[Lucy wouldn't know that some items sometimes make their way into Quarantine. If she did receive that book, she would treat it with so much care and hold it at night to compensate for not having any other family around. She would be more than happy to sit with Jim, maybe even on his lap, to read to him and go over the pictures with him in great detail.]
You really want me to make you a chart? [Taken aback by that, just a little. It was quite a long story, and she wants to believe he's being genuine and not doing it to solely butter her up. No, she needs to practice being more optimistic.]
Sometimes trying isn't enough...sometimes you fail. [The words were murmured softly, but loud enough for Jim to still hear them. Lucy wasn't ready to talk about it, but maybe in time she would. If she stopped being scared and stubborn.
There was a slow nod of her head, slowly coming around to tolerate...maybe even like Jim. He was trying, and she'll give him credit for that.]
I thought you were coming here to play nice with me and make a better impression on Victor. I have a step-aunt, Ivy, she's.. [There's a roll of her eyes there, how to explain that woman?] I don't think materialistic is the right word, but she doesn't like to hang out with me, not unless her mom--my step-grandma tells her to, and even then it's more of a chore and her babysitting me than doing anything fun.
So...I'm sorry for placing you in that same boat.
[Because it wouldn't have surprised her if it had, but Jim is surprising her in different (and good) ways. But also, boat pun, since he's a captain.]
Sure. [ He nodded, pressing his lips a little. ] You did say it was a complicated story, and that a chart would help. So if you ever feel like making that chart... I'd like to see it, yes.
[ Optimism sounds like something both Lucy and Victor need to practice. Luckily for them, Jim's well-versed in that, so he might rub off on them a little.
He didn't say anything to the next words, though his expression was understanding. He tipped his head a little in a soft nod. ] Doesn't mean we stop trying, does it? We just get up and keep going. You should never give up.
[ Not when it came to what was right, and to the people they loved. Quitting just wasn't in his dictionary, honestly, no matter the sacrifice. He still failed sometimes, he still saw people suffer and die despite his best efforts, but he could never let that defeat him, or make him stop trying to protect people.
He exhaled, a hint more relaxed at Lucy's confession. He was glad to hear her speak her mind and confess what she really was worried about regarding Jim, and he was even more relieved for the opportunity to put her worries to rest. ]
I know what you mean. [ He shifted on his seat, a little awkward. ] I, uh... had a stepfather. I didn't call him 'father' or 'dad' or anything, but he married my mom when I was very little. He basically just claimed everything that used to belong to my dad and acted as though it was all his. And he... well, let's just say he wasn't a very nice guy. I grew up hating him a lot, and I was too stubborn and reckless, so... living at the farm with him wasn't fun. At all. My mom was away for work very often too, so I ended up avoiding the house a lot, slept at friends' places, so on. It got me into a lot of trouble. He wasn't very nice or understanding to me, and he treated me very poorly whenever I ended up going back to the farm, after being away for days or weeks.
[ Which was to say that he punished Jim in unusually cruel ways, and sometimes hit him too, if he just happened to feel like it. Nothing too violent or anything, just a slap at best, but it still made Jim feel like crap, and he ended up loathing the guy even more. ]
I couldn't treat anyone that way. And I'm not here just to butter you up or get you to let me into the house. I want us to get along, and to like each other.
[Lucy had tons of optimism until she had a talk with her step-grandma, and before Emma left. She was trying to break the curse, and after having Henry leave and seeing her mother kiss another man, it was hard to have that hope. It was hard to keep going, so being in Quarantine and seeing Emma, her hope came back. Now, it's half empty. But, she's slowly getting back there. Slowly, but surely, and having Victor--and now Jim, be patient will help her.]
It's complicated...like...the stuff soap operas as made of. [There's a faint smile there, and it's followed up with a questioning look. He did know what soap operas were too, right? She just wanted to make sure! That way nothing got lost in translation.]
...Even when it seems hopeless?
[Because it certainly did before she passed out and woke up in Quarantine.]
...you had a step-parent? [The question is asked softly and it's answered soon enough. Lucy stayed quiet, listening to Jim's words, trying to picture him as a small child and the life he had before. She could only imagine what sort of man his step-parent was, and it didn't seem like he had much of an easy life. Sort of...like a coming of age tale, where the hero had a rough start, but came around and became something greater...
And there was a farm too. Of course there was.
But, he was trying not to be like his step-parent. Jim didn't want to put someone else through that situation, and for that she was glad she told him what was on her mind. They had way more in common than she initially thought. She was starting to warm up to him a little bit more.]
