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 Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:22 am
Robert felt the kick in his shins, but even he knew he deserved it. Clerise got away with a whiny 'owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww', leaving him, before he slumped back down and watched Jerry drink that disgusting alcohol he seemed to be throwing back. Robert was far too drunk, and stupid, combined, to notice that Clarice had actually been insulted by his words, so when she responded, he blinked as if trying to understand, before even giving up on that. Instead, he started to inch forward, consumed with the desire to drink the alcohol they had in front of them, because his was all gone.
He'd just managed to reach his hand out for a glass when he heard the guitar string snap, and he almost fell over at the sound, slumping against the table and letting out a sharp laugh in surprise.
His jovial face dropped when Jerry leaned in to kiss Clarice, and something in his mind snapped just like the guitar string.
"JERRY." Robert roared, unaware that he still had the strength, or mental capacity, to get up and walk around the table. But he had, and he did, so when his beefy fist grabbed the man's shirt and pulled him up by the collar, until he was no longer touching the ground or the seat he'd been on, he held Jerry to his bloodshot eyes and growled something so ferally, it sounded like he was turning into an animal.
"Not her."
Wait, that wasn't what he meant to say. He narrowed his eyes and tried to focus on the right words, the correct words for the moment, but all he could think of were those two, confusing words.
Not her.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:33 am
The kiss surprised the hell out of her, but it really shouldn't have. Drunken rebound attempts kind of went hand in hand with I just saw H ******** my girlfriend scenarios. Sighing she was about to put a bit of distance between them when Robert did it for her.
Not her.
There was that hurt feeling again, all the more because he was actually right about this. Getting up she stood behind Jerry, and placed a hand on his shoulder, "Robert, don't be so damn melodramatic. And put him down for chrissake." Another sigh, "Jerry I know how you feel, and I know you're not in the best place to make good decisions, but...he's right. I really am...a lot of the things you guys are complaining about so. Not the cheating part...but everything else. So. Yeah. Not...not me."
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:43 am
The guitar clattered to the carpet, loosing a chunk of wood in the process as he was hefted into the air. Jerry tried to take in the conversation milling around him, but his brain was swimming and locked onto the simplest and most important statement that had been announced. "N-not her? Not her? Who... who... who do you c-care who I kiss, huh? You... you... you think you're so big and tough and... and awesome and... and all the girls want YOU? Well! Well, you're getting MARRIED, Robert!" He struggled to try to touch the ground with his feet or twist out of Robert's grip, which ever happened first. "I just! I just! I just want-!" He gave a whine as he finally pushed Robert back away from him, drunk but not stupid enough to try to throw a punch.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 2:59 am
Clarice was saying things, and Jerry was yelling and squirming, but even as the man tried to get out of the hold, Robert wasn't looking at him anymore. He was staring, open-mouthed, at what Clarice was trying to say. And he was getting real damn angry about it. His face was flushing red, and his mouth snapped shut, as Jerry gave one final shove and Robert released him, dropping him to the floor.
A blink, and he finally pulled his eyes away from Clarice, to glare at Jerry angrily. "I KNOW THAT. You don't think I know that? I know. I ******** know." He didn't need Jerry, or anyone, to remind him that he'd made a commitment, and as terrible as Robert was at holding commitments, he'd promised himself he'd keep this one, this time. He wasn't going to make the same mistake again. His fists balled up as he repeated the mantra into his mind. Not again. Not again. Not again.
He bent down, and grabbed Jerry's guitar. All the anger had fled from his face, but as soon as he looked up, his eyes were back on Clarice, and he wished they weren't.
"Just.. just you listen." He seethed, pointing a finger at her, but he couldn't even manage to hold the shred of strength he needed to get angry. He sighed, and his face looked worn. Defeated.
"I didn't mean that, and you know it." He muttered under his breath, trying to pull his eyes away. "So, so just-"
He had no idea what to say. And that meant it was time to give up.
Turning back to Jerry, his lips thinned tight. "I got this," He growled, holding up the guitar. Then he twirled away, storming out of the room, grumbling under his breath. "Such a ******** mistake. What was I thinking, coming here. No amount of liquor is worth this." His grumbling stopped just long enough to give Clerise a slight lift of his chin, and a half-assed "Sorry," before he finally reached the door.
Opening it, he turned back to the group, and his eyes fell on Clarice again, before pinching in confusion.
"If he passes out, call me. I'll come get him." He really hoped Jerry didn't pass out. He couldn't look at her right now. He couldn't look at himself.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 3:58 pm
She giggled as Robert whined away, walking around in her towel that she held on with a vice grip. She wasn't a prude, but the idea of Robert seeing her naked gave her the heebies.
