Fandom Into the fire (1x1 MzHyde/Gallifrog)

[_gallifrog_]

Rinaa hadn't known what to expect, but being given parental permission to break rules and do what she wanted wasn't anything she could have imagined happening. In a way, it was the push she needed. There were loose ends that needed to be tied up, and when that was done, there was no going back. But changing the timeline was worth it, even if she had to die for it to happen. "I can do that alright Dad." She replied, accidently adding the word for Dad in Jay's native tongue to the end of the sentence. Neither had been expecting that and they lapsed into silence. "Hells, sorry.....I didn't mean to say that and make it weird.......blergh" Rinaa mumbled in an embarrassd manner. "Don't ever apologise for that, neither of us may have been expecting that, but that's life. This may not be happening in the right order, but I'm still proud of you and who you are, even if it's different from what either of us would expect."

Even now, John could see that there were going to be some things he and Kay would never agree on. He knew they were both stupidly stubborn, but had a feeling on certain matters he was more immovable. Like Newcastle, nothing could make him talk about that time against his will. "Sure, sure." He rolled his eyes in response to that last remark,his lack of belief in the statement was obvious in his tone and body language. He still couldn't accept how somebody as screwed up as him could bring up a kid and have him turn out like Elliott- loyal, independent, strong, brave, sticks by his principles and those he cares about, with a good heart and a sharp sense of snark, even though these traits were what people saw in him and tried to bring out (with little success). Certain League members knew that when it came down to it, John Constantine would always make the right stand at the end of the day, even if his methods were unorthodox. "I'll do me best" Was all he added, the unspoken part of the sentnec being 'not to screw it all up, again'.

 

[MzHyde]

The fact that they couldn't always agree on certain things showed to Kay that neither were just agreeing for the sake of it or they couldn't think for themselves. She didn't want to be tied to someone where they just flat out agree on everything all the time. Debate and discussion is how people grow in a relationship and that's what Kay wanted. "Your best and my best is all we can do. You're not the only one who thinks will screw up on this" she told him. "Believe me, I'm still terrified about being a mum even if I don't show it." She admitted to him.

She put her mug down on the bedside table again, and shuffled around on the bed, so she could lay her head on his lap. She truly still felt like shit and sorry for herself, something that wasn't that common for her but right now she felt she was justified in it. The nauseous feeling not really going away fully, which made her cradle her baby bump slightly.

 

[_gallifrog_]

At first Rinaa didn't speak, she couldn't, for fear of choking up. She was far from perfect, and for from the best version of herself. She'd seen how others turned out through her death experiences. She knew they weren't all perfect, but she couldn't help being awed. She knew where she fit in- the fighter pilot, but it still felt like she was looking at people totally unrelated to her in any way. "Different's an understatement." She mumbled into his shoulder. "The point still stands kiddo." Without even realising it, he had started calling Rinaa by the same nickname John had called him. And internally he was doing the same to Fia, even though he'd spoken very little to his future sister.

It was reassuring in a way to know that Kay was just as uncertain and terrified about the whole thing as he was. On the other hand it meant that neither of them had the slightest clue what they were doing. There were going to be many nights where he'd be questioning his life choices, but for now, they just had to get through it. He somehow ended up striking Kays hair when her head fell onto his lap. "Dunno if that admission of us both being equally clueless and terrified out of our minds makes it better or worse." All this talk of kids reminded him of the conversation last night after Kay left, taking an even bigger risk and sneaking Elliott out in public. He wanted to be there for that, to see the sights of Elliott's actual childhood, but the bond was telling him to stay with Kay.

 

[MzHyde]

Without knowing how Elliott felt about her being there as well as Rinaa, Fia did want to see if she could bond with her brother the same way as she did in their future and her present. But she Lao knew she couldnt stand in the way of Rinaa wanting to know her father. That was so much more important in Fia's mind. She could be selfish, stubborn and who knows what else, but she wasn't a bitch. She still had morals when it came to family. If there came a time where she could hang out with Elliott she'd fully embrace it, but for now she didn't want to intrude on Rinaa's moment with him, but she also didn't want to interrupt John and Kay either.

