10/15 Instance: Juicy

[Slarti]

Timelined before the game.


<Jessica> Jess's eyes wandered over the walls and the faces of the personnel as she was led through the halls of the SHIELD base in search of Bobby. She was still illegal levels of happy and several of the agents gave her odd looks as she passed. Eventually her 'guard' stopped at a door.

<Bobby> He'd been told he had a visitor... a female one. The voice on the other end of the phone had been a little bit smarmy about that pronouncement and Bobby had made a face.

<Bobby> Hearing the footsteps outside, he opened the door, unable to fathom who in the hell this would... "Hey, Jessie!" Bobby was out the door and gave her a grin, then aimed a head jerk at her escort. "Beat it."

<Jessica> "Hi!" Jess grinned and pounced him for a hug before he could escape.

<Bobby> Bobby oofed softly and returned the hug. "Ribs, babe! I have them!" he laughed.

<Jessica> "Sorry!" She loosened her hold a little but still hugged tight. "You're so far away from everyone!"

<Bobby> "That's the plan, Stan!" He patted her back and gave her a squeeze. "Well, to be far away from the scary about-to-fall-down building, anyway!"

<Jessica> "It's not so bad, you know...." She returned the squeeze before finally releasing him. "Even got Sebastian to stay there for a while until we find a house."

<Bobby> "Mmm, lucky you. Does he hang upside down in the closet?" Bobby crossed his arms over his chest in demonstration, nose wrinkled. "Actually, a throne in the basement seems more his style." He poked out his tongue, knowing a smack was coming for insulting her creepy boyfriend.

<Jessica> She didn't smack but she did zap, "No, he sleeps in the bed next to me like he's supposed to. And I sleep in the teachers' building like I'm not supposed to."

<Bobby> The light electrical zap made him yelp, and he barely restrained himself from frosting. "Oooo, check you out. You're a rebel!"

<Jessica> "I am! It's fun!" She grinned again, "But we're house hunting anyway and then that's one thing out of the way before lots of other things." After spending several hours talking to Cassie, this getting engaged business was starting to sound complicated.

<Bobby> "You're house hunting? As in, you and him?" Making another face, he gestured her inside his small quarters. The place was cluttered, with his things, Paige's clothes and Ripley's toys taking up most of the free space. "Want a drink? I got milk, juice, formula... the formula's the good kind too! Not even powdered. Mmm-boy!"

<Jessica> Jess moved into the room, giggling a little at the drinks offers, "Some juice is fine." She glanced around at the various items, "And yes... we're house hunting in Boston. Also there's news....."

<Bobby> Bobby moved into the small kitchen area to get her a drink, poking his head back out at her tone. "News?"

<Jessica> "It's good news, I promise!" she held up her hands in a placating gesture then turned her left hand around.

<Bobby> "Yeah? You want some candy? Paige keeps a pretty good supply on hand." Bobby paused with a Twizzler halfway to his mouth, looking at the hand he was apparently supposed to be looking at. "That's pretty."

<Bobby> He offered her one, letting his own dangle. "Suppose he got you that, yeah?"

<Jessica> Jess nodded, taking the offered candy, "Well sort of... it was his mother's."

<Bobby> The insult to Shaw's mother was right there - he could taste it on the tip of his tongue, just like the candy... then he realized what finger that ring was on. "He... uh... just gave you his mother's ring? Just like that?" Bobby made an awkward poofing gesture.

<Jessica> "No, not just like that... he asked me something first." It was too much fun to watch the inner cogs turning.

<Bobby> The cogs had turned and the Twizzler dropped out of his mouth.

<Jessica> "This is where you're supposed to say 'congratulations'." Jess helpfully prompted with a grin.

<Bobby> "Nooo... no way. There's just... what?" Bobby stooped to pick up the candy and missed it, his eyes still on that ring. "He... and you..."

<Jessica> She nodded, "Yes. We got engaged... I didn't see it coming."

<Bobby> "You didn't see it coming!?" Bobby sputtered, finally managed to grab the candy rope and straightened up. "He asked you to marry him? Shaw? Sharky?!"

<Jessica> "Sharky is a silver corgi. If he started talking I'd be worried." Jess started laughing at Bobby's surprise, "Yes, Sebastian proposed and I accepted."

<Bobby> "Congratulations?" He looked a little pained, then turned back into the kitchen to get their drinks. "Think we need something stronger..."

<Jessica> "You might but I'm immune... and I shouldn't drink and fly anyway, that's how accidents happen." She gave him another grin.

<Bobby> Bringing her a glass, he handed it over, taking a long chug of his own. He eyeballed her.

<Jessica> She cocked her head on one side, watching him, "What? Aren't you happy for me?"

