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 Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 8:21 am
He laughed, albeit brief, like he was afraid his mother might jump from behind the bushes to scold him. As if he needed to justify what was so funny, he held up the phone for Xander to see the last message he received.
He texted back quickly to Q, 'Only if you find something that suits me. Don't bring me anything weird.' If the strange things in the picture she sent were any indication of the places she was visiting, he could only hope she wouldn't think he needed some sort of preserved animal or pickled organ. He wanted to text more, maybe something about missing her, but his fingers stalled and he went back to his other message instead.
'Don't tell him I said anything about adding it to my resume. I didn't mean it. Don't drag me into this. Tell him I said hello, too. And that I saw his last fight online.' He paused, and then also texted, 'Did he design the costumes?'
"--You know, maybe we're lucky to be in this family," he said abruptly, after forgetting to respond to Xander while he finished texting. "It's not perfect," -- the closest he'd get to admitting that maybe sometimes it was too much for him to handle -- "But we're not being dragged around to learn weird herbal folk remedies, and neither of us like to get naked and wrestle other men." He paused, suddenly, and squinted at his brother almost accusatorily. "...I think."
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 9:58 am
Xander laughed and shook his head, bemused. “So are you going to join him? We both could! Like, full on Luchador and you cover your face so mom can’t immediately tell it’s you? I mean, she’d know… I’m pretty sure she’s psychic. We’d know for SURE she knew when she marched into the ring and put you in a headlock and took me out with a rant about how this was all my fault… because she’d know. Especially since I’d probably have drawn on some fake tattoos for you just to make you look more badass.” Xander rambled and rubbed his chin. Q fired back: Define weird >> (followed by a picture of what looked like a jar of eyeballs. It might have been beans, hard to say honestly which was weird in and of itself. Then “I found you a charm for your wallet, for success, your mother should approve and it’s your favorite color. Don’t lie, we all have a favorite color. Mine’s just better. Where as your poor friend subjected to various slides sent back an alarmed. ‘Oh god…. Jace…’ a pause ‘he…made, the costumes. Please come save me….’
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 10:38 am
"Oh my god, no," Jace said, visibly scandalized. "You get into enough trouble, I'm not going to march into the ring with you so you can get into more! You'd probably draw a d**k on my back and tell me it was something cool. Ugh," his cheeks were red at the thought and he reached a hand to rub at his face. "No, no thank you. I like my clothes where they are."
He shuddered as he returned to his texts. He grimaced at the weird picture and had to scroll past it so he didn't have to spend more brain power trying to figure out what it was. 'All right. Thanks.'
His brain told him to say something nice. Anything nice. Don't be a jerk. You can't just send that, it sounds too rude. She'll think you're mad. Are you mad? You're not mad at her. His finger slipped and he felt a crushing worry; she knew him better than he knew himself sometimes, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to sit over here and overthink everything. 'It's not the same here without you.' He added, after a few very long seconds of 'Typing...'.
Thankfully, he had another distraction to follow and he could let out a quick, dry laugh. "--His brother made costumes. Made them. What do you want to bet he's going to demand Holden tries them all on until he gets suckered into keeping one? --I'm glad he's not my brother. I can take you in a fight. I don't know if I could take him."
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 10:46 am
“I would not! at least not on purpose, It might LOOK like one but not because I was actively trying to draw one.” Xander said indignantly. “… Maybe we should just let someone else do any drawing” He added after a thoughtful moment. “i bet backs are hard to draw on anyhow.” - Miss you too.- Q answered, and this time there was an actual photo of her face, the angle was awkward but she was doing better at selfies thanks to some tutelage from Holden, who was used to framing photos. There was a tired and a little sad smile on her face, the one she often got after a late night but also normally when she was glad to see you. A pause and typing then another message. - Given his messages, I am sure MoneyPenny misses you desperately too. Xander sputtered a laugh. “Oh my god, tell me there are pictures of the costumes.” He said with a hopeful and horrified look on his face. "And let's be honest, if he was your brother you'd have somehow bulked up enough to take him out before you even sat down to load up on whatever the protein of the day was. I can't imagine you going half way on anything you were gunning for."
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 10:56 am
There were a few seconds when he'd completely forgotten that Xander had said anything at all. He reread Q's message a few times, like he needed to make sure he wasn't imagining anything. 'Your makeup looks nice,' he typed. 'It's a good picture. Holden would be proud. I'm glad he's texting you too.'
