Write off: battle two
Write Off; battle two
Who: Ethan and Pyro
Where: Camp
What: Pyro proves he's not a person to be messed with.
Rating: Adult - just for language.
It’s been a long night, one filled with midnight course runs and soldiers who simply seem to lack the ability to put on their full combat gear with enough speed. Ethan’s run the same drill over and over and over and over for nearly six hours on little more than four hours sleep. He then had to attend a six am meeting with the General regarding the new camp before detouring past the mess hall for a well earned cooked breakfast. Yet the tables had all been packed out with tired soldiers, given the day off before running the drills again tonight for 12 hours in the cold, dark and wet course.
Obviously the only free seat is on a table with Allerdyce. One of the newest additions to the camp, sent to join before the rest of the mutants arrive but called out on missions already. Not that Ethan really minds, the kid (and yes he’ll refer to Allerdyce as a kid if he wants to) has already found an interesting collection of ways to push Ethan’s buttons without even really trying. He’s tired and about ready to stagger back to his room and sleep but Allerdyce seems to be in the mood to rile Sykes.
Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh.
He just wants to finish his breakfast in peace.
“Allerdyce?”
“Yes Sir?”
“Cease and desist with that incessant noise.”
“What noise Sir?” Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh.
“That irritating noise with your lighter.”
Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh.
“What. This one?” St John holds up the lighter in question and grins at Ethan who returns the look with a levelled glare of irritation. Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh.
“Yes Allerdyce that lighter.”
“You mean this noise Sir?” Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh.
“In what way is it irritating you sir? Is it the opening and closing of the lid?” Snap. Click. Fwoosh. “Or the sound of the fuel igniting?” Snap. Click. Fwoosh.
“All of it Allerdyce.”
“Really? I am surprised Sir. I found the sound quite soothing. Meditating even.”
Leaning across the table Ethan grabs Allerdyce’s wrist and yanks the younger guy half way across the surface. The mess hall mostly falls silent as everyone turns to watch the unfolding scene. “Allerdyce?”
“Yes Sir?”
“In a minute I’m gonna shove that lighter somewhere very uncomfortable and unhygienic. Are we clear?”
“Yes Sir. Crystal clear Sir.”
“Excellent. Now,” Ethan lets go of Allerdyce and settles back into his seat, gaze returning to settle on his rapidly cooling breakfast. “Fuck. Off.”
“And where would you like me to fuck off too Sir?”
Ethan glances up, an eyebrow arched as he stares at Allerdyce. Never, in all his years, has Ethan ever met someone quite like St John. And Ethan truly hopes that he never does again in his remaining lifetime.
“If I answered that I might be brought before a Court Marshal for questionable ethics, so perhaps you should go see Richards and offer your assistance.”
- 5 Hours later -
Ethan is awoken by the sound of the fire alarm, the piercing wail of the siren which means there are only ten seconds before the sprinklers - cold water starts to rain down from the sprinkler system and within moments Ethan is soaked, bedding sticking to his skin as he tries to peel the sheet up and dress as quickly as he can whilst functioning on a few hours sleep. He stumbles out into the hall, watching as the last of the stragglers head down the stairs ahead of him and he follows, trying to button up his shirt with numb fingers as he blinks water out of his eyes.
Thankfully it would seem the soldiers have actually been listening and executed their training to the letter, stood in dormitory lines as they are yelled at by various military personnel who all look equally bedraggled.
It takes Ethan another thirty minutes to finally get some sense out of anyone and it would seem that there was no fire, the sprinkler system had been however turned on manually and jammed. It took Richards being forcibly dragged from under the hood of her latest humvee creation to turn them off, whilst giving Ethan an appreciative smile at his wet and bedraggled look.
Yes, he does have odd boots on and his shirt still hasn’t managed to dry yet because he’s been forced to remain outside whilst the rest of the soldiers were herded into the mess hall to dry off and warm up.
