(no subject)

[the_death_card]

Who: Dylan and Jack
What: The morning after Dylan and Merritt's conversation, Dylan and Jack have a conversation and nurse their respective hangovers.


the_death_card: *is already up - and has been for a little while - when it goes off. he's definitely still feeling - and regretting slightly - what he did yesterday, feeling it like an actual physical ache. the empties on the counter tell him he's not going to be the only one regretting yesterday, either, which is why there's coffee and aspirin already waiting in the kitchen. Jack himself is at the table, a cup of coffee in front of him - and is sitting with his forehead on the table. he's also actually wearing Dylan's hoodie, now, considering he couldn't be bothered to go upstairs and get his own*

onebehind: *sucks in a sharp breath when it goes off, starting visibly, and -- well, he'd be having a moment of where the hell am I if he didn't immediately regret moving. makes a small, pained noise, squeezing his eyes shut again, and reaches to swat at his phone as if that'll turn it off. it doesn't, obviously, and he lets out a growl of a breath, realizing he's actually going to have to open his eyes, to look at the tiny, bright fucking thing, then does just that. he sets back down, once he's stopped it from going off, and takes a long moment to consider calling out and going back to sleep -- to the point where it's hard to tell whether or not he actually has -- before finally breathing out a sigh and getting to his feet slowly. he plans on going for the bathroom, to get the Alka-Seltzer and some aspirin, despite the fact that Merritt said he'd bring the latter, but he stops halfway there when he notices Jack at the table and the smell off coffee in the air. grimaces a little, partially on Jack's behalf and partially for his own benefit, and then changes directions to go get a cup of coffee first. he's pleasantly surprised to find the aspirin already waiting for him, and he brings both back into the dining room, settling down in a chair before stopping to take the aspirin*

the_death_card: *makes an unhappy noise of his own at the sound of the alarm but doesn't move - at least not until Dylan sits down, and then he finally raises his head. he looks as tired as he feels, despite how long he slept* Long night yesterday?

onebehind: Something like that, yeah. *a beat* You? *never mind the fact that he already knows Jack's story, thanks to Merritt*

the_death_card: *smiles a little, just a slight lift of one side of his mouth* Something like that.

onebehind: *makes a faint, amused noise -- smart ass -- and then, more seriously* Merritt and I had a long talk. *which explains all the bottles* And you pushed all the buttons on the elevator.

the_death_card: *it does, yes. makes a face* Yeah. I got... I couldn't sit still. *reaches up to rub at the corner of one eye*

onebehind: So he said. *he pauses, taking a sip of his coffee with a wince, and then* You alright? *Merritt said he was, but ... he'd feel better hearing it from the horse's mouth all the same*

the_death_card: Yeah, I'm fine. *and he means that. though he was glad to see the guy, Max showing up at the theater threw him for a bit of a loop as far as thinking about the past and everything. but he's okay* You?

onebehind: *squints at him for a moment, frowning, and then softens a little. a nod follows* Beyond regretting my life decisions as far as last night goes? Yeah.

the_death_card: It's not just you. And won't be just either of us whenever Merritt drags himself down here.

onebehind: *sets his mug down, reaching up to rub at one of his temples* Considering half those bottles were his? Yeah.

the_death_card: *regretfully..* We're probably also going to have to shoot Daniel. *even if he's never been the one to drink, he's still seen Daniel give Merritt crap*

onebehind: If my gun wasn't back in Vegas ...

the_death_card: Maybe we can smother him with a pillow, then.

onebehind: *breathes out a sigh of a laugh* That could work.

the_death_card: *echoes the laugh, rubbing at his eyes again and reaching for his coffee to take a drink*

onebehind: *if he really starts bothering them, he may just "mute" Daniel for a few seconds, just to freak him out enough to get him to stop. he doesn't think it'll come to that, though, but he still offers Jack a ghost of a knowing smirk at the thought*

the_death_card: *shakes his head a little, though he can't help but grin back* I'm almost afraid to ask. *because he got that he was thinking about something, but he's still not Merritt*

onebehind: Two words. Mute button.

the_death_card: *and he can't help but laugh* Nice.

onebehind: *grins at him* Between you and me, I'm not sure he'll actually try anything -- *if it was just Merritt, maybe* -- but just in case ...

the_death_card: *nods around more of his coffee*

onebehind: *takes another sip of his own, then breathes out a sigh, his eyes sliding closed briefly as he prays for the aspirin to kick in. mutters* I'm getting too old for this shit.

the_death_card: *puts his head back down, voice slightly muffled* Nah. You keep up with us fine.

