paradisalost | I'll be there for you... when you come back from the expedition

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I'll be there for you... when you come back from the expedition

Who: Jo, Jet, Spike S., Max, Julia, and Gwaine.
Where: Jo's house in the city.
What: Gwaine returns after the expedition. Julia is upset. Clearly.
When: ... when Gwaine returns.
Notes: Friends Loss Continues.

[Apparently, when you're raised in a military-like compound and not exposed to pop-culture while you grow up -- you miss out on a lot of things. Max has recently realized that she doesn't exactly know all of the movies that Jo and Julia grew up loving. We'll skip over the part where Jo and Julia know all the words to Lawfully Pretty and skip right to where they're trying to explain to Max that hard work does pay off and that the core message is really about accepting you for yourself, and that the sequel deals with a side of animal rights. Which, they figure Max will appreciate.]

We can watch the next one, too. [You know, in case Gwaine isn't back yet. She glances to the boys, because she is not putting in Die With Difficulty again. This is supposed to be making Julia feel better.]

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Taking a break? [ He's watching her do her thing and it's possible that despite the fact she has to be so precise and in control over everything, he likes her anyway. More so even. Funny how that is. ] What exactly does that mean?

[SNIP SNIP! Oh, that was the stems. The vase is filled with water and in go the flowers. She'll sniff them now and then set them in the center of the table. She goes to hug-- no.]

They're really nice, you didn't have to. The flowers, I mean.

With Gwaine and Julia... I think it's the castle, to be honest. It shoves us all together and maybe we were okay back home, but back home we could go away for a weekend. Here a weekend away could end in train crashes [Which there were...] or dinosaurs.

They just need some space. Do things not together... because I know my brother can get a bit suffocating.

Not everyone likes to be around someone all the time. [The way she says that, it's almost as if she's trying to hint that she's not one of those people.]

[ He nods. ] And you? Do you... like being around someone all the time?

I mean, for instance, could you see us spending more time together? [ He figures it's a harmless enough question. Friends do spend a lot of time together.

They're allowed to see each other everyday. ]

[She has to cut herself off at that gut-shot reaction and try to play it cool.]

Of course I can see that. We're friends, Chase. Friends can hang out. Friends can... sit and talk. [See, she'll go sit on the couch.]

I have lots of friends, too. [See? Totally normal. She does this with a lot of people.]

Me too. Or at least, back at home, I did. [ He smiles down at her. ] So we're friends who hang out everyday and who enjoy each other's company.

Well, that's great. [ He sits down next to her. ] I'm so glad you're my friend, Jo. [ And he gives her a friendly, slightly awkward punch on the arm. ]

[That... was awkward.]

I'm glad you're my friend, too, Chase. [No awkward punching, but her knee is RIGHT AGAINST HIS.]

I'm glad we can hang out together like this. Enjoying the company. Hanging out. Every day.

Yup. Hanging out. Every day. [ His hand is on her knee now and he looks down at it. ] Sorry. [ He lifts his hand up. ]

Well, this is nice. Us. Hanging out. [ He casually leans back against the couch and rests his arm behind Jo. ]

Should we watch a movie then?

We were watching Lawfully Blonde. Probably not your first choice. [She leans against him.

This is nice.

Comfortable.

Friends can do this.]

We don't have to watch a movie. We could just... [make-out, make-out, make-out...]

Talk. Like friends do. [oh. with the leaning. she should stop that.

She'll sit up straighter.]

[ When she sits up, he rests his hand on her shoulder and pulls her back to lean against him. Because friends can do that. Get comfortable. ] Talking's good.

Hey, we can talk about Thanksgiving dinner. [ He turns to look at her. ] If you need help preparing the food, I'm all yours.

[Her brain derails at 'I'm all yours.' because - just because. Plus there is leaning. Is her hand resting on his chest? Possibly.]

Neal's already offered his help. You'll still go though, right? [Wait. Too desperate sounding?]

I mean, I invited everyone. Not that everyone will show up. There are probably other Thanksgivings... in the castle. [Yeah, she's staring at her hand, that is resting on his chest. His hair seems shorter. Not that she cares.]

I wouldn't miss it for the world. [ Did he just put his hand over hers? Yeah, he did. Okay. Not a big deal. He'll just give it a pat. It's just an affectionate gesture. Nothing wrong with that. ]

Is Neal a close friend of yours?

[She'll just settle in a bit more against him. It's been a long day.]

He's one of the artists from the gallery. He can't leave the castle without someone else bringing him though.

[She ... just smelled him.]

Part of his loss? [ See? Good thing he showered before coming over. He hasn't shaved in a few days though, so she'll have to excuse the roughness of his chin. ]

[She nods against his chest.]

Yeah, I think he needs someone that is law enforcement, or close enough, considering the people in this castle. I'm trying to get him to work at the Lux, he's a really good cook. [a beat] Not as good as me, but he's still good.

That's really nice of you. [ He toys with her hair. ]

I just really could use the extra help. Alaric and Claire both left, and now Caroline is gone too. I'm just short-staffed.

[She shifts to rest a bit higher against him. Who cares if her mouth is pressed right above the collar of his shirt. This is perfectly fine.]

This is nice. [Did that sound as dreamy-sigh out loud as it did in her head?] I mean, we're friends that can do relax like this around each other. It's perfectly fine.

Totally. We're not crossing any lines. We're just two people who are very comfortable around each other and who-- [ And this is where he pauses slightly. ] ...don't want to sleep with each other.

Or kiss. [ He brushes her hair back. ]

Or do any of that icky stuff.

Pffft. Of course not. [She says that probably too quickly.

And then there is silence.

So much silence.]

It's not icky.... I mean, it's not what friends do, but it could be non-icky.

You're right. But it's not what friends do. [ He frowns slightly. ]

Out of curiosity, is there any reason why we shouldn't... date?

I'm just wondering.

[What was that about how they should date?

Selective hearing...]

Hmmm? [OH. oh, embarrassment. sit up. stop humming against his neck.]

Because we're friends. Because the last time we kissed you almost died and you don't even remember that. Because you left.

And then the castle brought you back and now we're friends. [Yes. That... that is logic.]

So we can't ever kiss because I'll die? [ Okay. ] Well, that makes sense. [ He frowns again. ]

Wait. No. That doesn't make any sense. Why did I almost die?

[She feels like she needs to stand up. Distance. Yep. Distance would be good.

She stands up.]

Strawberries. [Wince of 'Hi. Remember how I know you're allergic to strawberries... THIS would be why.']

Edited 2011-12-05 04:09 (UTC)

[ He remains seated. ] Oh. [ Now he's reminded of his bachelor party. ]

Do you have any on you right now?

[Head shaking of no.]

No.

[She has this sudden feeling of anticipation...]

Good. [ He gets up and takes a step towards her. ] No problem then.

[ And unless someone decides to barge in on them and ruin the moment, he's just going to kiss her, okay? Friendship be damned. ]

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