video | 002 | early day 39

[retrograding]

[ Just like everybody else, Jet looks tired. Worn. But he doesn't make mention of it, and he doesn't want to think about anything that has happened the past few days, let alone talk about it. Still. Some things need to be addressed. So he comes on the communicators, a bandana pushing his hair back out of his face, with his eyepatch on for the comfort of his audience. ]

For those of you who don't know me, my name is Jet. If anybody needs it, I have some measure of medical experience, which I offer to everybody here. No questions asked.

[ And now he looks away for a moment - but he has to look at the communicator for this news. It'd be disrespectful not to. His expression goes flat. ] Also... as of last night, Party Poison is - [ A pause. Just do it bluntly. ] - is dead. I thought there may be some who would need to know.

Thank you.

Comments

[onteamdyson]

[Laughing is good.] It's pretty badass, dude.

[As for the hilarious door comment, Kenzi just shrugs.] Force of habit. Figured it's probably the last time I get to do it, so... [Ahem. Subject change.] Hey, you okay?

[retrograding]

[ Oh. Oh, hello, that gives Jet some insight. He opens his mouth to speak, and then there's the subject change. A beat, and then Jet offers a smile. ] As well as I can be. Are you? [ :| ]

[onteamdyson]

The hell kind of answer is that? As well as I can be-- you're totes wrecked inside, right?! I'm not one of your boys. You don't have to hold it together for me.

[She takes a step forward, bites her lip, and then changes direction to perch on the end of Party's bed. Sitting there is like waiting for him to come back and that means she doesn't have to face reality just yet, which is fine for her.]

I'm getting pretty good at dealing with epic tragedies, if you wanna talk or something. [Just gonna pat the space next to her. You should sit, Jet.]

[retrograding]

[ He doesn't exactly break down, but his posture, maybe, slips a little. Jet can join her on the bed, staring at the covers for a moment, just enough to get his smile back. It's calm and a little placid, and he can numb himself out for this. It might as well have been a hallucination, Party being here. Jet hadn't had time to adjust to the idea that they were all alive, and he supposes he shouldn't. ]

You stole my line right out of my mouth. [ He shakes his head. ] Death is a close friend. I'm not unused to it, and it's not me that I'm worried for. Fun Ghoul and Kobra Kid have never been good at expressing themselves in healthy ways.

[onteamdyson]

So you're like... the mom. [It gets her to smile! It's actually a pretty nice thought. She figured one of them had to be responsible and semi-stable. Jet's pretty freakin' stable so far.]

Kobra told me stuff. About where you come from, and the whole dying thing. He was basically my first friend here. Party was less cool about other people knowing things, but he warmed up pretty fast. I kind of thought that Ghoul guy was the common sense at first, but it looks like that's you. So, I mean... it's great that they still have you here. [Psht, her voice didn't kind of crack on that last word. That's nonsense! Totally imagining it.]

[retrograding]

You could call me that. I'm almost certain that's a name I've been called back home. [ He's smiling a little himself. It's not just his crew that calls him that; he's been teased by others, too. He doesn't mind. ]

I think we represent a wide range of 'joys. We're a... ahah. Motley crew. [ Hurr. He pauses, and then slides his arm around her shoulders lightly. He doesn't know her, and there's no trust, yet, but he can't just ignore that crack in her voice. ]

We can only hope he went home. [ He says quietly, watching her. ]

[onteamdyson]

You guys have way better hair than a heavy metal band. I'd probably go with rag-tag group of heroic outlaws. Sounds better.

[Woah. Suddenly arm. That was surprising and totally out of nowhere, but after about a second's hesitation, she leans into him. Kenzi tends to trust too easily for someone with her background.] Jet? Was he scared?

[retrograding]

[ He's flattered, and he sniffs in amusement. He's glad when she leans against him - he doesn't want to make her uncomfortable. There's a pause, and then, very softly: ]

He didn't look that way when I found him. [ He can lie. ] He looked like he was sleeping.

[onteamdyson]

[She'd rather have the lie. It's better.]

If... if you need anything, seriously, anything at all... you just tell me, okay? Any time, doesn't even have to be right now, like in the future or whatevs. If you or the other guys need something, I'll be here quickfast. Promise.

[retrograding]

[ Jet sighs, slow and quiet. ] I'll tell you. You're a good friend to us, I'm seeing. [ He rubs her arm reassuringly. ] And you had better know that the same is true in reverse. Even just from me - a 'joy needs their friends, however much they say otherwise.

[onteamdyson]

Yeah. Thanks, dude. That's incredibly awesome of you for a first meeting. Is being the nicest your super power? [Oh hey, a kind of smile! It's small, but it totally counts.]

Do you... want me to go? Or stay with you? Or stop talking or something.

[retrograding]

[ Snort. ] I've been told that, too. 'Jet Star, being nice will get you ghosted', and maybe it's true. I'd rather be nice and dead than nasty and alive, wouldn't you?

... And it doesn't matter to me. You're welcome to stay if you want - I need to. [ He stops. ] ... I need to clean the bathroom, sooner or later. I don't want you here for that.

[onteamdyson]

[It's right about then that Kenzi decides she really, really likes Jet. Which is good, because right after, when he stops, is when she decides to wrap her arms around him and hug him tight. She just stays like that for a minute. Offering to help him clean crosses her mind, but she probably wouldn't be able to handle it. He's right. She should go.

So she stands up, quickly kisses him on the cheek, heads back over to the window, slides it open.] I'll see you around. [And then, after a small salute, she's gone.]