[He sighed from his nose when he became aware of Jack's hand moving to comfort him in that old man assurance kind of way. He leaned their heads closer together, resting his cheek more to Jack's temple in response. His hands swept down to stroke the younger man's shoulders and he considered distracting them both with more cookies.
No, they were talking about an important subject. He'd save the distraction for after.]
You do like to make pies about as much as most midwesterners. It's good that we have a potential stable food source to rely on.
[They could talk around the topic a bit, about what property would mean for them both.]
Definitely would need a basement and an attic. Attic could be a sewing room... though what do you think of a barn attachment for Blue and Specter?
Pies, cobblers- you name it and I probably remember one of Ma's recipes.
[The time Jack had spent in the kitchen with her while he was a kid, barely seeing over the countertops and busy with whatever chores he had been given around the house. Times after school or when he got back from an outing with friends. Good memories.
Kept up that motion of his hand on Gabriel's back, head tilted enough to rest there as they were.]
Do some rotation crops, keep the soil good. Growing and hunting ensuring that stable food source- and a barn attachment would be a good idea. Attic with enough space to give you freedom to do with it as you want.
You could have a bunch of those on sale at the Harvest. You know that people would buy them on the way out after a meal.
[He appreciated how much Jack had taken to cooking, baking and distilling. It was enough to keep the younger man busy every day, and there were hardly any worries unless there was too much experimentation with that moonshine. Then he would tucking Jack into the hammock early and having to bed down himself to keep those nightmares at bay.
It seemed to him that this was an idea both of them had been thinking about, but they tried to make it seem like they weren't about to 'settle' and 'retire' in this place at all. They fought the very notion of both, and yet, they both probably knew they needed to.]
You know I'm not much of a farmer, but I can do heavy labor just fine. Hunting is something I also can do well. Figure you might also want a few other... animals for that barn?
Mm, a fresh baked pie or cobbler that's still nice and warm is hard to resist....
[For some people at least, but it wasn't a bad idea. Most of what he brought into the Harvest that wasn't provided by the attached garden came from the farmers he'd gotten friendly with, were more than happy to help supply what was needed. It was a decent connection to make, always be some supply going to the Harvest whether he was around or not.
Fingertips trailed up along the back of Gabriel's neck, just so fingers could creep into his hair, even with it tied back as it was. Slow little scalp massage.]
Together we could keep it running well, get it all how the both of us like well enough. [Somewhere quiet, but still close enough if needed-] A few cows, maybe some goats and sheep?
[For his part, the survival aspect was something that he could fall back on as well as the fact that it would keep them busy. They wouldn't be surrounded by their thoughts in the quiet times, but settling was something he avoided. He hadn't managed it in Deerington, and he wasn't about to start now. Except that he was right here with this ongoing conversation.
His head leaned towards those fingers, and his arms dropped away from Jack's shoulders so that he could slip his arm hands up and under the younger man's shirt. His fingers played over hard muscles and the smoothest of skin that told him where every scar was.]
A distillery in the back somewhere and a green house to get through the winter months. We could become partial suppliers to the Harvest. [He shrugged his shoulders. He'd never had a farm animal before. Annabelle and Specter were the first pets he had ever had.] Whatever you want. I guess I would have to learn how to treat wool....
That reminds me, been a while since I last made a Hoosier Sugar Cream pie.
[Which was a bit more special to Jack; something enjoyed on a cozy weekend with a partner. Honestly, that was something he... wanted to do here, with Gabriel. Funny how things could change and have things like that come t mind rather than the usual.
Kept those fingers moving as the corner of his mouth twitched a bit, Jack letting out a slow breath as he nearly fully relaxed there against and with Gabriel. Taking in those roaming hands, one of his own still rubbing slowly along the older man's back. Honestly, couple of years ago he would have never seen himself like this.
... let alone entertaining this discussion. At least as nothing more than some joking around, not wanting to settle down; feeling like settling down was something he wasn't allowed.]
Mhm, we could. Keep food on our own table- and an actual kitchen for just us to cook in when we wanted to. [Simple things-] Only if you wanted to- can use your own supply there, too.
Hozier pie is something you only do with people you really like, Jack. Maybe someone should make it for you some day.
[Not that he expected the younger man to give up the family recipe for it because if it was anything like the Reyes', certain recipes were closely guarded. He liked to tease that, but often, he'd give up recipes to anyone that dared to ask because it always came with the caveat that he would teach them. He oh so liked telling people what to do sometimes.
