in progress

[hecu_marine]

The houndeyes aren't coming to Svalbard. Shephard loves his dogs dearly but there is no way in Hell he's bringing those little boogers to an unfamiliar environment that's almost certainly crawling with predators. It's bad enough at home. So, he's taking what time he can with them now, including bringing them to Milliways for training runs.

And maybe drumming up some other company while he's at it. He happened to notice a familiar face heading into one of the upstairs doors the other day, so today he's found that door and he's banging on it.

The sun may or may not be actually up yet. Just sayin'.

Comments

[hecu_marine]

And down we go! Good thing Shephard knows how to fall.

"That all you got, asshole?" he says cheerfully as he pushes himself back to his knees. Don't mind his language, he doesn't mean anything by it. "Shit, 'n here I thought you were gonna be fast."

[andinfluencepeople]

Chuck laughs, all but bouncing back to his feet.

He's really young, and his worst injuries acquired killed him (and so didn't stick). There're some benefits.

"Nah," he says, being mindful of Shephard's arm length. "just faster than you."

He has just enough sportsmanship to wait until Shephard's about to stand up to take off.

[hecu_marine]

"Sonofa-"

They do get outside eventually. Now there won't be any more wall damage! Just mud. And Shephard's good with mud.

"Wanna see who's first around the lake?"

[andinfluencepeople]

"Don't play that game, you bloody fossil," Chuck says, both irritated and entertained. "I'd bet breakfast I could out-run you, but there's no way I could out-pace you."

Not without obstacles.

[hecu_marine]

"Fair 'nough," says Shephard. He does, after all, make a point of doing most of his morning exercise routine with a backpack full of rocks. "I'd suggest somethin' in the woods but I reckon I know the trails better'n you do, seein' how I'm in there regular. You been up the mountains at all?"

[andinfluencepeople]

Chuck looks to the mountain immediately, brow furrowing slightly. "We don't need to make a race of it, but I wouldn't say no to seeing them."

[hecu_marine]

"Some fucker built a challenge course in a clearing about halfway up last year," says Shephard. "Wasn't me. Kind of wish it was. I reckon it's worth havin' a look at, see if it's in usable condition after this winter. I'll show you, you want."

[andinfluencepeople]

"Sure," Chuck says, shrugging. "It's worth a look, at least. Back home it's all indoors."

It is fucking cold out. Chuck doesn't say that, though, just blows slightly on his hands and raises his eyebrows at Shephard.

[hecu_marine]

Shephard's only too happy to ignore the idea that someone else might be uncomfortable with the temperature. He's been living with mountain winters for a while now, after all. "This way," he says. "The course's about halfway up to one of my favorite streams to fish in, or it was, last I checked. These fuckin' mountains only have one side, so who the fuck knows what else they do with their goddamn geography."

[andinfluencepeople]

Chuck's hit a mental snag.

"How in hell do the mountains only have one side?"

[hecu_marine]

"You go up the mountain, you step over the fuckin' summit or ridge or high point of the pass or what the fuck ever, and you find you're comin' down the same fuckin' slope you came up and headin' towards the place you left," says Shephard. "It does not make any goddamn sense in the slightest, but fuck me if it ain't for real."