almightythirst | Deerington Inbox

Why's nobody got faith in my customer service skills? I was doing fine 'til the one lady got snippy.

[ His pout lasts only a moment, and he winks at her as he reaches for another wing. He always did like making her blush. ]

Got to watch out for my own. Speakin' of... you doing alright? Y'know. With this month being what it is.

[ She pointed a miniature chicken leg at him. ] See customer service skills are what you got that keep you from gettin' snippy. And you can't stand bein' told what to do.

[ She took a bite, setting it down and looking at the plate for a moment as he brought up the month. Wiping her hand on a napkin, she reached for her drink and took another long gulp. It was hard to even meet his eyes. ]

Yeah...I'm fine. Hopin' we don't have a repeat of that though. Only you would die and create an undead posse. [ She tried to joke, but the way she tensed showed she was really quite bothered by the whole thing. ]

[ Jesse frowns stubbornly right back at her pointing finger. ]

I wasn't the snippy one! She started it, and I can take orders just fine. If I want to. And the person given 'em has any right.

[ He almost reaches over to put a hand over hers, his expression softening, but then he realizes he has sauce and grease all over his fingers and rushes to wipe them clean instead. ]

Ashe, you know you don't got to worry about that again, right? I'm here. We're all here, and we're fine.

That's...

[ She knew those types of ladies, after all the bourgeoisie that she'd been raised with were the ones who loved to make demands of any they deemed servants. She was bossy enough herself to be that lady even. ] My point stands.

[ She gives him a tender look as they move the conversation towards more complicated things. This wasn't the kind of topic that held up to joking very well. She'd made a joke or two when he'd returned, but even then it had been flat. At least with him now sleeping almost every night by her side, she hadn't resorted to alcohol for comfort. ]

I know that, but it can change in a moment. Lord knows, things can be taken from you in a single second. Moira's gone home... and you've been here longer than any of us. So either Sodder has a special fixation with you or you are just one unlucky bastard. [ To be fair, she didn't hate it here. She wouldn't have called herself unlucky. Ashe had a talent for making things work, but if she lost him again, that would be three...nearly four if their recent separation counted. ] I don't know how long it will be before our luck runs out.

[ Jesse does reach out then, hands clean, his palm up on the table for her to put her own hand into if she chooses. ]

I like to think I'm just so charming that this place can't stand to let me go.

[ He's smiling, joking, but his own look as he watches her is equally soft. He understands her worries all too well. ]

Not so different from life back home though, is it? Nobody is guaranteed a set amount of time. I've seen enough death to know. We've just got to keep on going like that ain't true, because what else can we do?

Yeah. You're charmin', lures people into a false security. Always liked that about you.

[ She glances down to his hands, it's never been easy for her to reach out. After a moment, she tentatively places her hands in his. Immediately the warmth and texture of his weathered skin soothes her.

They had both seen their fair share of death and at least they understood each other.]

No. it's not. Tell me, what if we were stuck here permanently? How would you feel about that?

[ Jesse’s fingers close around hers, his thumb moving soothingly over the back of her hand. He frowns at the question, though not with distaste. He’s merely giving it some thought. ]

… Can’t say I’d like it. I don’t want to leave and lose all my memories of what happened here, but I don’t want to be under the thumb of whatever runs this place either. We’re prisoners, even if sometimes we forget. Never been good behind bars.

[ It does relax her and she watches him with a certain calmness. It's still hard to believe that he's her guy and that they are dating; quite seriously dating too. That's what makes the thought of going home so difficult. She doesn't want to lose this. ]

Can't say I'm real good at it myself. But for a prison it's got pretty much everythin' I like. Plenty of people to boss around, crime, and enough chaos to keep it interestin'. Most of the creepy things don't bother me. And I have you. Things are fine back home, but I've really lost sight of some things. This place has cleared my head, and I feel more like myself back in the ol' days.

[ It's not that Jesse hasn't thought of it too. They've both changed so much here. Worked through things, both together and on their own. Going back would mean losing that. Starting back at zero.

Moira had once confided in him that she'd thought about it too, with her and Angie. He imagines the anxiety that twists his heart into knots is the same as what he'd seen on her face as she'd talked about it. And knowing that it had come to pass breaks his heart. ]

... I know. I wouldn't want to lose all the good here. Any of it.

[ His half-hearted attempt at a smile barely lasts a few seconds. ]

But this is still a prison. I don't think I'll ever stop tryin' to get out... but only if it's on our terms. There's got to be a way to take our memories with us when we go.

[ The idea of it still scares her. The risk is too great. Ashe couldn't help but be afraid that she might once again experience the loss of him and all they've built. If they lost their memories, she supposed that she wouldn't remember it. It's not a lot of comfort. ]

I don't disagree. It's just...I've made it a pretty comfortable one. It's been nice to have new things keepin' me on my toes. Been doin' the same thing for so long.

[ But he wasn't wrong. At least one of her better skills was refusing to let the risk of things get in her way. ]

I'm holdin' out hope for the same. Besides, if it's a dream, maybe we'll wake up thinkin' about each other. [ She gave a small chuckle, suddenly finding a chicken wing very interesting. ] Wouldn't be the first time for me.

[ Jesse's smile comes easily then, his hand squeezing hers a bit tighter again. ]

Wouldn't be the first time for me either.

[ He looks down at their hands, and once again curses this place. No doubt the little good here is purposeful somehow. There to keep them complacent. But that doesn't mean he doesn't want a life something like this: with her, both of them forging a new path together. ]

I do get what you mean. Before comin' here, I was usually on my own. I was back with Overwatch, but I didn't know how I felt about it. Things are different here. I've got a purpose. And friends. Hadn't had those in a good while. [ He turns his smile back up at her. ] And then there's you.

[ There's a flood of emotions that she is growing familiar with when he says that. She purses her lips to keep the grin at least somewhat under control. So he'd dreamt about her? That was reassuring to hear and it makes her wonder how many nights that she'd been thinking about him, had he been thinking about her. It had lessened over time, but it all came back to her when they'd cross paths again; no matter the circumstances.

Her hand feels safe in his and it's one more moment she doesn't want to lose.

She'd known he was back with Overwatch, but not that he was ambivalent about it. ]

It makes you wonder what kind of life we could have at home, if we could find a way to swallow our pride there too. If you could forgive some of the things I do, and if I could maybe change some of what I do.

[ Ashe might be trying to hide it, but Jesse notices the barely-suppressed grin. His answering smile is knowing and playful. Yeah yeah, don’t let it go to your head Liz. ]

I’ve thought about that too. If we can make it work here, stands to reason we could make it work back home. Even if we don’t remember all the progress we made on the surface…

[ He really, really hates having to say that. ]

… I like to think there’s part of us that doesn’t forget.

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