It's not like every devastating end brings a new beginning...

[torchwoodsheart]

A cab pulls up in front of the Main Gauche, rather slowly and reluctantly as it gets close enough to see the twisted wreckage of the gates, a few scorch marks on the buildings and grounds... Gwen hands the driver a few bills and slides out of the back seat, eying the gates uncertainly for a second before she starts inside. She can deal with this.

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[nothingsodivine]

Des was at his building (which is starting to look more like a building and less like something vaguely building-shaped) when he got the message from Grace and... Well, sometimes Des just forgets to respond to things in his haste to get to a place.

He actually still has his cardkey to get into the basement and intended to use it when he sees Grace almost as soon as he walks in. He's expecting to be stopped by management considering he's walking into a fancy hotel in dusty teans and a dirty T-shirt (he's been working- fear his raw masculinity!), but he doesn't much care.

"Grace, what the hell happened?" Not that he didn't get the skinny from the backdated entries in his journal on the cab ride over, but he might as well hear it from her too.

[nothingsodivine]

"That's all I ask," he shuts the door and crosses over to the other side and climbs in himself. "4342 W Washington Blvd," he says to the driver, who nods an affirmative and pulls into traffic.

"Now don't judge it yet when we get there," Des continues, turning back to Grace. "It's a work in progress." He pauses. "Actually, you can judge it all you want, because aside from getting the electricity and water working and cleaning it up a bit, it probably won't change much. I like 'em falling apart at the seams. It gives 'em a very film noir feel."

[2ndchanceacharm]

Grace rolls her eyes a little. "And that doesn't scare people away? Or is it comforting somehow when it's everything they expected?" She glances out the window, rolls her shoulder blades a little. It's not like she's unduly nervous or anything just now - if anything, she's a lot calmer for being with Des - it's just that there's a lot of stress built up over the past few days it's going to take a while to get rid of.

[nothingsodivine]

"I have no idea." If it was ever said that Des had a catchphrase- thosse four words would be contenders for the title. He really doesn't know the answer to that question though. It's just a thing- a thing he has continued for years and years, because he doesn't like to change with the times sometimes.

Des falls into a comfortable silence as the cab continues on, eventually pulling up in front of a squat, one-storey building squished between two larger buildings that looks, indeed, like it has seen better days. On one hand, the roof is not caving in. On the other, it looks rather dingy and depressed.

Des climbs out of the car, grinning like that building is his baby and goes to let Grace out, peering over the door at her as he opens it. "I know, I know. It should have died in the Chicago fire, but it's mine and I love it."

[2ndchanceacharm]

Grace eyes him, just a little bemused, when he goes to open the door for her, but she knows it's best not to question the things Des does most of the time. She shakes her head a little and turns her attention to the building before glancing up at Des. "Well, at least you realize that."