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The sky is clear this evening, the air soupy and warm. Which is why the sudden light scent of an oncoming rainstorm might be odd. Especially mixed as it is with a strange metallic smell.
It's a familiar smell, probably, even for someone in the middle of a nap.
Lif is curled up pretty much around the base of a tree, as you do, but when she smells rain, there's a sleepy sound not completely unlike a disgruntled bloodhound before she sits herself up and looks around to see how imminent getting soaked is.
What she sees, rather than rainclouds, is an Jack, wearing a dark t shirt and jeans, heading through the park with his head down and his arms crossed. He looks...guilty, almost, and hasn't seen Lif 'cause of the whole looking down at his feet thing.
They uncurl and yawn, sitting up. "Hey, sketchy boy."
Jack shies away at the unexpected greeting, his outline getting more sketchy until he realizes who's speaking. "Lif - hey..." A smile crosses his face and his arms uncross, the flickery charcoal lines around his face calming down a little.
"What're you doing here?"
"Napping. I like this park; I've planted some shit here before. What are you doing here?" She doesn't bother to stand yet, patting a patch of grass beside herself.
He wanders over, and sits down with a groan. "I...had a meeting, 'S the quickest way back to the bus stop." He's really not a great liar.
Lif snorts softly. "You're walking in the wrong direction; stop's on the other side of the park. You look like you're sulking."
Jack opens his mouth, sighs, and closes it. "Not sulking, just...walking. Trying to clear my head. What d'you like about this park?" It's an obvious change of subject.
"It's neglected. Means when I decide to do some planting, that no one's going to notice for a while." She points to a bunch of plants around a younger tree, yellow flowers and feathery leaves. "Yarrow. Wild ginger too."
"Bringing native plants back to the place? That's a pretty damn noble cause." Jack smiles as he looks at the plants. "Made yourself the spokesperson for more than just a Tree, haven't you?"
"Someone damn well better. I don't have what I need to fight the fights I want to eventually, yet. The oil refineries, the factories, the hunting laws--those are all ahead of me. For now, I'm making a little difference where I can."
They pause. "Why's your head need clearing, Jack?"
"Why those fights?" Jack cocks his head. "I mean...like I said, noble cause, but...I'm curious. 'S a lot to take on."
"You're avoiding my question. You know I used to be a Joyeux, yeah?" She hits the word with a bit of a fake French accent.
"Yeah, I know. I uh...'s not something I really wanna talk about." Jack's mien flickers. "'F that's okay."
"Fair." They nod, sitting back against the tree. "The way I got myself kicked out, how I found my way back home, was by getting myself polluted, almost to the point of death. I know what it feels like, for the air, the soil, the waters to be that sick."
"Ah." He winces. "That...mmph. Sounds horrendously awful - but I get that the alternative's worse," he says with a hollow laugh. "The blight...that's pretty damn close to home for you, then."
"Not really. The Tree at the Crossroads isn't polluted. It's gone mad. And the state of the hedge? It's parasitism. It's not the work of mankind fucking everything up. Parasitic plants that glom onto the roots of things around them are a real thing. Mistletoe's one of them, in fact. But. Speaking for the tree definitely feels like my duty, yes. I am the Lorax."
"And you're also the someone who cares a whole lot, mm?" Jack smiles. "How...are you feeling about it all? There's a lotta shit riding on this, 's gotta be stressful, yeah? I sure as hell know I'm stressed, and I'm not the one who grew a new fucking tree to give to Old Iron."
"At this point, I've done what I can, mostly. Yes, there's more things I can do, but...they're also things other people can do. Like, if you have anyone coming to you with 'how can I help?', I've got a few things. Warning the hobs, like the Rivermen, what's coming. And Catherine, the hedge-ghost. But me, I am taking a break, before we gear up to go into the tree."
"Gonna go with you, for that. I'd be useless staying here, trying to defend people." Jack shakes his head with a small smile. "But it's good you're taking a break. You doing anything else, besides napping?"
"Right at this moment, no. In general..." Her smile turns coy. "...well."
Jack raises his eyebrows, a smirk growing on his face. "...Well?"
"If I tell you, is it suddenly going to become gossip around the whole Freehold?"
"I know how to keep a secret. I'll Seal it if you want, even." Jack shrugs, looking pretty unconcerned. "I'm a Joyeux, I know how to be discreet with people."
"Don't think I need to seal you. I just...I've been spending a good bit of time with Vorpal lately." They grin. "She helped me plant those yarrow, in fact. And kissed every single plant after tucking it in."
"...Huh." Jack looks thoughtful. "You know I'm more surprised about the plant kissing than the you kissing." A smirk crosses his face there. "Why d'you wanna keep it from being talk of the Freehold? I'm assuming you mean whatever your relationship is and the shit that'll undermine her reputation of spookiness..."
"Oh, she was perfectly spooky while kissing the plants with her extra shadows. But, uh, we haven't really talked too much about...the long term and if it's something we're making a public thing? I mean, she has other partners, and I know they're a thing. It just seems polite not to go about being too loud yet."
"Fair enough. You think you're gonna have that talk eventually, or 's it looking like a casual thing?" Jack leans back to lay in the grass, hands behind his head.
