jukebox selection H06 - out of order

[huntersdaughter]

[She's tired. It comes across in her voice. In the heaviness of her breath. She's tired of being left behind and maybe that's what's supposed to happen, maybe she's dead and they all go back home, but it doesn't make her any less tired. She should be angry. Angry at the castle for continually yanking away the people that are important to her. Angry at herself for letting herself think that it won't happen again. Angry at him for...

Her hand rests heavily on the page, the slight shift of her palm making the page wrinkle and rub to the page beneath it.]

Doctor Robert Chase isn't here anymore. Anyone in the clinic that was expecting him to show up... I'm sorry that you'll have to take on extra shifts, especially since the holiday tends to end up with a few more physical assaults happening.

[There's a beat, because her day shouldn't be any worse than that - not the day before Valentine's Day, but it is.]

Dean Winchester left, as well.

[Normal circumstances -- a normal person would wallow. They would curl up on the couch with a pint of ice cream and sob.

She pushes it down, because she can't let herself stop to think about it. It's better for them. It just sucks for her.

She doesn't want to think about it, so, Jo goes to work. So, feel free to harass her at the Lux. She'll be there all day.

And all night.]

Comments

[asseenontv]

...I'm sorry.

[huntersdaughter]

It happens.

It also wasn't your fault. [It's the standard reply, and it sounds as though she's said it a lot the past few months.]

[asseenontv]

No. But I can still express empathy for loss.

[huntersdaughter]

[She nods.]

Thanks.

[asseenontv]

You're welcome.

[hellshaped]

[Jo...]

Are you okay?

[huntersdaughter]

Yeah, I'm fine. [Are you familiar with Egyptian waterways?]

[hellshaped]

[He's familiar with mummies.......

No, but for real. He's not quite convinced.]

It's hard. I know.

[huntersdaughter]

I'm used to it. [Said with a numbness that might be welcome for dental work.]

Chase has gone home three... three times now. Dean this makes six I think.

[hellshaped]

[Six times. Jesus Christ.]

Errr. Okay, I think maybe you need a drink. Or comfort food.

[huntersdaughter]

I work in a bar, HB.

[hellshaped]

Do you usually drink on the job?

[huntersdaughter]

Kinda frowned upon.

[hellshaped]

Then let me know when you get off and I'll buy you one.

[huntersdaughter]

Thanks, HB. I'll let you know. [Nope. No, she won't.]

[hellshaped]

[A... pause.]

I meant more along the lines you could tell me now...

lux filter forever

[valuedstrength]

[He is sad to see Chase go. While he couldn't claim to be particularly close to him they did share home and cared deeply for the same person even if it was in entirely different ways. Speaking of which, he can't imagine Jo is taking both losses well. Even if he didn't live with her the entry was proof enough. He knows he has to talk to her about it or at least give her the chance to if she wanted. (Steve can't be pushy with her even when he's concerned. It's just not his place.)

Late in the evening, Steve takes a seat in the restaurant, pulls out his sketchbook, and waits for her to leave as he quietly doodles.]

[huntersdaughter]

[Jo's been working the whole night. She got there early and cleaned the kitchen. It probably needed it. Max had been the one to do that most of the time. Those cat strengths and skills coming in handy with balancing a few things at once.

It's not as dirty as she would've liked... just because cleaning it doesn't take her as long as she'd hoped.

Jo notices Steve show up. Not that anyone can not notice Steve, but she's sure that he's here for reasons that she doesn't want him to be there for. Jo takes care of the customers, even brings Steve a glass of water and a wet towel, since she knows that the pencil will rub on the heel of his hand after a while.

As the night winds down, she feels that ache in the center of her chest. She almost considers sleeping in the castle, just to avoid that empty feeling when she's alone. Taking a deep breath, she tries to quell the ache, but it sits there. It's not going anywhere.

Just like Steve.

Frowning, she heads over to him.]

It's getting late, you should head home.

[valuedstrength]

[Steve glances up from his latest doodle. He goes for an easy smile like it's any other night at the Lux. He doubts it's very effective, but it's in his nature to always try rather than admit defeat.]

I was thinking the same thing. Would you mind walking me back?

[impetuous]

[ Rather than say anything (journals have always been too impersonal for his tastes), Gwaine looks her up. The Lux is always a good place to start and he's pleased to spot her--even if the circumstances are less than ideal.

While her back is still turned, he takes his usual (so weird to think of it as usual when he hasn't been here in so long) and drums his fingertips on the table. He holds out a tiny white daisy. ]

You dropped something.

[huntersdaughter]

[Part of her wants to be grateful that she has people that care to check up on her. That there are still those people left. That she hasn't lost everyone. Of course, then the other part of her tells her that she should start preparing for when they leave too.

Gwaine came back, though. Then so did Chase. So did Dean... it's a vicious cycle and she's slightly worn out from it all. Focusing on work is good. She wants a hunt, if she's honest. She wants to go out and track something for a week before finally saving someone from harrowing odds. She wants the satisfaction of killing something that could have hurt someone else. Of stopping it from doing more harm. Of knowing that what she did saved lives.

Her eyes glance down to the flower, then back to his face.]

I wasn't aware I was shedding flowers today.

[impetuous]

[ A shrug. ] It happens.

[ He waves the flower at her. ]

Do I get a hug?

[huntersdaughter]

[She eyes him. Then the flower. Again. Then him. There's amusement in her eyes, even if it's clouded by the weight of the day.]

Yes. Just watch out, I'm dropping petals, apparently. [This is the part where Jo hugs Gwaine.]

[impetuous]

[ He laughs, hugging her back. ]

Would you believe if I told you that's not in my ten strangest things I've had drop on me?

[huntersdaughter]

I would only believe it if you told me the ten things that were stranger. [It's good. She needs the distraction and idle talk about nothing at all, that's a good distraction.]

[atrophied]

[ Late evening and House needs a drink. He could just wish for it himself, but he decides to go out. He's always being pushed to mingle more. People watching counts.

At the Lux, he takes a seat and waits for someone to flag down. His cane he hangs off the edge of the table. ]

[huntersdaughter]

[Jo doesn't need to be flagged down, she spots him and after she clears a table she heads over to him.]

What can I get you? [She doesn't need to write it down, so she just stands there, waiting.]

[atrophied]

[ He immediately places the voice, but his expression reveals nothing. ]

I'll have a beer to start. What do you have?

[huntersdaughter]

On tap we've got local brews. A nice pale ale, a dark stout that has a pretty good base to it, and an amber lager that has a bit of a sweeter, honey note to it. It's not that bad.

Bottles, we've got most the standards. It seems even if I don't wish for the stuff, the ghosts seem to still end up with it being stocked.