[ Vasquez's eyes narrow as Gilbert shoves his gun against Faraday's forehead, his fingers curling at his side.
Maybe he'll just eat that one.
When Vasquez speaks again, his voices comes smooth and deep, rolling like molasses off his tongue. ]
Leave all your weapons on the ground.
[ Over the centuries, Vasquez has learned there are varying degrees to his ability to coerce. Little good it will do him with a great deal of the inhuman creatures he's come across, including Faraday's wolf, but with mortals? He knows that he can push. Resisting the pull of a command has the potential to be painful, if Vasquez exerts his will just so; suggestions become orders, and refusing to acquiesce can result in otherwise undue suffering. He didn't lie to Faraday, when he said his words are more suggestion than force, because when it comes to his average meal (one he doesn't intend to drain dry), it's less convenient to fight them for control.
His life is easier when he can slide in smoothly, take what he needs, and erase any trace of his interference. Those who fight, those who are angry and frightened, are far less likely to abandon unpleasant memories.
In the end, it's more trouble than it's worth.
But circumstances like this? Vasquez has no qualms pushing. ]
[ It's the strangest goddamn thing in the world, hearing Vasquez's voice like that, and Faraday stiffens when he hears it. It's different, like nothing he's ever heard from the other man. Hell, it's like nothing he's ever heard, full stop.
(even if it tugs at a faint, distant memory at the back of his head)
Anton is the first to obey, and Faraday watches, stunned, as Anton drops his rifle and Faraday's pistols. ]
The hell are you doing, boy?
[ Gilbert grits it out at Anton, but he grimaces, his own rage giving him a bit of an edge. He only lasts a heartbeat longer than Anton against that alien pain before he's tossing his gun away, along with a Bowie knife and a spare pistol. ]
[ Vasquez's eyes flash in the glowing light of the approaching evening, and he watches, waits as the weapons steadily hit the ground. ]
Don't move.
[ And he walks forward, gathering Faraday's pistols from the dust.
As he's dusting off the weapons, ]
What do you think, perro? Should we let them go?
[ He closes the distance between himself and Faraday, resting one gun in the crook of his elbow to offer him a hand up.
The thing is, he knows that they're dangerously close to a human town. He knows there's always the potential to draw unwanted attention – ripping their throats out or shooting them point blank – and as the sun slowly sets, their time is running shorter.
(Mostly, he should be commended for not instantly separating these men's heads from their bodies, like his first instinct screamed for.) ]
[ The other two men stand frozen in place, eyes wide and terrified, and Faraday, stunned as he is, is in the same boat.
When Vasquez, cool and calm as anything, comes up to his side, Faraday stares at him for a few heartbeats – time they likely don't have, considering how close they are to town, where anyone might stumble upon them, considering that sunset is drawing close, and the two of them need to be gone before anyone sees Faraday in the middle of his transformation.
He doesn't mean to, but he lets that uncertainty flash across his face as he studies Vasquez, hesitating before taking the other man's hand. When he stands, he tries to make the movement look natural – and he's largely successful, except once he's on his feet, he shifts his weight to his good leg. He takes his guns back; he carefully knocks Ethel against his good hip to remove the last of the dirt, but he keeps Maria in hand.
They should leave. Gilbert and Anton are completely out of their depths, here, and Faraday almost feels bad for them. But the ugly rage is still roiling in his chest, desperate for an outlet. And he knows Gilbert's type – the type to hold a grudge, to chase after it and let it fester in his chest like a sickness.
Instead of answering Vasquez's question verbally, he lifts up Maria, thumbing back the hammer and putting a bullet in Gilbert's head.
He aims at Anton next. ]
You. Go home. Forget everything that happened here today. If I ever see you again, you're gonna end up like your friend Gilbert.
Understood?
[ Anton hesitates, eyes darting wildly between Vasquez and Faraday and Gilbert's cooling corpse.
[ That moment that Faraday just stares at Vasquez, not accepting the hand up, not reaching for him (when their casual contact is usually so thoughtless), catches Vasquez's attention. His gaze is already hard, steely, and there's no external shift – but he feels an odd twinge in his chest beside that burning fury.
He ignores it for now.
Vasquez allows Faraday the time to decide what he wants to do with these two miscreants. They need to leave, but—
—well, at least Faraday makes quick work of one of the bastards.
Vasquez waits with one thumb hooked in his belt, half expecting Faraday to put down the second.
(He's impressed by Faraday's restraint when he doesn't.)
[ Tense as Faraday is, he can't help but snort at that.
