Who Let the Dogs Out? {Jahel/Max/Others?}

[Gabriel Underwood]

Gabriel was far from his suited, booted self as he jogged with the dogs, sweat soaking his brow. Ein was bounding ahead at full stretch, Solo plodding loyally at his master's heels, the others were at the shrubbery at the park site the man had chosen for the day. Pointedly, he'd offered two of his favourite companions to join him for the afternoon, ignoring Jahel's problems with the various furry companions he kept. Potentially an afternoon with them, the beers and the camp food he'd had made. The whole point was a failed attempt at a male bonding exercise, although Max and himself had already "bonded" once before and Gabriel was happy to use that relationship to his advantage.

Jahel, on the other hand, was someone Gabriel would be happy to shall we say, extend the hand of friendship to. The man was useful, cunning, handsome, and if it wasn't for his extremely irking dislike of his beloved animals, Gabe would probably have shacked up with him and made him second in command a long time ago. As he carried bags back and forth from the large 4x4 he parked up, he grinned. It was ever, ever so kind of the park attendant to let them pitch up for free. A pity about his leg though, but accidents would be accidents. Well, accidents were less accidents and more incidents when it came to Gabriel, but the less said on that the better.

Pitching up the first tent for the dogs, the man stifled a yawn and clunked his back. Leaving Jake by himself probably wasn't the greatest idea, but it lulled him into security. The twins would make sure everything ran smoothly, and with Paulo and Penny watching the man from afar, things were closing in on Jake quickly. Either way, he was content enough to leave the compound for the evening.

Settling down once everything was done, he settled back with Solo and Frederic at his feet, inhaling the autumn air and letting himself unwind. Reaching down to his pocket, he lit up a cigarette and took a deep puff, his lungs enjoying the extra poison. Somewhere, he heard Gambit barking and circling round, and raised his head, looking expectantly towards the trees. If anyone busted this little party, they'd end up in three pieces at the bottom of a river.

There was a lot to do before Hammel came for Jesse. He had to get more kids to the cause, maybe ruffle a few more feathers, and find a new place to cause mayhem. But for now, stress relief, and the company of ... associates.

_{NB: If either of you don't fancy this, just say :B}

[Jahel Yosef]

«Jahel Retta Yosef
male; thirty-two years

It was a bit later when Jahel appeared. His shadow fell on Gabe, until finally he came into full view. ”I saw an ambulance out near the entrance,” he told him (with the faintest hint of a southern drawl that he tended to have). ”M’ surprised you didn’t rob a three-year-old of her tricycle trying to get here.”

He sat down languidly next to him, giving him a sideways glance complete with a childish pout. ”What’s the matter, Gabe? Can’t be too hard for you to pay, right? I mean if you wanna save five dollars an hour, that’s up to you.” He pulled out a lighter from his pocket. ”You might be able to get a popsicle with that money.”

Jahel pulled out a cigarette next, trying once or twice to successfully light it up. When it was nice and bright and orange, he took his first drag, letting the smoke drift out from between his lips, his blue eyes half-closed and distant.

When Gabe first mentioned a little get-together, Jahel had only raised an eyebrow and shook his head, a smirk on his lips, before getting back to his coffee. The idea of Gabriel even suggesting such a thing made the thought intangible in his head until he realized that he was still standing there and he was not laughing. He was shocked and then tickled upon realizing that he was serious, but he didn’t mention any of that to Gabe. Not that he couldn’t have guessed. It was just a strange thing for Jahel to consider, but after a while he got excited. After all he hadn’t eaten all day and he was looking forward to some food that wasn’t instant-made and whatnot.

He hadn’t mentioned he’d bring all his dogs with him, though.

An enthusiastic Solo sidled up to him, his sloppy tongue dangling all over the place and his saggy dog eyes looking for attention. Jahel didn’t even look. Distaste crossed his features; he never met a dog he’d liked. They were dependent, pitiful (drooling), smelly little creatures in his eyes.

”Gabe?” He said. ”Please get your dog off of me.”

[Nathanael Lee]

Max always loved the outdoors. Growing up in New Zealand, it was hard not to fall in love with nature. There wasn't much time in a medical career to spend enjoying it, however, and although he had developed this love as a child, he never had time as a young adult to go camping. Being a medical student had taken up most of his time, after all. Then once those years were done, he had been too consumed in his practice to care. By the time he had been recruited to MSAD, he had forgotten what it was like to step back and enjoy nature.

