rhapsodeity | 🌟INBOX

[ jade waits until she hears the door to their apartment open; a telltale sign that her father is home from a long work day. tonight, thankfully, is one of the rare evenings he's done earlier than usual and capable of coming home when jade and elizabeth are awake. from her bedroom, she can hear the sounds of her family and she decides that even if it's literally been almost fifteen hours since the Episode with dave, she needs to tell her parents. she's definitely broken their trust once this month, so she figures she might as well be on her best behavior.

she just might have to bend the truth a little? when she texted elizabeth to tell her she'd be back from picking up her charms from the striders, it hadn't been charms she was picking up, though. she is gaining experience with white lies... to her mother. her father interrogates people for a living, though.

time to test those nerves of steel, wolf.

so jade puts her phone down, leaving it on her bed, to go join her parents, wherever they may be. ]

So, um.

[ she laces her fingers together, nervous. after a beat, jade continues. ] I kinda... need to tell you both something! It's pretty important to me that you both know about this.

[ please dont assume the worst ]

[ first you solicit the Wolf's shower to hobos and then decides to let loose some subtle lies? Jade is working in reverse, which makes sense. the girl is hardly the standard definition of a teenager by any stretch of the imagination.

Bigby does indeed arrive home from work in typical fashion ― he hangs his jacket and scarf on the wall, drops his keys and wallet on the table right next to it and is already quick at work in undoing his tie. he doesn't expect to be greeted by his wife or daughter in stereotypical fashion, so consider his brows going crooked in amusement when he finds Jade in the living room fidgeting about. ]

Uh... okay. Good to see you, too.

[ it doesn't take supernatural senses to notice something is off. Jade's maybe been a bit distant since Tablegate 2017, but that was mostly because of Bigby's disciplining. this is different. he waits for Elizabeth to join them wherever she may be, pecking her on her temple as a way of greeting before walking over to Jade, bending down, and doing the same to her forehead. ]

You better not have fucked anything else up, pumpkin.

[ said with about as singsong of a voice as Bigby Wolf can possibly muster. ]

[ Elizabeth could see the Bigby's car pull into the small parking lot outside of their complex. It was the only one getting home around this time, the headlights a bit dim and certainly needing to be replaced.

She snuffs her cigarette out onto the ashtray resting on the railing of the balcony and in she goes to get out the leftovers. They had meatballs subs, while Jade had grilled cheese and tomato soup. By the time Bigby gets into the apartment, she's waving him through the small opening leading to the kitchen. ]

Made it home in one piece. [ She says this about 3 times a week. But, as Jade joins them, Liz makes sure to get a left over piece of grilled cheese for her, if she wanted one. ] Here, sweetie. Still hungry?

[ On cue, Liz is hesitant to hand over the plate, holding it ransom. He may beat her to the punch about fucking it up, but she withholds food with a questionable glance. ]

... I'm suppose to be the optimist out of us two, but I echo your father. Is something the matter?

[ Still...not budging with that plate. ]

Edited 2017-02-14 03:28 (UTC)

[ jade totally wants that leftover grilled cheese, but she figures she has to be an adult first. her father kisses her forehead and she makes sure to stand on her toes so that he doesn't have to stoop down too low. step one: be an adult... failed. miserably. she supposes she deserves their skepticism, and it's what she's afraid of, in fact. surely, this will go over... neutrally, she hopes. ]

No! No, no I'm really... I'm like, really happy about this, actually, and I was hoping you guys would be happy for me, too.

[ jade takes to the couch, flopping down in such a way that if she had any plans to look like a mature adult to either of her parents, as if she were totally not a dumb teenager panicking about what is likely, you know, not that big of a deal - well, those plans are thoroughly cancelled. the couch itself looks like it's seen better days, of course, but it's still good - clean and functional. ]

Okay, the longer I put this off the more you're both going to stare me down!!! Jeez! I'm so nervous, but... Okay. When I went with Dave and Rose to the planetarium, he um. He asked me to be his girlfriend.

[ a beat, and then: ] Please don't do anything to him?

