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 Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:38 pm
Joy's lips pressed together firmly. She had grown up. She had become an adult. Just because she choose to be a good daughter...no...because she chose to put her faith and trust in the governement did not make her blind or childish.
"There is a reason things are kept secret. It's to protect us. People aren't always ready for the full truth Ace. look at all those horrible Anti-Evolved riots and the hate campaigns. It was like the eighteen hundreds with equality and recognition for blacks, only far more worse." Joy lifted her hands and gave a slight gesture with them to the area about them "Now it's peaceful, people have moved on. There are no riots. There are no 'witch hunts' and...and I... I want to do something that..."
Joy finally stood up from her seat on the scooter. She felt a frustration of emotion within her. "What is so wrong with conforming!? It keeps us safe and the world stable! If we all run around doing acting like vigilantes all it will do is cause more chaos to erupt! There isn't anything wrong with me living like a normal human. There isn't anything wrong with me being not different. You talk like there is some sort of secret world that is being hidden away by the governement or something! If there really was then...then...." And here Joy tapered off, her voice catching in her throat. her uncertainty once more reared up and bit her. Ace always made her question things that she just...she shouldn't be! "Then Daddy will tell me all about it once I've been brought into his work."
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Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:50 pm
Ace sighed, frowning now with both expression and eyes, "Yeah." He murmured, "Well, I guess I'll take you back so Tamara there doesn't go into complete panic mode."
But instead of taking off, he paused a moment, fiddling with the scooter handle.
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Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 9:57 pm
"Her name is Tamika, and if she were really going to go into a panic mode she would have called me by now." Thus speaking Joy reached a hand into her purse to pull out her cell phone...or rahter Ace's cell phone. Despite being way overdue for a upgrade, she had insisted on keeping the phone, complete with it's glittering stick ons. She glanced down at the bright '5 Missed calls' on the screen and managed a faint wane smile.
"Oh...I forgot I had it on silent.... I'm sure she'll be fine though once I explain we just needed some time to chat." Joy tucked the phone back into her purse and stepped back up to the scooter to return to the seat she had vacated only a little bit ago. She did notice Ace fiddling with the handle of his scooter, and she felt a slight pang in her chest. She did not want to think about the frowning look he had given her. She really hated dissappointing him...
"Ace...why don't was stop by some place for a coffee? We can just...chat about normal things? I really have missed you and I would like to know how you've been getting on by yourself..."
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Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:09 pm
"I'm involved in what you think is a bunch of conspiracy theory foolishness. My fish tank has the right water in it finally. I'm happy."
He didn't sound happy, coming up to where he'd originally picked Joy up, "Hey, I'll see you around, ok?" He shook his head, "Tonight, I guess then. Six o'clock? I'll pay if you make a good home cooked meal."
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Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:13 pm
She did not quite follow what he was talking about. Right water? perhaps her father had been right. Perhaps Ace had wandered a bit too far and he had gotten lost in the wrong crowd. A part of her worried greatly if perhaps he really hadn't snapped a bit.
As she slipped off the scooter, her heart lifted a little. "I...I would love that Ace. You don't need to pay me or anything. Just having you come to visit would be...so wonderful. Tonight then. I'll have a great dinner set fo you, just you wait!"
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Posted: Fri Jan 02, 2009 10:23 pm
Ace nodded to Joy, nod giving a verbal response after that. He nodded his head and took off again on the scooter.
--**--**--**--**--
When food was promised, Ace would not disappoint. He was at Joy's ten minutes to six, not even knocking on the door but barg---barg---
Ok, he started pounding on the door when he realized he couldn't just go barging right in. "Ok, ok, you're a good girl and lock the door. Let me in! Oh, hey, Joy. What'd you make me?"
Ace put an arm around Joy, giving her a quick-squeeze hug, and a big grin. "What's the topic tonight? I don't have one. You're food and entertainment all in one."
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 1:27 pm
Joy, reasonably, left her friends early so she could prepare for her brothers visit. Despite their less then agreeable conversation she really was looking forwards to him visiting.
At her age, Joy wouldn't exactly state that she was independant...but she did have some changes she hoped he might approve. For the first, their mother no longer lived in the apartment. She had moved out with her newest boyfriend. Joy had completely, and heart acheingly, given up on her folks getting back together. Her father was still the great work-a-holic so he very rarely spend more then two nights a month there. So for all sakes and purposes, the place belonged to Joy.
With all of daddy's funding, she had slightly overhauled the interior, giving it a brisk look right out of 'Better Homes and Gardens'. Everything was absolutly perfectly clean and in proper place. From the TV guide and flatscreen remote on the glass coffee table, to the beta swimming in a large clear vase around the stalks of fresh lily's.
