(no subject)

[the_death_card]

Who: Daniel, Jack, and Merritt
What: A conversation between Daniel and Jack gets a little heated. Merritt at least stops it actually boiling over.
Warning: Language


the_lovers: *this is him, sitting in the living room, cards in hand. rather than working with them, as per usual, though, at the moment, he's mostly ignoring them in favor of rubbing at his eyes with his free hand. he has a massive headache, which he's writing off as it having been a long day -- he's pretty sure tonight's show sucked, whether or not it actually did, and that it was everyone's fault but his -- and yeah, he could get up and get some aspirin, but Henley's in the shower, and he really doesn't want to have to deal with her to sneak into the bathroom and grab them, right now*

the_death_card: *it's definitely been a long day, and he's been restless despite it - which is why he's jogging down the stairs, now, intending to head out onto the balcony and see if that helps, and if it doesn't, he might go out, despite the hour. he stops when he catches sight of Daniel, though, and offers...* There's aspirin upstairs.

the_lovers: *kind of flatly* Wow, really? I never would have guessed. *he doesn't want to go up there, either, though, if only because Jack was up there ... and even though he's not now, he's pretty sure Merritt still is*

the_death_card: *as far as Jack knows - or cares -, Merritt is, yeah. he just shrugs, though, heading into the kitchen for water* Thought it'd make more sense to go get it than sit down here and suffer, but it's your headache.

the_lovers: I'm trying to go Dark Side. *fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering, and suffering leads to the Dark Side of the Force. and oh, how right he is, even if he doesn't realize it*

the_death_card: Cutting off your hand probably won't make your head hurt less.

the_lovers: You'd be surprised. There's some kind of theory that your body only really registers the worst pain you're in. I'm pretty sure that'd qualify.

the_death_card: *thinks about that for a second and then shrugs* Good point.

the_lovers: *he shrugs* I have those most of the time. *a beat* And speaking of, what the hell happened tonight?

the_death_card: *looks doubtful at that first one, though the fact that he's in the middle of a drink of water means he doesn't reply before Daniel goes on - but he raises both eyebrows at him* What do you mean what the hell happened?

the_lovers: The show. It felt ... off. *he drops his hand finally, pressing his lips into a thin line* I don't know.

the_death_card: *shrugs, unconcerned* The show was fine. People loved it. *a beat* Sure it's not just you?

the_lovers: I really doubt it. *though, maybe it is. not necessarily on him if there was actually something wrong with the show, mind you, but just in his head. it's not like they were booed off stage or anything, after all. either way, he makes a face at the thought*

the_death_card: *he's not even sure whether he meant the former or latter, but he's also not sure it actually matters all that much* Either way, it was fine.

the_lovers: *shakes his head a little, not entirely sure, himself, whether he's disagreeing or just trying to clear his head* Yeah, okay, if you say so.

the_death_card: I should probably make a note you're actually giving me the last word on that one.

the_lovers: In the most insincere way possible, sure. *never mind the fact that he was actually going to let that one go. now he's not*

the_death_card: I'll add an asterisk. *with a little hand gesture like he's drawing one*

the_lovers: That's -- wow. That's pretty decent of you. Which is ... kind of a surprise, actually, all things considered.

the_death_card: *sets his water down* What's that supposed to mean?

the_lovers: *as if he's completely stupid* It means you're an ass.

the_death_card: Well, you'd know what it takes to be an ass.

the_lovers: Really? That's the best you can come up with? The whole "takes one to know one" thing? Wow.

the_death_card: It sums it up well enough.

the_lovers: It also reminds me why I think you're an idiot.

the_death_card: *he should probably be glad Jack's in the kitchen or he might get hit by the end of this conversation* You've made that pretty clear already.

the_lovers: *if Jack were to hit him, he'd hit back* Oh, you mean you actually caught on to the fact that that's why I'm not catering to all the bitching you do about wanting a bigger part in the show?

the_death_card: You mean you meant for it to be a secret that you think you're better than everyone else? I figured it was only a matter of time before you were taking out billboards.

the_lovers: I think I'm better than everyone else? *he laughs a little* Wow, that's -- that's actually kind of a joke coming from Jacob's little pet.

the_death_card: You made it pretty clear the first day you think you're better than the rest of us. *also isn't going to get into that second part unless Daniel actually baits him into it, because he will hit him and/or leave*

the_lovers: I'm the only one here who actually has any talent. *he shrugs as if it's no big deal* I mean, remind me what the rest of you were doing again? You were, what, picking pockets? Yeah, that has potential.

the_death_card: So we all got picked just to be your back-up. Because you could've pulled all that off without us.

the_lovers: Maybe not that, no, but I get the feeling that something else would have come up. *for him to join the Eye, he means* You, on the other hand? Yeah, not so much.

the_death_card: You really think you're the only one that would've gotten invited by themselves.

the_lovers: *briefly, he considers bringing Dylan into this again -- Well, no. I mean, you probably would have made it in, too, assuming Jacob still needed someone to follow him around like a puppy -- but he thinks better of it, shaking his head faintly again, even as his jaw works. no, that's a little too harsh, even if it's true* Please. *yes. yes, he does*

the_death_card: *you know what's not striking him as too harsh right about now?* Wow. No wonder Henley left.

the_lovers: *he tenses, his fingers tightening around the cards still in hand, his jaw suddenly tight. okay. okay, you know what? it's on* No wonder no one but Jacob actually likes you. *he pops his eyebrows, his expression cold and knowing* And I'm not talking about just us.

the_death_card: You've also got plenty of experience with no one liking you. But please tell me who the hell you are talking about, then.

the_lovers: Remind me again how many posters you've sold? *Jack is definitely not the fan favorite, it looks like -- or maybe he's just lying. it's hard to tell. it's also not important in comparison to what he says next* Or, oh, I don't know, how many foster homes you went through?