His palms smoothed over Jack's sides, feeling the ridges of muscle and dragging his short nails over that skin. Okay, this wasn't a terrible birthday. Jack's hands up the back of his new jacket definitely helped. He leaned in so he could rub their noses together like those sickening lovey-dovey couples.
How far this conversation would go into seriousness was something he didn't know. They liked to toss it around with committing. Guess he knew what he was getting Jack for his birthday.]
We do need a big kitchen, since we both can cook and bake. I bet we could get you a grill out the back and a roasting pit too. [He shrugged.] My great-grandmother did back in Mexico. It can't be that hard to learn.
[Only way to get certain recipes after all, which was only better when you enjoyed the company of the other person of course. Over time here he and Gabe did get pretty damn good at working in a kitchen together; both because the one in the safehouse treehouse was so small, and due to the morning prep when it was just the two of them getting ready at The Wild Harvest.
Was hard not to just relax there, Jack keeping up that slow rubbing along Gabriel's back, fingertips pressing a bit against certain areas to soothe muscles or any possible sneaky aches despite the warmth there.
Jack did chuckle at the rubbing of noses, returning the gesture with just a dramatically played roll of his eyes. This man.]
Grill and roasting pit would be real good to have, yeah. [A soft sound then] Maybe more time consuming than not, but the end results usually are worth it.
We could do that together. It might be better to use the kitchen at the Harvest as ours is...
[He trailed off as he looked towards their little kitchen. It suited their purposes, but it left a lot to be desired as well. This had only supposed to be a safe house they stored their stuff and could meet up, not a permanent residence for two people that could and would cook. Still, working together with Jack doing morning prep or maneuvering as they put together a meal was very domestic.
He shifted with those hands, keeping his thighs nice and snug against the younger man's. He lightly dug his finger tips into Jack's sides before removing one so that he could retrieve another cookie. He took a bite, chewing as he offered it to Jack for the other bite.]
You are the grillmaster. [He was fine with that. He actually benefitted from it.] So it sounds like you're leaning into the idea a bit, hmmm?
[Was easy to just tip his head back a little and- well. They made do with what they had, but...]
You've got a point.
[Funny how the thought of needing a bigger kitchen just added that much more to the mental plans of any sort of home they ended up building together could be. Hell, Jack was putting on a healthier weight because the habit of putting meals together actually had him eating like he should be for the way his body required. Hm.
Easy enough to accept that offered bite of cookie, too—]
Mm, maybe. Hard not to put the picture together talking about it like this.
[He was chewing on his cookie, savoring it. It was cooling down some, but it was still delicious and if they weren't careful, he would probably eat most of the batch that had been made. Thankfully, it was also just as likely he was going to drag Jack to bed for some fun birthday time.
Those hands stroking his back certainly weren't dissuading him from the idea. He leaned in once they had both swallowed their mouthful of cookies so that he could kiss Jack, tasting cookie on his lover's mouth.]
We can put together a little wish list of what we would want and how it might look....
Mhm, and reason when we strategized together we were near unbeatable- still are, honestly.
[Whatever else might've been said, just all the more solidifying that he was both stroking Gabriel's ego a little bit on top of just reaffirming they were much better together- was so easily cut off by that kiss with a hint of chocolate chip cookie for the both of them.
Jack couldn't help how his arms wrapped more around Gabe, fingers curling while grasping at the back of the older man's shoulders under that hoodie. Palms pressed and still moving against muscles there in that embrace.]
We can- later. Know we can get a good view from above some areas if we wanted, too.
That's true. We have strategies that compliment each other, and so far nothing has been able to beat us when we are fighting together.
[It wasn't hard to admit where their strengths were, though he liked to think that they operated very effectively apart. Those excuses were getting harder to come by as history repeated itself with their successes and how much he had come to enjoy Jack's company.
He leaned in with the arms circling him, pressing their chests together even as he still worked Jack's top up so he could have more access to skin. It seemed to be about time that they should be shirtless anyway, so it was about time to get on that.]
Mmm later. And you know Specter is going to make a big scene if we are both on Blue.
[There was of course a low hum of agreement and- well, a subject that was fine left where it was he figured. They did well on their own- but just did better together. Honestly? Jack could admit they were doing even better these days once the trust had been carefully built back up. From both sides. Did them much, much better.
Jack pressed a kiss just against the side of Gabriel's head as his own tipped back just a bit- not stopping him from getting hands there under his shirt at all.]
Can see if he wants to come along and give you a view then.
