The Confederacy wasn't very accustomed to guests showing up at his door. His...clients, so to speak, were never brought to his own house. And however much the guilt could nag at him, he had never alerted any of his states to his presence. Originally because he was so weak he couldn't...and as time went on, the southerner had settled into the secretiveness, and so while he still thought of them, he had never tried contacting an old acquaintance
( ... )
CSA does, but at the moment he's still a bit...well, shocked to see Texas in his kitchen. A hundred fifty years is a long time for a unexpected guest to show, however welcome they are.
Texas isn't really sure where to go from this point- There's alot he sort of wants to say and he isn't sure how to approach it. Sure, CSA wasn't technically his boss anymore, but did they qualify as friends?
He sets the glass of water on the counter, and shoves his hands in his jacket pockets. He doesn't want to start fidgeting.
"Didn't want the only boss I ever liked to be gone like that. I know this is...pretty outta the blue an' all an' I'm puttin' ya out, but thanks. I didn't mean to horn into your affairs or anythin'.
"Didn' thank ya'll'd want much ta do with me after...well. Did 'nuf damage tha last time."
He glances off again, before getting himself a glass of water as well. He isn't sure how to go about this either, such a unexpected conversation to be having in the first place.
Texas can't speak for the other states- He has no idea how they feel about CSA now. He hadn't consulted with any of them on his search at all, exactly because he had no idea how they would react.
"You were doin' what ya believed was best for us. I can't fault ya for that."
And he believes that, enough that he can look directly at CSA when he says it.
If that's what CSA is focusing on, Texas isn't sure if he'll take his answer seriously. It's another thing he isn't sure how to explain.
"Ever since the end-a the war, the idea that the only nation I ever had that gave a damn about the rights of states could be dead never sat well with me. Just too chicken shit to do anythin' about it til now, I reckon."
He certainly doesn't plan on telling CSA the real source of his sudden courage. He would look absolutely crazy.
The answer still seems enough for CSA, nodding minutely before taking another sip of water.
"Well, it is good ta see ya again..."
He sets his glass down, stepping over to Texas and actually giving the state a hug. It's only a moment though and he lets go, not wanting to give Texas the chance to slap him away, smiling lightly when he did before going to fetch his water again.
Texas' reaction to being hugged by CSA is to tense up. This is a completely foreign idea, for CSA to initiate any contact beyond a small and brief touch, like a hand on his shoulder or such. A hug...while not unwelcome, is shocking. His mouth hangs open a little.
Yes- The man certainly has changed alot, from the hug to his physical appearance... Texas isn't sure quite what to make of it, given his aversion to change in general, but he's willing to give the man the benefit of the doubt. He doesn't mean any ill will. He's being pretty friendly about all of this.
So, Texas nods and picks up his own glass of water again.
CSA seems almost amused when Texas tenses up. He could remember being unwilling to do much contact with any but a select few. But that time had long since passed as well.
He walks into the living him, sitting down on a couch and leaving his glass of water on the coffee table in the room.
"So tell me, what have ya been up ta?"
It seemed a fair enough way to start conversation.
Texas follows, sitting on the other side of the couch and likewise putting his glass on the coffee table. But where to start answering that question- So much had happened since Reconstruction.
"Drivin' cattle, drillin' oil an' wranglin' my governor most-a the time. Been travellin' a fair bit recently as well- up to South Dakota for a motorcycle rally an' New York a few times..."
He isn't sure if broaching the subject of New York is a good idea or not, but he can answer the question innocently enough. If CSA reacts negatively, he can claim business reasons.
Considering this one has lain with a America in another verse, go for it, Tex. Then again with how he remembered Texas, he would've been a bit surprised if he left his own borders very far. Of course, that was a awful long time ago.
Texas isn't really sure how to measure that reaction. He decides to continue with caution. He really didn't want a repeat of what had happened with the past CSA before.
He shrugs. "Went up to visit somebody. Don't really do it often- Place really ain't my style."
"It would be a bigger surprise ta me if it was, granted I'm not that familiar with it either. Heard it's got its rural parts but it ain't li'e I go north often either."