the_death_card: *starts to shoot something back at the first question - he does actually have his own share of fans, as do they all - but then Daniel goes on, and he goes still, jaw tightening* Shut the hell up.

the_lovers: Don't start what you can't finish.

the_death_card: *still tightly* You don't have a damn clue what you're talking about.

the_lovers: Which is why you suddenly look like you're gonna sprain something. *a beat* Truth kinda hurts, doesn't it, Jack.

the_death_card: I'm trying to keep from doing what everyone wants to and putting my fist through your face.

the_lovers: Right. Because if you were really going to, you'd have done it already. *come at him, bro*

the_death_card: Yeah, and you'd love it, getting to play all wounded and put it all on me?

the_lovers: *smiles a little, viciously* Actually, I was thinking it'd give me an excuse to hit you back.

the_death_card: Go ahead. Not like you could hit hard enough to do any damage.

the_lovers: And now I have to wonder if you'll be saying that when I break your jaw. *a beat* Oh, wait. *he won't be able to talk if he breaks his jaw*

the_death_card: *and then does step sideways out of the kitchen, so they're not talking over the divider, hands out to his sides* Try it.

the_lovers: *he leans forward to set the cards down very deliberately and gets to his feet* All I need is a reason.

the_death_card: You want a reason? *takes a step forward, and he gets progressively louder as he speaks, though he's not aware of it* You're an asshole. You're a pissy bitch unless someone's paying attention to you or you have someone to boss around. You treat all of us like your goddamn assistants when all of us have just as much - or more - talent as you. *and he takes a breath and opens his mouth to go on, but before he does....*

the_hermit: *from the top of the stairs* What the hell is going on down there?

the_lovers: *he takes a step forward, too, his fingers balling into fists at his side* Oh, you know. I'm about to kick Jack's ass. I'd ask if you wanted to watch but I really don't want to have to deal with the whole "that's what she said" thing right now.

the_hermit: *jogs down the stairs as Jack takes another step, jumping the last couple steps so he's between Jack and Daniel* Fine, I'll rephrase: is there a reason you two are carrying on like a couple of alleycats?

the_lovers: *starts to round Merritt to get at Jack. he's really not letting this go -- paticularly after the Henley comment. or after the last line of bullshit that just came out of his mouth* He's acting like a ten-year-old -- or an asshole, take your pick. But really? Go with the first one. It destroys the metaphor otherwise -- and right now, I'm all for child abuse.

the_death_card: *and he starts forward, too* At least I'm not acting like a little bitch.

the_hermit: *and reinserts himself between them, putting a hand to Jack's chest and pushing him back and holding his other hand out to Daniel, palm toward him* Back off, both of you. Calling either of you a ten-year-old is exaggerating; I'd go with five.

the_death_card: *and sort of rocking up on the balls of his feet, like he's still considering going at Daniel* Says the guy who acts like a horny teenager all the time.

the_hermit: *levels a sort of really? look at him at points at him* Just shut up. *and looks to Daniel, pre-emptively...* Both of you.

the_lovers: *pops his eyebrows in a shrug* Well, he's not wrong for once.

the_hermit: I told you to shut up, too. *a beat* Now what the fuck happened?

the_death_card: *gestures at Daniel* He's a whiny ass that thinks he's better than everyone else.

the_hermit: *pauses* Well, yeah, but we've known that since day one. What's the problem tonight?

the_lovers: *to Merritt* Okay, I'm sorry, but who's the only one with talent here, Mister, what was it again? Never Was? *a beat and then to Jack* And I managed it without being the teacher's pet.

the_hermit: *and he's just frowning at them, now, because he's not getting anything that could explain why they're suddenly just pissed off at each other* Pro-tip, Danny, when someone insults themselves, using it against them later doesn't work so well. But enough with the name-calling anyway.

the_lovers: Why not? It's true.

the_lovers: But okay, fine, whatever. *he takes a half-step back away from Merritt and Jack both* I'm done with this anyway.

the_death_card: *opens his mouth to add something, and...*

the_hermit: *immediately* Shut. Up.

the_death_card: *clenches his teeth, but after a moment...* Yeah, so am I. *and he turns to brush past Merritt to storm back up the stairs, and a moment later, there's the sound of his door slamming*

the_lovers: *glances between the stairs, the chair he was sitting in and the door, trying to decide which is the best of the options he has. he really doesn't want to have to deal with Merritt, but he definitely doesn't want to deal with Jack, and he's not entirely keen on going out. he's tired. his head hurts. he just wants to fucking relax and he's surrounded by amatuers and children. eventually, finally, he shakes his head, breathing out a frustrated sigh and moves to throw himself back down in his chair*

the_hermit: *sighs, reaching up to scrub a hand over his forehead* It was a long day. *drops his hand* Everyone just needs to get some sleep, and you two can apologize for whatever started this tomorrow.

the_lovers: *rubs at his eyes in time with Merritt's forehead scrub. and when he drops his hand back into his lap ... * He can apologize. I'm good.

the_hermit: *levels a look at him* Am I really gonna have to make you two shake hands?

the_lovers: *considering the fact that he doesn't look any calmer now that Jack is out of the room? probably. if Merritt can convince them to actually be in the same room as each other. now, though, he just rolls his eyes at him*

the_hermit: *rolls his eyes, too, and waves a hand at him* Whatever. Just try not to kill each other. *turns away, intending to head back upstairs* I don't want to have to clean it up.

the_lovers: I'll see what I can do.

the_hermit: *shakes his head at him again before he heads back to the bedrooms*

the_lovers: *is probably going to sleep down here, assuming Henley doesn't piss him off, when she gets out of the bathroom. right now, he's going to go back to his cards*