The deck of the Cape Rouge, Port of Fandom, Saturday morning

[betterthanaplan]

Mornings when Duke wasn't working, he liked to take things slowly, especially when they were sunny and cool. Today was no different; he had his usual spot on his bench on the deck, his feet propped on a crate as he sipped his coffee and read his book. The breeze was blowing, the seagulls were cawing -- and he wasn't one of them -- and everything was alright in his world, despite the handful of bumps from last night.

It wasn't destined to last. He knew that. So he was going to enjoy it while he had it.

[open!]

Comments

[outof_trouble]

"Obviously," Jean said. "You must be my uncle. Who are all s'posed to be even bigger jerks than my dad."

[betterthanaplan]

". . . I mean, you're not wrong on that," Duke said. "Look, kid. I don't know where you got your information --"

[outof_trouble]

"Uncle Nathan," Jean said. "And my bio-mom. And Mr. Dwight. And Ms. Gloria. . . ."

[betterthanaplan]

"Wait, Gloria called me a jerk?!" Duke's face fell. "I thought she liked me."

[outof_trouble]

"She said you -- my dad -- saved the world, actually. Uncle Nathan says that too. And always smiles when he calls him a jerk even though he looks sad. My dad was a Very Divisive Person."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke had a sinking feeling deep in his gut. "Um. When are you from?"

[outof_trouble]

"Nebraska. I told you."

[betterthanaplan]

"Not where, when. We're talking about troubles here, kid, time travel's not exactly out of left field."

[outof_trouble]

"Oh." Jean blinked. "Right, duh. The other side of the thinny was in 2020."

[betterthanaplan]

"And you're ten." Duke rubbed his hand down his face. "And three-quarters. So you'd be -- no, hang on, your mom would have to be pregnant right now." Duke looked back towards the hatch to the state rooms. "Like. Really pregnant."

[outof_trouble]

Jean shrugged, looking down at her feet. "Nine and three quarters," she muttered.

[betterthanaplan]

"What was that?"

[outof_trouble]

"I lied," Jean muttered. "I'm nine. And three quarters."

[betterthanaplan]

"Why would you even lie about that?"

[outof_trouble]

Jean kicked the gangplank and made a little "I don't know" noise. "I just -- did."

[betterthanaplan]

"Fuck." Duke dropped his head into his hands. "You really are my kid."