School Grounds, Wednesday afternoon

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

After the two boys were handwavily gremlin bit earlier in Chris' room, Jack Johnny and Ennis Chris headed outdoors to get to work and do what need's doin' to gather the herd and keep 'em secure on Crackback Mountain.

It was just that Johnny was a bit confused and glancin' over at Chris told him that the ranch hand was pretty much in the same boat.

"Ah, hell, Chris, I don't be seein' them heffer's 'round, do you? And the good Lord strike me dead if this here be Crackback Mountain. I'll be a yankee sumbitch if these here hills be called mountains."

Hands on hips, he glared at the ground.

"You thinkin' real hard over there or are you just as confused as I am?"

[ooc: Chris and Johnny have been, with permission, gremlin bit that was handwavily done. Welcome to Brokeback Mountain, Fandom style. Woot! Feel free to notice, gander, or just plain wtf at the boys.]

Comments

[not_in_the_book]

"Not as far as I have been," Ronan replied, "nor as far away as I'm likely to be again." He held out his hand. "Ronan Nolan," he introduced himself.

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Johnny reached out and firmly grasped his hand. "Jack Twist Johnny Storm."

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan grinned at the firm grasp. "Pleasure to meet you, Johnny," he said. "So, how does a man like you find himself up here herding heifers?"

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

He shrugged a broad shoulder. "Just asked about the job. I'm a regular rodeo star and this is just somethin' in between, you know? Got to keep the family fed." He glanced over at Chris again.

"What about you Mr. Nolan? Aside from sportin' across the country, what do you do for your livin'?"

[not_in_the_book]

"Oh, a rodeo star?" Ronan asked. "Sounds exciting. I'm a simple man myself, just doing what I can to help people as I go. I do a bit of prestidigitation, too."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"What's presteedeaishun?"

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan laughed. "It means I'm good with my hands not dirty okay, kinda dirty," he replied. "Magic tricks, that kind of thing."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"Oh, you're a Carnie then?" Johnny asked though his mind did play around with the good with my hands, comment.

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan shook his head. "More a street performer," he clarified.

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Johnny refrained from shakin' his head. He's been to Mexico, he knows all 'bout them street performers. "You make much earnin' at it?"

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan shrugged. "Depends on the city," he said. "Some places love to see a guy on the street, doing card tricks or playing music. Other cities? Not so much. They'd rather run you out than hear you play."

It's amazing how well Ronan can build a character and hold it together.

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"What do you play?" Johnny asked, mildly curious.

[not_in_the_book]

"Oh, not me myself," Ronan said. "The magic tricks are all I've got. No, I was traveling with a flute player for a while, before we parted ways. Had a disagreement as to how... affectionate... to be in public."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"Public displays of affection can be irritatin' can't they? She your wife or just your travelin' partner?"

[not_in_the_book]

Ronan raised his eyebrow. "Who said anything about a woman?"

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

...

"I just assumed because... you know... men, we just don't do that sort of thing."

[not_in_the_book]

"There's a whole wide world out there," Ronan said, "and many more things in it than most people dream of. Besides, I can take care of myself when threatened. So could he. And it wasn't so bad... traveling together."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

Johnny couldn't comment on it. He knew men who were beat to death for assumably showin' affection towards one another. "Who started your disagreement? You or him?"

[not_in_the_book]

"Was more of a mutual thing," Ronan said. "We just... it was time for us to part, I think."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"Nah, me and Chris, we just a couple of cow hands, know what I mean?" he said, needing to make sure this Mr. Nolan knew that. No sense in talking about men bein' with men. He wasn't givin' away any ideas.

[not_in_the_book]

"... I didn't suggest otherwise," Ronan said. "Awfully defensive, don't you think?" He grinned. "If that's what you say you are, then that's what you are."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"Right," he said. "That's what we are. Herdin' heffers."

[not_in_the_book]

"All right," Ronan said. "Well, I better be on my way," he added. "Much more adventuring to do. Good luck with your... herding."

[fantastic-torch.livejournal.com]

"Thank you kindly, Mr. Nolan. You take care to now, you hear?"