![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
This wasn't a smart idea. He knew that, it was obvious for anyone to see, but he had gone this far so what else could he do? He settled down on a stack of hay near the cows and pulled his jacket around himself. It was weird weather outside, a sort of wintry mix and it was freezing his balls off. He wished his dad had picked a better day to try amateur boxing on him but he supposed that was somewhat his fault.
He rubbed his bruised face and looked at the cows, that were looking at him. "Alright, girls. Sorry to crash the party. Got nowhere else, you know?"
There was no way he could go home, he had no mates or nothing and he didn't fancy the social being involved so he'd just make base here and see where he could go.
The train had to come back at some point tomorrow - hopefully. Cause the middle of nowhere was completely useless to him.
He rubbed his bruised face and looked at the cows, that were looking at him. "Alright, girls. Sorry to crash the party. Got nowhere else, you know?"
There was no way he could go home, he had no mates or nothing and he didn't fancy the social being involved so he'd just make base here and see where he could go.
The train had to come back at some point tomorrow - hopefully. Cause the middle of nowhere was completely useless to him.
During the day, more often than not, Ollie avoided the stables. During the day, it was work. Farm work, which he'd never fancied himself doing much - and had still had to do entirely too much of, in his opinion. However, he liked the cows, better than he liked most people, and he especially loved Ainsley, so he did visit frequently at night. Of course, by then Greg was always asleep already, given he had to get up early to do that dreaded farm work.
Yet another night and Ollie walked into the stables, flicking the light-switch and announcing himself loudly. "Good evening, ladies! All right. What are you busying yourself with? Digesting, I'd assume."
A well-educated guess. Ollie walked up to where the cows were kept, petting Ainsley's head when she came up to bump against him lightly. He climbed up the bars and sat down on his usual perch, Ainsley standing right next to him so he could lean against her.
"I've brought us a new book," he told them, "I got it from some man at the café in town, but never you mind that. It's called The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins. Intrigued?"
The cows did not show much interest, even as Ollie held the book up for them to see. He cleared his throat, then read the quote from the back of the book. "The Selfish Gene is widely regarded as a masterpiece of science writing, and its insights remain as relevant today as on the day it was published. My, sounds mighty fancy, don't it? Who's eager to dive in?"
Yet another night and Ollie walked into the stables, flicking the light-switch and announcing himself loudly. "Good evening, ladies! All right. What are you busying yourself with? Digesting, I'd assume."
A well-educated guess. Ollie walked up to where the cows were kept, petting Ainsley's head when she came up to bump against him lightly. He climbed up the bars and sat down on his usual perch, Ainsley standing right next to him so he could lean against her.
"I've brought us a new book," he told them, "I got it from some man at the café in town, but never you mind that. It's called The Selfish Gene by Richard Dawkins. Intrigued?"
The cows did not show much interest, even as Ollie held the book up for them to see. He cleared his throat, then read the quote from the back of the book. "The Selfish Gene is widely regarded as a masterpiece of science writing, and its insights remain as relevant today as on the day it was published. My, sounds mighty fancy, don't it? Who's eager to dive in?"
Gideon's first fear was, of course, discovery. His second fear swiftly became being bored to death. And what was that accent. He left Manchester and went towards London, didn't he? Was he somehow in Scotland? Bloody hell, he'd well overshot.
He listened to the weird lad describe some boring sounding book and ducked behind the hay, trying to wait it down. He slid down a little and stretched his legs out, trying not to make any noise.
Who the fuck read to their cows? Seriously. He tried to peek out but he wasn't eager to get caught.
He listened to the weird lad describe some boring sounding book and ducked behind the hay, trying to wait it down. He slid down a little and stretched his legs out, trying not to make any noise.
Who the fuck read to their cows? Seriously. He tried to peek out but he wasn't eager to get caught.
"Genetics are important, obviously. They are kinda the difference between me and you. What with me not having horns and you, y'know. Being cows. Very sweet cows though. What's the matter, Ainsling? Did something scare ye, wee one?"
She was definitely unsettled, he could tell by how she kept nosing his hands and moving her feet. It finally led to Ollie putting down the book, about to give her a bit of a talking to when he noticed something. Someone. Huh.