I don't get why step-parents have to be mean. It's the same in most stories: they treat their step-kids poorly for one reason or another...and it's never justified. It's never warranted. [There's a shake of her head and a slight sigh. She would never understand these things.]
I'm starting to like you a little more. So maybe...we could start over?
[ It's been a while since he watched any soap operas, but yeah, he knew what they were. He's into other kinds of old TV shows and movies more, but he can still enjoy an old soap opera every so often. Why not, right? ]
Ah— especially when they seem hopeless. [ He smiled and tilted his head. ] Hope is the last one to go, after all. And as long as you have hope, it'll never be really gone.
[ It didn't seem right to him that a child wouldn't be hopeful. Lucy should be hopeful, and there had to be something wrong with the place she came from that it could make her feel so hopeless when she was so young. Hope wasn't something he could just willingly give her, but he could still try to help her see it, and find it even in the smallest of things.
He nodded at her surprise, giving her a moment to process that bit of information. He didn't get into a lot of detail, but this was still the first time he told anyone about his childhood or Frank while in the Quarantine. Granted, there was Bones, but he already knew about it well before they both came here. ]
Well... not all step-parents. I guess I just wasn't very lucky. [ He shrugged. There was a time when this conversation would be more emotional and heated on his end, but he'd worked past it now. He didn't hold that grudge so close to his chest, and he certainly had no feelings whatsoever left for the man. He'd been gone from his life for a long time, anyway. ]
I'm glad to hear that. [ His smile softened, growing a little wider as he nodded. ] And I'd like that very much, too.
I'll start making a chart then....and maybe flash cards. It gets complicated very quickly and easily. [And maybe she could use some of the drawings Victor gave her.]
Mmm...that's...also a long story.
[A very long one that she told Victor about, and it's still too raw for her to discuss to someone else. How she tried to break the curse and failed. She still had hope, it was there, but when it came to her own family, that's a different story.]
It has nothing to do with luck. It has to deal with the step-parents themselves.
[Their choices, and the consequences of those choices...but there isn't much time to think about it. Not when they're trying to start over.
She holds out her hand to him.]
I'm Lucy Mills, pleasure to meet you. [See? Starting over and reintroducing herself.]
Guess it's a good thing that I'm really very smart.
[ Said partly as a joke, partly as him bragging playfully. He felt a little more at ease around Lucy now, and hoped she wouldn't think he was just being smug and full of himself. ]
Yeah, you're right there, too. [ He smiled and huffed, shaking his head. ] Some people just suck, if you ask me.
[ Was that a curse word? Did that count as a curse word for an eight year-old? Well, too late to worry about that now.
His smile softened, a little more endeared, as she offered her hand. He took it promptly, shaking it briefly before letting go again. ]
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thestoriesarereal) wrote2018-01-03 08:10 pm
no subject
You really want me to make you a chart? [Taken aback by that, just a little. It was quite a long story, and she wants to believe he's being genuine and not doing it to solely butter her up. No, she needs to practice being more optimistic.]
Sometimes trying isn't enough...sometimes you fail. [The words were murmured softly, but loud enough for Jim to still hear them. Lucy wasn't ready to talk about it, but maybe in time she would. If she stopped being scared and stubborn.
There was a slow nod of her head, slowly coming around to tolerate...maybe even like Jim. He was trying, and she'll give him credit for that.]
I thought you were coming here to play nice with me and make a better impression on Victor. I have a step-aunt, Ivy, she's.. [There's a roll of her eyes there, how to explain that woman?] I don't think materialistic is the right word, but she doesn't like to hang out with me, not unless her mom--my step-grandma tells her to, and even then it's more of a chore and her babysitting me than doing anything fun.
So...I'm sorry for placing you in that same boat.
[Because it wouldn't have surprised her if it had, but Jim is surprising her in different (and good) ways. But also, boat pun, since he's a captain.]
no subject
[ Optimism sounds like something both Lucy and Victor need to practice. Luckily for them, Jim's well-versed in that, so he might rub off on them a little.
He didn't say anything to the next words, though his expression was understanding. He tipped his head a little in a soft nod. ] Doesn't mean we stop trying, does it? We just get up and keep going. You should never give up.
[ Not when it came to what was right, and to the people they loved. Quitting just wasn't in his dictionary, honestly, no matter the sacrifice. He still failed sometimes, he still saw people suffer and die despite his best efforts, but he could never let that defeat him, or make him stop trying to protect people.
