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 Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:02 pm
The afternoon sun glinted off the rubble and pavement as Wash made his way into town, squinting. He kept going, past the houses of some of those newly-promoted to hunter, well into the parts that were still quiet, ruined. He had checked all the 'usual' places; the cafeteria, library, his room; he even looked out in the area reserved for those who had fallen, but - nothing.
It had taken him a long time to come up with one last possibility for a certain sun hunter's whereabouts, and he made his way to the dilapidated schoolhouse, an air of uncertainty about them. It was a conversation that was perhaps long overdue, but - some part of him dreaded it.
He paused just outside the door, peering into a glassless window and letting his eyes adjust.
"Hello?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:03 pm
Through the cracked windows, the sound of music could be heard- not any particular song, although snippets here and there were somewhat familiar. It was angry, it was sad, and it resonated through the abandoned halls. Only when the voice registered the guitar stopped.
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:05 pm
Wash ducked into the yawning darkness that was the empty doorframe; the contrast was startling after the bright sunlight streaming down outside.
"Jerry?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:08 pm
A discord from one of the classrooms.
"What do you want, Wash."
The place was dark, but fog-diffused sunlight streamed in from one of the cracked and graffitied windows where the Sun Hunter had righted several desks (carefully, the place was still brimming with booby traps) and sat, cross legged, on the large desk up at the front by the chalkboard, guitar in his lap.
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:44 pm
Wash picked his way across the floor, to stand in the entrance to a large abandoned classroom. He watched Jerry carefully.
"We-ell," he began slowly. "I thought I owed you, a-" He paused. "Somethin'." Explanation? Apology? He wasn't really sure, but they had been friends. That had to mean something. He shook his head. "I came t' talk."
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 8:56 pm
Jerry's attention seemed to return to the instrument in his hands. He played again, softly this time, to not drown him out. He said nothing, though, waiting for Wash to say... whatever he had to say about it.
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:16 pm
Wash sighed, rubbing his eyes. Might as well begin from the beginning - the other man hadn't told him to leave, yet.
"Things have...happened. Between Sasha 'n me. Didn't mean for it to, just..." He rolled his shoulders. How could he explain? And make him believe that he hadn't been eyeing her whilst they were together, that it was only recently that he'd begun to really see her? As a woman, not just the young lady on Jerry's arm?
"It's complicated."
"Didn't do it t'hurt you," He added quickly, glancing down with obvious discomfort. "And - well." There hadn't really been a good time to talk, and... "I didn't want t'bring it up 'cos I didn't want to put more pressure on her. But, the other night at dinner-"
The kiss, the drinking, the shuffling under the table. They had been fairly transparent.
He straightened, shoulders back, watching the other man's face. "Well. I wanted to come straight with you." He frowned. "I ain't askin' for you to be okay with it. I just figured... I owed you this. Since we-" he paused. "Since we was friends."
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 9:26 pm
As Wash spoke, Jerry said nothing, simply staring down at the floor. Only the dip of minor chords betrayed what could have been going through his mind. Wash finished, for now, and he was silent for several measures.
"Is she happy?"
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:06 pm
Wash paused at the question. "I..."
He didn't know what to say. He didn't want to hurt the other man's feelings, but he also wanted to be honest. They could at least have that between them, if nothing else. "Yes. I'd like t'think so."
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:14 pm
Jerry's strumming paused for a moment before he resumed a quieter, more melodic but just as somber plucking. "Good," He murmured, "That's... that's all I really wanted."
She was happy. With Wash. He shouldn't have been surprised. He shouldn't have been in such denial about it.
It wasn't as though this was the first time it had happened to him.
But it hurt, all the same.
But she was happy.
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:34 pm
Wash knew that those calm, rational words had to come at a cost. However, that wasn't the only thing that had set their friendship drifting apart.
"The other day, in the infirmary-" he began after a long silence. "I'm sorry I was so harsh, but... I just- you worry me." He took a deep breath. "You're not a bad man, Jerry. I like you. I want t'like you." He sighed, glancing back at the exit. Maybe he'd worn out his welcome - the other man didn't seem inclined to talk.
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:46 pm
Jerry's head turned slightly to glance out the window as he played, the diffused white light obscuring his eyes where his haircut no longer provided the protective curtain he had grown used to but his mouth was trembling.
"When you had been taken... both of you. I was ready to barge to the Clan territory myself to rescue you. It took an insanity dragon, and Simon's guns pointed at me to even accept Allan's promise that I could trust them. That... that things would be okay."
He shifted, glancing down to his hand as he switched his fingering. "I waited. And I trusted. But it tore me apart to do it. The lights were back on. I think I knew. I mean... she'd been... been cold and... and distant even before then. But I fought and I did as I was told and I fought and I pushed forward and... and didn't believe their illusions...." Wash on set with Sasha wrapped around his lap, sneering at the always hopeful druggy come begging at her feet again... "Cause it was... too unbelievable," He finished softly.
"You know how I got these scars, right?" He shifted his chin until the burns showed, but didn't wait for Wash's response, "Burnt alive for a woman who was cheating on me. It's good I didn't rush off. Didn't take a bullet for someone who didn't want me anyway."
"But I... we... we all made it through. And I found you guys and... and I got her out of there j-just like I wante-ante-anted."
His attention returned to the strings, his lips pursed.
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 10:59 pm
Wash bit his lip. "No, man, it- it ain't like that."
He tried to gather this thoughts. "She's just... she's been through a lot, lately. I guess it changed things for 'er, but that ain't your fault. You can't help bein' who you is any more than she can help herself. People's more complicated than that. There's nothin' wrong with bein' you."
At the comment about the scars and cheating, he frowned. Candace, maybe? "I can promise you at least s'far as I know, she weren't unfaithful."
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 11:00 pm
"But she wasn't happy. With me."
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Posted: Tue Nov 27, 2012 11:06 pm
His voice softened. "That ain't entirely true. She was happy with you. I was sorrier than I can say to see that drift apart." It was strange, saying that now after what had happened.
"Are you happy wi' you, Jerry?"
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