<Bobby> "This... this is what you want?" Happy wasn't exactly what he'd call it.

<Jessica> "Does it look like I don't want this?"

<Bobby> Bobby sighed and held out his hand to hers, wriggled his fingers once. "Lemme see it."

<Jessica> Jess switched the juice glass to her right hand and held out her left for inspection. "I may not have seen it coming but it wasn't like it was the first time he said he'd thought about it..."

<Bobby> "Really?" The little blue stone winked up at him. Suppressing a sigh, he remembered his own ring, lost somewhere at the school. It was buried, along with Lorna. He aggressively chewed the corner of his lip.

<Jessica> She nodded, "Really... we talked... well, he talked about it before everything happened... and I was talking about moving back into the school for a while..."

<Bobby> Bobby gave her a curious look.

<Jessica> "It was after the whole... Hydra thing... and I was feeling all detached from everyone as it was so I thought maybe I'd move back to the school after the break and actually make some friends that aren't married members of staff that'll get me in trouble..."

<Bobby> That made him look away, letting go of her hand.

<Jessica> She bit her lip and looked down at the floor, "I'm sorry... are you okay?"

<Bobby> "Yeah, I'm fine," he frowned. "I mean... not fine, but it's ...not your fault." Bobby sighed and nodded, studying his juice. "It's good. If you're happy, then I'm happy for you, babe."

<Jessica> "I am happy... really happy." She offered a small smile, ducking her head to see his face and reaching an arm around his shoulders to give him a small hug. "I'm trying not to dwell too much on the other stuff and focus on the good things... it's working pretty well so far."

<Bobby> "That's a good idea." He gave her a small smile and slung his arm around her to return the hug. "There's been so much shit, so it's good. Congrats to you and Sharky... he gonna make you wear a black dress? Ask for any blood oaths?"

<Jessica> "He's not going to make me do anything." She prodded him in the ribs. "We haven't even set a date yet... though Cassie already appointed herself my bridesmaid... I don't have a lot of friends that are girls so I guess she's probably going to end up being it anyway."

<Bobby> Bobby chuckled a little. "I'm just messing with you... we should take the opportunities we get for happiness, especially after everything."

<Jessica> She nodded, turning her head to press a kiss to his cheek. "You are going to come back to the school when it's less fally-downy right?"

<Bobby> "Yeah, it's just not... I don't feel right taking Ripley in there. Not right now."

<Jessica> "Just as long as you are coming back... don't withdraw from everyone, okay? Don't hide for the rest of your life... Ripley won't thank you for it. Trust me, I know... I've seen what running from Hydra all your life can do to someone... I don't want that to happen to you."

<Bobby> "Oh... no. I wouldn't do... not that. I mean, it's just right now I'm kind of..." He chuckled, though there was no humor to it, and moved back from her as he ran his hand through his hair. "Paige agreed... it's just... we're in the same boat, kind of, so it's... easier? I guess?"

<Jessica> Jess nodded, "I understand that too... in some ways I think it's better we're not in the same building anymore... there are less reminders that way..."

<Bobby> "Yeah, but it's an abandoned asylum. How much creepier could it get?" He gestured to the room around them. "This place is institutional, but not that bad."

<Jessica> "It's not so bad there, really... so far no evidence of ghosts so we're fine." She gave a half shrug, "And the place is crawling with SHIELD agents, it's not that different from here really."

<Bobby> "Except for the falling down part," he laughed.

<Jessica> "Yeah but they're working on that, they've done pretty well so far. We even have hot water most of the time too!"

<Bobby> "I can't believe you got Shaw to stay there, but I guess love makes you do the wacky."

<Jessica> "We have to live somewhere and I refuse to live at a hotel. That's insane."

<Bobby> "Yeah, but he's mister moneybags, so why not?"

<Jessica> "I tried that last year, remember? I know what it's like and I don't want to do it again... it's alright when you're on holiday but the rest of the time it's just weird. Besides, it's nice to have the opportunity to meet the new students and make some friends."

<Bobby> "I can't believe we have new students... but I guess... I guess people like us always need someplace to go, yeah?" It was just too bad, with Xavier in a coma, hidden away in a SHIELD hospital.... what were they really doing anymore?

<Jessica> She nodded, "And we're still going to provide a place for them... with SHIELD's help anyway."

<Bobby> "Yeah... might be easier if they just took over the whole operation, you know?" He sighed and headed for the sofa, flopping down and patting the seat beside him, after he removed the teething ring.

<Jessica> Jess followed him, taking the offered seat, "I don't know if they're taking over... she says 'supervising' a lot..." Jess wrinkled her nose, "Don't know that a lot of people would like it if they just took over everything."

