A Haus is not a Home [Closed]

[akuze_survivor]

Who ; Jamison Shepard, Jeff 'Joker' Moreau
What ; Scouting for a new Normandy Haus, hoofing it around Sacrosanct.
When ; Right now?
Where ; Residential Zone 2, maybe others?
Warning(s) ; None I can think of.

Comments

[idkmybffedi]

This was one of the few times that 'hoofing it' and 'Joker' could be used in the same sentence, but surprisingly, he wasn't doing too shabby. Okay, yeah, it hurt. More than usual, that is. But for the ridiculous amount of physical exercise she was putting him through, he didn't seem to be limping too bad yet. As soon as she'd stopped to mark the map he was leaning back against a nearby wall to rest, but at her question, he laughed a little.

"Terrible. I think that last flight of stairs broke both of my legs and ruptured my kidney."

[akuze_survivor]

That? That was Jamison's frowny face, because Joker + pain = bad. Still, she knew he didn't like people making a big deal out of his legs, so responded only with, "Good thing I brought a medical kit with me so I can fix your kidney. Don't have any general anesthetic, though," she finished with a sly grin. "And if you wake up in a bathtub full of ice with a scar over your kidney, it wasn't me." She glanced around for a shady spot not too far away and found one: a lawn like the videos she'd seen of pre-arcology homes had, a spreading tree, and some unduly bright flowers. "Want to stop for a break?"

[idkmybffedi]

He was mostly just being a smartass, because he really wasn't in too much pain, but it didn't look like she quite caught that. He almost felt bad for worrying her, wondered if he should've given a straight answer, but she was joking right back before he could feel too terrible about it.

But as for a break... Half of him wanted to just agree and enjoy it, but he had too much pride to resist arguing a little.

"If you need a break, then hell yeah, let's take a break. But if you don't..." He shook his head. "I'm not gonna slow you down just because you feel bad for poor crippled Joker."

He didn't sound upset per se, just... a little defensive. After all, he'd come along under the pretense of being useful.

[akuze_survivor]

"I'd like one, yeah," Jamison said, already halfway to the spot. "This space station's residential layout makes no goddamn sense and I need a break from traipsing up and down stairs. Ten bedrooms to one bathroom, kitchens on the second floor instead of the first, stairs that skip entire floors, HVAC with completely open vents to the outside-" she settled on the grass and leaned back on her hands, digging her fingers into the soil with enjoyment, "-I know the crew needs a fairly specialized place, but this is just insanity."

She cocked her head and stared up at him, expression serious. She understood the defensiveness; hell, after Akuze she'd started wanting to deck the next person that asked her if she was okay or needed a break from active duty. "Joker, trust me, I don't feel bad for you. My pity is reserved solely for people who let their problems control them, and you definitely don't do that. Besides-" she grimaced, "-I think you and I have probably both had enough pity for a lifetime."