i should've seen it glow but everybody knows

[waiting]

WHO: One (1) ex-Marine + Two (2) Godmode Teenagers.
WHERE: Terry & Bradbury's apartment
WHEN: March 21st, early morning
WARNINGS: WHO KNOWS
SUMMARY: Bradbury gets a rude awakening.
FORMAT: quick to start, whatever after!

[ bradbury isn't awake yet. that in itself isn't terribly unusual. it's early, after all, even for him. the sun isn't due to be up for another couple of hours, and he isn't planning on jogging today, so he's taking the opportunity to sleep in.

by now, he's somehow moved from sleeping on the couch and into abby's room, though the majority of her belongings have been packed into boxes and uncertainly put aside. he's considered taking them to a storage unit, but he hasn't quite found the time. or maybe he's just making excuses.

he's in his favored sleeping position, which is sprawled onto his back in his pajamas, one arm resting over his stomach. he's also snoring, relatively softly, occasionally interrupted by teeth gritting together. ]

Comments

[centurybaby]

[ jenny watches him unreadably for a long second when he thanks her, letting her attention rest on him intently. like this, when she's still and not posturing, not swearing or smoking or anything, maybe it's obvious that she isn't fully herself yet-- that she hasn't entirely recovered in one way or another. there's something tired in her face, something ordinary that doesn't quite suit her.

she's supposed to be endless and powerful, but mostly right now, she just looks... sixteen and a little rough around the edges, even when she casually shrugs and responds with purposeful nonchalance: ]

Whatever. Maybe this is all part of my grand scheme. What the fuck do you know, right?

[demonspawn]

[ terry is the passive observer in that moment as it passes between bradbury and jenny. he's still not sure what it is between the two of them exactly -- if jenny sees bradbury as a rival, as a father, or something else entirely. but he knows she misses midnighter and she hasn't killed bradbury yet -- and it's possible the two things are related.

he goes for another waffle. it's not something he's likely to figure out any time soon, so he might as well keep eating breakfast. ]

Right, let's keep doing the posturing thing. Otherwise this would be way too creepily domestic.

[waiting]

[ that breaks the tension of the moment, or at least saves bradbury from having to respond to jenny directly, and it's an excuse he's happy to take, cutting an amused look over at him. ]

Hey. No comments from the peanut gallery.

[ he makes as if to flick a piece of bacon at Terry's head, then pops it into his mouth instead, chewing reflectively. he's not the most observant, but now that he's had time to look at her longer, he's sure: jenny quantum doesn't have her powers back yet. the thought makes something cold and uncomfortable twist in his gut. lingering guilt, maybe, though he still stands by what he said: he'd do it again, if he had to.

that doesn't mean it would be any easier.

he almost wants to say more, but he isn't sure what there is to say. he doesn't even know where to start. ]

[centurybaby]

[ jenny glances at terry, but she lets him have his smart-ass comment without biting back. in fact, she doesn't say anything at all for a few long moments, letting the sound of food and silverware and morning outside fill the silence. maybe she's just taking it all in-- the weird, comfortable feeling of something like family (maybe that's the real birthday present here)-- or maybe she's just tired, or biding her time, keeping everyone's guards down until her powers come back.

at length, she digs out another cigarette and a cheap gas station lighter, clicking it to life. she presses the cigarette between her lips, lifting the flame to the tip of it and inhales smoke deeply before she speaks again. ]

Alright, assholes. Family time's up. [ leisurely smoke curls from her mouth. she straightens out her jacket, like she's getting ready to leave. ] Try not to fuck up your own birthday, Rick.

[demonspawn]

[ it's still surreal, to see jenny light a cigarette like a normal person. it never stops seeming out of place to him. it always makes him think she's acting tougher than she really is -- and having known midnighter, it's hard not to think how much stronger she'd look right now, with his towering frame looming over her, his gloved hand on her shoulder.

at length, all he say is, simply: ]

See you around, I guess.