003 ☠ video/action

[kringlefuck]

<sub>[ Evening, Network. It's been awhile since you've seen this kid on the network, but here he is. The video starts with him trying to adjust the communicator on the coffee table in the living room of his residence, though it falls over and there's an obvious "aw devilshits" in the darkness.
Ok, try again.
Looks like we're being picked up again and we see two curious green eyes behind thick, rectangular glasses. He sets the communicator up on a hard surface again and then steps back, muttering something incoherent to himself before he steps back and adjusts himself a little.

This is Jake. This is Jake with his hair actually combed and his face free from dirt and bruises. He's a bit over dressed for the communicator, wearing this. Just where the hell did he get that anyway?

The teen shuffles back against the living room sofa, the area brightened up by a mere lamp. Then, he lounges, crossing one ankle over the other and we see he's still wearing his combat boots. What a nerd. ]</sub>

Greetings fellow residents. Uhmm.

_{[ Oh wait. He's pulling out a piece of paper now. It's obvious he's shaking by the way he's holding it and he reads off of it. ]}

If I am not terribly mistaken, the holiday known as Valentine's Day is coming up within a duo weeks, and it would be my greatest honor to escort an individual on this day. It is absolutely peachy if you want this not to be anything too, uhm, forward on the romancing spectrum, but rather just one of comradery, especially if I am unacquainted with you.

_{[ A deep breath. He withdraws from his pocket a handkerchief and paps his face down a little. He lowers the paper and looks at the camera. ]}

I've never celebrated Valentine's Day, so, uhhhhhh. I don't want to be alone for this holiday. And while friends and what have you are absolutely splendid, it is customary to have a specific date if I am understanding correctly. I guess.. that's it? I'm asking in advance so may chance we can get to know each other first, or plan accordingly on schedule. I'll make sure to take care of the dinner one way or another!

_{[ He'll be spearing fishes and preparing it that way, jsyk. ]}

Uhhh, shoo. Well, thanks.

<sub>[ /end personal advertisement. He'll reach way over and click the communicator off. ]

[ Action available for room mates! ]</sub>

Comments

[overbiterestart]

[She steps outside. Crossing her arms and waiting on Jake. She wasn't even sure how to start this conversation.]

My apologies, Jake.

[kringlefuck]

Ah, no. You are quite alright.
Uhm. So, I guess we ought to walk.

_{[ Jake shrugs his shoulders and then starts to walk alongside her, rubbing the back of his neck. ]}

Jane, before we start this I just want to get something off of my chest that I have been meaning to for quite some time now and it has to do with just me.

_{[ Always about him ]}

[overbiterestart]

I guess so.

[So now they're walking. Yup. Just walking along casually. She groans audibly. She wants to make sure Jake knows how discontent she is with this.]

Right of course. Let's turn our focus to Jake English. Good golly, please go right ahead and talk, Mister English.

[kringlefuck]

_{[ Might as well go ahead and say it and get it over with. He's honestly really exhausted with dishing out his emotions on her now that he is aware of everything. So, plain and blunt and just how it is, he says it. ]}

Dirk and I are dating.

_{[ A pause. ]}

I mean, we are in the timeline I come from.

_{[ Here goes nothing. ]}

Wait, I--
Well, let's step our hineys back one second.
First, uhm, I know I'm pretty stupid and frankly I don't blame you if you would prefer not to talk to me ever. And honestly, I don't think anybody could actually love me properly like how I always envisioned back on my island where there was nobody who could love me.

Dirk and I are trying in the timeline I come from, and it isn't working out. And I'm talking to you about it in that timeline, because I still think you don't fancy me.

[overbiterestart]

[Somehow Jane is not surprised at all. She knew that Dirk fancied Jake in that way. She knew that. She knew that it was a possibility that Jake also fancied Dirk in the same way. So what does Jane do? She pushed her feelings off to the side for her friends sake. Because she adored both of them.

Jane was wearing thin.

