xp_logs | Julian & Angelica- A Moment in Time (Reply)

Julian opens the pocket-watch Angelica gave him, secrets are revealed.

Shoes in hand, his jacket draped over his arm, Julian walked the rug covered floors of the mansion toward his guest suite with a smile on his face. As far as birthdays went, the previous night had certainly been a memorable one. From the end of the hallway, he noticed the small pile of packages in front of his door, larger than he had expected, not having been back very long. Deciding not to use his telekinesis on the parcels, he unlocked the door and tossed his clothing onto the bed- then grabbed the boxes and more gently moved them inside.

"Aha!" Angel said happily as she caught Slinky slinking through the hallway. She scooped him up with a grin, heading back to her suite. She caught Julian just as he stepped into his room the first time, and grinned when he walked back out to get his presents. "Quite the walk of shame," she said with a wink as she made her way over. "Good birthday, then?"

The initial start from her sneaking up on him passed as he held a small, loudly wrapped box in his hand, "I'd forgotten that people gave stuff to each other around here." He checked the tag on the package and looked up at her, "You didn't have to get me anything, Angel. Thank you." He looked at the messy suite behind him, shrugged and motioned for her to come inside.

Angel smiled as she made her way into the suite, readjusting the ferret in her hands. "It's your birthday, dude. Or it was when all those were left at least. Presents are kind of mandatory."

Julian smiled and shook his head, "My family never did gifts, not really- maybe trips and stuff, but we'd have dinner together and get a bit of cash from...from dad." With a sigh he sat down on his coat, "So what did you get me?"

"The Kellers don't do gifts?" Angel put on a mock surprised face. "I'm shocked!" She flopped down on the edge of the bed, grinning. "It's a present, Julian! Open it and find out."

Smiling he nodded and began to unwrap it, "What's the point of buying things for each other when we have...had...all the money we could use to do it ourselves. Well, when we were kids, James and I would get toys and stuff, but...that's over now." Doing his best to keep smiling, he held the leather box in his hands for a moment, looking up at her as he opened it, then looking down at the silver watch within. "Oh my...Angelica...you didn't have to...."

Angel just gave him a light nudge, grinning. "Well, now you have us to buy all your toys for you. Although I imagine your toys are a bit more expensive these days." His reaction was definitely worth it though. "It's an essential part of every rich guy's wardrobe."

His smile moving into a smirk, Julian pulled a pocket watch from his vest pocket and unclasped it from the button. Holding it up for a moment, he winked, "This one doesn't work anymore. This is perfect." Setting it down, he began to unpack the new watch. As he did, the old watch slipped off the bed and bounced on the carpet, opening and spilling a tattered and faded photograph onto the floor.

"See, while you were gone I secretly developed a new power that let's me know exactly when someone needs something replaced." She was distracted, however, by the watch falling, and she leaned over to pick it up. "I got it..." Her voice drifted off and she tilted her head curiously at the girl in the picture.

Julian was frozen as he looked at the photo and then up to Angelica. A beat of silence filled the room, "Her name is Cassandra," he finally said. He knew the faded photograph well, and a shadow of guilt fell over him for having enjoyed himself so thoroughly with Tandy the night before. "We," he knew every contour on her face, the smile she'd had looking at the camera on that sunny day in the Stone Forest. "We were close."

The smile faded when she saw the look on Julian's face. Angel straightened up, holding the photo out for him to take. "She's very pretty," she said quietly. "You know natural curiosity inclines me to ask you about her but you can also feel free to say buzz off so you can keep opening your presents."

Holding the photo in both hands, his posture slumped forward as he shook his head, "I haven't really talked to anyone about her. Mom and dad...they wouldn't have understood." With a sigh he looked up at Angel and gave her a weak smile, tears were on the verge of his eyes, but there was no way he was going to break down in front of Angelica Jones. "It's a pretty boring story."

It wasn't often Julian was actually vulnerable, and it certainly caught Angel off guard. She covered it up with a small smile and resting a hand on his shoulder. "Just because it doesn't involve you buying out half of New York doesn't mean it's not interesting. Go on."

With a curt nod, Julian began at the beginning, "It was a hot summer day in Beijing when we met...."

***30 Minutes Later***

"So that was it, I got back on the ship and went home. I made inquiries, but the Chinese wouldn't give me any information- blocked at every turn. I have to assume...she's..." he still couldn't say the word.

Angel listened with a straight face and a comforting squeeze every now and then when Julian looked particularly upset. "Sorry is just such a completely inadequate word in a situation like this," she said when he was done. "But I am. Sorry, I mean."

Julian nodded, "Thanks- and yeah, I know, words fail." They sat there in silence for a moment before he started tucking her picture into the new watch she'd given him, "I keep her with me wherever I go- hence all the vests lately, fashionable and functional." Giving Angelica a weak smile he tilted his head, "Thanks for listening, Angel."

Angel smiled as she leaned in, pressing a quick kiss to Julian's cheek before pulling him into a hug. "Of course. Any time, you know that."