1st Floor Rec Room, Saturday Noon

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

Yes, at this point, 'Jak' and 'restless' were two words that kind of belonged in the same sentence together by default. It'd been over a week and no more missions, and hitting the grass outside on his JET-board didn't manage to keep him busy all the time.

Having hit the shooting range that morning, Jak was looking for a different challenge. And so he found himself back in the rec room, an Xbox controller stuffed in his hands as he hit the gas on his racing game.

Oh yeah.

He wished he was back on the track.

[[ open! ]]

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[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah was going out for a run, before settling into the serious business of Goofing Off. Hearing the video game boops and beeps in the first floor rec room had her ducking her head inside the door, then grinning when she saw Jak. "Hey. Having fun?"

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"Trying to," Jak answered, glancing up. "I think the difficulty is permanently stuck on 'easy.'"

Lame.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah wandered over to take a look at it, and then grinned when she saw what level it was actually set at. "Yeeeah. Or maybe your level of 'expert' isn't theirs." She shook her head, and watched his car veer around the virtual track. "It needs an upgrade for extra-experienced reflexes."

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"I'm a good racer," Jak said, casting his controller aside. "You'd think they'd keep us in mind."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"They probably think real-life racers wouldn't bother. Silly of them." She remembered one part of a dream she'd had about him back home, and asked, "You're still racing for Keira? I mean. Still racing her designs, right?"

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"Yeah, I'm--"

... Wait, what?

He sat up and threw her a wary look over the back of the couch. "How do you know about Keira?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Oh, ack. Dinah facepalmed, turning red. How weird did she sound? "Uh. Sorry. Dream update while you were gone, a couple weeks ago."

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"Riiight."

It wasn't a skeptical noise, it was just... Yeah, okay. The dreams. A little invasive, a little two-edged, a little whatever kind of thing Jak just didn't have the words for.

"Then you should know."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"I only get the highlights reel," Dinah muttered, embarrassed. "Sorry." And she was, since it sounded all... stalkery, or something. "I don't mean to. I won't-- mention it again."

And on the other hand, she wasn't sorry, since dreaming of him when he was away meant he was okay.

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

Jak let his entire body sag back into the couch. He wiggled his toes in his boots, and eyed the television. "The class 2 races won't be for another few weeks," he said, finally.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah let out a covert breath, keeping a careful eye on him for another reaction, then said, "So, there's those races, then I'm guessing another race after that, a few weeks later?"

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"First class," Jak agreed. "Then I get to meet the Baron." Take note of that smidgen of intent there. "If I win the second. I plan to."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Ohhh, she did. Dinah was a good bit gloomier thinking of that. But asking there's an actual plan at that point, right? probably wouldn't go over well. "Is there much competition, or is Keira's vehicle that much better?" Then, more tentatively, "What happens if you don't?"

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"Then I find some other way to get to the palace."

Really, Dinah, had you expected anything else?

He shrugged. "Keira's doesn't have to be the best. She's got the best driver."

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

She really hadn't. And for the zillionth time she was glad Dax was there to watch Jak's back, since he sure wasn't.

The assertion about his driving skills got a totally unwilling but real chuckle out of her. "Of course she does." She grinned at him. "As is proved by your pwning of Indy 5000 here."

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"Yeah."

There was a long beat as his brain checked with his mouth on whether or not he was really about to say the thing he was, which was, "You want to come watch sometime?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah's face said squeee! because seriously, those races? Looked awesome. Also, Jack was actually asking her along. And she wanted to hug him for that, even though they were in a no-hug zone, still. But she kept her voice level as she said, "Sure. That would be cool. Let me know when you're going, and I'll be ready."

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"Sure," Jak said. Maybe being in Fandom this long at a time was mellowing him out. Or maybe he was just saving his anger for later, when it could be useful.

He held up the second controller rather than add anything to that. In invitation.

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

Dinah slid into the seat next to him, and took it. "Let's see if having competition makes it interesting for you."

Invite accepted.

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

"Doubt it." Jak shifted in his seat. Picked up his own controller. "But you're welcome to try."

[bamf-tastic.livejournal.com]

Kurt smiled and waved at Dinah. "Guten Tag!"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"Hey, Kurt," Dinah said, leaning over to give him a grin. "You a fan of video games too?"

[bamf-tastic.livejournal.com]

Kurt blinked at her, a bit confused. "Isn't everybody?"

[blondecanary.livejournal.com]

"I think they should be." Zoooooom of the car around the track, woo! "Although some people think they're a waste of time. They so don't know what they're missing no no no don't crash don't crash!"

Dinah was what a marketing expert would call 'an excellent source of product feedback.'

[bamf-tastic.livejournal.com]

Kurt had only stopped in to grab a soda, but the TV caught his attention.

"You're pretty good at that," he told Jak with a grin. "But would you like a REAL challenge?"

[unborn-renegade.livejournal.com]

Jak looked up. "Is that you offering?" he called.

[bamf-tastic.livejournal.com]

"I am, if you promise to go easy on me until I learn the controls," Kurt answered with a grin. "I haven't played this one before."