[ That's the thing, isn't it. He's always wanted a dad he could tell things to; but those first five letters are the story of his life, and there might be an opening here to say more -- what happened last month, the sleepless nights, his apparent Patron sending him to tears, the deaths witnessed he'd been trying to keep tucked close.
The urge doesn't come, when they feel more like excuses; a guilt he has no confidence in sharing. Even if his dad is his dad, the same man who'd told him, It's alright, we'll figure this out', who he was trying to make a connection to... ]
I didn't want you starting shit with him. [ --it's all he can offer now; not accusatory, at least in tone, but like a weak aside that he doesn't bother to look at Johnny for. But he does when he continues, a pause before moving on: ] Do you want to order something? There's a bar.
[ Order an actual meal than the fries, and get something at the bar. Not that his dad needs permission to drink from him, but he figures well that's what his dad would like to do. ]
[And that's all it takes to take the wind out of Johnny's sails. It didn't have to be accusatory, Johnny realized exactly what it meant. Robby was afraid he'd go and fuck things up.
Johnny hated it. He hated how right and valid the criticism was. He lowers his head and just looks at his hands for a minute.]
Yeah.
I probably would have.
[He's working on it is what he wants to say. But he doesn't have the fight to try and defend himself when it comes to Robby. He glances over to the bar and then back to Robby.]
[ There is something like a pang of guilt -- further guilt, as if Robby needed it. The way his dad deflates, and who knew he'd ever get here? Feeling sorry for seeing this, when everything his old man would present to him in the past (his apologies, those faces) was just never enough to satiate the empty space in him that his absence left him.
But Mister LaRusso had told him he was doing pretty much the same (still) about him and his sensei, so he just chews on it; gives a "Sure" to the offer, not really wanting to think about the menu or anything else.
There's still the point of this to get to, and Robby messes with the parts of his fingers where he used to wear rings, hasn't in a long time, as he waits for Johnny to come back to the table. ]
[Johnny's a little too busy floundering in his own self loathing to actually notice the guilt in Robby's expression. When he gets the confirmation he'll slowly pull himself out of the seat and make his way toward the bar to place an order.
There is a part of him that really wants to get a drink. But he holds himself back. He knows he doesn't want Robby to see him like that. Not right now. So he'll wait.
Eventually he'll return with two burgers and set them down on the table.]
[ He's had a couple more of the fries by the time Johnny comes back, pulling the burger plate closer to himself once it's set down. ] Thanks.
[ And the lack of a drink is noted. It gives him pause, all things considered, and he wants to ask -- but is that weird? Maybe he's just not feeling it. Maybe it means nothing.
But it still leads him to share, even if he isn't sure what his dad would think, as he picks up the burger in hand: ]
Mom, she uh -- did you know she went to rehab? She got out before I showed here. She's doing better.
[Johnny gets settled in his seat and there's a moment where he looks to Robby before taking a bite of his own burger.
When Robby speaks up there's a look of subdued surprise and confusion all the same. It didn't match up with what he remembered from home, but he was more than aware that time had passed since his last update.
He... Doesn't have a lot of respect for rehab but that mostly due to his own hang ups.]
I had no idea.
[Honest and a little short. he takes a breath before he elaborates.]
The last I heard was from LaRusso-
That you were staying at his place because she was gone.
[Right before Robby had made the stop by his place.
He stops himself from making a comment about her bailing on Robby.]
[ The few words they've shared about his mom before have hardly been the best; but then, whatever his mom had to say about his dad wasn't that great either. But she had also been the one to tell Robby not to let her feelings about his dad get in the way of their relationship. One time, a while ago.
And plenty had happened to let him forget that. ]
Yeah. [ He breathes the word, knowing his parents aren't exactly -- close, in any sense of the word. Even telling his dad was a question mark in what he would think, would he care?; but he also figures it has to mean something, right? Even if it's just because Robby cares.
And he does. And it means something to him too, to hear his dad being positive about it. It makes him want to try that little harder, though it's like grasping at straws, the small shrug he gives, on what to say. ]
I stayed the night at your place before I showed up here. It was late, and um -- your place looked the same as the last time I stayed over.
[ He ducks his gaze, admitting with his lips thinning: ] Mister LaRusso would know better than me about what was happening with you. [ But, looking back up, ] --I guess that makes two of us, huh?