onebehind: Yet the hangover's still kicking my ass.

the_death_card: *raises his head again, though just a few inches, this time* Pretty sure hangovers don't really care about age. *puts his head back down, more roughly than he means to, and mutters an "ow"*

onebehind: *winces on his behalf* Point. *a moment of silence follows and then, as he just now notices it ... * Nice hoodie.

the_death_card: Oh. *sits up again for real, this time. he'd actually forgotten he had it on* Sorry. You need it back?

onebehind: *shakes his head* Not right this second. *he might let Jack hold onto it for awhile*

the_death_card: Okay. *pauses a beat, swallowing before he meets Dylan's eyes, and...* Thanks. *and Dylan can play that at just face value, for letting him keep the hoodie for now, but he also means for giving it to him in the first place, for giving a damn and doing something with the intent to take care of him, considering it's still relatively new that people do*

onebehind: *if the fact that he very deliberately holds Jack's eyes is any indication, he's apparently chosen to go for the deeper meaning on that one* You're welcome. *a small, infinitely fond smile follows, albeit briefly, before he looks away, raising his mug to his mouth to take another sip of his coffee. when he sets it down again, he wets his lips with his tongue, hesitates for an instant, and then, gently ... * I talked to Max last night.

the_death_card: *returns the smile for a moment before he ducks his head, reaching up to run a hand over his hair - and then looks up again at that* I.. should probably be really afraid right now.

onebehind: *breathes out a sigh of a laugh* The two of us together in a room wasn't as bad for you as you'd expect, actually.

the_death_card: *huffs out a relieved sigh* Oh, good. *he's joking, though. mostly.*

onebehind: He's ... a good guy. *and Jack's a good kid, though he doesn't say that*

the_death_card: *nods* Yeah, he is. I was... kind of an asshole back then, but what he was doing was so cool *and there's a grin that blooms as he talks* and he could have told me to fuck off, but.... *he didn't*

onebehind: *dimly amused* Yeah, he said you used to be a punk kid.

the_death_card: *makes a face* He was being nice.

onebehind: *and his amusement fades* And I was just busting your balls. *even if that is what Max said, he was teasing him in repeating it* You're a good kid, Jack. You were then, too, I bet, even if you don't think so and even if you had a lot of reason to be angry.

the_death_card: *he doesn't doubt at all that's how Max said it - and that he meant it well. but he was kind of an asshole back then, and frequently to people who didn't deserve it. huffs out another sigh, leaning forward and huddling into Dylan's hoodie slightly as he ducks his head again, a smile pulling at one corner of his mouth at the praise* Yeah. But... thanks. *and then does smile, raising his eyes if not his head*

onebehind: *returns the smile, softly* Yeah.

the_death_card: *smiles back for a moment before he sighs again* Max got me started . He... gave me an actual direction. *and then lets out a short laugh before adding...* Toward you guys, I guess. *grins outright, eyes lighting up*

onebehind: I'm still sort of wishing that I'd beaten him to it -- *they did cover that right? the part where he wishes he'd known all of them before? or did he just give something away without meaning to?* -- but ... if I wasn't glad you met him before ...

the_death_card: *he hadn't put it in quite those words, and his grin shifts slightly, to something warmer as he nods* Yeah, me, too.

onebehind: *mirrors the smile, letting it linger for a moment, and then breathes out, looking away. he follows all that up with another sip of his coffee*

the_death_card: *and he breathes out another sigh of a laugh before he reaches for his coffee, too* So what else'd you guys talk about?

onebehind: Who I was. Why he decided to show up at my office in Vegas. That kinda thing. *he shrugs. really, it was mostly about the Horsemen. specifically Jack*

the_death_card: *blinks, coffee halfway to his mouth* He showed up at your office in Vegas. *rubs at one eye again* I am so sorry.

onebehind: *he makes a small, amused noise -- the same one he made when Jack apologized for kicking his ass* It's fine. He didn't blow my cover.

the_death_card: We dared him to mess with Merritt. Apparently he got carried away.

onebehind: He's still planning on giving it a shot. *and he glances towards the stairs, even if he doesn't expect Merritt to come down at that exact moment* I don't think this was an extension of that.

the_death_card: Knowing him, he still wanted to mess with you. He kinda gave Daniel a hard time at the theater, too.

onebehind: *he shrugs, grinning a little -- he'd buy that. and ... * Yeah, he told me.

the_death_card: I just want to know why Henley keeps managing to avoid getting messed with. I'm not sure it's fair.

onebehind: *as if this explains everything* Escape artist.

the_death_card: *appears to give that a moment of thought and then...* Good point.

