Text Overflow: It's just a flesh wound

[tinstar]

[Continued from: here]

[Raylan took advantage of having several hours to bring his hotel room back into something resembling tidiness, as well as taking a shower and grabbing a nap - Sleep wasn't something anyone got a lot of around Malcolm Whitly, but he'd long learned how to live and work on smaller amounts of sleep.

Dressed but with his button up open and no shoes on his feet, Raylan answered the door with a pull of a smile.] Managed to make it one piece I see. C'mon in. [ He shut the door behind him as he continued.] Flight okay?

Comments

[tinstar]

[Raylan huffed a half laugh and a smile, arms folding over each other as his ankles crossed.]

I don't doubt it. You don't seem like a guy that gives into his temper that often. Guy musta been a real asshole.

[He nodded again.]

I've been sent to three different anger management classes due to how I've reacted to different situations. The only reason Art was willing to take me was because of my roots - everyone else takes a lot of convincing that I'm not more trouble than I'm worth.

We all lose our tempers from time to time. I bet you'd be hard pressed to find someone in our line of work that hasn't punched someone they're not supposed to.

[abrightboy]

A cavalier attitude about the value of human life justifying violence towards the vulnerable is usually my trigger.

[He was reasonably self-aware.]

Probably because of what my father did. He used his position to prey on people he considered... inferior.

[tinstar]

It's not a bad impulse, [he assured.] even if the suits upstairs don't agree. Some things just need doing. [Some mouths just needed closing.]

But Gil's not going to stop calling you. Not unless you decide to punch him out..

He gonna have any issue with you disappearing out of state? [For however long Malcolm planned on staying.]

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm wasn't sure he could punch Gil, even if the man did something uncharacteristically deserving of it. He wasn't even sure he could punch Dr Whitly, and Gil meant more to him.

He shook his head at Raylan's question and smiled weakly.]

He's always trying to get me to take a few days off. He might be suspicious of why I suddenly would, but I expect he'll just take the win.

[tinstar]

You've got some crazy good timing, I'll say that. Art decided that it was time I take a few days weather I liked it or not. Just long enough to make going to Miami not worth it but just long enough to make me itch.

I'm going to be driving out to Harlan today. It'd be a shame for you to come all the way down here and go right back. Why don't you come out with me. Maybe you'll get to enjoy the quiet of the countryside this time instead of us having to rush it.

[abrightboy]

[He perked up a little bit.]

To Arlo's?

[tinstar]

[ Raylan smiled at the way Malcolm perked up. ]

Yeah, Arlo's. I still haven't sold it and there's a list of things to do that I probably oughta take care of at some point.

[Pushing off the Tv stand, Raylan went to sit on the bed so he could put his shoes and socks on.]

How long you plan on stayin'?

[abrightboy]

Three or four days, if that's okay. It should be healed enough by then that nobody will notice.

[He turned in his chair to look at Raylan.]

We could give the place a little curb appeal. Help you sell it.

[tinstar]

Yeah, that won't be a problem. [The assurance was made as he tugged his jeans over his boot tops and stood back up to raise his eyebrows with a pull of his smile at the last.]

Have you ever used a weed wacker before?

[ He wasn't saying no. ]

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm tilted his head slightly.]

How hard can it be?

[tinstar]

[Raylan grinned.]

Then all we've gotta do is a little shopping before we leave Lexington.

You eaten yet? [The question came as Raylan rounded the bed's corners to come towards the closet and pull out his already packed bag.

Yes, he'd been ready to go.]

[abrightboy]

Shopping! Sounds... fun. I haven't eaten. [Shocking, he knew. He pulled his jacket back on.] Are we going to a grocery store?

[tinstar]

Yup. And a hardware store. C'mon.

[Grabbing his hat, his keys, and the bottle of scotch that Malcolm had brought him, Raylan opened the door and, after Malcolm slipped out, locked the door behind them.