Virginia or Tennessee tended to be as far northwards as he went, unless there was some kind of business to attend to, and even then. He won't press Texas if he doesn't want to tell, but Texas has stirred his curiosity.
"There's some pretty country outside the city. Don't get to see it much but it's nice. Ain't as good as in the South though- An' s'pecially home."
For the moment, at least, Texas decides to abandon talking about the North. He doesn't want to until he's sure it won't cause a fight, as they're actually having a nice talk for the first time in... Well, possibly ever, to the best of Texas' memory. It's probably for the best to steer their conversation somewhere else for the time being.
"Of course not. We're known fer tha outdoors, not them, 'less it's tha amount of pollution half tha time."
He seems to pause slightly at the question. He doubted Texas would take very kindly to it, but he didn't want to lie either. If the state looked, he may or may not notice certain type of marks on his neck, but CSA is going with the knowledge if one doesn't actively try to hide something, it has a way of being overlooked.
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"That's nice ta hear..."
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He sets the glass of water on the counter, and shoves his hands in his jacket pockets. He doesn't want to start fidgeting.
"Didn't want the only boss I ever liked to be gone like that. I know this is...pretty outta the blue an' all an' I'm puttin' ya out, but thanks. I didn't mean to horn into your affairs or anythin'.
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He glances off again, before getting himself a glass of water as well. He isn't sure how to go about this either, such a unexpected conversation to be having in the first place.
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"You were doin' what ya believed was best for us. I can't fault ya for that."
And he believes that, enough that he can look directly at CSA when he says it.
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But then he sighs, shaking his head minutely. He didn't want to get into it.
"Any particular reason ya wanted ta find me?"
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"Ever since the end-a the war, the idea that the only nation I ever had that gave a damn about the rights of states could be dead never sat well with me. Just too chicken shit to do anythin' about it til now, I reckon."
He certainly doesn't plan on telling CSA the real source of his sudden courage. He would look absolutely crazy.
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"Well, it is good ta see ya again..."
He sets his glass down, stepping over to Texas and actually giving the state a hug. It's only a moment though and he lets go, not wanting to give Texas the chance to slap him away, smiling lightly when he did before going to fetch his water again.
"Why don' we go sit down?"
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Yes- The man certainly has changed alot, from the hug to his physical appearance... Texas isn't sure quite what to make of it, given his aversion to change in general, but he's willing to give the man the benefit of the doubt. He doesn't mean any ill will. He's being pretty friendly about all of this.
So, Texas nods and picks up his own glass of water again.
"Alright- Lead the way."
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He walks into the living him, sitting down on a couch and leaving his glass of water on the coffee table in the room.
"So tell me, what have ya been up ta?"
It seemed a fair enough way to start conversation.
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"Drivin' cattle, drillin' oil an' wranglin' my governor most-a the time. Been travellin' a fair bit recently as well- up to South Dakota for a motorcycle rally an' New York a few times..."
He isn't sure if broaching the subject of New York is a good idea or not, but he can answer the question innocently enough. If CSA reacts negatively, he can claim business reasons.
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Considering this one has lain with a America in another verse, go for it, Tex. Then again with how he remembered Texas, he would've been a bit surprised if he left his own borders very far. Of course, that was a awful long time ago.
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He shrugs. "Went up to visit somebody. Don't really do it often- Place really ain't my style."
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Virginia or Tennessee tended to be as far northwards as he went, unless there was some kind of business to attend to, and even then. He won't press Texas if he doesn't want to tell, but Texas has stirred his curiosity.
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For the moment, at least, Texas decides to abandon talking about the North. He doesn't want to until he's sure it won't cause a fight, as they're actually having a nice talk for the first time in... Well, possibly ever, to the best of Texas' memory. It's probably for the best to steer their conversation somewhere else for the time being.
"Ya...mind if I ask what you've been up to?"
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He seems to pause slightly at the question. He doubted Texas would take very kindly to it, but he didn't want to lie either. If the state looked, he may or may not notice certain type of marks on his neck, but CSA is going with the knowledge if one doesn't actively try to hide something, it has a way of being overlooked.
"Just gittin' by, really."
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