(Untitled)

[docscurlock]

[ooms:

out with the old
in with the new

millitimed to earlier this week and earlier this morning, respectively]Doc is actually downstairs in the bar, tonight

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[licensed_pro]

Charlie's sitting directly opposite the Window, and was watching it up till a little while ago. He stopped paying attention after fifteen minutes, and stopped seeing it at all after forty; his head is currently resting in one palm, and he would be staring at the tabletop, and the empty water glass on it, if he had his eyes open.

He's thinking of and rejecting possibilities over and over, eventually tipping his head back with a dull thunk against the wall, and a quiet curse that probably shouldn't be thought of in public.

He glances up and lights on Doc; at least one person who's not involved in this damn mess. "Hey, Doc. Haven't seen you in a while."

[docscurlock]

"Time's been strange lately, I was outta the bar for a short while and it ended up bein' longer in here. Usually s'the other way around."

He tilts his head to the side.

"Long night?"

[licensed_pro]

"You could say that," he says after a moment's pause. "Long week. I was gone, and now that I come back..." he sighs, shaking his head.

"A friend of mine isn't doing well. And I can't do anything for them."

[docscurlock]

That answer gets a wry grin out of the stablemaster.

"I know the feelin'."

He nods at the window.

"Ain't many answers, though. In there, anyway."

[licensed_pro]

"I stopped looking at that for answers a while ago. But I don't know where else to look."

He isn't old enough to have old men's wisdom, or young enough to have children's precocious and solid faith. And the middle, he is discovering, has very little else.

[docscurlock]

"I'm afraid I don't have much to offer, in the way of wisdom."

[licensed_pro]

"Probably more than me," he says quietly. "I feel like I should be seeing a way to help them, and I'm not. And I'm beginning to be afraid I never will."

[docscurlock]

"You...as much as you want to help the people you care about, sometimes y'just gotta let them be. Otherwise you'll do more harm than helping."

[licensed_pro]

"Even if it means letting them get hurt?"

He can't stand that thought, even if it's what's best in the long run.

[docscurlock]

"Depends on the type of hurt, I'd say."

[licensed_pro]

He bites his lip, unable to answer that and merely shakes his head.

"I can't say." He knows perfectly well what, and who, and how if he doesn't find a better alternative, but he can't tell anyone.

[docscurlock]

"Fair 'nough."

Doc's not the type to give advice too freely, and there's still a hint of a reminder in the back of his mind, Charlie's words and laughter ragging at him.

"Just be smart 'bout it."

[licensed_pro]

"Thanks."

Charlie knows he and Doc aren't friends; there's probably still anger there at him for the things he said earlier. It wouldn't surprise him to learn that.

"Don't know that I'm that smart."

[docscurlock]

"Don't underestimate yourself, but don't go bein' cocky and get in over your head. Won't do nobody any favors."