[They were just proving right now how well they could get on and make things work. After years of breaking down trust with one another, they were finally building it back to how strong it had once been when they were just soldiers of the SEP. If anything, he felt more comfortable with Jack now than he had back then. They had seen so much shit, and Jack was one of the few that he could share the experiences with.
He tipped his head towards those lips, rumbling in his chest in pleasure as he dragged his thumbs over those nipples as he hiked that shirt higher. He ducked his head a bit to pepper kisses on the hardness of Jack's jaw and down that column of neck.]
He will, but he'll make a big scene about it. He's so damn dramatic.
[He gave a light bite to Jack's neck.]
Arms up, handsome. Need this shirt off soon and I'll rip it off of you if I have to.
[Just like another guy he knew- but he wasn't quite going to start teasing Gabriel about that one yet. Oh no, because the older man was making himself someone that was rather distracting as well.
His head tilted a bit for that bite, finally dragging his hands out from under Gabe's hoodie so that Jack was allowing him to drag that shirt up.]
He's the worst companion ever. He defeats any ability to sneak up on things when he's around.
[He might gripe a lot about Specter, but he knew for a fact that they were cut of the same dramatic cloth. It was also a touch mind boggling to him that the little peacock dragon decided to attach to him as he wasn't generally someone that attracted animals. That was Jack's job honestly. Though, apparently the man was rubbing off on him a bit since Annabel was basically attached to him spreading glitter everywhere.
He leaned away as Jack raised his arms so that he could tug up and off that shirt. It was a nice one, so it would have been too bad to rip it. He tossed the material over the arm of the couch - in case they needed it for some strange reason - and then he slid his full hands down the front of Jack's chest.]
It's a nice shirt. Contours to your body to show those muscles. You look better at home without a shirt.
[Far, far more alike the two of them were than Gabriel would likely enjoy having pointed out- maybe some other time he would, just to tease his partner when the mood and timing would play with it well enough. Not right now, far more interested in the direction the other was clearly taking this evening now.
Humming, hands returning right where they had been with a little drag of fingertips for the fun of it.]
Well, I am a man of extraordinary talents. It's one of the reasons that you like me.
[That wasn't it at all, and he knew it. Sometimes he wondered why the hell Jack put up with him aside from the fact that they had a lot of history together. If he sat and thought about it - and he did - he had moments of clarity as to why. They both could be their own worst enemies, but in the end, they were better together.
He leaned into those hands again as his own stroked Jack's skin, rediscovering all the parts of the younger man that he loved so much. His mouth paused to suck a mark into the skin at the side of Jack's neck, knowing it would fade quickly.
At the same time, he shifted to shrug his new jacket off. He set it down next to Jack's abandoned shirt.]
Mmm, you're the boss.
[He shifted more in Jack's lap, sliding his arms around the younger man's shoulders to press their chest together. He added a bite to Jack's earlobe for good measure.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
No, they were talking about an important subject. He'd save the distraction for after.]
You do like to make pies about as much as most midwesterners. It's good that we have a potential stable food source to rely on.
[They could talk around the topic a bit, about what property would mean for them both.]
Definitely would need a basement and an attic. Attic could be a sewing room... though what do you think of a barn attachment for Blue and Specter?
no subject
[The time Jack had spent in the kitchen with her while he was a kid, barely seeing over the countertops and busy with whatever chores he had been given around the house. Times after school or when he got back from an outing with friends. Good memories.
Kept up that motion of his hand on Gabriel's back, head tilted enough to rest there as they were.]
Do some rotation crops, keep the soil good. Growing and hunting ensuring that stable food source- and a barn attachment would be a good idea. Attic with enough space to give you freedom to do with it as you want.
no subject
[He appreciated how much Jack had taken to cooking, baking and distilling. It was enough to keep the younger man busy every day, and there were hardly any worries unless there was too much experimentation with that moonshine. Then he would tucking Jack into the hammock early and having to bed down himself to keep those nightmares at bay.
It seemed to him that this was an idea both of them had been thinking about, but they tried to make it seem like they weren't about to 'settle' and 'retire' in this place at all. They fought the very notion of both, and yet, they both probably knew they needed to.]
You know I'm not much of a farmer, but I can do heavy labor just fine. Hunting is something I also can do well. Figure you might also want a few other... animals for that barn?
no subject
[For some people at least, but it wasn't a bad idea. Most of what he brought into the Harvest that wasn't provided by the attached garden came from the farmers he'd gotten friendly with, were more than happy to help supply what was needed. It was a decent connection to make, always be some supply going to the Harvest whether he was around or not.
