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.

Comments

[damncompass]

"I haven't been..." Joshua is honestly confused at this point. "I've been busy." And stuck on himself, but still busy.

[claudiometer]

"So busy you can't make time for anyone? I know you have all the meetings right now, but you go to meetings, you go to your lab, and you go to bed, if you even remember to come back from your lab."
She'd be worried about him eating if not for the pie at the meetings.

[damncompass]

"No, it's not that. I just... I don't even know, Claud. I've just been not with it."

[claudiometer]

Claudia sighs. "I just... you're hiding in a hole and dismissing half of what Artie says out of hand, HG's getting stir-crazy because Artie won't let her freaking go anywhere, Pete's still got his lost-puppy act on, Artie's complaining about the fact that you're here every other sentence and I'm stuck in the middle and I don't know what to do."

[damncompass]

"And what was that FBI ping that I got the other day? It's probably good that Artie was off doing something else and not paying attention to the computer." He's frustrated, but not really angry.

[claudiometer]

"...fuck, they actually noticed? God donut. Thanks for handling that and stop dodging the point. If we're trying to talk to each other, that means we need to talk to each other."
And she doesn't know what's going on and she's unsettled and she's worried and and and and and.

[damncompass]

"Yeah, well. I know your love of hacking into super-secret facilities, especially when you're stressed, but yeah." He sighs. "I know. I just... I'm overwhelmed and I don't really know what I'm doing. Artie's playing the same damn song all the time, Pete's leaving crumbs around, Helena's pulling away, and you're stress hacking at midnight. What the fuck am I supposed to do?"

[claudiometer]

"Talk to Charles before your head explodes, maybe?"
Come to that, it may not be such a bad thing for her to do, either. But Joshua probably has more underpinning issues. Claudia's just torn between two people she loves, respects and trusts... who are at each other's throats.

[damncompass]

"Yeah, I thought about that talking to Jane earlier." He puts the book down and reaches over, hugging his sister. "Hey. It's alright. We'll make this work."

[claudiometer]

Oh, you mean it's siblingattach time now? Well, of course it is.
"I know, I know, it's just... blargh, you know?"

[damncompass]

"Oh, I know, Claud. I know. This family thing's hard, yo." There's a wry smile on his face.

[claudiometer]

"Oh, I know. But 'unafraid of toil' and all that."
Claudia Donovan: Hufflepuff.

[damncompass]

"Yeah, yeah, Hufflepuff." He pulls back, grinning at her. "Let's go get some ice cream or something." A pause. "I want to know what you found out from the FBI."

Joshua Donovan: Enabling Ravenclaw.

[claudiometer]

Claudia laughs. "I dare say I could spill some secrets for you, brother dear."

[damncompass]

"Oh, good." He grins at his sister and grabs his bag. "Shall we, then?"

With a laugh, they go out, both in a much better mood.