She does give Jake a chance to talk though. To finish his little story. To finish his little pity party. What help could she even be at this point. He's obviously not happy with the relationship- and it isn't working out.]

Well now you know, Jake. You know and I once again am having to pretend those things don't exist because you need more emotional help than any of us. I understand that you don't really understand how all of this works, Jake. But that isn't an excuse to say something isn't working out.

Have you even talked to him about it? About your concerns for the relationship? Someone out there could love you properly if you would just let down your cinema expectations.

[kringlefuck]

I did. I just finished talking with him not too long ago, prior to this conversation.
He's gone.
And I'm worried I scared him off. He states he'll return soon enough, but I'm still fretting.

_{[ A look of concern crosses his face, brows pinning together.
He's not going to tell Jane he gave Dirk the choice and second chance to date him again here now that they have talked about what the problem is. ]}

[overbiterestart]

[She feels better after unloading those feelings on him. But the same look of concern crosses her face. He was upset. Dirk was upset, and there was nothing wrong with that.]

You didn't go after him, or inquire where he was going?

[kringlefuck]

_{[ Jake shakes his head slowly, keeping his focus on the ground as his arms cross over his chest in an attempt to comfort. He doesn't say anything for a few moments, gaze pulling to the side as he tries to admire the scenery. ]}

[overbiterestart]

[Jane's features pull a frown. She then sighed, taking a step over to be closer to him. She reaches out to pat him on the shoulder.]

Give him some time.

[kringlefuck]

_{[ The simple touch on the shoulder is inviting, and instantly Jake brings his hands to his face in a bit of distress. He whines, huddling closer to Jane and muttering incoherently. He finally speaks actual words, sounding scared. ]}

--I don't want him to go away like that!
I think I've done nothing but been such a jackass since we all met and ruined everything!

[overbiterestart]

He'll come back. We both know he'll come back. You're kind of a jerk sometimes, Jake. Do any of us really need to tell you that?

[She's rubbing his one shoulder. Sigh. Breathe Jane, breathe.]

[kringlefuck]

_{[ He drops his hands to his sides, again, watching the floor. Only this time, it's through blurry vision. The heel of his palm reaches up and pushes his glasses off kilter to he can scrub his eye. ]}

I honestly should just give up on the whole romancing business.
You're only wasting your time, Jane. You're just.. such a grade-A gal. I'm not worth your time pursuing because in comparison to you, I just don't meet adequacy.

You need a fella who knows how to treat you right and isn't this jerk as we have established.

[overbiterestart]

[She raises her hands and fixes his glasses. Taking a thumb and scrubbing it gently over his cheek. Jane feels really bad for him. She fussed at him for being a jerk, she called him a jerk.

That doesn't mean she doesn't love him. That doesn't mean she isn't his friend.]

You meet adequacy, don't ever think that you don't. You're only a human being, and sometimes that means you can be a jerk.

I don't think I'll ever find someone, honestly. I'm content with that.

[kringlefuck]

<sub>[ Jake blinks a few times as he feels Jane rub her thumb across his cheeks, which are slowly beginning to change a red color. He thought a lot of Jane. He had for awhile, and had found it disappointing that she said she did not like him back when he straight up asked her. But now, the real truth is revealed. And through those tough Dirk times back at home, Jake began to admire her more as a person. More he wanted to be with her; more he wanted to give her a shot.

Give them a shot, actually.

Nervously, he shifts closer to her and mimics her movements, his hand reaching her cheek. ]</sub>

Actually.. uhm.
I mean.
I have always liked you, Jane.

[overbiterestart]

[She was really still angry with Jake. He had single handedly offended the entire house and ran Dirk off. She should be so pissed off still. But the anger is kind of bubbling down. She's letting him touch her cheek as she is touching his.

She wouldn't know what to say if he even proposed that.

Sigh.]

