[He can't even keep track of the thoughts in his head, they're movin' too fast for him to do anything but try to make some fragmented sense.]
No, no, it's-- he won't hurt us.
[It don't surprise him that this is the man's reaction to seein' a ghost, but it still guts him anyhow. Reggie, who seems to have gotten over his relative shock at bein' seen by somebody other than Gene, just rolls his eyes.]
[He hears Gene's warning but doesn't heed it, moving more firmly between Gene and the ghost. When he lets go of Gene, however, the ghost disappears from sight, and he's instantly alert again.]
He vanished--but he could still be close.
[What a terrible time and place to be ambushed by a ghost. At least they both have their pants on if they need to make a run for it.]
[He says that like a medic. A whipcrack of sound, firmness and fury and a couple years of knowledge under his belt that the highest general will damn well shut up and listen to the lowest medical corporal when they operate in his theatre of expertise. He shifts, pushes himself onto his knees and takes Tony firmly by the shoulders to look him in the eyes.]
Pull your head outta your rear one minute and listen. I said he ain't about to hurt us. He's one of mine.
[He can't do anything but lay claim to Reggie, they've been two halves of the same soul for so long that even dead there's no distance between them. He doesn't know how else to explain it. If Tony's seeing him too, then Gene needs to protect that.]
[Tony shakes his head, disbelieving, and realizes that the ghost is there again, right where Tony last saw him. He stares at him, taking in the details--it's pretty much exactly how he'd always imaged ghosts to be, and yet there was still something unsettling about being able to see through the man. After a long moment he looks away, realizing he's being rude.]
Sorry, I'm staring. This is all a bit, uh. Unexpected.
[Reggie just sort of. Puts that out there. Even dead - even transparent - he's the sort of guy that fills a room. Bombastic, almost. Well, he always did want to be an actor. Had the charisma for it, in spades. Gene just gives him a look that's soft and wistful, and then looks back at Tony.]
[The initial shock now wearing off, Tony relaxes a little more, sitting back on his heels. He looks over at Reggie for the introduction and holds up a hand uselessly.]
I'd offer to shake your hand, but uh--might run into some trouble.
[Reggie keeps it to a lazy salute, just a two-fingered wag in the general direction of his forehead.]
I'll overlook it just this once.
[His accent is strongly Bostonian, clipped with a goodly education and upbringing, but casual enough that he doesn't seem strongly married to that education. Gene, on the other hand, is daring to breathe for the first time in what feels like an age.]
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no subject
Wait--
[He can't even keep track of the thoughts in his head, they're movin' too fast for him to do anything but try to make some fragmented sense.]
No, no, it's-- he won't hurt us.
[It don't surprise him that this is the man's reaction to seein' a ghost, but it still guts him anyhow. Reggie, who seems to have gotten over his relative shock at bein' seen by somebody other than Gene, just rolls his eyes.]
What a gentleman you got yourself, Genie.
no subject
He vanished--but he could still be close.
[What a terrible time and place to be ambushed by a ghost. At least they both have their pants on if they need to make a run for it.]
no subject
Will you stop.
[He says that like a medic. A whipcrack of sound, firmness and fury and a couple years of knowledge under his belt that the highest general will damn well shut up and listen to the lowest medical corporal when they operate in his theatre of expertise. He shifts, pushes himself onto his knees and takes Tony firmly by the shoulders to look him in the eyes.]
Pull your head outta your rear one minute and listen. I said he ain't about to hurt us. He's one of mine.
[He can't do anything but lay claim to Reggie, they've been two halves of the same soul for so long that even dead there's no distance between them. He doesn't know how else to explain it. If Tony's seeing him too, then Gene needs to protect that.]
no subject
You--yours? [There's a moment of silence as he processes this, then--] You have ghosts and you thought I was lying about a mere sunken city?
[He could tell, Gene, you were skeptical!]
no subject
Well, I seen ghosts before. Ain't never seen a sunken city.
no subject
Sorry, I'm staring. This is all a bit, uh. Unexpected.
no subject
[Reggie just sort of. Puts that out there. Even dead - even transparent - he's the sort of guy that fills a room. Bombastic, almost. Well, he always did want to be an actor. Had the charisma for it, in spades. Gene just gives him a look that's soft and wistful, and then looks back at Tony.]
Tony, Reggie Holiday. Reg' - Tony.
no subject
I'd offer to shake your hand, but uh--might run into some trouble.
no subject
I'll overlook it just this once.
[His accent is strongly Bostonian, clipped with a goodly education and upbringing, but casual enough that he doesn't seem strongly married to that education. Gene, on the other hand, is daring to breathe for the first time in what feels like an age.]
no subject
How did...have you been there the whole time?
[And Gene didn't say anything? That's embarrassing, even by Tony's standards.]