Kay listened to what John was saying and she couldn't stop the slight smile from forming on her lips. "I guess we'll soon find out. I just keep telling myself all first time parents are terrified and clueless. I'm not sure if it will help but I keep doing it anyway." She told him, finding his action of stroking her hair fully relaxing and helping her. Part of her felt bad for almost inadvertently keeping her by her side, especially as she'd no doubt take a nap soon to see if that will help her, but she just didn't want to be alone either.

 

[_gallifrog_]

The two just sat there on the roof, each with an arm wrapped around the other. They sat in silence, not paying attention to the view in the slightest (they'd seen it many times before and it didn't change much. A few buildings had been built since Elliott's time, and some were still to be built to create the view Rinaa knew). Instead of talking they were mulling over the events that had brought them there to that rooftop. The choices they'd made, the paths they'd taken (or totally ignored), the events beyond their control. The guitars had been carefully placed to the side when John left and were resting in their respective cases, the sunlight bouncing off the metal clasps of the case.

"I'd say it helps in some small way." He doubted anything could truly rid either of them of that fear, no matter how hard they wished. He fell into silence again, discussing emotion was always awkward and uncomfortable for him, hence why he avoided it at all costs. Matters weren't helped by the fact that John hated other people dissecting his thoughts and feelings, trying to psycho-analyse him and put him in a neatly-labelled box. He'd also run out of things to say that didn't sound like stupid regurgitated advice from a self help book. The expression on his face showed he was in deep thought and something else was preying on his mind.

 

[MzHyde]

Like John, she didn't think anything would 100% rid them of their fears, but anything that could help ease those fears, she would grab with both hands tightly. "Hmm" she just replied to him. The stroking of her hair was now beginning to lull her into a sleepy state, but not enough to actually send her to sleep. It was that in-between state of relaxation and slumber. She had no idea Fia was outside listening in on their conversation, and this didn't know how what they said could have possibly made her feel. Kay was also still a bit pale in complexion, but there was hints of colour coming back to her face.

Fia having heard how scared they both were about having her was both making her feel a twang of hurt and found it sweet that they wanted to do right by her so bad, it was causing fear in them. She walked away and stood on the balcony, she heard Elliott and Rinaa both fall into silence and wondered if she'd be welcome up there. "Am I welcome up there? I don't wanna be in the way.." She asked.

 

[_gallifrog_]

Upon hearing Fia's voice, both turned to look at the other to get their opinion. They both made the exact same move, and had the exact same questioning expression, right down to the angle their heads were tilted at. Elliott could see what she meant about inheriting body language as well as genetics. "I'm fine either way, just don't want to invite her up if it'll be weird for you." Elliott replied quietly in Attili. "It's okay, I think we've made a sort of truce. But if she falls of the roof she can fly." Rinaa responded in the same language. The last part was a very contemplative Jay-like remark. He'd heard the assassin say similar things before, and it had taken a few years to learn whether she was joking or not. "Yeah, come up and take in the view." Elliott idly wondered if that drawing was still in John's apartment.

Looking at Kay, John was relieved to see that she was looking better, more alive and less fragile than before. In the silence of the room he could hear the change in her breathing, and also that nobody had returned yet. He didn't know when exactly they'd set out, but Elliott had confirmed it was dark when the three women left and that they were going to run one of the mountain trails which was an endurance track. He could only guess that Rinaa and Elliott were still on the rooftop, but not playing anything. He doubted Rinaa would have played if she'd known others beside the two of them were listening. "Cal's gonna disguise Elliott and bring him 'round the main city later, and I dread to think how she's going to change him." He told Kay, figuring that he should shift the topic of conversation to something else.