The grocery store was easy enough; Raylan grabbed some beer, eggs, some bread, cheese and sandwich meat, as well as some apples and a steak. After asking after and getting whatever Malcolm wanted from the fluorescent lighted supermarket, Raylan got them checked out and back to the car.]

Anything else we need, we can get out there, but prices for most of that are better here. [Despite his salary, which wasn't nothing to sneeze at, considering where he came from, Raylan was hardwired into some kind of practicality for it all.]

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm sat in the front seat of the car, fishing through the shopping bag on the floor in front of him, holding up soup cans and comparing them.]

All the labels look exactly the same. You'd think they'd put a big picture of a chicken or a mushroom or whatever so people can tell them apart easily.

[It was possible he'd never been in a standard economy grocery store.]

[tinstar]

[He smirked as they rolled back out onto the road.]

And give people even more of an excuse not to read? Trust me, it's better this way. Gives 'em a reason to use what's between their ears.

[Raylan glanced at Malcolm as he drove.]

When was the last time you were in a grocery store?

[abrightboy]

[He looked over.]

I used to go to Dean and DeLuca in DC every week. [He put the soup back in the bag.] They did not have soups in all the same tin. [Statement of fact; he wasn't suggesting the soups in the matching tins were a bad thing.] Actually, the only soups they sold 'pre-made' were these clear sleeves of premium dried ingredients and you just... poured it all in water and simmered it until it was ready. They tied them up in cellophane, so you could see what they were made of.

[tinstar]

Sleeves? Definitely not a regular store. I'll take that as never. I'm glad you got to eat well but.. This is how the rest of us live and eat. Peaches and Soup come in the same functional type of can.

[He smiled crookedly.]

So don't go peeling off any labels, otherwise you'll be having Surprise for supper.

[They rolled into the hardware parking lot and Raylan threw the car into park.]

Stay here. I won't be but a minute. Just gotta grab a couple things.

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm's attention snapped up from considering the groceries.]

...You want me to wait in the car?

[He came down here to escape waiting in the car, Raylan.]

[tinstar]

[He bobbed his head to the side.]

Well, if you're that against surprises, it's an eyehook for your restraints. I figured I could install it when we get to Arlo's so that I don't have to worry about if you're going to accidentally break something. You're welcome to come in, but it's going to be a quick trip.

[He and his long legs made short work of store aisles.]

[abrightboy]

[Malcolm scrambled out of the car before Raylan could change his mind. He hurried along beside Raylan, glancing around, taking in the contents of each aisle.]

I'm used to improvising with these things when I travel. You're going to install them?

[tinstar]

Why not, [he lead them confidently towards the fastener asile.] It's a heavy duty screw in a main stud and it'll make both our lives easier. Anyone who buys the place can uninstall it if they need too.

[Raylan glanced at Malcolm with a crook of his smile as he fished a thick hook off a rail.]

I've got a drill there.

[abrightboy]

[When they got there, Malcolm picked up a screw, put it down, then picked up another, then put it down too.]

How big does it need to be?

[tinstar]

I don't know - You've got more experience than I do but I figure the biggest they sell? I mean, I didn't think you could do that much when I first laid eyes on you but..

[Malcolm had proven that quickly. 'But' Raylan wanted to keep him safe and he knew that he wasn't going to fix or solve any of Malcolm's deeper problems. That was okay.]

What do you think?

[abrightboy]

[He grinned.] But then I almost knocked you down the stairs? [He examined the screws.] Well a wall stud is... what? Three and a half inches deep? So probably.... three inches?

[tinstar]

I think you mean 'And then you had to stop me from throwing myself down the stairs.' [He smirked and traded the screw in his hand for the three inch screw.]

I'm hoping that some hard manual labor will help but just in case..

[Raylan's smile pulled into a grin as he led them back towards the counter to check out for all of $3.49. Once they were back in the car and on the road again, Raylan continued.]

I got a pressure washer, like you suggested, for the house.