[This doesn't seem like a text he really wants to reply to. Not particularly well articulated via text message, and not exactly the one to discuss feelings at great length, Tom picks up and goes to find her instead.]
Hey.
[He's holding his communicator in his hand and signals with it.]
Got your message.
[Because he doesn't want there to be an issue, but doesn't like communicating more than he has to if it's not in person. It's hard to talk about important things on the phone and especially over text. You can't see how the person is reacting or read their face as you speak, it's awkward and just leads to miscommunication.]
[Though normally she'd be found in the bar itself, it's late enough that he happens to catch her on the way back to her room -- not a terribly far walk, and only a little ways down the hall from his own room, which turns out to be pretty convenient in this case. She's not, however, expecting him to come reply to her in person, so she startles when she hears his voice behind her, composing herself before she turns to face him.
He's right, talking over text message would have been awkward, but this was it's own brand of uncomfortable. At least at the football game, there had been other people around. Now it was just them, no distractions, just the awkward misunderstanding between them to address.]
Hey.
[She quirks a faint smile as he signals with the communicator. Cute.]
[She shakes her head a little, folding her arms. There had been potential there, once, but the hunter lifestyle didn't lend itself well to romance. Not to mention the fact that the last time she saw either of the boys before this place, Sam had pretty much dashed all of her hopes concerning Dean. Dean himself had sealed the deal, pulling her out of the fire and then disappearing, like hunters tended to do. She'd never heard from him again.]
Until this place, I hadn't heard from him in years. You know how guys always say they'll call you back, but never do? Yeah. He's one of those. Ran off after I pulled a bullet out of his shoulder and never came back.
Thanks. That means more than you probably think it does.
[Fact of the matter is that most people she knows don't stay in one place long enough to form attachments. Most of them were like Dean, on their way after a day or two. Some of them came back, if only briefly. Some didn't. It made it difficult, when you let yourself begin to care about someone.
Her family had a history with the Winchesters, but it was a painful one. She'd liked Dean immediately, but she still wasn't sure how she felt about him or his brother, looking at the bigger picture, anyway. He'd helped her. She was grateful for that. She'd returned the favor. And when he walked off without her, she'd been disappointed, but it's been years since then. She'd carried that torch a long time, but without anything to kindle the fire, it had died out.]
Did you -- do you want to come in for a few, instead of talking in the hallway?
[She tilts her head towards the door, questioning. No funny business, but if they were going to chat awhile, privacy would probably be better.
She was pretty sure she'd left the room in a decent state.]
I don't want to hold you up if you have other things you need to do.
Sure. Come on in. You're already here, might as well have a seat.
[It doesn't have to be awkward, right? Friends do this kind of thing. She's pretty sure, anyway. She beckons for him to follow her as she opens the door, spotting a heap of clothes including some unmentionables on the floor and hurrying forward to kick them under the bed before he can get a good look. Okay, mildly embarrassing. She'll take care of those later.
She gestures towards the armchair near the window, opting to sit cross-legged on the edge of her bed in order to face him.]
I think just about everyone here is overdue to relax. Barbecue sounds perfect. You need a hand with anything?
[She might be a bartender by trade, but she's pretty good with food, too.]
You know, I don't think I've ever seen you this proactive before.
[And he's a good boy and does what he's told. And plus he likes hanging out with her. Tom follows her in and takes the offered seat, happy to make himself comfortable. There's something about her that just puts him at ease.]
Sure. Could use whatever hand is willin' to help. I was gonna drag one out of the closet and set up outside. And then get all the food worked out while the coals are heating. Plus it'd be nice to have someone to eat with.
It's fine and all, and we don't have much of a choice, but I'm not used to being alone. And I like cooking for people.
[Are these actually words coming out of his mouth? He'll be so embarrassed later. Tom can normally stand to talk to people for about five hours a day and most of that is spent on Jo and Claire. The idea that he had willingly flung himself into a social gathering (two, actually) is almost beyond belief. Especially considering he instigated them.]
Having friends here helps more than you know. [Is it obvious how lonesome he's been?] Sarah's great.
We practically grew up together. Harmony is a tiny town and our families are friends. We got together in high school and we got married two years after. [Tom shifts and pulls his wallet, opening it and offering it to Jo. It's a typical man's wallet, with three plastic sleeves in the back for pictures containing shots of Sarah, his son Noah, and them all as a family. They're cheesy, the kind you get at the Sears photo studio, but he doesn't care. His family is his world.]
That's Noah, he's eight.
[There's a swell in his voice. He's a proud papa but god damn does he miss them.]
I don't know what I'd do without them. [Truth is he'd never been away from them, so he has no idea.]
