victory_road | ( first junkpile ) video/action for new bark town

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( first junkpile ) video/action for new bark town

[ In terms of what Janey's used to, this is the weirdest place she's ever ended up in. There are no skags or bullymongs to rip her face off; instead, there's this... little... thing. With fire on its back. Janey isn't sure how to approach it, because it is on fire, but the poor thing seems so dour that... it softens her heart a little. A lot. Ugh, it's cute, okay? ]

Guess you're not too bad, little guy. [ Aw, look at the way its face lights up! ... She guesses? It's hard to tell.

Janey turns her attention to the 'gear provided to her, and she turns it on. ]

Eh, it's not as advanced as the stuff I'm used to... [ She'll make due, though. ] Heya, everyone! Janey Springs here, junker extraordinaire and ultra talented children's book writer. If you need anything all fixed up or whatnot, or even a nice story to tell your little friends, I'm your gal! Just hit me up over these devices and we'll talk prices, yeah?

Great to be here! Would be better if Athena were here...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Look, it's a pacifist planet, but this town, this region is only a fraction of said planet. Who knows what other regions are like?]

Jack isn't a threat. He's scared of me, so he won't be a problem.

[Still kinda dodging here...]

[ :T ]

Athena... [ she says, in that warning voice of hers. Wife, what are you hiding from her. ]

[Shiiiit she knows that look.]

What?

You know hiding stuff from me doesn't work for long.

[There's a moment when she still says nothing, ready to dig her heels in and insist nothing's wrong and nothing's bothering her and there's nothing that Janey needs to concern herself with.

But... that's what got her into trouble before, wasn't it? Her inability to be open with Janey nearly cost her Janey. And that... she can't let that happen. She has to make sure her promise isn't broken this time.

So she lets her out a sigh, and her shoulders now fully sag.]

Jack... ruined something. Something important.

[ She'd figured it had something to do with Jack. Athena's been so evasive, though, it must be really serious. Janey knows Athena never hid anything from her to be... malicious. It's just that... well. Athena's been through hell and back.

Janey grips Athena's hand, gives it a comforting squeeze. ]

What'd he do?

[For a brief second, Athena's grip in return is hard. Likely enough to hurt, knowing her strength. But she quickly reigns herself in, pushing back that bubbling, bitter emotion crawling its way to the surface.

She can't... she can't let it consume her to the point where she's hurting people who don't deserve it. She won't let that happen.]

He took a friend from me.

[Bitterness, disgust, frustration... it doesn't come pouring out with those words, it's all still carefully restrained, but it's still there. Enough for anyone to pick up on.]

[ Janey's throat is tight, tighter than Athena's initial grip. Where Athena is angry, Janey feels a deep sadness. She's not sure if Athena means Jack killed someone, because that's entirely possible, even in a place like this, but there's something in Athena's voice that makes her think otherwise.

She pulls Athena into her arms, holding her. She doesn't say anything, because... what can she say? ]

[Athena doesn't break down and cry, or even cling desperately to Janey. Her breakdowns are few and very far between, and something like this... it angers her, more than upsets her. Or at least, that's what she's telling herself.

What she does do is lean heavily against Janey - not enough to topple the poor girl, but she'll probably have to fight to stay upright - and press her face against her neck. She takes a deep breath, absorbing the scent and feel of home to steady herself once more before she speaks.]

Jack convinced his doppleganger [just doppleganger now, she refuses to use Tim] to come back to his side. Despite the fact that I was guarding him, that he called us friends...

[ Janey's no Vault Hunter; she's survived worse than most people here, probably. But Janey's not a pushover, either. She's had to bear a lot of burdens, and she's strong enough to take Athena's onto her shoulders, help her carry them.

... That explains a lot, actually, about the conversation she'd had with him just earlier. ]

Talking to him didn't work?

No. He thinks being under Jack's control is better than fighting to be free of it. His fear of Jack was bigger than his trust in me.

[Bitter. So much bitterness. And buried deep, deep under that, a bit of hurt.]

There's no point in helping someone who obviously doesn't want to be helped.

[ Janey has to really think about that. Athena's hurting, hurting so much, and Janey wishes she could do something more--something more than just talking. ]

I'm kinda worried about him, you know? If he's alone with Jack. And if Jack was able to scare him that much just by talking to him.

Maybe at least keep an eye on 'em.

[Pulling back, nearly out of the embrace, Athena scowls, shaking her head.]

That's what I was doing. I did my damn best, but he clearly doesn't want my help anymore. So trying to keep an eye on him now is just a waste of time.

[ Janey lets her move away, because holding her there isn't going to help either of them. This is a delicate situation, and Janey doesn't want to muck anything up, especially since Athena's been without her for... a while.

She's quiet for a few moments... then she lets out a sigh that's almost tired. ]

Real bad situation I've walked into, huh?

You have no idea. [Athena's sigh mirrors Janey's, and she just. Shakes her head.] It's a mess and a headache all at once. And annoying as hell, considering I cut my ties with Jack and all this Hyperion bullshit years ago.

[But it figures, like running into Cassius in her journey to help Fiona and Rhys finish building Gortys, her past always reaches out and sucker punches her when she least expects it.]

[ Athena's had it rough. Situation after situation, reminder after reminder of her past. Janey's hand slips down to Athena's, and she gives it a gentle squeeze. ]

Just par for the course, yeah? Wouldn't be us if we didn't have some problem following us around. [ Zoomy's managed to get over the weird smell on Athena's boots, and he rubs up against her ankle. He can sense the distress between them, and he wants to make it a little better... if he can. ]

We just have to watch our backs even more, huh.

[Athena nudges Zoomy a little with her foot, not to push him a way, but as a way of acknowledging his presence. Sorry buddy, she's kind of focusing on more important people here.]

That would be just our luck. That even on a pacifist planet, we keep running into trouble like this.

[... Look at least it's not her fault this time!]

Yeah. But you know what, hon?

[ Oh, she's going to get gross. ]

I'm just glad we're here together. We'll manage--we always do.

[super gross]

... Right. Point taken.

[....]

Looks like we're going to have to put off the wedding, though.

[ they're so gross. look at them, holding hands. disgusting. ]

It could be for a way worse reason.

[they're the grossest, seriously who gave them the right.]

Point taken. But with all the trouble we're going through getting it set up, it's still pretty irritating.

Too bad whatever money we make here can't be used back home, yeah? We'd be able to afford tons of those fancy napkin holders if we could.

... Do we even know that many people?

[Look Athena isn't exactly someone who has friends. She can probably count the amount of people she's going to invite on one hand.]

... You've got a point, yeah.

Oh well. That'll just make it easier to kick everyone out at the end of the reception.

[athena...]

( first junkpile ) video/action for new bark town

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