It was because of that that he was pleasantly surprised when Gabe had invited him on the little outing. In other words, he had agreed more for the fact that he could spend sometime enjoying the outdoors rather than bonding with his fellow MSAD members. When he pulled up to the camp slightly late, he could see that Gabe had long since set up and Jahel had beaten him to the arrival.

Even with that being the case, he took his time stepping out of the vehicle, taking in the surroundings at his own pace by slowly looking around and sucking in a deep breath. The pine smell was even more potent here than at the compound, and the general chittering chatter of the forest beings seemed more energizing. Beautiful. Not quite like his homeland, but beautiful nonetheless.

His bliss was interrupted by the gruff chatter of his companions, so he sauntered over to the campsite to join in the conversation. Max chuckled as he caught the tail end of Jahel's snarky remarks. "Aww, Jahel. Solo's not hurting you," he chastised with a mocking pout. The doctor never understood why Jahel hated the dogs so. He could see how a few of them (coughFrederic) might deserve distaste, but most of them were good--particularly the elderly Solo. Max crouched down to give the beagle a scratch behind the ears and the attention he was seeking. "Hello, old fellow."

Then he stood again to be at proper conversational level with his comrades. "Well, Gabe, your methods are rather unorthodox," he commented, looping back to the discussion of campsite acquirement.

((OOC: I'm terribly sorry about the ridiculous wait.))

[Gabriel Underwood]

Gabriel merely snorted as Jahel emerged, one brow arching. "I have better things to spend the MSAD fortunes on than a camping trip, Jahel." He said silkily, fingers curling a little tighter around the cigarette in his hand. Jahel was far too cocky, in his opinions, yet the man was useful and how could Gabriel resist a man so similar to himself. "Keep that tone up and I'll make you dance the macarena with your underwear on your head." It was a light, teasing warning that flickered lightly, much like the end of his cigarette.

Solo's arrival caused Gabriel to smile, he adored that dog, he had been there through MSAD's hardest times, and had always been loyal. "Pet him." Gabriel said simply, rubbing Solo's ear thoughtfully and leaning back into the grass. "Either him or Frederic, and we both know one of them has a taste for human flesh." Frederic's ears perked as he poked around the edge of Gabriel's tent, tail swishing from side to side.

Of course, Max's arrival made things a little easier - Max liked most of the dogs, and had even been caught asleep in a dog pile once before. He was an easy figure to get on with, no arguments or issues with the idea of the place. He'd help to balance Jahel's somewhat cocky attitude with reason and amicable conversation.

"Glad you could make it." Gabriel said with a grin, pushing himself back up from the grass and moving his hair out of his face. Solo's tail wagged eagerly as the doctor lavished him with attention, lifting one paw delicately to rest on Max's knee, before dropping back down and rolling onto his back, proclaiming to all I would like a tummy rub. The little beagle's antics only caused Gabe's mood to lighten further, before he turned and rubbed his chin thoughtfully.

"The point of the matter is that we're probably moving within the next few months. Hammel is getting... invasive, and I should imagine that there's some sort of rescue plan for Jesse being made up as we speak." The man laughed, shaking his head. "Thus, saving money is a good idea, and besides, camping should be free. Nature costs nothing." Gabriel's voice continued in it's silky lilt, before he reached to the cool box and pulled out three beers.

Passing them over with a light smirk, the man paused a moment and toed off his shoes, sinking his feet into the tepid grass with a soft sigh. "Besides, a little male bonding never hurt anyone. Did any of you bring camp beds, etcetera? Or food?" Gabriel trailed off, as Tango stuck his head eagerly into the cooler, tail beating the air. "That's a no, Tango. Your food is in the other box." He said simply, pushing the mutt away with a humoured grin.

"So, shall we sing campsongs or tell ghost stories? Or would you rather we discussed where it is we'd like to move next?" He added, with a genuine, amused smile.

[Jahel Yosef]

«Jahel Retta Yosef
male; thirty-two years

Solo is a hyperallergenic bitch that can’t hold its own piss, Jahel thought, but found it best not to say it out loud so he could only settle for taking an especially volatile drag from his cigarette - narrowing his eyes briefly at the doctor - and letting the smoke out between his teeth.

Now he was all in agreement for moving out of their little compound. Knowing Gabe he’d probably pick some place just as luxurious as their present one, but in more of a far off location; not to mention the implications when and if Hammel authorities ever found out where they stayed. Even if they were to properly defend their position there, it would be very likely that they’d be able to do something about their presence, even in defeat – M.S.A.D wasn’t exactly known to be the most legally upstanding organization in the world. Jahel probably knew that more than anybody.

