Think fast, chucklenuts.

Me when Scout OCs and gay month combine...

This was supposed to be just for practicing a new sketching style (its just thumbnailing actually LOL) but I liked the silhouette sm I had to go with it.

He listened to him share more about the enemy Scout. His tail wagged again after a moment. Hearing the BLU Scout did at least have someone to be close with if not his own family made that earlier revelation sting less.

"Appreciated. But really, don't worry 'bout it, Blu." The runner hums.

"Heh. Hopefully." He smiles slightly. Didn't want to keep his hopes too high, but it is nice while it's lasting.

"If we gonna play then we better get goin' before the sun goes down an' we go missin'. C'mon." He gestures, trotting off towards his room to get some pants and then get them both up to some tomfoolery.

*his tail was already wagging at the idea of playing. he eyed the other merc with intrigue, a brow raising at his reminiscing.*

"Sniper's probably not gonna lend any of his clothes... ya think any a' mine would fit ya? Some are pretty baggy." He's also not that attatched to anything other than his dog tags, so he wouldn't mind them getting absolutely wrecked. Preferably not, though. Getting new clothes is annoying.

"And yea, RED Scout." He shrugs, chuckling, "Don't go tellin' everybody 'bout it. We gotta blast each other in the face, for show an' all, but outside matches? We hang sometimes, go watch a' game... visited his ma once. She's real nice."

"I may try to sleep if that's alright. Climbing here unprepared left me pretty worn, hopefully my truck isn't snowed in by morning. I don't wish to cause more of a bother."

"Do whatever. Don't sleep on tha floor, it ain't carpet an' it ain't clean." Scout shrugs. "M'room's last one down the hall."

He didn't seem concerned about letting someone in his personal room.

Mostly cause it didn't really feel too personal.

"Hey Sax- hey hey! I'm okay! No need to worry!"

Very very faintly a worried voice could be heard, though what he's saying isn't clear.

"I'm at BLU base as it got really snowy- hey! Hey! It ain't my fault those damn delivery guys forgot the goods! Not to mention I hate when she breathes down our necks about it! Then Miss P gotta deal with all that."

Ben said and the other voice said something and laughed which made Ben laugh.

"I'll see you later man, I'll leave first chance I get. Bye bye"

Ben hung up and walked back over to Scout with a warm yet sleepy smile.

Scout plays with his hoodie strings absentmindedly, looking down at his shoes. "Ay," he nods, "no issue. You wanna lay down now, or..." He pulls his head up, "cause there's not much ta do 'round here. Half the base's asleep. Other half's probably playin' cards or drinkin'." It wasn't a strategic meeting kind of night.

*to a canine-like beast, the idea of one's own pack or family rejecting them was particularly offensive to hear. he could understand why Scout would be hurt.*

"... yeh, reckon i could."

*humid weather usually made tracking and hunting easier due to the moisture in the air, but dry winter air made for sharper hearing. it wasn't an impossible task.*

Scout chuckles, "Nah. Just imaginin' a game of' hide an' seek. I know dis place like tha back of my hand. Ya got those senses of yours. It'd be fun, y'know?"

"But." He looks out the frosted window, sighing, "probably waaay too cold for yah. Definitely is for Scout- other Scout. He complains so much I memorized the pitch of his whinin'." Despite the (ironic) complaint, the merc seemed rather fond of his RED counterpart, snickering to himself.

*he sniffs, able to tell Scout has cigarettes by the lingering smell of smoke on him and the faint notes of tobacco leaf. he's quite used to that smell by now, especially when back at the NM base with Spy. he doesn't mind it at all.*

"you can call me Blu. that's what the team called me when they found me. as f'what i do for m'team? reckon it's a whole lot of different things... sometimes yeh, I just hang out, other times i go out huntin' an' bring things back for 'em like food or wanted people."

*he picks at his claws on his fingertips.*

"i can be handy in trackin' since m'nose is stronger than a regular bloke's. got a good pair of ears too. at the end of the day, they feed an' house me while i do whatever they ask me to do. like you 've taken a likin' to 'em. there aren't many things i wouldn't do for 'em either."

*he looks up at the back of Scout's head.*

"Makes sense." Scout nodded. He wonders if his own team would care about a full-grown, naked man roaming around. Probably not. They'd probably be more impressed.

"Blu, huh? Nice to meet you. You sound pretty cool." A multipurpose dog... or werewolf? "Good ta hear that your team's treatin' ya right too."

Scout stiffens just slightly at the question, rubbing his neck and sighing. "Yeah... well, not anymore." He was silent for a moment, contemplating whether or not he should embarass himself. He supposed being vague would only invite curiosity. And it isn't like he isn't already an embarassment, so...

"A family member. Spent too much time an' effort ta find em. In response he tried ta gaslight me inta thinkin' I got tha wrong guy, an' when that didn't work, he just told me ta screw off." He shrugs, trying to seem nonchalant, but his mouth twitches slightly. Maybe if he weren't so annoying... no, no. No use thinking about what ifs. It just didn't happen. And now he's upset, great- was he ten or something? Stupid.

"...Ya think ya can find anythin' in this snow?" Scout changes the topic, not wanting to ruin the mood any further. "Sounds real cool, enhanced smell an' all, but does it still work in real cold places or is it kind of a pain?"

yeh, how'd ya reckon that? did the tan give it away? heh heh.

*His tail gives a swish as he starts to ease from his previous shivering.*

anyway, nah, not stationed. more like... housed. 'm more of a mascot than anythin' if 'm bein' honest.

