June 2012: Badlands of South Dakota; Ted's Diner

[damncompass]

Travelling is hell, especially when you're half-moving anyway. Joshua had decided that he was going to take some books and the Artifact to the B&B, to just have a few less things things to take when he actually moved a week later.

Flights were late, Customs was eying Joshua's papers like they were in Greek, and the closer they got to South Dakota, the more unsettled Helena was. So, when they got to the airport finally, Joshua decided to fuck it, and get the flashiest car that the Hertz place rented: a red convertible something-or-other that suited Joshua's mood just fine. However, to his vast embarrassment, he'd almost forgotten how to drive in the fifteen years that he didn't actually need to. He was able to get the car in gear and going, with a minimum of offers to drive from his Victorian now-girlfriend.

Driving into the address that he'd been e-mailed a couple days ago (how they got his e-mail, he wasn't actually going to ask at this point), he parked (very poorly) and looked around, wondering where the shit everyone else parked, as the lot was mostly empty.

Comments

[damncompass]

"There's business and then there's business.". Joshua is cut off by his boss approaching, smirking then going away. Before he can open his mouth again, however, Theodora comes back with his food and pie.

Digging in, he's distracted for a moment, but as he puts his burger down, he remembers. "Wait. Mrs. Lattimer? As in...."

[k39zzz]

"To be fair, she does tend to cover the tab when she hosts." Odds are Theodora's trying to make up the balance, but really. She could do that with the rest of the day.
In response to Joshua's question, Jane sighs. "Yes, as in. Please don't mention it to Pete - I'm working on it."
(Yes, she knows what that sounds like.)

[damncompass]

Joshua just raises his eyebrows, but says nothing. Generally when someone says that they're 'working on it', Joshua calls bullshit, but he he refrains from commenting in this case. There is such as thing as politeness.

Actually, Theodora might be a pain, but her food really is pretty good.

[k39zzz]

"When you spend 40 years not mentioning something, the first twelve of which you're pretty sure you won't have anything to mention, it's a hard habit to break."
One kid with two parents in high-risk jobs, sure. But two kids? That was the point Jane realised they needed her around, at least.

[damncompass]

"I can see that." He eats a fry or two. "Not going to comment." But he really really hopes that she says something before it blows up. That could get messy.

[k39zzz]

"Thank you for that."
Claudia's recent situation did drive that point home, yes. There may be something to be said for waiting for the opportune moment, but it doesn't always work out.

[damncompass]

"Hey. I'm not an asshole." Joshua shrugs, mostly turning his attention to his fries. Mmmm. Food.

[k39zzz]

"No, you're not."
And then she smirks. "But next time, I expect to see a salad on your plate, young man."

[damncompass]

"Heeeeeey." He looks up, pouting a bit. "You're as bad as Claud. Next time you'll complain about how much dressing I put on the aforementioned salad." He's smiling, though.

[k39zzz]

Jane grins. "Only if you drown it. Besides, I wouldn't have said anything if I didn't think you needed it."

[damncompass]

Joshua rolls his eyes. "I might not know exactly how old I am, but I am an adult." He's not necessarily saying he doesn't need a bit of mothering, but still. He had to assert himself.

[k39zzz]

"At what point in this conversation did I say you weren't an adult?"
Pete's an adult. Technically. Sometimes. ...Okay, so he's not the best example.

[damncompass]

"Oh, hush. You are as bad as Claudia." That's a smirk.

[k39zzz]

"I'm inclined to take that as a compliment. She knew what she was getting herself into better than just about anyone I've talked to."

[damncompass]

"Oh, she did." Joshua sighs. "Claud knows what she's doing. Better than I do most of the time."

[k39zzz]

Jane raises an eyebrow. "If you were that bad, we wouldn't have taken you."

[damncompass]

"For once, that wasn't my neuroses." He emphasizes his point with a fry. "Claud's just that good when it comes to knowing what she's doing."

[k39zzz]

"Perhaps, but she had to get it from somewhere."

...That last table of civilians is really taking their sweet time, today.

[damncompass]

"Certainly not me." He pauses. "Ok, that was my neuroses."

[k39zzz]

Jane smiles. "I'm sure if you asked her, she'd say you have more to do with it than you know."
People are often a combination of those around them. In part, at least.

[damncompass]

"She's loyal like that." He smiles, muttering under his breath. "Repository badger indeed."

[k39zzz]

"...Do I want to know what badgers have to do with anything?"

[damncompass]

"Uhm. Depends on how much you read. It's... a Harry Potter thing. Sort of." Joshua shrugs, turning his attention back to his burger. Oops.

[k39zzz]

"Or a Milliways thing, if I don't miss my guess." Not that she's been there herself (and she's not sure it'd be her kind of place regardless), but a certain report of Claudia's did find its way into her hands.
They needed all possible information to decide whether Joshua was an asset or a liability, after all.

[damncompass]

"Why am I not surprised you know about Milliways? Well, I guess it is an Artifact." He pauses. "Not Milliways itself, the door. Although, sometimes I wonder."