The Perk- Tuesday afternoon

[notconflicted]

In a weird way, Sia was sort of glad she'd gone out last night just because it offered some perspective. Was torturing herself over an AU of herself that would never be worth being as sick as she felt this morning? No, it definitely wasn't. Also she'd learned that you should definitely, definitely not torture yourself into not being able to eat before drinking above your known tolerance, because you'd feel even worse later.

The only reason she'd gone out today was because she was having a hard time dealing with the demands of a very active dog who didn't even know what a hangover was and that no, she didn't want to play. At least the Perk had coffee, and she had one of those and a bottle of water as she sat on the couch, wondering if they'd turn the volume of the music down some if she asked. Or off. And if they'd send everyone else in here home for the day.

[Open! Bother the hungover girl!]

Comments

[pursuedthestars]

Jim was back from Natalie's because he had a class tomorrow. He hadn't wanted to go but he figured skipping now would just lead to him not wanting to go for the rest of the semester so better not so close to graduation.

Of course, he'd come back to a rainstorm and gotten drenched to the point that ducking into the Perk became a necessity. He shook his hair out and cursed before glancing around.

"You look like you had a fun night," Jim said when he recognized someone over on the couch. Sure, their last conversation had been strange but maybe it was due to the island's machinations, right?

[notconflicted]

"Yes, and a not fun morning so I would appreciate if you could speak about forty decibels quieter," Sia said with a wince. She'd have said that if he was whispering too.

[pursuedthestars]

"I'm not even talking that loud," Jim noted though he sounded amused. "How much did you drink?"

[notconflicted]

"Four, five... seventeen? I have no idea," she admitted. "It feels like seventeen."

[pursuedthestars]

"Impressive," Jim said, nodding. "You took the booze part of my plan to the extremes, huh?"

[notconflicted]

"I forgot about that," she admitted. "I'm sorry about... all that."

[pursuedthestars]

"Guessing it was island caused?" he asked, just to make sure.

[notconflicted]

She nodded, very, very carefully. "I was one of the people who were replaced by another version of themselves."

[pursuedthestars]

"Then, it's fine," Jim said, waving a hand. "You were definitely not the worst person I encountered during all that. No apology needed. Wasn't you."

[notconflicted]

"I could have been the worst," she said with a sigh. "And thank you for not taking me up on any of that."

Or this would be sooo much more awkward.

[pursuedthestars]

"The girl I'm kinda seeing was a guy for a month but it would have still felt like cheating," he explained, shrugging. "And I would have felt like an ass if I'd slept with someone who wasn't completely themselves."

[notconflicted]

"Either way I appreciate it," she told him. "Is everything back to normal there?"

[pursuedthestars]

"As far as I can see," he said, nodding. "Just a lot of exhaustion, mostly. And disorientation. You doing okay?"

[notconflicted]

"I seem to have gotten most of it out of my system yesterday," Sia said. "I'll be fine, once the headache goes away."

[pursuedthestars]

"Wish I could offer a good hangover cure but I tend to just sleep it off," he said, shrugging. "Sometimes, that means losing a day."

[notconflicted]

"I don't think my dog would have stood for that," Sia said, managing a tiny smile. Even her face hurt. "It'll be fine. This is just punishment for my stupidity. I can accept that."

[pursuedthestars]

"Least it's temporary?" Jim said, shrugging. "It'll go away after awhile. And then you'll be ready for a big, juicy steak."

Sorry, Sia.

[notconflicted]

Sia was giving you dirty looks for that one, Jim.

[pursuedthestars]

Jim snickered.

"For that, you deserve to get me back when I inevitably end up drunk and hungover," he told her. "Couldn't help myself."

[notconflicted]

"Yes, please let me know when that happens so I can have my revenge," she told him, reaching for her water bottle.

[pursuedthestars]

"I'll do my best," he said, peering outside to see if the rain had stopped. "But I am glad you're feeling better. Hope the hangover goes away."

[notconflicted]

"Thank you," Sia said, looking outside too. "Looking for something?"

[pursuedthestars]

"I got rained on when I came in here," he explained. "I just wanna make sure that doesn't happen again."

[notconflicted]

"It's just a little water," she pointed out. And he was going to be wet forever now anyway.

[pursuedthestars]

"Thanks for making me feel like a wuss," he retorted, shaking his head.

[notconflicted]

"Then that can count as my revenge," Sia said with the tiniest of smirks.

[pursuedthestars]

"You're too kind," Jim said, rolling his eyes. "Have a good rest of your hangover."

And then he slipped out of the door, still wet, of course.