Late September 2012: Featherhead, South Dakota

[damncompass]

If there's one thing that Joshua truly missed from Switzerland, it's the different restaraunts.

Thus, after a good half day's worth of research, he finally found the one decent Indian restaraunt in possibly all of western South Dakota.

On the bright side, it didn't require reservations, and there weren't too many people there.

Dinner is lovely with naan, a few appetizers, and Joshua's favourite vindaloo curry.

Comments

[damncompass]

"Not like you didn't know that anyway, you." He sticks his tongue out a bit. "Anyway, can we get a bill and get out of here? I don't think my nose is broken, but this is kinda embarrassing."

[claudiometer]

"Hey, look at it this way. You're not looking at scads of couples counseling, and you're not down a husband like ol' Lemon Face appears to be." Say what you will for the situation, but from the looks of that table, there'll be no reconciliation in that relationship.
Claudia does wave down their waiter when she sees him, though.

[damncompass]

"Yeah, that long-haired woman looks like she's having one hell of a time." The waiter brings a napkin for Joshua's nose along with the bill, and he holds it up to his face. "I didn't really say anything that annoying or embarrassing. Just... frustrating."

[claudiometer]

"Eh, I know you. You wouldn't really rather be in Geneva. You'd be bored out of your skull."
Unlike most of the night's other drama, she wasn't inclined to take that seriously.

[damncompass]

"Yeah, I probably wouldn't."

Joshua puts his card down, and shakes his head. "You might have to drive home. This nosebleed's not letting up."

[claudiometer]

"Gimme the keys, head forward, get some tissues."
At least paying the bill goes pretty quickly.

[damncompass]

"If I get blood on my car, I'm going to be really pissed."

He sighs and shuffles out of the restaurant and into the car. "Just be nice to Newton."

[claudiometer]

Claudia snorts. "I'm always nice to Figgy. If that hasn't let up by the time we get back I'll call Dr. Vanessa - and don't say you'll go to a regular hospital." She can see that argument coming and shed rather head it off at the pass.
"One, there's not much point in turning around again once we get there. Two, it's her job to help us with medical crises even if they're not caused by Artifacts. Three, if you go to a regular hospital you'll have to explain your medical history and its twelve years of we don't know what the fuck. Might as well call in someone who gets it."

[damncompass]

"I'll be better."

And if he isn't, he'll say he is and just avoid people. Or try to. He's not very good at actually avoiding people.

[claudiometer]

"We'll see when we get there."
It's mostly a quiet drive back, but after a while, Claudia says, "That was actually kinda fun. Other than you getting punched in the face for no apparent reason."

[damncompass]

"It was. And in all seriousness, I am proud of you." He slinks back into his seat. "I could have done without the nosebleed, though. I actually like this shirt."

[claudiometer]

"Easier than I thought it would be. I mean, it helps that she didn't protest losing the necklace, but still."
Claudia shrugs. "We can probably save your shirt. You do live with a bunch of experts in getting blood out of clothing, you know."

[damncompass]

"True. And if I lose my shirt it's not the end of the world. I can always get more things."

He shrugs, and watches the badlands go by for a bit, falling silent.

[claudiometer]

"Yeah, at least you won't have to replace your entire wardrobe at once again."

After a while, she adds, "Thanks."

[damncompass]

"For what? I didn't do much except get punched in the face."

[claudiometer]

"And believe in me when my dear friend Crippling Self-Doubt crashed the party."

[damncompass]

"Claud, your friend needs to get kicked out on his ass. You are awesome, and somewhere in there you damn well know you're awesome."

[claudiometer]

Claudia sighs. "I'm better at knowing I'm awesome when it comes to certain things. Techy things, mostly. Warehouse things, usually. Shoving a badge in someone's face and asking to confiscate their family heirloom? Not quite, yet."
Give it time and it'll get there, though. Well before she's comfortable playing music for an audience.

[damncompass]

"Still, you are so many different kinds of awesome." Joshua sighs. "You are much better than you think."

[claudiometer]

Up goes an eyebrow. "So are you. I at least know I'm awesome at something."

[damncompass]

"This is not about me." He shrugs. "You're the more important one here."

[claudiometer]

"And you're not? I'd be freaking out a lot more if I was facing this prospect all by myself."

[damncompass]

"You'd be fine, Claudia. I know you. No matter what, you'd be fine."

[claudiometer]

"Not my point and you know it."

Eventually, she pulls into the B&B (everyone's going to know she drove back from the parking job alone). "How's your nose?"

[damncompass]

Joshua wiggles his nose a bit, and shrugs. "I think I'm fine. I'll just put some ice on it or something. Pretty sure at this point that it's not broken."

[claudiometer]

"Well, it's not bleeding anymore, at least. Shall we head in?"
She's taking the lack of blood as a sign she doesn't have to call Dr. Vanessa.

[damncompass]

"Yeah. That sounds good." He shuffles into the living room, flopping backwards onto the couch with little attention to what or who is already there.