Heart Don't Fail Me Now, Courage Don't Desert Me | Closed to Jake

[mustachioedmaiden]

When we last left our heroes, Jane and Jake's date had been abruptly interrupted by a series of confusing texts from Sollux, requesting that Jane heal Tavros in exchange for his eternal servitude. Distressed by what this could possibly mean in concordance with her already-present suspicions regarding her mother's true nature, Jane resolved to venture to her childhood home, a place she had refused to revisit since finding her father's body there years before, in search of clues. Jake, seeing her obvious apprehension and distress, resolutely deigned to join her, and so they set off together, tension high. 

Jane had only taken the time to change clothes and grab some gear before hopping in her truck alongside Jake, her trusty fedora (a gift from her father) tilted smartly atop her wild curls. It was not far from her apartment to her old home, a 45 minute trek at most. When they pulled up front, the house towered above them, the truck almost seeming dwarfed where it rested in the winding, expansive driveway. They parked right outside of the elegant steps that led to the door, and Jane took a slow breath, gathering herself. ".... I have not been here in 7 years." she said, giving a small shake of her head in disbelief. "I... I didn't even get my things after he died. My room should be just as I left it when I moved into the Crocker U dorms freshman year..."

Comments

A Fish By Any Other Name...

[mustachioedmaiden]

"On that, I am not sure." Jane said, taking a slow, gathering breath. She set the paper to the side before turning back to the cabinet, beginning to flick through the files. Occasionally, she would withdraw a paper to view, and every one had that same name emblazoned upon it in bold typeface. "From the Desk of Elizabeth Peixes. Coirdially yours, Elizabeth Peixes. Best, E.P." Jane read aloud, giving a little shake of her head. "... This... This can't be. This woman... My mother obviously wanted to keep her hidden." She nodded to the panel. "... What if... This is an alias?"

...would...smell like fish?

[hoperidesagain]

Jake did what he could in this, basically glancing over the things she pulled out and set to the side again just for a second set of eyes to be on them. Then when she spoke, he looked to what she had...and raised an eyebrow at her suspicion. Gears turned in his head, and his hand placed itself on her shoulder as she spoke.

"...Janey...if that's true...then...what if there's some kinda connection between you and Feferi?"

[mustachioedmaiden]

A hand rose to rest upon Jake's, and she frowned, giving a little shake of her head. "... It... Would be foolish not to entertain that possibility." she said. Jane appeared to be calm, but it was honestly just shell-shock. Trembling fingertips continued to comb through the files, and she shuddered as her hands fell on what appeared to be an official document. "... It's her birth certificate, J..." Jane whispered. "Or a copy of it, at least." She rose it to eye level, the blatant, bold print leaving no more question to be had. "... Elizabeth Peixes." She handed it to Jake. "... As far as we knew, her maiden name was Lakely. Beatrice Lakely."

[hoperidesagain]

While Jake may not be the most well versed in a social conversation or reading another's emotions, he knew Jane. He knew her well. So while she kept the calm look about her, he could tell she was shaken to her core. His arm wrapped around her shoulders and squeezed tight as she handed him the paper. He looked over it with a careful glance, shaking his head in disbelief at the strange event unfolding before them. "This is...this is way out there. What are we gonna do about this Janey? This is...this is like multiple levels of weird. I can't even wrap my head around the whole thing, but it's demanding attention by golly.."