for @doggonemad

[throughbamboo]

just bros being bros

Comments

[doggonemad]

[ He stares at him for a long moment before looking down again, mumbling around his cigarette. ]

You can't just say shit like that, bro.

[throughbamboo]

[he raises an eyebrow]

Hmm? Why's that?

[doggonemad]

S'all . . . soft, like a marshmallow.

[throughbamboo]

You callin' me a marshmallow, bro?

[but he shrugs, taking a drag from his smoke]

There ain't nothin' wrong with bein' soft every now and then.

[doggonemad]

If the shoe fits, bro.

[ keeps staring down. ]

'til it gets ya killed. Sure.

[throughbamboo]

Nah. [he takes a drag]

That kinda soft is the kind that makes ya stronger, makes ya wanna fight for it.

If it gets me killed, then I was too weak to begin with.

[doggonemad]

. . .

[ He just sighs, shaking his head. ]

Got any other words o' wisdom ya wanna drop on me?

[throughbamboo]

[he takes one last drag of his cigarette, then puts it out on the step nearby]

Do ya need 'em?

[doggonemad]

[ shrugs, still not looking over. ]

Dunno. Haven't had 'em in a couple've years.

[throughbamboo]

[. . .

He pulls out another cigarette, letting it hang from his lips as he searches for his lighter]

So I gotta drop a whole lot of 'em to make up for it.

[doggonemad]

[ produces his lighter and holds it out to him without even looking over. ]

You can start by keepin' yer ass outta prison.

[throughbamboo]

[he takes it and lights up again, then holds it back out]

Ain't yer fancy lawyer tryin' to do that? Even though I still got time to serve?

[doggonemad]

[ takes it back. ]

Yeah. It's lookin' good. Ya shoulda been gettin' parole right about now, anyway. But if he comes with a good offer, are ya gonna take it?

[throughbamboo]

[looking over the cigarette between his fingers, frowning. He doesn't answer immediately]

If he gets one, then I'll think 'bout it.

. . . ain't like I wanna go back, bro.

[doggonemad]

[ finally looking over. ]

Then don't. Take the deal. [ a beat. ] Stay with me.

[throughbamboo]

[he pauses at that, fingers stilling]

Is that what ya really want?

[doggonemad]

'Course that's what I want. Fuckin' dumbass.

[throughbamboo]

Maybe I just wanna hear ya say it, dumbass.

[he puts the cigarette to his lips and takes a drag, holding it.

A moment later he lets it out, a heavy sigh with it]

Okay.

[doggonemad]

[ opens his mouth like he's ready to argue, so he seems taken aback when Saejima just agrees.

He then nods once, sharply. ]

Okay. No takin' that back.

[throughbamboo]

I won't. Ya wouldn't let me even if I tried.

[doggonemad]

Nope. Got my big bad lawyer on it already.

[throughbamboo]

Then it looks like yer gettin' what you want.

[a beat]

What we both want.

[doggonemad]

Yeah . . . ?

[throughbamboo]

[he glances over at him]

Yeah. I want to stay with ya.

[doggonemad]

[ He's quiet for a long moment.

And then, he takes the cigarette out of his mouth and stubs it out. ]

. . . soft, like I said.