He set the book aside and jumped down, then ran at the haybales and landed on top of them, immediately peeking over the edge. He hadn't been sure what he'd expected. Some animal maybe, a fox or whatever. Happened, especially this time of year. This was a boy though. A boy his age, from the looks of him. "...you're gonna get stiff, sleeping down there."
Hardly seemed comfortable. "You hiding from someone?"
She was definitely unsettled, he could tell by how she kept nosing his hands and moving her feet. It finally led to Ollie putting down the book, about to give her a bit of a talking to when he noticed something. Someone. Huh.
He set the book aside and jumped down, then ran at the haybales and landed on top of them, immediately peeking over the edge. He hadn't been sure what he'd expected. Some animal maybe, a fox or whatever. Happened, especially this time of year. This was a boy though. A boy his age, from the looks of him. "...you're gonna get stiff, sleeping down there."
Hardly seemed comfortable. "You hiding from someone?"
"Fucking hell, mate." That Scottish loon just leapt at him. Gideon's eyes were wide as he looked at the other boy. His eyes were wild and he had an unsettling chipper disposition. Gideon raised an eyebrow. "You're bloody spry on your feet."
Gideon sat himself up properly, pulling himself into a more braced position in case he had to leg it out of here.
"I ain't hiding from nothing. I look a bad turn is all. I'm going home tomorrow but I ain't got nowhere else." And it was fucking cold out there. Not that it was better in here, his fingers hurt and he was shivering but it was better than outside. "I'll be gone tomorrow. Just mind your own business."
Gideon sat himself up properly, pulling himself into a more braced position in case he had to leg it out of here.
"I ain't hiding from nothing. I look a bad turn is all. I'm going home tomorrow but I ain't got nowhere else." And it was fucking cold out there. Not that it was better in here, his fingers hurt and he was shivering but it was better than outside. "I'll be gone tomorrow. Just mind your own business."
"If you wanna sleep with the cows, you've gotta do it properly, mate." Ollie gestured over, just past the spot where he had sat before. "You grab a blanket and then curl up over there near them, then you'll be warm and safe, like a wee bairn at mother's bossom."
He had certainly done it before, for reasons of convenience or just to get away from home for a bit. Or when Ainsley had been pregnant, so he'd not miss the birth. Which he hadn't!
"I'm Ollie, by the way. You're in my barn. Well. In the cows' barn. My brother's barn. He's not a cow."
He had certainly done it before, for reasons of convenience or just to get away from home for a bit. Or when Ainsley had been pregnant, so he'd not miss the birth. Which he hadn't!
"I'm Ollie, by the way. You're in my barn. Well. In the cows' barn. My brother's barn. He's not a cow."
"Right." What the fuck was he saying? He could barely follow him. Seemed right mental but he supposed country lads probably all were. Bored out of their skulls, probably inbred. His dad always said country folk were a weird bunch but he had to see it to believe it. "I think I'm just gonna kip over here until the suns up, I don't fancy cuddling up with cows."
Not only did they scare him a lot but they smelled pretty bad.
"Just don't tell your brother, Ollie." Hopefully the div could keep this to himself. "Be a mate, I'm having a shite day."
Not only did they scare him a lot but they smelled pretty bad.
"Just don't tell your brother, Ollie." Hopefully the div could keep this to himself. "Be a mate, I'm having a shite day."
"You donnae need to worry, my brother sleeps like the dead until he gets up to milk the cows. They get milked at five though, so..." That was bloody early, wasn't it? Ollie scratched himself behind the ear, thinking about it. "Come into the house with me, eh? I've got space in my room and my brother never goes in there."
They had a deal about that. Mostly because Greg didn't want to spend any time in his room. "Warmer than here. And I can bring ye some dinner if you fancy."
They had a deal about that. Mostly because Greg didn't want to spend any time in his room. "Warmer than here. And I can bring ye some dinner if you fancy."
"Are you serious? You're not messing me about, yeah?" He didn't want this nark to lead him in and call the cops. He doubted he'd been reported missing but he didn't want to go home and if they knew, they'd send him. He stood up and dusted the hay off him, hopeful but seriously sceptical. "Cause I'd rather not sleep out here. It's bloody cold."