 

[MzHyde]

Fia waited for an answer, and for a brief while she did think they were going to say no, something she wouldn't have been surprised to hear. If they had, she would have just looked for something else to occupy herself, but to her surprise they said she could. So she climbed her way up with parkour moves and sat down on the other side of Elliott, looking out at the view. "Future you didn't lie about the view" she smiled briefly. "And..thanks for not telling me to go sod off elsewhere you two. Was expecting an no to be honest" she said, her tone not really giving anything away, but she was still preoccupied by what she overheard from John and Kay.

Kay listened to the little bit of information John said about Elliott being taken out later in disguise, and it made her move to lay on her back so she look up at him with her head still on his lap. "That should be interesting to witness" she replied. "You going to go with them?" She asked him, just sensing there was more to the topic of choice than he initially mentioned. She could also see the relief in his face when he glanced at her so she put that down to she must be looking less dead. Not seeing herself in a mirror she had no idea how she looking.

 

[_gallifrog_]

"Yeah, it's something else entirely compared to Earth." Elliott replied, not wanting to probe too much. There were questions rushing around his hard as to whether he ever returned to Attil again, whether Cal and Cliff still lived there or if they moved off planet. He knew that in Rinaa's timeline, things were vastly different, and she'd grown up on Attil among other planets, even if it wasn't her home planet. "And any other planet really, they're all different." Rinaa looked at the skyline again, her eyes greying slightly. "Ya well. If it had been a day or two earlier it would have been a vehement 'no' accompanied by many profanities." She pushed the hair out of her face once again, rummaging through her pockets for something to tie the hair up with. An old piece of leather strapping was perfect for the job, she and aleah always kept their hair back when working, be it with goggles or hair ties.

"Cal was threatening him with fake eyelashes and eyeshadow, I think she was just trying to terrify him, but I wouldn't put it past her to make a right mess out of him first and have that moment captured on camera forever." John could see how it would play out in his mind. It sounded exactly like the kind of thing an older sister would do, espescially one with the same mischievous streak as Elliott. And he doubted Cliff would make any attempt to stop her future wife. At the question, he nodded, the reconsidered the gesture and shrugged. "I want to go, they are going back to their childhood spots, and to their original home, and I think its something I should be there for."

 

[MzHyde]

Fia could tell from Elliott's tone he had questions, just like she had questions for him about life in this timeline. But it seemed neither of them were quite ready to ask them yet. When Rinaa replied to her thanks to letting her join them, she couldn't help but smirk. That sounded much more like what she was expecting. "Sounds about right" she replied, the amusement evident in her tone. Seeing Rinaa out the corner of her eye use a piece of leather strapping to tie her hair up, she noted how it was the same as the Leah in her timeline. It made her wonder if Leah has found out what she had done and if she had snitched on her or kept her secret. For things like this (not that they were a regular thing- time travelling) Leah was highly unpredictable as to whether she would be on Fia's side or not. "Well.. either way I'm glad I've not been shut out...I can't exactly be with mum and dad right now..they're having one 'im terrified of being a parent' chats and it's super duper awkward to listen to" she admitted, it made her remember just what a different timeline she was in.


Kay was amused by the mental image of Elliott slapped with makeup. "No doubt. I could imagine her going full on drag if she had the opportunity, she seems the type" she replied to him. She then listened to him say about wanting to go and she agreed with him. It was something he should be there for, no matter how she was feeling. "I agree. You should be there when they go. No matter how I'm feeling by then, you should go with them. I don't wanna hold you back from that." she explained to him.

