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

[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.]

[stubbornskeptic]

[She pokes him in the ribs.]

You take care of yourself too, you hear me? I don't want you losing your head trying to keep track of us.

[splinterself]

[Hey.]

Of course I will. [...may be a bit of a lie.]

[stubbornskeptic]

I'll poke you if you don't.

[splinterself]

You wouldn't. [More amused than anything else.]

[stubbornskeptic]

I don't need my forkkind to get a good poke done.

[splinterself]

Speaking of, we really need to find you one. A fork, I mean. I've got a theory that we can access our normal strife deck, but without puppets or a fancy Santa I can't actually test out mine.

[stubbornskeptic]

Oh, you think? I guess we'll have to find out. Can't imagine this place is fork-free, unless we're about to spend a long time learning how to use chopsticks instead.

[splinterself]

Yeah. I teamed up with this one pirate...name of Faris. Used some ability which definitely ain't in the standard Blade Brandier set. When I asked, Faris said that the ability came from crystals, and not crystals from this game. Stands to reason that if that ability is usable, our own should be as well.

And forks are a hell of a lot easier to find than puppets or handguns.

[stubbornskeptic]

Hm. That does seem likely. I'll gladly be your guinea pig, Dirk!

[splinterself]

It's worth a shot. And hell, it would be nice for you to have something which isn't just standing around and waiting for the rest of us to tank for you. I'd be worried if all you had was hitting people with a stick and casting healing spells.