savetheearth | [Private network/Closed action]

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[Private network/Closed action]

Who: Elizabeth and Jack.
What: Hangovers, apologies, and presents.
Where: Network -> Elizabeth's apartment.
When: Afternoon, the day after Jack's angry drunken network escapades.

[It's later in the afternoon by the time Jack wakes up, cleans up the mess he'd made in the bathroom, and sees the mess he'd made the previous night on the Network. Elizabeth didn't call to say she was coming back after all, and in a way, Jack is glad she wasn't in the apartment that night. There were some uncomfortable paralells months prior to this whole crazy Numbers Club business that he didn't like at all.

She'd been kind enough to let him stay, rest and heal up in her place, despite the potential danger. And he fucked it all up.

Jack types her Network number into his cellphone (which has actually been in Airplane Mode for weeks now, due to paranoia about signal tracking). He's still pretty hungover, voice quiet on the end of the line.]

Elizabeth? You there?

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Jack! My goodness, you sound dreadful! Are you quite all right? I don't need to be calling Dr. Strider, do I?

[ Elizabeth's voice is careful and quiet as well, as she's dealt with her fair share of hungover people in her time. Just another exciting new experience that college has imparted on her. If she's still at all rattled about the way Jack spoke to her over the network, it doesn't show. In fact, she smiles as she speaks, genuinely glad that he's called. ]

[Oh great, Doc Strider is the last person he wants to talk to.]

No... No, it's okay. I'm fine.

I'm sorry about yesterday. I didn't mean to... It's just... [No, honestly, there aren't even any excuses, nothing he can justify to her. He sighs, gives up on that train of thought.] I made a few mistakes. It was my fault for getting carried away. You don't have to worry about me, I'll grab a few things and leave tonight.

You absolutely will not. [ It's rare that Elizabeth puts her foot down like this, but when she does it she means it. ] What on earth are you going to do out on the streets all on your own like that?

You were drunk, Jack. Not the most graceful drunk I've met, but also not the worst. There's nothing to be sorry about.

Not the worst, huh... [Jack doesn't believe that, but he'll humor her. He's in no mood to argue, hungover and having witnessed his own rambling arguments again this morning via network]

You coming back up, then?

Edited 2013-05-02 04:14 (UTC)

[ Well thus far Jack has made zero attempts to drunkenly feel her up, so he's definitely not the worst she's had to deal with at least in her book. That request catches her by surprise though, which is evident in her voice as she responds. ]

Do you want me to...? I do still have your things. But don't feel obligated to have me back so soon, Jack. Honestly. I just want you to be comfortable.

It's fine. I've had a good rest ["Good" maybe isn't the right word for passing out and then a long nightmare-filled sleep sprawled on the carpet, but there's no need to share that] and anyway... it's your apartment. I wouldn't feel right about just taking the whole place over on you.

Only if you're sure... [ She thinks some company could do him good, frankly, but then again everyone has different boundaries and needs. ]

I have enough friends to stay with, so there's absolutely nothing to worry about. But let's get you cleaned up from that hangover first, shall we~?

[ It seems Elizabeth has decided to pay a visit at the very least. ]

I should be home in, oh... About half an hour? Does that work for you?

No problem. I've already cleaned up a bit...

[And Jack feels very sorry about what happened in your bathroom, Euphemia. Fortunately you'll never know. Drinking that much hard liquor in one sitting wasn't so great, even with Jack's tolerance.]

I'll see you then.

See you then!

[ Elizabeth gets off the phone without bothering to correct Jack that she in fact meant she intends to mop Jack up and not any kind of mess in her apartment. Specifically of that hangover he's ailing from.

But anyway talk is cheap so she makes a quick detour to the grocery store and then is straight home after that. Once there, she knocks just to give Jack some kind of advance warning that she's arrived. In case he needs to put on pants or something. ]

Jack? I'm home!

[Jack emerges from the guest bedroom, looking rather worse for wear, and about as aggressive as a kicked puppy.]

Hey. Here, let me give you a hand with that.

[He greets her sheepishly, coming over and offering one hand to grab some of the groceries. It's only one hand, and his arm is still injured, but he doesnt mind helping where he can.]

Edited 2013-05-04 03:51 (UTC)

[ The poor thing! And while she appreciates the gesture, she doesn't feel right having a wounded and obviously hungover man helping her with something so simple as bringing in the groceries. ]

Nonsense! The only thing you're going to do is sit down and wait to be fed.

[ She bustles on in, coming just close enough to lean in and give him a like peck on the forehead. Then she points sternly over at the couch before she's gone again, because Elizabeth Bishop is nothing if not a girl who does what she wants to, when she wants it. And right now she feels like making her hungover one-armed runaway fugitive a sandwich to help him with that hangover. Since, well, there's not a lot she can do about any of the other bits. ]

You do like bacon, don't you? And is whole wheat okay? It's better for you but I know some people who just can't stand the texture.