[ he's just about ready to expect any and everything when it comes to his daughter as of late. try as he might to deny it, Jade is growing up and she is bound to get into problems and situations she can call her own. Bigby still wants to claim ownership of all of said problems, mind you, and squash them with an iron fist, but he knows he can't be like that for much longer. Elizabeth is aware how much he is struggling with that and maybe it's why he had been as hard on her as he has been as of late.

after Tablegate, though, he can't imagine that she would tell him anything more surprising. unless she brought home a chocobo and fit it in her bedroom somehow, that is.

he shoots his wife a glance of disapproval when she outs him for being the pessimist. Bigby would choose other, more kind words to describe his jaded view on the world. regardless, his attention is back on Jade as she flops on the couch and gives the definition of mixed signals. it isn't long before he sits down on the lounge seat that faces across from it, figuring Elizabeth may want to sit beside her instead.

the detective is eerily quiet in the build up to Jade's spilling of the beans. he draws an unlit cigarette and places it between his lips to chew on, a habit that placates him when he is inside their apartment. his eyes never leave Jade all the while, even as the words "Rose" and "Dave" come up. he knows what's coming before she even says it, and there's hardly any movement on his face as a response when she finally says it. ]

Well? You said yes, I'm guessing.

[ wut. ]

[ The grilled cheese is permitted. She hands it over onto the coffee table. Her seat was on the arm of the couch, letting Jade have her pouty moment in all her glory. She wants desperately to not hold her breath on something not going wrong, but Jade... u fucked up. ]

Not so much stare, but wait on bated breath. Anxious, bated breath.

[ She feels her stomach knot a bit, actually the more Jade talks about being nervous. HER POOR CHILD. Her eyes glance to Bigby, making a face that shows her concern.

Jade spills the beans and she somehow figured this occurred. Liz and Jade had a few girl talks, but nothing on the extent of girlfriend material. The comments and worry that her parents had were mostly about keeping their daughter well cared for, but Dave was far more of a normal kid — they didn't view him as a troublemaker or bad influence.

Bigby's silence cuts through her and it was actually Elizabeth that answers him. ]

Of course she said yes. [ But, to Jade: ] Right?

[ that's

not really the reaction she was expecting? she was planning to go slower about this, let them get their blows in about dave so she could defend him and her choice. instead, though, she gets this inclination her father is slightly amused and expected far, far worse. her mother finally relinquishes the sandwich, but jade has to deal with... the family meeting, first.

her mother answers for her. jade nods. ]

Yeah! [ that's too quick? ] I mean... Yeah. I said yes. He was really sweet about it and asked permission [ to make out? ] and everything first. He's such a stereotype sometimes! But I wouldn't have just said yes to anyone, you know, I really.... really, really, really like him and I just... wanted to tell you both.

[ .

jade's very nervous. ]

[ they may or may not know this, but Bigby is working on making himself more reserved. Jade likely expected him to promptly flip his shit and chew her out for thinking Dave is a guy she should be messing with. Elizabeth probably expected the same. to see him sitting there, thoughtfully chewing on the end of his cigarette... it has to be baffling. ]

Oh. He was sweet, huh? [ there he goes, asking questions about everything that's occurred. it's got to be close to eerie. ] That's nice. Must have watched quite a few romcom's before he got the courage to ask you. I wonder what his favorites are...

[ he pulls his cigarette out of his mouth to wet his lips by licking them. Bigby's looking off and into the distance when she mentions how much she likes him, chewing on the inside of his cheek and remaining silent long enough for Elizabeth to get her words in. regardless of what his wife and Jade's mother says, his eyes fall back on those wide~~-rimmed glasses~~ eyes of hers, bottom lip pursed in an inquisitive manner. ]

Did he, uh. Did he kiss you? Did you guys kiss? That part usually follows in the romcom's is all I'm saying.

[ oh no... ]

Edited (thanks for NOT HAVING GLASSES JADE) 2017-02-19 22:30 (UTC)

[ Elizabeth was shockingly quiet. She had a habit of trying to interject, to correct Jade in order to ease Bigby's concern. But she wants to hear this. To see how Jade faired in a situation like this. Her fingers strum the arm and it isn't until Bigby begins responding that she winces. The tone in his voice, albeit calm and 'normal' was definitely eerie. ]

We didn't get asked permission... [ She grumbles under her breath, but - ] I think it's fairly obvious now how much you liked him. Like - no, no romcoms, Bigby, really?

