Gallows, Clive, and Emilia sit calmly by as the afternoon sun graces Luck's Best. The town in which their fellow Drifter, Jet Enduro, had endured his twenty-two and six day stay. That's right, he gets out a day early on account of being good in prison. One day. He hated that fact. It was like those times you see a bone tied to a string and onto a stick, and then onto a dog who would chase after it. That's what he felt like. Still...he could not complain. He did gain one more day to get to Twilight Gemini before Nobuo, and kicking Nobuo's butt was all that he was concerned with for the moment. His hair was trimmed. Not a big change, but the sheriff was showing off his barber skills and Jet was his dummy yesterday. He almost punched the officer of the law when the man had said something regarding bald being an 'in' look this year. Safe to say, no casualties resulted in the wake of that statement. Though...there was this persistent glare.
"Say...why...didn't she want to come with us." Emilia questioned in a whisper as they waited Jet to gather his things from the sheriff. Jet felt the power now that his ARM was in hand. Do not mess with him now.
Gallows leaned to her. "She has been...acting off for some time."
"Maybe she just can't face Jet." Clive deduced. "Maybe...she did something she doesn't want him to know about."
"Hey." Jet sulked as he met the three. They jumped almost as if they be caught in the act. He had no idea what they had been saying though.
"Oh...Hey, been awhile." Gallows said as his hands moved in robotic fashion behind his head. Jet had a confused look to his face.
"Glad to have you back." Clive said slapping the gray haired man on the back.
"Eh," Emilia impassively stated.
Jet scanned the three. Stopping on Emilia. "Something's...different about you." He paused looking more closely. "You got laid." She knocks him to the floor quickly.
"I got a tan. A TAN!" She barks.
He stands up. "That was going to be my second answer. The smile threw me off." Jet checked for blood. None. "Uh...say...why are you here anyway?" He sort of pointed to the female. "I thought...Virginia was coming."
"Oh, so I'm not good enough?" Emilia scoffs.
"Okay, stop it you two." Gallows stepped between the two.
Clive stepped up. "So...we go after Nobuo as soon as we can, right?"
Jet nodded. "If that's what you've guys decided on as well. I'm going no matter what." He said ambitiously as if in deviance to something that he could not actually be a deviant about. They all wanted a piece of Nobuo after all. "He'll be at the Ruins of Twins. That's where the Twilight Gemini is."
"Oh, so you've done some research?" Clive adjusted his glasses.
"What else was there to do?" Jet shrugged. Something still was bothering him about something. What was it? He had no idea right now. "The Ruins of Twins should be near to Cape Aznable. So we should head there. Get a quick rest, and then go on to the ruins. Agreed?"
They all nodded. "We still should run this by the leader." Gallows added.
"Well, of course, but she's not here so...yeah." Jet suddenly just zoned out. "Anyway...do you guys have a strategy made for when we do encounter Nobuo. I'm sure we will eventually. Whether we get the Twilight Gemini before him or after. He will come for it."
They shook their heads. "Does that mean you do?"
"Uh...not really, no. I have been studying this...thing...It's just not ready yet to be used." Jet scratched his cheek.
"So...let's get out of here. We can make it to Cape Aznable by nightfall if we try." Emilia interjected and the group left the place. Of course, Jet had to say farewell to the sheriff being that he was a good guy. Not common of Jet to do, and he did not like to do it, but he did anyway.
They stop outside the sandcraft. "Well...you get settled in Jet. Gallows and I have to go get some fuel." Emilia replied pulling the BAskar away in disappointment. It was almost dinnertime after all.
"Yes, well, I'm going to look at the books you read real quick. Maybe I'll pick up on something you missed." Clive added and went the other way for the 'library' of Luck's Best.
Jet turned to the door hatch with an awkward look. Was this his home? He was not sure, but maybe it was, at least in the physical notion of a home. He also knows there is a metaphysical home. Something that had to do with a phrase he heard from the sheriff who was married. Something about, 'home is where the heart is', and junk. He did not really care. He had no heart to call home, and so he did not really pay any more attention than that.
"Virginia." He mumbled as he entered the ship. He was suddenly intent on finding her. Something was weird about he not showing up. With her staying in her room. Was it, 'absence makes the heart grow fonder', or 'absence makes the heart grow fungus'? Stopping at her door. Well, Emilia lived in there as well. Still, Virginia had her share of the room. "Hey...Virginia, it's me, Jet....I'm back. Just thought you should know that." He stood there a minute in silence. Another minute. He knocked. "Can I...come in?"
