Welcome to Gaia! ::

With Rin's encouragement, Jerry swallowed his whispering terror, finding a quiet area in the underground to sit against the wall and hopefully bother as few people as possible. His hands were still shaking. He tuned his guitar again just to buy himself some time.

Just nerves. Just a lack of practice. At least an hour a day, each instrument, that was his grandmother's rule. He had been severely slacking.

No one would mind, Rin had said, it might help brighten the place up.

And so, quietly, Jerry picked away at the strings, letting the soft music fill the echoing room. Something inoffensive. He didn't dare sing along, but getting the motions back... it was something. He could kick this.

Jerry almost stumbled over the tricky picking at the sudden voice, but thankfully was able to flow out into a simple series of strummed chords as he smiled softly, wrapping up the song with a flush, "It's... it's not annoying is it?" He managed, "Hi, Robert. Hope you're ah... h-holding up?"

Jerry glanced up at Robert with the distant, slightly broken look of most men of his hygiene-level sitting on street corners everywhere, sadly playing for spare change. "Been.... been better.." He murmured quietly, "Been worse." The stammer was gone now, at least. Sasha's previous careful shave had already started to grow in again. "Happy to see you aren't dead? Ahahahaha..."

"M-maybe... maybe some coffee," He said quietly, glancing down at his guitar on his lap before shifting to set it aside. He used the wall to help himself stand, favoring one leg while he kept the other fairly stiff. "I'm just... tired. I think. It's... it's gotten better... I know J-jordan was worried. I'm alright though. I think. Did you ah... have it? The um." Once upright, he slung his guitar across his back and tapped his temple to illustrate.

"Yeah... yeah," Jerry laughed weakly, "I um. It's... it's easier to think now... But um. Well, it's better now. And coffee-swill is better than no coffee at all. You don't have to have any. Ahahaha. I um. Still haven't been sleeping well." He shuffled stiffly, the usual bounce out of his step as he took a few steps to see if Robert would follow. "We're... we're making progress upstairs at least?" This was nice. Small talk. Normal guys getting coffee. No remnant aching physical and mental pains of horrific battle. Just two guys talking about work.

Jerry stumbled, his leg brace squeaking as he righted himself from the sudden weight of Robert at his arm, his face flushing as he tried to pull free, "I d-don't need your support! I can walk!" He snapped, wrenching his arm back to stagger ahead.

His head bowed, he rubbed his thigh, pausing for Robert to catch up again before continuing, "S-sorry... sorry, still... still a little sensitive. Um. Coffee. Right."

The man was already rickety on his feet, staggering sideways stiffly to stay upright as the playful blow came in again. He gave a noncommital grunt, scratching at his cheek as they walked. "You um. Seem in.... in good spirits."

Jerry gave a howl of pain as he landed roughly on his wounded leg, his guitar clanging against the ground before he rolled into a seated position and tried to blink away the stars. "L-like what?" He spat, "F-friends who... who p-plow over a... a...." His voice dropped down into a low hiss, "Cripple-ipple-ipple?" One never knew who might be listening in in the tight quarters. Alright, so he didn't know if he really was crippled or not, it very well could heal, but so far, his leg had remained a terrifying sore spot for him. If it was getting better, it was taking its damn time.

Damn horse-demon-things.

Stupid bunker.

Stupid Robert.

He shook his head, trying to stiffly drag himself to his feet again. No. No, those were bad thoughts. He was getting better. Thinking clearer. Just keep your head out of the fog. "It's... it's just been a long month. S-sorry."