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Jerry was still in a bit of a funk. He had lost his sparkle, he knew it. Lost the song in his heart. But at least he was functioning. He got up, ate, tended to his duties, and slept. Allan's words did sit in the back of his head, but there wasn't really much good for it. He didn't feel like being social. He had tried, and that had turned out terribly last mission.

He wished he hadn't broken his guitar. It would have at least given him something to do to keep his mind off of things. After a bit of deliberation, he decided some study might do, heading over to the library. There wasn't much as far as pure entertainment went, but considering the material they dealt with, mythos and magic and stories, it was fairly fascinating.

The books were endless, and indeed a good productive distraction, but ultimately, he had slumped in his chair with his head onto the table and the book half leaning against his head, coat draped over the back of his chair.

No matter how quiet Sasha had tried to be, the thud of books on the table made Jerry instinctively sit up, sending his own book toppling as he blinked frantically around for danger, glasses askew on his nose, "What? I didn't-!" At seeing just the young trainee across from him and a mound, he finally relaxed, "Oh, ah... sorry... sorry I must have... dozed off, ahahaha..." He smiled weakly, fixing his disheveled appearance as much as he could. He did look a bit worse since the last she had seen him, as though he hadn't showered since the mission and was trying his hardest to grow a beard and failing. "Er... Sasha, right?" His expression was strained, as though it took every fiber of his being to look cheerful and excited.

"Oh uh... thank you..." He blinked at the orange, flushing a bit before clearing his throat and tried to tame his hair a bit. "I've just.. um. Been a bit under the weather lately," He smiled weakly, still fidgeting as though unsure of what to do with himself. "And er... with the er... Men's bathroom situation ah..." Again, a fresh cough and a lingering look of shame. She had heard. They all had, unfortunately. Even with Harrison's organizing repairs, he had been too afraid to show his face in the shower room. "How are you fairing? Adjusting well to life as a hunter?" He tried to look a bit more encouraging, glancing to her stack of books with raised eyebrows, "Going to read all of that?"

Jerry's expression fell even further and he slumped in his chair, "You don't need to call me Mr. And if *my* Gram knew I lost my temper like that..." He sighed with a shudder. "That... really... wasn't something usual for me, I promise," He looked miserable, burying his head in his hands, "I... I mean... I used to. Write and..." He drew in a sharp breath, straightening up to try to find his center. "I had a guitar but..." It was no use. She had accidentally picked at a sensitive scab and it was on the verge of bleeding profusely. "I was... going to.... to start a hunter choir and... I just. I don't know. I haven't had much inspiration for anything lately."

He bit his lip, glancing up at her and feeling exceptionally embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I shouldn't be... blathering about this to you." His smile attempted to return, although it was shaky and anxious "If... it makes you feel any better, most of us don't really have anywhere else to go either, ahahaha. But there really is pride in what we do. I mean... after everything, could you really go back? To normal life, I mean." He had thought about it. A lot, especially lately.

The man wobbled a little, digesting her gentle attempts to console him. "You play the flute?" He smiled a bit more earnestly, "I play a bit of recorder and some simple stuff..." Sniffling, he pulled the penny whistle on it's chain out from under his sweater-vest for her to see, "Roar's unsummoned form- well, I've never actually played him, last time I tried he ah..." He blushed again, "Gave me a bit of a hard time." He coughed strategically, "I was going to be a music teacher. Before here, I mean. I majored in music therapy, funnily enough. Ahahaha... it... it's taken me far but. I don't know. I guess everyone has their limits."

After a moment's fidgeting his expression brightened a bit more, "Help with the choir? That would be great! I... I could see if I could find you a flute if you aren't comfortable singing... I might have er... lost my guitar... but Molly still has her violin! It would be nice to have a bit of a band with us. I thought we could do a sort of dinner theater thing in the cafeteria for people. Might be fun, right?"

The blush returned with a vengeance. "I um. Broke it." He cleared his throat, "At... at least I'm alright with singing. Maybe I can... eventually save up for a new one. I have a feeling my wages are going to be garnished... forever probably. So we'll see. Last time we were actually paid was at Christmas. But... but I mean. I can write music and... well I mean, I was... until recently. I'd let you play something on Roar but-" Suddenly, his face went white as Roar explained his opinion on the matter. His smile flickered a moment, "- I... don't think that would be a good idea. Ahahahaha." It was easy to relax a little around Sasha. She was so... nice. And quiet. And... ladylike? He wasn't sure how to describe it. But it was easy to start feeling like his old self in the company of someone with common interests he wasn't afraid was going to beat him to a pulp for bringing it up in public. "I've only met Molly briefly... it wasn't ah... on the best circumstances, ahahaha. I had... almost drowned. There was a bit of a mishap in the labs and Jude thought he was a dolphin princess or something and er- well. I'm sure it's embarrassing for him, I won't bore you with the details but. I talk to her over the texting system sometimes, though! There's a surprisingly large number of musicians of SOME sort on the island here. We don't get much down time, but... well. I mean. I thought the Choir or Band or whatever... would be a nice outlet for everyone. I just haven't had the er..." presence of mind, "Time to pull it together yet. I wish I had a keyboard or something, even. I miss my guitar. It was a nice one too, Candace-" He cut off, expression going sullen. "Well. Um. It was a gift. But... but it would be nice to have some help with it! If... if you wanted... I'm sort of feeling like I'm the only one interested in it at all, really. I've... pretty much made a fool of myself in front of everyone so much lately, I haven't..." he leaned in, in case anyone else in the library might be listening in, "Haven't really wanted to make a bigger mess of things than I have already."

Like Candace. So nice.

Jerry's gaze dropped down to his lap as he shifted, "Yeah... um. Yeah." He cleared his throat, forcing his smile to return, "You're certainly capable! Just... untrained is all! I mean, if anything, I'm the worst, ahahaha. I'm useless at times, seriously. Like... I mean. I'm certainly no example of how to do things right. Honestly, I'm a total mess. And not.. not just physically ahahaha. I'll... I'll pick myself up again though, I'm sure. Just some wounds take time to heal. And all that.

"I could ask about finding you a flute though! I'm sure it won't be that hard... just give me a few days, and you'll see!" He seemed to brighten up at the thought of what she said, "Music is so wonderfully therapeutic. It can help manipulate emotions, express yourself... even when you have trouble in other ways, you know? Never mind all the other wonderful properties, like speech therapy or emotional healing or the effect it has on endorphins..."

The yeti attacked us. Jerry paled a bit, eyes darting about the table as he thought frantically- had he attacked her? He had been instructed to target the newbies, but he didn't remember if he had hurt her or not but... the job was the job and he had gotten the job done and that's what mattered. "We... we all need our centers," He offered finally, smiling gently and honestly, "Music is... is amazing for that, especially. Whether it's just singing or... or an instrument or even just listening sometimes."

He wet his lips, glancing up again, "It's a bit silly, but I still do have some Kazoos left over from the holidays, could tide you over until we find you something more respectable? Ahaha... As for er... The Doctor." His expression suddenly darkened, becoming a bit more cold and detached, "He is not someone you need to worry about. Ignore him, unless he gives you an order that *makes sense*. He's... he's trouble. And... and well," They were watching, he knew they were watching, but where they listening to him as well? His voice dropped down into a whisper, leaning in until his lips were just a few inches from her ear, "Stay away from him. He's crazier than I am. And that's saying something. He's... he's a sociopathic narcissist. Be careful around him."