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[thedifferencebetween]

Handsome Jack here! I'm way too busy being awesome to answer the phone, but tell me why you're calling and if you're important enough, your people will hear from my people.

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[Video, July 23rd]

[brokencode]

[At some point in the day, Jack will get a knock on the door and a delivery of a fairly large, fancy chocolate cupcake. The note that comes along with it says "Happy Birthday Dad."

After that, sometime in the early afternoon, Angel will send a message along as well.]

I hope you got your gift by now.
I just wanted to say Happy Birthday. I hope Steven spoils you today!

Video

[thedifferencebetween]

I did, sweetheart, thank you. Means a lot ya remembered.

[Jack's looking a little tired, but more or less the same as the last time they talked.]

Yeah, he's taking care of me. And teasing me about the age difference, but I figure at this point...sure, he can tease away. Your old man is getting a lot closer to literally being your old man!

I mean not really, I'm only fifty five. But you know what I mean.

D.B's got a party hat on, it barely fits him.

So how've you been doing? I know you...probably haven't been having an awesome time lately.

[brokencode]

You mean you weren't my old man already?

[She covers her mouth with her hand, muffling a laugh. Maybe later it will bother her that this is the first time she's laughed in ages, and it's Jack that caused it. But she tries not to think about it for now.]

D.B. sounds like he's having a wonderful time, then. I hope you got him his own, Pokemon-safe cake. It wouldn't be fair if you ate in front of him, you know.

[And just like that, whatever mirth she'd felt dries up.]

I haven't been. But I will survive. I am in good hands, at least.

[thedifferencebetween]

Hey, I got at least another decade before I'm old! Ignore all the gray, that's stress, not age. Probably!

[Jack laughs also, pleased with his own 'joke'. His thick full hair is thanks to a hair transplant, and he colors it anyway. Including leaving the stripe of gray which he thinks makes him look sophisticated.]

Oh yeah, the dogs are all having a blast. We took'em to the beach the other weekend, now most of'em just wanna run around all the time. Did I tell ya Steven's got some, too, now? We got like ten dogs, it's nuts! Still not sure how, I was always a cat person... and DB's gotten used to not eating what I eat. Kind of. It's not like diets work.

Yeah. Yeah. Ya know, ya ever want to come by, hang out... I know people you travel with and shit aren't gonna wanna visit Casa Jack, but I could get ya a hotel room close by. Take ya out for lunch.

[brokencode]

Probably. [Despite everything, she manages a teasing, sing-song note in her voice.

She at least doesn't noticeably stiffen up at the idea of seeing Jack. She's spent enough time around him, visited him even in another time of grief, to know that he's not much of a threat, or at least has been tempered for the time being. She even allows herself to hope that Steven's helped with that.

But it's still difficult to swallow the wariness.]

A better idea. Let me know when you go to the beach with the dogs, next. We can see each other then.

[thedifferencebetween]

I mean I honestly didn't have any plans to, I just went cuz of that surfing thing and Steven likes going to that stuff. I spent the whole time playing video games on my gear under a beach umbrella. I'd probably go to the beach a hell of a lot more if they had private ones around here...

[Beaches come with an expectation of taking one's shirt off in public, something Jack has never been keen on, even long before he started calling himself 'Jack'. Even when he does go to the beach, he sports that ever embarrassing combo of long trunks and an open Hawaiian style shirt.]

But we can probably figure something out.

[brokencode]

And here I thought you might enjoy showing off around others.

[She thinks about the seclusion of the islands, how they've carved out there own little private space here. Then she pushes the thought from her mind. She can let Jack in as much or as little as she likes, but she'll never allow him to encroach on this safe place she's carved out for herself here.]

It would be nice to see you, that's all I am saying.

[thedifferencebetween]

Not so much at the beach, sweetheart. What am I gonna show off? I wanna swim, I got my own pool. And I'm not really a volleyball or frisbee kinda guy.

But no, I meant it, we'll figure something out. What about...geeze, what do normal people even do? Uh...picnic? What about a picnic? Cuz see I get that you wanna do this on neutral ground.

[brokencode]

A picnic sounds wonderful. What do you want to eat? I've been trying to learn how to cook in my free time, but I could also just... order something, too.

[thedifferencebetween]

Have ya?

Well hey, I dunno if you remember, but I'm a pretty good cook myself. So how about you make some stuff and I'll make some stuff. Make it a joint effort!

[brokencode]

I suppose you're right. Just as you promise to make Pokemon food, too. And don't let Doom Bob eat too much before he gets there!

[thedifferencebetween]

How about I buy and bring Pokemon snacks? I dunno how to cook for Pokemon.

You know I can't control what that thing eats or doesn't.

[brokencode]

He has a name. But fine, buying Pokemon food is fine, I suppose.

[If you're heartless!]

Just make sure you get something good for all types and natures, okay?

[thedifferencebetween]

I dunno how to make stuff for Pokemon, half of them eat weird shit no biological creature outta be eating. I could literally bring a handful of rocks and that would count cuz I've seen Pokemon eat rocks.

They're better off if I go to the store.

[brokencode]

Sure, sure. Whatever you say.

[Angel is going to absolutely prove him wrong and show up with a veritable feast of poke-goods.]

Just let me know when you're free next.

[thedifferencebetween]

Lemme see about this weekend - gotta check with the boyfriend, he plans stuff for us sometimes.