moneyballer | IC CONTACT;

[--until the third attempt happens and oh my god is he really still trying to get back to him?

Jin hesitates, his hand hovering over the jeweled necklace that is his Magitek, and decides: he'll just wait until Asher thinks it was an accident. That'll. That'll be fine, probably. He removes it from his neck and sets it down on the table in his room, pointedly looking away to do something else.

Because he obviously doesn't care how many times Asher calls. He's not going to pick up. Watch him: he totally won't.]

[Asher's Magitek has manifested itself in the form of a watch, something he's used to wearing at home. Not that he actually uses it to check the time back in Philly... That watch is mostly for aesthetic purposes.

He hovers over it nervously, tempted to go out searching for the boy if he doesn't get a reply.]

You're okay, right? Please tell me you're okay.

[Asher shuts his eyes tightly, pressing two fingers to his forehead.]

If you don't wanna talk for some reason, send me a text or something ASAP. This place is redonk-ulous.

[meaning dangerous???? just use that word]

I just want to know that you're alright.

[and that u haven't bcum edward scissorhandless]

[Just kidding, curiosity killed the cat.

It only takes a few minutes for him to put his necklace back on and to check his messages. He's... okay, he'd been hoping, just a little, to find something there-- Jin sits down on his bed, then, and listens. He listens twice, actually, which is probably stupid, but he still does it. There's real concern in Asher's voice, 'redonkulous' aside, and he knows he'd told himself to not answer him, not to let anything about himself out when he's kept so carefully closed up, but--

Ugh.

Jin flops backward onto his bed and stares, glumly, at the ceiling.

And he turns on the audio.]

I'm fine.

[His tone's incredibly false. It's far too obvious that he's just saying this to assuage the not-quite-a-stranger who actually... cares, or something.]

[Asher is listening very carefully for finger tapping. Where are his fingers... Does he have all 10?]

Yeah?

[Bluntly:]

Doesn't seem like it.

[Jin's voice has definitely matured in the past couple of hours. Thankfully, Asher's a little more up to speed regarding this time jumping, and assumes that the other is slowly changing back.]

You've been more careful, right? Don't know if I can-

[He makes an unnecessary whistling sound.]

Catch ya again if you fall, because, y'know. Sounds like you've gotten bigger.

[a joke

surprisingly not about dicks]

Edited 2016-09-06 08:13 (UTC)

Well, I am.

[It's a childish retort. Jin hates how much he sounds like the ten-year-old he was just a little while ago, but he's so taken aback by Asher's worrying that he can't think of anything else.]

Just-- [he breathes out, short, through his nose,] just pretend I never called you, all right?

[He's not going to just drop his emotional baggage on a guy he barely knows. It's his own issue to deal with, and as heavily as all of it weighs on his heart, all of the wounds fresh once more with the five years he's shed, it's not Asher's problem. It's his. And he'll figure it out without anyone's help.]

I'm eighteen. [And he jokes back, weakly,] I'll land on my feet.

[Asher isn't sure what exactly is on Jin's mind, but he can make a couple of educated guesses.

Uncertainty is like a leaking faucet, building droplet by droplet. The drowning when there is too much water, that is the worst part.]

Sure.

[He swallows hard but does not say goodbye just yet.]

I won't tell anyone you called.

[Asher lingers in silence for a brief few seconds.]

But, if you need to talk... I'm here for you, okay?

[Jin does need to talk. He wants, more than anything, to simply spill his guts to Asher before he starts to hesitate again, but it all feels so melodramatic; so cliche. What the hell is he going to tell him? That even if he so desperately wants to get out of Oska and leave ALASTAIR, there's really no home left for him to turn back to? Him, the poor teen runaway, stealing to get by and turned out of his house all because he finally let slip to his mother that he was--

Hell no. Never.

The last time he told anyone that much about himself, about what he really wanted and felt in his heart, he was disowned in all but name. He can't be sure that Asher would... would accept him, or that he'd even understand. If only he could trust a man as easily as that.]

Thanks for the offer, [he replies, a note of some quiet, subdued hopelessness in his voice,] but I can't. I just can't.

[God, he wishes he could trust Asher.]

All I want is to get out of here.

[Asher can sympathize, although in this moment he can't help but feel a little jealous. Jin says this now, but in a few hours or days he will probably be back to his normal, badass self, and Asher will still be stuck as a average joe, with little to offer except shitty jokes and great fashion sense.