Maybe he'll explain the joke later – that Antony seems to be mute – but Anton is quickly hauling ass away from the confrontation, back into town.
Faraday waits until well after the man is out of earshot before he holsters his gun, moving toward Gilbert's body and doing him the decency of shutting those staring eyes. That bit of humanity out of the way, Faraday straightens, keeping his weight off his throbbing leg.
Faraday doesn't look at him, and that feels— off. Vasquez doesn't know what to make of it. Maybe Faraday is just in pain because of his leg? Maybe he's embarrassed because he was caught unawares?
Or the least appealing option: maybe he's been reminded of what he's traveling with.
His voice is still gruff, but without the otherworldly current lying beneath it. ]
[ Faraday nods in response, heading toward the livery with a bit of a limp.
It's an easy enough thing to grab their horses, leaving at a sedate pace before speeding up to put more distance between them and the town – the routine, usually, when they stayed in a town a little longer than planned and needed to get to a safe place before the sun dipped below the horizon.
After a bit, when they've judged they're far enough away, they slow. The light is starting to turn golden as the day starts to fade. Still some time yet before they have to deal with Faraday's change; enough time to start looking for a place to make camp.
The first thing Faraday says to break the silence, because apparently as unsettled as he is, he can't help but defend his pride: ]
[ Leaving town is routine, at this point. They always have to put space between them and the potential for humans to see Faraday's change, and they've done it every night for weeks, since leaving Rose Creek.
It's all habit, so Vasquez doesn't feel the need to breech the tense silence that settles around them like an iron weight.
(Because he still doesn't know what to make of it.)
When Faraday finally speaks, Vasquez glances in his direction, then turns his eyes forward again. ]
I could see that – what with how you were surrounded by men with guns. Very obvious you had it handled.
[ But he also doesn't regularly use that particular skill when at the point of Gilbert and Anton. Once discovered, he was far likelier to just outright kill a loose end that bother applying more force to his "suggestions." ]
I don't usually use it like that – having to push that much.
[ He dismounts Jack with far less care than he's due, and his bad leg buckles a little, forcing him to catch himself on the pommel of his saddle. He curses under his breath, jaw clenched as he shifts his weight to his good leg. ]
So? What did you do? [ And the words are sharp, brusque. ] 'Cause they looked like it was hurtin' them.
[ Vasquez pauses with his reins gathered in his hand, watching Faraday wobble – though he stops himself from reaching out and steady the other man. ]
I don't know. It's just— [ He cuts himself short as he tries to search for the right explanation, huffing out a sharp sigh. ] It's just a part of it. If they don't want to listen, it causes more pain until they do.
[ He echoes the words like he's spitting them out.
Maybe he's angrier about this than he should be, but hearing Vasquez use that voice had stirred something in his head. It had felt faintly familiar, though he had no memory of Vasquez speaking with that voice ever before.
But maybe he wouldn't.
Vasquez did say he routinely made people forget. ]
[ Vasquez looks more genuinely confused by the accusation, and he stops just to stare at Faraday. He’s never used that voice on Faraday, because he’s never had a reason to – and he has no real confidence that it would be effective, if Vasquez actually did try. ]
What the hell are you talking about? I never used it on you.
[ Vasquez isn’t actively trying to deny the fact that he’d attempted to use his voice on the wolf; he just genuinely believes Faraday and the wolf to be two separate beings. By that understanding, Vasquez doesn’t consider that he’d ever tried to coerce Faraday into obedience. ]
[ He keeps one hand on the pommel, but he turns to face Vasquez, making no move to disguise the way he stares at him, studies him, trying to spot any tics or tells. ]
When you talked like that, it kicked something up. Like I remembered it from before. Remembered how it felt.
[ Though that's not the right way to describe it; it was more like trying to remember a dream – not recalling the images, but recalling the impression it left behind. ]
He never remembers what happens on full moons, no matter how hard he tries. It's possible, he supposes, that those nights would still leave a shadow in his mind, however faint it might be, but—
He clenches his jaw, still doubtful. ]
And that's the only time?
[ Skepticism and anger in his voice to mask the confusion and the hurt.
... stupid, he admits, to feel hurt by the possibility of Vasquez betraying his trust and not righteously furious, but there it is – nagging at him like a sore, open wound rather than a white-hot flame. ]
[ Vasquez's confusion gives way to incredulity. They've known each other for solid months now, and maybe the two of them are made of little more than sharp edges and stubbornness, but Vasquez expected Faraday would trust him more than that.
(He's not sure why he expects that, given his centuries of experience. He's much less human than Faraday, much farther from "natural," despite the wolf's curse.