Watching with rapt attention as the drama unfolded, she huhmed and sipped at her drink. While she was blissfully tipsy, Clerise would certainly remember this in the morning, and found all of the drama.
Well.
Kind of hilarious.
"Why NOT her," she retorted, missing most of the meaning behind the conversation. "I'm sure she kisses well enough."
And OH that was surprising, Clarice admitting to being a bit of a hussy herself. She would need to...investigate...later.
"Bye Robert," she murmured, blinking as he vanished. He was like a walking tortured character, sometimes. Clerise had a suspicion that Robert sometimes got all wrapped up in the "me myself and MY DARK ANGST."
"Ssssso." The redheaded said, awkwardly patting Jerry's back. "Clarice. Do you have any boardgames?"
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 4:14 pm
She watched Robert storm out, feeling slightly incredulous that the one person in a happy relationship had flipped his s**t. Clarice couldn't help but feel a bit relieved when he left, though, some of the things he'd said brought up all the memories and hurt and guilt she just really didn't want to think about today.
"Right, boardgames," taking a deep breath she grabbed onto Clerise's question like a lifeline. "I do! Have some. You guys get comfortable and I'll just go. Get them." She carefully made her way to the walk-in closet, swaying slightly, and disappeared inside for several minutes. When she returned it was with a tall, wobbling stack of game boxes.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 4:31 pm
Jerry relaxed a bit as Robert stormed off, but his face was still flushed with emotion and drink. He almost wanted to chase after him to get his guitar back. Just because it was ruined didn't mean he didn't *want* it.
Good riddance. I hope he throws it in the ocean, Roar grunted in the back of his mind, at least enjoying the smooth ride of his Hunter's drunken mental state a lot better than the pressures of depressed anguish. You're alone in a room with two hotties, man. Candlejack can take the whore and her Doctor, dude.
The friendly words were not well received, but Jerry turned bck t them anyway, unbuttoning the top few buttons of his shirt as he glanced to the unfamiliar ginger with embarrassed shyness. "M'not. Not. Not usually so moody. I apologize, Miss... er... I don't... don't think we've been introduced? Er. Prop... properly." He sniffed, removing his glasses to clumsily try to clean the salty mess from the lenses, "I'm sorry we er... crashed your um. Party. I'll go if I'm intruding." He did not want to be alone just then, that much he knew. Even if Robert had passed the buck, he was still grateful.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 7:28 pm
Clerise finally slipped into the robe that Clarice had given her a bit ago, tugging the sleeves on first, covering herself loosely and then, finally, letting go of the towel.
There. Coverage. Lazily, Clerise flopped onto the bed, swinging her legs just a bit as she leaned on her palms.
The redhead turned to the emotionally unstable one, inspecting him closely-- she flicked her eyes up and down him, trying to puzzle him together. Not knowing anything about him made it a wee bit harder.
"Yeaaah. Guess not, since I thoughtcha were Petra. I'm Clerise-- with an E, thanks, not an A like miss sassy pants over there." A grin, and not even feral. She was proud of herself. "You looked like you needed a drink more than I did, sheesh."
She did not know the full story, but she knew well enough when to keep her trap shut. After all, he had only JUST stopped the crying.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 8:25 pm
"Jeremy," He announced, "Jeremy Collins. Sun division intermediate," He groped in his pockets before finding a tissue shoved up his sleeve in that same fashion old ladies everywhere managed. "Everyone calls me Jerry, though. Not Petra. Ahahaha. Pet is a lot prettier than me ahahahaaha," He blew his nose before the tissue vanished again to be recycled later, and settled for huddling down to pick at the wide burn scar on his cheek, "Just... just feeling a bit like a used tissue right now. My um." He rubbed his forehead, leaving his cheek alone, "It was. A disappointing Valentines for me." He finished lamely, hefting up his gifted bottle to take a fresh swig. For someone so skinny, he really seemed to be able to put it down while staying at least coherent enough for conversation.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:32 pm
Dropping the games down on the bed, Clarice did her best to cheer Jerry up, "Well at least you're in good company, right? And hey, booze! And games! Do you like playing games, Jerry?" She picked up one of the boxes and inspected the title as she tried to babble over the awkward and the angst, "I freaking love games, especially winning them."
Her eyes landed on one and immediately brightened, "Oh....how 'bout we play a game of Life? Anytime someone gets married, they have to finish their drink and go back to the beginning, because <********> happy couples."
Clarice began to ease the top up off the game and glanced inside. Immediately she froze and then quickly and firmly closed the box again, face flushed. "Okay maybe not Life, looks like some ah...pieces are missing. Let's play ahhh...." She peeked inside another game with much the same result.
