|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Mar 23, 2024 9:29 am
School had been glorious, he had to admit that. He'd enjoyed every creative moment.
That said, he missed Destiny City enormously, he missed especially, a certain young man whom he'd been writing letters to and sending small handcrafted gifts to, well, small being relative. He'd crafted a giant, fat bird plush that he'd sent to Jace because he missed him, and wanted something to get hugs when he couldn't.
So now, now that he was back he dressed up, cute as a button he was sure of it, and made a picnic to take with him to the place that Jace worked. Worked too damn hard if Holden was asked about it. Then again no one was really asking about it after all.
A bus ride later and Holden was skipping up the front steps to the law office and swinging the door open like he had an appointment. Heading directly for Jace's office with the Picnic basket swinging over his arm.
"JACE!!" He called as he pounced forward in front of the door and threw his arms wide. Hopefully, Jace was alone as he did this, but he wasn't properly sure he cared if he scandalized Jace's parents just at the moment.
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2024 12:17 pm
The fact that Jace worked at his mother’s agency meant that he spent most days just grinding through work. He fought hard to take the cases she wanted him to so he had time to take the cases he wanted to. He liked to win, but that was just in his blood. He just didn’t always enjoy the process. Being good at his job when his heart wasn't always in it was a perpetual drain, and some days it showed more than others.
Jace’s parents were out on a meeting–thank goodness, because otherwise he was sure he’d never hear the end of it.
Him! Having friends! At his workplace!
No joy allowed here, everyone had to be miserable.
His desk was scattered with paper and he had a laptop open, but thankfully he had no clients and nothing to keep him from rising from his desk. Instinctively, immediately, he returned the hug.
“Holden? What are you doing here?” he asked, only surprised and delighted. For anyone else he might have had to fuss about them visiting, but this was Holden. And his parents weren’t there to ban him from the office for being too happy, so of course he was welcome.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Mar 25, 2024 1:12 pm
"School's out!!" He said cheerfully. "So I came to see how much you were overworking yourself! Because we both know you are!" He grabbed one of the spare chairs and spun it backward so he could kneel on it and lean over the back of the chair with the picnic basket outstretched in his hand. "Tell me you haven't had lunch yet!" He beamed. "If you did, lie about it so I can steal you away for an hour anyhow!! Unless you have meetings, in which case I will be very sad in the waiting room until you're free!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2024 1:06 am
Of course he hadn’t had lunch yet, who had time for that when there was so much work to do?
Jace’s face betrayed this thought, and he knew Holden had him figured out even without him admitting that he was overworking himself. Although, Jace never felt like he did enough. He hadn’t had someone around to pull him away from his work or remind him that he was only human.
“No, I don’t have any meetings any time soon. I’m just catching up on paperwork. I can make an hour for you.” He was ready to take the whole afternoon off to slip out with Holden. He’d make up for it later. Tonight. He was still young, what was another all-nighter?
Jace was already gathering the belongings on his desk in an effort to quickly clean up. The faster he could slip out, the less change he had of getting caught. He doubted his parents would be as enthusiastic about him taking time off to socialize.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Mar 27, 2024 5:33 pm
Holden's expression was as per normal, slightly troubled as he watched Jace pack up in such a hurry. He couldn't understand how no matter how hard Jace worked, that he always seemed to be drowning in more and more work. It was like his parents, specifically his mother was trying to kill him. "So... we should go somewhere you really like okay? Cause I'm back, and I mean ti stay back a while, and that means I gotta tell you an important secret, okay?" Holden said slowing his stride and glancing over his shoulder at Jace whom he honestly just expected to follow and keep up.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2024 6:00 pm
Jace resisted the urge to say that anywhere was more likable than this building, but there was just so much tension and resentment confined to those walls. When Holden slowed, Jace gave him a perplexed look and put one hand at the small of his back as if to encourage him to go faster.
He was stiff from sitting for so long, and even the brief pause they’d had to take at his door to lock up felt like too long. It couldn’t have been more than seconds, but Jace was walking to the front door like he had urgent business to attend to.
“There’s a little park about two minutes down the road if we walk. I go there sometimes, when I need to clear my head.”
It wasn’t very big, but it was pretty, and despite being in the city, it rarely had anyone nearby. There were a few tables and benches, and plenty of shade. There was a small lake with a single fountain and some lighting when the sun went down, but it was enough for him.
“Is it a good secret or a bad one?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2024 1:27 pm
"I mean, I think it's... a good one?" He said hesitantly. "I think you'll be surprised, it has to do with birds." He added which was technically true. He turned and snagged Jace's hand and started walking faster towards the park. "Come on! I'm maximizing time for talking! Well... other than we'll be out of breath, or I will be, you look more fit than ever which just isn't fair, but also I love it." He rambled about trivial things like his classes as they made their way to the park, about his plush bird collection, about outfits he'd made... it slowed as they approached the benches, pretty with their dappled shadows. Holden ran forward and claimed a seat at the table, turning to wait for Jace to catch up with him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2024 3:55 pm
Maybe Jace should have been more concerned about how he looked wearing his full suit as Holden tugged him. He took long strides to keep pace. No, he was not surprised to hear that Holden was doing something with birds. As long as it wasn’t bad he didn’t mind waiting for more information.
