[ 4 ] [ Audio // Commentlog ]

[idkmybffsean]

 [Behind the bar of the restaurant 'Our House' sits Joe. Empty bottles and cigarette butts litter the floor around him, a build up of the past few days spent drowning his sorrows. He's long since stopped drinking, instead choosing to stare ahead at the cupboard in front of him.

The encounter with Moonie brought back a lot of memories that Joe had

Comments

[commentlog]

[skinbrand]

[Nel knows the type. Elusive men so wrapped up in their troubles that they would avoid the pampering of trained healers. She won't judge him for whatever it is that he's done because it clearly does not define the man she shares the kitchen with, and because she is without details or the need to ask for them. If he wants to talk, he will do so on his own time. She respects that.

She will track his sobering ass down and make sure whatever wound he has won't fester.

It's habit for Nel to move fast and quiet away from her home castle. Joe hasn't even the warning of a network reply before her search takes her to Our House.]

Joseph?

[commentlog]

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe snaps out of his thoughts at the sound of someone speaking his name. He knows the voice, having spent a lot of his spare time in the kitchen of this restaurant with the Elicoorian woman. However strict she was, Nel was a friend.]

Nelly.

[He doesn't get up, though he knows he probably should. His current state is bound to earn a frown.]

[commentlog]

[skinbrand]

[Behind the bar, then, confirming the source of the energy in turmoil she sensed. Nel's communicator stays in her sling until she needs it for certain. That he acknowledged her is good, and she has long since been aware he means no real direspect.

When she draws near and enters the bar to stand beside him, the bottles prevent her from doing so. Nel scans them and the limp cigarettes coolly, then Joe, and the lines on her brow deepen. She articulates with care, in a language he understands.]

You stink.

[commentlog]

[idkmybffsean]

[Her comment earns a short, dry chuckle. On a normal day, Joe might of responded with a joke, some heartfelt jest about her learning all the cool things to say. Today, he doesn't.

Joe nods his head and, with his free hand, adjusts his cap.]

Aye. Probably do by now. Thanks fer pointin' that out.

[voice]

[chopshopgoddess]

I'll bring you one. Where are you?

[voice]

[idkmybffsean]

'kaela.

[Does he really want her to see him like this? Joe feels pretty pathetic right now.]

S'not that bad. Forget I said anythin'.

[voice]

[chopshopgoddess]

Tell me where you are right now, Joe. Please.

[voice]

[idkmybffsean]

[He sighs.]

The bar that links to me kitchen, lass. Our House.

[Voice]

[madteos]

[Hey, so Matt remembers you. And you were nice to him. So he's going to just...]

...Are you okay?

[He'll help anyway he can. But he's not that great with injuries. They make him kind of queasy.]

[Voice]

[idkmybffsean]

[Joe knows that voice. He picks up the comm to reply.]

S'fine, brother. It ain't nothin' I can't fix.

[Voice]

[madteos]

[Matt doesn't want to press if Joe doesn't want to tell him...]

I checked the map, there's a infirmary on deck two. I could...get you something. Some bandages or something.

Unless you don't want me to. I mean it's up to you.

[ffff, he feels so awkward. Good job, Matt.]

[Voice]

[idkmybffsean]

[It's nothing personal Matt. Joe's just being moody.]

Deck two? That actually doesn't sound like a bad offer. You up for a drink, Matt?

[Pause.]

It is Matt, right?

[lightyourway]

[Kairi recognizes that ID number, but he sounds... Different.]

There's a clinic on deck three. There are probably some first aid supplies in the Bazaar too...

Are you hurt?

[idkmybffsean]

[The last thing Joe wants to do is worry a sweet girl like Kairi. He scoops up the comm with his good hand and makes an effort to pep up his tone.]

Kairi? Is that you lass? I'm fine, I'm fine. Just curious is all.

[Liar liar liar.]

[lightyourway]

[Kairi is not a computing genius. But it does not take a computing genius to find Joe's last post.]

... Well, okay.

[He hadn't made her talk when she hadn't wanted to, but he doesn't sound fine.]

I can't help?

[idkmybffsean]

[It might of been his body, but it certainly wasn't him.]

Eh, it's just a scratch. Bleeds a bit easier than I'd like.

[Think Joe think.]

Say, y'wouldn't be hungry at all would ya? I'm in the mood to cook somethin' but I dunno what.

[Audio]

[idkmybffjoe]

Get back to th'rooms, big brother. I feel like a fuckin' loser sitting here all by myself.

[Sean translation: Come back and sit with me, you don't have to be alone.]

[Audio]

[idkmybffsean]

[There's a bit of a pause before he answers.]

Aye, little brother. I'll... be there soon. Y'want anythin'?

[Audio]

[idkmybffjoe]

Sure. No hurry.

Got 'ne Guinness left?

[Audio] -->

[idkmybffsean]

Yeah.

[No. But he'll get more. Fuck waiting around. Joe's already trudging back to his room.]