"Okay nevermind games. Games are so silly anyway, right?" Gathering up the boxes as quickly as she could she began to make her way back to the walk-in closet, stumbling slightly, "Is there anything else you'd like to do Clerise? Jerry?" There was a small panicked hint of desperation in her voice. Whatever was in those boxes was obviously something she really, really didn't want to share with the rest of the class.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 10:47 pm
"Oh. So thassyour name. I'm a Lifey like Clarice. Just got here a few weeks ago, I dunno. All you intermediates." She waved her hand at the last part, not even sure what she'd meant, if anything.
"Well, how was I gonna know that? Psshawww." The redhead stuck her tongue out at Jerry, playful. "Is that a ********' hanky. For real? Are you from the same century we are?" Clerise gigglesnorted-- very dignified, girl. Very dignified.
At the mention of a disappoint Valentine's Day, she clucked her tongue a little. She was missing a number of pieces from the grand drama puzzle, but she could put a few things together. Clerise gave wave of her hand. "Don't let bitches get you down."
There were a million other things she could say-- that if she cheated, she wasn't worth dating to begin with. That she wasn't worth the relationship. That she wasn't worth sticking his d**k in to begin with. A million potential comforts-- but really? She didn't know s**t, and he was grieving. People did that. She didn't get it, but they did.
Fortunately, Clerise's awkward rambles were interrupted by Clarice's-- and she took the chance to slide off the bed, stalking after Clarice into the walk in closet.
"But I want to play Liiiiiiiiiiife," Clerise said with a pout, laying her head on the other woman's shoulder, tucking her chin over it. She was an inch or two taller than the blonde, and she gave her division assistant the best pout she could muster.
Which, honestly, was not too convincing or pitiable in any way.
"What's in there, anyway~?" She pointed at the boxes, which were rapidly being moved out of her sight and reach. "Not 'nuff people for truth or dare, do you know any other drinking games, miss lady?"
Yep. Still totally in Clarice's bubble-- because if she went anywhere, it'd be to investigate those boxes, and this might actualllly be the safer move.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:06 pm
"I er... was raised by my grandmother," He put shortly, face reddening. Jerry stiffened as the games were announced, thankful that the awkward time with the near stranger was cut to an end. She seemed like a nice enough girl, though, and as she left to follow Clarice with her apparently broken games, he gave a sigh and slumped back to lay on the soft carpet.
Alright. So Robert had dumped him randomly in poor Clarice's room while she had company. Alright, so apparently he was getting his awkward and wet, sloppy misery all over the place... but it was really nice they were all trying to make him feel better.
He wasn't alone. Maybe it would be okay.
They looked so comfy in their bathrobes, and if he was going to be here a little while, he should get more comfortable himself. He clumsily kicked off his shoes, and wriggled out of his sweater vest, trying to toss it on top of them but missed. Oh well.
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Posted: Sat Feb 18, 2012 11:40 pm
"Well Life is broken, okay?" Clarice paused and glanced sideways at the other woman, "Okay that just sounds depressing, but leave those boxes alone okay? Turns out H's gift wasn't a strip-o-gram, and I really just want to forget about what's in them right now." Turning her head to face Clerise's own on her shoulder, her voice took a slightly pleading tone, "Please?"
Giving the boxes one last shove, she turned around with a determined, somewhat tipsy smile, "Besides, you liked the steam bath right? Let's just go back to that. It's kind of my happy place and I'd really like to visit it for a bit." Shifting she glanced behind the other woman and took in the fact that Jerry was currently stripping, and then gave Clerise a slightly more strained smile, "Look, Jerry's already getting ready."
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:06 am
"Ohh, well. It's okay, I was raised by the circus, don't worry too much," Clerise said, eyes crinkling at the corners with a smile.
In the closet, however, the redhead just gave Clarice a mischievousness grin. "Okay, okay. You're killing me here, miss lady." As the life assistant shifted, Clerise slung a toned arm around her neck, other hand on her robed hip.
"You owe me some hot loving," she ribbed gently, and planted a fat kiss on her cheek, heading back into the main room.
"Upsy daisy with you, ********! Let's get you in the steam room to sweat out all the potential tears." Clerise offered him a hand, ready to yank him up.
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Posted: Sun Feb 19, 2012 12:15 am
"Nrrrg what?" He had almost fallen asleep during the short period he had been left alone, wobbling and groping for his bottle as he was suddenly manhandled upright. "Steam room?" He didn't know Deus had a steam room... but that would explain why the girls were... dressed as scantily as they were. "Oh er... that... that sounds nice?" He managed, suddenly wishing he had brought a bathing suit.
Not that he had any idea he was going to be here, now. But... well. There were worse places to be dragged to.
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