[He wasn't exactly close with Robby's mom but that didn't mean he couldn't at least try to be civil about it. At least for Robby's sake. Which was honestly saying a lot for Johnny at this moment. He wasn't looking to start a fight here and he knew that was the fastest way to do it.
But this just adds to his surprise about everything back at home. All he had really known was the Kreese and Silver had got their claws into Robby. Nothing about their actual relationship back home. It was... shocking to hear this to say the least.]
Oh yeah? Well- I did manage to get the tv back on the wall before I got here.
[ Were they doing better? That's a struggle, and if he has to be honest... ]
I think we were doing better when you had the broken TV. [ He doesn't even entirely look down about it, a sheepish sort of submission. It's kind of funny, even, considering how not great that was. ]
It was a couple of hours. And the tournament was that day, so I spent most of that day being a Cobra Kai asshole.
[ Which is less funny, but he won't turn away from it. He was what he was. ]
[Listening to that wasn't exactly heartening but- It was a chance and he hoped that future him wasn't going to fuck it up. He hoped that current him could also avoid totally blowing this chance.
But there's still something in all that for Johnny to bark out a little laugh at.]
Well don't you worry about that. I spent years being Cobra Kai's number one asshole.
[ Congratulations - that does get a small snort out of Robby. ]
Wanna share second place awards? [ He scrunches his nose, head tipping to the side slightly as he thinks on it. ] I don't know -- I know there's no All Valley here, but I'm kinda disappointed I can't try again for that first. But I'm alright that I lost.
[ Because it's not the last match he's thinking about. It's just disappointing when he remembers he's lost his chances at that particular tourney.
(Then again, that's pretty much a thing of his, isn't it.) ]
Still there is a sparkle of pride in his eyes. Even if there is a faint dip in his smile as he remembers he gave his second place trophy to someone else here.]
I don't have the trophy anymore. But that just means we can make more room for yours. Second place is nothing to be ashamed of. You did good. Twice.
[He taps his fingers against the table in thought briefly.]
And we might not have the All Valley. But I hosted a tournament here back in the spring last year. If I host it again you can always try your luck there.
[ It's a strange feeling to remember his tournaments; both of them, with each inspiring a different if similar response. Both of them with a strive to prove himself to someone, but the latest seeming such a waste.
Robby looks down at his plate to the eaten food, the idea of entering a tournament here. ]
Yeah, well. You have a student, uh -- a Rose? She wants to enter if you ever do it again to rep her new girlfriend, Snow. I don't know if I have as good of a reason as that. [ He smiles, paints it half as a joke, but half as true.
But this is a good time to bring this up, isn't it? Robby rests his hands on the table, one arm folded along the edge. ]
But speaking of karate, that's actually the reason I wanted to speak to you.
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timeasmymeasure
no subject
Date: 2022-11-07 12:15 am (UTC)The urge doesn't come, when they feel more like excuses; a guilt he has no confidence in sharing. Even if his dad is his dad, the same man who'd told him, It's alright, we'll figure this out', who he was trying to make a connection to... ]
I didn't want you starting shit with him. [ --it's all he can offer now; not accusatory, at least in tone, but like a weak aside that he doesn't bother to look at Johnny for. But he does when he continues, a pause before moving on: ] Do you want to order something? There's a bar.
[ Order an actual meal than the fries, and get something at the bar. Not that his dad needs permission to drink from him, but he figures well that's what his dad would like to do. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-11-07 12:24 am (UTC)Johnny hated it. He hated how right and valid the criticism was. He lowers his head and just looks at his hands for a minute.]
Yeah.
I probably would have.
[He's working on it is what he wants to say. But he doesn't have the fight to try and defend himself when it comes to Robby. He glances over to the bar and then back to Robby.]
I'll order. Do you want anything? A burger?
no subject
Date: 2022-11-07 12:38 am (UTC)But Mister LaRusso had told him he was doing pretty much the same (still) about him and his sensei, so he just chews on it; gives a "Sure" to the offer, not really wanting to think about the menu or anything else.
There's still the point of this to get to, and Robby messes with the parts of his fingers where he used to wear rings, hasn't in a long time, as he waits for Johnny to come back to the table. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-11-07 01:10 am (UTC)There is a part of him that really wants to get a drink. But he holds himself back. He knows he doesn't want Robby to see him like that. Not right now. So he'll wait.
Eventually he'll return with two burgers and set them down on the table.]
