[ he remembers those days pretty well--back when he was old enough for self-assurance and young enough to be reckless with other people's space, time, company. blackwatch under reyes had this thing about strays; he'd watched genji in training, a glaring red light in more than just his biomechanics, and remembered being a scrappy seventeen, resentful of his sudden status and craving for something less than life, twitching under reyes' watchful eye.

of course, it took half the time for genji to muster up the good sense and call the box out for what it was: a box. ]

If I wanted good manners I should've shown some. [ his tone sweet and relenting. boys will be boys and all, except he was damn near thirty at the time. ] And besides, you came round eventually.

[ is that too forward? it hasn't been that long, really. but genji's eyes aren't giddy with self-delusion like jesse might expect from other men whose egos let them claim enlightenment--they really do seem deep, even, at peace. he's probably a tough man to embarrass now, so jesse lets the implication play out and then pass them by. ]

Maybe I will buy you that drink. I'd like to hear where the road took ya.