rhapsodeity | 🌟INBOX

[can you believe that jade just suggested netflix and chilling

Still though, Anya's shaking her head.] No, I trust you.

[more importantly:] I am not cuter than Jade? Don't be silly.

[there's an even firmer shake of her head at that, but anyway she's also not hesitating with her next set of words]

Or... maybe that's okay, if it keeps the other boys away from Jade. After all, Dave might get worried if he thinks he has competition.

[just saying]

[ with jade it's more netflix and passed out half way into the intro theme, honestly

holy shit, anya. cold. it's kind of a shame jade doesn't have her dog ears yet, because they would be completely flat against her head. she sets about beginning her work on anya's nails instead of answering at first, because this isn't public, at least, and. well. ]

Dave's my friend, Anya. You are, too. [ it's like that, you know? it's pretty clear jade has no idea dave's at all concerned about jade's dating habits, and is assuming he actually couldn't care less. ] And besides, you don't want too many boys around. You need a couple of girls around to balance it out!

[it's... like.... what? Anya blinks in confusion and she's quick to answer, though admittedly a little briefly:] Girls are cute too. I wouldn't mind getting to know more girls. Do girls send memes as much as boys?

[don't answer that]

Did I say something wrong, Jade...? I meant - Dave is your friend... of course. Your best friend, as he likes to say. [and there's another little smile - a happy one, because she thinks they're adorable] You can only have one boyfriend though.

One soulmate, too.

[which is dave

obviously

duh]

[ jade makes a mental note to send anya memes? so many memes. every single kind of meme. also: anya that's gay?

jade doesn't answer that, though, only looking up for a moment to meet anya's gaze. something wrong? no, never. anya's too sweet to do something wrong. jade's gone and messed up the conversation, and that's entirely on her. all anya wants to do is gossip, but jade's... shy. her lips purse and she frowns. ] No, you didn't say anything wrong, Anya! You really, really, really did not!

[ there's a coat of navy blue on a few anya's fingers that jade thinks is pretty on its own. her expression is softly conflicted, because this is... ]

We are best friends. I've known him since we were eight.

[ so no, they're not soulmates to jade. they flirt constantly, but he flirts with people he likes, she thinks? just a general like. it's natural for him. he's a social butterfly. jade's... she likes her friends and she likes meeting people. but she and dave socialize very differently. ]

Um. I don't know what it is... you think... I'm not... [ no, she is very sure she knows what anya is on about. jade pls ] Dave's not my boyfriend.

[ that is the best she can muster apparently? ]

Edited 2017-02-07 08:53 (UTC)

[Anya watches carefully - she watches people closely to begin with. But even more so, the more that she likes a person, the more she watches. It sometimes ends up in quiet mimicry, but Anya is simply doing her best to try to understand a person to the best of her ability. So she watches Jade's expression and tries to understand.

To someone on the outside, it's hard to see any of the things that might be causing Jade concern. Anya nods once - she's known Dave just as long, even though she's a few years his junior - so perhaps she can see some of the weirdness in that. After all, as much as Anya adores Dave, she doesn't see him that way.

But.

She doesn't think that's the case here.

Except there's only one way to find out.]

But don't you want him to be?

[A completely innocent, open, sincere question delivered in the terribly direct way that only Anya can manage.

Oh dear.]

[ every year on her birthday, jade has a cake placed down in front of her. there's a flurry of candles lit, and anya probably has seen her make a wish before blowing them out. she doesn't say it out loud; she doesn't do anything but close her eyes, think really hard and then blow the candles out, leaving the room in complete darkness. the lights always go on before anyone can catch her looking to the spot she knows where dave is. once cake's been cut and eaten, jade always leaves with dave because their birthdays are only a day apart, which means they enjoy a three day long birthday celebration.

so anya sees an opening and goes for it and finds out what exactly it is that jade's been using her birthday wish on for the last five years. ]

Since I was ten years old, Anya. I wish for it every year on my birthday.

[ there's a catch, though. and it's easy to see because jade swallows a lump in her throat because it's nice to say it, finally. it just also means she has to explain why it's not a thing, even though she's been wishing for it for years. ]

Just because I like him doesn't mean he likes me or that we're meant to be together, though. That is just the way it is.

[ . . . oh.

Anya blinks and says what's on her mind, as always:] ... That's a lot of wishes.

[Though admittedly she thinks it's a good thing. Despite Jade's discomfort and uncertainty, Anya gives her a smile. With her free hand, she reaches over to let her fingers rest on Jade's non-painting arm as a gesture of affection and reassurance.]

I think... what you're describing - that's the way that it could be, maybe.

But I don't think that's the way it is. Not at all.

Even though I know it doesn't mean anything coming from me and you'll have to wait for him... I hope you'll be patient. [A brief little nod.] All those wishes have to go somewhere. They'll come back to you soon, I think.

