[Johnny had kind of hoped the frog story might lighten the mood and open up a more casual conversation, it hadn't really done that. Instead it opened the door to something he hadn't realized he was dreading talking about until it actually came up.
The fact that both Tory and Daniel were from his future. Or that he was lagging behind on the memory department. That- That meant Robby might knew more than he did too. His hair was certainly different. Johnny felt his knuckles tighten as another flash of fear and anger kicked up in him.
What if he screwed up worse with Robby since then? He had talked to Tory, he had talked with LaRusso. But he didn't know everything that had happened between them.
He flashes a quick glare Daniel's way.]
Why did you have to bring that up? Are you trying to rub it in my face that you-
["That you know more than me." He cuts himself off. Remembering what Miguel had taught him about holding in his anger.
He looks back Robby's way and tries to explain.]
What he's saying is-
That I'm wasn't brought here from the same time as everyone else.
The last thing I remember is the day I dropped you off at school.
Miss Nichols and LaRusso have told me a little about what happened after that.
I met Kreese's boyfriend too before either of them showed up. But he was pretty tight lipped about everything. He's not here anymore.
[ The moment Johnny glares at Daniel, Daniel is immediately ready to meet him with a look of his own. He doesn't even say anything, but everything he wants to say is right there in his eyes.
Not now!
Look, he gets lashing out at each other is their thing, but they're not going to do that right now. Not in front of Robby. Johnny may not remember the disaster that was the attempt of picking Robby up from juvie, but Daniel sure isn't eager to repeat that one all over again.
And Daniel is pleased enough with the fact Johnny does cut himself off before going too far, and actually saying what has to be said here without having to be forced even further to do so. It's an important thing to clear up before anyone gets the wrong idea here. Even though Daniel sure doesn't know about the last moment Johnny and Robby spent together from his point of view - if anything, he was just trying to explain why to either of them the other might seem more or less distant than before, given the way Robby only further drifted away from either of them as far as he knows.
He's pleased enough with it all to keep quiet, at the very least, first giving Robby a chance to process all this without throwing even more or something new out there. ]
[ The conversation threatens to veer off from where Robby wants it, but his dad holds his cool, actually answers the question. ...and doing nothing for the confusion muddying him. He's stuck in a silent pause, lips parted and his brow tight in the disbelief that neither are helping as he looks between them; brain trying to comprehend the incomprehensible, his gaze falls for a moment, but--
But he looks back, and this is still happening. This is--for real? ]
How? How... [ He trails, stopping himself, but not having anything to immediately follow. But- ] Is there anything we can do? That was nine months ago.
--For me. [ He adds that last part pointed at Daniel, not knowing their difference; but it's to his dad that he looks back to, lingers on. Nine months of time, and it's not hard to reflect on everything that his dad doesn't know, doesn't remember.
Most of it isn't even good; fuck, is any of it? Except the last memory he has, remembering what his dad said to him. Him believing it, wanting to.
And his dad doesn't know. His dad doesn't remember, and their conversation in that car -- it's been nothing but disappointments from there.
[Johnny feels like he's been pushed into a corner by talking about this. He gets why it might be important but he also knows he can't control it and that pisses him off more than anything.
And then he sees the way Robby's eyes trail down and he feels like he's let his son down all over again. He backs away a few steps and starts counting with his fingers.]
June, July, August... Look, Robby. It's been almost as long for for me. But different. And I don't know if it's something I can fix.
But- I've been trying to get by here. I have- And- If you want I can help you figure things out too.
[ Daniel gives Robby a small nod when the kid looks at him, managing to get it in just before Robby looks back at Johnny. It's just a small confirmation that he's from the same point in time as Robby - all those months ahead of Johnny. There was little doubt in Daniel's mind in the first place that the last thing the other remembered was the tournament in the first place, given Robby's hairstyle and the apology he gave before dragging him right along into that hole.
The apology he's still trying hard to not think about too much here.
Daniel is quiet, listening to the other two, glancing between the way Robby looks at the ground and the way Johnny genuinely seems to try to reach out to the kid. He unfolds his hands for a moment, slowly moving his fingers and then taking in a deep breath. ]
.. look.
