[She remembers, vaguely, that they had a pretty serious conversation during their time together as teens. So it’s weird to almost feel like they’ve bonded when they weren’t themselves. Even though, technically, they were...
It’s complicated and the more Skye thinks about it, the more relieved she is that they might actually talk about what happened.]
Today is totally okay. Just give me a time and place.
Sure. I'll send it right over. See you soon, Skye.
[ As predicted, he messages her the information. It's set a couple hours later and the address leads her to the corner of Main Street and Lisa Road, not far at all from Hart Mart.
The door's propped open to one side of a duplex just on the edge of the commercial district and Blake's inside fussing behind the counter. The inside's still being converted, but it's partially complete — finished enough that John's testing things out even before opening is a glimmer in the eye. There's no sign, but the guts pass as a cafe meets coffee bar, both intimate and friendly.
There are fresh baked chocolate peanut butter cookies on a plate on the counter and Blake's fussing with the espresso machine behind the little coffee bar when Skye arrives. ]
[Skye is a little anxious as she enters the unfinished cafe, hands in the pockets of her light jacket, she feels her stomach form knots at the sight of him.]
Hey.
[Is it easier to just pretend like everything is normal and that she totally didn’t see him naked? Maybe not, but she’s going to try.]
[Part of her anxiety is solely because she opened up to him about something very personal while not knowing him very well at all. So did he, but maybe he was generally a lot more open about that side of him. Smiling softly when he mentions that they’re close to being open, Skye steps in a little further but still keeps some distance between the two of them.]
Coffee sounds good.
[Because, clearly, she needs to feel even more jittery. Looking around, Skye doesn’t really take everything in because her mind is racing. Is he going to be the first to bring it up, or is it going to be her? Or they just going to dance around the subject now that they’re both here. It’s a little jarring to see him older, even if that’s how she normally saw him the few times they ran into each other. When she thinks he isn’t looking she steals a glance before directing her attention towards something much more interesting. A sugar packet holder.]
[ He knows he can probably just call the guy Bruce — he's the only one in town — but that's Blake for you. ]
It's whether he likes it or not, but I guess he likes it. Real great cook. Puts up with my ass, too, so I guess we can all attest to him bein' a bit crazy.
[ Over to the coffee bar he goes to make her a drink. At least having his back turned will allow her a second to gather herself. Look, he is using every bit of his social skills to make this not too awkward. ]
[ Blake gestures to the little menu board where someone's written B&B's in terrible handwriting. But it's there, like some kind of proclamation. ]
No busier than usual. Which isn't busy enough to stay out of trouble some days.
[ He's just made her a basic latte, and he slides it over next to the cookies, taking a lean on the counter and nodding her toward the drink. ]
Most days. [ He winces. ] Sorry 'bout bein', uh. A promiscuous shithead. I hope you don't think— Well, I dunno what I hope, 'cept that you'll forgive me. Or at least... understand that I know that was totally uncool of me...
[Taking a seat at the counter, Skye reaches for her drink when he finally opens the flood gates. Guess they’re talking about this now, which has her setting her drink back down before she can take a sip of it.]
You were not a shithead.
[If anything, he was just as nice as he was now. Skye, on the other hand, has changed a lot since she was 15. For one, she hated the world a lot less. Biting her lower lip, Skye tries to figure out what to say next.]
I could have said no to all of that, but I didn’t want to.
[She won’t make him feel like shit by saying that everything they did together was just how she coped with her life back then. And if it hadn’t been for that heart to heart talk they had, she wouldn’t have really cared about him at all. He was just a distraction to her up until the talk of being orphans came up.]
We were just being teenagers, and we’re not like that now.
[ They're really not all that different, honestly, and it had happened between them for a lot of the same reasons, too. Blake doesn't think it would make Skye feel any better to know he'd lightly aphro'd them both with his kicking around the flowers — somehow it felt like they'd end up there anyway — so he doesn't mention it. ]
Well, I'm a little like that, but hopefully a bit less annoyin' 'bout it.
[ He dips his head and picks up a cookie, fussing with it, maybe taking the pressure off himself, or maybe just not wanting to stare at her. ]
Been wantin' to get to know you better. Just didn't think it'd be like that.
[ John glances back up to study her. Blake can't say he doesn't feel something when he looks at her, although he's not sure what just yet. ]
[Skye smiles sympathetically when he admits to hoping that he’s less annoying now.]
Well, for the record, I didn’t find you annoying.
[Skye had a thing for being interested in messed up people, and he definietly fit the bill. Although, at that age, the people she usually hung around were way worse than he was. Her smile fades a little when he mentions wanting to get to know her better.]
I didn’t mean to lay all of that on you.
[Everything she said about her past. She’s so embarrassed about opening up to him like that and she wishes she could take it back. It was such a vulnerable subject for her, but back then, she was still living it. Skye can’t deny that she’s caught off guard by what he says next, because she’s not sure what he meant by ‘not regretting it’.]