The sad thing is, if he were to learn Jin's secret, he would be surprisingly warm about it.]

That's okay.

[What he forgets is that his warmth is a virtue too.]

You're sayin' that now, but...

[Asher wrinkles his nose.]

When this time-traveling stuff is over, you're gonna go back to being this-

[A laugh.]

This shit-talking badass.

[Asher is still just going to be, well, himself.

Ah. That hurts.]

It gets better, bruh. I'm telling you.

[A shit-talking badass, huh?

The truth is, Jin can't see that far into his own future. All he's aware of is that he's twenty-three, in reality-- or should be in this reality-- and yet, five years is nearly an eternity in his eyes when all he's got to go off are vague feelings. That and Asher's word.

Do the Shaolin accept him? Does he ever, god forbid, actually get his shit together in those five years? According to Asher's estimation, he will, but how? Why? All he knows of himself is that he's little more than a kid. Scrappy, lashing out-- but still a kid. Seeing past this moment is nearly impossible.

And yet... This is the second time in this short conversation that Asher's offered him hope, no matter how slim.

Maybe he's right. Maybe it will, somehow, get better.

Jin sighs, pushes the dark hood of his Audentes uniform back, and sits up, allowing the Magitek to broadcast a video to Asher. He can't open himself up completely, cannot tell him every detail he wishes he didn't have to bear alone, but he can at least show the man his face.

Everything about him seems a little smaller than he was when he and Asher had just met. His face is thinner, scratched a little from the fights he'd picked earlier in the day; his hair's cut short, jagged and messy as if he'd hacked it all off himself; his dark eyes have deep, tired circles beneath them. His slouched shoulders seem to pull Jin further into himself, shut away from the world.

Except, in this moment, Asher Millstone.]

I hope you're right.

[Hope. That's a new one. He almost, almost, manages a thin smile, but he can't muster much more than a slight turn of his lips.]

Don't ask me about this when I'm older. Please. I'll tell you when I'm ready.

Edited 2016-09-08 07:17 (UTC)

[Well, color him surprised.

Asher honestly didn't expect this from the other, but he'll take it. Out of respect for the other's decision to be candid with him, Asher turns on the video feed too. His hair is curly, lacking in product, and he's clad in just the undershirt of his uniform. It actually looks as though he's been sleeping.

His stomach is suddenly uncomfortable when he catches sight of just how different Jin looks. Clearly, all of this is very, very private, and nothing Jin would have revealed if all of this magical garbage hadn't gotten in the way.]

What? Oh, no! No, I won't-

[As soon as he sees the signs of injury, his brows press together and his mouth hangs open for a second. ]

Oh my god. Are you okay?

Do we need to get you to see a doctor?

[A real show of worry, concern.

Asher shifts on his bed, back growing more straight.]

Edited 2016-09-08 08:10 (UTC)

[It occurs to Jin that this is the first time he's seen the older man with his hair undone, wearing something that wasn't neatly tailored. It... helps. He feels his heart flutter with confidence. This, too, is the real Asher, meeting something close to the real Jin.

He's less defensive, but in its place he's self-conscious: embarrassed, even, that Asher cares so much. He runs a hand through his cropped hair and bashfully tugs his hood back up, looking away from Asher's gaze.]

It only looks bad. I've had way worse.

[As soon as the words are out of his mouth, he realizes that it won't do anything for Asher fretting over him. Jin glances back into the camera, trying to keep it as casual as he can.]

You don't have to worry about me. I'm... I'll be okay.

[The doubts are still there, but for the moment, Asher's assuaged his fears. That's more than worth making himself vulnerable like this.]

Edited 2016-09-12 02:07 (UTC)

[Asher inhales sharply at the mention of that, the fact that Jin had endured far worse than this, feeling what can visibly be seen as sympathy. Every aspect of of his appearance is disgruntled, from the lines around his eyes and mouth to the stiffness in his now hunched shoulders.]

Are you alone right now?

[He believes that if he encourages Jin to get help, just from here on the other side of the feed, nothing will happen.

Inaction.

Asher has made that mistake before.]

Would you, like...

[A pathetic laugh.]

Rather not be?

[Jin swallows hard, suddenly nervous. Of course he'd rather not be. Asher's been kind to him, more than anyone's been in a while, and he's offering to stay him while he's feeling like this. But is he really willing to allow Asher to see even more of him at his worst?