And he didn't have the best gear for it, given he had to leg it out of the house. He had his winter coat but only a t-shirt under it. He looked at Ollie, the uncertainty ebbing. "... Dinner too?"
And he didn't have the best gear for it, given he had to leg it out of the house. He had his winter coat but only a t-shirt under it. He looked at Ollie, the uncertainty ebbing. "... Dinner too?"
"Yeah, sure. We've always got some food around, I'll raid the kitchen for ye." Ollie headed for the door, book under his arm. Calling out, he addressed Ainsley. "I'll see you later, bonnie lass!"
She mooed in understanding, he thought, and he opened the door, holding it for Gid. "I get it. I've tried running off a couple times myself. Always kinda fell apart once I got too hungry, truth to be told. I'm mostly ruled by my stomach."
Alas. He had noticed the black eye, but for now he chose not to comment on it. He did have tact after all, contrary to what his brother had accused him of.
She mooed in understanding, he thought, and he opened the door, holding it for Gid. "I get it. I've tried running off a couple times myself. Always kinda fell apart once I got too hungry, truth to be told. I'm mostly ruled by my stomach."
Alas. He had noticed the black eye, but for now he chose not to comment on it. He did have tact after all, contrary to what his brother had accused him of.
"Never said I was running away. I could be going home for all you know. I just overshot my train and I ain't got money for a way back. Gonna try and sneak on the train tomorrow." He wasn't sure what else he could do so that was the only idea he had. Ride the trains until it wasn't below freezing outside.
He walked beside Ollie, wondering how he knew where anything was here. It was pitch black, he couldn't see a sodding thing. "I'm Jip, by the way. Nice to meet you." He gave Ollie a half smile and then looked ahead. "Why'd you read to those cows? Bit odd."
He walked beside Ollie, wondering how he knew where anything was here. It was pitch black, he couldn't see a sodding thing. "I'm Jip, by the way. Nice to meet you." He gave Ollie a half smile and then looked ahead. "Why'd you read to those cows? Bit odd."
"Cows are pretty damn smart, you know? I'm convinced they like the sound of my melodious voice, if nothing else. Ain't anyone else gonna bother listening, are they? You certainly couldn't hold still through it." He winked at him as they reached the house, then quietly opened the door.
"You donnae gotta be too silent. I told you, Greg sleeps like a stone. One time I sled doown the stairs in the middle of the night and he dinnae find me until the next day."
"You donnae gotta be too silent. I told you, Greg sleeps like a stone. One time I sled doown the stairs in the middle of the night and he dinnae find me until the next day."
"You're well bonkers, aren't you?" Whatever, he was getting a bed and free food, like he was going to complain. The house looked so weird, it was all stone instead of concrete and it had wooden window frames. As they got inside, it looked even weirder. He'd never been in a house before, especially not a house like this.
Wood everywhere, carpets, pictures hanging on the wall. It was bloody mental.
He walked behind Ollie, following him up the stairs in awe. It was so fucking warm too, it was lovely. "You got a dead nice house, mate."
Wood everywhere, carpets, pictures hanging on the wall. It was bloody mental.
He walked behind Ollie, following him up the stairs in awe. It was so fucking warm too, it was lovely. "You got a dead nice house, mate."
"I was a lot younger than, so..." Did that make it less bonkers? Hard to say. Ollie led the way up the stairs towards his room, looking around with furrowed brows. Dead nice? "It's old. Makes a lot of sound, that old house." He wasn't sure what else he felt about it. Mostly wished he lived somewhere less dull, he supposed.
Ollie opened the door when they reached it, ushering Gid in first and following behind him. "All right, mate."
Jip. He wasn't sure he could say that, seemed like a dangerous choice with the O'Shea family living close by. "I'm gonna be your waiter this evening, Ollie McDonald. Feel free to crack wise about that but make it actually wise, I've already heard everything dumb to say about it. Any allergies, dietary restrictions or preferences, sir?"
Ollie opened the door when they reached it, ushering Gid in first and following behind him. "All right, mate."
Jip. He wasn't sure he could say that, seemed like a dangerous choice with the O'Shea family living close by. "I'm gonna be your waiter this evening, Ollie McDonald. Feel free to crack wise about that but make it actually wise, I've already heard everything dumb to say about it. Any allergies, dietary restrictions or preferences, sir?"