You don’t?
[Can he see the panic on her face? Because she’s not doing a great job of hiding it right now. Even if she somehow manages to keep her tone even.]
[ He shakes his head, that cookie turning around in his hands. It's just together enough not to crumble and just firm enough to hold its shape, not unlike the two of them. ]
No, I don't think you woulda told me any of that stuff otherwise, and I'm glad you did.
Me either. And we don't gotta, but if you ever wanna, you know where to find me.
[ It's bound to come up again. In Deerington, it can't help but be drummed up at nearly every turn. John's honestly surprised it hasn't come up more. ]
[And she does, but, she can’t see herself bringing it up with him. Even if she trusts someone, talking about that time in her life just drums up all kinds of bad memories. Even if she knows the reasoning behind why she was constantly moved now, it still hurts.
Well, at least that got out of the way, but Skye isn’t sure that she feels that much relief from having this conversation. Maybe because, for once, it wasn’t her doing most of the talking.]
It was off-and-on. A coupla days here, a coupla days there.
Spent some time harasssin' Banner and Beaubier. [ Nothing new under the sun for anyone that knows Blake. ] And some new people, too. Seemed like I saw more people when I was playin' teen than I do when I'm just livin' my life.
[ John's thing is dealing right now. After all these years jumping around the multiverse, it's hard not to roll with the punches. ]
I can’t tell if that’s better or worse than just being stuck as a teen for a month.
[Which is what ended up happening to her. Some of her time spent as her younger self was fuzzy at best, but that probably had more to do with all of the alcohol and drugs she had done.]
Easier to meet people when you’ve got no other responsibilities.
[She kind of gathered from that time they all surprised Bruce that two of them hung out a lot, but this just further confirms that.]
You and Bruce seem close, you two meet here?
[And while Skye is genuinely interested, she may also be asking this as a way to get off the subject of her past.]
[Skye laughs softly at his joke, but the amusement leaves her face when he mentions that he told Bruce what happened. She’s not even that shocked to hear that they’re a ‘thing’ without putting a label on it, it at least makes sense.]
Oh.
[She doesn’t blame him for being honest with Bruce, but it is embarrassing.]
What did he say?
[He hasn’t shown up on her front door so that’s probably a good sign, right?]
He laughed at me. Because he’s a jerk and he knew I’d want to talk to you. I thought you an' Bucky'd be a thing by now, honestly, and I don’t wanna mess up anything 'cause I was a teenage hornball.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
morethan084) wrote2018-08-10 12:40 pm
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[Because healthy food is disgusting, obviously.
She should probably just stop with the lame jokes while she’s ahead, but it’s kind of her go to thing when she feels awkward.]
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[ The jokes are a defense mechanism, right? He's used to seeing that around occasionally. He's done it himself, honestly. ]
And today's okay? If not, I can reschedule.
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It’s complicated and the more Skye thinks about it, the more relieved she is that they might actually talk about what happened.]
Today is totally okay. Just give me a time and place.
-> [action]
[ As predicted, he messages her the information. It's set a couple hours later and the address leads her to the corner of Main Street and Lisa Road, not far at all from Hart Mart.
The door's propped open to one side of a duplex just on the edge of the commercial district and Blake's inside fussing behind the counter. The inside's still being converted, but it's partially complete — finished enough that John's testing things out even before opening is a glimmer in the eye. There's no sign, but the guts pass as a cafe meets coffee bar, both intimate and friendly.
There are fresh baked chocolate peanut butter cookies on a plate on the counter and Blake's fussing with the espresso machine behind the little coffee bar when Skye arrives. ]
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Hey.
[Is it easier to just pretend like everything is normal and that she totally didn’t see him naked? Maybe not, but she’s going to try.]
Starting up your own business?
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Yeah, hopin' to. We're— [ John holds his fingers apart and inch. They're near enough that he can feel the inevitability of it. ] Close.
Cookies? Coffee? Come on, come look around. We're not open yet, so free roam.
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Coffee sounds good.
[Because, clearly, she needs to feel even more jittery. Looking around, Skye doesn’t really take everything in because her mind is racing. Is he going to be the first to bring it up, or is it going to be her? Or they just going to dance around the subject now that they’re both here. It’s a little jarring to see him older, even if that’s how she normally saw him the few times they ran into each other. When she thinks he isn’t looking she steals a glance before directing her attention towards something much more interesting. A sugar packet holder.]
Who else is working with you?
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[ He knows he can probably just call the guy Bruce — he's the only one in town — but that's Blake for you. ]
It's whether he likes it or not, but I guess he likes it. Real great cook. Puts up with my ass, too, so I guess we can all attest to him bein' a bit crazy.
[ Over to the coffee bar he goes to make her a drink. At least having his back turned will allow her a second to gather herself. Look, he is using every bit of his social skills to make this not too awkward. ]
You doin' okay?