Sounds good to me.

[Jack says agreeably (or at least as agreeably as he can through the headache), one of the least picky guys around. He settles on the couch as Elizabeth moves to the kitchen, squinting a little at the bright daylight filtering in through the windows into the living room -- he's already been awake long enough that it's not quite so blindingly terrible, but he's still feeling the effects of last night's behaviour, that's for sure.

Not quite awful enough, mind you, to be completely ignorant of the fact that the whole situation is a little bit awkward. Staying with Casval had been one thing (even though the man had been prissy about cleanliness and cooking for Jack), but staying in the apartment of a young lady who seemed just as happy to dote on him was a bit different. Still, it wasn't as if there was anything going on, aside from the mysterious numbers that had brought everyone on the network together.]

[ Yes don't worry at all Jack. You are definitely not the first guy Elizabeth has fussed over after a night of hard drinking. (On their part, not on hers. Elizabeth doesn't really drink, although she's had reason to sample wine now and then.) She has her hangover cure down to a science now. Grilled BLT sandwich, two aspirin, and a tall glass of refreshing ice tea, and some gentle, encouraging conversation.

She gets the items together in short order. The smell of sizzling bacon fills the apartment as she slices the tomato and lettuce into sandwich-sized portions. Then she puts it all together with a little bit of herb garlic mayo, searing the bread on both sides. The sandwich gets cut diagonally, because Elizabeth decided a long time ago that triangular sandwiches just taste better somehow. Then she brings it all out to Jack on a plastic tray, setting it in front of him on the coffee table. ]

Here we go! Do you mind terribly if I sit next to you...?

[ Because she could always get a chair, but... ]

[There's plenty of space. Doesn't mean it's not awkward, though.]

Uh, no... it's fine.

[The bacon does smell pretty good right about now... there's something about greasy food and hangovers. Jack reaches out for the tray, aspirin first, then sandwich.]

Thanks, Er, you're not having anything?

[ Things are only as awkward as you allow them to be, and social norms have no power over Elizabeth right now. She smiles and takes a seat, shaking her head a little at the question. ]

I already ate while I was out. But, oh, it is strange to have someone watch you eat, isn't it? Hmmm....

[ She pulls up those other bags she brought in and rummages through until she finds a box of graham crackers. ]

Aha! Here we go, I'll have some of these. Don't mind me, Jack. You just enjoy your sandwich. And tell me if you need anything else, okay? I've also got some necessities for you, but that can wait.

...necessities?

[Jack asks with some trepidation before taking a bite of his sandwich. Unsure if he should be worried. Not that he would say anything to Elizabeth, especially not now, but she's really gone too far out of her way in Jack's opinion.]

[ There is no such thing as too far out of her way, at least from Elizabeth's standpoint. She did promise to do every last thing in her power for Jack, after all. Having promised Banagher that she would be more cautious, she went through as discrete of channels as possible to get the rest of Jack's 'necessities' ticked off her chart, but this was definitely a thing that she was determined to do for him.

Fortunately she managed to piggy back her order off of an existing shipment coming in for their health and sciences building, and as far as they're concerned she's only borrowing it for the rest of the semester.

Incidentally, she's going to 'lose' it and then reimburse the school. ]

Well, I suppose there's no harm in getting into them now. But you eat up, Jack Sears! I mean that.

[ Her stern warning that he is to eat his food like a good boy issued, she moves on to start pulling things out of the various reusable shopping totes she's accumulated over her time living here. ]

I've got more shirts and pants for you, a belt just in case, some different kinds of shoes, extra socks...

Oh, and I thought, you know, you might need a little hand.

[ ...yes. Yes indeed, Elizabeth Bishop did just make that terrible pun as she pulls a slightly dated but fully functional prosthetic arm out of the last bag. ]

[Jack's eyes widen. It might be a bit much to say he looks happy, but he's certainly surprised. Enough to ignore the awful joke. It might not be quite the right size or fit, but at this point, Jack'd take it. If nothing else, at least he'd fill out the shirts he's been wearing a bit better.]

Liz. How did you... I mean, where...

Well-- [ She laughs, looking impossibly happy to see that he at least looks pleased at this development. ]

You'd be amazed at what you can get away with when the words 'mechanical engineering major' are thrown around. Don't worry, though! I was as discrete as possible. As far as anyone knows this came in with a shipment to our health and sciences building, and I personally borrowed it from a professor I know.

...thank you.

[Jack says with the utmost sincerity.As young as she is, Elizabeth is... really an amazing person.]

You've already done so much for me, and now this... I don't know what to say.

I mean the things I've said to you, Jack. Truly, I do.

[ Elizabeth goes a little pink at Jack's gratitude, glad to have it but nonetheless feeling like she's getting too much credit for simply trying to fix an impossible situation. ]

Whatever you need, as long as it's at all in my power, I'll do my best to get. What's happening to you isn't fair. And perhaps I can't right everything that's wrong with the world, but I'll never let that stop me from trying.