[She smiles as she leans forward to take the wallet from him, turning it to get a better look at the picture. They look like a happy family, at least -- nice. Normal. She remembers having pictures like this taken with her own parents. Not quite so posed, and maybe not professional, but the three of them together, smiling and touching and just being a family the best way they knew how.
She hands the wallet back, leaning back to rest her weight on her hands against the mattress.]
She's beautiful. Your son is cute, too. He looks like you.
[She thinks so, anyway. Her smile is genuine, with only the barest traces of disappointment.]
I would say something about how it would be impossible for them not to miss you, but...
[Her smile turns a little wry. She may be remembering things different at the moment, but she still recalls the mechanics of Wonderland just fine.]
When people go home, I hear it's like no time has passed at all. So while I'm sure your family would miss you if they knew you were gone, it's more like -- they're frozen. Nothing will happen as long as you're here.
[It's actually pretty much the best thing he could hope for. Things would be in chaos otherwise. They might think he'd gotten stuck down in one of the mines, or hurt himself hunting in the woods. There would be search parties everywhere.. it would be awful. He'd lost his mother young. He couldn't imagine inflicting that sort of pain on his own family.]
That's what I hear, anyway. Seems to be the general consensus.
[It's better that way, isn't it? Preserves the timelines where people come from, keeps their loved ones from worrying about them. On the other hand... people who leave, even temporarily, don't seem to remember this place. Any friends you made here, any relationships you developed... eventually, people were bound to find a way back or get yanked home, and it would mean nothing.
Depressing.]
You're worried about them, huh? ... that's good. You should worry about your family.
[Spoken like a girl with a largely absent father. One she hero-worshipped, but he was often absent all the same.]
They'll always be there for you, you know? No matter what happens. You're always safe with your family. They'll always welcome you.
[Totally depressing. Let's try not to think about that...
He can feel there's another dimension to this somewhere. It largely has to do with Jo's past, and although he can't quite place it, the subject of family seems to strike her extra hard. Or rather, it seems to command a stronger reaction.
So he just nods, fondly toying with the gold band on his left ring finger.]
They're my whole world. The reason I get up in the morning.
That sounds nice. You're all really lucky to have each other.
[And disappointed or otherwise, she means that. She looks down as she presses her lips together, considering something. Some details of it are hazy, but she remembers most of what happened the day he'd arrived here, from meeting in the caves to the panic attack he'd nearly had in the clinic.]
I guess that explains a few things, though. When you got here, you called me Sarah. It was still dark down there, I don't think you could see very well, but -- I never did get around to asking who Sarah was.
[He considers it for a moment, a frown pulling gently at his lips.]
That whole day feels like a bad dream.
[And it was true, even to a Tom not affected by happier memories. So many things had happened that day... none of them had made sense and the more he thought about it the less he could piece it all together. It was like his brain was actively trying to confuse him over what actually happened. He could swear he remembered several people.. and he'd been so scared. But of what?]
There are a lot of things about this place that feel like that, I think.
[And just like that, something begins to nag at her at the back of her mind, like she's forgetting something important, but she can't put her finger on it. She shakes her head a little as if to clear it, and it seems to do the trick, at least for now.]
We just have to hang in there for now. Until we can go home.
[She sounds almost hopeful -- something that's decidedly new concerning her feelings about going back.]
[She pushes herself off the bed with both hands, landing squarely on her feet and heading over to the closet. Aside from the heap of clothing on the floor when they entered, there haven't been anymore more ticklish items to cover up, for which she's grateful. If this were a normal closet, she'd have some reservations about letting someone else see the inside, but considering they all used them for supplies? No chance of anything personal or embarrassing getting glimpsed.]
This is going to be a pain in the ass to get down those stairs, but between the two of us, I'm sure we can do it. I'll be sure to think of something with handles.
[She reaches into the closet and does just that. Voila.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
[Text, Night 2 of AU Event]
Date: 2013-08-19 12:02 am (UTC)[It sounds silly spelling it out like that, since he'll know they haven't spoken, but the situation is so awkward that she can't help herself.]
I'm sorry. For the confusion and what you might think I accused you of.
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-19 01:32 pm (UTC)Hey.
[He's holding his communicator in his hand and signals with it.]
Got your message.
[Because he doesn't want there to be an issue, but doesn't like communicating more than he has to if it's not in person. It's hard to talk about important things on the phone and especially over text. You can't see how the person is reacting or read their face as you speak, it's awkward and just leads to miscommunication.]
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-19 02:16 pm (UTC)He's right, talking over text message would have been awkward, but this was it's own brand of uncomfortable. At least at the football game, there had been other people around. Now it was just them, no distractions, just the awkward misunderstanding between them to address.]
Hey.
[She quirks a faint smile as he signals with the communicator. Cute.]
I didn't realize you'd make a house call.
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-19 02:59 pm (UTC)You can't actually tell what's going on.
