milliways_bar | (no subject)

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(no subject)

So, she's never walked downstairs from her room and had her clothing suddenly change before. Jenny hasn't left Milliways since the disaster on New Thal and every day has been about the same for her: running, reading, studying, spending time with Bart if he's around.

But clothing changes? Yeah. So very new.

Her eyes glance downward at the change. Her trousers are now practically skin tight and laced up the side of her legs, exposing her pale skin. Black boots go up just to her knees and that white shirt she's wearing is too tight, too short, and too low cut. There are heavy gold braces on each wrist and her eyes widen.

Hands go up through her hair, now down and partially braided. There's some sort of cloth covering it and she wrinkles her nose.

But when Jenny sees the sword hanging off her waist, her eyes light up. Brilliant!

[tiny tag: jenny, teddy altman]

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She was so young. Tiresomely.

"How have you been since we last spoke?"

That... that isn't a question Jenny wants to be asked. She'd actually be happier arguing. Because the moment he does ask, her shields go back up so Edward can't hear any of her thoughts.

"Fine," she lies. "Been having lots of fun spending time in Milliways. I was away too long."

Edwards expression was calm, even as he began to assume what the opening and closing meant, since she used it only against him both times now.

"You should enjoy yourself then."

"I am," she insists a little too strongly.

Reading is fun, as is learning everything she can get her hands on. So's spending time with Bart - that's a given. She has been enjoying herself.

Except during those hours in the night where everyone else is asleep and she's still awake.

"I am!"

It's the added enthusiasm, which makes him frown slightly.

Like she's trying to convince him and herself.

She notices the frown and tilts her head a little more.

"What?"

Edward's frown didn't lift, but he cocked his head.

"I was wondering what was wrong."

Her thoughts are shield, aren't they? Jenny blinks in confusion.

"Nothing. I said I was fine, didn't I?"

Edward's expression didn't change.

"You did."

Neither did his tone or meaning.

She nods eagerly, even forcing a fake little grin on to her face.

"Yeah. Exactly."

"It my prerogative not to believe you."

"I..."

She can lie again, can't she? It's bad enough Teddy's worrying. But this is Edward and it's infinitely harder to avoid not talking to Edward.

Her hands wrap around her body and she shrugs a little.

"I'm afraid to leave."

Edward nodded, still not pleased with the tricorn hat on his head moving with him.

"Because of your friend?"

A small nod.

"Yeah."

That did make some sense of her erratic reactions.

"What of all your grand plans and worlds?"

Jenny shrugs, looking distinctly uncomfortable. She despises this conversation already even more than the fight.

"They can wait."

"They need not to, Jenny." Her posture already betrayed her uncomfortablity, as he wondered if anyone had gotten that from her yet. "It will be the same universe tomorrow as it is today and was that day."

"But in a hundred years?" Her blue eyes look earnest as she talks. "In a hundred years, it won't be."

"No, it will be still. The garments and scents and faces will change, but the things you're afraid of will still be there the same." His expression softened, even as he shook his head briefly. "There will still be wars, violence, wrath, evil, death."

Jenny shakes her head adamantly.

"But the war on New Thal might not be there anymore. And then no one will ever have to know I killed Voule and... and maybe in a hundred years, I'll forget."

But she won't. She knows she won't ever. That won't ever become one of those compartmentalized memories,. Jenny can't let it.

Edward reached out slowly, curling his fingers into his hand, and rested the first two fingers with infinite gentleness against her cheek. "You won't, and even though you don't feel it now, one day you'll understand why that's equally as important as not letting it chain you."

Edward knew those intimately. Yet she hoped she remembered far fewer faces, even as he somehow doubted it.

Tears filled her eyes and Jenny stared at Edward for a moment more before moving away from his hand to hug him tightly.

"I know that. I know that already," she murmured. "But I can still hope, can't I?"

She hugged him and he moved his arm out of the way and then around.

The scent of salt increased and he wondered if it was good or bad that he could see what would come, how if he stayed, if he allowed her to keep being attached to him, he'd be made to watch her change and grow up in ways others both did and never could.

The innocent strips slowly and painfully removed.

He kept his voice light. "What about the coasters and the singers and the stars and the beauty of the universe you are so in love with? They still are waiting for you right now. Are they not worthy of witness even more now, out there triumphing against the darkness?"

"I don't know."

She chewed on her lip for a moment, trying to keep tears from falling. It was mostly a successful venture - mostly.

"Everyone dies except me, Edward. I don't know if I can live with that."

It might be too much. She was so young and not young and had forever. People had broken for lesser reasons in the time he'd passed through.

"Not everyone."