(no subject)

[have_no_mercy]

Today, Tess doesn’t even realize she’s entered the bar until she nearly runs into a table. It’s not the ideal place for now, but she decides to stay regardless, wandering over to the fireplace and settling on a couch.

Her face is blank and there’s no question there’s something wrong. Whether or not she’ll talk about it is the real mystery.

Comments

[onceaviking]

She isn't the only blank faced person in Bar today.

Eric is barefoot, his hair is tousled, and he is clearly looking for a place to sit. And apologetic about it.

[have_no_mercy]

Tess glances up and around, eventually, and spots Eric.

"Hey, stranger."

Yes, Eric, that's to you.

"What's going on?"

[onceaviking]

He blinks at her, clearly surprised at being spoken to.

"Ehm, hi?"

He walks closer and says, quietly,"Do you know me?"

[have_no_mercy]

"Of course I do."

A frown.

"Are you all right?"

[onceaviking]

He shrugs.

"I'm - I can't go home and I have lost my memories. "

He looks up at her. "All of them."

[have_no_mercy]

"Oh."

That's major.

"Well, I'm Tess and we're ...friends. Come, sit down."

[onceaviking]

He lights up as she says that, coming over to sit down next to her.

"Hi Tess. I'm Eric. "

And then he shakes his head at himself with a rueful grin.

"But you already know that, right?"

[have_no_mercy]

"I do, but that's okay."

She offers a small smile back.

"How did you lose your memory? Do you know?"

[onceaviking]

He looks down at his own big, cold hands.

"There was a witch," he almost whispers.

[have_no_mercy]

"Witches can be trouble."

Tess knows this from experience.

[onceaviking]

"She took all my memories."

He looks up at her, face open and vulnerable.

"And I don't know what to do."

[have_no_mercy]

She thinks for a moment.

"Was this at home, or here in the bar?"

[onceaviking]

"At home. I didn't know this place excited but then I wanted to ask Sookie something and when I followed her into the kitchen is came here instead."

[just_cant_lose]

'Hello.'

Jim drops into an armchair opposite, slouching sideways over it like an oversized cat.

'What's up with you?'

[have_no_mercy]

She doesn't say anything for a few moments, but does notice his arrival.

"I think I have to go back home."

[just_cant_lose]

'Why?'

He doesn't look amused for once, scanning her with sharp eyes.

[have_no_mercy]

"A real estate company wants to buy my father's property. Which is mine now."

She pauses.

"I should go look at it before I decide."

[just_cant_lose]

Hmm.

Jim gestures a rat over, and orders bourbon.

'Why would you want to keep it?'

[have_no_mercy]

As if Tess doesn't notice that. Ass.

"If they're going to try to develop it and dig into the swamp they can't have it."

[just_cant_lose]

She'd keep it to protect the swamp? Predictable, he supposes, given her background.

'So don't sell it. You can always burn it down.'

He does not, in fact, understand why she hasn't done that already.

[have_no_mercy]

"That would still involve me going there."

Because she'd do it herself.

[just_cant_lose]

'You still call it 'home',' he says, in a neutral tone, pouring two stiff bourbons from the bottle, and pushing one over to her.

[have_no_mercy]

She ignores the drink.

"It's the closest thing I have to one."

[just_cant_lose]

Interesting. The drink, not the statement, which is obvious enough.

'Do you need one?'

[have_no_mercy]

She doesn't want to answer that. It takes a few shaky breaths for to do so regardless.

"Sometimes."