And then Ethan spots him.
Allerdyce.
Or maybe that should be that Ethan hears him first, the distinct Snap. Click. Fwoosh. That accompanies Allerdyce everywhere he goes leading Sykes to where the younger mutant is crouched between the buildings in an alcove.
“Oh! Hello Sir. You alright? You seem to be a bit damp.” The shit eating grin is firmly in place, as the lighter in tucked safely into his pocket. At least Ethan can be thankful over that. Ethan doesn’t waste any time as he reaches out to grab Allerdyce by the collar and haul him out from between the buildings, he’s fuming because normally Ethan isn’t a gambling man but right about now he’d put his money on St John being somehow involved; if not the perpetrator in this case.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t just kick your ass all the way to General Stone’s office?!”
“It wasn’t me Sir.”
“Oh yeah? Prove it!”
“Actually I think you’ll find it’s innocent until proven guilty, not guilty until proven innocent. So... yeah. I don’t have to prove I did it because I didn’t. Sir.”
“Allerdyce.”
“Sir! I swear on my life.”
“Your life isn’t worth anything to me. Swear on your lighter.”
“Fine!” Allerdyce pulls the lighter out of his pocket and makes a big show of pretending to swear on it like a Holy Bible. “I swear on my lighter that I will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Sir.”
Thing is that Sykes has already learnt quite a bit about this petulant but powerful mutant and that is his lighter is not something to be messed with. There is a slim chance that this could be a double bluff and than Allerdyce is hoping that Ethan will be fooled but... no. He’s going to give St John the benefit of the doubt. For once.
“Fine. Get out of my sight.”
As Allerdyce wanders off, no real sense of urgency pervading the guy Ethan sighs and rubs at his temples wondering if maybe he is taking on more than he can handle. An entire camp of mutants? Heck, if they all end up being like Allerdyce there is a chance that Ethan will be putting in for early retirement or reassignment to another country.
Iraq maybe?
Jogging up the wet stairs Ethan pushes the door of his room open to find that someone has been in and built a mini-shrine to the General on his desk. Complete with a bobble head that has a picture of the General’s face attached to it, swaying from side to side as it taunts Ethan with its cheesy grin.
“ALLERDYCE!” His yelling is futile though as there is no-one in the building to hear him.
Or so Ethan thought.
The murmur of voices echoes up the stairs and they’re obviously surprised by Ethan’s outburst and by the sounds of it the General is with them too. For fuck sake.
There is no way in hell that Ethan is going to manage to clear all this crap off of his desk because he can hear the General coming up the stairs now, no doubt coming to investigate the commotion and find out what is going on. Sweeping an arm across his desk Ethan shoves what he can onto the floor, ripping posters and pictures till the wall above his desk looks less like a shrine and more like a crazed person has been at it.
The door to his room swings open and Ethan stands to attention, saluting both General Stone and Major Stryker as they peer around his room and both stare puzzled at his wall.
“Everything alright Captain?”
“Yes General, everything is fine thank you.” Ethan kicks at an errant wobble head as it rolls out from under the desk.
“Good to hear. I take it that this was all part of your training regime. Excellent idea indeed Sykes, a perfect way to keep those soldiers on their toes.” The General doesn’t seem to notice Ethan’s abortive move but the Major does, and he seems to go to take a step further into Sykes room.
“Thank you General! I like to ensure that the soldiers are prepared when they least expect it. Perhaps I can reconvene with you and the Major in my office in about ten minutes. Discuss any matters further perhaps?”
The General seems pleased with this idea and strides off, talking loudly at the Major over his shoulder. Sykes and Stryker share a look, Ethan can only assume that the Major is trying to give him a “I’ve got my eye on you” look but right now? Ethan doesn’t give a flying fuck.
When the coast is truly clear Ethan bangs his head against the nearest wall repeatedly, wondering what it was that he has done in a previous life to be punished quite like this.
