[ It truly is just like he's talking to one of his kids.. The ultimate teen experience. But Daniel is glad to get an answer back at all, so he won't mind it in the slightest. Especially when it means that Jesse - thankfully - hasn't vanished like some other people arond town. ]
Oh, have you been out there?
[ Safely, he assumes.. Given that it sounds like Jesse has been spending a whole lot of time out there. ]
Isn't it supposed to be dangerous there? [ He sounds more concerned than like he's chastising Jesse in any way, at least. Jesse is a grown adult, after all, even if he doesn't always feel that way to Daniel.
bc the towns so safe you have to call and chek up on me right
[ He gets it, though. There's a reason he's mostly stayed in town instead of wandering the woods. Well, a few reasons, including real beds and running water. ]
Are you two.. like that? Ah, I mean-- are you together-together?
[ It doesn't sound like he's judging!! More just.. confused? He didn't expect they could maybe be a couple? Is he reading too much into this?? (Wouldn't be the first time Daniel LaRusso has ever done that.) ]
[ Daniel may not mean to judge Jesse, he may not even sound like he is, but Jesse's spent enough of his time being grilled, having his choices questioned and found wanting, that he bristles immediately.
It doesn't help that he doesn't have the first clue how to define his relationship with Daryl. It's not something they've ever really talked about. Things had just...happened. And kept happening. ]
[ Hold on, Jesse, Daniel is so caught off guard by this sudden response. Especially since it's practically a double whammy with him already having been surprised by the last turn in the conversation.
Once he takes a moment to get over this surprise though, it's at least a little easier to deal with. This is the exact sort of thing his kids back home would've told him, after all. It makes it instantly more familiar. ]
Of course not. [ That realisation, in turn, makes his words sound less defensive, and more genuine. ] If that's the case.. then I'm glad for you, you know?
[ There is it. The inevitable Sappy Dad. ]
You deserve to have something that makes you happy here.
[ He sounds like he means it, at least. Like he's honestly surprised at the accusation. It's enough to mollify Jesse a little. Enough to make him bottle up all those feelings again. ]
whatever
idk
its not like its like official or anything
[ They've just been in the woods alone together for weeks. Jesse just got a job and a whole apartment just so they could have somewhere to live. They adopted a puppy together. No big deal. ]
Daniel does wonder if it's no biggie, given the way Jesse suddenly sounded so passionate. Sure, that could still just be fluster, so it's not like he can be sure, but.. call it parental instinct that he figures it might be a little bit more than what Jesse is trying to downplay it as now.
He'll be good and not call it out though. Not for now. Instead.. ]
Does it matter whether it's official or not?
[ Especially in this crazy place. ]
You can call it anything you like. Like I said-- being happy is the important thing about it. Then it really doesn't matter what form it takes. [ There's a small, almost amused sound. ] I mean, you're already way ahead of me, regardless of what you two have is official or not.
[ He doesn't know what to say to that. To any of it. Daniel's encouragement and support hit him like a punch in the gut. Unfamiliar, unexpected, because he's so used to being judged, to being criticized - why should Daniel be any different than everything he's known his whole life? But oddly familiar and nostalgic too, because Daniel had been different. Back in that dream, the life that never happened, he'd always had Jesse's back. Encouraged him to explore, figure out who he was. Make his own mistakes, if that's what he needed to do. Find his own path in life.
Then Daniel alludes, however indirectly, to his own love life, and Jesse instinctively scoffs in vague disgust. Eww, Dad. ]
[ Jesse, please! Please, no matter that you're actually an adult, you're still a kid in his eyes, alright! Even if he would have any details to pass on, he's certainly not going to do that. This is a mutual eww. ]
I hope you did get the rest of that though. [ Daniel figures he did. Even if Jesse has a hard time expressing his emotions - as far as Daniel figures, anyway - he's still a good guy. He probably just doesn't know how to reply to genuine support. ] And if anything bad ever happens with you guys out there, just let me know, alright? I know you're not exactly nearby, but I'd figure something out if it'd help you in an emergency situation.
