capeandcowllogs | heard your voice in between the lines, come around from another time

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heard your voice in between the lines, come around from another time

WHO: James Jesse (

trickier) and Piper (

snidepiper) (and maybe later Len

dishbestserved and Evan

datglass? NOT SURE I'll edit later)
WHERE: Piper and Tricks's MAC apartment
WHEN: Backdated to just after Len requests James talk to Piper about things.
WARNINGS: Nope!
SUMMARY: ~~James is somehow the mature one what is happening~~
FORMAT: I... prose?

He was fuming about Evan, about the gall of him coming back being angry as if Piper had been the party to set all this mess off, and in typical fashion he'd stormed out to try to do something to get his mind off it. The homeless population in the City didn't trust him like they had back home, and the frustration of having to build it all up again from the ground up was gnawing at him.

But he was wiser and older (comparatively) and keeping a better handle on it, and when he got back in he had mostly calmed down.

"James? Are you home? I'm sorry I'm late, I got a little held up." No need to worry anybody about his irritation, especially a close friend. He could handle it.

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Honestly, being in the position of mediator for someone like him was awkward to say the least. If anything, he was usually more the instigator and it didn't help that McCulloch was so easy to rile up and James was certainly more inclined to take Piper's side of things. Still, if even Len came to him for help, James figured he didn't have much of a choice. Things really could get out of hand and, just like Len, he'd rather not have them end up killing each other.

He's still staring at the communicator when he hears the door open and quickly snaps it shut and pockets it before taking a deep breath and straightening up.

"Yeah, I'm here." He peeked over the couch, paying more attention to Piper's body language than he normally would to try and gauge his mood. "You okay?"

The music man stopped in the middle of cracking his knuckles, glancing up a little uncertainly, trying to decide if he should come clean or make a better go at concealing it. He was tense, but... James probably had problems of his own, judging from the way he sounded.

"Sure, still learning my way around, that's all. It's a little more haphazard than back home. ...Have you had anything to eat?"

James briefly raised an eyebrow, remaining unconvinced, but he went with the subject change (for now) anyway and shook his head. "No, not yet."

He stood up, stretching himself out languidly as he already tried and failed to think of ways how to subtly bring the subject of Evan up. Better to wait and hope a good opportunity would present itself. "I can show you around more, if you want. I've been here longer."

"I can make you something." The offer was sincere, as he hung up his cloak near the door and wandered over to the couch, leaning his elbows on the back of it. "I think we have bacon. How's a BLT sound?"

The ghost of a smile crossed his face at that, "I'd like that, thanks." Even at the worst of times, it wasn't awkward around him, and Piper was more grateful for that than he had words to articulate (not like he was a master wordsmith even at the best of times). "...Are you okay?"

He sat back down, or more like flopped, and tilted his head back to smile gratefully at Piper. "BLT sounds nice."

He nodded at the acceptance of his offer, he knew the City pretty well due to all the air walks he took when he was bored. Up in the sky you could see everything and he'd found the most interesting tucked away places that way. "No problem. And I'm fine," he tilted his head, turning the smile lopsided. "Why?"

Piper headed for the kitchenette, more to occupy his hands than anything, shrugging it off. "Just a feeling."

This was ridiculous, treating the situation (there really wasn't a situation) like this. James had to know what was going on, already.

He headed over to the living area, offering out the sandwich with an encouraging smile of his own. It usually made him feel better to feel useful.

There was just no fooling each other here, obviously. This was getting silly and James decided he might as well cut to the chase when Piper came back before it got too awkward.

"Thanks," he accepted the sandwich with a smile though it was quickly dropped and replaced with a thoughtful expression as he took a bite and studied Piper for a moment. Now or never, he supposed. He scooted aside and patted the spot next to him as an invitation for Piper to sit down.

"Have you decided what you want? From Evan, I mean."

The flare of buried anger surprised even Piper, for a second. "I'm thinking I'll just infest his favorite drinking places with rats for a couple days." Reflexive, spiteful.

He sat when offered, keeping a couple inches distance, pulling a leg up to rest his arms on his knee.

"If he starts messing with you, I'll do worse."

The sudden flare of anger left James a little stunned, at least until what Piper said actually registered and he couldn't help but burst out laughing. It was a pretty hilarious idea to him and he would have endorsed it fully if it weren't for Cold's words still in the back of his mind.

So he quieted and shook his head instead, though the amusement still lingered on his face.

