(Untitled)

[thanoodles]

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[leftafield]

I really like this place. How's that? Now fuck off.

[fearsomefaith]

[ ...Oh. ]

[ Gideon stares unashamedly - there's enough about this man to convince him that it is his brother, but after all these years and so far from' home, what were the chances? ]

Jeremiah.

[leftafield]

[He whips his head BACK AND FORTH when he hears his name, ready to go into a defensive stance. The man rarely gets called by his name anymore, prefers to leave an alias with the people that fight and survive with him; it's easier to stay in the present that way. There's a very distinct and surprised frown. He almost can't think of anything to say.]

Gideon?

[fearsomefaith]

[ He doesn't need to nod - that spark of recognition was enough. He makes a movement - a small relaxation of his shoulders, a short exhale - as if to step forward and offer the other man a hug, but he seems to think better of it and check himself. There's a little moment of awkward realisation that although this man is his brother there's enough that's foreign and alien about him that Gideon isn't too sure what to think. He tentatively purses his lips and attempts a smile, albeit a pained one. ]

You survived...

[there's no surprise in his voice: of anyone Gideon had known, he knew that Jeremiah would have been able to take care of himself. It's just a quiet, meditative statement - something he has to say out loud just so that he can process it.]

[leftafield]

[His words don't show much affection, but he's visibly thrown off. It got easy to just assume he'd never see his brother again...]

... Yeah. Surprise. [there's a reluctant pause. Someone isn't very good at this.] What are you doing here?

[fearsomefaith]

[hah now there's a question. There's so much awkward in the air that Gideon tries his hardest to inject a little cheer in to his voice as he replies:]

I'm not sure yet.

[it doesn't particularly work; he certainly doesn't feel any more cheery for trying and as soon as he's said it he knows it sounds facetious.]

I'm not ever sure where 'here' is. I know it's not the same as - [Gideon falters, unsure of what to call the world the home that they had known. He tries to remember his conversation with AJ.] - as our world.

How long have you been here?

[leftafield]

[That's the look of 'what the hell are you talking about?'.]

No idea, I haven't been keeping track. [but some things are impossible to ignore. Waking up in a different place every time, the presence of people who act like nothing ever happened. The absence of the things that made it happen.

He nods once, barely.] You alone?

[fearsomefaith]

[he nods hesitantly in reply] Alone, yes. There are plenty of people here but we're the only ones from - from home.

[at Gideon's feet is his travel-worn leather satchel and he quickly ducks to pick it up. He shoulders the strap and rummages around, looking for his journal and talking all the while without looking up]

From our home, I mean - [he sounds a little weary but at least going through his bag in search for his book is one way of deflecting the tension] - And all these other people don't know about 1986. It's like they're from the same place as us but the angels never happened.

[he slowly pulls his book from his bag, as if drawing out the time before he has to look back up again]

[leftafield]

[he pauses, frowning, look away.]

... So what--[a pause. What about everybody else?] They're dead?

[fearsomefaith]

What? [he freezes and glances up again - the thought hadn't occurred to him, mainly because it's not the kind of conclusion he would draw.] No. No. It just never happened. It's a whole world removed from ours, it's completely different.

[he tucks his journal under his arm] And I don't think - I don't think there are any angels here, either.

[leftafield]

[The frown grows, turns into a grimace, the face of someone incapable of understanding how anything could just be that simple, staring at Gideon behind distinct incredulity.]

How is that possible?

[fearsomefaith]

I - I don't know. [there's a nervous edge to his voice as he shakes his head] There's a man here, his name's AJ - he can explain it better than I can but I haven't seen him for a while. He knows about these things, he's a scientist - [or something like that, at least. Gideon swallows awkwardly. This was definitely not how he had ever envisaged a reunion with his brother... and he certainly didn't want to be the person to explain this.] Look, I'm sorry but I don't' know what to say. I know it sounds unbelievable. You can talk to anyone here - what happened to us didn't happen to them. AJ will explain.

[leftafield]

[And he is quiet, looking away, fingers curling, looking for something to do with his hands. He doesn't really care for scientists. They can explain it in any way they want, it won't make this any easier.]

... So that's it?

[fearsomefaith]

[a tremor of guilt - Gideon knows he's washing his hands in fobbing off explanation duties to AJ but still. Having his younger brother here was too unsettling. He purses his lips again, this time a little guiltily.]

I'm sorry - [this was awkward and horrible and the fact that Gideon doesn't know how to make it any better annoys him.] - I don't think I can explain.