I do believe that every act, however small, counts.

Edited 2013-05-10 04:44 (UTC)

However small...

[Jack looks down then, at the edge of the sofa. Elizabeth's attitude is like a breath of fresh air to Jack. And even though he doesn't really believe anything will ever work out for him... when she speaks, he really wants to believe.]

Maybe this isn't the best time to bring it up. But you do know that once I've finished recovering, I'm going to go back to trying to figure out what's going on. In the Dead District and elsewhere. I'm just one guy, but... it's like you said. Everything, no matter how small, counts. I have to do what I can, to help protect the people that can't protect themselves.

You can understand that, right?

[Jack's going one day, one way or another -- he's not asking permission. But he told Elizabeth some time ago that he'd tell her if he planned anything. He could only hope that she would listen... and understand.]

[ That causes Elizabeth to bite her lip in worry, but after a moment's hesitation she nods in understanding. Jack is a grown man, after all. He doesn't seem like the type to ever stay put, and he's clearly been through more than Elizabeth can know. Someone has to make the hard decisions and shoulder the heavy burdens in this, and if Jack wants that to be him-- Who is Elizabeth to protest that? ]

Just be as careful as you can, Jack. Please. I don't know what I would do if something happened to you--

Try to remember that you can't protect anyone if something should happen to you, okay? And that my door is always open if you run into trouble again.

If you ever need anything, please don't hesitate to call. Don't think you're being a bother, because in fact I will be extremely cross with you if I find out you needed help and didn't get it.

Okay?

[ Elizabeth gives Jack her very best stern look, arms crossing over her chest. ]

[Jack nods, the faintest hint of a smile at the corner of his mouth at Elizabeth's adamant insistence.]

Don't worry, I'll be staying low and keeping out of trouble.

[That won't stay true, Jack's sure of it, but it comes easily to his lips when he knows it's what Elizabeth wants to hear.]

I don't believe you.

[ Elizabeth feels she has Jack's character pegged pretty well, and she doesn't believe for a second that he'll stay out of trouble for long. But after a moment of frowning at him in concern, she finally smiles again and gives a shake of her head. ]

...but that's okay. Trouble seems determined to find us, so that's not something I'd hold against you. Just take care of yourself the best you can, and come find me if you even start to think you might need help. Got it?

Roger that, ma'am.

[Jack's half-joking, but does add a little more seriously:]

I'm still surprised by how much you've been able to do already. Not just for me, for everybody, I mean. Putting yourself out like that on the network, and trying to get things moving in the right direction. And now this...

[He gestures vaguely with the half-eaten bacon sandwich at the arm.]

[ At that compliment from Jack, Elizabeth blushes faintly and glances away, looking rather pensive as she tries to figure out exactly what she wants to say in response. She doesn't find herself as having been any more helpful than anyone else. She thinks that so many of the people on the network have been exceptional in their own ways. But she's grateful to him for the acknowledgement, so she doesn't want to come off as dismissing it completely. ]

I've been incredibly fortunate in my life, Jack. It's put me in a position where I am capable of helping others, with the academic and intellectual background to plan accordingly. Lead them if I must.

Everyone I've met so far has been amazing. Resourceful, cunning, courageous... Hajime put together that entire guide by himself when all I did was suggest it. Casval led that campaign against those... beats in the Dead District, and you--

I can't imagine how difficult it's been for you, and I admire you immensely for standing your ground as you've been. For surviving.

I find every last one of us exceptional, and I'm so glad I've been able to do anything at all.

[Jack doesn't feel admirable. For rushing off half-cocked and getting captured, for the long night of the hunt that's a complete blank in his memory... for surviving. He turns his gaze back towards his plate then, changing the subject.]

What comes next, I wonder. As many of us as there are, we still haven't exactly made a lot of progress.

I wouldn't say that. I mean, it may not seem like much, but...

[ Elizabeth looks down at her own hands, smoothing out her skirts a little as she speaks. ]

We learn more about a situation that seems unknowable by its very nature. To even still have some kind of structure and ability to plan ahead for a group like ours is remarkable to me. What we've been experiencing is the kind of thing that would send most people into blind panic. Werewolves, supernatural statues, political corruption somehow tied to it all...

What we know now is so much more than what we knew even a week ago. With every action and even every inaction, we learn more about our opponents. Don't discount what we've accomplished, Jack. It's so much more than it seems.

...The same holds true for you.

[Oh Elizabeth, you can't even begin to know. Jack doesn't want to continue down that road -- whatever good she thinks there is in him... it's just not true. Still, what can he say to that?]

...I guess.

[He sighs, and glances back over at the prosthetic Elizabeth brought for him.]

Uh, mind [don't say giving me a hand, don't say giving me a hand]helping me out with one last thing?

[He can get it on once it's all set up and fit to his shoulder, but making those adjustments is going to be awkward on his own.]

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[Private network/Closed action]

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