As could probably be expected of Jahel, he’d hardly spent a thought on Jesse. He was a voice down the hall sometimes; an obstacle to walk around in the living room or down the stairs. He caused more trouble than he did good. He was a kid and he cost money.

”Besides, a little male bonding never hurt anyone. Did any of you bring camp beds, etcetera? Or food?”

”Mm!” Jahel suddenly interjected as though he’d just thought of it, putting up one finger with a look of revelation on his face; reaching back he proceeded to pull a wad of mushy French fries right out of his pockets. ”I saved these fries fr’m lunch.” Despite their horrifying state he took one mangled fry and shoved it in his mouth. The cigarette followed a second later.

(He was a very odd person at times.)

One of the dogs took note of the new odor and approached him, licking its chops; Jahel shot it a look as though it had personally raped his mother and insulted his father, whereupon the dog paused, tilted its head, and gave a rather confused sounding whine.

He looked up when Gabriel had stopped talking. ”I’m confused,” he informed them. ”Was that sarcastic or can we really start singing? Because – well someone needs to tell me right now before I embarrass myself. Because I’d do it. I would.” Jahel scooted a bit closer to Gabe, his smile revealing some white teeth, his eyes bright, a stark change from a second before. ”Don’t make me do it, Gabe! Don’t make me do it!”
He laughed.

[Nathanael Lee]

Max grinned back at Gabe, “I’m glad to be here." As the beagle pawed his leg, he took it in his own hand to give it a tiny shake. “What a good dog,“ he cooed, giving Solo a couple of pats on the belly after he rolled over. The doctor’s smile widened when the thumping of the dog’s wagging tail could be heard even against the soft grass. Catching the glare of the other man was when he stood up, and he simply narrowed his eyes in return. Of course, the effect was ruined when he couldn’t hold back a chuckle.

It was a shame that they would be moving (Max liked the mansion), but he knew it was inevitable. And with all the medical treatment he had to give to Jesse as of late, he didn’t doubt that Gabriel’s suspicions were accurate. He hoped this new place would be tropical; winter was approaching and the Vermont weather would be less than kind soon enough. It would be nice to escape from such an environment.

His thoughts were interrupted, however, by the offering of beer. He graciously accepted the bottle, popping off the top and taking a swing.

Oh, food. That would have been a good idea. Unfortunately, Max had nothing to show in that department. Even more unfortunate was that Jahel did. The doctor's nose crinkled in disgust as the other man pulled the mush from his pocket. The thought of fries being good food when they were fresh was repulsive to Max, let alone the mess that Jahel had brought along. And then he put one in his mouth. "Uck. As your doctor, I highly advise against eating anymore of...that. You're going to get food poisoning. Or worse." He shook his head in distaste.

"I, on the other hand, just brought clothes and a sleeping bag. And a first aid kit, naturally." Food didn't make it on his list of essentials because he assumed Gabe was supplying it. He looked warily at Jahel's fries, then over at the beer cooler with hope that it contained more than just alcohol. "It won't be much help if we poison ourselves, though." Not that beer was the same level of poison as rank fries, but it was lacking in nutritional value nonetheless.

The doctor cracked a grin when Jahel's mood flipped. "I'm all for singing if you both are," he joked while situating himself in the grass on Gabe’s other side. "Though I feel I must warn you, it's not my strong suite. I play a mean airguitar, however."

[Gabriel Underwood]

Gabriel could scarcely believe that Jahel was willingly eating a ball of indefinable cooked potato, and despite reaching over to take one, he quickly tossed it out to Alfredo who snapped it up and licked his nose happily. Hoping the skitty dog wouldn't keel over after eating such an unpleasant mush, the man considered whether Jahel would do something similar. Wrinkling his nose and swigging more of his beer, he snorted lightly and lifted Frederic into his lap, petting him thoughtfully.

"Well, from my calculation we're all owed a little holiday." The man said, getting back to the conversation of relocation, hand fishing into the cooler once more to pull out several items, all able to be cooked over a campfire. "Fondue?" He asked abruptly, staring down at the ingredients. "Or beans and toast?" Gabriel laughed warmly, letting the pair of them decide what was for supper that night, fingers moving through Freddie's fur. "Going back to what I said, I was thinking Hawaii for few months, then to the Italian villa we own on Lake Como. Thoughts?"

Gabriel had procured property in most countries and continents, though he did have his favourites - the farmholding in Tasmania, the Moroccan palace and the Villa at Como. All fitted with the best modcons available, but that was the perk of working with danger. Every MSAD associate was given the best equipment and the best treatment, but then, when money was no object, why not provide money as a lubricant for loyalty?