Fingertips trailed up along the back of Gabriel's neck, just so fingers could creep into his hair, even with it tied back as it was. Slow little scalp massage.]
Together we could keep it running well, get it all how the both of us like well enough. [Somewhere quiet, but still close enough if needed-] A few cows, maybe some goats and sheep?
no subject
[For his part, the survival aspect was something that he could fall back on as well as the fact that it would keep them busy. They wouldn't be surrounded by their thoughts in the quiet times, but settling was something he avoided. He hadn't managed it in Deerington, and he wasn't about to start now. Except that he was right here with this ongoing conversation.
His head leaned towards those fingers, and his arms dropped away from Jack's shoulders so that he could slip his arm hands up and under the younger man's shirt. His fingers played over hard muscles and the smoothest of skin that told him where every scar was.]
A distillery in the back somewhere and a green house to get through the winter months. We could become partial suppliers to the Harvest. [He shrugged his shoulders. He'd never had a farm animal before. Annabelle and Specter were the first pets he had ever had.] Whatever you want. I guess I would have to learn how to treat wool....
no subject
[Which was a bit more special to Jack; something enjoyed on a cozy weekend with a partner. Honestly, that was something he... wanted to do here, with Gabriel. Funny how things could change and have things like that come t mind rather than the usual.
Kept those fingers moving as the corner of his mouth twitched a bit, Jack letting out a slow breath as he nearly fully relaxed there against and with Gabriel. Taking in those roaming hands, one of his own still rubbing slowly along the older man's back. Honestly, couple of years ago he would have never seen himself like this.
... let alone entertaining this discussion. At least as nothing more than some joking around, not wanting to settle down; feeling like settling down was something he wasn't allowed.]
Mhm, we could. Keep food on our own table- and an actual kitchen for just us to cook in when we wanted to. [Simple things-] Only if you wanted to- can use your own supply there, too.
no subject
[Not that he expected the younger man to give up the family recipe for it because if it was anything like the Reyes', certain recipes were closely guarded. He liked to tease that, but often, he'd give up recipes to anyone that dared to ask because it always came with the caveat that he would teach them. He oh so liked telling people what to do sometimes.
His palms smoothed over Jack's sides, feeling the ridges of muscle and dragging his short nails over that skin. Okay, this wasn't a terrible birthday. Jack's hands up the back of his new jacket definitely helped. He leaned in so he could rub their noses together like those sickening lovey-dovey couples.
How far this conversation would go into seriousness was something he didn't know. They liked to toss it around with committing. Guess he knew what he was getting Jack for his birthday.]
We do need a big kitchen, since we both can cook and bake. I bet we could get you a grill out the back and a roasting pit too. [He shrugged.] My great-grandmother did back in Mexico. It can't be that hard to learn.
no subject
[Only way to get certain recipes after all, which was only better when you enjoyed the company of the other person of course. Over time here he and Gabe did get pretty damn good at working in a kitchen together; both because the one in the safehouse treehouse was so small, and due to the morning prep when it was just the two of them getting ready at The Wild Harvest.
Was hard not to just relax there, Jack keeping up that slow rubbing along Gabriel's back, fingertips pressing a bit against certain areas to soothe muscles or any possible sneaky aches despite the warmth there.
Jack did chuckle at the rubbing of noses, returning the gesture with just a dramatically played roll of his eyes. This man.]
Grill and roasting pit would be real good to have, yeah. [A soft sound then] Maybe more time consuming than not, but the end results usually are worth it.
no subject
[He trailed off as he looked towards their little kitchen. It suited their purposes, but it left a lot to be desired as well. This had only supposed to be a safe house they stored their stuff and could meet up, not a permanent residence for two people that could and would cook. Still, working together with Jack doing morning prep or maneuvering as they put together a meal was very domestic.
He shifted with those hands, keeping his thighs nice and snug against the younger man's. He lightly dug his finger tips into Jack's sides before removing one so that he could retrieve another cookie. He took a bite, chewing as he offered it to Jack for the other bite.]
You are the grillmaster. [He was fine with that. He actually benefitted from it.] So it sounds like you're leaning into the idea a bit, hmmm?
no subject
You've got a point.
[Funny how the thought of needing a bigger kitchen just added that much more to the mental plans of any sort of home they ended up building together could be. Hell, Jack was putting on a healthier weight because the habit of putting meals together actually had him eating like he should be for the way his body required. Hm.