"Ollie McDonald?" He snorted and then grinned, he kind of liked it. "It's not how I imagined the farm as a kiddie but I appreciate the central heating." Hence why he walked right over to the radiator and crouched by it, leaning against it. First time he felt hot in days.
"I'll eat anything. No dietary issues or the like. I don't care." He ate whatever was cheap and around, so did his dad. They weren't exactly a picky sort. "I'm not a big pineapple person but I assume you weren't planning a fruit cocktail."
And if he was, he was 100% correct after all - bonkers.
"I'll eat anything. No dietary issues or the like. I don't care." He ate whatever was cheap and around, so did his dad. They weren't exactly a picky sort. "I'm not a big pineapple person but I assume you weren't planning a fruit cocktail."
And if he was, he was 100% correct after all - bonkers.
"Alas, yet another day I can't contribute to the culinary world with my miraculous pineapple creations. A shame, truly, as I believe that anything can be Hawaiian if you only believe hard enough." Ollie sighed, dramatically, and then grabbed the duvet from his bed to sling it Gid's way, as he stayed crouched down by the radiator. "Warm up!"
He turned and left the room and it took him about ten minutes to return, balancing a plate, a glass and a pitcher. He managed to set it all down on the ground, gesturing down. "There. That's bread made by the local bakery who buy our wheat, that's milk from our cows, that's cheese made from the milk of our cows and then there's some kinda pickle my brother makes. Can't vouch for that, but the bread's nice."
Greg didn't tend to believe much in buying outside food. Ollie disagreed, but clearly his opinion could be ignored.
He turned and left the room and it took him about ten minutes to return, balancing a plate, a glass and a pitcher. He managed to set it all down on the ground, gesturing down. "There. That's bread made by the local bakery who buy our wheat, that's milk from our cows, that's cheese made from the milk of our cows and then there's some kinda pickle my brother makes. Can't vouch for that, but the bread's nice."
Greg didn't tend to believe much in buying outside food. Ollie disagreed, but clearly his opinion could be ignored.
"It's all from your stuff? Like... you grow the wheat?" That was so weird. Bread was made from wheat, he knew that, but how did that even happen? The world was so weird, he knew nothing about countryside stuff. He was a bit thick, all he knew about was football and how to get into trouble.
He shuffled closer, taking some break to eat quite eagerly. "It's so weird out here. When I got in at the train station, I didn't see a single person about. It's like the end of the world came."
Gid was used to a sea of people, rushing all over the city. Not this sort of peaceful quiet. "Must be nice to live here."
He shuffled closer, taking some break to eat quite eagerly. "It's so weird out here. When I got in at the train station, I didn't see a single person about. It's like the end of the world came."
Gid was used to a sea of people, rushing all over the city. Not this sort of peaceful quiet. "Must be nice to live here."
"It's got a certain post-apocalyptic snoozefest vibe about it, I suppose." Ollie wasn't certain he saw that as much of a bonus, though he could acknowledge that it might be a matter of perspective.
He sat back, leaning against his bed and watching Gideon eat food as if he hadn't eaten in days. Maybe he should have brought some more food. He figured he could get more if really needed. "Some may find it charming. Others suffocating. Ye know, depending on your dependency on oxygen."
He sat back, leaning against his bed and watching Gideon eat food as if he hadn't eaten in days. Maybe he should have brought some more food. He figured he could get more if really needed. "Some may find it charming. Others suffocating. Ye know, depending on your dependency on oxygen."
"I suppose it's a bit boring. I'm from the city. Manchester. Non-stop people. You got the work rush, the after work commute, the late night drunks and homeless people after your cash. Cars honking, blokes yelling, girls screaming while pissed off their head. It's weird but like, sometimes boring ain't so boring." To Gideon, it was almost a relief to have some quiet. It seemed like someone was always yelling at him. His dad, the lads at school, his teachers, his dad's mates. It was an endless list of loud voices.
"I live near a nightclub. It's always loud in the streets outside. I'm like top floor on a fucking massive apartment complex and all I can hear is the pissed wankers." Gideon laughed and ate more of the bread, making short work of what he'd been given. "I bet you just hear cows and the like, eh?"