[ Yeah, he got it. As unlikely as it seems, as unfamiliar as it is, he recognizes authenticity when he hears it. He knows Daniel had meant what he'd said about being happy for him. About believing that Jesse deserves good things.
But Daniel's right on about one thing - he still has no idea how to respond to that kind of support. So he lets it pass without comment, and moves on. ]
yeah ok
[ It's hard to imagine Daryl getting into any kind of situation he couldn't handle, but he can appreciate the offer. ]
[ There's a slight pause. Just a bit of nothing before the answer comes.
It's mostly because Daniel is surprised by the offer being returned. Not because it's out of character for Jesse to be kind - Daniel believes he's a kind guy - but because it's a little out of character for him to offer this so easily.
It's nice, though. ]
Thanks, Jesse.
You don't have to worry about me though. Dads are the ones supposed to protect their kids, you know? Not the other way around.
[ The response comes quickly, too quickly. There's no real ire in it, at least - Jesse's mental tone is just flat. A statement of fact. Whatever that life in the Void had been, it wasn't real. Daniel's not responsible for him. And Jesse's not some teenage kid worrying about chemistry tests. ]
A part of Daniel figures it's likely part of Jesse's natural defense, just like a few moments ago when they were talking about Daryl - but Daniel can't deny that something stings about it this time all the same. Maybe it's exactly because this is the sort of thing Daniel is so easily hurt about. ]
I know. I'm sorry.
[ And yet he shoves down the hurt. As he always does. It's better for him to deal with himself, rather than anyone else having to. ]
[ It does, is the problem. Why else would Daniel have called him at all? Why would Jesse have even talked to him, much less told him about his life? Offered to help him out if he needed it and accepted the same in return? They have nothing in common except for those memories of a life that never happened.
There's another long silence, before Jesse finally admits agreement in the briefest, least committal way possible. ]
[ Sure, it may be the least committal approach possible on Jesse's end, but it's still a response at all that doesn't outright go against what Daniel is saying.
Which means he'll take it. ]
Just take care out there, alright? I'll probably check up on you again some other time. [ A tiny pause, and then added like it's meant to be a joke, but sounds just a little bit too earnest in some ways: ] Sorry.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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Oh, have you been out there?
[ Safely, he assumes.. Given that it sounds like Jesse has been spending a whole lot of time out there. ]
Isn't it supposed to be dangerous there? [ He sounds more concerned than like he's chastising Jesse in any way, at least. Jesse is a grown adult, after all, even if he doesn't always feel that way to Daniel.
Which means he's still going to fuss a little. ]
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[ He gets it, though. There's a reason he's mostly stayed in town instead of wandering the woods. Well, a few reasons, including real beds and running water. ]
its cool
ive been out here with daryl
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[ Granted, their meeting was a little.. unconventional.. But so was his and Jesse's meeting, right. ]
I guess that makes me a little less worried. [ And, you know, Daniel actually does sound a little relieved as that thought comes across.
Sorry, Jesse. He's still way too genuinely invested in your wellbeing. ]
I could be wrong about him, but I'm pretty sure he's out there doing absolutely everything he can to keep you safe. Am I right?
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[ Is it going too far to say that? Maybe. But for real, Daniel. He's fine. ]
yu dont need to worry
hes like a super mountain man
he was like living out here before
hunting his own food and stuff
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A confused pause.
Then, when Daniel finally speaks up again: ]
Are you two.. like that? Ah, I mean-- are you together-together?
[ It doesn't sound like he's judging!! More just.. confused? He didn't expect they could maybe be a couple? Is he reading too much into this?? (Wouldn't be the first time Daniel LaRusso has ever done that.) ]
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It doesn't help that he doesn't have the first clue how to define his relationship with Daryl. It's not something they've ever really talked about. Things had just...happened. And kept happening. ]
what
you got a problem with that
Dad?
