Jarvis Hugo Moore
Ada's hair was something Jarvis found to be very beautiful. The girl kept up with it, that was for sure. It was super long, an almost shocking color of blonde, with a slight wave throughout it all. As he twisted a long strand around his fingers and let it slip through, fall back to spill over the back of the couch, he acknowledged the softness of it, the shine it gave off even in the dimmer light of the room. However, his thoughts were more so distracted by the beach. He had never been out of the state before. Heck, he had rarely went out of
town, let alone the state before. When you didn't have money... you didn't go places that cost a lot of money, simple as that. He had seen the beach on TV, of course, but naturally, that wasn't the same as experiencing it in person. He wanted to feel the sun-warmed sand on his bare feet. He wanted to hear the waves coming and going. He wanted to smell the ocean - he had read that it smelt much like salt and seaweed and wanted to know that combination for himself. So, going to the beach sounded really nice. He glanced around the room, wondering if just about everyone here had traveled to another place before. He felt like he stood out amongst them primarily because of his financial status. He had even been hesitant to go on this trip.
Jarvis had an issue with spending money on himself. It was very hard for him to do. Growing up in a household where money always went to things needed, rarely things wanted, caused a mindset in him that he couldn't make purchases that were a want. Sure, he bought himself things nonetheless. He still had those wants, and sometimes had to give in to keep his sanity, but it was always hard, and he had a tendency to belittle himself for it. The struggle to buy his
used ps3 was real, and he still almost hadn't gotten it in the end. His dad had been the pushing force for that one. He loved the things he had, the comics and games and knickknacks, but sometimes, he hated looking at them. Money was a looming shadow over Jarvis, always hanging over his head dark and heavy, unable to shake. He struggled to spend it, to make purchases for himself. He almost backed out on going on this trip. He had been saving money for a long time, just a little at a time, more of a college fund than anything. When Lizzy first mentioned the trip to him, then Ada came along and mentioned it again, he had slept many nights on it, always eyeing that savings jar of his, wondering if he should do it. Just dip into it a little for a fun and freeing summer, try to escape the stresses following him around every and all day. He wasn't going to go, at first, in all honesty. He had counted out the money in the jar more than twenty times in the few days he was trying to make a decision. It was a good amount, too, and taking some for the trip wouldn't hurt it too badly. He could replace it over time... but replacing it was different than adding to it. Again, he wasn't going to go. He was going to tell Lizzy no, and give the disappointing phone call to Ada.
Then, he found out Jarek was going. Now, Jarvis considered that strange child his best friend. The bestest best friend of best friends he had ever had. Jarek was just... different. Jarvis liked different. Jarek was also weird and Jarvis liked weird. Somehow, the two had clicked quite quickly. Perhaps it was the way Jarvis had patience with him, never batting an eye at his strange behavior, and instead keeping his chill and just going with it. Jarvis was good at going with the flow and for someone like Jarek, he needed a best friend that could do that. Maybe it also helped Jarvis could be a calming presence; he understood Jarek's boundaries, respected them, but still pushed on them just enough to help Jarek out when he needed it. He
adored Jarek, admittedly. He was his best friend, after all! Finding out Jarek was going... had sort of been Jarvis' push to go. And Ada, oh, she had called with a smile in her voice to announce Jarek was going. How did Jarvis not hear this from Jarek himself, he wasn't sure, but Ada knew that was the one thing to say to rope Jarvis into going. And, yeah, that rope certainly caught and pulled the young boy in. Not only because Jarek was someone Jarvis genuinely enjoyed being around, but also because of the amount of people going. He knew Jarek as well as the back of his own hand. He wasn't going to let Jarek go on a trip with this many people and not be there as some sort of buffer if it was needed. It wasn't for everyone's benefit, however, it was for Jarek's. Jarvis may be a tad bit overprotective of the impulsive young man; Jarvis mother-hen'd Ada, it was only normal he'd mother-hen his favorite person in the world. Which, Ada was his second favorite person, but... Jarek totally took up first place and probably always would.