 

[_gallifrog_]

The fact that John was having such a talk, did not surprise Elliott or Rinaa in the slightest, and their expressions showed that. "Considering John would rather go to Hells than recognise the existance of his emotions and that he'd rather face armaggedon single handedly than have any form of responsibility for somebody's mortal life that is not his own, I'm not surprised." "And the less said about my timeline the better. Two out of three isn't exactly the best odds." Rinaa remarked, causing Elliott to raise an eyebrow in question. "Yeah, I know what happened, John told me when I was thirteen, on the anniversary of your death." John had done it of his own accord, figuring that Rinaa was old enough for the truth. If Leah had been told what happened at Newcastle, she'd never shown any sign of it around Fia.

"I'm counting on her being the type." John smirked in an evil and conspiratorial way. He would not let Elliott live it down. EVER. He was also relieved that Kay was agreeing with him that he should go. He would have gone regardless of her opinion on the matter, but to have a confirmation was appreciated. "And I would have gone regardless of what you'd have said. This may be the only time I'll ever be on this planet with Elliott. And besides, I want to see it for myself, the other half of his life was here after all......... I guess I want to compare the two as well." He pushed his hair out of its eyes. It was growing long, and at some point he'd have to cut it, before it went utterly out of control or he developed an 80s Macgyver style mullet.

 

[MzHyde]

Fia nodded, knowing all of that. She knew John wasn't the easiest of dads when it came to having chats and opening up. She knew what happened, she mostly got a brief explanation from Kay as to why he found it so difficult, so she didn't know the real gritty parts, but she knew enough. John had given her some kind of confirmation that what Kay told her was the truth, but that was it. Hearing that Rinaa knew what happened, she wondered if she knew more as John told her personally, and that hurt slightly that her own dad would have told Rinaa in her timeline but not told his own kid. "Don't get me wrong, I get why, and know he's like that, it's just awkward as the kid hearing even your own mother say 'im terrified of being a mum'. I've never heard them express those thoughts before...makes me feel awkward ya know?" Fia explained.

Kay knew straight up that he wouldn't ever let Elliott live it down. None of the group would and that's how it should be in her mind. Every member of the family has to have one thing happen to them at least that would never be forgotten and they'd get taunted over. "Oh I assumed as much that you would. I can't exactly stop you from doing anything. I've known you long enough to know that much. You got the right to see it all as well. I love you but I'm not the kind of chick that's going to make you stop learning about your kid's childhood just because I'm with you. I've never been like that and never will be. If I do you have permission to call me out on it" she told him, knowing he really would call her out on it too without holding back.

 

[_gallifrog_]

Rinaa ahead to bite back from saying something along the lines of 'well at least they both got to be parents and know their kids. I lost my father before I was even created.' Instead she showed restraint and shrugged. "Yeah" she said sadly, knowing if she attempted to say anything else, she'd add something offensive or angry. "Yeah, I get it. And they're not the people you know either, they have completly different mindsets. So that must add another layer of complexity to the matter." Elliott knew what she meant, it was awkward in so many levels. It didn't exactly fill you with hope after travelling all these years across space and time. He didn't mention his own birth mother, after all, she'd remarried a long time ago. He couldn't really remember much about her to be fully honest.

"That I can do far too well." He remarked with a half smile. You could always count on John to point out everything somebody else was doing wrong, while ignoring his own flaws. "I've got that right in my mind, but it's Cal and Elliott's call at the end of it." If Cal said he couldn't go, she wouldn't. Sure, John wouldn't be happy about it, but for once, he'd respect the choice made and back down. "This is their past, the stuff that happened years before I got involved. I've heard stories sure, but I know Ell hasn't told me everything, nor would I expect him too. Some things he wouldn't remember, or might have just blocked out in order to bypass the trauma, others he wouldn't want to remember in the first place. He has that right not to tell the stories."