Vasquez is a walking nightmare, wearing the mask of a man.
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no subject
Maybe he'll just eat that one.
When Vasquez speaks again, his voices comes smooth and deep, rolling like molasses off his tongue. ]
Leave all your weapons on the ground.
[ Over the centuries, Vasquez has learned there are varying degrees to his ability to coerce. Little good it will do him with a great deal of the inhuman creatures he's come across, including Faraday's wolf, but with mortals? He knows that he can push. Resisting the pull of a command has the potential to be painful, if Vasquez exerts his will just so; suggestions become orders, and refusing to acquiesce can result in otherwise undue suffering. He didn't lie to Faraday, when he said his words are more suggestion than force, because when it comes to his average meal (one he doesn't intend to drain dry), it's less convenient to fight them for control.
His life is easier when he can slide in smoothly, take what he needs, and erase any trace of his interference. Those who fight, those who are angry and frightened, are far less likely to abandon unpleasant memories.
In the end, it's more trouble than it's worth.
But circumstances like this? Vasquez has no qualms pushing. ]
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(even if it tugs at a faint, distant memory at the back of his head)
Anton is the first to obey, and Faraday watches, stunned, as Anton drops his rifle and Faraday's pistols. ]
The hell are you doing, boy?
[ Gilbert grits it out at Anton, but he grimaces, his own rage giving him a bit of an edge. He only lasts a heartbeat longer than Anton against that alien pain before he's tossing his gun away, along with a Bowie knife and a spare pistol. ]
no subject
Don't move.
[ And he walks forward, gathering Faraday's pistols from the dust.
As he's dusting off the weapons, ]
What do you think, perro? Should we let them go?
[ He closes the distance between himself and Faraday, resting one gun in the crook of his elbow to offer him a hand up.
The thing is, he knows that they're dangerously close to a human town. He knows there's always the potential to draw unwanted attention – ripping their throats out or shooting them point blank – and as the sun slowly sets, their time is running shorter.
(Mostly, he should be commended for not instantly separating these men's heads from their bodies, like his first instinct screamed for.) ]
no subject
When Vasquez, cool and calm as anything, comes up to his side, Faraday stares at him for a few heartbeats – time they likely don't have, considering how close they are to town, where anyone might stumble upon them, considering that sunset is drawing close, and the two of them need to be gone before anyone sees Faraday in the middle of his transformation.
He doesn't mean to, but he lets that uncertainty flash across his face as he studies Vasquez, hesitating before taking the other man's hand. When he stands, he tries to make the movement look natural – and he's largely successful, except once he's on his feet, he shifts his weight to his good leg. He takes his guns back; he carefully knocks Ethel against his good hip to remove the last of the dirt, but he keeps Maria in hand.
They should leave. Gilbert and Anton are completely out of their depths, here, and Faraday almost feels bad for them. But the ugly rage is still roiling in his chest, desperate for an outlet. And he knows Gilbert's type – the type to hold a grudge, to chase after it and let it fester in his chest like a sickness.
Instead of answering Vasquez's question verbally, he lifts up Maria, thumbing back the hammer and putting a bullet in Gilbert's head.
He aims at Anton next. ]
You. Go home. Forget everything that happened here today. If I ever see you again, you're gonna end up like your friend Gilbert.
Understood?
[ Anton hesitates, eyes darting wildly between Vasquez and Faraday and Gilbert's cooling corpse.
Faraday shoots the hat off Anton's head. ]
Am I understood, Anton?
[ This time, Anton frantically nods. ]
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He ignores it for now.
Vasquez allows Faraday the time to decide what he wants to do with these two miscreants. They need to leave, but—
—well, at least Faraday makes quick work of one of the bastards.
Vasquez waits with one thumb hooked in his belt, half expecting Faraday to put down the second.
(He's impressed by Faraday's restraint when he doesn't.)
After Anton nods, Vasquez speaks again. ]
Go. Tell no one what you saw.
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Maybe he'll explain the joke later – that Antony seems to be mute – but Anton is quickly hauling ass away from the confrontation, back into town.
Faraday waits until well after the man is out of earshot before he holsters his gun, moving toward Gilbert's body and doing him the decency of shutting those staring eyes. That bit of humanity out of the way, Faraday straightens, keeping his weight off his throbbing leg.
Without looking back at Vasquez, ]
We oughta make ourselves scarce, too.
no subject
Faraday doesn't look at him, and that feels— off. Vasquez doesn't know what to make of it. Maybe Faraday is just in pain because of his leg? Maybe he's embarrassed because he was caught unawares?