He listened as Holden filled him in on things he’d heard through text messages or emails or phone calls, or filled in the gaps on things he’d skirted over before.
Holden could have been talking about how ice melts and he would have thought it was enchanting conversation.
How was he not supposed to be enthralled when the sunlight danced across his skin like it was trying to kiss every inch of it?
Jace had been keeping pace until the sight, and then he slowed enough to drag out the last few steps while he admired him.
He took a seat across from him. If he was out of breath it wasn’t from the walk. It wasn’t so hot that the trip was uncomfortable, but he was enjoying the shade all the same.
“I’m surprised you’re not out of breath.” If not from rushing, then from how quickly he was talking.
He’d missed Holden, a lot. Of course he was going to tease him. A little.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2024 4:04 pm
"I... I've been trying to be more fit." Holden replied turning pink in the cheeks. "N...Not like Brother mind you, but you know, more fit! It seemed important since I was coming back here and I wanted to be sure that I could keep everyone I care about safe!!" He chewed his lip and glanced around for a moment like he was unsure of how to say the next part. "And...because you mean so much to me, because... I trust you, implicitly. Like, with my life, you know?" He rambled. "And I could very much mean that because there are people in the city whom I guess want to do, and uh...do do, very bad things and um.... well..." He sucked in a deep breath and then uttered quickly. "I'masenshi... Like, one of the costumepeoplewhorunaround at night, but it wasn't something I planned I'm not doing it cause it's fun I promise!!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2024 12:50 am
At the thought of Holden’s fit brother, Jace sighed heavily, not quite a groan but it would have been so easy to lower his guard and let it become one. He wished that was the most stressful thing Holden said.
Holden could talk fast, so Jace wasn’t surprised when there was a string of words that tumbled from his lips. He’d gotten used to translating, but this time–for some reason–it took longer.
A lot longer.
He stared blankly at Holden for a long moment before he squinted and leaned forward. His elbows dug into the uncomfortable table but it was necessary to keep at Holden’s eye level.
He hadn’t said senshi. He might have said costume, but he hadn’t said senshi. Jace had misheard. Obviously.
Jace’s face didn’t betray it, but his heart was pounding in his chest.
“...What did you say?”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Wed Apr 03, 2024 10:12 am
Nerves now, Holden bit at the end of his thumb with a concerned expression on his face. He hadn't considered till that moment that maybe...maybe the other side had gotten Jace. He swept the thought away the second he thought it, because how could Jace ever? "S...Senshi? Costumed... vigilante?" He offered cautiously. "Oh, please don't be an officer, I couldn't stand it!"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 05, 2024 8:47 pm
Jace looked at him for a minute and then exhaled. He planted his elbows so hard on the table that he was practically digging holes into it, and he pressed his face into his hands as he massaged his eyes.
There was no way to confuse what type of Senshi Holden was–he’d specifically wanted him to not be an officer. Which meant a White Moon Senshi.
Thank goodness. He didn’t think he’d have been able to fight Holden.
“No, I’m not. I just need a minute. How long? What happened? Tell me everything.”
He kept his face in his hands but he spread his fingers so he could see Holden, even if he wasn’t ready to face him.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Mon Apr 08, 2024 5:02 pm
"Umm... Before I left for school." He admitted, grinding the toe of his shoe into the nearest available surface. "But, I only really did it like, once or twice maybe, and then school! But... I'm back now and I uh... I should probably do something with it. I mean, besides the weird cat that handed me a magical pen and talked...talking cats, can you believe it? And um.... It's, I guess we get themes. I can show you!! Are you mad at me? Oh gosh you're so mad at me." He bit his lip and pulled both knees towards his chest.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2024 9:35 am
“No,” Jace snapped, but it wasn’t mad, he was just used to barking at people. “No,” he repeated, calmer. “I’m not mad.”
Confused. Perplexed. Alarmed. Worried. Stressed. Concerned.
Not mad.
“Well, what are you? What’s your name and your theme? Don’t–” he reached across the table and swatted at Holden’s knees. “I’m not my mother, you don’t have to be afraid of me. I’m not mad.”
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sun Apr 21, 2024 1:51 pm
"Sorry, I mean, it just occurred to me that you might be on the other side of things." He sighed. "Which I also can't imagine but...I'm um. I'm Sailor Garuda, of uh...Starlings." He pressed his index fingers together and glanced up from under his bangs at Jace to catch his reaction. "It's...a really pretty costume? VERY fancy."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