There was a hesitation in the air as the door opened to a warm and smiling Virginia. "Welcome back, Jet." She said with a smile.
Jet stared at her. Perplexed he was. Something was off about her smile. "Yeah." He walks past her much to her chagrin. Plopping down on her bed as if it were his own. He did like how it was softer than his, as well as the one in his jail cell. Why did they get the good beds? "So...what's up?" He questioned to the ceiling.
She grimaced. "N-Nothing." She walked for her bed, but did not sit. "Did I ever say you could come in, let alone use my bed?"
"I've been thinking it hasn't been used much. Either that...or too much."
"What's that mean?" She barked. "Do you mean to say I've been sleeping around or something like some sort of...w...w-wh-whore?" Humiliated by the fact she can not say 'whore'. She is too innocent for her own good sometimes.
"No. I never said such a thing." Jet calmly replied. Putting his forearms folded under his head. Looking like he was lying down for the long-run. "To put it in other terms, were you idle, or on the move? Static, or dynamic? Did you mope, or did you have fun?"
She put on a sour face. "What do you care?"
"I do."
"Do you?"
"No, but I like to think I do."
She scoffs. "What does that mean?"
"Just tell me what happened? You said we would pick up right where we left off, but something happened and you want to push everything back to the past."
"I...I met...I met that man, Phil." She looked away ashamed.
Jet stared at the ceiling a moment. "Oh?" He laughs. A rare sight. "Well, that's well and fine and good."
"I didn't even know...he was the guy who caught you. He was...showing me a good time for a few days...just the other day in fact." She continued.
Jet just sat up. "So...why you so down?" He questioned with a slight curve to his lips. "You had some fun. Made yourself a friend too."
"But," She stopped as she stared at him. Straight in her eyes. "You...you don't care do you?"
"I don't hate the guy." Jet honestly admits. "That, and he's YOUR friend Virginia. Like I could have a say in the matter."
"I...I told him I never wanted to see him again. Maybe in...some harsher words."
"I see." Jet stood up. "Look, no matter who does what to anyone, and no matter if they be friend or foe, you gotta show some people respect. You can be angry about it, but you still have to have respect." Jet calmly stated. "You must...respect another's decision even if it's pure crap. I may say when I disagree with something, but I can be persuaded, y'know. That...and I know sometimes I'm the guy with the crazy ideas. If you can keep silent in that I can keep silent about anything crazy you do." He stood there a moment. "I think I went off topic. We were talking about Phil and I started talking about times I left the ship to go take out another one, and you guys being crazy enough to infiltrate the Ark of Destiny."
"Jet." She looks to his eyes again. An unheard word passes, and is not received by Jet. "I...I,"
"Virginia?"
"I...made a welcome home cake."
"Really?" Jet raised a brow. "It is...edible, right?" A slap to the face. Maybe he should tone down the new Jet. He seemed to be getting slapped more in his new ways. "I mean...I'm sure it'll be the best cake ever! At least...better than the last one you made."
"I...don't know how it came to try and eat your hand...Jet." She blushes.
"Yeah...usually my food is dead when I eat it...and a cake? It shouldn't move unless someone's carrying it." He scratched the back of his head. He leaned toward her. "Thanks." He goes to leave the room.
Virginia sits stunned. Not only a 'thank', but a kiss to her forehead. What was this day turning into? "Hold on." Jet stops short of the door. "Huh? What are you doing?"
"Uh...well you said to hold on."
"Oh...well, I, uh, forget it." He shook his head thinking that women had the weirdest thought processes in the world. She stood there. Why did she say that? And why did she pass up a perfect opportunity? They were in her room...after all. He was even...on her bed. She slams her head into the door. That should put her thoughts to rest for the moment.
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I wanted to post another chapter just so we can finally move away from this arc, but, I have little energy and time and I only have the first two pages. So...we'll wait until tomorrow to see that one. Just to get it hyped I will say it features Sakura, a cat-fight, Cape Aznable, hot weather and the clothes to match, and someone will recognize that they love Jet.
I guess I'll say it now and that on Thursday I will begin the Twilight Gemini arc which will most likely be in parts again since I'm lazy. Imagine how long these chapters could be if I didn't want it to move along. I mean, judging by the chapter numbers I'd say I've been writing this for at least a month. It's weird to think it may take more than half a month to finish this. So...maybe it'll be an early XMAS present, the ending. The ending...oh God how long that will be. That will definitely be in parts; many parts. It does make up a book and two chapters in the original NDS after all.