[Sodium_noir] Hell is Other People

[Liz Oleksyn]

Aurora, JB, Jack
at the periphery of the party


[John]
John didn't frown.  He was having a little trouble
staying in character tonight, something that was
unusual for him.  Footprints.  A lot of footprints. 
Something had come to Gotham.
 
He looked around at all the people.  "A couple of
deals are the exception, not the norm.  People in
Gotham are convinced that our fellow party goers are
their leaders in one way or another.  If something bad
were to happen, would you trust these people to see
the city through it?"
 
He glanced at his cigar, and crushed what little was
left on an ashtray nearby.  He notices Jack looking
around.  "Did you want to go and find your lady
friend?"
 
[Jack]
Wrinkling up his nose, Jack shrugs. "I don't even know
'these people' you're talking about. Why would I trust
'em? Bad things happen all the time. No one cleans it
up or does fuck all about it. Why would they?"

He drains his glass of ice water, now wishing he'd
ordered something stronger.

"My lady friend will find me, I'm sure. Don't want to
interrupt her, 'specially as I am not as presentable
as she is at the moment."

With his slightly over-sized, out-dated tuxedo jacket,
empty glass, dangling cigarette, and bleary,
half-opened eyes, one could hardly argue the point.

[John]
John shrugged and took a drink of his beer.  He
watched Jack over the rim of his glance, as if he was
studying something he saw but no one else was aware
of.  "You must have gone through quite a bit of shit. 
Recent?"

[Jack] 
Jack chuckles, causing ash to fall from the end of his
cigarette. 

“Ongoing.  It’s over now.  That’s why I’m here - to
celebrate, to get blind, stinking drunk, to dance the
night away.”  He winks slyly.  “The shit is over.”

[Aurora]
As she wanders around the party aimlessly, hoping that
she'll finally find Christine or Mitsuko, she sees
someone she didn't expect.

"Jack?"  Her shyness is cowed by her curiosity on this
one.  "You're looking better!"

Then she notes that he had been in the middle of
talking to somebody...

"Oh... uh... um... excuse me..." she shyly smiles to
John and looks between them awkwardly.

[Jack]
Spying one of his lovely saviors, a wide grin creases
Jack’s face and he bows theatrically, albeit clumsily,
at Aurora.  

“Excellent.  Incredibly happy to see you.  Where have
you been and why haven’t you been getting drunk with
me?” 

Jack pauses for a moment, taking in this vision,
thinking of how fortunate he was to have crossed her
path.  He then remembers what few real manners he
possesses.
  
“Oh...this is John.”  He nods at his new acquaintance.
“John, it’s my pleasure to introduce you to the Most
Amazing Aurora.”

(tag you two!)



       
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