One Cupcake

[stubbornskeptic]

[Jane tiptoes around the gate, eyeing it like it’s about to jump out and attack her. With all her ties to her various allies (and potential murderers) cut, she’s feeling a little off-kilter. Whether this is the thing that brought her here or the thing that will get her out, she doesn’t feel like jumping into it will have any bearing on her tight-assery. After all, it’d be just ludicrous to jump headfirst into it when she doesn't know what it does.

Unless her dad’s in there.

Oh shit, what if her dad’s in there?!

Jane grips her cheeks (the ones on her face, geez!), groaning a little. Whatever is she meant to do now?]

Comments

And that's part of the learning process.

[splinterself]

Oh hell yes. Mixing his irony and your vaudeville bullshit together? I'd love to see that trainwreck. I'd offer you - again - an apprenticeship in the ways of irony but I don't have Cal to help with the anointment.

[stubbornskeptic]

I think I'm plenty ironic, for now.

[She looks around, frowning a little.]

What was it you used to pay for that apple?

[splinterself]

What? Oh. Jake and I've been busy. The monsters outside give you money when defeated. [Oh. Wait.] You want anything? I'll buy. I mean, shit, you just got here and all. I'm not rolling in the metaphorical boondollars, though, so keep it reasonable, but you usually do.

[stubbornskeptic]

Oh. No, it's just. I'm going to have to relearn everything again, aren't I? And figure out how to live on my own...

[She looks down, obviously scared about this and at least a little embarrassed for it.]

[splinterself]

[The fuck is this?] Your own? Jane, last I checked, we're friends. Do I really have to give you another long metaphor about plush asses?

[stubbornskeptic]

[Jane winces a little. Yes, maybe it was a little unfair for her to assume Dirk and Jake would want to shack up or something silly like that, leaving her out in the cold. Then again, part of her fear is simply having to be an adult.]

I meant...without my Dad, mostly.

[splinterself]

[Growing up does suck. And now he feels kind of bad. No, scratch that, reasonably bad. Not over the top woe, but still bad. He just kicked a puppy.]

...sorry. I don't know exactly what to tell you, really. I know he'll be fine, wherever he is, and you'll be fine too.

[stubbornskeptic]

It's good that you have faith in me, of course! I just...didn't expect to be out on my own so quickly, I suppose. Sburb just sounded fun and once-in-a-lifetime, not...well, what it ended up being. I guess all those attempts on my life should've gotten me ready to face the big ol' world out there but, well, I'm still a little shy of prepared!

[splinterself]

And that's fine too. It's all part of the learning experience, Jane, and you've got myself and English to act as meatshields while you climb up the levels as a healer. Still, if it makes you feel better, when we get back I could always send you a robot to act as a sparring partner... [Hm. Seb, maybe?]

[stubbornskeptic]

[...She snorts.] Just how much do you want me to be like Jake, sir? I just mean I don't know if I'm, you know, mature enough!

[splinterself]

Relax, I wasn't thinking of an urban predator to hone your survival skills. For one thing, I'm sure that Dad Crocker would find some way of traveling through time just to kick my ass if I tried that.

[stubbornskeptic]

Ah, yes. I guess that's...one of those things I need to start believing, huh? The time thing.

[It's hard to believe just like that, but she's gonna try.]

I suppose you'll be schooling me on lots of things like that, now.

[splinterself]

The lessons have only begun, Jane.

Still, like I told Rox, it was a reasonable position for you to hold. For all intents and purposes, the individuals who I and Roxy had claimed as parental figures were alive and well, and the greater explanation was difficult to digest. Hell, I was surprised when Jake believed it.

[stubbornskeptic]

[My, how ominous.]

Even so, I can't fight the feeling that I've been a terrible friend because of my failure to trust you both. I know you told me already that I shouldn't worry but...one struggles to be okay with so many years of ignorance, I suppose.

[splinterself]

[It'll be as rad as fuck, but suit yourself.]

Just don't end up too much like Jake in your attempts to compensate. We don't need two wide-eyed Pollyannas running around believing in anything and everything they're told without question.

[stubbornskeptic]

There's just no pleasing you.

[She nudges him playfully.]

I am trying, though. It's just hard to drop the skepticism that comes with years of proper gumshoeing, is all! I'm sure after a few days here you and Jake will fill me in on all kinds of things I wasn't properly believing before!

[splinterself]

And I'm just saying that even if it wouldn't kill you to trust in shit a bit more when somebody tells you something, that you don't have to go overboard in trying to believe whatever the hell it is that you're told without having any proof. That being said: count on it, just as I'm counting on you to tell me when something sounds stupid.

[stubbornskeptic]

I guess at the very least that's what makes us a team. [It does not imply that she is the LEADER, okay?]

/cops out

[splinterself]

Yeah. The four of us balancing each other out just so we can beat Sburb and whatever comes next. [Denial is a horrible thing.]

[stubbornskeptic]

I certainly hope so.

[She pauses, suddenly feeling a little sentimental.]

Dirk? Can I get a hug?

[splinterself]

Sure. Of course you can, Jane, if you want one. [Uh. Slightly awkward but not begrudging hug y/n?]

[stubbornskeptic]

[She holds onto him, comforted by his warmth. If she closes her eyes, she can almost imagine she's hugging her dad.

God, that was really a fucking sad thing to think.]

[splinterself]

[...so he has to ask.]

You know you're going to be fine. Right?

[stubbornskeptic]

Oh, I know. I just needed a little time to be terrified, I suppose, hoo hoo. Nothing but bravado from here on out, don't worry.

[splinterself]

It's cool. I'll remind you as many times as you need me to. [Assuming he's actually...present and not MIA because he's trying to do everything himself, again, which will happen...but it's a nice sentiment, however false it will be in practice.]