READ MY MIND // OPEN

[richard]

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— richard wouldn’t go out to say he was the best fisherman, nor was he the most avid of fishermen when it came down to it, though he figured it was something to pass the time. with the snow beginning to melt away and the lake finally thawing over, it seemed like it was as good a day as any to reel some fish in. standing at the edge of the lake with a cigarette between his lips, weight shifted on one leg, pole in hand; he felt peaceful.

fishing wasn’t the most entertaining pastime, neither was it the most rewarding at times, either. though, there were still things rich could enjoy about it. he found himself often wanting to spend time alone - not particularly avoiding people but not usually the first to strike up conversation either - and seeking solace by the lake was a good remedy. much as he hated to admit it, and as much as he knew his time at the lodge was only temporary, he was starting to feel at home.

something biting on the line made him perk up a bit, straightening and starting to slowly reel the line in. though, right when he was just about close to reeling it in, the line suddenly went slack. he lost the fish. puffing smoke out from his lips, he cursed around the cigarette, “damn.” he took the line out, baiting the hook again before throwing it back out into the water again. better luck next time.

[truce.]

#794044[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 6pt; letter-spacing: 2.5px; word-spacing: 0px; line-height: 12px; color: #000"]Tommy wouldn’t go out to say he was the best fisherman, but he would say that he was pretty damn good. In the years he spent out on his own, he had more than enough practice to ensure that he could survive out in the loner lands. Whilst fishing was admittedly tedious, he could exert far less energy slumped on the banks of a river than he would be trekking through the overgrowth to shoot some game for a meal. See? He was quite the bright spark, maintaining that philosophy of ❛ work smarter, not harder ❜.

Plus, he could be very lazy at the worst of times.

One thing that he was also very good at was interrupting the solitude and quiet that some may seek out. Whether it was for all of that zenful mindfulness bullshit or what, Tom couldn’t even make an attempt to acknowledge the peacefulness that one might be feeling on his own. Namely, he would not acknowledge Richard’s desire to be alone as he fished.

❝ Even though this place freezes me tits off, the fish seem to like it around here. ❞ He pointed out as he approached nearby, leaning against the trunk of a tree. ❝ Mind if I bum a cigarette off of you, by the way? ❞ He gestured towards the cigarette Richard was smoking; he had to say yes, right? Otherwise, Tommy may just have to push the guy into the lake.

He was only joking (or was he?), he briefly mused as an afterthought, before he began to count on his fingers. ❝ This lake got trout, grayling, salmon, pike... cod, and I’m pretty sure there ought to be a halibut lurking around here somewhere. Scary lookin’ fuckers - Some people say that they’ve named a couple halibut after me. ❞ He quirked a brow before shrugging, ❝ Just kidding, little man. They didn’t say no thing like that. They haven’t caught one yet to know what one looks like. ❞

[richard]

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— the more rich came to learn about tommy stirling, the more he came to realize that the man truly couldn’t read the room. at least, if the man did have the ability to read the room, he didn’t care to acknowledge it without going on about his way. there was something about it that mildly irritated and amazed richard all at once. the man was incredibly unapologetic, and in some ways it was both amusing, frustrating, and admirable. who wouldn’t be at least mildly awed by a man like him?

turning his head at the man’s blunt remark, he quirked a brow. so this man was simply going to stroll over when rich seemed to want to be left alone, and then had the nerve to ask for a cigarette? seriously, who did he think he was? he stared at the other man for a moment, as if genuinely contemplating turning the man down. after a quick silence, he dug around in his pocket for the pack of cigarettes. “you owe me one,” he said, holding the carton out towards tommy. “or you could just get me a drink some time.” seemed like a fair trade if you asked richard.

plucking the cigarette out of his mouth, he blew out smoke, turning his head to look curiously at tommy. “you sure they weren’t namin’ a different fish after you?” looking out towards the water, he furrowed his brows, placing the cigarette back between his lips as he added, “a largemouth bass, maybe?” not the best of his own quips. though, richard at the very least seemed pleased with the remark, amused eyes glancing towards the largemouth himself.

with tom’s mind seemingly moving a mile a minute, it was often hard to keep track enough to come up with a decent remark. at least he managed to keep rich on his toes. he looked out towards his line, shaking his head. “i can’t catch anything today. no luck.”