"I have no clue yet. I'm busy enjoying the act of seducing and being seduced. I'd like it to be something, though. She's...pretty awesome." Lif watches Jack. "You tired there?"
"Nah. Just enjoying listening. Always happy when a friend is happy - and fuck, yeah I get that shit about seducing." He turns to them with a grin. "But I'm a Spring, 'course I'm all about you going after your desires."
"My desires are my own." She smirks. "I miss Spring sometimes."
"Do you?" His smile dims, and he lifts his head a little. "Why, d'you think?"
"Because I had a sense of what I was doing there, and in Summer...I'm working on that still, I suppose. Who I'm becoming for the Court. I've got a bad case of 'not good enough yet' I'm processing." They shrug.
"Still think it's the right choice though, yeah? Even if you don't know what you're doing yet? That shit does take time." Jack's got his entire attention fixed on them now.
"I know it's the right choice. I can't go backwards, Jack." She makes direct eye contact, her eyes blue green like ponds, dripping water down her face.
"No, suppose you can't. 'Specially if it feels like returning to something feels like going backwards, to you. D'you wanna talk about why you don't think you're good enough? Because you're doing a pretty damn good job helping ensure the safety of the Freehold, far's I can see."
"I'm not a very good fighter, and it seems like to be useful to Summer--I'd need to be. We're a militant sort of court, and I'm not there yet. Can't even hold my own against a briarwolf." She manages a smile as she says it. "Someday, I'll get there. But I think I'm going to spend a while as a Page of High Noon, probably."
"Is that where you want to be? Physically militant like that? Like I said, you're dealing with the safety of the Freehold pretty fucking well."
"Where I want to be?" They snort softly. "I want to keep coming up with weird ideas, like my sapling. Things other Summers aren't going to think to try. I want to be able to bring my knowledge of environmental science, outdoorsmanship, arcane knowledge to bear for the court, to outfit my fellow Summer courtiers with knowledge they need to be able to go out and kick some ass. And what I really want is to be patted on the shoulder for that, to have someone who I report to while I'm working who tells me, once in a blue moon, that I'm helping, that I'm a good Summer, that I'm contributing to the court and they're glad to have me here. And I feel needy for saying that."
"Have you talked to Devon about...well, any of this?" Jack cocks his head. "At the very least, what you want your trajectory to be within the court? Because all that sounds pretty doable. And like something that a lotta the more...martial Summers might not even know they need, much less want to do. Y'know?"
"Once this is all over--and I mean all of it--I might talk to him. Maybe. If I can fortify myself enough to start that conversation."
"If?" Jack sits up fully now.
They shrug. "...if."
"What d'you need to make that 'if' into a 'when?' Because...it sounds like something you really oughta do..."
"A success to bring to the table when I talk to Devon. Proof the sapling helped, a successful mission into the tree. Something on my resume beside 'failed to kill briarwolves and planted a tree.'"
"Is that a success you want for Devon, or a success for you?" Jack's tone is gently searching. Asking her to think about it in a way she may not have.
They flinch, and look down, and say nothing, very loudly.
"Ah." He nods. "You know you're worth something even if you fail. You belong to Summer even if you fail."
"But am I worthy to be a Summer, if I fail?"
"Fucking absolutely." Jack shifts, offering an arm for Lif to cuddle into, if they want. "Sigrun and I were talking about this the other day. There's gonna be times when you do everything right, and shit doesn't work out. It doesn't make you less worthy. It's a hard-ass lesson to learn, hell, I'm still learning it. But. No matter what happens with this, you're worthy to be a Summer. Devon was impressed, with what you're trying with the tree. I saw that even if you didn't."
Cuddles?! Lif is immediately there against him, their skin cool against him. "Thank you. Geez. I'm sorry."
Jack's not the largest of people, but his embrace is tight and warm. "You don't gotta apologize for shit, Lif. Everyone needs reassurance like that sometimes. An' it's what I'm here for, you know? Glad any of it helped, I'm always worried that I'm gonna say the wrong shit, make it worse..."
"Hey, Jack? If you...talk to Sigrun anytime soon, can you...um. Nevermind." She curls herself in a little tighter, as if trying to cover up that hint of vulnerability.
"Can I what?" Jack gently runs his fingers through their hair.
"I want to talk to her sometime, maybe. We both were shaped by the same Keeper. The first time we met, she panicked, like having three of us in town would call down a Huntsman. Funny thing about that is? I'm pretty sure I been here longer than she has. But I know she's a good Summer and I just want a chance to talk to her, maybe."
"I'm happy to facilitate that, yeah. Can even be there, if you want. 'F you're worried she'll freak out again." Jack squeezes Lif's shoulders.
"No, I don't think she will. I don't need a mediator. I just need...someone to give her my number and tell her I could really use a friend."
"Happy to do that. She uh...we've spent a little time together recently, she's pretty great. Been wanting to get to know her for a while, guess I should'a done what you're doing." Jack smiles at Lif.
"Thanks. Anything I can do for you, while you've got me here?"