She began cooking early, and in truth did expect her brother a little early...well...earlier. She honestly had thought he'd show up around five thirty. Still, the food wasn't cool and she was quite eager to welcome her brother into the apartment.
She had, for his sake, changed out of the 'eyesore' outfit and into something a bit more casual. A simple beige skirt with a pastel pink sweater, no additional accessories or make up, and a pair of pink bunny slippers. When she opened the door, she accepted the quick squeeze of a hug with a laugh.
"Of course I lock the door. Hmmm, as for dinner... We have a vegetarian lasagna, salad, some garlic breadsticks, and strawberry chocolate chip cheesecake!" The topic for the night? Well...
"Hmm. Well... I suppose I could tell you about the trip I might be planning. If Daddy doesn't get back to me within a week I'm intending on going on a cruise to Ireland."
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:29 pm
Ace laughed, shaking his head, "I don't know what to answer first, the fact that you make a healthy dinner sound amazing or that you actually think Dad's going to let you do something like that. You're certainly going to get his attention with that little trick. Maybe he'll--" Ace frowned and shook his head, looking around the apartment now.
"Geez, Joy." At her look, he shook his head again, "Are you really happy with this sort of thing," He waved his hand, meaning the apartment, "or do you just have an overzealous maid or what? What are you trying to prove?"
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:46 pm
Joy indulged herself in a sly little wink at her brother as she led the way into the dining room. "It's the dessert of course. I slipped that in last and it makes everything that came before it sound great." With a wave of her hand she gestured for her brother to sit so she could set the table with a pair of blue glass plates and gold colored silverware.
"I don't think Daddy will protest...So long as I give him my schedual ahead of time and the proper listings of where I will be staying, where I will be going, and where my stop over is. I think he will be fine with---"
She paused as Ace would examin the apartment and break in with his questioning. Her response was to press her lips together tightly. Was she happy with it?
"Oh Ace..." She sighed very softly and set a pair of fluted wineglasses down on the table.
"I understand...you know. I know you only want me to be happy...be myself as you say but..." Joy began to fuss with a lock of her reddish blond hair.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:50 pm
"But what? And are you happy? That's the important part." He looked at her, no mischiviousness in his eyes. He really wanted that for her, and he wanted to hear her say so.
To him, this was just so miserable an existence that his usual optimism wouldn't let him believe that she really did like this or wanted it.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:56 pm
Joy turned away. She simply could not bare the look in his eyes. So instead she crossed into the kitchen to fetch a bottle of sparkling grapejuice.
"I hope you don't mind this. I'm not old enough to drink real wine yet and this is the best for the dinner." After she set the bottle down, she motioned for Ace to come and seat himself at the table.
"Ace. I could walk away from all of this if I really wanted to. I'm not trapped or anything after all. I could leave like you did. I could just...just pick up my purse and walk out the front door without looking back." She gently began. God. It felt like the same speech she had given the theripist back in College.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 3:59 pm
Ace dove-sat down when he asked her, waving the juice with his hand and a nod of his head. Sure, that was fine.
"But are you happy right now, because I know you won't, so I need to know you are."
Not even the food was being magically devoured as he spoke.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:03 pm
He...he wasn't eating yet? That was a bit disturbing really. Joy glanced up at her brother..and honestly...
He had so many qualities just like their father. It would be impossible for her to lie to him. Not that Joy had ever really lied. She even avoided telling white lies...
Joy sat herself down in her own seat, but she did not pick up her own fork yet. Instead she let her green eyes linger on the placeing before her and she finally replied in a rather faint voice.
"No."
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:08 pm
Ace frowned, then started serving the food. He served like he did when Alice was around and he was wanting to be a good son for once, first taking Joy's plate and dishing up in a way that proved he did indeed pay attention to what sort of things she liked, and then dishing a healthy portion for himself. He stopped to say a silent prayer, then picked up a breadstick and proceeded to bite half of it in one bite and chew like he was an over-stuffed squirrel.
And, mouth full, then speaking, "Whwa-can-Ah-do?" He asked.
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Posted: Sat Jan 03, 2009 4:17 pm
Joy spread her hands, a faint smile crooking her lips as Ace would exhibit some of his loveable boy qualities. At least he wasn't so upset he couldn't eat.
"Oh Ace. There are some things that just can't be fixed by you. Dr. Jennings has already told me the only way to improve my life is if I take the steps myself. I can't rely on someone else to make my life better."
She picked up her fork and began to tap it into the lettuce leaves on her plate. "Though having you visit is wonderful. I miss you a lot you know. Since Raven left I really haven't had anyone I could call a friend around. I've been sooooo busy. That's why I had been thinking of going to Ireland. You know...relax somewhere...maybe indulge in a little freespirited romance or something...." Her green eyes wrinkled with a held laugh "Or maybe someplace in the south seas would be better for that. I hear there are nude beachs down there...."
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