Sage nodded when Jackson agreed to talk, moving to sigh and sit down across from him, putting the gauze and stuff back in his bag, giving him a change to think. He hummed when he said he didn't want to go first, and nodded despite the churning feeling forming in his stomach.

"Fine, I'll go, but only if you promise you'll say something after me," he noted, not entirely trusting him to follow through with this. Who could blame him? It had been drilled into his head not to trust anyone, your friends could be your worst enemies, to always expect the worst of people. And yet....he wanted to trust Jackson. He wanted to get to know him. Wanted to feel safe around him. It was stupid really, but he wanted someone. Anyone. Anyone at all. Hell, he'd take amy back but he didn't know where she'd went, and she wouldn't take him back now that she had some new toy to mess with anyway.

When Jackson agreed he'd say something, sage just nibbled at his lip ring for a moment before sighing and shrugging. "what do you want to know then," he noted. "You gotta give me something to go off of," he noted with a slight chuckle, attempting to lighten the situation even though he probably wasn't doing a very good job at it.

Sage listened with a cocked his as Jackson spoke up, eyes widening slightly as he explained what all was happening home. "No, I think that definitely counts as trauma," he mused, shaking his head slightly. Now he was glad he hadn't gone first, because he would have told him about his bad drinking habits and stuff....and now he wasn't so sure that was a good idea. "family issues are the worst," he added, nibbling on his lip. Well...maybe nibbling wasn't the right word. it was definitely more biting. Then he sighed. "look, of you ever need anything, just tell me, alright," he asked. "I don't use my family money anymore since I ran off but....veteran status gts me some things easier. Like free therapy, maybe, for your mom if you think she'd take it?" It could help them out, especially since their money wouldn't be used for her bad habits.

"I guess it's my turn," he mused after a moment, cocking his head slightly. They were going along on the family route, so.....the question was his dad or his stepmother. "After mom died Dad got...distant. angry," he started, biting at his lip again. "It got to the point where I couldn't even go near him or he'd hit me," he added with a shake of his head. "then he married lucilla and she was even worse," he groaned dropping his face into his hands. He'd explain more if he wanted to but that was a lot to dump on someone. "Anyway, that's the reason I took off for the army. It was the only thing they couldn't come drag me back home from," he noted with a shrug.

Jackson Alex-Ren

Sage sort of sighed and shrugged, frowning slightly when he said he could relate to the hitting part. "I'm sorry," he murmured, shaking his head when he tried to say sages issues were worse. "Ones not any worse than the other," he noted firmly. He hummed and nodded when he said she wouldn't go to therapy...he wasn't either, which was why he had those extra sessions he was willing to give up. He'd done his required amount and then ran. He wasn't proud of it, but whatever. "You could get her into a facility though," he noted. "they could help as best they could for a bit, and you'd have more money since she's not spending it on other things," he pointed out. It would all be free too, if they used his veteran card, as he called it. He wasn't forcing them into anything though....but it would definitely help the situation.

"Yeah," he grumbled. "Lucky us. Just what I always wanted," he added, glancing around when Jackson did. "How the hell did we get here," he asked, suddenly not recognizing the area. "We were going east....now we're facing south?" He was admittedly confused as to how they'd wound up here. And....he definitely had no idea how to get back. "talk about the shitty life card," he huffed before shrugging. "they'll find us soon. For now, we should make a fire and catch something before it gets dark," he suggested. "And you're eating something," he added with a snort.

Sage sort of snorted in response to Jackson's comments. "You need to eat something," he noted, giving him a pointed look. "Try something small at first, and if you can keep it down then you can have a little bit more," he added. "Works in the army so it should work for you," he chirped. He tossed him his water bottle before moving off. "Sip on it," he instructed. "And if you throw up then we keep trying," he added as he moved off, following a rabbit that had wandered by them. He kept at it, until the rabbit had stopped to nibble at the grass, and he paused, a split second alter his knife found itself buried to the hilt in it's skull.

He didn't particularly enjoy hunting, but he didn't dislike it either. It was free food, and it was pretty good taste wise too. It also got him out and about so he really couldn't complain.

He wandered back over towards jackson, not even bothering to mention the water, he left the bottle with him. The guy had to consume something ro he'd just pass out, and that wouldn't help him or his mother. Or sage, either...if he passed out while they were out here that wouldn't be helpful. He just focused on getting a fire set up and then skinning and gutting the rabbit so they could cook it. There was plenty for both of them, so he made up his mind to get jackson to eat soemthing.

Sage was ok to work quietly, not talking. In all honesty when he focused on something he wasn't the one to keep up conversation. He never had been. He supposed that was one more thing that hadn't changed.

Once the fire was made and the rabbit was cooking, he sat down next to Jackson with a sigh. He noticed the water level in the bottle had gone down, so at least he'd had something.

(Super short dogs gotten into the trash lol)

(So real oml- Also- Sorry I'm heavily pushing the whole eating disorder/eating problem thing- I think it's one of Jacksons best manifestations of his trauma. THe not eating feels like half relief and half him being in control of atleast one thing. And I want to see him and Sage work through that later on- :D)

Jackson Alex-Ren