[ A part of him feels like he ought to at least try to help breach this gap. Because Johnny is trying, for one. It'd be a different story entirely he was being a total ass, but it's clear that he just wants to actually connect with his son here. And it'd probably be good for Robby himself too - to know that there's more people he can count on here than just Tory.
Besides, isn't this what mister Miyagi would've wanted him to do here? ]
I get it. It's awkward. [ He can't be sure how exactly Robby feels about it, given the fact that he's only been privy to the relationship between these two as an outsider, but in Daniel's own experience the time gap has been very awkward. ] But it's also one of those things we can't change.
[ He sounds calm as he speaks. Maybe that deep breath really helped.
Or maybe it's that he's thinking back on a conversation that feels so very long ago at this point, back in that locker room. Your dad's not a monster. ]
This place.. it's dangerous. [ Daniel glances over at Robby as he says it. Even if the other is still looking at the ground. It's hard to not think about the way the other could have gotten hurt back in that weird place they were dumped into, after all. ] Everyone can use all the help they can get, regardless of those awkward complications.
I know I mean it when I say I'm always willing to help you out. And.. [ Look at him, putting on his big boy panties over here. ] .. it sounds like your dad means it as well.
[ Usually he'd hope that being a big boy here would mean he could count on the favour being repaid in the future.
Here, though? Daniel has no hope. ]
But the choice is always up to you in the end, Robby.
[ It can't be fixed. It's stupid, that he even asked in the first place, but it doesn't make his disappointment any less heavy in how it weighs. It's been a long time for the both of them, but it twists at his gut more than it had when he'd heard it from Tory. Had it been because everything was so-- new at that time? Where the news had been surprising, but easier to digest: they had all made the journey to this place, but their travel hadn't brought them here at the same pace, the same time.
He was glad for Tory, happy - that life was treating her well, even with all of Trench's oddities. And it shouldn't bother him, nine months of mostly nothing between them, and yet--
And yet he has to swallow against something hard in his throat as Daniel speaks. Upset, a frustration that he wouldn't voice even if he was given the chance. He knows too well about irrevocable disappointments to do that, and even how to nurse it well into suppression. This is what life is -- this is how it goes.
He's not twitchy this time at Mister LaRusso's voice of reasoning. And it's true, he knows, that it's not his dad's fault, his eyes flickering over to him at the remark, he means well. And by the time the ball is rolled into his court, that hard lump in his throat has softened, his emotions numbed.
His mouth tugs to a side, a twitch of habit. ]
Yeah, I get it. It's not your fault. [ Robby looks at his dad as he says those words; quietly, but without blame. He then shifts a little on the spot, gives his shoulders a roll. ] I just need a ride back into Crenshaw, or... a part of it I know. I'm doing alright - you don't need to worry about me.
I've been getting help.
[ It's not forced, or assertive. It's actually encouraging, aimed to be, the expression Robby gives them unwilling to drop from something neutral - which is a lot better than it could be, given how he looks in worse moods.
But Robby gets what his father was actually offering. More than just information, or some advice about this or that. Something akin to what he had been searching for in the last of his memories, gone to his dad for, and what he had accepted.
But this time, here - not now. He can't right now. ]
[Johnny is eager to try. And there's a part of him that wants to force his way in to do it. To make up for lost time because of his own poor choices back at home. To be the dad that he wanted to be and get some sort of approval from that he desperately craved. He didn't want to just back away but he was absolutely terrified of screwing things up again.
The tension finally starts to die down when he hears Daniel speak up a bit more in defense of his position. There's a brief moment where his expression actually softens just a touch. But it's only fleeting and he pushes those feelings down in favor of what he believes is saving face.]
Of course, I do. I just want to help-
[And he cuts himself before he tries to push for it again. Robby's offered him an olive branch and while Johnny absolutely hated the taste of olives he figured he might as well take it.]
-But sure.
If you need a lift. I- [And he actually glances over to Daniel. Thankful for the last effort he made, he's willing to throw him a bone too.] -We can give you a lift over there.
Look at that, big boy. Daniel looks visibly surprised to hear it from the other in a way he couldn't hide even if he would have tried - but he doesn't even try, not in this moment. Instead his eyes widen for a moment as he stares at Johnny, before his expression changes into something very, very vaguely amused.