"He hasn't sent me anything yet. I'm dying to see," Jace admitted, finding it easier to make fun of Holden than it was to accept that Xander maybe did actually think so highly of him. Still, his face had relaxed into a smile and stayed that way for longer than a few seconds, so it was clear that he was in a much better mood than usual.
He leaned closer to Xander as he texted Holden back, 'Xander says send pictures. We want to see.'
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 11:12 am
There was a pause before Q replied, she struggled at times with compliments too but tried hard. ‘Thanks! I found the red at the market here, I might grab a few more of it because you know it’ll be impossible to find now I’ve decided it’s a good color.’ *an actual emoji of a frustrated face* “I am dragging us to get some good Baozi next, tell Xander he should be jealous, I’m going to have -fresh- chili sauce.” A pause and then… “someday you’re coming with, MoneyPenny too…Xander if you -must-.” She didn’t actually hate Xander, it was just what they did. And from Holden… “SO MEAN!!!!” and a scowling emoji “I am telling him you both want costumes!!”
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 12:29 pm
There was some degree of satisfaction, to have Q actually accepting a compliment, and on top of that, her insistence that they could all head out somewhere together, some time. It was a nice dream, and one that he might cling to when he needed to think of an escape. One day, they'd all have jobs, and they'd all be too busy, and maybe--he feared--one day they would all be in different places of the world, and it would be harder than this to keep in contact.
...But not now. Soon, everyone would be back, and things could go back to how they'd always been.
'Your brother can keep him in check. That way I don't have to babysit. Is he having as much fun as you are out there?'
He saw the text from Holden and stiffened. "...Oh," he said, like he'd just come across some horrible realization. He stared at it for a long moment, not sure what to text back. He flashed Xander the message he'd just been sent. "...You don't actually think Holden would tell his brother...I mean--he wouldn't do that to us, right?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 1:12 pm
“I….” Xander hesitated. “…I am not sure. Im also not positive it won’t happen if his brother corners him into a costume because…then it’s ah, hot pant solidarity.” He said sounding unsure. “….Yeah we’re toast. He’s gonna put us in a headlock and barricade us in a changing room.” He finally concluded. “This is somehow my fault, isn’t it.” He added looking like he was already thinking of ways as to why, yes, it probably was. Fair, and yes, I think so. I told him to send a picture and he might have dropped his phone, *sigh* - I think he’ll be happy enough to get Buns with me though. There are some perks to being here.
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:22 pm
Jace was quiet for a moment, staring in horror at his phone. He wasn't going to beg Holden to keep his mouth shut--he knew that he couldn't, anyway. Not when it came to saving his own skin, where his brother was involved. His fingers hovered uncertainly over the phone.
"Oh," he said, like it was the end of the world. "--Maybe he'll forget."
He went to Q's text, this one unshared with his brother, and managed a quick, 'I think Xander is going stir crazy without him. We'll be happy to have you both back. Holden is trying to drag us into his trouble. What's the fastest way to make him stop thinking about getting us into costumes?'
He was wracking his brain, and even as he pressed the 'send' button to her, he turned to Xander and said, "Let's say something positive." This wasn't just him who had been dragged down--his brother was involved too. He wasn't going down alone. "--Should we tell him he...will...look good?" he was floundering. "That he...is...strong?"
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:29 pm
“Uhh… will that help?” Xander said uncertainly. “… I don’t know, He’s not exactly, shoot, aaa… There has to be someone else, like, a Rugby player or someone that fits that…better. I can’t imagine Holden buying it if we just say ‘strong’, W… What if we try and help?” He grimaced. “uh… oh what about… what about say he should just design his brother’s costumes?!” It was a half panicked suggestion, but also not a bad one? Unless he designed them for you both… Though it might still cover more. Q’s reply was short, but also not… helpful yet? One moment, I’m trying to decide if I like the idea of blackmail photos better, or if it’s better to preserve my eyes from seeing Bootyshorts on the three of you.
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 2:44 pm
Jace was panicking, though it wasn't as visible on his face. His knuckles were white and he gripped his phone with such force that it looked like he might crack it. "He--he wouldn't," he finally justified. "He knows mom. He knows she'd kill us."
But he was sneaky. He might already have concocted the perfect scheme to hide it.
"That works. Yeah. Okay," he said, and quickly texted Holden, 'You should tell him you want to design some. Tell him you have some ideas. It might buy you some time at least.'
He pressed send quickly, desperate to get the message to him before he started running his mouth.
"I sent it," he told his brother, but he still seemed jostled. He looked at Q's message and huffed, because of course she'd be difficult about this.
'I thought I was supposed to be relaxing? I'm ready to pop a blood vessel. I'll die before anyone sees me in anything like that.'
