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[throughbamboo]

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[doggonemad]

[ thing is, Gray's already there when he arrives because he's been there for at least an hour. who with? don't worry about it. some stuff is smashed but there's still other things to break if need be.

He's stretching, a metal bat over his shoulders to help out with that. ]

Yo.

[ His body language is . . . not like manager!Gray at all. It's more lax, loose, with a dangerous sort of edge to it. how does that work, shut the fuck up that's how. ]

[throughbamboo]

[he is pointedly not looking at the smashed parts for loose parts, because that isn't what he's there for.

Though when he steps in he pauses, giving Gray a once over. If he straightens up a little, well]

Yo.

[doggonemad]

I was blowin' off steam here earlier. Figured this was as private a place as any.

[throughbamboo]

It can be pretty private. Only ever seen Forge in here anyway.

. . . ya all right?

[doggonemad]

Yeah. 'Course. I shoulda come over here a lot sooner. Ventin' my frustrations sure as shit helps.

[throughbamboo]

Yeah, I bet it does. 'Specially doin' it this way.

[doggonemad]

Mm.

[ spins the bat briefly before lowering it, leaning against it. ]

. . . So I ain't been entirely honest with ya here.

[throughbamboo]

[he was about to apologize, but - ]

Ya haven't?

[doggonemad]

Nah.

[ takes a deep breath, running a hand through his hair with his free hand. ]

Shit. Okay, so basically— the good manager act's just that. It's a fuckin' act. I make sure my clients get the best treatment an' it disarms the shit outta people when it comes to negotiating deals. If the agency needs me ta put the screws on someone or somethin', though . . .

[ straightens up and snaps the bat out at a blender nearby without even batting his eye, shattering it. ]

An' no one expects it. Not from Mr. Perfect Pushover Manager.

[throughbamboo]

[both eyebrows shoot up in surprise, but he also doesn't bat (lol) an eye at him breaking the blender, either. It just gets a brief glance before he looks back to Gray]

. . .

'M not followin'. How's that not bein' honest with me?

[doggonemad]

Because I ain't that guy.

[throughbamboo]

[he tilts his head]

Is that a bad thing?

[doggonemad]

I mean— I fuckin'—

[throughbamboo]

Ya what? Reacted?

[doggonemad]

I ain't that perfect, put together guy!

[throughbamboo]

Okay? So what?

. . . [he makes a face] That sounds dismissive. I ain't tryin' to be, I swear.

[doggonemad]

So I was fake as hell.

[throughbamboo]

I mean . . . not bein' the guy ya want people to think ya are's a lil' different, ain't it?

[. . .]

All those times we talked - was that you fakin' it?

[doggonemad]

I mean . . . I do like ya.

[throughbamboo]

[the corner of his mouth lifts]

Wouldn't kiss me if ya didn't, right?

[doggonemad]

Nah. Not even fer a role.

[throughbamboo]

Thought so.

. . . look, I like ya too, Gray. N' I told ya I wanted to get to know you, not Mr. Perfect Top Tier Manager. That ain't what got me interested.

[doggonemad]

It ain't?

[throughbamboo]

'Course it ain't. It was seein' that there's more to ya then just that.

[doggonemad]

The hell's wrong with ya?