lonesome drifter.

how do you zoom on this thing?

we can't be drinking on camera, dickhead.

i'm sorry, but we gotta go.

but come on. i can't do it alone.

we really need a fresh start.

needs a little work, but it does have promise, doesn't it?

i've decided a change will do me good.

what's there to do around here? i mean, for fun?

there's great fishing and hunting, if you like that sort of thing.

i'm sorry, was i talking to you?

i got drunker than i should have.

so, are you asking if i'm going to have a breakdown?

i'm not your sweetheart, motherfucker.

i don't see anything, i don't hear anything.

can we just have a normal day?

can we please just go to the fucking party?

you could have gotten us killed.

was violence inevitable?

i hate that goddamn clown.

you want to wander around in the dark, be my guest.

we used to be thick as thieves.

i think i'll pass, but thanks.

guns just aren't my thing.

i only use my guns to hunt and only hunt what i eat.

great, so we're all besties again.

all we have to do now is not die.

this is insane. i'm not shooting anyone.

look, right now, i think, staying hidden out here is our best bet.

don't make me regret this. okay?

i'm just happy you're alive.

look, i'm sorry. i am an asshole.

holy shit, that looks dangerous.

you've got to stop shooting. we don't have ammo to waste.

give me my gun back.

whatever it is, i don't want any part in it.

people seem to die when you're around.

you're fucking sick. i love it.

this is my surprised face.

getting proof wouldn't be hard.

i wasn't annoyed at all. not one bit.

you can't tell anyone i'm here.

it couldn't be this easy.

it doesn't sound like you.

i want to make sure it's safe.

now i have to check it out to prove you wrong.

we're friends, and friends call each other by name.

i hadn't realized this was a perk until now.

i didn't know what i wanted.

but don't mind me, it's not like i know what i'm doing or anything.

oh, a running joke, those aren't annoying at all.

it shouldn't be weird, but it's weird.

yes, that was sarcasm.

i mean, if i was going to attack someone, i couldn't have picked a better spot.

the only way out of this is to kill them.

why are you pointing that at me?

i know you know that, asshole.

do you have any idea what attacked us?

telling the truth was sort of working out for me.

but old habits die hard.

give me your weapon.

does that sound terrifying? because it was terrifying.

sorry, it's not personal.

oh, that's not suspicious at all.

you were there when it counted.

possibly i was overthinking this.

i should be over this by now.

well, that was all useless.

i mean, there's a first time for everything.

note i said "supposedly."

okay, i was scared.

i didn't know if i could trust them.

yes, you should worry.

why should i trust you? you obviously don't trust us.

i forgot what an asshole you are.

i'm almost glad you're here.

i'm not your enemy. i'm just cautious.

i'm going to touch you, don't freak out.

i handled the situation very badly. i apologize.

i should have had more confidence in you.

it made me feel like a person.

i can protect you.

i wish you trusted me, but i understand why you didn't.

no one gets to walk away from that.

you have no idea what i am.

you're afraid, you're hurt, and you need to calm the fuck down so we can get through this situation alive.

i don't want to be here.

he thinks perry’s someone he wants to get to know better, though.  someone he needs to get to know better.

❝  i do—  it’s been with me for a long time now.  kinda the only thing i had for a while,  y’know?  now,  i just can’t imagine not havin’ it.  ❞    he speaks about his truck with such an obvious pride,  because it’s always been important to him what he can accomplish on his own,  not just through what his birth father had to offer him — a life that never felt true to alden,  one he never wanted to be a part of,  now isn’t.  

his head tilts to the side,  eyes squinting,  like he was expecting just that— and still, he’s not going to accept it.  he doesn’t like accepting free help like that,  but there’s also a part of alden that just wants an excuse to not have to say goodbye to the man just yet.  maybe it’s greedy,  but alden tells himself it’s just being polite.

but he subjects himself to it anyway. watches alden with wide eyes that betray him, despite all his certainty that he's being careful; but it's hard not to look at him like this. hard not to be relieved he's here, even if it feels like a part of him isn't. relieved that alden feels comfortable enough to confide in him again, because perry knows how important it is to him: and how rare of a gift it is for him to give away.

"i'm just - i'm real glad i could help." he should leave it at that. should take these small victories and walk away before he makes a fool of himself - but alden continues standing there, looking at him, and rather than feeling examined, perry feels seen. this isn't a memory, something he's reliving, yet he swears he knows what's coming next, sound tunneling in his ears and his vision narrowing and perry has to remind himself to breathe, wiping sweat-slick palms on his jeans, nodding too eagerly as he practically jumps to follow alden: sliding into the passenger's seat not like a stranger, but as if he's done it a dozen times.