Late August 2012: Leena's B&B; Living Room

[damncompass]

Joshua has been a huge ball of stress lately. He's been going back and forth from his lab to Milliways, to a few meetings, and back to bed, only to flop down and not really talk to much of anyone.

Today, however, most people are out, and he's on the couch with a mystery book and a cup of tea.

It's been a long month or so.

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[k39zzz]

And then, his Farnsworth buzzes.

[damncompass]

He rummages in his bag (which is on the floor next to the couch) and finds the Farnsworth, opening it. "Wha... oh, hi, Jane. What's up?"

[k39zzz]

"Have you had dinner yet?"
If he would happen to notice, she looks a bit concerned. (But then, as off his game as he's been lately, he may not see it.)

[damncompass]

"I had pie earlier at the meeting." Joshua shrugs. He's not paying that much attention to body language at the moment.

[k39zzz]

Jane raises an eyebrow. "Pie isn't dinner and you know it. Meet me at the diner - the one in town, not Theodora's. I think we've both seen enough of her for the week."
(That is the pitfall of trying to bring in new agents.)

[damncompass]

"Oh, alright. I'll be there in fifteen." Joshua runs a hand through his (still pretty messy) hair. "I think I've had enough of Theodora for a lifetime, frankly."

[k39zzz]

"Unfortunately, this won't be the last we see of her." Jane smiles a little. "I'll see you then."

She's been staying in Featherhead, and after this afternoon's meeting didn't bother going all the way back there, just in case she could grab Joshua for dinner. She's worried about him.
When he gets to the diner, he'll find that she's already grabbed a booth.

[damncompass]

When Joshua gets to the diner, he looks even more disheveled than usual. He slides into the booth with a sigh. "On top of everything, I guess there's something going on in town. All the freaking parking was taken."

[k39zzz]

"By which you mean none of the parking was near a driveway, so you didn't feel comfortable taking it."
She's watched Joshua attempt to park before.

[damncompass]

"Oh hush. My driving isn't that bad." Except for the fact that it is. "Anyway, I found a place to park, and I'm here."

[k39zzz]

"You really aren't doing very well, are you?"
There's the concerned face back again.

[damncompass]

"Huh? What do you mean?" He looks confused for a moment. "My parking's always shit."

[k39zzz]

Jane sighs. "This has nothing to do with your parking and everything to do with the fact that you agreed with Theodora and didn't bat an eye. Granted, I thought that particular candidate was a drip, too, but I doubt you actually disliked him for the same reasons she did."

[damncompass]

"Wait, what? I thought we were just talking about whether or not we liked that ass. He wouldn't get along with Pete at all, and frankly, he sounds like a douchebag."

[k39zzz]

"Yes, but she was hung up on his credentials, not how he would mesh with the group."
Seriously. No really seriously.
"What's wrong, Joshua?"

[damncompass]

"Oh, oops." Joshua sighs. "Guess I'm really not on my game." He shrugs. "I don't know. I"m just feeling a bit overwhelmed lately."

[k39zzz]

"By anything in particular?"
Between being thrown headfirst into the hiring process and the Myka-shaped hole at the Warehouse, there is a lot on his plate, she'll grant him that.

[damncompass]

"Everything. Artie keeps playing the same damn song over and over again, Pete's leaving food crumbs everywhere, and acting like a lost puppy, Claud's reverting to sullen teenager in her mannerisms and her bedtime habits, and Helena... well, who the hell knows what's going on with Helena. I barely see her."

[k39zzz]

"Sounds to me like everyone's just as unsettled as you are. Have you considered talking to at least your sister or Helena?" At the very least, maybe they could help each other through it.

[damncompass]

"I feel like everyone's so fucking unsettled that the last thing either of them need is my problems." He sighs and shrugs a bit. "It's just a thing, I guess."

[k39zzz]

"In that case, is there someone else you can talk to?"
And that's when the waitress comes by with their salads (Jane took the liberty of getting Joshua that much, at least), and to take the rest of Joshua's order.

[damncompass]

Joshua rolls his eyes at the salad, but orders chicken and potatoes. "I'm not sure.. actually, there might be someone I know." Milliways, man.

[k39zzz]

"Good. None of us want to see you walk away from this."
...Well, okay, Theodora probably wouldn't protest too hard, but she doesn't count for the purposes of this conversation.

[damncompass]

Joshua mutters into his salad. "Sometimes I wonder if you can actually read my mind." He sighs. "I wouldn't completely walk away from it."

[k39zzz]

Jane smiles. "No, I just speak Young Adult Male. And I know you wouldn't walk away completely, but you're where you need to be. You're actually doing a lot better with your first new-hires dance than a lot of people."