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Seriously? Bruce Banner is your business partner?
[So he’s a scientist, a doctor, and now a cook? What next? When he asks if she’s doing okay she debates momentarily if she should be honest or not.]
Yeah, I’m good.
[So much for being honest.]
What about you? I can imagine you’ve got to be extremely busy with this new business and all.
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No busier than usual. Which isn't busy enough to stay out of trouble some days.
[ He's just made her a basic latte, and he slides it over next to the cookies, taking a lean on the counter and nodding her toward the drink. ]
Most days. [ He winces. ] Sorry 'bout bein', uh. A promiscuous shithead. I hope you don't think— Well, I dunno what I hope, 'cept that you'll forgive me. Or at least... understand that I know that was totally uncool of me...
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You were not a shithead.
[If anything, he was just as nice as he was now. Skye, on the other hand, has changed a lot since she was 15. For one, she hated the world a lot less. Biting her lower lip, Skye tries to figure out what to say next.]
I could have said no to all of that, but I didn’t want to.
[She won’t make him feel like shit by saying that everything they did together was just how she coped with her life back then. And if it hadn’t been for that heart to heart talk they had, she wouldn’t have really cared about him at all. He was just a distraction to her up until the talk of being orphans came up.]
We were just being teenagers, and we’re not like that now.
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Well, I'm a little like that, but hopefully a bit less annoyin' 'bout it.
[ He dips his head and picks up a cookie, fussing with it, maybe taking the pressure off himself, or maybe just not wanting to stare at her. ]
Been wantin' to get to know you better. Just didn't think it'd be like that.
[ John glances back up to study her. Blake can't say he doesn't feel something when he looks at her, although he's not sure what just yet. ]
I don't regret it.
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Well, for the record, I didn’t find you annoying.
[Skye had a thing for being interested in messed up people, and he definietly fit the bill. Although, at that age, the people she usually hung around were way worse than he was. Her smile fades a little when he mentions wanting to get to know her better.]
I didn’t mean to lay all of that on you.
[Everything she said about her past. She’s so embarrassed about opening up to him like that and she wishes she could take it back. It was such a vulnerable subject for her, but back then, she was still living it. Skye can’t deny that she’s caught off guard by what he says next, because she’s not sure what he meant by ‘not regretting it’.]
You don’t?
[Can he see the panic on her face? Because she’s not doing a great job of hiding it right now. Even if she somehow manages to keep her tone even.]
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No, I don't think you woulda told me any of that stuff otherwise, and I'm glad you did.
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No, I definitely wouldn’t have.
[And she wishes she could take that conversation back, but at the very least, he understood what it was like on a personal level.]
I don’t like to talk about that part of my life.
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[ It's bound to come up again. In Deerington, it can't help but be drummed up at nearly every turn. John's honestly surprised it hasn't come up more. ]
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[And she does, but, she can’t see herself bringing it up with him. Even if she trusts someone, talking about that time in her life just drums up all kinds of bad memories. Even if she knows the reasoning behind why she was constantly moved now, it still hurts.
Well, at least that got out of the way, but Skye isn’t sure that she feels that much relief from having this conversation. Maybe because, for once, it wasn’t her doing most of the talking.]
How long were you stuck as a teen?
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Spent some time harasssin' Banner and Beaubier. [ Nothing new under the sun for anyone that knows Blake. ] And some new people, too. Seemed like I saw more people when I was playin' teen than I do when I'm just livin' my life.
[ John's thing is dealing right now. After all these years jumping around the multiverse, it's hard not to roll with the punches. ]
CW: Substance abuse mention
[Which is what ended up happening to her. Some of her time spent as her younger self was fuzzy at best, but that probably had more to do with all of the alcohol and drugs she had done.]
Easier to meet people when you’ve got no other responsibilities.
[She kind of gathered from that time they all surprised Bruce that two of them hung out a lot, but this just further confirms that.]
You and Bruce seem close, you two meet here?
[And while Skye is genuinely interested, she may also be asking this as a way to get off the subject of her past.]
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[ He’ll give her that out. ]
I, uh. Told him what happened. We’ve been — y'know — and it’s not anything — we’re not like that — not the types to care, but I thought I should...
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Oh.
[She doesn’t blame him for being honest with Bruce, but it is embarrassing.]
What did he say?
[He hasn’t shown up on her front door so that’s probably a good sign, right?]
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What makes you think that?
[If she could somehow just disappear right now...
Anything to avoid talking about her feelings and what might or might not be going between her and Bucky.]
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Just a feelin', I guess. I mean, I’m kind of a matchmaker type. Was I wrong?
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[Because that’s the only reason she could think that he would even know about them? Even if there’s really nothing to “know” right now.
It also means that Bucky was talking about her and them, and you know what? A cookie sounds great now.
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