DISTURBANCE

"Think if you weren't," losing his fucking mind, "I'd be wondering why you're wearing that patch." it was a light insert to an otherwise warranted admission. "Feels quiet - usually means we're gonna get fucking hit with something." not that there were any indicators as to what, or whether it was direct or indirectly, it just was how history seemed to constantly repeat itself that had Nate agreeing with Mo. "What'd you wanna do about it?" he asked, mostly to see where the President's head was actually at - was he literally just overthinking the shit out of it or did he want anything done about the lack of, well, anything?

"I got no clue how Leon lasted so fucking long," He grumbled before sticking a cigarette in between his lips, "Maybe s'cause I'm used to people hating me, but everyone in Vegas just seemed too...Friendly. Helpful." he mumbled around the cigarette as he fished in his pocket for his lighter. "Just enough that I'm worried. Feels like they're trying to make it seem like everything is business as usual when it ain't." Fucking finally, flame was brought to the end of the cigarette dangling from his lips. "I mean, first we ask if any of the other charters have heard shit, then maybe----I don't know, see if anyone has been buyin' less, or hell, even more than we expect them to? What do you think?"

Fuck. She couldn't believe she'd miss another appointment—though, this time she was placing the full blame onto Niko. He'd given her a double shift, and the thought completely slipped her mind. Gravel crunched beneath the tires as the Bronco sped up the driveway, and despite herself, she hoped she’d find Mo still around. The moment she shifted the truck into park, she hopped out and strode up to him.

"Just 'cause you're pleading guilty doesn't mean I'm going to go easy on you in sentencing." he shot back. His entire demeanor was trying to say he wasn't going to give in, but his actions spoke differently, especially as he rounded the side of her truck, heading for the attached trailer where he knew he'd find Trigger. "You're not the one who suffers when you miss a farrier appointment, it's him," words were punctuated with him lifting the latch on the trailer door.

Eve offered a soft grunt of agreement, deciding to leave it that. Of course she could relate, with adoptive parents who wanted nothing more than to give her a good life and yet she still managed to grow up riddled with issues -- how incredibly stereotypical of her. She'd never been one to pry, especially given that her curiosity could be turned back on her at any given moment. No, she preferred to live on the outskirts of vulnerability, finding it was the only way to keep herself safe even if that was at the expense of many potential friendships, relationships. In Eve's mind, no one needed the sob story of the little girl whose entire family was lost to a terrible accident, who froze up every time they got into a vehicle -- and honestly? She figured other people, like Mo, felt the same about their own respective traumas. So, why even go down that path?"

“Sociopathic, not psychotic,” he confirmed, eyes roaming Ruthie to see if any other upkeep needed to be taken care of today.  “And Sawyer, well…She’s scary as fuck, don’t get me wrong, but she’s a good person.  She just likes to win.”  He wasn’t about to blow her cover and reveal that she was soft for those she cared for, but it was the truth.  She found a raggedy ass kid stealing sleeps in the hayloft of her family’s ranch and she got him a job rather than calling the cops.  And she looked out for him until she left for New York, which was a hell lot more than his own family had ever done for him.  

It was too predictable really, the man swiftly making his exit this moment her cousin interacted with him. She pushed down the bitterness that threatened to rise at the notion the stranger had only listened at the arrival of another man, instead choosing to focus on the simple relief that came with the fact he'd finally left her alone. There'd be time for venting her supressed female rage some place else but she wasn't about to risk driving Cormoran away before they really had time to talk. Though what exactly she thought they'd talk about she didn't know. Despite their blood ties and club ties, the pair were practically strangers and yet he'd still been there for her in the moment she'd needed someone most. He'd gotten more of a glimpse into what her life had been life in New York than almost anyone. As far as she was concerned that more than made up for the years that their mothers had been estranged, forging a new kind of bond between them even if neither of them really knew what to do with it. But since her arrival back in town Ava had been determined to at least try to make something of it, the invited she'd sent the beginning of her efforts. "Well that makes it easy for me to remember." She smiled but her minded lingered on how someone had once told her to be loved was to be known and the fact that he had no preference for her to commit to memory felt almost impersonal, creating a false sense of distance between them again. "Oh, um, hilly and sometimes foggy but good." Realising that she was deflecting she tried again for something more honest. "It helped my find my feet again, at least." The conversation was moved on, equal parts shifting the focus away from her and curiosity about the man who was still something of a mystery to her. "How's it been here? You work at the ranch, right?"

“What about you?  What’re you drinking?” he nodded to the drink in her hand, trying to find any straw to grasp onto.  The last time they had been together, the situation was dire, and all words were said in service of getting something done, not for conversation.  And now with that urgency gone, he found himself completely unsure of what to say or how to act.  “Anything you can tell me that I can’t find out from a quick google?”  Damn, and he thought he was bad.  Although, that feeling in itself brought him a small sliver of comfort.  His taciturn nature had ruined conversations and relationships before, but at least this time it wasn’t only his tongue that was tied. “That’s good, good.” he nodded.  He wasn’t sure how much she wanted to dwell on the past, if she wanted to talk about it.  If they were anything alike in that aspect, the answer would be a firm no.  “Ah, well, y’know.  Big changes since Leon stepped down.”  He was sure she had to be aware of the change, of his new title, but it felt odd to point it out.  “S’been a big adjustment, but yeah, I’m still at the ranch.” he nodded, again. He was thankful when the bartender, who he knew well, dropped a drink in front of him without him having to order.  It gave him a brief moment to think, to breathe.  “How’s your pops?  I haven’t seen him in a couple days.”  Ah, yes, common ground.

The tension in the blonde's voice was palpable as she exhaled a long, strained breath, her frustration evident, not necessiarly at him. Being at the ranch was the absolute last place she wanted to be, and it was no secret that she despised every inch of it. If she could, she'd set it ablaze and watch it burn to the ground. Instead, there she was, because her mother had the nerve to kick the bucket, and Shepherd decided now was the perfect time for a midlife crisis and vanished into thin air. That left just her and Nellie to salvage whatever they could from the mess left behind.

~we're ignoring p. much all of sawyer's response bc retcon and what not~

"A sad country song? Is that why you always looked like you had a stick wedged up your ass?" she taunted with a smug smirk, her words slightly slurred from the alcohol. It was sweltering, and she had drunk far too much to think of anything more clever. Yet, she knew he'd be the one to sober her up—he was just that annoying. "No, because then I'd be stuck having to instruct you on how to look it up." She shot back. Somehow, the man standing in front of her found every way possible to get under her skin, and she wasn't even sure why she let him. Maybe it was because he always seemed so uninterested in everything, though she couldn't help but admit that his current state was a nice change from his usual brooding disposition.