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[almightythirst]

Hey there, stranger. Don't think I gotta explain the situation: you called, I didn't pick up. Leave me a message and maybe I'll get back to you.

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[almightythirst]

[ Jesse lets out a surprised laugh. Has he ever played a game like that? At least, one where he didn’t lie through his teeth? ]

... Y’know what? Alright. Let’s do it when we get around to that movie night we got planned.

[ Assuming that old plan still stands. ]

[tagartist]

[ She grins at his laugh, visibly relaxing at it. ]

Cool. That sounds like a good idea.

[ Chloe pauses before she goes in to give him a tight hug. Sudden, maybe, but it doesn’t feel wrong. ]

Soon, okay? [ A lot of people she knows have been disappearing lately and she’s worried he’ll do the same before they can watch some stupid western. ]

[almightythirst]

[ It’s an almost embarrassing deer-in-headlights moment for Jesse, when Chloe hugs him. He’s not touch-averse at all, but… it’s just been a long time since a friend did that. Hell, they hadn’t even been so touchy-feely back in Blackwatch.

There’s a second or two that passes, his arms hesitating out on either side of her in a moment of indecision before he returns the hug.

Being a family man will never be in the cards for him, that much he’s sure of. A vigilante like him could never settle long enough. Jesse has known this for a long time. So he’d never expected to feel this particular sort of fond, protective rush of emotion that he does holding Chloe. Damn near paternal, though no one better dark say as much. ]

Yeah. Soon, I promise.

[tagartist]

[ It was rather ironic, considering - Chloe was touch-averse, often shying away from having someone even brush up against her shoulder. But there were a handful of people that she let herself let go of it for, to relax and to trust in a way that she didn't most. McCree was apparently one of them, one of a small number that she could barely count on one hand.

It's why her hug was maybe tighter than it needed to be, her eyes closing when she feels him return it and she take a moment to cherish that. It takes her a minute to finally pull away, straightening out her shirt a little awkwardly and clearing her throat. ]

I'll um - I'll let you ... get into some real clothes. Or catch a few more hours of sleep.

[almightythirst]

[ Tense as things had gotten just moments before, the hug feels like it goes a long way in balancing things back out. They might not agree on some pretty big things, and they’ve both got their struggles when it comes to opening up about the stuff that matters, but… they’ll be okay. ]

You sayin’ you don’t like my PJs?

[ Not that they’re typical anyway. He glances down at his shirt with a quiet laugh, shaking his head. He's made worse decisions while high before. But he has no intention of telling Chloe that as he looks back at her and nods. ]

Thanks for the coffee. And for comin’ by to let me say my piece.

[ Even if she doesn’t pay it any mind, she’d listened. ]

[tagartist]

They're great if you're trying to imitate one of those pictures where an image pops out at you after you cross your eyes just right.

[ She is definitely saying she hates his PJs, but at least she does it with a smile.

One that gets a little smaller at his thanks for talking. She gives a nod, looking down at her feet again for a second. But only a second this time, able to actually look at his face again while talking. ]

Yeah. I actually kinda care about your opinion on shit, I guess, so - [ She shrugs. It's new territory for her to give a shit about what adults have to say, that's pretty clear. ] If it looks like I might... I dunno, be in over my head or whatever, I'll let you know.

[almightythirst]

[ Jesse lets out an indignant Hey! at the comment about his clothes, but… well, she’s not actually wrong. Even on his worst days, he’d have put a little more effort into his at-home wear than this.

Hard to be mad about it though when she follows up with that. Jesse smiles, nodding once. ]

I’ll hold you to that. Even if you’re not sure, call anyway. Better off with too much backup instead of not enough.

[tagartist]

[ She nods, grabbing her own coffee cup again. ]

I will. Cross my heart.

[ She even does so with her finger, because she's still a teenager at the end of the day. She gives him a grin. ]

I'll see you later, Jesse. Go get dressed.

[ She goes to head for the door on a much better parting note than this could have potentially ended with, honestly. ]