Welcome to Gaia! ::

Jason arrived early, partly because habit, but also there was a certain set of nerves that had been quiet for the summer and were now waking up to riotous life. A set of nerves labeled Matilda Winchester. Settling in to the diner booth, he asked the server to bring him a glass of sweet tea. Something to fuss at in a place where he couldn't pace about at will.

It seemed that, from the very beginning, Tilly had been a sort of question mark to him. At first the normal sort: girl. But over time, over talks and memories and battles and graduations, that question mark had grown and gotten bolder. Way harder to ignore.

And then she'd gone to Europe. Which seemed like it might change her in some profound kind of way. People always talked about their trips to Europe like that, didn't they? So was that big, looming question mark now like...italicized?

Sucking down his tea with a grimly worried face, Jason was both excited to see Tilly again and a little afraid.

She absolutely looked different. Like more mature. Knowledgable. Here eyes had seen Europe. He feet had walked not only across a whole 'nother continent, but also across the graduation stage. Tilly was like, an adult-adult, but she felt like she was just about there in some ways that were still well out of his grasp.

But also she looked beautiful. Bright and glowing, looking forward in the way he'd always felt drawn to. "I missed you," and here Jason's voice took on such a layer of painful sincerity that he had to clear his throat. With a small flush and a laugh, he scratched at the back of his head.

"I mean, yeah, give me the goods." Lowering his hand, Jason held it out, paused, then brought out his other hand too. "It better be big."

"That's most collectibles..." Jason argued, voice mild but unable to fight down his smile. That froze as soon as she mentioned her being his gift. Face flushed, he tried to bury his head in his sweet tea. Briefly choked. Looked at her for half a second, then sucked down about half the glass through his straw.

"Yeah, I'd still be missing you." He muttered after clearing his throat from whatever bone had just crawled down his throat.

"I won't even charge you a fee." Nodding in relief at the change in target, Jason was finally able to properly look at Tilly again. "What'd you get him?"

Holding it up he nodded, "Luke will love it. He's really into..." Jason's voice trailed off as he say Tilly...winking?

Lowering the card, he gave her a concerned look. "Is there something in your eye?"

When she said all our wonders, Jason shot up in his seat and looked around before giving Tilly a pained, pointed look. They really were just too used to talking together while powered up, it made it all too easy to slip up in public the handful of time they weren't.

Taking the bag in both hands, he opened it carefully and slowly went over everything, pulling them out one by one with sincere interest and enthusiasm. Especially the map and book. Finally looking up from the outright haul, Jason met lavender eyes once more, bashful but undoubtedly pleased. "This is amazing! You um...it was really nice of you to think of me like this. Thank you."

As she spoke, he placed the gifts back into their bag with slow, reverent hands and didn't answer he question until he was done. Then he met her eyes again, and instead of smiling or joking or distracting, Jason very solemnly answered, "No."

After a long moment, he smiled again, "So welcome back, I'm really glad you came back."

Brightening, then trying to tone it down a little, Jason nodded, "Yeah. You want to like, go see a movie or something?"