Get it while it's good.
no subject
Date: 2022-11-07 01:24 am (UTC)[ And the lack of a drink is noted. It gives him pause, all things considered, and he wants to ask -- but is that weird? Maybe he's just not feeling it. Maybe it means nothing.
But it still leads him to share, even if he isn't sure what his dad would think, as he picks up the burger in hand: ]
Mom, she uh -- did you know she went to rehab? She got out before I showed here. She's doing better.
no subject
Date: 2022-11-07 02:10 am (UTC)When Robby speaks up there's a look of subdued surprise and confusion all the same. It didn't match up with what he remembered from home, but he was more than aware that time had passed since his last update.
He... Doesn't have a lot of respect for rehab but that mostly due to his own hang ups.]
I had no idea.
[Honest and a little short. he takes a breath before he elaborates.]
The last I heard was from LaRusso-
That you were staying at his place because she was gone.
[Right before Robby had made the stop by his place.
He stops himself from making a comment about her bailing on Robby.]
That's good. That's she doing better.
no subject
Date: 2022-11-07 02:35 am (UTC)And plenty had happened to let him forget that. ]
Yeah. [ He breathes the word, knowing his parents aren't exactly -- close, in any sense of the word. Even telling his dad was a question mark in what he would think, would he care?; but he also figures it has to mean something, right? Even if it's just because Robby cares.
And he does. And it means something to him too, to hear his dad being positive about it. It makes him want to try that little harder, though it's like grasping at straws, the small shrug he gives, on what to say. ]
I stayed the night at your place before I showed up here. It was late, and um -- your place looked the same as the last time I stayed over.
[ He ducks his gaze, admitting with his lips thinning: ] Mister LaRusso would know better than me about what was happening with you. [ But, looking back up, ] --I guess that makes two of us, huh?
[ It's....a joke... ]
no subject
Date: 2022-11-07 03:09 am (UTC)But this just adds to his surprise about everything back at home. All he had really known was the Kreese and Silver had got their claws into Robby. Nothing about their actual relationship back home. It was... shocking to hear this to say the least.]
Oh yeah? Well- I did manage to get the tv back on the wall before I got here.
[Look at him. Making a joke too.]
I got the basics from him
Are you- Or- Are we doing better back there?
no subject
Date: 2022-11-07 03:25 am (UTC)I think we were doing better when you had the broken TV. [ He doesn't even entirely look down about it, a sheepish sort of submission. It's kind of funny, even, considering how not great that was. ]
It was a couple of hours. And the tournament was that day, so I spent most of that day being a Cobra Kai asshole.
[ Which is less funny, but he won't turn away from it. He was what he was. ]
no subject
Date: 2022-11-09 11:41 pm (UTC)But there's still something in all that for Johnny to bark out a little laugh at.]
Well don't you worry about that. I spent years being Cobra Kai's number one asshole.
Guess it's just something we have in common now.
Welcome to the club.
[Which isn't great. But he'll take it.]
no subject
Date: 2022-11-09 11:54 pm (UTC)Wanna share second place awards? [ He scrunches his nose, head tipping to the side slightly as he thinks on it. ] I don't know -- I know there's no All Valley here, but I'm kinda disappointed I can't try again for that first. But I'm alright that I lost.
[ Because it's not the last match he's thinking about. It's just disappointing when he remembers he's lost his chances at that particular tourney.
(Then again, that's pretty much a thing of his, isn't it.) ]
no subject
Date: 2022-11-10 02:57 am (UTC)Still there is a sparkle of pride in his eyes. Even if there is a faint dip in his smile as he remembers he gave his second place trophy to someone else here.]
I don't have the trophy anymore. But that just means we can make more room for yours. Second place is nothing to be ashamed of. You did good. Twice.
[He taps his fingers against the table in thought briefly.]
And we might not have the All Valley. But I hosted a tournament here back in the spring last year. If I host it again you can always try your luck there.
no subject
Date: 2022-11-10 03:47 am (UTC)Robby looks down at his plate to the eaten food, the idea of entering a tournament here. ]
Yeah, well. You have a student, uh -- a Rose? She wants to enter if you ever do it again to rep her new girlfriend, Snow. I don't know if I have as good of a reason as that. [ He smiles, paints it half as a joke, but half as true.
But this is a good time to bring this up, isn't it? Robby rests his hands on the table, one arm folded along the edge. ]
But speaking of karate, that's actually the reason I wanted to speak to you.