Let's get down to business

[first_rule]

If Daniel had thought the last year had been a whirlwind, it was nothing like all that changed the moment they stood before Dylan in the park. A lifetime of hardwork, a year of risking prison and failure, and now he had come to the pinnacle of all he had ever wanted.

And it wasn't even close to over yet. Packing wasn't hard, and leaving behind his life had already been done. They had no idea where they were going, or what was coming next.

He did know that McKinney didn't stop making whatever sound that was at the ungodly hour of not even four in the morning, and he was about ready to scream if the coffee maker didn't go faster.

Comments

[first_rule]

"I..." he paused, frowning at that and putting it together in his head though he doesn't play the game. "Wait, they show their junk in pixels?"

[the_death_card]

"Uh, yeah. Like... when they use the bathroom or get in or out of the shower or whatever, it pizelated everything." He paused a beat, since he should probably clarify the rest of that statement, too. "And usually they set the kitchen on fire while they're trying to cook."

[first_rule]

"Hey. I can cook," he said. Though, it was Daniel, he was likely to get distracted and burn the kitchen and the house down. He couldn't deny it.

"Next thing I know you'll be telling me they go at it."

[the_death_card]

"The Sims? Yeah, actually. But it's like... they just get in bed and get under the sheets." So that was boring - or it had been to the teenage boy he had been when he had gotten any time to play.

[first_rule]

He just stared at him for the longes time, utterly confused. "You're... you're serious. What kind of life did you have as a child? We need to get you out and get you laid."

[the_death_card]

Jack snorted. "I lived in group homes and foster homes as a kid, man. Computer games were something we actually had to do." Unless you wanted to just lay around and watch tv, which got old quickly.

"I know how it all actually works, thanks."

[first_rule]

"So you made computer characters have sex," he said, giving him one of those, come on dude looks.

"Well yes. You had computer characters do it for you," he teased.

[the_death_card]

"We were pre-teen boys. It was easier than sneaking in fucking Playboy." Not that people didn't try, but they usually got found and confiscated before too long.

"Not like you don't have experience with using your hand for that kinda thing anyway," he shot back, smirking.

[first_rule]

"I'm not sure if I'm sad for you, or if I'm just laughing on the inside," he said, a small smirk curving his lips. "Whatever gets you there, man. Guess that's all that matters."

He snorted, rolling his eyes. "Given my libido, there's not a lot of girls that can keep up. That isn't a problem, but a way to handle a slow night."

[the_death_card]

"And the internet says you've got a line of ladies around the block," he returns. "They'd still be disappointed to know the truth."

[first_rule]

"That is a truth. A girl in every city, from every show. Or was the truth," he said, sobering a bit on that talk. Because then there was Henley and second chances.

"I'd rather disappoint them than..." He stopped, glancing at the door. "Some risks aren't worth it."

[the_death_card]

Jack sobered a little at what Daniel wasn't saying, following his glance toward the door. "You guys doing okay, speaking of?"

It was hard to tell, sometimes, where things stood with Daniel and Henley. He cared enough about both of them to hope things were okay, though. Or that they would be.

[first_rule]

That was the million dollar question, wasn't it? All he could speak for was himself though. "I think we're doing good," he asid with a nod. "I'm not going to do something stupid like before."

Reassuring and skirting around the words at the same time.

[the_death_card]

Jack wasn't sure whether it was an endorsement or not that Daniel thought they were doing okay, but it was better than them not talking or something. "Oh, pretty sure she knows you'll still do something stupid," he teases.

[first_rule]

For a long moment he thought to argue that, about he didn't. Maybe it was trust. Maybe it was using honesty as more startling than a lie. Either way, he went with the truth.

"No, there's stupid, and then there's that kind of stupid that was tossing her out. I don't plan on doing the latter again."

[the_death_card]

Jack went even more serious as he watched Daniel for a moment before he nodded. "Good. Because I'm pretty sure if you break her heart again, Merritt'll make you think you're a six-year-old girl for the rest of your life."

Jack would just punch him in the face.

[first_rule]

"Merritt even looks at her wrong even if it's for my supposed good and my next trick will be to make him disappear," he said with a smirk.

[the_death_card]

Jack just snorted in response to that, shaking his head. "Pretty sure he does a lotta that just to mess with you, y'know."

If Daniel didn't know that, Jack was pretty sure there was no helping him.

[first_rule]

"Yeah well..." He made a face, shrugging a shoulder. "This is... I just..." He paused, considering his words.

"Things have changed and I don't want to let it go when he does." He didn't want Henley thinking he would just let it go.

[the_death_card]

"I think it's pretty obvious to everybody she's still got feelings for you, man." He paused a beat before teasing again, "And you pretty much screwed up as royally as you could've before, so it's all up from here."

[first_rule]

"Do not underestimate how much I can screw shit up," he said, being honest even as he made it sound as if he was defending himself.

"And how could she not. I'm everything a girl could want."

[the_death_card]

Jack snorted softly. "Believe me, I've got kind of an idea." As to how he could screw shit up, Jack meant.

That got another disbelieving sound. "Yeah, well. No accounting for taste on some people's part."

[first_rule]

"No, you have what she tells everyone. You've only seen the best," he said, smirking even as he rolled his eyes.

Then he made a sound quite like Jack's, giving him a broad smile. "The fanboy in you adores me. Remember, I know that."

[the_death_card]

Jack rolled his eyes, too. "The fanboy in me hadn't met you when he spent three days straight on your YouTube videos." He was joking, though, and that should have been obvious; he really did still respect the hell out of Daniel. He wouldn't care what the other man thought of him if he didn't.

[first_rule]

"And then you did, and three days wasn't enough, was it?" Oh two could play at that game. "Least you didn't stalk me under a pseudonym?" He paused, giving Jack a look. "Did you? Were you Atlasboy15? Oh! trufanzboy26?"