We're just friends...? (Jalen)

[JD Paerson]

[ooc: this thread has been niggling at me for nigh on a month now, I think it's about time I got something done about it, what say you?]

"Deal. Next time I go out for a night of Texas Hold 'Em, I'll bring you along. I'll be your arm candy and you can win us lots of money and we'll all go away laughing." Not that JD ever actually went out for poker nights, but it was a good theory. He didn't doubt Jalen's ability to win. That was a desire and an ability they both shared.

"Well, set it up as high as you think you can manage, and we'll do our best to gloat once we win." He'd spent enough time practicing that he felt confident in his abilities at just about any level, and he suspected Jay would be at about the same level. This should be fun.

He gave a slight affirmative grunt but saw that the field had already been selected. He kept his eyes on the screen as he waited for the game to load, trying to keep from looking like an absolute idiot by staring at her. Once they started, though, it was easier to concentrate. He just had to forget, as best he could, that he was sitting next to a really pretty girl and having a great time.

Besides, she probably still felt upset from earlier today. Maybe they could both stand to get rid of some extra aggression. Maybe that was the only reason she was sticking around...

He pulled his thoughts back to the game and kept them there. He had no business thinking about anything else.

At the end, he grinned. "I think that's the best I've ever done," he said to Jalen, finally allowing himself to look at her again. "Thanks for being such a good partner." If it were another one of his friends he might have punched them on the shoulder, but as it was he was left just grinning rather stupidly at her.

"Well, I guess it's probably time for you to head back to your room, I guess," he said after a moment. He pushed himself to his feet and tried to look busy so that he could try to hide how awkward he felt. "Is there anything I'm forgetting?"

[Jalen August]

Jalen laughed outright, “You’d be a sight for soar eyes,” she said with a grin, letting the scene play out in her imagination. The roles would be reversed, but it didn’t matter. “You have a suit though right? You can’t be arm candy in a casino without a suit,” she said, looking him over as though trying to picture him in a suit, which she was. A grey one. “I bet you look dashing in a suit,” she pushed further, before reeling in her hooks. Enough about that.

“Who are we gloating to? Each other?” She asked, giggling as the screen loaded, Jay shot out her hand as though she were going to shake someone else’s. “Ah yes, well done well done, aren’t we magnificent and all that?” She laughed, holding the controller with both hands once more. JD was a riot without even trying.

“Damn, you got the Master,” she said, “I hate being the sidekick alien.” Jalen was making a face. She didn’t do well with being in the shadows. But she let it go within a matter of moments as they were attacked by little purple aliens with blue laser guns. “Get ‘em! Get ‘em!” She said, cheering them both on as she mashed the trigger repeatedly, her smile growing wider as more enemies fell. “They never even stood a chance,” she said softly, concentrating now. JD didn’t say much, but it didn’t bother her. They were a good team...

They were a good team.

“It’s because I’m a fantastic sidekick,” she gloated. He was right, they would gloat to each other, and it made her grin. What he said next shouldn’t have struck such a nerve, but she blushed a little bit, the corner of her mouth turning up into an embarrassed, crooked grin. So he thought they were good partners, which was similar to her thought of them being a good team. “Any time,” she said softly, leaving the controller on the floor as she stood.

“I guess,” she mocked him, but it didn’t come out teasing like it had in her mind. No, she was rather disappointed, but she made her way to the door and slipped on her footwear. She glanced around the room at his questioning. “Uh, no, I don’t think so... Oh!” She said, walking around a bit and piling all the food together. “Make sure you put all this away,” she said, trying to think of another excuse to linger, but there was nothing.

Jay approached JD, and going on her tiptoes, kissed his cheek. “Thanks for spending the day with me JD, you’re...” She thought about it for a moment as she made her way out the door, “just what I needed.”

Exit Jalen.

[JD Paerson]

"Suit, huh? Well, I've never tried. I'd probably just look ridiculous, but hopefully we won't have to find out for a while." He had no plans to get a suit. For one thing, they were highly expensive. Also, usually he only saw people wearing them at funerals or big formal events. But if it would look good...maybe it was something to think about. For some day.

"Well, if this worked so well, I guess we'll have to play Batman together next. Practice your sidekick skills there, too." That wasn't a date, right? It wasn't awkward for him to ask her on a date already...but it wasn't a date, so it didn't matter. No problem.

"Oh, yeah, I'll be sure to do that." He walked over and looked at the food. "I'll just...have to pull out the containers...and stuff." He could ask her to stay, ask her to do something. If he had any excuse to, which he couldn't think of.

It was probably best that Jalen had turned away as quickly as she had. Otherwise she might have seen JD's neck flush again after she kissed him. He was too much in shock to do anything other than open his eyes wide in surprise as she walked out the door.

"You're...welcome," he said belatedly. She'd already left.