Pumpkin Patch Reunited [closed]
There are so many things pumping through your noggin that you can’t quite catch any of them. Why is he speaking so softly? Is he shaking? Why isn’t he saying it’s okay? You need to know if it’s okay. You need to know that more than anything. You need to know if things will be the same between you, even if you know the answer to that question. The worst thing you could do now is act selfish enough to make him answer it. But the longer you don’t receive an ‘it’s okay’ the more you feel like you’re about to burst, crumple and burn. So even if it’s selfish and you have absolutely no place to do so, you don’t stop hugging him. It is mostly for you, to feel like things are fine. “I’m glad to see you too,” you say, and you are. But you’re nervous and light headed too. This is what you’re supposed to do right? You’re supposed to be a better friend than you have been. So for his sake you take his arm and lead the way, unsure if your decisions are the right ones. “Come on let’s blouse on out of here and go get some grits- you look like a skeleton and luckily I’ve got a few clams in my pocket to spare!” Aside from a bakery the places you’ve been have been nothing short of a ratshack, but the food was decent and Dirk did look thin. After everything, the very least you could do was feed the man. You take him to one of the more peaceful taverns you’d encountered on your exploits and order the thing you’ve had on the menu the past few times. It tastes sweet like cake but tangy like it had been soaked in some sort of fruit. You try to keep the conversation lighter than both you felt. “So, have you been here for a while then? I’ve only really been wallowing around here for a few weeks, but I’ve already met a jumble of people- some of which were trolls! I have reason to believe if we wait a while, Roxy or Jane might show up! ”
It’s only wishful thinking on your part. You don’t really understand everything about that damn game, but part of you still hopes they’ll be all right. Roxy is far more resourceful than all of you, and you know Jane is tough as nails. They’ll find their way out of things. They have to.
It's entirely too difficult to keep all of your emotions reeled in and kept tight as Jake hugs you back and there's a real honest to god bonding moment there. You can almost forget everything that happened in the past few months and just... be content for once. Almost. Things start to bubble up and you can feel something that might be tears stabbing at the back of your eyes and you're pretty sure if it wasn't for these stupid ass glasses you would look like a raccoon right about now.
You don't have the heart to tell Jake there's no rhyme or reason to how people come here, or the fact that they can leave just as easily. There's no need to worry him, not over possibilities rather than eventualities. You both have been through so much, too much.
Jake suggesting they go somewhere was a good one, that he could find some composure on the way there and not say or do anything that might make him regret it later. "None of our friends, no. I've seen some trolls... but... overall, it's been pretty quiet." Quiet meaning lonely, of course. No Roxy, no Jane, no anyone he could actually talk to about anything he was thinking about. His neurosis were coming out in full bloom without someone to help keep that overtly analytic brain from exploding.
You're quiet, which isn't unusual in person but probably not what Jake expects when he sees you. You were always trying to talk to him, even in your session. Things have changed, you both know it. Still, you can't help but over-think what you should say. " ... I'm glad you're here," is what you manage, after an awkward silence of you gently prodding your cake.
