[Open:Jack Benjamin] One slip, and down the hole we fall

[true_n_the_dark]

It's been two weeks. Jack knows because Jack's been counting. On the pillars of his bed, not too far from the ballroom, he started making a notch every night. Some were crooked, he has to admit. Anything involving a knife, that happens where you're solidly drunk, is bound to be a problem

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[killedthesnake]

Neville had promised to check up on Jack, and he's a man of his word. He's actually looking for Jack when he enters the bar, thinking he might find the new resident here. He'd certainly drowned his sorrows here a few times himself. And he's fairly certain that Jack still finds this place confusing and is probably missing home. (He has no idea that Shiloh isn't a place to long for.)

He approaches the man, friendly but concerned smile on his face.

As requested! <3

[true_n_the_dark]

Oh, it's Regret on Two Legs showing up - delicious pain, delightful nostalgia. Neville, who is so very much like Joseph in demeanor.

In candor.

He smiles a little at him, raises his glass in greeting.

[killedthesnake]

Neville nods at the raised glass, and smiles again. "Would you mind if I sit? I've wondered how you've been doing," he gets straight to the point. "I see you found the bar." He's spent plenty of time here as well, though not filled with self-loathing like Jack. Actually, Neville thinks the other man is simply grieving his losses and his new predicament.

[true_n_the_dark]

"If I keep it up, maybe he'll give me stool privileges, or something," Jack drawls. He nods, though, accepting the offer for company. He'll sit a little closer to Neville than is necessary - and though he's been drinking, this time it's all calculated: he's sober enough to know what he's doing.

"So how did your date go?"

[justin_out]

Justin is surprisingly without a Belize at his side. It's unusual these days, but it does happen. Justin thinks that they really should just move into one of their respective rooms, or even find a new, larger space to share, but it's almost been a moot point because they're usually sleeping in one or the other. Maybe he should bring it up. This is what he's contemplating as he sips on a glass of wine.

It's a testament to how lost in thought he is, and how very much attached to Belize he's become, that he's not noticing any of the other men in the room.

[true_n_the_dark]

Jack is trying to work this out for himself - what came of Michelle, what to do now that he knows she's here, what to make off her behavior, what to think of her simple presence here.

Not to mention: she's very pregnant.

That would bother him, if he couldn't help but wish that baby was his, so he could give the child to their father, and be done with this issue of succession.

The more it goes, the less he gives a damn about Gilboa.

He hasn't noticed Justin either - he's just brooding.

[Iiiiii need to know what he's wearing? :-)]

[justin_out]

Justin finishes his wine, orders another and finally takes a moment to glance around the room. He sees the man brooding nearby, and notices he has a very pretty mouth. It strikes him as odd that he notices it like he would notice a pretty woman - without a bit of sexual attraction in the appreciation.

Huh. He really does have it bad for Belize.

It may be a bit of an experiment, as he scoots over a couple of stools closer, and gives the stranger a friendly smile if he can catch his eye. "I've never seen you before. And I would remember."

[EEp! Sorry! Justin is in faded denim jeans, worn soft with many holes in them, one especially high on his thigh. His tee shirt is pale blue with a deep v-neck. His chest looks anything but feminine. His shoes are black flip flips though his toes are painted blue to match his shirt, as are his short fingernails. He's sans wig, so his bald head it showing, but his face is made up like a professional did it. ^^ ]

[true_n_the_dark]

Justin, you're lovely and we adore you.

This being said, Jack is a little bit taken aback by the whole.... package. Hence the wtf look on his face. Here is how he breaks it down:
a) he is being hit on.
b) he is being hit on publicly.
c) he is being hit on publicly by a handsome guy.
d) he is being hit on publicly by a handsome guy who looks about as made up as Kathrina Ghent, sans hair.

In short, he finds this so improbable, that once he's checked his bottle (it's still quite full, and therefore he is still quite sober, and therefore not hallucinating), his response is just as improbable: ".... if this is a prank, it's in terrible taste."

No worries, bb ^_^ I normally wouldn't bother, but with Justin it's kind of important. ;-)

[cyclewolf]

[true_n_the_dark]

He's got another half hour to go before the barman will give him another drink, and Jack isn't sure what to do with himself.

He's eying the guy - who was apparently with a friend, who had to leave abruptly.

Hey, he could do with company.

So he wanders over, waves.

"Bored and waiting?"

[cyclewolf]

[true_n_the_dark]

Jack nods to this, shrugs. "Guess I am," he replies. "And I'd lie if I said I have been doing anything except hanging out here."

He probably looks a bit helpless. He doesn't really know what normal relationships are supposed to be like.

Pause.

He seems to remember.

"Jack Benjamin," he says as he offers a handshake.

[chromaggia_diva]

Perhaps sitting in a booth, he'll find that gothic angel with the gentle voice, though right now, she's relaxing, clad in a band tee-shirt over a violet handkerchief-style skirt and black knee-hight boots, nursing a glass of white wine, with a small carafe before her. "Feeling better, I hope?" she asks.

[true_n_the_dark]

As Jack is obviously not at that same booth, we can only assume Mag called to him from hers, and that he's being essentially hailed while he leans at the bar.

He glances over, blinks, and then sighs.

He can't alienate everyone - particularly now that he has a goal, which is, well, to figure out what the hell his sister is doing here.

And well, he did vomit all over her - he vaguely recalls that.

"I'm fine today, thank you," he lies.

He wanders over with what offering he could fetch: pretzels from the bar, and slides into the booth.

"It's a wonder you're still talking to me after that first impression I made."

[chromaggia_diva]

She'll lift one hand gracefully in a friendly shrug. "Oh, don't worry about that: I've had worse stuff all over me and I've had first impressions that were far more awkward," she replies. And she's completely sincere about it.

"I'm afraid I didn't get the chance to properly introduce myself: I'm Mag, Magdalen DeFoe, but everyone calls me Mag for short."

[true_n_the_dark]

"Jonathan, but everyone calls me Jack," he replies, carefully leaving out his last name. Now that he knows his sister is here, he doesn't necessarily want to be associated.

It's for her, really.

That's what he'd claim, anyway.

"You remind me of someone," he says abruptly. The difference between Katrina and Mag, though, is that this one is being nice for the sake of it.

[bornyffe]

Effy is there behind the bar, of course, taking a quick break from making drinks, when she looks over at the brooding man who's there yet again.

"I've been there before," she remarks, nodding at the drink. "Stopped, though."

And you can too, is the silent message. But she knows better than to be pushy about it.

[true_n_the_dark]

"And now you serve it to the wretched and the pitiful, huh?"

Jack frowns at her, and in a gesture of defiance, downs his glass, puts it to the counter, and says, "Well, pour me more."

Despite the fact that he's got another 55 minutes to go before his next ration.

[bornyffe]

"No," she says. "I can't. I'm on strict orders here."

[true_n_the_dark]

"Or what? you'll lose your job?"

Jack, who is quite lovely, and able to pretend, leans a little closer.

"Come on, doll. You know you want to make me happy."

He's giving her a charming smile.