avoidance

[inamber]

Characters: Jade Harley (AU) & Davesprite
Format: action
This log is: closed
Location: The flowershop!
Summary: AWKWARD MEETING
Warnings: AWKWARDNESS

[ Dave doesn't know what brings him into the little flower shop-- because fuck if he likes flowers, even ironically-- but something does. He looks the place over just once before he enters, the bell above the door jingling. It's something to do he supposes as he floats over to the potted plants. With his back to the rest of the store he pokes at a leaf and folds his wings tight against himself. He doesn't wanna knock something over accidentally.

He doesn't see anyone else in the main room of the shop just yet. ]

Comments

[greenspaces]

[ She nods, slowly. Her hands clench behind her back, fingernails picking at raw scars from a few weeks ago -- an involuntary reaction to a stressful situation. ]

I understand.

[ And she knows that thanks to the game, nothing did happen. She never even existed. ]

It's okay.

[ No, it's not, but she feels the trickle of blood as she picks at her cuticles and decides to busy herself with running behind the counter to grab a rag and clean up the water. Jade wipes at her eyes -- no she is not going to cry in front of him. She refuses. ]

I mean, we are very alive here, and not dead at all. So it's okay. I'm alive, and you're an orange...um. [ She gives him a brief look before turning her eyes to the spill, attempting to glare a hole through the floor. ] An orange thing.

[inamber]

[ He shrugs. He senses that it isn't okay, but he doesn't want to talk about it. He just wants to casually move on as though nothing has happened. And he figures that might not be possible. She was abandoned and that has to hurt a fuck of a lot more than him thinking she was dead. ]

... Yeah. Alright. I'm a sprite. Fun and games and knowing the exact mechanics of the game and shit...

[ He drops off awkwardly. As she cleans the spill he is silent. When it's cleaned, he stoops over and reaches a hand out to help her up. He doesn't expect her to take the hand. But he's trying it anyways. ]

I'm--

[ And he doesn't know how to say it. But Dave thinks he owes it to her, someone he left behind, to be honest for once. His voice is very quiet and he does not meet her eyes as he says it. ]

... I didn't mean to, Jade.

[greenspaces]

[ She surprises herself and takes his hand anyway. If he can find it in his heart to say the words, then she can find it in hers to forgive him, she thinks. It might take awhile (because she'll admit, it still hurts to think about being left behind) but she's willing to try.

He'll notice that her cuticles are bleeding; along with many other angry-looking scars on her hands it looks like she's been through a war zone. ]

I know you didn't. You're my best friend.

[ She attempts a smile and falters. But at least it's a start. ]

How did you become a sprite?

[inamber]

[ He worries at the marks, but he doesn't comment. They all have their crutches he supposes, and he doesn't have the energy to confront her about hers.

He tries out a small, subtle smile at her saying that. Like hers, it falters. ]

Yeah.

[ Then he pauses. He doesn't remember how exactly he'd time travel, and that frustrates him momentarily. It's within grasp and then it disappears. ]

I went back to before the other me prototyped for the second time, before I thoughtlessly threw in that godforsaken puppet. Then I jumped in myself and well, there we go. Feathery asshole Dave at your service.

[greenspaces]

[ She stands, hesitating a little before reaching out to touch the feathers around his neck.

Even in super serious moments, a girl has to indulge in some quality furry times. ]

You're soft.

[inamber]

[ That makes him jump a bit. He wasn't expecting her to touch his neckruffle... thing. He never knew what to call the feathers there. ]

Hours and hours of preening got them this soft. This is half natural beauty and half back-breaking work at play.

[greenspaces]

Did you use shampoo?

[ That makes her smile at least, even if it's a small one. Though they are probably avoiding the issue, it's nice to have him here. Even if they can't talk about their problems right now, Jade's just glad he isn't mad at her.

The smile fades a little bit, and she bites her lip, staring at the floor. However, she doesn't move her hand from the feathers. ]

I yelled at Dave. About what happened at home.

[inamber]

[ He breathes a bit, and his hand comes up to touch hers. He doesn't really think about the motion; it just happens. ]

He told me as much.

[greenspaces]

[ She jumps a little bit, but doesn't pull away. ]

I didn't mean to. He didn't deserve to be yelled at, I was mean. [ She looks up at him carefully. ] I don't think you deserve it either. The game is just stupid.

[inamber]

[ He can sense her looking him over carefully like that, so just as carefully he keeps his face level. Dave shrugs. ]

Stupid's one way to put it. You're right, though. He didn't do shit, that was all me.

[greenspaces]

[ Slowly, she nods. ] I know. But I can't blame you either. It was silly for me to think you would just leave me behind. [ But even still, she's hesitating... ]

Um. I get off of work soon. Do you...like ice cream?

[inamber]

[ He'll take her hesitance over her outright anger any day. He doesn't correct her-- it isn't silly to think that-- not because he can't be bothered, but because she's trying to change the topic. ]

Sure, icecream's fine. Cool, even.

[greenspaces]

[ She knows that tonight she'll feel angry and sad -- nightmares abound, she thinks, nightmares of being left behind. But maybe she'll convince someone to crawl in with her, or sleep on top of the bed while she sleeps underneath it. Having someone there is better than being left alone. For now though, she'll focus on the things in front of her: this Dave, her Dave, and getting some ice cream.

She slides away from him and awkwardly walks to the back, placing her apron on a hook and signing a time card. ]

Do you like orange flavors, because you're orange?

[inamber]

[ And he doesn't dream and he doesn't sleep anymore. So it will just be idle time to kill. But like her dreams, his thoughts will trail towards a similar thing: leaving her for dead. He really didn't mean to. ]

Fuck yes, orange flavor is the best. Can't get enough of that citrus tangy goodness, that sweet-n-sour foxtrot across my tastebuds. Always have, even if apple's better.

[greenspaces]

[ She will hug him if she ever finds out '^' ]

No, orange is the best.

[inamber]

Nah, Jade. Apple is where it's at.

[ He's smiling a little, very small and very soft. He missed her. ]

[greenspaces]

Nope. [ She gives him a little smile too, holding out a hand to him. She hopes it's a sort of encouragement -- she doesn't want to be disappointed in him, so she's offering it as a sort of friendship gesture. ]

They don't make apple ice cream. That's silly.

[inamber]

[ He takes it. ]

Alright, yeah, in terms of icecream orange is best. Vanilla is cool too. But general flavors? Apple wins every time.

[greenspaces]

[ Leaving the store now... doot doot doo walking down the road. Jade's skirt is really short so enjoy that. ]

Whatever you say. [ TOTALLY DISBELIEVING. ] We will find apple ice cream.