 

[MzHyde]

Fia didn't want to cause any offence to Rinaa and she tried oh so hard to choose her words carefully. Though she was expecting she'd mess up at some point and get given another lecture from Rinaa. She hoped that wouldn't be the case but she was bracing for it none the less. She listened to what Elliott said in reply, nodding at his words. It was such a relief to her to know he got where she was coming from. "Massively so. It's now where the time travel cons show their face. If I was in my time and would overhear them say something I either didn't understand or got upset over, I'd go to you. But it's all so different here." She explained. She would have said about how Elliott would cheer her up in her time as she'd just let herself into his room if he was in there, or join him on the couch and flop onto him ignoring his personal space. Yet she knew if she said anything of the sort, Rinaa would no doubt get angry or upset or worse- both.

"I'm counting on it doll" she said with a light smirk, her Seattle upbringing coming into view with her reply. She then listened to what he said about Elliott only telling him things he wanted him to know or could remember. It sounded about right to her, its how she was when she was adopted. She only told Sam's folks why she chose to tell them, or what she hadn't purposely wipes from her memory. If she was forced to tell them things, then she'd have snapped at them, which made them learn rapidly that forcing her to talk was the wrong move. They may have had Sam, but taking on a 9 year old that had some kind of trauma was a whole new situation they weren't prepared for, and thus out of their depth with for a long while.
"That doesn't surprise me in the slightest. I was the same when I got adopted. Choosing to shut people who want to help out was always easier than opening up. So he and Cal could easily go either way. Just don't take it to heart if it goes a way you don't want so to speak." She replied to him. There was alot she hadn't told him about her own past, so she was talking from an intensive experience.

 

[_gallifrog_]

Despite what Fia may have thought, Rinas didn't have too much of an issue with being told what Elliott was like in an alternate timeline. She'd grown up in the stories if what Elliott was like, so it wasn't new to her. That didn't mean she didn't feel sad knowing what she had missed out on, but over the years, she'd toughened up to it. "Yeah, the cons are pretty dreadful if the past years have taught me anything. And different is an understatement. It's another reality in a way." To hear that Fia did come talk to him about whatever was upsetting her was good news for Elliott. It showed that the two got along and had a strong bond in her time, despite the age gap between them, and the fact that he had his own family. He could hear the fondness in her tone and it made him smile slightly. "Good to know I'm like that in the future. Which reminds me, I'm going to try and not ask about either of your timelines, they are vastly different, and the difference is me. I don't want to know how different it gets and all I'll end up doing is comparing the two, and then comparing you two, which can only end badly."

The fact that Kay was talking from experience didn't escape John's notice. Just like with his past, there were things Kay didn't talk about. And that was fine with him, he accepted it, and wouldn't push further unless she broached the subject first. People needed their secrets and their space. "Yeah,I know that already. I'll bitch about it sure, but I won't actually mean it. I've been there too, and things are just best done alone sometimes. Having other people will just make it worse to deal with, not easier." Like him visiting the graves or if he ever went back to Newcastle, he'd only take Chas and Elliott, nobody else would understand it and additional presences would just be a hindrance. "Shutting people out, I know it's self protection, and I know it's effective too. And not saying things is on the same principle. Saying stuff aloud makes it real, which makes it ten times worse."

 

[MzHyde]

"oh for sure. It's kinda trippy actually" Fia added to Rinaa's little comment to the whole time travel can suck remark Fia spoke about. If anyone could understand how she feels about that aspect of it, it was Rinaa. She then listened to what Elliott said and she didn't blame him for not wanting to pry into both their timelines. "I can get that, I wouldn't want to if I was you either. All I'll say is yes, you're very much like that in my time. We're really close actually, I look up to you a lot." Fia told him, hoping that would be of some kind of reassurance to him when the present unborn her comes into their lives. It was pretty standard information, so she figured it wouldn't hurt for him to know it.

Kay listened to him, glad to hear him say what he did. Bitching about it was in Kay's mind, a typical John response and she would wonder what was wrong with him if he didn't bitch about it, if it came to that situation. She nodded at what he said next, that was exactly her thinking as well. "Agreed. I may have learned that sometimes talking about it may hurt like a bitch initially but eventually does make things better, but I do still prefer the other method alot of the time. Which is why I'd never pry into yours or Elliott's past without permission." she told him.

