfortable? I don't know. You got a room back in the mansion if y'want to --" He gestures back over his shoulder. He presses his back more firmly up against Micah's hand, looking back over at Dusk. "There's somethin' else we gotta talk t'you about too, honey-honey." Micah nods with Jax's comment. "If you're feelin' better with more...space or openness or whatever. Didn't wanna be offerin' things that are more closed in. That kinda...thing. Whatever you're comfortable with, for now." He sighs when Jax brings up the other-thing, letting his fork fall idle in his takeout box. "It's 'bout the hunter y'ran into in the woods. Would y'rather wait 'til you've eaten t'talk about it? Or get it over with?" His hand stays firm against Jax's back, continuing its small circles. Dusk sucks the blood pack dry, reaching for the second one as soon as he finishes the first. 'Not comfortable,' he signs with a frown, the packet dangling from his lips. 'Not --' His wings shift again, restless and stiff. 'Can talk.' His brows crease at the mention of the hunter, furrowing deeply as his shoulders tense. 'Hunter okay?' He echoes this aloud a moment later, somewhat muffled with the packet of blood still hanging from his mouth. "... s'he alright?" Slowly, Jax's back relaxes beneath Micah's hand. His breathing is still very carefully deep, forced slow and steady as he presses into the touch. "Been in the hospital," he answers Dusk quietly. "But he told the police you done jus' attack him. Unprovoked." Micah's fingers curl in to press nails gently to Jax's skin, well away from any of his new ink, scritching lightly. "He's kinda conveniently leavin' out the part where he shot an' stabbed you first. So, there's a warrant." His eyes stay fixed on Dusk, gaging reactions. "Regan found a lawyer who wants t'help, that she thinks'll be good for it. But we gotta set up a meetin' with 'im for you t'discuss what your options are. What's the best way t'go about things. 'Cause right now the hunter's story's goin' unchallenged the way he's tellin' it." Dusk's brows furrow deeper. He lifts his hand, fingertips pressing in against the red healing flesh where the bullet tore through his shoulder. He shakes his head slowly. 'No, I didn't -- he shot --' He tugs the blood packet from his lips. "No, that's. He -- I got shot, right?" Now he just sounds confused. The press of nails draws a very small purr from Jax, and he finally picks up his fork to take a proper bite of his food. "You was hurt bad when the kids found you," he agrees with Dusk. "You /was/ shot. Did a number on your leg, too. -- Meetin' with the lawyer ain't committin' you to nothin'. He'll jus' have a better idea than any of us what's -- what's good directions t'go from here." "S'exactly that. Just talkin' an' figurin' out what t'do. With a person as knows better'n we do," Micah confirms of the lawyer plan. "B thinks the dragonflies should have footage. Of what your wounds looked like when they found you. Maybe...it might help you t'look at it, too. T'help remind y'what happened an' which things were real an' all. Then maybe you can meet with the lawyer? Sounds like he's willin' t'come t'you. So if there's somewhere that you'd feel least uncomfortable meetin'. Maybe that can be arranged." "Not hurt now." Dusk's frown remains. His wings press down against the grass behind him, his thin weight rocking back against where they've braced. 'Don't have. Lawyer.' He lifts the packet back to his lips, shoulders tightening as he sucks at it again. "I can't -- there's a /warrant/? Are they -- if they're. Looking I --" "You heal up pretty good. But the kids got --" Jax gestures to Micah in indication. "Got it on camera when they. Found you." He reaches for one of the thermoses, uncapping it to take a tentative sip. "It's okay. The lawyer's been found for you already. Sweetie, d'you need a minute? We're -- gonna be with you through all this, aright?" "Right, sugar, you heal fast. That's why we thought maybe the footage from B's dragonflies'd be helpful. T'show what things looked like 'fore y'had the chance t'heal up s'fast as y'do." Micah nods along with Jax again. "They're lookin', hon. But that's why folks been tryin' t'help. An' found a lawyer. Who y'should really talk to on account of they /are/ lookin' an it'd be best t'have a game plan. Jax's right, though, y'got lotsa folks who're gonna be with you through this." 'Should go,' Dusk signs, frown still deep as he starts to push to his feet. "Turn myself -- I don't. They can't come /here/ if they're looking -- I should just. Just. Just --" His wings wrap in around himself, fingers squeezing at the pack of blood he holds. "The kids are all. Here it'd be a huge -- mess if." 'I need --' His head shakes, and he presses the plastic back into his mouth, sucking at it harder. "Dusk --" Jax's eye widens. "No, sweetie. I mean, yes, maybe that'd be best, but you don't gotta go /immediately/. You can wait an' talk t'the lawyer an' make sure you got proper. Counsel if turnin' yourself in is what y'want t do. Y'don't jus' gotta run off. Jus' give yourself a chance t'get a proper plan in order, yeah?" "Y'shouldn't do /anythin'/ 'til y'talk t'the lawyer first. An' make sure y'got a lawyer with you when y'do go in." Micah chews at his lip for a moment before continuing. "You're still gettin' confused easy, honey. Y'can't just go in without a plan an' a representative 'cause they'll get you all mixed up an' it won't go well. Okay? Please just wait an' talk t'this person. You tell us when an' where an' how. But please talk to 'im?" Dusk's brows just stay rumpled, his eyes narrowed and his shoulders hunched inward. He lowers himself slowly back down into a crouch, finishing off the second packet and then just sucking at it as the plastic crumples inward. "But the kids -- I don't want. Anything --" His fingers curl in tight fisting clench around the empty plastic. He just nods, now, numb and a little blank as he settles back onto the blanket. 'OK,' he signs. 'OK.' "Okay," Jax says aloud, reaching forward to brush his fingertips lightly down against one wing and then sitting back on his heels beside Micah again. "They're gonna be in touch about when's good times, aright? But y'can do this anywhere you're comfortable. How about y'have some'a your breakfast, meanwhile?" "They haven't sent anybody so far, honey. They don't got any real reason t'look here. An' gettin' warrants for goin' through /schools/ ain't real politically favourable, usually. But we can do this quick an' get movin' on it if you're concerned, okay? You just give us the where an' we'll try for as soon as possible on the when." Micah gives Jax's back one last pat before moving over (still within arm's reach) to offer Dusk a hug and nuzzle his head in against him. "It's gonna be okay, sugar. We'll get it figured. Lawyer'll help. You're in the right on this, an' we'll get the folks we need t'fight for you. We love you an' we're behind you."