[ She shoots him a glance, narrowing her brows. ]

Don't. Don't make her nervous!

[ Whether she admits it, Liz was trying to keep the heat off the girl. ]

[ if jade even gets a hint of elizabeth's mumble, she doesn't show it. in hindsight, that was bad wording; dave didn't ask permission to date jade, he asked permission to kiss her. whoops.

except bigby is asking jade is dave kissed her, and that is definitely not how that went. as such, she shakes her head. to elizabeth, first: ] It's okay, I'm not nervous. I expected questions. [ hence the family meeting.

but then, her attention is back to bigby, her expression curious and confused with a raised lip and knitted brows. ] No, he didn't. Dave did not kiss me! Is there a reason you want to know or are you just teasing me???

[ it would be very easy to go ahead and interrogate his daughter like one of his many, many suspects. Yato has experienced it. Dave, too. to do it to his own flesh and blood seems to be... wrong, to say the least. so Bigby approaches it in a different direction, one that clearly concerns both Elizabeth and Jade. that's exactly what he had hoped for, of course, and it's hard to resist the smirk that wants to tug at the end of his lips.

he can't show he is slightly entertained by this for even a second, lest she would think he is somehow, gasp, okay with all of this. ]

Well, yeah. I need to know if his lips have to be stapled shut or not. And his hands? Were they ten and two on you or more like nine and three? [ this is, of course, a trick question that he hopes she will see through. she fucking better, else she thinks an honest answer is a good idea in anyway. ] And you neglected to answer the second part of my question. The part where I asked if you guys kissed. Not just him kissing you.

[ she should be able to see through his tactics if he's seeing through hers. like daughter, like father. Bigby glances over to Elizabeth and lowers his brows, giving her a Look that indicates everything will be fine. Dave isn't to be hurt and Jade won't get barked at. ―too... much... anyway. ]

[ There is a fear in Elizabeth — one that focuses less on her trust of Jade and more with history repeating itself. Mistakes can be made, quickly. Things can not be undone — it's not like they have time powers or anything. Wrong family.

The point of this meeting was Jade coming to them, honestly. That took courage. Instead of telling her own father after her run away, she ignored calls and had one large blowup while she was 5 months pregnant that severed ties with the religious man. It wouldn't go this way. Elizabeth relaxes a bit further.

Bigby picks apart her reply and she winces. ]

We — We just need transparency. If this is going to be official, a thing, there can't be any secrets with this. You're entitled to privacy but it's a slippery slope. This... we've never had to deal with this and — ugh. Look. We love you and while we worry, Dave is a nice boy.

[ She says hesitantly, eyeing Bigby cautiously. ]

We're figuring this stuff out too.

[ honestly, if jade minded being picked at, she'd have walked away at this point. the thing is, she doesn't have a midnight tryst to share, nothing of note had happened. the problem is she knows her parents well, knows that they'd be able to pick out the differences - and elizabeth knows. bigby has probably known for a while, though whether it's because liz has told him or not, she doesn't know. he's a detective; jade has already accepted that there isn't much, if anything, that she can hide from him once he's gone sniffing for it. elizabeth only needs to flash jade the barest hint of a hurt expression, a tiny bit of guilt in her eyes, and the tiniest wolf is done for.

jade waves a hand, recalling the incident with a lip curled in thought. ] I kissed him, actually, you're right. [ jade had grabbed his head to shut dave up because he talks too much. he rambles and rambles and then loses track of the conversation and so do you because that's just how he communicates and jade wasn't going to lose sight of their conversation. really, it's not that big of a deal.

anyway, it turns out that dave is red riding hood and jade's the big bad wolf in that equation. ] We did not do anything. I... am not ready to do anything beside that, anyway. Dave would never pressure me, too.

[ ...IF ANYTHING SHE SUSPECTS DAVE IS JUST AS UNPREPARED? ]

Auuugh, wait! Is this going to turn into the talk?

