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[moneyballer]

username: I CAN B UR DADDY

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[moneyballer]

[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.

video, i hope ur happy

[pummelling]

[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.

video

[moneyballer]

[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.]

[pummelling]

[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.]

[moneyballer]

[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?

[pummelling]

[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.]

[action]

[moneyballer]

[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.]

[pummelling]

[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.]

[moneyballer]

[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.]

[pummelling]

[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...?

1/2

[moneyballer]

[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.

2/2

[moneyballer]

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

hELP

how do u adult]

3/3

[moneyballer]

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

[God.

That is something Asher definitely does not do.]

[pummelling]

[................. 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]

[moneyballer]

[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.]

[pummelling]

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.]

[moneyballer]

[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.

[pummelling]

[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.

[moneyballer]

[They are genuine, unfortunately.

As a person who constantly yearns for companionship, Asher can't understand what it's like to truly yearn for solitude. He has never been that kind of person, nor has he ever benefitted from estrangement.

Something about the sorrow and deep-seated self loathing in Jin's voice is what keeps Asher here, all too eagerly plastered to the kid's side.]

You're bleeding a little.

[He sits down on the bed next to the other, but not too close so as to spook him.

Slapping his hands down on his knees and then pulling them upwards reflexively, Asher looks over at Jin in earnest.]

Let's get you cleaned up.

i cannot imagine how much this horrifies u, a medical professional, to write

[pummelling]

[Wait... so is that what the alcohol was for?]

Hey-- hang on, that's what that was for?

[Of course he's had to patch himself up in a pinch. He's not a stranger to makeshift bandages and antiseptics... yet, surely they had better supplies than this available? There's a little of the skeptical child in his expression, now, the way that his nose wrinkles and his eyebrows knit together.]

You know how to do this, right?

[moneyballer]

[...This was all he had in his room, okay.]

Don't worry homie.

[DON'T LOOK SO CONFIDENT?!]

Dr. Meredith Grey ain't got nothing on me.

[the medical information on that show is often inaccurate

she's even not a real doctor]

[pummelling]

[yeah lmfao this was definitely a bad idea

also guess which kid doesn't have cable]

I don't know who that is, but I'm pretty sure she doesn't clean cuts with drinking alcohol.

jeSUIS

[moneyballer]

She's hot shit, okay?

[Sputtering!!!]

Like, literally. She's super hot. I don't care how old she is, I'd totally bone her.

[pummelling]

[W H Y ARE STRAIGHT GUYS L I K E T H I S? ? ? ?? ? ?]

Are you gonna keep talking about this doctor or are you gonna help me?

[moneyballer]

[he may or may not b slightly aroused

i mean, have u seen ellen pompeo???? the woman is fire]

Uh, right. Yeah!

Sorry.

[he doesn't kno how 2 do this]