Devil's Nest, Monday, 3/11

[bitten_notshy]

Monday morning found Jack squinting over the liquor orders. The rum had been disappearing at an alarming rate -- he wasn't sure if it was being drunk by humans with a passion for daquiris, or simply used to bribe squirrels.

He supposed both uses were worthwhile.

Once the new order was in, Jack dragged a stool behind the bar and sat down. Things were quiet so far (knock wood) and he had schoolwork to do.

[OOC: Open bar, no OCD.]

Comments

[filleauloup]

It seemed to be a bit of a slow day for deliveries and Éponine didn't much feel like spending too much cooped up inside the post office, so she was taking her time on her route today. (This was far from being the most questionable thing she'd ever done while on a job, it had to be noted.)

Since that route happened to take her by the Devil's Nest, she decided to take a few minutes to wander in and see if anything was going on.

"Monsieur," she said when she spotted Jack, nodding her head and affecting a halfhearted sort of curtsey. "I've been meaning to find you, only I've been quite a bit busier than I expected."

[bitten_notshy]

"Mademoiselle," Jack returned, glancing over the girl to see if she looked well. He'd been -- not exactly worried, but curious as to how she was fitting in.

"It's all right," he said. "I'm happy to see you. Was it the good kind of busier, or the bad kind?"

[filleauloup]

She had a long way to go toward any significant improvement yet, but at least Éponine didn't look quite like she was just this side of simultaneously starving and freezing to death any more.

"Do you know, I haven't decided yet? Good God, but I've never had so much to do every day in my life," she said, meandering over to lean against the bar. "I suppose it's nice, at least I'm not bored out of my mind, but I'm not used to it."

She seemed to remember that some context might be needed and quickly added, "I've a job now, you see, and it was your idea, really, and I don't mind running about town delivering letters and things as I get paid for it but it's such a change from what I'm used to."

[bitten_notshy]

"That's incredible," Jack said, looking perplexed but pleased. "I was just talking. I -- didn't know you'd take me seriously. But if the work keeps you busy, I'm glad you listened."

[filleauloup]

To be fair, she had schemed her way into it to an extent.

"I always listen," Éponine said, though it was hard to tell how serious she was. "You never know when someone might have a useful idea, do you? Anyhow, it is nice not to have to wonder when I'll have money to buy dinner next -- I've only to wait until the end of the week -- so it's better than sitting about idle all day even if it is a bit tiring, sometimes."

She glanced curiously at what he was doing. "This is where you work, then?"

[bitten_notshy]

"I wouldn't call it working," Jack said airily. "But yes, I help to keep things at the club running and Mr. Northman gives me money. I also teach at the school, and I'm taking some classes myself."

He shrugged. "I like to stay busy. Like you, it sounds."

[filleauloup]

"All of that? God, I'm amazed you have time for it all." Éponine cared less about the staying busy and more about the getting paid, admittedly, but staying busy had its own merits.

That wasn't the part that had piqued her interest, though. "What kind of classes?" she asked with a (visible, if you were perceptive enough) trace of envy.

[bitten_notshy]

"There probably isn't really time for all of it, but somehow it all fits in anyhow. Thankfully." Jack loved all of his vocations.

"I'm trying to be a lawyer if I ever finish school," he added, noting her interest. "So history, criminal justice, some courses in accounting --" He waved a hand, indicating he could go on. "I feel like I'll be at it forever, to be honest. I'm 21 and I still have five years to go."

[filleauloup]

"Ah." A brief, uncomfortable look crossed her face for a moment, but she shrugged and breezed on in an aggressively casual tone. "I knew a boy who was studying to be a lawyer once, too. I'm not sure I'd like it, myself, but then I never had to consider it anyhow, since it's hardly as if they let girls into university back home." Which had not, of course, been her most immediate obstacle.

"Still, all that reading! You must enjoy it, if you're willing to put up with all that."

[bitten_notshy]

"I like the results of reading," Jack explained dryly. "And I'm used to it. Enjoy isn't quite the word I'd use."

He was wincing a bit, knowing he sounded ridiculously better-off than she was.

"But I think I'll enjoy the work, when I get there. Did your friend make it through?"

[filleauloup]

Well, to the best of her knowledge . . .

"No," Éponine said, and that had been her doing, which was not exactly an accomplishment she was proud of in retrospect. "I don't care to think too much about it, though."

Understatement.

"I think I'd like to do that much reading," she went on, trying to deflect, "only not about law. History, though -- since there's so much more of it for me to catch up on now."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack leaned forward, confidingly. This seemed like safer ground than their disparate backgrounds.

"The truth is, I skipped a lot of it," he said. "There's a gap between 1900 and 2010 where I only know the biggest things."

[filleauloup]

"You still have seventy years' lead on me," Éponine pointed out, and now she was wondering where June of 1832 would rank on the scale of big things in history. "And you need room in your head for all those other subjects as well."

[justlurkinghere]

Well, it had certainly been some time since Derek had visited on Jack's day at the Devil's Nest. And look, he'd nearly thought it was the wrong place without the shitty music.

It was all very confusing, okay?

But there he was, taking a seat at the bar.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack spotted Derek out of the corner of his eye and headed over. "It's been a while," he said, sounding pleased to see the other man. "Hi, hello, how are you? Do you want a soda?"

[justlurkinghere]

Ain't no thang!

"Water's fine," Derek. "How did you manage to get the shift without the DJ?"

[bitten_notshy]

"I bribed him," Jack said, not breaking eye contact. "He's a fool for Ghirardelli.

The truth was, he had no idea. It hadn't involved chocolate.

[justlurkinghere]

HE WAS AN EVIL DJ.

"Uh huh."

[bitten_notshy]

"There might have been some packages of temporary tattoos too."

Jack wasn't even trying to be convincing.

[justlurkinghere]

"Tribal ones?"

[bitten_notshy]

"Maori," Jack nodded. "You know, for his face."

[justlurkinghere]

"Classy," Derek shot back. "Tell me you got one of those in Turkey."

[bitten_notshy]

Jack shook his head. "Came back with nothing but a sunburn and some fantastic pink swimshorts, I'm afraid. D'you think I need a tattoo?"

[justlurkinghere]

"Maybe a butterfly. On your ankle." Because Jack was apparently a college girl.

[bitten_notshy]

Jack made a sour face. "Would that match the one on your arse?" he asked politely.