"Ain't so much the tan than it is the whole getup." No one sane would go naked into the cold. He's not counting Heavy that one time, that man has biological insulation and lived experience- though he supposed even Heavy goes a little crazy when you put him with Sasha.

"Housed? Eh, if it works for you." Scout found it a bit weird, but it wasn't his business to pry. Hopefully the guy's getting paid... or at least, getting free stuff.

"Mann Co.'s a company, not a hate group. They're not punishing me for anything." He shakes his head, "Was an overzealous newbie who had something to find here. By the time I realized I'm not getting it, I'm pretty fond of my team. So, well." He shrugs. "Not like they'd listen to me anyway so I never asked for a move."

He turns back to the Sniper, resisting the urge to pull out a cigarette by pocketing his hands. "What do I call you anyway? And what exactly do you do? No offense meant, just curious." Was he just a lap dog? An attack dog? Search dog? Dog dog?

"I appreciate it but I'm okay taking the floor. I can sleep anywhere when I'm tired enough."

He chuckled softly and tried to imagine why it was called the murder couch, was it a pain on your back or something?

"I'm not doin' this 'cause you're a princess 'm tryna impress." Scout replies, "Floor's painfully cold and I'm not throwing a good blanket down on it. I ain't sleepin' tonight, M- Ben. No point in doing all that."

The walk lasted a while before they entered BLU base, and Scout points Ben to the phone.

"Over there. Not a fan a' eavesdroppin' so I'll wait here."

"Of course... I am tired but I can walk to it if you lead the way, if that's alright of course!"

He softly said with a awkward smile before he tried to look somewhere for the time.

"Sorry I just... I just don't want to worry him.... Or for him to break anything down."

Scout nodded, and opened the watchtower door for Ben to follow. He started walking, heading towards a part of the base with no sensitive information in reach... well, the entire base is supposed to be off-limits to anyone outside of BLU, but nobody genuinely cares. It's a Mann Co. employee anyway, and he was supervising.

He doesn't question Saxton's supposed concern. He doesn't care to question if the rich, bloodthirsty man had a heart. Not paid enough to ask questions anyway.

Scout noticed the expressions Ben were making. Perhaps it was an old habit he hadn't quite left behind, trying to read faces before their fists pummeled his. He could tell the other was a little annoyed, then...

"S' a little past midnight, if it matters to ya." He exhales, breath visible among the falling snow. "Might be a little late ta call 'em, but do whatever. Ah, if ya tired, I'll lend ya my room ta sleep in. Bit cramped, but better than the murder couch."

It wasn't like Scout was planning to sleep anyway. He decided to invite Ben in. He's going to get an earful if he doesn't take responsibility AND watch over the guy. Just in case.

"You say that but I was taught growing up that it was rude not to be polite when someone shows you some hospitality, so I'll keep saying it anyway. And you don't gotta keep calling me Madden, you can say Ben if you want. Saying my last name makes me think you wanna strike up a business deal."

He laughs softly before looking out the window. Seeing the snow fall and hearing how he wasn't prepared did make a pit in his stomach.. He looked back at Scout with a bit of a weary smile.

"I'll take you up on that offer. I'll at least wait until the sun is up so I can see my way back to my truck, though I might have to call Saxton so he doesn't freak out. Do you have a phone around here I can use?"

Scout laughs once, humorless. "Personally ain't used to it, but if that's what ya prefer, I'll call ya Ben." He won't extend the same courtesy, though. He hated being called by his first name, and it isn't just because he thinks it's stupid.

"Phone here's busted. Soldier thought it was a communist somehow an'... well, y'know." Scout mimicked a rocket launcher. "There's one back in the main base but that's a bit of a walk away and ya seem tired. 'Course it'd be faster if I carried ya, but I assume you're not into that." He lays down the alternative option, stretching slightly.

"Yeah, they didn't give me too much hell thankfully. Here's your coat back, thank you for letting me borrow it."

Scout takes his jacket back, shrugging it on. He nodded. "Don't gotta say it."

"Real snowy out there, Madden. If ya ain't got anywhere to be tomorrow, might be safer to stay for the night." He frowned as he glanced out the window. "Full offense, seein' ya come here with a wagon does not tell me ya prepared for the snow."

The shorter said with a smile as he began walking towards the watchtower.

The crate opens with some effort, inside was boxes upon boxes of ammo with a checklist resting neatly on top of what was inside. The heaviest of the gun ammunition being on the bottom while the lightest was on top.

Scout picked up the checklist and started going over the things...

...

20 minutes later, the young man steps into the watchtower, brushing snow off his hat. He spots Ben and walks over.

"Ey. I ran everything through Engie and you're good ta go." He gestures to the door. "Seems like ya in one piece so... everything go alright?"

"Well there's a reason Saxton made me the head, I go above and beyond as he says but personally I don't need people breathing down my neck. It just gets in the way, ya know?"

He looks at the Scout and seems a bit uncertain but nods.

"If you're sure then I'm not complaining, a crowbar is just on the right hand side to open it."

The brunette explains before trudging off to get inside but quickly skidding to a stop and turning to the other.

"I forgot to say 'thank you' for the jacket. That was rather rude of me, I'm sorry."

"Think you're just bein' taken advantage of, pal." He shrugs, grabbing the crowbar.

"It's fine. No thanks needed." He waves dismissively, wedging the crowbar into the gap and starting to open it.

He'll be with Ben in... probably several minutes.