He exhaled, a hint more relaxed at Lucy's confession. He was glad to hear her speak her mind and confess what she really was worried about regarding Jim, and he was even more relieved for the opportunity to put her worries to rest. ]
I know what you mean. [ He shifted on his seat, a little awkward. ] I, uh... had a stepfather. I didn't call him 'father' or 'dad' or anything, but he married my mom when I was very little. He basically just claimed everything that used to belong to my dad and acted as though it was all his. And he... well, let's just say he wasn't a very nice guy. I grew up hating him a lot, and I was too stubborn and reckless, so... living at the farm with him wasn't fun. At all. My mom was away for work very often too, so I ended up avoiding the house a lot, slept at friends' places, so on. It got me into a lot of trouble. He wasn't very nice or understanding to me, and he treated me very poorly whenever I ended up going back to the farm, after being away for days or weeks.
[ Which was to say that he punished Jim in unusually cruel ways, and sometimes hit him too, if he just happened to feel like it. Nothing too violent or anything, just a slap at best, but it still made Jim feel like crap, and he ended up loathing the guy even more. ]
I couldn't treat anyone that way. And I'm not here just to butter you up or get you to let me into the house. I want us to get along, and to like each other.
no subject
It's complicated...like...the stuff soap operas as made of. [There's a faint smile there, and it's followed up with a questioning look. He did know what soap operas were too, right? She just wanted to make sure! That way nothing got lost in translation.]
...Even when it seems hopeless?
[Because it certainly did before she passed out and woke up in Quarantine.]
...you had a step-parent? [The question is asked softly and it's answered soon enough. Lucy stayed quiet, listening to Jim's words, trying to picture him as a small child and the life he had before. She could only imagine what sort of man his step-parent was, and it didn't seem like he had much of an easy life. Sort of...like a coming of age tale, where the hero had a rough start, but came around and became something greater...
And there was a farm too. Of course there was.
But, he was trying not to be like his step-parent. Jim didn't want to put someone else through that situation, and for that she was glad she told him what was on her mind. They had way more in common than she initially thought. She was starting to warm up to him a little bit more.]
I don't get why step-parents have to be mean. It's the same in most stories: they treat their step-kids poorly for one reason or another...and it's never justified. It's never warranted. [There's a shake of her head and a slight sigh. She would never understand these things.]
I'm starting to like you a little more. So maybe...we could start over?
no subject
[ It's been a while since he watched any soap operas, but yeah, he knew what they were. He's into other kinds of old TV shows and movies more, but he can still enjoy an old soap opera every so often. Why not, right? ]
Ah— especially when they seem hopeless. [ He smiled and tilted his head. ] Hope is the last one to go, after all. And as long as you have hope, it'll never be really gone.
[ It didn't seem right to him that a child wouldn't be hopeful. Lucy should be hopeful, and there had to be something wrong with the place she came from that it could make her feel so hopeless when she was so young. Hope wasn't something he could just willingly give her, but he could still try to help her see it, and find it even in the smallest of things.
He nodded at her surprise, giving her a moment to process that bit of information. He didn't get into a lot of detail, but this was still the first time he told anyone about his childhood or Frank while in the Quarantine. Granted, there was Bones, but he already knew about it well before they both came here. ]
Well... not all step-parents. I guess I just wasn't very lucky. [ He shrugged. There was a time when this conversation would be more emotional and heated on his end, but he'd worked past it now. He didn't hold that grudge so close to his chest, and he certainly had no feelings whatsoever left for the man. He'd been gone from his life for a long time, anyway. ]
I'm glad to hear that. [ His smile softened, growing a little wider as he nodded. ] And I'd like that very much, too.
no subject
Mmm...that's...also a long story.
[A very long one that she told Victor about, and it's still too raw for her to discuss to someone else. How she tried to break the curse and failed. She still had hope, it was there, but when it came to her own family, that's a different story.]
It has nothing to do with luck. It has to deal with the step-parents themselves.
[Their choices, and the consequences of those choices...but there isn't much time to think about it. Not when they're trying to start over.
She holds out her hand to him.]
I'm Lucy Mills, pleasure to meet you. [See? Starting over and reintroducing herself.]
no subject
[ Said partly as a joke, partly as him bragging playfully. He felt a little more at ease around Lucy now, and hoped she wouldn't think he was just being smug and full of himself. ]
Yeah, you're right there, too. [ He smiled and huffed, shaking his head. ] Some people just suck, if you ask me.
[ Was that a curse word? Did that count as a curse word for an eight year-old? Well, too late to worry about that now.
His smile softened, a little more endeared, as she offered her hand. He took it promptly, shaking it briefly before letting go again. ]
It's nice to meet you too, Lucy. I'm Jim Kirk.