(no subject)

[have_no_mercy]

By Tess' reckoning, it hasn't been that long since she was in Louisiana. The feelings the trip brought back are still lingering.

It's not that shes disappointed to see the bar, but one could say she has sort of been avoiding it. Perhaps that's why it chooses to show up this time rather than her wanting to come. Apparently, she can't avoid it any longer.

Nothing is all that different as she sits at the bar proper, other than she seems to be a bit more subdued than usual. She even has a bottle of scotch to keep her occupied.

Comments

[just_cant_lose]

Jim slides onto a stool beside her. Carefully, very carefully. He looks much the same as he always does, if you ignore the faint tremors and obvious tiredness. He certainly is.

'Bad day?'

He asks Bar for tea, and a chicken salad. Food he doesn't have to prepare is literally the only reason he would leave his rooms at present.

[have_no_mercy]

She's absorbed enough in her own misery to ignore quite a bit for the moment. Not Jim himself, of course. One just doesn't ignore the infamous Moriarty, especially when they're friends of a sort.

"Hi."

It's a good start and more then most people have been getting out of her.

"Kind of a bad week."

[just_cant_lose]

If she ignored him, he would be very upset. Well. Angry. Either/or.

'Go on, then.'

It's more of an invitation than most people get. He wouldn't even offer to let most of them speak.

[have_no_mercy]

This might be a good day. She registered that he ordered tea, so she won't bother offering him a drink. Likely he knows he can help himself if he pleases.

"I did it."

A pause for a drink.

"I went home."

[just_cant_lose]

'And?'

He guessed it was about this, of course. It's the only thing that would bother her enough to make her seem bothered. And he knew he was going.

[have_no_mercy]

"I had the house burned down. What was left of it. I'm donating the land."

Her tone is deliberately neutral. None of that overreacting like she's been doing in Smallville.

[just_cant_lose]

Jim puts a piece of chicken in his mouth, chews it, swallows. Nods.

'Okay.'

Well? It seems like it wasn't enough.

'You don't appear to have the closure you went for.'

[have_no_mercy]

A half smile appears briefly.

"Ain't life a bitch."

It's agreement.

[just_cant_lose]

He gets that.

'It really is.'

It really is.

'Maybe you'll get what you want later,' he says, after a pause. 'I've read that it happens to people, sometimes. You wake up one day, and it just doesn't bother you so much any more.'

Not the initial thing, in her case. Of course not that. But this attempt at closing it down; perhaps one day, it'll feel like enough.

[have_no_mercy]

She nods.

"Maybe when it isn't so fresh in my memory."

When she's had enough time to process it all.

[just_cant_lose]

'Mm.'

He pushes a bit of lettuce around with a fork, then lets it drop and picks up his tea instead.

'But just now, do you wish you could have done something differently?'

She has to realise there's not a lot she could really do. Not to make it better.

[have_no_mercy]

"I don't know what else there was to be done."

Her Dad's been dead for years. She missed her chance.

[just_cant_lose]

'Nothing.'

They've talked about this before, vaguely. She should have killed him. It's the only thing that would have helped.

He gives a tiny shrug.

'Don't know what to tell you, darling. This sort of thing isn't my forte. I expect a shrink would advise dealing with the root cause in your head.'

There are no doubt ways to do it, but they've also established her attitude towards therapy in the past.

[alec_swamp]

Not far off, looking out the observation window, is one Avatar of the Green. He looks a bit worse for wear, less green than usual, but he's clearly the same Swamp Thing.

[have_no_mercy]

She glances at him and then calls over.

"You're looking a little pale. Winter got you down?"

[alec_swamp]

"More like the forces of darkness." He means it but doesn't sound so blue. "I'm starting to feel better, though. Spring IS coming."

[have_no_mercy]

"Slowly but surely."

As usual.

"What are the forced of darkness up to now?"

[alec_swamp]

He inhales and exhales, as if his lungs still work. Or exist.

"Djinn have taken the Avatar of the Black. And nearly killed me while we were investigating. For the time being, I'm on the sidelines." He doesn't betray his personal stake in this.

[have_no_mercy]

She frowns.

"Did you get injured?"

[alec_swamp]

"Drained. Forced to take the Rot into me. It's not the first time I was pushed close to oblivion, but it was probably as I've come to death since...well, my death." Though he's starting to lose track of how often things go awry.

[have_no_mercy]

Often is how often things go awry. Too often in Tess' book.

"But you're healing?"

She hopes. He may not look well, but he isn't dead after all, so.

[alec_swamp]

"Steadily. Plants are pretty hardy. Sunlight, nutrients, rest, and I will be good as new.

"And while I rest, my associates will do what they can." He smiles a bit.

[have_no_mercy]

"Good."

For the healing and the associates.

"Take all the time you need."

[alec_swamp]

"That is my plan." And the heck with the Parliament of Trees demanding he enter the battle too soon.

"And how are you?"

[have_no_mercy]

As far as Tess is concerned the Parliament of Trees can go deleaf themselves.

"I've had a bit of a week, but I think it's starting to go away."