So, after that bit of news, he had dug into that savings jar and got some money for this trip. He had broke the news to his dad, who had been surprised he was doing something so big for himself, but also happy for him. If not a little worried, because Jarvis had been bringing in money for a few good years now, and the summer would be a bit hard without that money now. Jarvis had felt bad enough to dig into his savings jar some more and hand over some of that, to try and help out with the summer expenses while he was away. His dad had outright refused but Jarvis deposited it into the bank account anyway. It had hurt a little, to take out a bigger chunk than intended from his savings, but he knew his dad wouldn't just blow it while he was gone, and it would be helpful and cause less stress for his dad over the summer. Jarvis also felt bad because he was getting a vacation and his dad had never had one his whole life. It was enough guilt to almost make him back out but his dad encouraged it and, after casually talking about it with Jarek (more like excitedly rambling like a happy puppy to Jarek), he couldn't bring himself to back out. He was super excited, not only because Jarek was going, but because he was going to get to see some of the country, something he had never done before. How dare he think earlier he might get bored? He'd probably be amazed to see an empty field because it would be
in another state and that was still just so wonderful in Jar's head. He couldn't believe he might actually see a beach, too, if fate would have it. This summer was going to be pretty freaking amazing, if other emotions and thoughts could keep out of the way long enough.
As he was musing to himself, overthinking like he sometimes did, he hadn't seen Jarek's attack coming. It was called a sneak attack for a reason, wasn't it? He had just let go of some of Ada's hair, ready to begin a very bad braid because he couldn't braid hair worth a crap, when arms were grabbing onto his waist. He let out a surprised noise, arms flailing just the slightest when his feet went slightly off the ground, his heart fluttering in shock. When he heard the familiar voice, he wasn't surprised; Jarek was the only one in this group who would do this to him, for sure. He immediately calmed down, letting out a small laugh instead as he rolled his eyes. Jarek always kept his days more interesting, that was for sure. He was glad when his feet were back on the floor; he was afraid Jarek's little stick legs might break trying to pick him up. While Jarvis was fairly skinny from his high metabolism (and only from that), he still wasn't
that light. He hunkered down just slightly, knees bending, when he felt Jarek's chin digging into the top of his head. When he spoke his question, it was as if everyone else disappeared in the room for Jarvis; actually, that had happened the instant the arms were around his waist, because no one else would do that to him but Jarek. "
Jay-bird!" he announced excitedly to himself; Jarek always kept him entertained so to him, his excitement was necessary. He ducked away from his best friend's chin, turning to him in the tight space between the couch and his body, and leaned back against the couch, so he wasn't as close to him. Though, it still didn't leave that much room between them, not that it bothered Jarvis any. He could be a handsy person if the other person was, either way didn't bother him. His heart hadn't slowed down as he grinned at Jarek, blue-green eyes brightened. "
Talking about how we shouldn't go to a beach or you might accidentally drown yourself... or someone else." he teased, reaching forward and thumping one of the many buttons on Jay-bird's jacket, making it give off a quiet rattle.
He noticed Jarek doing his rounds with observing eyes to the group, and he didn't bother hiding the fact he was openly watching Jarek, just because he could. He liked watching Jarek. Jarvis liked to call it
bird-watching since he called Jarek jay-bird, ha. Jarvis also was the only one who called Jarek 'Jay-bird' and liked it that way so he hoped the nickname didn't pick up traction. So what, Jarvis could be a bit possession of his favorite things too. However, when he saw Jarek's disgust at the bowl of cookie dough - which Jarvis had avoided too, he didn't mind sharing food but only with certain people (read as: Ada and Jarek)) - he frowned and reached forward. He didn't quite touch Jarek, instead grabbing the flaps on his heavy jacket and shaking them slightly, readjusting them, almost like a mother would do to their small child. "
Have you eaten today?" he whispered, even leaning forward a bit so Jarek would be the only one who heard his question; he wasn't going to openly pester Jarek, though he gladly would. He had no shame in how he treated and favored Jarek... to a point, at least. It helped he and Jarek were just about the same height, blue-green eyes flickering between Jarek's own before going down to his own hands, which were still grasping the flaps of the jacket and gently fiddling with it. Jarvis was a touchy person but he knew Jarek wasn't much of one so he found other ways to get his physical need out around him.
He was so distracted by Jarek, so focused on him (that happened sometimes, again, favorite person ever), he hadn't even noticed Philip's return to choose the place on the map. The thing that did perk his ears was the word 'Sacramento' being tossed out into the air. His shoulders straightened up, fingers squeezing the leather of Jarek's jacket (by the way, he did wonder, why in the world was he wearing this bulky ass thing when it was warm out?), as his grin returned. "
The beach!" he said excitedly, to really no one but himself, though obviously Jarek would hear. Then, he overheard discussions of transportation. It was probably rude, him having his back to everyone in favor of Jarek, but he couldn't bring himself to care
that much. "
I'm gonna get stuck with you, aren't I?" he asked Jarek, giving a suffering sigh, but his smile and the way he playfully tugged on Jarek's jacket said that he did not mind one bit at all.