...He can always just kick him out, right?

Right. Jin nods, and, wordlessly, sends him the number of his room over text.]

[He doesn't know what he's doing. When has he ever?

Asher cowers outside of Jin's room, shutting his eyes as tightly as he feebly attempts to collect himself. Vodka and a few paper towels is definitely not going to cover this, but calling someone would probably only worsen Jin's already melancholic state. He presses his face into his hands like a scared child, breathing in and out a few times. Drawing back, he straightens his posture slightly, tugging at the uniform jacket he was given at the start. It's been hastily thrown over whatever he was last seen wearing.

Things may be even worse than they seemed. Still, he knocks on the door, making a note to feign nonchalance once the other answers.]

[The difference between this Jin and the older self that Asher remembers is stark, evident as soon as he opens the door. He's already grown to his full height, but with the defensive posturing done away with, Jin slouches in front of Asher, giving the impression that his smaller frame is also a couple of inches shorter.

He doesn't move to intimidate him, and he doesn't push his way past, either. Instead, he simply shuffles aside, mumbling some inaudible word of thanks and giving way for Asher to come inside his room.]

[What a stark contrast. So stark that in fact, if Asher hadn't been told this kid was the same person as the young man he had met earlier, he almost wouldn't have believed it.

There's something weak about the smile Asher plasters on his place forcibly, although his welcome is considerably cheerier than his expression.]

Waddup, G?

[Silly, perhaps.

But well-intentioned.]

[Um.

That's dorky, even for a Jin from 5 years ago, but at the very least, he can tell that Asher's trying. He manages a thin smile too and shuts the door behind him.]

...Hey.

[He does finally note all the stuff in Asher's arms. Is that... alcohol? He raises an eyebrow, looking from the bottle of booze to Asher's face in confusion.] What's all that for...?

[Ah, that bottle of vodka in his hand looks pretty suspicious.]

This is not for drinking-

[He stammers, gesturing wildly.]

Because you are a minor and I am a responsible adult.

[??????????????????

hELP

how do u adult]

Edited 2016-09-13 03:17 (UTC)

And when you are also an adult... You should, y'know! Drink responsibly.

[God.

That is something Asher definitely does not do.]

[................. aite asher]

Ssssooo... we're not drinking, then?

[jin takes a seat on the end of his bed and continues to stare quizzically at him.... why are boys like this]

[At that, Asher's shoulders fall.

The farce is cast off again, and the metaphorical shroud clears.]

No, I...

[He purses his lips and looks downward for a moment before meeting Jin's eyes.]

I wasn't sure how hurt you were, exactly. Did you take care of any of that?

[This is all said as Asher gestures to his own face.]

Kind of. [Jin mirrors Asher's gesture and touches his temple; his fingers come away red.

Oh. Well. He thought that was done already. Guess he hadn't taken care of it very well.]

You don't have to, I'm fine, really. [He can ignore the way it stings: Jin just feels awkward about Asher having felt obligated to... play nurse, or whatever it is he's doing. Maybe he shouldn't have invited him in, if he knew it was going to play out like this.]

[Asher stays where he is, noticing Jin's discomfort.

He wants to ensure that the other isn't wary about him being here. That way, whatever patching up he has to do will be easier.]

Listen, dude.

I dunno about you, but, I know that when I'm alone and feelin' blue? It friggin' sucks.

[Leaning against the doorway, Asher pauses for a moment, gauging Jin's facial expression.]

I didn't want you to feel like you were on your own. I've got your back, really, I do.

[There's a part of him that doesn't want Asher's intentions to be as genuine as they are.

It's silly. He's aware of it, he realizes, rubbing the seeping blood he'd touched off on his dark uniform. But it'd be safer to just not let him in; to continue to keep him at the already dangerously close arm's length he's got him at.

Jin shifts a little in his seat, uncomfortable, before swallowing down that fear as best as he can. It's been a long time since he's let somebody help him like this, but it'll be fine. It has to be; Asher's said he'd be there more than once now. It'll be fine. He sighs, as if willing the doubt out through his lungs.]

Okay.

[Again. He can always kick him out.]

Thank you. For showing up.

2/2

2 bad 4 u.... kung jingle

kUNG.... JIGNLE

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video, i hope ur happy

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