JGOB | Wednesday Afternoon

[pursuedthestars]

With things slowly getting back to normal, Jim figured it was time for him to get back to normal too. That meant not looking over his shoulder when he went out and not worrying about someone trying to control him or hurt him and not feeling lonely and worried about someone who'd been gone for a month.

Jim was just going to repress all of that down into a tiny little ball and go on with his life. Today, that meant heading into town to grab something sweet to eat and something to drink. It wasn't raining anymore which meant he'd finally dried out so everything was good.

Of course, Jim knew thinking that would just lead to bad things happening but he didn't care. He wasn't going to walk around on eggshells. He had graduation to think about and his future which...he wasn't going to think about today.

Probably not tomorrow either.

[Open place and post]

Comments

[justbeingbay]

"Hey," a low-key Bay said as she set her coffee and slice of cake on the table nearest Jim's. "How's Natalie?"

Sometimes, it was easier to ask about other people than to talk about yourself. Besides, Bay figured Jim could see she was herself again.

[pursuedthestars]

"Back to being Natalie," he said, smiling up at her. "Disoriented, though. I guess losing time like that's gonna do that to anyone. How are you?"

[justbeingbay]

"Still crippled," Bay said, flashing the bandaged hand again. It had become her go-to when she didn't want to talk about anything more difficult, and she knew it; she was going to almost miss it when the bandage came off.

She tried to put together a somewhat more sincere answer. "But, you know, mostly fine. Reminding myself a crash course on how the other half lives is a good thing. Not that I disagree about it being disorienting."

[pursuedthestars]

Jim winced at the bandage. "How long's that gonna be staying on? You gonna ever be two handed again?"

See, Jim could talk about the easy stuff too. Not hard at all.

[justbeingbay]

"The doctor said next Monday last time he looked at it," Bay said, shrugging one shoulder. (Of course, it had been Dom's hand at the time, but she was in stick-to-the-easy-stuff mode here.) "If it's still not healed enough, I might just amputate it and get it over with. At least then I'd get a hook."

[pursuedthestars]

"Cool, that'd have my support," he joked with a little smile. "Then, you'd have to get a parrot that you could train to sit on your shoulder and make sarcastic and vaguely insulting remarks."

[justbeingbay]

"Definitely a parrot. And an eyepatch," Bay added, smiling back at him. "Or is that a little bit too much?"

[pursuedthestars]

"I think it'd be okay as long as you make up an amazing story of why you got the eyepatch," Jim said, nodding. "Just something really insane and out there."

[justbeingbay]

"It was my parrot," Bay decided. "See, it thought my eye was a grape, and blammo."

[pursuedthestars]

"Nice!" Jim complimented with a snicker. "It's totally insane but also gross which just makes it even better."

[justbeingbay]

"Well, yeah," Bay said, mock-offended. "If I'm making up a crazy story about losing my eye, it has to be a gross one, or what's the point?"

[pursuedthestars]

"Hey, some people might worry about offending people," he said, wiggling his fingers. "I'm just glad you know you won't . It's a good feeling."

[justbeingbay]

"And I'm glad you're glad," Bay said, then shifted the subject slightly. "Did you see they're actually having a prom this weekend?"

She wasn't in the dance mood. Maybe other people were.

[pursuedthestars]

"Are they?" He'd missed that during all the insanity. "I hadn't realized. You going?"

[justbeingbay]

"Probably," Bay nodded. "It's senior prom. I don't want to be that sad girl who skipped hers. You?"

[pursuedthestars]

"Yeah, I guess," he said, shrugging. "I don't really care if I miss out but I'll probably be bored and there'll be free food and people so I'll probably go."

[justbeingbay]

"I think that's my new explanation for why I'm going," Bay said. "'Free food and people.' But yeah, it seems kind of small after everything that's happened lately."

[pursuedthestars]

"The dances here are pretty okay either way," Jim added with a nod. "They seem to do okay with them and it'll be a decent distraction for a lot of people, I'd guess."

[justbeingbay]

"Yeah, it's weird how everything else at this school can be completely chaotic and fucked up, and then they really get it together on dances," Bay said. "Maybe the glitter makes it work."

[pursuedthestars]

"Don't let them hear you say that," he said, putting a finger to his lips. "They might use even more glitter if they think it's a magical balm."

[justbeingbay]

"And then I'd really never be free of the island, 'cause that stuff takes forever to wash off," Bay returned. "Fair point. Consider me warned."

[pursuedthestars]

"I try to help out when I can," he said, nodding. "I think there's still glitter in some of the pockets of my suits. It's a present for whenever I put that thing on and stick a hand in my pocket. Give that never stops giving."

[justbeingbay]

"Probably, but how often do you have a reason to put on a suit?" Bay asked doubtfully.

[pursuedthestars]

"Every single weekend when I have people over for high tea," he joked oh so seriously.

[justbeingbay]

"And you never invited me?" Bay asked, also seriously. "Jim, I'm hurt."

[pursuedthestars]

"Well, I didn't know you liked tea," Jim rationalized. "Wouldn't want to waste the good stuff."

[justbeingbay]

"Thrifty of you," Bay complimented. "And of course you can't just steal a box of Lipton from the cafeteria for a fancy tea party."

[pursuedthestars]

"I'd be shamed if I tried that," Jim said, nodding. "But, maybe you'll get an invite to my tea party next time I have it. Keep your fingers crossed and all!"

[justbeingbay]

Bay crossed the fingers on her good hand and held them up to show Jim. "I'll be waiting."