He might, actually. Blood rushed to his face again and he tried to hide it by reaching up to rub his whole face, sighing heavily. Jace was almost never seen out of his 'well-dressed' clothes, and when he was, he was most certainly wearing a shirt. Even if he made it to the pool, or the beach. But--to be in something so embarrassing? So cheesy?
There was no winning. He'd die of shame, almost certainly. And, if he survived that, his mother would kill him anyway.
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 3:02 pm
“Look…if it comes down to it, I’ll… put on the outfit. We can say it was my idea because I had a wild hair and I was trying to drag you in with me. That should be enough?” Xander said glancing between the phone, or rather Jace’s hands, and back to his Brother’s face. Calm down, I’ve told him that if I so much catch a rumor of you all in those ridiculous outfits I’m telling my Mother you’d all like a full session with her. followed by an eyeball emoji. Probably Holden’s brother would love such an opportunity, promoting good blood flow or something of the kind, but at least for now the idea was still heavily on the side of ‘nope’. Holden, finally texted back at least. (ó﹏ò｡)… aaaa fine! I will suffer alone, he has mock ups, but that’s not a bad idea! I hope it will help ＼(º □ º l|l)/ - I just don’t know… he says he has mock ups of the costumes… when did he even measure my anything??
｡(>﹏< ) ｡
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 3:42 pm
His grip on the phone relaxed and he sighed heavily, leaning back. "Okay. We're safe, maybe," he announced to his brother, and finally took the opportunity to chug the rest of the water bottle. "--Q says she told him no," he said, and while he trusted her he was also somewhat suspicious at how easily she had moved to shut down the situation instead of letting them flounder their way out of it. "She also says she thinks Nelson broke his phone?" He shrugged and texted her back an earnest, 'Thanks. I'll buy you a drink or something when you come back.'
He was shoving things back into his bag now, breathing a little easier. He forgot how the fresh air was soothing, and though he didn't want to think about his essay, somehow it seemed much less impossible now.
To Holden, 'He's probably just guessing. Tell him you're hungry and can't focus on an empty stomach. Maybe he'll go get started on dinner and forget about the costumes for a bit.' Holden's brother was determined to get him to bulk up somehow, Jace was surprised Holden wasn't claiming starvation any time he needed to get out of a situation. His brother was obsessed with food and would spare nothing if it meant helping Holden get into better shape.
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 4:39 pm
“Aw mAN, he’ll have a hard time fixing that over there.” Xander’s shoulders sagged dramatically. “Maybe its only.. a little broken?” He offered hopefully. “Mannnn…” He said after another moment. are you trying to kill me? C= C= C= C= C=┌(;・ω・)┘ He’s on a protein kick - more than normal!! , if I see another egg, or strip of unseasoned chicken I may cry?!
Miss you though! Aaaa I don’t know how I’ll survive this trip all the same!!
ヾ(￣ー￣(≧ω≦*)ゝ <—us…be safe on your hike! tell Q I am being good!?? o¬‿¬o )...☆ﾐ(*x_x)
“Can…can you ask Q if there is a chance his phone will get fixed?” Xander asked turning hopefully, tugging at the end of the braid you’d so neatly managed.
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Posted: Tue Sep 29, 2020 6:18 pm
Jace raised a brow at his brother, considered for a second, and then said, "Yeah, I'll ask. Don't mess up your hair, I made it look nice."
He could barely remember the mood he was in earlier, distracted by clean air, deep talks, and stupid texts. One breath in, one breath out. His face had relaxed--no knit brows, no pressed lips, no twisted scowls or angry squinting.
'Maybe you can learn something from him. Just ask him to teach you how to cook. Give him something else to focus on. I'll tell Q. Tell her you miss her. It would probably make her happy.' Since he couldn't say it, himself, maybe Holden could instead.
To Q, 'Can he get it fixed over there or does he need to buy a new one? Xander won't stop whining. I'll send money to cover the cost if it means shutting up my brother. I bet Nelson is following you around like a lost puppy without it, anyway.' He knew she couldn't stand seeing her little brother unhappy anymore than he could stand seeing Xander unhappy, and Jace wasn't very good with kind words, anyway.
...But Xander was good to him, sometimes. And Q. And even her brother, though he and Jace had very little in common, and Jace avoided talking to him not out of dislike, but out of a very real concern that he might say accidentally say something hurtful. Nelson was sensitive and gentle, and Jace might as well have been a barking dog around a trembling rabbit.
The last thing he wanted was for Q to be mad at him for upsetting her brother.
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