"If we ARE going to sing, please don't sing any Elvis songs. Remember when that karaoke night went into chaos? I never want to witness that again." He groaned, downing the rest of his beer and breaking out a guitar from the tent behind him. "I'm probably rustier than the strings on this, but whatever, lets try this. No kumbayaa, by the way, I think I might vomit." Eyeing the guitar warily, Solo retreated into the back of the tent, then promptly put his paws firmly over his face.

"... Oh I'm not that bad for gods sake." Gabriel laughed hard, running his hands through his hair. "Any requests?" He added cheekily, rubbing his hand around his stubble.

[Jahel Yosef]

«Jahel Retta Yosef
male; thirty-two years

”We have a villa?” Jahel asked.

It turns out there were still a lot of things he didn’t know about Gabriel, which was odd considering he’d met him so long ago, back at Hammel, which still tied them together in one of the worst ways possible. He thought it was strange being so far from it but knew that it was probably a good idea to move. Hammel had been nothing but a pain, anyway, always interfering or otherwise concerning themselves with M.S.A.D’s issues. Far from them, their effectiveness would be very much heightened; they were free to do what they needed out of the influence of a large community of meta-humans who did not quite agree with their tactics. Also he supposed it was because Gabriel was interested in kidnapping more grade-school children. Who was he to judge?

And Dr. Donahue he hardly knew at all. He was a doctor; he knew that much, simply for the reason that he had the title ’doctor’ included in his name. He saw him occasionally at the compound, and for all he knew he usually stayed in one place. Vaguely Jahel remembered his name being mentioned in the newspaper at some point, but he forgot for what, or when.
And he supposed he had a pretty face.

”How about a serenade, Gabe?” he asked. ”Do you got any of those? I know a few. If you’d like I can serenade you.” Jahel reached for the guitar, his light blue eyes glancing at Gabe’s, looking for permission before taking it. ”I did that once outside a girl’s window. Her dad came out with a shotgun.”

[/size]

[Nathanael Lee]

Max almost couldn't believe Gabriel had touched the mass of potato. He sighed with relief the man tossed it to the side and watched disapprovingly as Alfredo licked up the disgusting fry. That food wasn't fit for anyone, man or beast, and he half expected the dog to gag the instant the piece of potato disappeared into his mouth. He seemed content enough in the snack, and the doctor just shook his head again. Never. Ever.

Grunting at the mention of vacation, he thought Yes, please. Tension was building at the compound, particularly with all the Jesse related drama he had to deal with recently. Max was definitely looking forward to getting away. His eagerness to go camping was testimony to that. Then with the food intermission, he glared again at Jahel's potatoes. "Fondue sounds lovely."

The doctor grinned when Gabe suggested the Hawaii, trying not to laugh at Jahel's surprise with the villa. After living with Gabriel for so long, little surprised Max. "I would love to go somewhere tropical," he stated, being sure to put emphasis on the love. "And Hawaii sounds like fun. I don't really care what we do after that." Sun, sand, and a fruity little tropical drink with a tiny umbrella in it was all he really wanted at the moment.

Max laughed as Solo vacated the area. "A little short on fans, are we, Gabe? Maybe I should be concerned," he joked with a chuckle. The chuckle grew into a full blown laugh when Jahel made his request. "Rightfully so, I should think. After the serenading is through, how about some Beach Boys? You've got me in beach mood, now."

[Gabriel Underwood]

As Gabriel effortlessly tossed a handful more of firewood onto the small crackling fire nearby, he grabbed the pot and lazily added lumps of cheese, garlic, onion and wine, then simply placed the whole lot over the fire and turned back to the two men.

"Alright, Hawaii it is. But then Como. I expect some moron will alert the US authorities of our operation and America will be off the cards for a year or so." He sneered, moving a hand out to languidly stroke over a displeased looking Mirage's head. "Are we going to glimpse you in a hula skirt, Jahel?" He mocked, the sneer fading into a playful grin. "And a coconut bra, of course."

Quirking a brow at being serenaded, the leader handed over the guitar and leant back, resting his head on his sleeping bag and looking up at the late afternoon sky. "A shotgun? You old rogue, you." He mocked, looking over to Max with a chuckle. "And sure, Beach Boys afterwards. Then maybe we'll go completely crazy and start with some Lady Gaga." Gabriel teased, teeth glinting between his lips. "I bet you'd look fantastic in PVC."

Letting the freedom of the camping site and the woods wash over him, Gabriel closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. It was nice to have a little relaxation after the weeks of business, and he was sure that whilst there was still one very big problem about to land at his step, things would get easier if he just unwound for a few moments.