|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 10:47 pm
Robert had sent Jordan and Jerry a text to ask them to meet him at the cafeteria. He had poured each of them a cup of coffee, and suspiciously left a cookie on a napkin beside each cup. Then he waited.
He was extra nervous.
In fact, he had thrown up three times already.
Nobody liked asking their friends for money.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:05 pm
Jerry was still bandaged, looking worn out and like he had been about to head to the shower after a long bout of sparring when he had gotten the text. But a friend in need was a friend indeed, and he had to go make sure things were alright before collapsing.
He tried not to limp, it was bad enough he had gotten nearly killed by a young girl, he didn't need Robert to know beyond the white bandage on his chin.
"Ah! Hey! Rob! What's up?" He beamed, making his way towards the table, happily sitting, "Everything alright?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:30 pm
Jordan headed across the cafeteria to the usual table; he'd been on his way back from the gym when the text had come, and he'd immediately changed courses to go meet Robert instead of going directly back to the dorm. His step slowed briefly when he realized that there was a cup of coffee and a cookie waiting for him, and that apparently Robert had texted Jerry too. ... Interesting.
He sat down, picked up the coffee cup, and said, "What are we being bribed for today?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:32 pm
"Ahah." Robert laughed weakly at Jordan's ill-timed joke, waving at the two to sit down before he even attempted to speak. "Yeahhh. So." His hand reached up to rub behind his neck - he was obviously nervous. "We got paid today. You guys know that."
The check lay opened, but forgotten, on the table beside Robert. "It's cool, I mean, yeah."
He took a sip of his coffee to stop the pointless beating around the bush.
"You guys got any plans for Christmas?"
Oh, no, wait, the beating was back on.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:36 pm
"Alpha, sir! Hi! Oh-" Jerry flushed, huddling down over his mug before quickly taking a bite out of his cookie, "I've er... never um. Ahaha... celebrated Christmas before. Strictly speaking. But I mean, with the opportunity they've given us, I should at least get everyone something nice! Goodness, the holidays have never really been a big deal at my house growing up, you know? Just... light the candles, get a new sweater, eat some chocolate... What about you guys?" He fidgeted with his coffee mug anxiously, glancing down to Robert's envelope curiously.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:42 pm
"I hadn't figured anything out yet, no," Jordan answered the question, glancing briefly at the envelope and then back up to Robert's harried expression.
"Really?" Jordan shot a surprised look at Jerry; he would have thought that the older man would be the type to go all-out and enthusiastic over Christmas. It seemed, well, his sort of thing. "My family was the sort to put the Christmas tree up and wrap a string of lights around the palm tree the day after Thanksgiving, and haul out the Advent calendar a couple of days early just to let us kids stare longingly at it and anticipate chocolate."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:48 pm
"Yeah ahahaha that sounds great." Was Robert even listening? This was a nice conversation, it would have been nice to-
"I need help."
Three words that did not often come out of the big oaf's mouth were suddenly blurted at his friends, and Robert found he couldn't really bring himself to look at them anymore. "I kind of.. okay. See. ********, this is hard."
Robert groaned loudly, and rubbed his face, before dropping his hands suddenly and putting on a serious business expression.
"You guys know I asked Petra to marry me. I mean, I practically blurted it out the day after I'd done it. What you don't know is that.. this isn't really the first time I've thought about it. In fact, back home, I used to think about it a lot. I just.. I never did anything about it."
His eyes finally lifted, resting on Jerry. He was a Jew, he would understand. "Except window shopping. And the truth is, there's only one thing I want - no, I need to do this Christmas, and that is get Petra the kind of engagement ring she deserves."
He held the slip of paper beside him up, and winced. "And $3,150 doesn't actually cover it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Dec 05, 2011 11:59 pm
Jerry frowned, tapping a finger against the edge of his mug as he chewed the cookie carefully and thoughtfully.
He... had Candace now. He shouldn't.... feel like he did. But when they had all been faceless, past-less personalities floating in a sea of carnage... his fellow Zeta had been the main thing on his mind. She had been there for him, watched his back, kept him out of trouble... even when he was being a moron, she had given him that encouraging pat to the shoulder he desperately needed. They had woken and perhaps somewhere, deep down, he had always hoped...
But no. He knew Robert was serious about her. Deadly serious. There really wasn't any... reason he should still feel the way he did but... he did. But help Robert pay for her engagement ring? That was what he was asking, clearly. While they had had their arguments, didn't see eye-to-eye on many things, Robert was still considered one of his closest friends on the island, along with Jordan and Harrison. It would be rude to not help.
