siri, how do i fake a smile?

“I really need to practice my DAD JOKES. You know any good ones?”

“ hmm ? “ he hadn’t realized until that moment that he had been talking to himself. HOW EMBARRASSING. “ it’s jus’ me – quin. i’d hope you recognize my voice since you hear it enough at gardening club. “ 

he’s caught off guard, steps halting at the fact that anyone could’ve heard him talking to himself under his breath. he turns, spotting the only person close by in the almost abandoned library. he quickly takes in the braille, the way she doesn’t focus on him, and he approaches a little, makes sure his voice is understandable as he speaks. “sorry for the interruption, ma’am.” it’s genuine, official. an apology given in the tone of the captain. “i’m steve rogers. you could’ve heard me on t.v. or radio. maybe some internet sites, i think, depending on what you’re into.”

Theo shrugged. “I don’t have an amazing memory, so whether your face is unforgettable doesn’t really matter.” He quirked a brow, shifted slightly to the left, then met her hand with his and shook it twice before letting go hastily. “Theo. Theo Hansen.”

“I’d be a pretty bad lawyer if I didn’t have a great memory. I think I have to drop my dad’s last name if I ever mix up supreme court cases.” Jude joked. “Nice to meet you.” She dropped her hand to the side. 

“ sorry , mom , i’ll call you back , “ naomi slipped her phone into her back pocket and turned towards jude. “ i’d hope so ? it’s naomi. “ kind of an ex… whatever. the mutant didn’t like to get into the details of her mess ups. 

“i’m sorry,” she spun on her heel to face jude, and the apology tumbled from her without thought - the posters had been an inspired idea from a student that jean had confided in, but she only realized now they were flawed in at least one aspect. “i think my evasiveness has ‘done me dirty’.” a chuckle that was unusually somber left her lips, and she straightened up, “the group is for people who’ve died and come back. there are no other requirements - i don’t need them to promise they’ll open up. i just want them to know they’re not alone.” 

“a fuckng champion– nah, a HERO among common men.”

“But seriously, what would you do if the Purge was real?”

she paused, pursed red lips, shrugged her dark, strong shoulders. ❝ oh, not that i know of. many a friend of a friend. ❞ winona made a tsk noise.  ❝ i’m also a bit well-known. winona falcone. gotham native. ❞

“me?” he paused, taking a moment before sitting next to her. “i lecture here and have done at some conventions and stuff, if you’re into science? if not – i don’t know. i’m peter parker, though.”

“Possibly,” he replied, quirking a brow. “Do I know you??” he met her question with one of his own, as he did often. “I can’t say yours is familiar, but maybe if we keep talking then that will change in future similar situations.”

“Probably not then. I’ve been told I have a pretty unforgettable face.” Jude laughed. Normally, she was better at voices but somethings remained jumbled in her mind. “I’m Jude Natchios-Murdock.” She held her hand out purposely a few inches the the left of him. “It’s nice to meet you.”

“Yes!” Rohen jumped up and yelled in excitement, something rather unbecoming of him. “I submitted a seventy-five page thesis and didn’t break down more than twice!” He burst to tell the nearest person.

The stress of law school, the hours of studying cases and debating anything they could, was still fresh in Jude’s mind. Turning her attention the man who yelled, she smiled. “That’s a pretty huge accomplishment. Any plans to celebrate?”

“it’s a therapy group,” she explains to watching eyes ; deft fingers finishing what her mind could have done in seconds, poster freshly pinned to one of the school’s notice boards. she’d enlisted help in its design ( handmade would have taken too long, and she wasn’t skilled enough on a computer to make anything nice on her own ), ensuring that it was both tasteful and informative. while the headline didn’t betray the purpose outright, the little text bubbles below said exactly what jean couldn’t find words to, aloud. “for a certain kind of person.” the resurrected. it was explained better in ink. “i think it’s reached a point where, if it isn’t you - it’s someone you know.”