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[ Hold on, Jesse, Daniel is so caught off guard by this sudden response. Especially since it's practically a double whammy with him already having been surprised by the last turn in the conversation.
Once he takes a moment to get over this surprise though, it's at least a little easier to deal with. This is the exact sort of thing his kids back home would've told him, after all. It makes it instantly more familiar. ]
Of course not. [ That realisation, in turn, makes his words sound less defensive, and more genuine. ] If that's the case.. then I'm glad for you, you know?
[ There is it. The inevitable Sappy Dad. ]
You deserve to have something that makes you happy here.
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whatever
idk
its not like its like official or anything
[ They've just been in the woods alone together for weeks. Jesse just got a job and a whole apartment just so they could have somewhere to live. They adopted a puppy together. No big deal. ]
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Daniel does wonder if it's no biggie, given the way Jesse suddenly sounded so passionate. Sure, that could still just be fluster, so it's not like he can be sure, but.. call it parental instinct that he figures it might be a little bit more than what Jesse is trying to downplay it as now.
He'll be good and not call it out though. Not for now. Instead.. ]
Does it matter whether it's official or not?
[ Especially in this crazy place. ]
You can call it anything you like. Like I said-- being happy is the important thing about it. Then it really doesn't matter what form it takes. [ There's a small, almost amused sound. ] I mean, you're already way ahead of me, regardless of what you two have is official or not.
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Then Daniel alludes, however indirectly, to his own love life, and Jesse instinctively scoffs in vague disgust. Eww, Dad. ]
gl with that
dont need deets tho
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[ Jesse, please! Please, no matter that you're actually an adult, you're still a kid in his eyes, alright! Even if he would have any details to pass on, he's certainly not going to do that. This is a mutual eww. ]
I hope you did get the rest of that though. [ Daniel figures he did. Even if Jesse has a hard time expressing his emotions - as far as Daniel figures, anyway - he's still a good guy. He probably just doesn't know how to reply to genuine support. ] And if anything bad ever happens with you guys out there, just let me know, alright? I know you're not exactly nearby, but I'd figure something out if it'd help you in an emergency situation.
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But Daniel's right on about one thing - he still has no idea how to respond to that kind of support. So he lets it pass without comment, and moves on. ]
yeah ok
[ It's hard to imagine Daryl getting into any kind of situation he couldn't handle, but he can appreciate the offer. ]
same tho ok
if you need hlep or whatever
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It's mostly because Daniel is surprised by the offer being returned. Not because it's out of character for Jesse to be kind - Daniel believes he's a kind guy - but because it's a little out of character for him to offer this so easily.
It's nice, though. ]
Thanks, Jesse.
You don't have to worry about me though. Dads are the ones supposed to protect their kids, you know? Not the other way around.
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[ The response comes quickly, too quickly. There's no real ire in it, at least - Jesse's mental tone is just flat. A statement of fact. Whatever that life in the Void had been, it wasn't real. Daniel's not responsible for him. And Jesse's not some teenage kid worrying about chemistry tests. ]
im 26 years oldd
i can protect myself
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A part of Daniel figures it's likely part of Jesse's natural defense, just like a few moments ago when they were talking about Daryl - but Daniel can't deny that something stings about it this time all the same. Maybe it's exactly because this is the sort of thing Daniel is so easily hurt about. ]
I know. I'm sorry.
[ And yet he shoves down the hurt. As he always does. It's better for him to deal with himself, rather than anyone else having to. ]
It just still feels like it sometimes.
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There's another long silence, before Jesse finally admits agreement in the briefest, least committal way possible. ]
yeah
anyway
you dont gotta worry is the point
im fine
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[ Sure, it may be the least committal approach possible on Jesse's end, but it's still a response at all that doesn't outright go against what Daniel is saying.
Which means he'll take it. ]
Just take care out there, alright? I'll probably check up on you again some other time. [ A tiny pause, and then added like it's meant to be a joke, but sounds just a little bit too earnest in some ways: ] Sorry.