"Just talking to you's helped, really. Got me outta my head." Jack shrugs. "Don't need that walk, anymore." The way he says it, a walk may not have been all he was after, when they first saw him.
"Hey, anytime you need someone to lay some problems on you..." She laughs, nuzzling against his shoulder lightly. "Or hell, if you ever want to get your hands dirty, I'm still working in this park. I've got great plans, you see."
"I might take you up on that. At least the problems bit, I like knowing I can help. Not to mention it helps me avoid my own problems..." He smirks at them.
"Just...find someone you can unpack that shit with, at some point. You deserve it."
"Got a few people," Jack nods. "No Springs, though. Funny how that works..."
"Could be something about not wanting to be vulnerable in front of your own court, a 'don't shit where you eat' sort of thing?"
"Mmmmaybe. Same reason I don't wanna throw shit on my partners." Jack huffs and shrugs."An' honestly, all my shit's pretty...low-key, right now?"
"Heavy enough that you needed a walk in the park and a talk with a stunningly gorgeous Summer to get your mind off it." Clearly joking about herself being stunningly gorgeous, but not in a pointed way.
"Yeah well." Jack shifts, his mien flickering. "It's just a..." He grimaces, and sighs. "'M trying to go sober. Doesn't feel heavy, so much as...just always there. Worse some days, still haven't figured out how to distract myself completely." There's a little bit of discomfort, but no real emotions behind his words. Distancing himself from the situation, so he doesn't have to feel about it.
"Congratulations on deciding to try. That there's a big step, from everything I've heard." She looks up at him with respect in her eyes.
Jack doesn't meet her gaze, clearly uncomfortable with the praise. "Yeah. 'S what people tell me. Mostly just feel guilty for how much I don't wanna. But uh. Prob'ly won't have a drink tonight now, so thanks for that." He manages a smile at her.
"I think maybe I can count that as some sort of a success." They nod. "Are you good to make it to the bus stop? Or hell, I can give you a ride home; I ought to head that way myself."
"I'd take a ride, if it's not too much trouble." Jack takes his arm from around Lif's shoulder to stretch. "How far out of your way's North Philly?"
"Not so bad at all--I live in student housing on Temple University campus. We're practically neighbors." She separates from Jack and stands, brushing the grass off her ass.
"Perfect." Jack stands with a groan. "Thanks - for driving, for calling me over. 'S a better way to spend and evening than I'd planned."
"Well, seriously. Anytime. Want me to make you my primary Joyeux if I get myself fucked up? I'll tell you where I ground myself."
"'F you want me to be, sure." He shrugs, a slight blush smearing across his cheeks. "There's a lot of us though..."
She chuckles. "And how many of those would I like to go on a nice walk through Awbury Arboretum with?"
"...I dunno?" But he's smiling now. "Be happy to drag you there any time you need."
They offer him an arm, to escort him to their pickup truck. "I'll infodump the whole time, it's kinda awful. I did that to Jackie when she found me there, before she swept me off my feet properly. It's my default mode of communication."
"I don't mind listening." Jack takes their arm. "'Specially if you're fucked up, but...in general. People talking about the shit they know a lot about's pretty great, least in my opinion."
The look they give him is like a flashing box in the HUD of a video game. [Lif will remember that.]
"And I know fuck all about plants, anyway. Prob'ly learn a lot."
"Wanna learn something real quick right now?" She looks down toward the ground, to try and spot something interesting, then stops, grinning.
"Sure." Jack follows her gaze, though most definitely doesn't see what she does.
She kneels down and points out something growing near a sidewalk. It's a small plant with heart-shaped leaves kinda like the traditional drawing of a shamrock. Little yellow flowers. She picks off a couple of the leaves and sticks them in her mouth, chewing quietly before offering Jack a little bit as well.
Jack eyes the leaves, then eyes Lif. He's clearly a little suspicious. "...What is it...?"
"Genus Oxalis, I can't pin down the exact species--the common name's 'wood sorrel'. The leaves taste tart, they're said to help with sore throats or quenching thirst. The trick is that the tartness makes you salivate. One species in the genus used to be cultivated by sailors around Patagonia, to stave off scurvy. The roots of some species grow tubers that are also edible, sorta a bit yammy."
"...Huh." Jack takes the leaves and chews. "...Huh. Tart, yeah. Pretty flowers, too."
"Probably Oxalis stricta, if you held a gun to my head and told me to guess, but. It's a hardy little weed. So long as it has the sun, it'll grow in soil that most other plants have given up on--and in doing so, it actually helps prepare that soil to be able to have other plants come in." She straightens again. "The genus grows all over the world."
"There's some sort'a comparison to be made about a plant like that, and the people we are, but I think I'm too tired to make it - something about us existing despite all the shit that life's tried to throw at us, living in places no one else would ever wanna, and fuckin' thriving on the other side of it all."
A beat. "Or. Well. Trying to thrive."
They nod. "Flowering, fruiting, falling, fallow. And there's the courts in a nutshell."
"Heh. Yep. And a reminder that we all need time off, time to not be our most fruitful." He nudges them.
They nudge back, grinning, before pulling out their keys. "Here, this truck's my baby. Now, you're either going to have to GPS me or give me directions."
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