hot_guitarist (hot_guitarist) wrote in btvsal, @ 2010-05-14 13:10:00 |
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Current mood: | determined |
Meeting in Need of Happeing
Who: Jack and Ash
Where: Eden
When: May 11, Evening
When Jack Delany had called Ash's place, asking to meet him, frankly? Ash's first thought was that Jack was planning to kill him and hide the body. It was no secret that Meredith's father had a burning hatred of the boy stemming back to Sunnydale, but considering how much closer he and Mere had gotten in the ast month or so, he found he owed it to the girl's father to at least hear what he had to say. He told jack to meet him at Eden, since Ash had what was practically his own table there, that people rarely bothered him at, in a dark, secluded corner.
If Jack was planning to kill him, would he have agreed to meet Ash in a public place? Hell no, he would have met him in a back alley and slam him in the head with a baseball bat before he realized what hit him. No...this involved something different. When he walked in and saw Ash, he walked straight over to him. "Hello, Ash," he said, sitting down at the table.
"Mr. Delany..." He said with a nod of his head in greeting, being as respectful as he could. Truthfully, Ash always liked Jack, and the fact that the man hated him was always a sore spot for him. "What can I do for you, sir? Is everything alright?"
"Just call me Jack," Jack said to him. "The only person in my family who goes by 'Mr. Delany' is my brother, and he works for Wolfram & Hart, so the less we speak of him, the better." That was something Jack told no one, considering the firm's reputation with everyone. "I'm worried about Meredith's recent choice in men, and, for once, it isn't you."
"Ah. I see." So. This is where it was going. Jack was finally realizing that there WERE worse men his daughter could be with than Ash. "I think for once, we're in agreement. I know you don't like me, Mr. - er... Jack. And I don't blame you. Most of the time? I don't like me very much either. But one thing we have in common, like it or not, we both love your daughter. And I can't say I'm very pleased with her recent... pull towards Brayden Bale either. Myself and Lucy have been a bit sickened by it."
"Both of you, huh?" he asked, arching an eyebrow at him. Oh, he had heard about that as well. It seemed that nothing was kept a secret for long. People were libel to figure things out even if you didn't actually go around telling people stuff. Jack wasn't used to being the disapproving father, but he really couldn't help it in this case with Ash. "Anyways, Ben wasn't very good for her. I can't imagine his son will be much better."
"From what Lucy tells me, he's WORSE. Ben, as much as I wish him eternal pain, has a heart, in some twisted way." He scowled as he said the next words, "Apparently he's been trying to hook up with Dawn Summers. Knowing full well that in his OWN time, he's already been with her NIECE."
Jack made a face. Apparently there were even some lines that HE wouldn't cross, and that was saying a decent bit. "So, you're the diabolical one. I'm just a concerned father. What do we do? Most of my ideas involve blunt objects against his skull, but I doubt I could actually pull that off."
"Well, I've considered merely murdering him, but that would both royally piss of the Bale family AND hurt Meredith. Neither of which we really want to do." And the worst part was that Ash spoke of murdering the boy with utter, complete seriousness.
Sadly, Jack wouldn't mind murdering the boy, either. Of course, he HAD thought about doing the same to Ash once (and occasionally still did), so what did you want? Amazingly enough, he was highly protective of his daughter. "Then what DO you propose?"
"I was considering having... a small talk with the boy. And letting him know, in no uncertain terms, that if he EVER even THINKS about hurting our Meredith..." Yes, he said OUR. Because he realized, finally, the one thing he and Jack had in common. "That I can and WILL make his every remaining day on earth so miserable that he will BEG me for death."
Jack chuckled. "If only we could do more than that to him," he said. He dealt with Ben on a professional level, so he never could do anything to really piss him off, but damn if he wanted someone better for his daughter than a Bale. "I should say something, while I'm here." He looked directly at Ash. For all that Ash could do, Jack had no real fear of him like most did. Why? Because, for all the boy's problems, he knew that Ash would NEVER hurt him because of how much he cared for Meredith, which was really his only redeeming quality, in Jack's opinion. "I still hold against you what happened in Sunnydale with Mere. However, I have to thank you for what you did for her, for me. You brought me back my daughter they way that she's supposed to be."
"Jack... I can't be mad for how you feel. Because whether you believe it or not... no matter how angry or hateful you might be towards me, I guarantee I feel the same way, only worse. Lucy is the sole good thing about me, and I know it. Sometimes *I* don't want Meredith around me, because I know that somehow, even without trying, I only cause her pain." He sighed, not looking Jack in the eyes. "I love her, Jack. I think shes gorgeous, and she's my best friend. But I can't be what she wants me to be. And I know that hurts her whether she admits it or not. She shouldn't have to be with someone who's heart isn't entirely in it."
"You're right, she shouldn't," he said back to him. "I want her to find someone that's good for her, though. She doesn't always have to best taste in other people, though." That was only a little pointed, by the way. Mere really WASN'T known for her great taste in partners, right?
"Way I see it, this Brayden and I need to have a chat." Ash said with a wicked grin that made it apparent: "chat" meant "threatening session". "I'll make it clear to him that as long as Mere is happy? He may do as he pleases. But the MOMENT he does ANYTHING that hurts her in any way, be it emotional or physical, that I will destroy him. And anyone who even considers coming to his aide."
Jack nodded. "You do that then," he said to Ash. "I'll talk with him myself as well." Jack might not be a werewolf or vampire or warlock, but he could be plenty scary for a human when it came to protecting his daughter.
"But, Jack?" He added, giving a small sigh, "one thing you need to come to grips with: no matter who Meredith chooses to be with, I love your daughter. And I always will. She's my best friend, and even if she chooses to be with Brayden... she and I will always be attracted to each other. I know its easy to hate me, but she and I will always be a part of one another's lives. I would give my life for her, and I know she feels the same."
"I know all of that," he pointed out to Ash. He was tempted to point out 'doesn't mean I have to like it,' but decided not to. "I'm just tired of having to help pick up the pieces every time you go off the deep end." Jack looked at him. "Seeing a shrink might not be a bad idea."
"Trust me when I say I've... been strongly considering it. And while I know you'll never 'like' me... I hope to at least eventually make you realize that I'm NOT the poison in your daughters life that you think I am." He said calmly, that deathly cool expression never changing.
Jack's expression never changed, either. "Maybe you're not," Jack said to him. "Suppose we'll fully see that when the future comes, won't we?"
"We shall. For now... let's just enjoy the fact that we have at least one common interest: Meredith's welfare." Ash said with a slight smile.
Jack nodded, standing up. "One thing in common is enough for me right now," he said, turning to leave. He was ready to go home after a talk as emotionally draining as this one and have a beer.