His brows knit, "W-well... I mean... I did want to get something for... for everyone. Get in the spirit of things you know? I mean, just because I'm..." He hesitated, "Not Christian doesn't mean I don't want to join in the festivities. But... but I can donate a bit of what's left over, I suppose?" He smiled weakly, clearing his throat, "C-con... congratulations again, by the way. But... but you know, if she loves you, anything you get her would be received the same way, be it a crackerjack box ring or a million dollar ruby. It's what it represents, not how much you spend."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:06 am
Oh. Jordan blinked. Was that all? Well, on the other hand, asking for money was never easy, and it had probably injured Robert's pride to have to ask in the first place, which would explain the painfully nervous look on the man's face. "I've got to get stuff too," he said, "but you know I'll help you out. Not a problem."
Jerry wasn't Christian - oh, well, that made his earlier remark make sense. Candles, hm. "Jewish?" Jordan asked curiously.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:10 am
"No, no, definitely." His hands waved in front of him frantically. "I ain't askin' for much, just whatever you guys can spare, seriously. Buy your gifts first, there ain't no reason you should put me before the people you care about."
His hands dropped, and he breathed out a sigh, before he snapped up again and his words came out tumbling once more. "And don't think I'm askin' you for money I ain't about to pay back. You WILL get this back come next paycheck, believe me. This is a once in a lifetime purchase, so.. yeah. I'm paying you guys back ASAP. For sure."
His eyes started to look dangerously moist. "You don't.. I mean.. you guys have no idea how much.. this.."
The sight of a man of Robert's size and stature bawling, BAWLING was horrifying, for certain. He was loud, and he was wet, and he was grabbing Jordan and Jerry in his arms and dragging them both quite forcefully into a group hug that pulled them right out of their seats.
"I LOVE YOU GUYS. SERIOUSLY, MAN."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:22 am
"Ahahaha, yeah, and probably the only one in the whole facility, judging by the ah... decor of the halls-" Jerry smiled bashfully at Jordan, but cut short as Robert got emotional. And moist. And- "Ah!" He wasn't sure what to think of the sudden hug, his eyes widening before he gave the larger man a ginger pat on the back, "Er... it's... it's no problem at all... really..." He managed weakly, although his anxiety was evident in his voice, even smothered against the sobbing brute. "P-petra... deserves something real nice."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:28 am
"Someone got enthusiastic, that's for s - oof," and Jordan found himself being squashed in a group hug of moist and epic proportions. Right up against - He thumped Robert on the back, laughing weakly. "We love you too, man, but we also love getting enough air to breathe."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 12:49 am
Robert couldn't really hear them, he was too busy sobbing like a lunatic. When he finally let go, he sniffed loudly and wiped his eyes and nose with his sleeve.
"Sorry, guys." He sniffed again. "Sorry. It's just, this is a big step for me, and to have you guys behind me when I do it-"
A terrifying moment passed as his lips wibbled, and he tore into another bawling sob, picking them both up in his arms and hugging them again.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 7:27 am
Jeremy really hadn't meant to eavesdrop. He really didn't; it was just...he'd seen Robert set up the coffee and the cookies and when he sat there to wait it out, the blonde sun hunter just couldn't resist waiting it out with him...several tables down while pretending to read some manual of something while pretending to drink the universe's worst coffee in the world. When the other two showed up, one would think that his curiousity was satisfyed enough for him to leave; Robert apparently had a date with his two friends, that was all. Boring, right? Nope, he still stayed.
But he didn't mean to eavesdrop.
(Though he did.)
As the talk of borrowing the money to buy a ring derailed into a grown man sobbing, Jeremy stared down at his rather disgusting (and now rather cold) cup of coffee in a thoughtful frown. What now...? Christmas brought back a lot of unwanted memories coupled with some rather painful realizations, so it was probably best for him to do what he did best and run away. As he passed the table...
"Hey." He called over the hug fest, clearing his throat to make sure he'd get his attention. "You can have some of mine, too." He wouldn't be needing much of it, after all. It might as well go to a mostly-stranger's good cause, right?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Tue Dec 06, 2011 10:25 am
"Nnnnnggggghelp!" Jerry squeaked to the newcomer from the deep recesses of Robert's chest and armpit.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