"I can take care of myself just fine, you know. It's not me you should be worried about."

He grinned in return--James always appreciated him like that--and then sobered at the other ex-Rogue's words.

"What do you mean? He'll calm down."

"Wouldn't be so sure about that," he replied seriously, taking another bite of the sandwich to give himself a little time to contemplate about what he wants to add. He figured it was the best way to drive the gravity of the situation home and he knew that Piper knew about Cold talking to him so. . .

"Cold's worried."

"..Is that what he wanted." Concern seeped into his tone, made a nasty gnawing at the pit of his stomach.

"He must have thought it was serious to ask you." Not that there was anyone else to call on, but Piper understood the strain between rogues and ex rogues.

"Okay, so. If you were me."

He nodded, the concern reflecting back on his face.

"He said he'll talk to McCulloch, but there's only so much he can do." He paused and glanced away at the question. What would he do if it had been his parents? He'd be pissed off at getting framed, but he couldn't really imagine caring as much as Piper did. The realization made guilt creep into his expression.

"That's. . . hard to say. "

"He's in charge, isn't he? Of the Rogue outfit of one." But Piper could see where the problem was, how intractable McCulloch could be, about this.

He glanced up at his friend's face, squinting. Caught the subtle shift of emotion but not the reason behind it.

"You think I should just ...forget it? Stop causing trouble?" Trying to guess at the cause.

"I think that might be the problem. Easier for McCulloch to leave if he doesn't agree with Cold." He figured that was one of the last things Cold wanted with so few of them here.

He hesitated before glancing back up to Piper.

"Could you do that? Just forget about it? Sounds kind of impossible to me. You cared about them, didn't you?" He paused again, considering. "I think you need to forgive him. But, you know, not for him, but for yourself."

"He did the smart thing coming to you." This grudging, but not insincere. It was the smart thing to come to James. He could talk Piper out of--or more likely into--nearly anything.

He offered a wan smile at the advice, "Forgive him for me. Is that carny philosophy?"

"Did he? I'm not exactly known for my maturity, this is kind of awkward." He snorted, looking sheepishly amused. Mostly the thought that he was essentially playing 'mom' here was what made it awkward.

He lifted his leg onto the couch so he could give Piper a shove with his foot for the carny comment. "No, there's a reason they say forgive, but don't forget. You forgive him for yourself so you can move on."

"Ow!" That was an exaggeration, he wasn't really hurt. "I mean if it were Len trying to tell me what to do, none of this would get through." The brief understanding of his own nature was brief indeed.

"He's not sorry. I want him to be sorry." The frustration was much more level than it had been, a couple minutes ago. "But that's not going to happen, and I don't want things to escalate again, like they did last time."

He merely raised an eyebrow at the exclamation, not really falling for it, as he retracted his leg and just sat tailor style on the couch. "Point taken."

He nodded his understanding. "How do you know he's not sorry?" Actually no, it's McCulloch. He shook his head, disregarding the question and pressing on in a different vein.

"Cold wants you both to shake hands and stop fighting, but he'll settle for you two not trying to kill each other. I kind of agree with his sentiment."

"I didn't mean to kill him. I--" He paused, "I don't think I meant to kill him." Realizing perhaps that people died around Piper without his desire for that with an increasing and alarming frequency. "I didn't know Midnighter was like that. I just... I thought it'd just be an embarrassing..."

He trailed off, shook his head.

"I'll try. I really will."

"I know. You don't have to explain that to me." There was sincerity in his voice and he flashed Piper a small, reassuring smile. He knew Piper, they were friends after all. It'd been obvious to him that it had been something that had gotten out of hand.

"That's good. You think you'd be up to facing him?"

"Facing him why?" This part was added a little uncertainly. "I don't have to talk to him about this. I could give it to him through Len, right?"

"You gotta deal with it." He looked apologetic, but firm. This wasn't going to be easy, not in the slightest, and he hated being the one to do this, but Len was right. It had to be stopped before it got out of hand.

"You both need to settle this, face to face."

"Fine." It only had a hint of grumble. "I'll make time."

He got up and paced over to stare out the window for a minute.

"...Thanks, James."

He allowed himself to smile in relief before commenting, slightly sheepishly:

"You might want to do it before he can work his mirrors again, just saying."

But he was glad Piper had agreed and this talk was over with, he could enjoy and finish his sandwich now. "No problem."

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