[Plus it's shitty to talk about important things through a machine? Call him old fashioned.]
Look, I can see why you thought I was bein' sleezy. I swear I wasn't, but I get it. No hard feelings?
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-19 03:12 pm (UTC)[She agrees, though. It's harder to read someone's real reaction through the communicators. Damn near impossible, actually.]
Yeah, there's -- there's no hard feelings. I promise.
[She forces that smile a bit wider, but it takes effort.]
I don't know, I hate to use the word 'sleezy.'
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-19 03:46 pm (UTC)Doesn't mean I don't read the network feed, I guess I just don't have much to say.
[A pause.]
Why do you care about me anyhow, what about Dean? Aren't you two..complicated?
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-19 03:58 pm (UTC)[She shakes her head a little, folding her arms. There had been potential there, once, but the hunter lifestyle didn't lend itself well to romance. Not to mention the fact that the last time she saw either of the boys before this place, Sam had pretty much dashed all of her hopes concerning Dean. Dean himself had sealed the deal, pulling her out of the fire and then disappearing, like hunters tended to do. She'd never heard from him again.]
Until this place, I hadn't heard from him in years. You know how guys always say they'll call you back, but never do? Yeah. He's one of those. Ran off after I pulled a bullet out of his shoulder and never came back.
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-19 04:14 pm (UTC)Well he's missin' out. For what it's worth, if I'd known you in another life I would've called you back.
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-19 04:31 pm (UTC)[Fact of the matter is that most people she knows don't stay in one place long enough to form attachments. Most of them were like Dean, on their way after a day or two. Some of them came back, if only briefly. Some didn't. It made it difficult, when you let yourself begin to care about someone.
Her family had a history with the Winchesters, but it was a painful one. She'd liked Dean immediately, but she still wasn't sure how she felt about him or his brother, looking at the bigger picture, anyway. He'd helped her. She was grateful for that. She'd returned the favor. And when he walked off without her, she'd been disappointed, but it's been years since then. She'd carried that torch a long time, but without anything to kindle the fire, it had died out.]
Did you -- do you want to come in for a few, instead of talking in the hallway?
[She tilts her head towards the door, questioning. No funny business, but if they were going to chat awhile, privacy would probably be better.
She was pretty sure she'd left the room in a decent state.]
I don't want to hold you up if you have other things you need to do.
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-19 04:52 pm (UTC)[He's not doing anything.]
I mean, if you want.
[Because he doesn't want her to think he's inviting himself in and it's private space and...this is getting exhausting.]
I was thinking tonight was a good barbecue night. What do you say?
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-19 05:36 pm (UTC)[It doesn't have to be awkward, right? Friends do this kind of thing. She's pretty sure, anyway. She beckons for him to follow her as she opens the door, spotting a heap of clothes including some unmentionables on the floor and hurrying forward to kick them under the bed before he can get a good look. Okay, mildly embarrassing. She'll take care of those later.
She gestures towards the armchair near the window, opting to sit cross-legged on the edge of her bed in order to face him.]
I think just about everyone here is overdue to relax. Barbecue sounds perfect. You need a hand with anything?
[She might be a bartender by trade, but she's pretty good with food, too.]
You know, I don't think I've ever seen you this proactive before.
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-19 07:03 pm (UTC)[And he's a good boy and does what he's told. And plus he likes hanging out with her. Tom follows her in and takes the offered seat, happy to make himself comfortable. There's something about her that just puts him at ease.]
Sure. Could use whatever hand is willin' to help. I was gonna drag one out of the closet and set up outside. And then get all the food worked out while the coals are heating. Plus it'd be nice to have someone to eat with.
It's fine and all, and we don't have much of a choice, but I'm not used to being alone. And I like cooking for people.
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-19 07:07 pm (UTC)[She smiles. She's always liked cooking for people, too. There's something really satisfying about it.]
At least you have friends here. I know it's not the same as what you'd have at home, but it helps, right?
[She pauses, briefly, before going on to ask:]
What's Sarah like?
[Honest curiosity, rather than fishing for information. It still strikes her as odd that he never mentioned her.]
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-19 11:47 pm (UTC)[Are these actually words coming out of his mouth? He'll be so embarrassed later. Tom can normally stand to talk to people for about five hours a day and most of that is spent on Jo and Claire. The idea that he had willingly flung himself into a social gathering (two, actually) is almost beyond belief. Especially considering he instigated them.]
Having friends here helps more than you know. [Is it obvious how lonesome he's been?] Sarah's great.
We practically grew up together. Harmony is a tiny town and our families are friends. We got together in high school and we got married two years after. [Tom shifts and pulls his wallet, opening it and offering it to Jo. It's a typical man's wallet, with three plastic sleeves in the back for pictures containing shots of Sarah, his son Noah, and them all as a family. They're cheesy, the kind you get at the Sears photo studio, but he doesn't care. His family is his world.]