[truce.]

#794044[align=center][div style="width: 430px; text-align: justify; font-family: verdana; font-size: 6pt; letter-spacing: 1.5px; word-spacing: 0px; line-height: 12px; color: #000"]Of course, Tommy could read the room, granted he didn’t really give a shit about all them things which occupied that space. If Richard wasn’t interested in conversation with him, then he would talk with Tommy begrudgingly; after all, Tommy wasn’t that thoughtful nor considerate of his feelings enough to change the way he acted. And, even if it meant he asked for a cigarette, implying that he intended to stick around even longer than one may first expect, then he’d do so in the most casual of ways.

Tommy stared back at Richard as the two men exchanged looks, features complacent as if he wholly expected a cigarette from him. And, surely enough, Richard began to dig around for his cigarettes, Tommy taking a couple of steps closer to pluck one from the carton. ❝ You owe me one, or you could just get me a drink some time. ❞ Tommy tipped his chin up in acknowledgement, placing the cigarette between two lips before lighting it up, ❝ It’s a deal then, yeah. Let’s get a drink tonight. ❞ He pointed out. It wasn’t like Richard could necessarily refuse. What else could he be doing around here that would take up too much of his time?

Taking a step back, Tom watched as the fishing line disappeared into the lake, lips twitching in an amused smile for a split second at Richard’s words. ❝ Largemouth... Huh. That’s a funny one, mate, and I don't even think you too far from the truth at that. They probably would if we got any of ‘em up here. They ain’t too keen on this cold weather though, granted I ain’t too keen on it myself. ❞ He took a puff of his cigarette, exhaling plume back out into the sky.

Finally, Tom quietened down for a moment, just long enough for Richard to be able to get a word into the conversation. No luck? ❝ It ain’t about luck, though, ain't it? It ain’t too much about skill, though, either. ❞ He looked over to Richard. ❝ Knowledge. The good old fashioned education about them fishy behavior around ‘ere. ❞ He spoke as if it came from experience, Tommy jutting his bottom lip out as he observed the lake again. ❝ I ain’t the one to ask for advice. I know fuck all about the- the intricacies of reading a fuckin' fish's mind. ❞

[richard]

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— through his time spent observing tommy, he had come to learn the man was too thick-skinned to let any real comment get to him. perhaps that was why it was easy for him to huff a short breath at tom’s decision to get drinks tonight, shaking his head and lowering his gaze. saying around his cigarette, “a bit eager, aren’t you?” he turned his head to look towards tom, as if trying to convey that of course he was just messing with the man. plucking the cigarette from his lips, he blew out a quick smoke. “alright,” he eventually answered, “tonight, then.”

rich didn’t know whether it was his own confidence, his own desire to keep tommy’s ego in check, or simply out of sheer enjoyment that he rattled tom’s chain every so often. there was something about tom that he admired though. while rich often worried too much about life and all of its tragic events, it looked as if the other man couldn’t be bothered to give a shit about anything around him. even though there was room to assume tom cared more than he let on, richard still found himself having his doubts. 

besides, badgering tom was the least he could do when the other man had showed up and done the exact same thing. the amusement showed its way across uncaring features for just a fraction of a moment, quick to be gone in the next. a tough guy to crack. rich took the small victory and looked back out across the water. “for someone who says they don’t know much about fish, you sure seem knowledgeable about them.” words were said casually, paired with a brief glance tom’s way. how could the man ramble about all the fish they had here - and largemouths - before saying he didn’t know a thing about them?

// wow this post was the Worst what