 

[_gallifrog_]

Rinaa nodded with relief at Elliott voicing his reasons for not prying, and doing it in such a way that showed no preferential treatment. She could understand that Fia also wanted time with Elliott. This was her brother after all. But for now, she was going to be selfish and hog him. Fia had a lifetime with him that she didn't, so Rinaa intended to make the most of her little time with him. Though she would give the two time together, it was only fair. "Yeah, I get that, its the only logical course of action." Elliott's shoulders slumped slightly with relief that both understood where he was coming from. "Thanks for that, both of you. And it's good to hear all that Fia, sometimes all you need is to know is the little that makes it worth it." "Ditto on that. To know its worth it..... well...... it's worth everything." She was talking about herself, but the words just as equally applied to Elliott and his decision to come back.

If Kay was to pry, John would more than likely just clam up and refuse to speak for a good while. He didn't like people knowing his past. It was bad enough that most of the Downworld knew of Newcastle, he didn't want any more people close to him knowing about it. He was ashamed, but more than that, he was terrified of it. "And that's appreciated, by both of us, even if Ell's more likely to be a talker on certain matters than I am." Elliott had talked about his childhood with Kay around, he'd just given no ages, or specifics that could suggest it didn't take place on Earth. It was the bare bones of the story, and at the time had seemed sufficient, but looking back, the gaps were obvious. "And yeah, I don't and won't talk on a lot of things until they blow up in face. Probably not a mentally healthy option, but since when do I do the logical thing?"

 

[MzHyde]

Fia also appreciated that Elliott didn't take sides or pick favourites over the two of them. That wasn't going to either of them any good mentally and it wasn't the right thing to do. She also did want Rinaa to spend as much time with Elliott as possible, she wouldn't even have to tell Fia to bugger off for her to get that point. She knew Rinaa didn't grow up with him around, and she wanted the girl to know what an amazing person Elliott was, like she grew up learning. She smiled nodding at his reply and Rinaa's. "Anytime. It really is the little things in life sometimes, I agree" she told them both.

Kay obviously knew a bit about Newcastle when he opened up to her all those nights ago when they exchanged photos and ones from his time there fell out and she saw them. Yet that night was enough for her to know, and she wouldn't dream of making him tell her anything he kept out. He never pried into her old life, so she would give him that same respect. "I get that from all things. And you're right, it's not the mentally healthy option, and you never do the logical thing, but it's also human nature to take that road" she told him. "It's all self preservation I guess" she added. "As long as you know I'm here IF you of anyone need me, that's enough for me" she said.

 

[_gallifrog_]

"It's the small things that remind us of the importance of the big things, or so I've been told." Elliott remarked, quoting one of Chas's well used lines. Rinaa recognised it, her lips twitching into a smile. "True wisdom there alright." Rinaa reached over to the guitar case for Jack's guitar and carefully checked the instrument was in place before shutting it. In Rinaa's time, Jay kept a photo of her and Elliott, and some photos of her and her brother in the sheet music pocket on the front. But in this time the bulge in the from showed there was more than just photos in it. There was still Jack's belongings in there- a couple of photos of him and Jay, along with some cash, a pencil, notebook and old cinema tickets. "D'you think Jay'll get pissed if I look at her brothers stuff?" Elliott asked, directing the question at Rinaa mainly. "I doubt it, despite the prickly exterior, she cares intensely about you. But either way, I've already been through it." She passed over the case to Elliott.