[ jade stops, mostly because she's surprised. anya's touch is cool and reassuring, a nice reminder that she's not alone. it's a lonely sort of feeling, wishing and wishing with all your heart and thinking birthday magic is a bunch of baloney because it never works. santa claus doesn't exist, the easter bunny is made up, and dave strider is definitely not her boyfriend.

thank god she has anya, though, because this is the first time she's probably ever told anyone, and it feels like her secret is more than safe with her. ]

You're talking like you know something. [ it's not a bitter statement, but lightly teasing, as jade resumes her work. ]

Um. He did do something I don't know how to interpret?

[ does.... does anya want to know. jade's not sure, but it's clear that jade's concern is dissipating, giving way to... teenage worry, mostly. ]

All I can say is that I have known you both for a very long time.

[That's her little hum - because Anya actually can't confirm anything. Dave hasn't talked to her about this, after all. However Anya has that habit of watching people and this is something that she came to of her own conclusion. Another one of those little facts. Stars are beautiful, breathing air is necessary to stay alive, and Dave Strider and Jade Wolf are probably lowkey in love with each other.

So lowkey that they both apparently missed it.

Shame.]

But I'm listening. [a happy little tilt of her head - she's listening to Jade far more than she's listening to the documentary at this point]

You can always tell me anything. I promise.

[ that poor, poor documentary is just background noise, not unlike britney spears' first album playing at the last sleepover i went to.

anya's words are gentle and reassuring, and jade feels a little like she's the fifteen year old here. the thing is, she completely trusts anya, so she talks like she's making some grand confession over the hum of talk of galaxies and time travel. (the irony will hit her later, when she knows things about herself and dave, and then anya will find out just how much they're entangled in each other, perhaps just like the stories her mama has been telling her for years) ]

We had a fight, but he apologized to me and we made up quickly. [ quickly is emphasized here, because everything happened so fast? a few text messages and then... ] He asked me what my favorite song was at that minute, and... you know that song by Carly Rae Jepsen? Your Type?

[ i mean jade plays crj all the time, so your type is probably something anya has a vague memory of, she imagines, but jade asks anyway. ] He sang it on the phone for me. [ dave doesn't just sing. lord in heaven knows jade is still trying to figure that one out. jade doesn't stand outside his bedroom door playing hotline bling on her ukulele just because. ] I don't really know what he meant by that.

[If there's ever a moment when Anya tenses - it's when she finds out that Jade and Dave had a fight. It disappears just as quickly as it came, of course, considering the fact that they made up quickly. But in general she's not very happy when such negative things happen to her friends.

... but it sure seems like something good came out of it.

Anya blinks once and it takes her a second to recall the song - she absolutely listens to whatever Jade chooses to play - and a smile plays across her lips as she finds herself singing a part that she finds funny:]

And I want you to miss me when I'm not around you. [A brief little giggle, though she continues on.] I know that you're in town. Why won't you come around to the spot that we met? ♪

[If she had both hands, she'd clap. As is, she's absolutely delighted.]

Wow! You're forward, Jade.

Was your heart racing? How bold. I'm flustered just thinking of it.

[anya stop being embarrassing]

[ ANYA IS THE CRUELEST... but she's not wrong. jade does have a defense, though. ]

I didn't know he was going to do that! Dave doesn't sing like that, Anya, and it was reflex. I was just... sad! And listening to it when he texted me, um... [ THAT'S NOT HELPING, IS IT. jade winces.

but galaxy nails will persevere - it's not quick work, but she's got one hand down now. ]

We sang a duet after that, I played my ukulele, and... [ it's so hard to stop explaining everything that happened once she starts because jade... doesn't tell anyone what happens with dave. she's so sure it means nothing, but in this case? in this case. ] He's sweet, but I don't know if it's because... He's sweet in general or sweet on me!

[ jade's going to die. ]

[It's not helping at all but Anya thinks they're adorable.... So even as Jade goes ahead and explains, Anya's going to go ahead and keep humming the song. Sorry Jade, she's an artsy kid at heart. Songs get stuck in her head easily. So even as she's careful, admiring the galaxy nails in delight - she's too distracted by Jade's apparent near death to actually say anything right now.

Oops.]

He's sweet on you.

[THAT'S BLUNT.

Then she continues to hum - ]

I'll make time for you.... ♫

[Another little giggle, happy and amused.]

What did you duet?

[Now she just wants all the details, sorry.]

You've got a good singing voice.

[ an idle compliment, delivered with a light huff. jade's not mad, not by a long shot, but she's certainly baffled and rambling. it's just nice to finally get things off her chest - as stressed out as she is, she definitely looks like.

anya's words are ridiculous, and she'll...answer that in a moment, but she wants to answer the question, first. ]

A song called Something Stupid. It's by Frank and Nancy Sinatra.