onebehind: *still grinning* I have those occasionally.

the_death_card: *chuckles a little* Occasionally.

onebehind: *snorts* Asshole.

the_death_card: *shrugs, acknowledging, and then...* Why do you keep hanging out here again?

onebehind: I keep asking myself the same question.

the_death_card: One of life's great mysteries. *nods*

onebehind: Unfortunately. *his lips twitch a little, that said, as he's trying to fight another grin. he drains the last of his coffee to help with that, then reaches up to rub at his eyes, breathing out a sigh. the headache's mostly gone, if not the nausea, which is good, but ... he should probably start getting ready for work. assuming he's going. jury's still out, if only partially*

the_death_card: *and he doesn't even try to hide the grin as he, too, finishes his coffee. looks up at him, raising an eyebrow as he sets his mug down* You need to head out?

onebehind: Gotta go take a shower, first, since I skipped out last night -- *and he smells like a bar* -- but ... yeah. Soon.

the_death_card: *nods* Sorry I was unconscious most of the time you were here. *still not his best plan ever, that*

onebehind: *he shakes his head* Don't be. You're not my cheap entertainment. I just ... *he wanted to be here, with his family, whether they were awake or not. he could have gone home if he really wanted, even as drunk as he was. it might have taken him some time to get the elevator trick to work, but ... *

the_death_card: *shakes his head, too* No, I know, I just. *pauses a beat - is always afraid this is rubbing salt in the wound, not to mention sounding clingy or it just being generally too revealing considering the effort it still takes to open up, but... sighs, finally* I don't wanna miss it when you're here.

onebehind: *gently and softly* Considering you stole my hoodie after I draped it over you, I don't think you did. *and he means while Jack was asleep, not after he woke up. but anyway ... clears his throat a little* I'll be back tonight, after work, assuming you guys are planning on being around?

the_death_card: *lets out a wry, slightly embarrassed breath, glancing at Dylan briefly before he looks away again and shakes his head. huffs out another breath when he goes on, and nods* As far as I know, we'll be here.

onebehind: *flashes him a small, fond smile* Then I'll be around tonight.

the_death_card: *and he grins back at him* Cool.

onebehind: *continues to smile at him a little dumbly for a moment, and then looks away, almost embarrassed. lets out a little breath, then against what he feels is his better judgement somehow, he moves to get to his feet, taking his coffee cup with him*

the_death_card: *is still dealing with no small amount of embarrassment himself, so at least it's not just either of them. he sits back some when Dylan gets up* At least you'll really get to avoid Daniel being an ass, if he decides to be.

onebehind: *goes to put his mug in the sink, glancing over his shoulder with a grin* Thank God for small miracles.

the_death_card: *laughs* Seriously.

onebehind: *moves back into the dining room once he's put his mug in the sink, and then glances towards the stairs. a sigh follows. right, yeah, shower and work* I'll be back in a few. *and that said, he heads for the stairs to go grab his work clothes so, you know, he actually has something to wear when he gets out*

the_death_card: I'll be here. *with more coffee, and he gets up to go get a refill as Dylan heads upstairs*

onebehind: *and after twenty or so minutes, he returns, showered and shaved -- or, well, trimmed, really, as he still has the beard, it's just neater, now -- and dressed for work, for the most part. he's still missing his suit coat, which is tucked under one arm, and his tie, draped over his shoulder. moves back into the dining room, settling the coat over the back of one of the chairs and goes to put on his tie, his attentions fixed on the wall as he puts Agent Rhodes' brains on. it's probably a little strange, watching the whole process in reverse, in seeing him tense and hold it, in seeing his expression get abruptly harder*

the_death_card: *and he's relocated to the counter, a cup of coffee next to him and a bowl of mostly finished cereal in front of him - which he finishes and reaches over to dump the rest of the milk out into the sink and then set the bowl down as Dylan comes back downstairs. and yeah, that is a little strange - and just as fascinating as the side of it they usually see*

onebehind: *lets out a growl of a breath when he finishes putting the tie on and reaches for his coat, sliding into it as he moves to join Jack in the kitchen. checks his watch briefly, and then glances to him* Okay. I'll be back later.

the_death_card: *sits up a little from his slouch, to reach for the hoodie's zipper* You need this back?

onebehind: *considers that for a moment and then shakes his head* Keep it. *he'll pop into the warehouse briefly and grab a hat or something, just to keep his face hidden*

the_death_card: *and resumes the previously mentioned slouch* Okay. *a beat* Have a good day.

onebehind: *offers him a brief but real smile* You, too, Jack. *and that said, he heads out, grabbing his bag on the way*