"I live near a nightclub. It's always loud in the streets outside. I'm like top floor on a fucking massive apartment complex and all I can hear is the pissed wankers." Gideon laughed and ate more of the bread, making short work of what he'd been given. "I bet you just hear cows and the like, eh?"
"Yeah, you hear the cows. In summer you hear the deer going at it all randy-like, that's always seasonal. Very romantic." Ollie wasn't sure how much nicer that was than the kind of noise Gid was talking about, but he was lacking any basis of comparison. "We've also got a rooster that thinks the sun rises at two am and then again at 3 and also any time I wanna focus, so he's a real treat."
What an annoying little fucker that rooster was. Ollie was kind of rooting for the fox in that case. "There ain't no noise like what you're saying. They haven't even got a nightclub any closer than half an hour by car."
What an annoying little fucker that rooster was. Ollie was kind of rooting for the fox in that case. "There ain't no noise like what you're saying. They haven't even got a nightclub any closer than half an hour by car."
"Well... you show me your world and later, I'll show you mine. Manchester's good for a visit, especially if you like football. I'm a cliche, Man U all the way but they earned my love last season." Gid boasted merrily as he finished off the last of the bread and looked at Ollie, grinning. "I know what nightclubs are easy to sneak into as well. I went to my first night club when I was like 7 or 8. My dad took me for business."
He had hated it and whined the whole night because all he wanted to do was sleep but when he said it to people, it sounded way cooler than it was. "How long until the train comes? Like tomorrow morning?"
He had hated it and whined the whole night because all he wanted to do was sleep but when he said it to people, it sounded way cooler than it was. "How long until the train comes? Like tomorrow morning?"
"Football's not for me. Honestly think that if they'd just let me watch the grass grow for ninety minutes it'd be more riveting and also I'd not have to sit through penalties." That was his take on that, which he was never shy about and which didn't exactly help him fit in with other boys. Good, else he might have to start playing football with them and he didn't see himself as a team player. "Cheers. We can go clubbing."
Better than football, so there was that. He snorted at Gideon's question, than realised he was serious. "No way, mate. Tomorrow's Sunday, aye? Train ain't gonna stop again until next Saturday. Quiet little village, remember?"
Better than football, so there was that. He snorted at Gideon's question, than realised he was serious. "No way, mate. Tomorrow's Sunday, aye? Train ain't gonna stop again until next Saturday. Quiet little village, remember?"
"Seriously? Next Saturday?" Then what on Earth was he supposed to do? He didn't know where he was, he didn't even know where to start getting anywhere he could reasonably navigate. "What about buses? You gotta have buses... right? Or like-- I mean, how does anyone get anywhere?"
Did they only go out on a Saturday? What was the point? How did people get into the city and work? What sort of work could they even do here?
Did they only go out on a Saturday? What was the point? How did people get into the city and work? What sort of work could they even do here?
"With their car," Ollie explained while miming sitting in a car and moving the wheel around, as apparently that idea was deeply confusing for Gideon. "Unless you are my brother, than you only go around by tractor and never go too far cause you might actually start living life instead of scraping cow dung and we cannae have that, can we?"
He found it annoying himself. "People do grocery runs and there's a lot of commuters. Think some carpool. Although most people here are just ancient and walk around slowly, sit on benches and judge everyone."
He found it annoying himself. "People do grocery runs and there's a lot of commuters. Think some carpool. Although most people here are just ancient and walk around slowly, sit on benches and judge everyone."
"So I'm stuck for a week? Christ. Well. I guess thanks for the place to kip, not sure what I'm gonna do the next few days." He sighed and then flopped onto the duvet he had been given by Ollie, lying back and looking up at the ceiling. It was all wooden and slanted. Cosy. It was so nice.
"When can I leave on Saturday? I gotta make sure I don't miss my chance or I'll freeze to death here." No home, no good place to hide and nowhere to get food and drink. He needed a city, not this.
"When can I leave on Saturday? I gotta make sure I don't miss my chance or I'll freeze to death here." No home, no good place to hide and nowhere to get food and drink. He needed a city, not this.
Page 1 of 4