Who: Ethan and Pyro
Where: Camp
What: Pyro proves he's not a person to be messed with.
Rating: Adult - just for language.
It’s been a long night, one filled with midnight course runs and soldiers who simply seem to lack the ability to put on their full combat gear with enough speed. Ethan’s run the same drill over and over and over and over for nearly six hours on little more than four hours sleep. He then had to attend a six am meeting with the General regarding the new camp before detouring past the mess hall for a well earned cooked breakfast. Yet the tables had all been packed out with tired soldiers, given the day off before running the drills again tonight for 12 hours in the cold, dark and wet course.
Obviously the only free seat is on a table with Allerdyce. One of the newest additions to the camp, sent to join before the rest of the mutants arrive but called out on missions already. Not that Ethan really minds, the kid (and yes he’ll refer to Allerdyce as a kid if he wants to) has already found an interesting collection of ways to push Ethan’s buttons without even really trying. He’s tired and about ready to stagger back to his room and sleep but Allerdyce seems to be in the mood to rile Sykes.
Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh.
He just wants to finish his breakfast in peace.
“Allerdyce?”
“Yes Sir?”
“Cease and desist with that incessant noise.”
“What noise Sir?” Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh.
“That irritating noise with your lighter.”
Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh.
“What. This one?” St John holds up the lighter in question and grins at Ethan who returns the look with a levelled glare of irritation. Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh.
“Yes Allerdyce that lighter.”
“You mean this noise Sir?” Snap. Click. Fwoosh. Snap. Click. Fwoosh.
“In what way is it irritating you sir? Is it the opening and closing of the lid?” Snap. Click. Fwoosh. “Or the sound of the fuel igniting?” Snap. Click. Fwoosh.
“All of it Allerdyce.”
“Really? I am surprised Sir. I found the sound quite soothing. Meditating even.”
Leaning across the table Ethan grabs Allerdyce’s wrist and yanks the younger guy half way across the surface. The mess hall mostly falls silent as everyone turns to watch the unfolding scene. “Allerdyce?”
“Yes Sir?”
“In a minute I’m gonna shove that lighter somewhere very uncomfortable and unhygienic. Are we clear?”
“Yes Sir. Crystal clear Sir.”
“Excellent. Now,” Ethan lets go of Allerdyce and settles back into his seat, gaze returning to settle on his rapidly cooling breakfast. “Fuck. Off.”
“And where would you like me to fuck off too Sir?”
Ethan glances up, an eyebrow arched as he stares at Allerdyce. Never, in all his years, has Ethan ever met someone quite like St John. And Ethan truly hopes that he never does again in his remaining lifetime.
“If I answered that I might be brought before a Court Marshal for questionable ethics, so perhaps you should go see Richards and offer your assistance.”
- 5 Hours later -
Ethan is awoken by the sound of the fire alarm, the piercing wail of the siren which means there are only ten seconds before the sprinklers - cold water starts to rain down from the sprinkler system and within moments Ethan is soaked, bedding sticking to his skin as he tries to peel the sheet up and dress as quickly as he can whilst functioning on a few hours sleep. He stumbles out into the hall, watching as the last of the stragglers head down the stairs ahead of him and he follows, trying to button up his shirt with numb fingers as he blinks water out of his eyes.
Thankfully it would seem the soldiers have actually been listening and executed their training to the letter, stood in dormitory lines as they are yelled at by various military personnel who all look equally bedraggled.
It takes Ethan another thirty minutes to finally get some sense out of anyone and it would seem that there was no fire, the sprinkler system had been however turned on manually and jammed. It took Richards being forcibly dragged from under the hood of her latest humvee creation to turn them off, whilst giving Ethan an appreciative smile at his wet and bedraggled look.
Yes, he does have odd boots on and his shirt still hasn’t managed to dry yet because he’s been forced to remain outside whilst the rest of the soldiers were herded into the mess hall to dry off and warm up.