[ if Jade didn't happen to be of his own flesh and blood, he would give her kudos for going against gender norms and taking the bull by the horns. for topping the hell out of that blonde boy that tries so hard to be macho and cool. instead, he makes a face that only Bigby is capable of making, one that is almost impossible to determine if he is pissed, upset, confused or just plain unaffected. the man would make for a good poker player if he decided that was his game of choice.

instead, he seems to take joy in picking his daughter's thoughts and words apart. that may sound slightly sadistic, but it's not like he has to try hard. Jade hasn't made much of an effort to lie outright and she was quick to correct herself when it came to who kissed who. by the time she mentions "the talk", his lips are sputtering and his hands are flying in the goddamn air. ]

Oh hell no. If you need the talk at your age, we did something wrong as your parents. Especially considering who your parents... are...

[ his words trail off, and there shouldn't be any need for clarification. Bigby and Elizabeth are a. happy couple. a loving couple. being stuck under a roof with thin walls with a happy, loving couple over the past 17 years can only mean one thing. instead of dwindling on the subject for too long, he simply dismisses it all together with a wave. ]

Doesn't matter. Glad to hear you're thinking about it the right way. Even if he was one of those kinds of dickheads, I trust you'd beat the shit out of him regardless.

[ that is the moment where he finally smiles. ]

As long as you're happy, I don't mind. ―Just know I'm gonna make his life a little more miserable than normal. At least for a week or two.

[ Elizabeth facepalms as the talk leaves her lips. She wants to turn around and hide immediately at Jade of all people thinking they were this vague. Elizabeth may be much more willing to comment on how the Internet can be a cesspool, but Bigby is definitely more forward with dismissing that. ]

J-Jade, honey, no.

[ She lets Bigby talk, knowing that she's overprotective in her own right. Fearful, but Jade was not her and those anxious thoughts are forcefully shut up. ]

We want you to be happy and if Bigby isn't dropping f-bombs in his reaction, I guess it's obvious that you have our blessing.

[ "i'd trust you" are a trio of words she hasn't expected to hear again, not for a while, anyway. it gets jade to break out into a grin immediately, and she tries to hide it immediately because, hey, wow, maybe dad isn't that mad like she thought? she's probably still in trouble, but. ]

You guys don't know how much that means to me.

[ they really, really don't. because jade doesn't actually enjoy keeping big things like this from her family and she likes to think there aren't many secret between all of them. so yes, there's a grin, relief and her shoulders release in a telltale sign that she's relaxed now. ]

Thanks. But um, maybe don't give him too much of a hard time? He's pretty scared of you! And... he means well. He wouldn't ever do anything you told him not to do. [ there's a beat and then she sticks her tongue out at both of them. ] Besides, I think it's pretty obvious you both like and trust Dave more than you let on!

[ the concern has occurred to Bigby more times than he can count. that Jade's taken from her mother more than they all believed (as she's seemingly followed his footsteps in a lot of things). all it takes is a bad night of sleep for him to think of how she and Dave could have gotten into the same mess that he and Elizabeth had, and then bam, he's a fucking grandfather before hitting the big four-oh.

but one good look at his daughter as she spills the beans and he finds his concerns washing away. she has a clear head on her shoulders. even though Liz was exactly the same, kissless and innocent until the age of seventeen, Jade showed something different. he loves his wife to death, but she was susceptible to the bad boy charm to a degree. the youngest Wolf is probably more of a bad girl than that dweeb of a Strider.

before losing himself to his thoughts, he'll finally pipe back up again as she goes and smiles. ]

No promises. Especially because you think you have the right idea that I like him. Are you about to admit you've been smoking something a little more... medicinal while you're at it?

[ that's a different problem altogether. ]

[ Elizabeth will destroy this entire town if Bigby is a GILF. She's more quiet, maybe a little more tuned in emotionally than she would like to admit. Her thumb rolls over her own knuckles and it's not until Bigby says something ridiculous that she tosses a couch pillow at him without hesitation. ]

Oh, stop grilling her! Jade's not — look. Bottom line is that Dave is a good boy, we both know this. Red flags weren't raised before and they won't be raised now.

[ She smiles a bit, shaking her head. ]

Your dad's just playing hard to please, even now.

🌟INBOX

2/12, woof fam meeting

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wait till shes hobbling around and smacking into walls because she needs bifocals???

old lady jade

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