I've always liked you as well. But I refuse to get in your way. You found much better than me,

[kringlefuck]

_{[ Jake cringes slightly, then shakes his head. He holds her at her cheek again, watching her eyes intently. ]}

No, actually. I.. feel as if he and I aren't working out as we should.
And through those times, I came to you for advice, and well.

_{[ Jake shifts a little closer, his other hand looping around her waist. ]}

Uhm..
Heh. I don't know.

[overbiterestart]

[She holds firm, arms coming to rest on his shoulders now. Because everywhere else would just be awkward as all get out.]

I don't mind giving you the advice, Jake. You just have to know that even I have limits!

[...oh? What is this?]

Jake. I enjoy being around you. But sometimes it can get pretty taxing when you just don't step back and let us help you understand what things could be crossing lines.

[...Oh my he is holding her, it's everything she ever wanted. But she doesn't know how to feel about it particularly!]

[kringlefuck]

<sub>[ Jake toys around a bit, brushing his nose against her cheeks; allowing their lips to make gentle touches. His his cranes to the side as if he is about to do it, until she speaks.

Jake keeps his mouth closed, merely pressing their foreheads together as he watches the ground. ]</sub>

...Ah.
Alright.

..I see.

[overbiterestart]

[She doesn't really stop him, and she hasn't stopped him. She also saw him crane his head. This would be her first real kiss if she hadn't have been talking.

She wouldn't have known how to react.]

Jake, I still like you quite a lot. But. I don't want to force you to like me in the same way.

[kringlefuck]

<sub>[ Jake steadies himself, swaying a little as he falls quiet. His chin lifts again and he puckers his lips, this time kissing her softly on the lips. His heart is nearly beating out of his chest at this point, and he can hardly speak.

He does, though. ]</sub>

I've always liked you quite a lot.

_{[ Jake tilts his nose up again, and gives her another kiss. This one is a firmer, and his hold tightens around her to pull her against him. ]}

[overbiterestart]

[She shouldn't feel this indifferent, should she? She wanted this all along. As catty as it sounds, as awful as her mind is being. She leaves the first kiss confused. Unsure of what to do next.

She doesn't speak back because she can't. She has lips covering her own again. She kisses back, but if Jake was paying attention he would take into account it just isn't as enthusiastic as he would have hoped.]

What does all this mean, Jake?

[kringlefuck]

Uhmmmmm.

_{[ Jake pulls back, feeling all of the confidence he had shrink from him. He leans back, then actually takes a step back, looking off to the side. ]}

That..

_{[ He's thinking. God, he thought he wouldn't have to explain this. ]}

..I like you more than Dirk? And..
_{I don't know.}

I'd rather go out with you...?

[overbiterestart]

[She reaches forward and takes his hands. Her tiny hands holding his big ones. She squeezes.]

Jake.

[He's such a buffoon. She adores him for that. She adores him a stupid amount. But she doesn't know if he's serious.]

Do you honestly like me more than him? I mean, you seemed to like him quite a lot. Just suddenly doing this is kind of fast, isn't it?

[Just hold her hands Jake. She is trying to soften the blow. If she's even delivering one. For now she'll just try to question him.]

Is that what you want from you and I? To be an item?

[kringlefuck]

Uhmmmmmmmmm.

<sub>[ Yeah, he'll hold her hands and just sort of stand there dumbly, mouth halfway open. He's thinking again, trying to untangle his mess of emotions that are in a huge knot to find the correct response. It's hard, though. He pulls the string one way and feels his emotions knot up even more, and if he pulls it another way, it only makes it worse to where he is not sure which string belongs to who anymore.

If that makes any sense.

He spits out the dumbest response, then does the dumbest thing: ]</sub>

I think I love you.

<sub>[ It takes him a moment to feel his heart sink, then he releases Jane's hands.
He does what he does best.

And that's to turn on his heels and to take off running. ]</sub>

[overbiterestart]

[Jake that is not a thing you do. Take off running after telling someone you love them. What in good jesus name was he thinking. Is he really going to leave Jane here? Baffled...

Right then...]