[It took Angel hours to open the message, just as it always seemed to be. This time, however, it took even longer for her to consider an answer. Athena had offered to be the siren's shield. She was the only person Angel felt that she could trust to protect her. It wasn't that she didn't think Janey was capable, she'd already proven on several occasions that she was not a woman to be trifled with.]
[But still, she was afraid.]
[And then, of course, there was the fact that Jack seemed... unlike himself. Vices like alcohol were the exact sort of things heh ad tried to keep her from in her old life. On the one hand, it left her feeling uneasy. But even worse was the fact that it played with that small spark of hope in the back of her mind.]
[Maybe this place had changed him.]
Will you give me time to think about it?
[She would do more than thinking, of course. She'd need to sit down with Athena, perhaps even Janey, and have a serious conversation about it. She doubted Athena would appreciate her wife going up against a former megalomaniac on her own. And that was even if Angel said she was interested.]
[Jack lets out a noise of frustration, but it's tempered with something that's almost affectionate.]
You're really putting me through the wringer, aren't ya babe? No, no, you're right. I just sprung this on you, you need to think it over. Probably actually ask Springers about it.
But come on. You...you gotta be able to see I'm trying here.
[He's bending over backwards here! Just for her. For god's sake, he's compromising. He hates compromising. It's like a soft core version of admitting you're wrong.]
[But he's determined to show her that she's being ridiculous and making a huge to-do about nothing. And then she can come home and everything will be how it should be.]
If watching out for my own safety is putting you through the ringer, then I cannot say I am sorry. [She regretted her words the second she spoke them, but not enough to immediately retract them. At least Jack relented this time, instead of mercilessly pursuing her. She didn't dare say it aloud, but she could almost pretend that he was getting better.]
[She took a breath, willing herself to keeping from snapping any further.]
I do see what you are trying to do. And I appreciate it. I just need to be sure that it something I am willing to do.
Besides... since when were you okay with me... well... doing anything of that sort.
Come on, I'm bending over backwards here to make you feel safe spending time with me. Princess, I've acknowledged your feelings, you really don't have to keep twisting the knife.
[It's just needlessly cruel at this point. She's gotten it across, and he's trying for crissakes!]
Honestly? I'm not exactly 'okay' with it. But you are an adult, and it's probably something you're gonna do anyway. If I'm there, I know you're safe and nothing's gonna happen. And hell, I like drinking. I can share something I enjoy with you. And we missed out sharing a lot of 'firsts', here's one we didn't.
I just...thought it'd be something that'd make us both happy. I'm kinda out of practice at this whole 'compromise' thing, Angel.
Snapping at me and accusing me of not knowing what I am talking about is hardly acknowledging my feelings.
[Angel sighed, face coming to rest in her hands. The pokegear was discarded for the time being. Mari shuffled up to it, sniffliing at the screen and batting at it as fiercely as she could manage.]
I am uninterested in alcohol. [There was something about toxic substances that just made her uneasy. Who could have imagined that? And the idea of missing out on firsts; whose fault was that? Another sigh on her end, before she plucked up her pokegear.] But... I will be there.
[She sighed once more. She didn't want to be anywhere near him, but the sooner she got it out of the way, the sooner she could ignore him for another few days.]
I wasn't trying to snap, and I was just trying to assure you that you don't have to be scared of me. Because you don't.
[But he keeps his tone level and amiable. Because she said she'd be there. She'd meet with him. Thank god. He's sure once she just spends a little time with him, actual time, she'll realize how nuts she's been and come home.]
Okay, then screw the bar. We'll go to a nice restaurant. Or any restaurant ya like. I'll buy you and Springs dinner.
[Don't go down the rabbit hole, she told herself, even as a scowl crossed her lips. She could spend hours listing every reason she had to be scared. Jack would refute every one of them, and she'd have nothing to show for her time.]
[She simply shrugged at the screen, attention and ability to maintain the conversation dwindling drastically.]
Whatever you want Jack. Just send me a place and I will be there.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
brokencode) wrote2016-08-22 05:17 am
Video Call
[But still, she was afraid.]
[And then, of course, there was the fact that Jack seemed... unlike himself. Vices like alcohol were the exact sort of things heh ad tried to keep her from in her old life. On the one hand, it left her feeling uneasy. But even worse was the fact that it played with that small spark of hope in the back of her mind.]
[Maybe this place had changed him.]
Will you give me time to think about it?
[She would do more than thinking, of course. She'd need to sit down with Athena, perhaps even Janey, and have a serious conversation about it. She doubted Athena would appreciate her wife going up against a former megalomaniac on her own. And that was even if Angel said she was interested.]
Re: Video Call
You're really putting me through the wringer, aren't ya babe? No, no, you're right. I just sprung this on you, you need to think it over. Probably actually ask Springers about it.
But come on. You...you gotta be able to see I'm trying here.
[He's bending over backwards here! Just for her. For god's sake, he's compromising. He hates compromising. It's like a soft core version of admitting you're wrong.]
[But he's determined to show her that she's being ridiculous and making a huge to-do about nothing. And then she can come home and everything will be how it should be.]
Video Call
[She took a breath, willing herself to keeping from snapping any further.]
I do see what you are trying to do. And I appreciate it. I just need to be sure that it something I am willing to do.
Besides... since when were you okay with me... well... doing anything of that sort.
Video Call
[It's just needlessly cruel at this point. She's gotten it across, and he's trying for crissakes!]
Honestly? I'm not exactly 'okay' with it. But you are an adult, and it's probably something you're gonna do anyway. If I'm there, I know you're safe and nothing's gonna happen. And hell, I like drinking. I can share something I enjoy with you. And we missed out sharing a lot of 'firsts', here's one we didn't.
I just...thought it'd be something that'd make us both happy. I'm kinda out of practice at this whole 'compromise' thing, Angel.
Video Call
[Angel sighed, face coming to rest in her hands. The pokegear was discarded for the time being. Mari shuffled up to it, sniffliing at the screen and batting at it as fiercely as she could manage.]
I am uninterested in alcohol. [There was something about toxic substances that just made her uneasy. Who could have imagined that? And the idea of missing out on firsts; whose fault was that? Another sigh on her end, before she plucked up her pokegear.] But... I will be there.
[She sighed once more. She didn't want to be anywhere near him, but the sooner she got it out of the way, the sooner she could ignore him for another few days.]
Video Call
[But he keeps his tone level and amiable. Because she said she'd be there. She'd meet with him. Thank god. He's sure once she just spends a little time with him, actual time, she'll realize how nuts she's been and come home.]
Okay, then screw the bar. We'll go to a nice restaurant. Or any restaurant ya like. I'll buy you and Springs dinner.
Re: Video Call
[She simply shrugged at the screen, attention and ability to maintain the conversation dwindling drastically.]
Whatever you want Jack. Just send me a place and I will be there.
Video Call
[He bites his tongue, cutting off a request to either call him 'dad' or nothing at all. She's working through stuff, he just has to be patient.]
Re: Video Call
[She hesitated for a moment, wondering if there was something more she should say. After a few seconds, she shook the feeling away.]
Have a good week?
Video Call
I'll see you then.
[After a moment.]
Thanks.