That's Noah, he's eight.
[There's a swell in his voice. He's a proud papa but god damn does he miss them.]
I don't know what I'd do without them. [Truth is he'd never been away from them, so he has no idea.]
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-20 02:12 am (UTC)[She smiles as she leans forward to take the wallet from him, turning it to get a better look at the picture. They look like a happy family, at least -- nice. Normal. She remembers having pictures like this taken with her own parents. Not quite so posed, and maybe not professional, but the three of them together, smiling and touching and just being a family the best way they knew how.
She hands the wallet back, leaning back to rest her weight on her hands against the mattress.]
She's beautiful. Your son is cute, too. He looks like you.
[She thinks so, anyway. Her smile is genuine, with only the barest traces of disappointment.]
They're lucky. I hope you can get back to them.
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-20 08:24 pm (UTC)[He takes the wallet back, fondly studying the picture of them all together for a moment before returning it to their place in his pocket.]
I hope so too. [A pause as he lightly chews his bottom lip.]
I just hope they're okay. I wonder if anyone even knows I'm gone?
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-20 08:35 pm (UTC)[Her smile turns a little wry. She may be remembering things different at the moment, but she still recalls the mechanics of Wonderland just fine.]
When people go home, I hear it's like no time has passed at all. So while I'm sure your family would miss you if they knew you were gone, it's more like -- they're frozen. Nothing will happen as long as you're here.
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-20 08:40 pm (UTC)[It's actually pretty much the best thing he could hope for. Things would be in chaos otherwise. They might think he'd gotten stuck down in one of the mines, or hurt himself hunting in the woods. There would be search parties everywhere.. it would be awful. He'd lost his mother young. He couldn't imagine inflicting that sort of pain on his own family.]
I hope you're right.
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-20 08:45 pm (UTC)[It's better that way, isn't it? Preserves the timelines where people come from, keeps their loved ones from worrying about them. On the other hand... people who leave, even temporarily, don't seem to remember this place. Any friends you made here, any relationships you developed... eventually, people were bound to find a way back or get yanked home, and it would mean nothing.
Depressing.]
You're worried about them, huh? ... that's good. You should worry about your family.
[Spoken like a girl with a largely absent father. One she hero-worshipped, but he was often absent all the same.]
They'll always be there for you, you know? No matter what happens. You're always safe with your family. They'll always welcome you.
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-20 10:49 pm (UTC)He can feel there's another dimension to this somewhere. It largely has to do with Jo's past, and although he can't quite place it, the subject of family seems to strike her extra hard. Or rather, it seems to command a stronger reaction.
So he just nods, fondly toying with the gold band on his left ring finger.]
They're my whole world. The reason I get up in the morning.
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-20 10:55 pm (UTC)[And disappointed or otherwise, she means that. She looks down as she presses her lips together, considering something. Some details of it are hazy, but she remembers most of what happened the day he'd arrived here, from meeting in the caves to the panic attack he'd nearly had in the clinic.]
I guess that explains a few things, though. When you got here, you called me Sarah. It was still dark down there, I don't think you could see very well, but -- I never did get around to asking who Sarah was.
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-20 11:01 pm (UTC)[He considers it for a moment, a frown pulling gently at his lips.]
That whole day feels like a bad dream.
[And it was true, even to a Tom not affected by happier memories. So many things had happened that day... none of them had made sense and the more he thought about it the less he could piece it all together. It was like his brain was actively trying to confuse him over what actually happened. He could swear he remembered several people.. and he'd been so scared. But of what?]
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-20 11:09 pm (UTC)[And just like that, something begins to nag at her at the back of her mind, like she's forgetting something important, but she can't put her finger on it. She shakes her head a little as if to clear it, and it seems to do the trick, at least for now.]
We just have to hang in there for now. Until we can go home.
[She sounds almost hopeful -- something that's decidedly new concerning her feelings about going back.]
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-20 11:14 pm (UTC)Yep. Just gotta power through, right?
[Aaaand okay because this is depressing..]
What do you say we pull a barbecue out of your closet and get dinner started?
[Action]
Date: 2013-08-20 11:19 pm (UTC)[She pushes herself off the bed with both hands, landing squarely on her feet and heading over to the closet. Aside from the heap of clothing on the floor when they entered, there haven't been anymore more ticklish items to cover up, for which she's grateful. If this were a normal closet, she'd have some reservations about letting someone else see the inside, but considering they all used them for supplies? No chance of anything personal or embarrassing getting glimpsed.]
This is going to be a pain in the ass to get down those stairs, but between the two of us, I'm sure we can do it. I'll be sure to think of something with handles.
[She reaches into the closet and does just that. Voila.]
[Action]
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