He reaches out, giving the Johnny a manly pat on the back in recognition of the other trying his best here. Especially since he's not only trying his relative best with Daniel here - surprising, given their.. well, everything since the day Daniel showed up here - but also with Robby. Daniel can't bridge the gap between the other two more than he's already tried here, but he hopes that it helps them. It seems like something they'll have to work out later, anyway. Just like Robby told him he didn't want to talk about the past right now.
So if a lift is what they can help him out with right now-- ]
Well, what are we waiting for then?
[ Daniel walks back around the car, getting in on his passenger side seat once more.. even though he sure dreads Johnny racing through the streets of Trench once more, but he also doesn't want to start a fight as dumb as 'who gets to drive' in front of Robby. ]
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-09-07 01:44 am (UTC)The fact that both Tory and Daniel were from his future. Or that he was lagging behind on the memory department. That- That meant Robby might knew more than he did too. His hair was certainly different. Johnny felt his knuckles tighten as another flash of fear and anger kicked up in him.
What if he screwed up worse with Robby since then? He had talked to Tory, he had talked with LaRusso. But he didn't know everything that had happened between them.
He flashes a quick glare Daniel's way.]
Why did you have to bring that up? Are you trying to rub it in my face that you-
["That you know more than me." He cuts himself off. Remembering what Miguel had taught him about holding in his anger.
He looks back Robby's way and tries to explain.]
What he's saying is-
That I'm wasn't brought here from the same time as everyone else.
The last thing I remember is the day I dropped you off at school.
Miss Nichols and LaRusso have told me a little about what happened after that.
I met Kreese's boyfriend too before either of them showed up. But he was pretty tight lipped about everything. He's not here anymore.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-08 07:42 pm (UTC)Not now!
Look, he gets lashing out at each other is their thing, but they're not going to do that right now. Not in front of Robby. Johnny may not remember the disaster that was the attempt of picking Robby up from juvie, but Daniel sure isn't eager to repeat that one all over again.
And Daniel is pleased enough with the fact Johnny does cut himself off before going too far, and actually saying what has to be said here without having to be forced even further to do so. It's an important thing to clear up before anyone gets the wrong idea here. Even though Daniel sure doesn't know about the last moment Johnny and Robby spent together from his point of view - if anything, he was just trying to explain why to either of them the other might seem more or less distant than before, given the way Robby only further drifted away from either of them as far as he knows.
He's pleased enough with it all to keep quiet, at the very least, first giving Robby a chance to process all this without throwing even more or something new out there. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-08 08:08 pm (UTC)But he looks back, and this is still happening. This is--for real? ]
How? How... [ He trails, stopping himself, but not having anything to immediately follow. But- ] Is there anything we can do? That was nine months ago.
--For me. [ He adds that last part pointed at Daniel, not knowing their difference; but it's to his dad that he looks back to, lingers on. Nine months of time, and it's not hard to reflect on everything that his dad doesn't know, doesn't remember.
Most of it isn't even good; fuck, is any of it? Except the last memory he has, remembering what his dad said to him. Him believing it, wanting to.
And his dad doesn't know. His dad doesn't remember, and their conversation in that car -- it's been nothing but disappointments from there.
His gaze drops to the ground between them. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-09 11:43 pm (UTC)And then he sees the way Robby's eyes trail down and he feels like he's let his son down all over again. He backs away a few steps and starts counting with his fingers.]
June, July, August... Look, Robby. It's been almost as long for for me. But different. And I don't know if it's something I can fix.
But- I've been trying to get by here. I have- And- If you want I can help you figure things out too.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-10 09:08 pm (UTC)The apology he's still trying hard to not think about too much here.
Daniel is quiet, listening to the other two, glancing between the way Robby looks at the ground and the way Johnny genuinely seems to try to reach out to the kid. He unfolds his hands for a moment, slowly moving his fingers and then taking in a deep breath. ]
.. look.
[ A part of him feels like he ought to at least try to help breach this gap. Because Johnny is trying, for one. It'd be a different story entirely he was being a total ass, but it's clear that he just wants to actually connect with his son here. And it'd probably be good for Robby himself too - to know that there's more people he can count on here than just Tory.
