Getting that retraction

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

It wasn't that Sunshine couldn't take a joke. This particular brand of humor bugged her a little more than it would've somebody who hadn't grown up in the small restaurant business, where that kind of rumor could actually shut a place down. But she knew that wasn't likely to happen here. The real issue was that, having grown up with two younger brothers, she believed that when someone played a prank on you, you pranked back fast and hard enough that they'd never attempt such a thing again.


Accordingly, after the lunch rush on the day after the tabloid's publication, Sunshine called Tim back to the kitchen.

"I asked a couple of boys - do you know Kira and Setsuna? - to come by this afternoon, but I may need to duck out for a minute. If they do show while I'm out, do you think you could bring them back here to the break area," (a corner of the kitchen she'd furnished with a few chairs, books, and a little vase of flowers), "and make sure they stick around till I'm back? I'll leave a few pastries out and you can give them anything they want to drink."

(The pastries would be perfectly fine, of course. She'd never actually doctor her food. But she did kind of wonder if they'd be suspicious of it.)

Comments

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"That's fine," Tim nodded, glancing around the kitchen. "I know Setsuna, Kon's helping him investigate the lake. I've met Kira, though both Kira and Setsuna were drunk at the time, Logan's party..." Tim still didn't get getting drunk as a recreation. "I'm sure I can keep them occupied for a while. You won't be long?"

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

"Just a few minutes, I think." Unless they had their place locked up, which she thought was extremely unlikely. Not that she wouldn't be able to deal with locks even if they were there...

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"Okay," Tim nodded. "If you take too long I can just call Kon to bring us a deck of cards." They could play for peanuts or cookies.

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

"Sure thing," said Sunshine, with a smile that would've had Kenny and Billy thinking very fast and hard about whether they'd done anything to annoy their big sister recently. "That'd be nice. You can bring your friends here anytime, you know."

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"Yes, I know," Tim replied. "We're still sort of sorting things out. I did tell you the Kon that's here isn't the one I knew? Or at least, he's an earlier version of the one who died."

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

She blinked. "Um. No, I don't think you mentioned that. What do you mean, an earlier version?"

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"The Kon I knew was a couple years older, this one is well, not dead, and still a part of Young JUstice, which was a team that disbanded after something," Tim explained. "When he died, he was part of the Teen Titans."

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

"...Right. I can see how that would be confusing." Sunshine put one hand on her hip and tried to work this out. "Wait, so, he's come from your past? Have you...well, have you told him that he dies?"

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"My nervous breakdown? Was kind of about that, not to mention a few screaming nightmares a week" Tim admitted. "Rose is from my future too. I'm not certain why he's from the past, while Rose is from the future."

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

She shook her head in dismayed amazement. "I will never get used to this place. Gods and angels."

Impulsively, she put one arm around Tim in a quick half-hug. (Hopefully one that wouldn't be too offensive to the sensibilities of a very reserved teenage boy.) "You know if there's anything I can do..."

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"Gods and angels aren't really uncommon where I come from," Tim admitted, not leaning into the hug, but not pulling away. "Time travel though, from what I know, is generally left to the Flashes. And Rose and Kon are keeping an eye on me. They both have ways of enforcing their wills. I think Rose enjoys it." Enjoys sitting on him until complied.

OOC: reposted with correct journal this time

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

She laughed, pulling back. "I meant...it's an expression. Like 'oh gods' or 'Shiva wept' or...you know what, never mind."

"I should probably get going." And by going, she meant lurking nearby till Kira and Setsuna arrived.

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"Oh. Do you have a timeframe of when I can expect you back?" Tim questioned curiously.

Re: New thread

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes, maybe," Tim shrugged. He thought it was even more interesting if they did obey the laws of physics at least somewhat.

"Dick's the one who's my senpai, he's just had a rough couple years. A friend of his died, and hten in the space of about a week his girlfriend broke up with him, his circus caught on fire, his apartment blew up, he lost his job, and someone killed someone right in front of him. Then his entire city got blown up a bit later, by someone he thought was a bit trustworthy, and then he nearly died," Tim listed off. "He's currently hiding in New York."

Tim leaned back to watch Setsuna tease Kira. The two friends were funny.

"That stinks," Tim frowned. He wasn't sure he wanted to leave, but he knew Setsuna did.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes makes sense," Setsuna said with a light-hearted shrug. It was a silly thing to debate over, anyhow. There were more important things to focus on, like...this Dick person.

"Gah. Sounds like an adventure packed soap opera," Setsuna commented wryly, looking sympathetic. "I can't say I blame the guy for hiding. Sounds like he needs a vacation."

To Kira, Setsuna laughed and gently squeezed Kira's arm. "You're such a liar. The lighting didn't suddenly change, so there's no explanation for why your cheeks are redder." But it was okay; Setsuna was starting to accept that Kira probably wouldn't move on, and he didn't want him to, either.

Tim's comment got a warm smile from the kid. "Well, I know some people would rather stay here, and I can't say I blame them. It sucks, is more like it, though. For me. But it's okay. I'm sure there's got to be a way." At least his hope in that specific area was coming back, slowly.

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"well, yes," Tim nodded. "It's the circus he grew up at. They were having financial issues, he had the money to help them out, and he wound up buying it."

Tim watched with interest, the interplay between the two.

"Is there something I'm missing?" Tim questioned, noticing Kira's eyes twinkling.

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

Just before returning in, Rae had a thought, and surreptitiously pulled out the cigarette pack again. She was a little uneasy about this - not because the paper and plastic of the pack was very man-made: it still wasn't as bad as worked metal and she was standing in a patch of sun - but because the cigarettes were obviously affected by the skegging weird magic this place ran off of. She concentrated on only changing the pack itself, and none of the contents, and gave a little wriggle of triumph when it worked. Tucking the pack back away, she headed for her kitchen and found the boys chatting.

"Good afternoon," she said, with a somewhat suspicious amount of relish.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Setsuna was going to ask by what, but stopped short when he saw Rae. Seeing her quite the opposite of what he feared did wonders for the boy who grinned happily at her.

"Hey. So err...you wanted to talk?" Then he didn't want to seem as if he'd just forgotten about the other male, so Setsuna nodded towards Tim and said, "Tim's been keeping us company."

[grumpy-sunshine.livejournal.com]

"I did," Rae confirmed. She smiled at Tim. "Thanks for looking after them."

[creepyboy.livejournal.com]

"It wasn't a problem," Tim replied. "Can I get you something to drink?" He stood up, to get refills for everyone as well as a drink for Rae.

[swordandchalice.livejournal.com]

Setsuna smiled a little back at Kira, then leaned back and waited for Rae to speak.