Or the least appealing option: maybe he's been reminded of what he's traveling with.
His voice is still gruff, but without the otherworldly current lying beneath it. ]
Sí.
[ Vasquez nods back towards the livery. ]
The horses are ready to go.
no subject
It's an easy enough thing to grab their horses, leaving at a sedate pace before speeding up to put more distance between them and the town – the routine, usually, when they stayed in a town a little longer than planned and needed to get to a safe place before the sun dipped below the horizon.
After a bit, when they've judged they're far enough away, they slow. The light is starting to turn golden as the day starts to fade. Still some time yet before they have to deal with Faraday's change; enough time to start looking for a place to make camp.
The first thing Faraday says to break the silence, because apparently as unsettled as he is, he can't help but defend his pride: ]
I had that handled.
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It's all habit, so Vasquez doesn't feel the need to breech the tense silence that settles around them like an iron weight.
(Because he still doesn't know what to make of it.)
When Faraday finally speaks, Vasquez glances in his direction, then turns his eyes forward again. ]
I could see that – what with how you were surrounded by men with guns. Very obvious you had it handled.
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It's not the first time I've been in that situation.
I had a plan – a decent one that you made a mess of, chargin' in like you did.
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[ Vasquez rolls his eyes. ]
Yes, that was going well.
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[ This, as they reach a little clearing – it's probably the best they're going to do on short notice. ]
Gil only got as close as he did 'cause you threw me off.
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[ Vasquez tosses Faraday a short glare as he's finally tugs on his reins, slowing his horse. ]
It doesn't matter now. It happened, you're not shot, y esta bien.
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[ This, grumbled under his breath, though he follows suit in coaxing Jack to a stop. ]
What the hell did you do to those poor bastards?
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It was what I told you about before.
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Then, ]
That was what you call a goddamn suggestion?
[ Because Gilbert and Anton didn't look like they could help themselves, looked nearly out of their minds with terror. ]
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[ But he also doesn't regularly use that particular skill when at the point of Gilbert and Anton. Once discovered, he was far likelier to just outright kill a loose end that bother applying more force to his "suggestions." ]
I don't usually use it like that – having to push that much.
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[ He dismounts Jack with far less care than he's due, and his bad leg buckles a little, forcing him to catch himself on the pommel of his saddle. He curses under his breath, jaw clenched as he shifts his weight to his good leg. ]
So? What did you do? [ And the words are sharp, brusque. ] 'Cause they looked like it was hurtin' them.
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I don't know. It's just— [ He cuts himself short as he tries to search for the right explanation, huffing out a sharp sigh. ] It's just a part of it. If they don't want to listen, it causes more pain until they do.
So what?
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[ He echoes the words like he's spitting them out.
Maybe he's angrier about this than he should be, but hearing Vasquez use that voice had stirred something in his head. It had felt faintly familiar, though he had no memory of Vasquez speaking with that voice ever before.
But maybe he wouldn't.
Vasquez did say he routinely made people forget. ]
So what, is when the hell did you use it on me?
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What the hell are you talking about? I never used it on you.
[ Vasquez isn’t actively trying to deny the fact that he’d attempted to use his voice on the wolf; he just genuinely believes Faraday and the wolf to be two separate beings. By that understanding, Vasquez doesn’t consider that he’d ever tried to coerce Faraday into obedience. ]
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When you talked like that, it kicked something up. Like I remembered it from before. Remembered how it felt.
[ Though that's not the right way to describe it; it was more like trying to remember a dream – not recalling the images, but recalling the impression it left behind. ]
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—and then he pauses for a beat as a thought strikes him.
It must have been... ]
The wolf. I tried during the full moon.
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He never remembers what happens on full moons, no matter how hard he tries. It's possible, he supposes, that those nights would still leave a shadow in his mind, however faint it might be, but—
He clenches his jaw, still doubtful. ]
And that's the only time?
[ Skepticism and anger in his voice to mask the confusion and the hurt.
... stupid, he admits, to feel hurt by the possibility of Vasquez betraying his trust and not righteously furious, but there it is – nagging at him like a sore, open wound rather than a white-hot flame. ]
You swear on your life that's all it's been?
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(He's not sure why he expects that, given his centuries of experience. He's much less human than Faraday, much farther from "natural," despite the wolf's curse.
Vasquez is a walking nightmare, wearing the mask of a man.
Faraday is right to fear and doubt that.)
Vasquez's jaw is set, his eyes narrowed. ]
Why is it you think I would do that to you?
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