Colin's posts

Jaden watched her go, and sighed.

"Right." he said.

"Guess I should see if anything good's on." he said further.

He then made his way to the livingroom and sat down on the couch. He then started flipping through the channels.

As he did, the kitten finished eating, and jumped onto his head, deciding his hat would be the best place to nap.

Jaden nodded in response.

"All right." he replied.

He was then silent, and appeared to be fidgeting about slightly, before sighing.

"Hey." he said.

"After your shower, can we talk?" he asked.

"I... really think we should."

Jaden just sighed deeply.

"Yeah, it must be hard for him." he said.

"Same as it can be hard for me." he told her.

"Sometimes I look in the mirror and can almost 'see' my two sides warring. Half of me is prey for the other half." he said further, shaking his head.

He then watched as the kitten started to purr loudly, as it ate the food Desiree put down.

"Want to watch a movie or something?" he suggested.

"So am I." Jaden responded.

"Max seems like a good guy that genuinely cares about you." he told her. "He just seems... I dunno, like he has trouble controlling his genetics." he went on.

"Like, when he got mad at me earlier, that genetic feud spiked up." he reasoned, as Desiree's little snow-white kitten came into the room, mewling softly at her.

"Overall, he seems ok with me." Jaden finished.

Jaden watched Max go off, and nodded.

"Yeah, suppose so." he said.

He then looked around, and sighed.

"Too many people here." he commented.

"Come on, let's find a more private place to travel." he suggested.

"Also, we going my way, or your way?" he then asked.

"Right." Jaden responded.

With that, they went and ate, the outing going off without a hitch. Max's attitude seemed to be just fine, and other than Jaden being awkward at times, nothing special happened.

When they stepped out of the restaurant, Max's cell rang, and upon looking at the caller ID, he answered it.

"Hi honey, what is it?" he asked, letting Desiree and Jaden know it was Cheryl. "Uh-huh... uh-huh... really? When?... How bad is it?" he asked, his tone getting a little more serious.

"All right, I'll be there shortly." he said, hanging up and looking at Desiree and Jaden.

"Seems Leon got into a bit of an... altercation... with another child." he told them.

"I should go and be with him and Cheryl. See if I can't help calm any troubled waters and such. Plus... you know... be an actual parent." he added, a tinge of guilt at the end.

Jaden bit his lip slightly, and Max laughed again.

"Don't worry." he told her.

"She loves you." he said.

"Says you're the best thing to happen to her son." he said further.

"Nnnn..." Jaden mumbled, somewhat embarrassed.

"You really have nothing to fear from her." Max assured Desiree further.

"But I can see why you'd be scared or nervous around her." he went on.

"...truth be told, -I- still am at times." he then admitted.

Jaden sighed as well.

"I know." he replied.

"Believe me, I know." he said.

"She knows how to keep order, and she knows how to deal with those that anger her." he went on.

"She's one of the main reasons that Dani has a safe position as head of Candentus Lux." Max chimed in. "Any dissenters that think a woman shouldn't be in charge are... swiftly dealt with." he continued.

"But, thankfully, that almost never happens." he chuckled.

"Everyone seems pretty content with her at the helm."

"Oh?" Max asked.

"Yeah." Jaden chimed in.

"My Mom's taken quite a liking to Desiree." he said.

"And when she heard about what happened, I... heard darkness in her tone." he went on. "A darkness that frightened me." he said.

Max was silent for a moment, before clearing his throat.

"Ah... yes." he said.

"Sydney's wrath is... well... not something you wish to incur."

Jaden thought for a moment, as they walked with Max, before he mentally snapped his fingers.

I have a theory. he sent her.

But it can wait until later. he then sent further, before putting the phone away.

"So." Max then said.

"How have your shows been, Desiree?" he asked his daughter.

"I could eat as well." Jaden commented.

"I haven't eaten in a while." he said.

"Excellent!" Max exclaimed, as they stepped out of the hospital.

As they did, Jaden glanced at Desiree, before quickly firing off a text, discreetly.

His attitude's done a 180 since we were in the hospital room. it read.

Max just chuckled and nodded.

"Of course." he said, as they started to walk.

"I know of this great BBQ place." he told them.

"Good portion sizes, great prices, and their house sauces and marinades are unbelievable." he commented.

"They new?" Jaden asked.

"Kind of." Max responded. "Been around for a little over a year or so." he said.

"Hope you two are hungry!" he then added

With that, Jaden's face turned brighter red.

And Max just laughed.

"How old ARE you?" he asked, but continued before Jaden could respond. "Old enough not to get embarrassed over something like THAT, I would assume." he said.

"Ah... I... well..." Jaden stammered.

"....ohhhh, I see." Max then said, raising an eyebrow.

"I suppose one's never too old for THAT."

Jaden was silent, before looking around. Then, when he saw nobody was looking, he opened a portal in the nearby wall, stuck his upper body inside, rummaged around for about 30 seconds, and then pulled out a lavender top, one of Desiree's favourites.

"Here." he said, handing it to her and closing the portal.

"You can change in one of the bathrooms here." he said.

"Quick and easy."