"Yeah, I know" was all he said on that. Maybe someday he'd talk, but he doubted it. It would take something spectacularly bad for him to open up to such an extent. And if Fia was to go by he didn't say much in the future, no matter how many times she (or anybody else) asked. Someday, he would go back to Newcastle, like Elliott did with Attil, and make his peace with the place. But only when he was ready to do it. And that could be years away. "This is probably where a normal person says thanks or spills some deep secret that's been gnawing away for a long time, but that ain't happening from me." At that moment a text came through from Cal's number. Stocking up on supplies, any requests? Attached was a photo of an obnoxiously large pile of make-up, and clothing and accessories to take the piss. John laughed, turning the phone so Kay could see

 

[MzHyde]

"quoting Uncle Chas I see!" Fia remarked with a smirk after Elliott spoke and Rinaa added to it in her own way. Fia also recognised it as Chas had told her that line and varying versions of it many times in her timeline. She then looked across to see what Rinaa was doing before just looking away. Even in her timeline she knew Kay's brother was a no go subject. It's just how it was, at least with her anyway. She let Elliott and Rinaa talk about what was in the case, as Elliott clearly wanted to see it all. So she minded her own business and took out her phone, taking a couple of photos of the view in front of her, then scrolling through the ones already in her gallery.

"Mm.." was all Kay said in response to John's remark about what someone else would do in this instance, but she didn't expect John to spill anything. "I wouldn't expect any less" she told him. When the text came in, her curiousity got piqued, so when John showed her after laughing, she was glad. She chuckled at the photo and message. "Damn that is an obnoxious amount in one photo" she commented, knowing it was all done in a way to take the piss.

 

[_gallifrog_]

Jack was always a no go subject, Jay may have made peace with the fact that it was sabotage, not her own actions that resulted in her brothers death, but it still affected her. Whenever she did mention him, people would listen, and debate for a long time over whether to ask their questions or not. Sometimes, like when they ate out a few days ago, Jay was more open to answering, where as other time you risked getting a knife in your skull. "I'm blaming you if she gets mad." "I'm blaming you, so that makes us equal." Rinaa smirked back, earning a dig in the ribs from Elliott, an action he did all the time in the future, but had only done now out of instinct. "Cheeky".

He carefully pulled out the photos and flicked through them. One of them showed Jay, her brother among a line up of other pilots. All were dressed in flight gear, that had been assembled from different scavenged suits. In the background was a desert world, and a row of concealed spaceships. "That's from when they both still ran with The Rats. There is a serious Star Wars rebel base vibes of that place, even though it was long abandoned when I went there." The majority of the shots after that seemed to be of the twins together. One thing that stood out was that both Jack and Jay's hair was always changing colour and style. They were identical twins and the kind that stayed that way for their whole lives.

"Yep, it is, that must be the entire contents of the store that they have there." John looked at the photo again, zooming in on the pile to show that the three had bulked it up with groceries to make it even more obnoxiously large. He started typing out a reply, then paused as another text came in, this time from Cliff's number. "Also, we're (substitute I for we, the other two are just taking the piss out of doing up Elliott, so that leaves me to do the actual shopping.) doing the general shopping, so any food in particular you lot want? Or anything else for that matter?" John couldn't help but laugh at that text, which he could practically hear Cliff saying as he read it. "Anything you want them to get? Cliff's asking." He turned the phone to Kay. John has assigned her the contact name of Doctor Barton and had her profile picture as the bow and quiver propped against the table.

 

[MzHyde]

Fia my have been minding her own business but she did hear them decide to blame each other if Jay got mad about the snooping through her brother's stuff. As she side glanced she saw him jab Rinaa in the side and she couldn't help but smirk and smile at the action. She recognised it instantly as something he did in the future a lot, particularly to her and Leah. She glanced back at her phone again, as Elliott started looking at the photos. She really didn't want to pry, but every now and then she found herself side glancing at the odd photo.

Kay watched as John started to reply when she heard another reply come through. She looked up at John again when he said Cliff was asking if they actually wanted anything. She looked at the question on his phone smirking at the style of asking from Cliff and the nickname he gave her, the Hawkeye reference not going amiss. She had to give it a think for a moment, as she didn't really know what she wanted. "Hmm...don't think so, I can't think of anything anyway" she told him, finding her mind just coming up completely blank when trying to think of something she might want.