<Bobby> "Might go better, might go worse... hard to say." He slid down into the comforting embrace of the sofa where he slept every night. "I think we kinda hit rock bottom here... and so far they're the only ones willing to help us dig out. Must be for something."

<Jessica> "Well nobody gives something for nothing... maybe you could look into that while you're here? It's something to do... but it's good that they're helping really."

<Bobby> "Yeah, I've sort of been trying... in between..." In between just focusing on remembering to breathe and to care for Ripley.

<Jessica> "Nothing we need to worry about yet?" She gave him another small smile, "I think it'll be okay, you know... with them, I mean...."

<Bobby> "They're better than Hydra... I mean, Fury... he's always done good by me when he didn't have to..." He sipped his juice.

<Jessica> "Then maybe this is more them repaying us for all the times we helped them out of crap... like when people were attacking their base that time...." Of course, that had turned out to be Viper's handiwork too.

<Bobby> "At least, in theory, we're all on the same side, right?" The juice occupied his attention again.

<Jessica> She nodded, "Yeah... and it's good to have allies, especially now..."

<Bobby> "Government's a good ally, even if you can't always trust 'em. There's nobody you really can trust..."

<Jessica> "Well hopefully we can even trust the government a bit more now... with the new president and everything."

<Bobby> "Yeah, I think Stark is legit interested in our welfare, so it could be good... isn't there a saying about that it's always darkest before the dawn?"

<Jessica> Jess nodded again, "Yes, that is a saying... there's also 'don't look a gift horse in the mouth' which is also appropriate."

<Bobby> "Yeappers, that one too." He swigged on his juice. "I think I'll just give it a few weeks to get the rat problem under control and all that before we think about moving out there."

<Jessica> Jess smiled at him, setting her drink aside to wrap both her arms around him for a hug, "I'll look forward to you coming back to us... I miss you being around."

<Bobby> "Better watch out, now you're the almost-married one to get in trouble." He reached over and ruffled her hair.

<Jessica> "Ack!" she flailed a little at his hand in her hair, "It's okay, I'm pretty sure no one would think anyone would be stupid enough to try and make me cheat on Sebastian..."

<Bobby> "He's still scary, babe. I'm so never gonna change that opinion, you know."

<Jessica> "I know he's scary, it's part of what makes it so much fun to go to places with him. We enjoy freaking people out... I know, I know, we're horrible people..."

<Bobby> "Yeah but that's where it kind of falls down. You aren't scary, babe." He turned to look at her and her mussed hair.

<Jessica> "Hey!" she smacked at his hands this time, "And I am totally scary - I can cheat, remember?"

<Bobby> "You're so not scary." Bobby laughed and batted her hands away, putting down his own cup. "Not like your prince of fucking hellfire and darkness. Or king, or whatever."

<Jessica> "You won't be saying that if I flood this room with pheromones."

<Bobby> "Well that's not fair, and that's not even what I mean! He's just... creepy. It's got nothing to do with his powers."

<Jessica> "I will give you intimidating, I'm not letting you call him creepy. He's not creepy. And, actually, when you get past the business face he's not even that."

<Bobby> "So do you peel that face off with lots of goo?"

<Jessica> "... No. With love and affection." She poked her tongue out at him.

<Bobby> Bobby's expression screwed up into disgust. "Gay."

<Jessica> Jess laughed, "I'm not saying you should try that but it works for me. You could try talking to him like a normal person and see if that gets you anywhere, though. I'd like it if you could be friends... otherwise the wedding will be a bit awkward."

<Bobby> "I don't look good in bridesmaid dresses, just to make that clear." Bobby took her hand again and studied the ring. It definitely looked old, and not as fancy as he'd expect from Shaw.

<Jessica> She giggled, "Well that is tempting... but I had something different in mind for you."

<Bobby> "...and what is that?" He was hoping it didn't involve bromancing Shaw.

<Jessica> Jess chewed her lip, looking down at her lap for a moment, "I was hoping... well... would you... give me away?"

<Bobby> Bobby blinked, once, twice, then mirrored her lip nibble. "Babe..."

<Jessica> "I don't have anyone else... you're the closest thing I had to family until Broo and I barely know him... please... do this for me?"

<Bobby> He covered her hand with his own and squeezed, giving her a smile. "Sure... I-I can do that. I'd be honored, Jessie."

<Jessica> She smiled back, pulling him into another tight hug, "Thank you."

<Bobby> "And here I thought it was going to be hard, like planning his bachelor party or something...." Bobby shuddered, then tilted his head. "Though I suppose he would know where the good strip clubs are."

[steyn]

Broo better be the ring bearer then!