And then Ethan spots him.
Allerdyce.
Or maybe that should be that Ethan hears him first, the distinct Snap. Click. Fwoosh. That accompanies Allerdyce everywhere he goes leading Sykes to where the younger mutant is crouched between the buildings in an alcove.
“Oh! Hello Sir. You alright? You seem to be a bit damp.” The shit eating grin is firmly in place, as the lighter in tucked safely into his pocket. At least Ethan can be thankful over that. Ethan doesn’t waste any time as he reaches out to grab Allerdyce by the collar and haul him out from between the buildings, he’s fuming because normally Ethan isn’t a gambling man but right about now he’d put his money on St John being somehow involved; if not the perpetrator in this case.
“Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t just kick your ass all the way to General Stone’s office?!”
“It wasn’t me Sir.”
“Oh yeah? Prove it!”
“Actually I think you’ll find it’s innocent until proven guilty, not guilty until proven innocent. So... yeah. I don’t have to prove I did it because I didn’t. Sir.”
“Allerdyce.”
“Sir! I swear on my life.”
“Your life isn’t worth anything to me. Swear on your lighter.”
“Fine!” Allerdyce pulls the lighter out of his pocket and makes a big show of pretending to swear on it like a Holy Bible. “I swear on my lighter that I will tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Sir.”
Thing is that Sykes has already learnt quite a bit about this petulant but powerful mutant and that is his lighter is not something to be messed with. There is a slim chance that this could be a double bluff and than Allerdyce is hoping that Ethan will be fooled but... no. He’s going to give St John the benefit of the doubt. For once.
“Fine. Get out of my sight.”
As Allerdyce wanders off, no real sense of urgency pervading the guy Ethan sighs and rubs at his temples wondering if maybe he is taking on more than he can handle. An entire camp of mutants? Heck, if they all end up being like Allerdyce there is a chance that Ethan will be putting in for early retirement or reassignment to another country.
Iraq maybe?
Jogging up the wet stairs Ethan pushes the door of his room open to find that someone has been in and built a mini-shrine to the General on his desk. Complete with a bobble head that has a picture of the General’s face attached to it, swaying from side to side as it taunts Ethan with its cheesy grin.
“ALLERDYCE!” His yelling is futile though as there is no-one in the building to hear him.
Or so Ethan thought.
The murmur of voices echoes up the stairs and they’re obviously surprised by Ethan’s outburst and by the sounds of it the General is with them too. For fuck sake.
There is no way in hell that Ethan is going to manage to clear all this crap off of his desk because he can hear the General coming up the stairs now, no doubt coming to investigate the commotion and find out what is going on. Sweeping an arm across his desk Ethan shoves what he can onto the floor, ripping posters and pictures till the wall above his desk looks less like a shrine and more like a crazed person has been at it.
The door to his room swings open and Ethan stands to attention, saluting both General Stone and Major Stryker as they peer around his room and both stare puzzled at his wall.
“Everything alright Captain?”
“Yes General, everything is fine thank you.” Ethan kicks at an errant wobble head as it rolls out from under the desk.
“Good to hear. I take it that this was all part of your training regime. Excellent idea indeed Sykes, a perfect way to keep those soldiers on their toes.” The General doesn’t seem to notice Ethan’s abortive move but the Major does, and he seems to go to take a step further into Sykes room.
“Thank you General! I like to ensure that the soldiers are prepared when they least expect it. Perhaps I can reconvene with you and the Major in my office in about ten minutes. Discuss any matters further perhaps?”
The General seems pleased with this idea and strides off, talking loudly at the Major over his shoulder. Sykes and Stryker share a look, Ethan can only assume that the Major is trying to give him a “I’ve got my eye on you” look but right now? Ethan doesn’t give a flying fuck.
When the coast is truly clear Ethan bangs his head against the nearest wall repeatedly, wondering what it was that he has done in a previous life to be punished quite like this.