[Jake hardly knows this boy well enough to say if he has a good reason to get so down on himself, but with time Eddie would probably work out an answer one way or another. If he can't change the thing about himself, or what's happened, or what his friends are here, he'll wear himself out beating himself up about it. Playing the 'what if' game just makes losers of everyone.
What if he'd stayed on Earth. What if he'd gotten back sooner? Could he have saved his mom and Lon? Playing that game too long is precisely how he suspects Roland got the way he is--worn out, alone, tired but tirelessly driven. And speaking of the gunslinger--]
His name's Roland. He's tall. He has dark skin... and guns. He'd probably seem a little weird--he's not from our world.
[If he'd still had his sketches, he could simply show Eddie, but they'd been left behind in New York like most of his belongings.
The offer brings him out of the reverie. Stick around? He's positive Eddie isn't saying stick around in a monster-infested danger zone, but his real meaning is touching. Eddie wants to hang out with him? It's been a while since anyone said that to him without glancing at him out of the corner their eyes like he's a delicate chemical that might explode if shaken, or start frothing at the mouth. He has to put in real effort not to smile too widely--he doesn't want Eddie to think he's laughing at the thought he'd stay.]
You, too. Maybe on your next trip to a new world, you can come visit me.
[The next bedroom is just an average, bare room that looks like it would make a good office in another life with the natural sunlight coming through the window. Not too big, not too small. Jake nods. Considering the danger, Jake doesn't presume to think he has room to be picky.]
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What if he'd stayed on Earth. What if he'd gotten back sooner? Could he have saved his mom and Lon? Playing that game too long is precisely how he suspects Roland got the way he is--worn out, alone, tired but tirelessly driven. And speaking of the gunslinger--]
His name's Roland. He's tall. He has dark skin... and guns. He'd probably seem a little weird--he's not from our world.
[If he'd still had his sketches, he could simply show Eddie, but they'd been left behind in New York like most of his belongings.
The offer brings him out of the reverie. Stick around? He's positive Eddie isn't saying stick around in a monster-infested danger zone, but his real meaning is touching. Eddie wants to hang out with him? It's been a while since anyone said that to him without glancing at him out of the corner their eyes like he's a delicate chemical that might explode if shaken, or start frothing at the mouth. He has to put in real effort not to smile too widely--he doesn't want Eddie to think he's laughing at the thought he'd stay.]
You, too. Maybe on your next trip to a new world, you can come visit me.
[The next bedroom is just an average, bare room that looks like it would make a good office in another life with the natural sunlight coming through the window. Not too big, not too small. Jake nods. Considering the danger, Jake doesn't presume to think he has room to be picky.]
Cool. This is fine. Anywhere's good with me.