Besides, isn't this what mister Miyagi would've wanted him to do here? ]
I get it. It's awkward. [ He can't be sure how exactly Robby feels about it, given the fact that he's only been privy to the relationship between these two as an outsider, but in Daniel's own experience the time gap has been very awkward. ] But it's also one of those things we can't change.
[ He sounds calm as he speaks. Maybe that deep breath really helped.
Or maybe it's that he's thinking back on a conversation that feels so very long ago at this point, back in that locker room. Your dad's not a monster. ]
This place.. it's dangerous. [ Daniel glances over at Robby as he says it. Even if the other is still looking at the ground. It's hard to not think about the way the other could have gotten hurt back in that weird place they were dumped into, after all. ] Everyone can use all the help they can get, regardless of those awkward complications.
I know I mean it when I say I'm always willing to help you out. And.. [ Look at him, putting on his big boy panties over here. ] .. it sounds like your dad means it as well.
[ Usually he'd hope that being a big boy here would mean he could count on the favour being repaid in the future.
Here, though? Daniel has no hope. ]
But the choice is always up to you in the end, Robby.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-10 10:09 pm (UTC)He was glad for Tory, happy - that life was treating her well, even with all of Trench's oddities. And it shouldn't bother him, nine months of mostly nothing between them, and yet--
And yet he has to swallow against something hard in his throat as Daniel speaks. Upset, a frustration that he wouldn't voice even if he was given the chance. He knows too well about irrevocable disappointments to do that, and even how to nurse it well into suppression. This is what life is -- this is how it goes.
He's not twitchy this time at Mister LaRusso's voice of reasoning. And it's true, he knows, that it's not his dad's fault, his eyes flickering over to him at the remark, he means well. And by the time the ball is rolled into his court, that hard lump in his throat has softened, his emotions numbed.
His mouth tugs to a side, a twitch of habit. ]
Yeah, I get it. It's not your fault. [ Robby looks at his dad as he says those words; quietly, but without blame. He then shifts a little on the spot, gives his shoulders a roll. ] I just need a ride back into Crenshaw, or... a part of it I know. I'm doing alright - you don't need to worry about me.
I've been getting help.
[ It's not forced, or assertive. It's actually encouraging, aimed to be, the expression Robby gives them unwilling to drop from something neutral - which is a lot better than it could be, given how he looks in worse moods.
But Robby gets what his father was actually offering. More than just information, or some advice about this or that. Something akin to what he had been searching for in the last of his memories, gone to his dad for, and what he had accepted.
But this time, here - not now. He can't right now. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-09-10 11:29 pm (UTC)The tension finally starts to die down when he hears Daniel speak up a bit more in defense of his position. There's a brief moment where his expression actually softens just a touch. But it's only fleeting and he pushes those feelings down in favor of what he believes is saving face.]
Of course, I do. I just want to help-
[And he cuts himself before he tries to push for it again. Robby's offered him an olive branch and while Johnny absolutely hated the taste of olives he figured he might as well take it.]
-But sure.
If you need a lift. I- [And he actually glances over to Daniel. Thankful for the last effort he made, he's willing to throw him a bone too.] -We can give you a lift over there.
no subject
Date: 2022-09-13 08:26 am (UTC)Look at that, big boy. Daniel looks visibly surprised to hear it from the other in a way he couldn't hide even if he would have tried - but he doesn't even try, not in this moment. Instead his eyes widen for a moment as he stares at Johnny, before his expression changes into something very, very vaguely amused.
He reaches out, giving the Johnny a manly pat on the back in recognition of the other trying his best here. Especially since he's not only trying his relative best with Daniel here - surprising, given their.. well, everything since the day Daniel showed up here - but also with Robby. Daniel can't bridge the gap between the other two more than he's already tried here, but he hopes that it helps them. It seems like something they'll have to work out later, anyway. Just like Robby told him he didn't want to talk about the past right now.
So if a lift is what they can help him out with right now-- ]
Well, what are we waiting for then?
[ Daniel walks back around the car, getting in on his passenger side seat once more.. even though he sure dreads Johnny racing through the streets of Trench once more, but he also doesn't want to start a fight as dumb as 'who gets to drive' in front of Robby. ]