 

[_gallifrog_]

The two twins were either smiling or smirking in the photos. They had the same silver eyes, and brooding good looks, Elliott couldn't help but notice that. "Damn, he's good looking." "Totally agree, which is probably many, many degrees of creepy. He was a cool guy, very much like Jay personality wise, not one to get on the bad side of." Rinaa had met Jack, during her time in prison, he never found out who she was. "So I've heard." Elliott had been the first of A.J's gang that Jay had trusted with her life story, or at least parts of it. He flipped through the rest of the photos, there were maybe ten in total. The earliest one showed two gangly ten year olds hanging from a balcony. The most recent one showed two eighteen/nineteen year olds sparring, Jay flipping up backwards aiming a violent kick for her brother's jaw. Both had various Isogrii bands coloured and were wearing the traditional light sparring armour.

John's nickname made perfect sense in his mind. It was a classic example of John's sense of humour for naming contacts. For those closest to him, he used their names, but for everybody else he used nicknames. And for hero types it was a block caps message telling him to change his phone number. There was one person in his contact who bore the particularly long title of 'ass kicking, literature studying, chain smoking pub bouncer'. That concoction always made its owner smirk and response with 'Damn straight John an' don' you ever forge' it." Cliff's nickname him the two most impressive and important skills of Cliff- her archery and her medical training. And it just suited her as well. "Okay." He simply replied. There were a few things he could think of, so he texted those back, placing an emphasis on the amount of dark chocolate chips they needed to aquire as those pancakes seemed to be the most popular. Along with some hideously disgusting make up colours and wig style suggestions.

 

[MzHyde]

Even from a side glance, Fia could see Jack's features well enough to know he was an identical twin to Jay. Both Elliott and Rinaa were right, he was incredibly good looking but Rinaa was also right in the creepy factor of those statements. She then paid no attention to the rest of the photos. She was just happy to be be around people, even if she didn't fully interact with them. It was better than being on her own and feeling out of place for a while. If she was home in her time, being alone was no bother to her, she enjoyed it, but here she wanted to be around people. She went back to scrolling through her photos, mostly finding the ones of the stray dog she had befriended and went running with.

Even Kay had to admit the nickname was damn perfect for Cliff. She may not have witnessed her archery skills herself, but from what she had heard, she was damn good. She hoped whilst she was here she'd be able to go onto a range with her at some point before she got too big. She'd love to see Cliff in action and shoot herself again. She made a mental note to talk to Cliff about it. Kay just stayed where she was when he text Cliff back what seemed to be a long list of things, judging by his typing.

 

[_gallifrog_]

Curiosity satisfied, Elliott returned the photos to the front of the case. Everything else inside he noted was just the random things everybody kept in their case, though he found himself counting the money, it was enough to buy food and drink from any random street stall or market. The cinema tickets were five or so years old, but still intact. They were for a triple bill of a series of spy movies. Evidently he liked that particular franchise. From the roof it was easy to see as Cal, Cliff and Jay made their way back to the house, baring various bags. "Oh Hells, they've really gone all out on the disguise shopping." He groaned, knowing exactly what they planned to put him through.

"Yup, I don't expect this to be something you can ever live down." Knowing that Fia hadn't been informed of what was going on later, Elliott explained "You missed this last night, but Cal's upping the risk factor once again and sneaking me out into the city." He gestured to the buildings rising up from the further away peaks. "And this involves disguising me with all manner of everything, and she's evil enough to go full on drag." "They're gonna spend so long taking this piss." Rinaa was on the verge of laughing at the thought when Cliff's voice came out of nowhere scaring the shite out of all off them. "Oh we totally, are John has even gone and put in some special requests." She appeared to be levitating just below the level of the roof, but a closer inspection revealed she was actually on a hovering ice platform.