[ ...if dave's sweet on her, she feels bad for picking that song. ]

Thank you.

[An idle response, one that makes Anya hum happily. That's years of choir for you. Still, she enjoys compliments more than she's willing to let on...

Though she's heard that song before - she listens to all sorts of music, including some of the oldies that show up at her uncle's bar. She doesn't know it nearly as well as Your Type though... so she gives Jade a smile, this time actually completely innocently.]

Why?

How does it go?

[ anya.

anya.

...anya. jade is reliving this moment all over again. at the time, it hadn't occurred to her that there was a theme with her music choices that night, but now, as she's thinking about the lyrics... she might as well have stamped "please date me" on her forehead. she's mortified.

even so, softly, jade picks up with a little tune. she's not a trained vocalist, not like anya is. (anya is so amazing, to jade. such a brilliant girl with so much culture in her.) but it's not unpleasant, either, perhaps just an acquired taste. she knows the notes, at least. ]

I know I stand in line until you think you have the time to spend an evening with me. and if we go some place to dance, I know that there's a chance you won't be leaving with me. And afterwards we drop into a quiet little place and have a drink or two, then I go and spoil it all by saying something stupid like "I love you..."♫

[ she's bright red at the memory, fighting off a smile. don't think about dave singing "i love you," jade, don't do it, don't do it... she's doing it. ]

[jade.

jade.

Anya's listening - and she's watching too. There's no helping the way that her lips curl up into a smile and she giggles softly, like any excited teenage girl so proud of her friend would. The thing is that Anya's straightforward. Even without ever being in an actual relationship, she knows that she's not the type of person who would do something like this. Exchanging songs that say the words that you want to say without actually saying them...

It's funny and foreign to her, but for some reason - ]

That suits you.

[That's something she knows. For certain.]

You two are very sweet... I don't think that he would've sang that with you if he didn't feel something too, Jade.

That's my opinion.

[ it definitely suits her. everyone knows - everyone knows - but they're still playing around, acting like no one knows, assuming the other is oblivious. the reality is, anya is correct; there is nothing more jade wolf than skirting along the issue while being horrible, terribly, extremely obvious.

anya's words, though they are genuine and sweet, don't quite breakthrough to jade. sometimes, it's simplest to accept that perhaps you're nothing but a footnote in a boy's life, no matter how many chapters in your own you'd dedicate to him. (and this, she realizes, is dumb. jade is dwelling on dave when she has a long life ahead of her. what was that someone had said about growing gray hairs too early?) ]

Oh, I don't know. It's easy enough to sing something and not mean it, Anya.

[ they're just missing a drying period for anya's nails, now, so jade blows on them lightly, waving a hand over them to boot. ] That's why people can sing duets to people to they're not in love with. Dave was probably just doing something nice for me because he'd upset me! I don't mind that. It's okay. He's still my friend.

[Oh silly Jade.

Anya wants to console her in the ways that she's familiar with - holding onto her hands, giving her a hug, doing something to run her fingers through her hair, but that's a little hard when her fingernails are drying as they are. So instead she tilts her head for a moment before scooting over so that she can lean their shoulders against each other.]

I think what you're saying is true... and maybe it applies to other people - but I still don't think that it applies to you two.

[That's very, very hard to believe. After all these years?]

I'm sure that you two will be friends forever. [That's another fact, one that Anya can't imagine bending ever.] But I think you're not giving yourself enough credit either.

It's okay to believe that the boy that you've liked all these years might like you too?

[ the bump to her shoulders coaxes a smile out of jade, at least, and looking over to anya, she can see that she's only trying to help. it's very sweet of her, she thinks, but jade remembers seven years of wishes ("that's a lot of wishes," anya had said, and she's not wrong), and remembers lucky number seven. that's what she'd say about the third year, though. "third time's a charm!" and then everything else after that was just wishful thinking. (literally)

jade smiles, and leans closer to anya, looking down at her nails. a blue and purple galaxy with twinkling silver jewels; the documentary is talking about space, but her friend's voice demands her attention. ]

I think if we've been best friends for almost ten years, he might have told me by now? We tell each other everything.

I know you mean well, Anya, and I think Dave and I will be friends no matter what! I think we've been friends for a very long time... and... we always be. But, that doesn't mean we're meant to be together. If it's meant, it'd happen. We're only seventeen, you know?

[ . . . well.

Anya laughs a little bit at that and shakes her head.]

You tell each other everything... but you have not told him either? Oh Jade, you don't need to wait for him, you know.

[But that's Anya's opinion. It may not count for much, since Anya so very rarely wants anything from anyone. But on the rare occasion that she does, she doesn't hesitate to get it. So there's a small little hum and she rests her weight gently against Jade since she still can't quite take her hands.]

But you're right. I think it's okay to be patient too.... just don't lose hope? I don't think you'll be disappointed.

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