Easy enough to accept that offered bite of cookie, too—]
Mm, maybe. Hard not to put the picture together talking about it like this.
no subject
[He was chewing on his cookie, savoring it. It was cooling down some, but it was still delicious and if they weren't careful, he would probably eat most of the batch that had been made. Thankfully, it was also just as likely he was going to drag Jack to bed for some fun birthday time.
Those hands stroking his back certainly weren't dissuading him from the idea. He leaned in once they had both swallowed their mouthful of cookies so that he could kiss Jack, tasting cookie on his lover's mouth.]
We can put together a little wish list of what we would want and how it might look....
no subject
[Whatever else might've been said, just all the more solidifying that he was both stroking Gabriel's ego a little bit on top of just reaffirming they were much better together- was so easily cut off by that kiss with a hint of chocolate chip cookie for the both of them.
Jack couldn't help how his arms wrapped more around Gabe, fingers curling while grasping at the back of the older man's shoulders under that hoodie. Palms pressed and still moving against muscles there in that embrace.]
We can- later. Know we can get a good view from above some areas if we wanted, too.
[Blue was good for that, after all.]
no subject
[It wasn't hard to admit where their strengths were, though he liked to think that they operated very effectively apart. Those excuses were getting harder to come by as history repeated itself with their successes and how much he had come to enjoy Jack's company.
He leaned in with the arms circling him, pressing their chests together even as he still worked Jack's top up so he could have more access to skin. It seemed to be about time that they should be shirtless anyway, so it was about time to get on that.]
Mmm later. And you know Specter is going to make a big scene if we are both on Blue.
no subject
Jack pressed a kiss just against the side of Gabriel's head as his own tipped back just a bit- not stopping him from getting hands there under his shirt at all.]
Can see if he wants to come along and give you a view then.
no subject
He tipped his head towards those lips, rumbling in his chest in pleasure as he dragged his thumbs over those nipples as he hiked that shirt higher. He ducked his head a bit to pepper kisses on the hardness of Jack's jaw and down that column of neck.]
He will, but he'll make a big scene about it. He's so damn dramatic.
[He gave a light bite to Jack's neck.]
Arms up, handsome. Need this shirt off soon and I'll rip it off of you if I have to.
no subject
[Just like another guy he knew- but he wasn't quite going to start teasing Gabriel about that one yet. Oh no, because the older man was making himself someone that was rather distracting as well.
His head tilted a bit for that bite, finally dragging his hands out from under Gabe's hoodie so that Jack was allowing him to drag that shirt up.]
Should probably try keeping this one.
no subject
[He might gripe a lot about Specter, but he knew for a fact that they were cut of the same dramatic cloth. It was also a touch mind boggling to him that the little peacock dragon decided to attach to him as he wasn't generally someone that attracted animals. That was Jack's job honestly. Though, apparently the man was rubbing off on him a bit since Annabel was basically attached to him spreading glitter everywhere.
He leaned away as Jack raised his arms so that he could tug up and off that shirt. It was a nice one, so it would have been too bad to rip it. He tossed the material over the arm of the couch - in case they needed it for some strange reason - and then he slid his full hands down the front of Jack's chest.]
It's a nice shirt. Contours to your body to show those muscles. You look better at home without a shirt.
[He leaned in to kiss and suck on Jack's neck.]
We going to do this with my jacket on?
[He totally would and not care if it was weird.]
no subject
[Far, far more alike the two of them were than Gabriel would likely enjoy having pointed out- maybe some other time he would, just to tease his partner when the mood and timing would play with it well enough. Not right now, far more interested in the direction the other was clearly taking this evening now.
Humming, hands returning right where they had been with a little drag of fingertips for the fun of it.]
I'll be sure to keep that in mind for you-
[Head tipping before there was an amused snort.]
Probably better without it on.
no subject
[That wasn't it at all, and he knew it. Sometimes he wondered why the hell Jack put up with him aside from the fact that they had a lot of history together. If he sat and thought about it - and he did - he had moments of clarity as to why. They both could be their own worst enemies, but in the end, they were better together.
He leaned into those hands again as his own stroked Jack's skin, rediscovering all the parts of the younger man that he loved so much. His mouth paused to suck a mark into the skin at the side of Jack's neck, knowing it would fade quickly.
At the same time, he shifted to shrug his new jacket off. He set it down next to Jack's abandoned shirt.]
Mmm, you're the boss.
[He shifted more in Jack's lap, sliding his arms around the younger man's shoulders to press their chest together. He added a bite to Jack's earlobe for good measure.]
Mattress or hammock?