A/N:
This is set after Inkstained, only by a week or so. This is just a short conversation between Jack and Talia, just to give him some more depth for R.C.3 more than anything. Enjoy!
*Talia's POV*
Wow, who knew that Dr. S had such famous patients? I would love to meet some of these guys! But who would have guessed they went through so much strain? Well constantly being in the public eye is bound to cause major pressure. I guess I kind of found it ironic that for someone in my position, constantly under pressure, to be organising the appointments and documents of those likewise. Heck I was even a patient here as well as an employee! Well after everything that had happened here, it kind of said a lot for the company didn't it…
Well, I can't say much for the new management either. Speaking of which, why was it my job to go off and give the guy his reports? It wasn't part of my job description, I organised Dr. S' things, not Jack's. If things were getting sorted out down this side of the studio, then they were meant to stay here. Jack was a big boy now, surely he didn't need someone else filing his papers. What were these anyway? Sure it wasn't my place to look, but where was the harm? It wasn't like there was anything else that they could possibly be hiding? Let's see, Mel Ha-
"Oh hi I was just coming down to pick those up."
Damn it, "Well I'm here now." I retorted, pushing the papers towards him.
"Yes you are." Jack nodded, seemingly oblivious, "Sorry, I didn't mean to make you walk all the way down here."
Three buildings away, it wasn't exactly a marathon, "Forget it. What are they anyway?"
He tilted his head knowingly, "That would be telling."
"Hence my asking." I rolled my eyes, "Come on, even carrier pigeons knew what they were delivering."
"Okay," he chuckled, "first why don't you tell me what you saw."
Damn it, again, "That would be telling."
"Hypocrite." He quipped playfully.
Was I really bothered? In honesty, I really wasn't. But leaving it there would have been annoying, so I changed topic, "How are things on your end of the business ladder?"
He looked to the side in thought, "Pretty good; eventful if anything… Oh, uh, I've been thinking up some other solutions to our, uh, condition."
Was he serious? "You can say it Jack; half-tooness, Toonality, Hybrid infection, whatever you like, it's no big deal."
"You've changed your tune." He commented.
I shrugged, half smiling despite of myself, "I guess you learn to live with it."
He smirked jokingly, "So you don't want to know what I've thought up?"
He was playing me, I could see it a mile off. I scowled, "I've got to get back to work so… See you around."
Before I could take a step, he was jabbering again, "Yeah, I don't see you around as often since… you know."
Yes, I know, "It's been a busy time I guess."
"You still don't trust me, do you?" he blurted suddenly.
Well, that came out of nowhere. I mean, it really did take me by surprise. Sure I wasn't exactly welcoming to him, but that's just how I was with people I didn't… Oh. Okay, so he had a point. It wasn't that I didn't trust him or else I'd be a lot blunter or even go to any lengths to keep him away from me and my family, mainly see if I could get him out of the studio. Sure I had no real power in that sense… but when have I ever let that stop me before? No, I trusted him enough to be courteous and to talk. But there was just something inside that just didn't sit right with me.
He was the one that had given the injection that made Flynn and Poppy like us; even if it was under mind-controlling orders. And I didn't know how I felt about that. Did I hate him for taking away my sibling's future? Yes, I did. I well and truly despised him for it. But in the same way, now that they were like me, we were staying together and with the toons too, no one was getting left behind. And for that, I kind of had to be grateful. But uncertainty was running deeper than thanks. But thinking about it, maybe it wasn't him I was angry at, it was just what he did. And it wasn't like he knew what he was doing? God Talia why are you defending it?
"It's not that I don't trust you, Jack." I sighed, "I just don't know if it's a good idea being around each other."
"You think I'm going to go into a relapse, don't you?" he asked expectantly.
Well R.J had that habit of getting to people, "We agreed to start over, right, that's what we're doing."
"Yet you're not letting go."
"It's hard to let go of stuff like that. But I'm trying." I muttered, "And it's not like we're close anyway, so if I'm not all smiles or facebooking for a catch up then I'm sorry to disappoint." It was harsh but honest, and at his neutral reaction, I did feel a little guilty, "Sorry, I'm still trying to get used to everything."
"It's okay, I understand. I shouldn't have brought it up."
Not really but… "It had to be said sometime. And for the record, no I don't think you'd go into relapse."
That didn't seem to improve things, he looked at me with a genuine look of concern, "You know that if I could have kept control for any longer, I would have, right?"
"I know." I nodded.
"Talia I really am s-"
"Don't."
I didn't want to hear it because there was no point, you can't change the past and also, he'd apologised too much already that it was starting to grate on me. Nothing could be helped, it really was just a matter of starting over. That's what we were trying to do. Yes I was still angry, but I guessed it wasn't so much at him, it was at R.J. It was always at R.J. This was ridiculous, there was no point swelling on this anymore. I was done.
"I'll see you around." I muttered, turning away.
"How about later?" he offered. When I did nothing but arch an eyebrow, he elaborated, "I just thought that if we're really starting over, then why don't we do it properly after work or something?" I still didn't answer, so he carried on, "I could run my ideas past you?"
God man, grow a spine. But I guess it wasn't a bad idea, burying the hatchet and the like, "Maybe."
*Jack's POV*
She really couldn't give a straight answer could she? I couldn't blame her to be honest, and I tried to keep up when I could, "So a definite maybe then…"
"Exactly."
And with that, she turned on her heel and started heading back down the corridor. Her tone had been light, like she was trying to mess with me but not in a scornful way. I could respect that, I did in fact. She surprised me at how eased she was about everything since we'd come back to the studio. It was as if she just woke up one day and finally just accepted it all. That was a good way of looking at it. I should try harder at that. Since regaining my position at the studio, it's been stressful; or rather eventful like I'd said before. But it was worth it. And I hope Talia knows it too. I hope they all do. Maybe…
Rolling my eyes, I turned away myself, tucking the contact list under my arm, "Maybe's good."
A/N:
The next one will be a funny one, promise! XD Until next time! XD
