[attr="class","littlejay"]

normally, jayden would cook for himself. he's sufficient enough. this day, however, he decides to take the lazy route and order in.

[break][break] a quick shuffle through old packets of nearby restaurants - some of which are expired or closed - has him picking a nearby deli that luckily has a delivery system. he orders a combo #1 and combo #2, one for him and one for later, and in a matter of minutes there is a doorbell ringing.

[break][break] 'that was quick,' he thinks.

[break][break] he pries open the door, a flash of dollar-bills in hand. his eyes spark with surprise at who is at the other end of it.

[break][break] "... james?"

[break][break] shit.

[attr="class","ooc"] + n/a

☉

james?[break][break]

too busy looking at the details on the app, he doesn't think anything odd about how they'd know his name. it's on the app, after all.[break][break]

"yep! that's me."[break][break]

but when he looks up, recognition hits, and his expression falters for a moment.[break][break]

"you son of a bitch."

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

in his defense, it was hardly his fault. all of it had been decided for him, and it was all out of his control — to be honest, that was how his life tended to go either way.

[break][break] he coughs.

[break][break] "long time no see?"

[break][break] he cracks a wry smile.

[attr="class","ooc"] + n/a

☉

with a sigh, james lowers the bag of food, carrying it with one hand while he scrutinizes the person he once called friend.[break][break]

"i ought to punch you."[break][break]

but after a tense moment, he steps forward to throw one arm around jayden, pulling him into a hug.[break][break]

"i'm still mad."

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

"you could."

[break][break] but jayden knows he won't. or at least, JAMES BAKER hasn't before.

[break][break] regardless, the hug surprises him when he's pulled into it. physical affection is still a strange thing for jayden, and he only allows it with a few people. on instinct, he tenses; but then he reminds himself who he is[ or at least who he ought to be, today. he forces himself to relax. he allows it.

[break][break] still embraced, he says, his voice slightly muffled in the t-shirt of the other. "i could share some of my food with you, if you want." a pause. "and i could make us dessert."

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] + JAMES BAKER

☉

after a long moment, james finally lets go, allowing jayden to breathe again.[break][break]

"no worries i already ate."[break][break]

he wipes the scowl off his face, replaces it with a genuine smile.[break][break]

"but dessert would be nice. it's the least you could do, right?"

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

"okay."

[break][break] he takes the bag of food from the other, pushing the door a foot and then holding it open for his friend to enter. this time, his security alarms are deactivated as he walks through, quickly pressing his palm at an invisible panel on the wall.

[break][break] jayden leads the way into the apartment, down a hallway that opens up to the broad living room space. JAMES BAKER would find that there was a depression in the floor that led to a long gray couch and the tv area. the far wall stretched out to a series paneled windows that unfolded to the sootopolis sea. the kitchen was in the back, with an island, where jayden placed the bag of take-out.

[break][break] he opens a fridge, turning. "what are you in the mood for? something tart? sweet?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] + JAMES BAKER

☉

sweet.[break][break]

"uhh..."[break][break]

james is unable to think of a response at the moment just because he's stuck in awe gazing around at the sheer beauty of jayden's home. it's big, grand, and luxurious. something james could never afford.[break][break]

"what is it that you do again, bud?"

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

"Hm?"

[break][break] He looks up from where he has begun pulling out some ingredients from the fridge, Jayden nearly misses his classmates words. His brow furrowed, he gives the other a puzzled look.

[break][break] "school? just like you." a pause, then a frown. "well, i had some family stuff — that's why i had to take a break last semester." and maybe a few last semesters.

[break][break] glancing down at his ingredients, jayden bites his bottom lip. with the ingredients he has, perhaps he could make an apple tart.. but maybe if JAMES BAKER wanted something more chocolatey, he could walk to the store for some cocoa powder...

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] + JAMES BAKER

☉

"ah, okay."[break][break]

school. that makes sense. of course a student would be able to afford a house like this.[break][break]

"is your family, i dunno, rich?"[break][break]

too personal a question?

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

Rich? He's never thought about it.

[break][break] Perhaps it was because his life had already been filled with so many other variables that seemed far more important at the time. His father's legacy. Rocket's purpose. His very livelihood.

[break][break] Though, perhaps that was the point.

[break][break] His brow furrows. "Why do you ask?"

[break][break]

[attr="class","ooc"] + JAMES BAKER

☉

the furrow of jayden's eyebrows goes unnoticed. james is perhaps too busy gazing around in awe when he really shouldn't be.[break][break]

but can he be blamed? he's like a fishie out of water. never before has he experienced luxury of this kind.[break][break]

"i just wasn't expecting you to be living in a place like this. no offense, of course! it's just surprising."

[attr="class","ooc"]jayden cross[break]

[attr="class","pkspr pkmn-manectric"]

[attr="class","littlejay"]

"a ledyba might fly into your mouth if you're not careful," he offers helpfully. it would be inconvenient if his schoolyard friend began choking in the middle of his apartment, after all.

[break][break] jayden still seems bewildered at james' state of mind, so he takes it upon himself to begin readying the ingredients. he decides to pull out some ingredients — all purpose flower, baking soda, butter, sugar, an egg and vanilla extract.

[break][break] "where did you think i would live?" he begins pouring the wet ingredients together first, mixing.

[attr="class","ooc"] + JAMES BAKER

☉