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 Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:15 pm
“I mean, maybe lower your music volume, and uh… I think they might be more active in the evenings and dusk-like times.” He murmured. “I …don’t know. I can find out!” Wait… hadn’t the cat given him… a cell phone? Could he add… Jace’s number to -that- phone. Wouldn’t that be wonderful? “Umm… Here! Put your number in this!” He offered up the odd little phone the cat had given him. “I can text you when I learn! Just… promise you won’t put me in your contacts as ‘bird man’, that show got old SO fast.” He shook his head and made a face. “A…Also you can call if you get in trouble! I’m sure I’ll be doing better by the next time one of them decides you’re tasty.” He really wanted to sound more reassuring than he was right now. Maybe he could find a subtle way to get more hand to hand training time with his Brother…without somehow raising questions. “And…I mean, you could try and file a report but… it’s going to sound about as crazy as the night I got dragged into this nonsense! Really, officer, I was chased by a giant dog monster and saved by someone who took ‘Le cage au faux’ a little too literally for a vigilante costume, though really they're quite new at this.” “I… I mean short of offering to show up whenever you want to jog…” He really didn’t want to… at least not in uniform… though maybe… “You could ask a friend to go with you as well! Mmmmm-maybe they won’t like groups!” Unless they came bigger… hmm...
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 1:48 pm
Jace looked so confused, because now the stranger was handing him a phone and asking for his number and--for some reason--he was fumbling to put it in. “I don’t know what that is,” he said about bird man--because, really, there was only one bird person in his life, and it was Holden.
But. He needed to know what was going on, he needed physical proof that this wasn’t some horrible dream.
“But, um. Thanks, I’ll...keep that in mind. I don’t really have anyone I think would want to go jogging with me.” And he really wasn’t the sort to go seek out new friends.
“...I guess I’ll just try to be more careful.”
A shadow in the distance made him tense, like he wasn’t sure if it was the youma or just his mind playing tricks on him. “So, um. Thanks for helping, I guess.”
...Was he seriously going to actually try to call this guy at some point in the future, to see if he could help him? Wait--was there a risk that Jace might run into another youma in the future?
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Posted: Thu Apr 01, 2021 2:19 pm
Yes! Number achieved! He could even fix any typos because he knew Jace’s number already and… And…. Where the heck had the contact information gone. He made a face and prodded at the phone.
“….it… It ate your number. Am I not allowed to… oh come on!” He protested shaking it. “Not fair not fair not fair how are we supposed to…ooooo…” He huffed. “W….well. You should ask around anyhow, maybe someone will surprise you!” He offered with a sinking thought that he’d be the one doing the surprising. Maybe he could make jogging clothes look good… ha. “I… I’ll figure the Youma thing out, so it will be safe for you again.” He said earnestly. He would too, though he so wished that his Brother were doing this rather than him. That Youma would have turned and run if it had seen…. Well…. The idea of his brother in this costume though… “Oh…I could get a burner phone at the 7-11 and then just keep that with me, then I can still message you!” He said with a sudden ‘crime drama’ realization. Jace would be so proud if he knew. Maybe…
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 5:17 am
Jace felt a sudden sinking sensation, because this really felt like he was getting in over his head. And the phone didn’t work. Or he’d broken it. He wasn’t sure, he was still trying to process this.
Was there anyone he trusted enough to go out running with him? He could imagine Q, in her killer heels. He could imagine Holden giving up two minutes in. And then Jace would have to carry him for the rest of the run and--
Wait, that didn’t sound so bad.
No! Focus! He didn’t want Holden to be out dealing with monsters! What if he saw one and passed out and it ate him!
“Yeah, I guess that’s an option. Are you seriously going to go into the store looking like that?” he asked, although he was keenly aware that there were a few convenience stores nearby, and he did not like the way the shadows moved behind them. He’d have appreciated being inside and away from…
Whatever was out here, apparently.
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 8:48 am
“Well…I…” he glanced down at his outfit and then looked back with a huff. “It’s not like I can just… poof back into civilian clothes right in front of you, and what if it showed up and I wasn’t… all, I mean it’s supposed to be easier to fight them like this.” He sighed. “Look, if it's embarrassing to be seen with me like this, which I understand, I can just give you some cash and…” He patted himself distractedly, and then frowned… “… are you…serious. What kind of godless heathen designed this stupid costume anyhow!? how do I not have POCKETS? Do they expect me to bring a purse with me?”
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 6:02 pm
Jace felt like he only partially understood any of this, but he nodded uncertainly.
Of course it was embarrassing to be seen with him like that; Jace had a reputation to maintain, and if his mother even thought he was getting into trouble, she might start checking in on him constantly, keeping tabs on him everywhere he went. He didn’t want to be condemned to her social schedule.
“I have cash,” he said, somewhat in a daze. What did he have cash for? --What was he agreeing to buy? His head was swimming. He reached into his pocket to extract a card, as if to prove that he had money on him.
“...And I’m supposed to...call you...or whatever….when I need help? And you’ll just come? No matter what?”
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Posted: Fri Apr 02, 2021 6:27 pm
“T- That would be the idea yes.” he nodded. “Not that I am wishing trouble on you, quite the opposite in fact, but if you enjoy….jogging, then you should be able to do it.” He nodded like that was decisive, though his cheeks were warming up at the embarrassment of not being able to get his own stupid burner phone. “…I’ll… bring you money to repay…if you’d like to do this.” He added folding his arms because it felt in a way like armor. “And um, if it can’t be me hopefully I’ll know more people in ridiculous costumes at that point.” He added with a decisive nod. He rubbed at his arms, the costume was, pretty but silly, and a little more embarrassing knowing that Jace didn’t want to be caught with him wearing it. He couldn’t blame him, not really, not with his mother the way she was but, it did make him wish that the costume was at least a little bit less, extra. "I may not be a Knight in shining armor but, I have some rather pretty feathers." He said trying to sound more confident than he felt.
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Posted: Mon Apr 05, 2021 9:55 am
Jace didn’t know why he was actually considering this. The stranger in front of him didn’t exactly inspire confidence, and they seemed like they were still trying to make up their mind and wade through whatever this whole thing was, anyway.
But. Jace found himself oddly endeared in a way he really couldn’t understand.
The stranger had magic, though. And answers. Or, at least, a way to get answers.
Jace seemed to struggle to make up his mind and then huffed dramatically. “Fine, whatever. Just--don’t go spreading my phone number everywhere. If this is a prank, I will find you, and I will make you regret getting me involved. I don’t want any trouble, I have enough on my plate. So. You’d better be telling the truth. And if I’m going to be seen in public with you,” he said, approaching the store with growing dread, “You’d better at least show up when I call, okay? Seriously.”
It wasn’t easy for him to ask for help, but like--come on. What was he supposed to do if magical monsters were coming after him? Seriously, who was he going to call to come bail him out if he was in over his head? At least this guy had magic--or something that could convincingly pass as such.
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