(no subject)
Nov. 10th, 2003 06:20 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
nanowrenletAnd all accounts agreed that something was seriously wrong with Brian. He wasn't any worse off than that night at Babylon, near as Justin could tell, but that was bad enough. When Brian went out, it was because Michael pried him out of the loft, drove him to Babylon and kept watch while he drank and drugged and fucked himself into a stupor, and then walked him out and drove him home after. Brian fought with Michael almost every time, telling him at least once a night to just go the fuck back to Portland and leave him alone. Sometimes Michael did leave, and no one Justin had spoken with seemed to know what Brian did at night while he was away, but it never lasted. Three or four, maybe five days later Michael would be back in town and hauling Brian out to the club again. A week ago, Michael had finally moved back to the Pitts for good.
Justin couldn't figure it out. Judging by what he had overheard at Babylon, Michael didn't think anything there was doing Brian any -good-, so why keep taking him? He wasn't sure what to think of Michael's apparent breakup with Dr. Dave, either. Justin hadn't had much of an opinion either way on the man himself, but their relationship had always seemed a little... well, not good. And no, he didn't just think that because Brian had. Still, whatever they had between them should have had its chance to do whatever it was going to do, without Michael flying coast-to-coast twice a week trying to keep Brian afloat. It was all a big fucking mess. Justin knew, deep down, that none of it was his fault but he was still determined to do whatever he could to fix things. Only he couldn't do that... well, to be honest he just didn't feel ready yet. Justin couldn't trust himself not to lose it again when he saw Brian if he wasn't prepared for what he would see. He couldn't be prepared without knowing more, and no one he had access to could -tell- him any more than they already had.
It was frustrating as fuck. If Justin had been in one of the trashy detective novels Daphne used to keep under her mattress, this would be the point where he went back to his office and smoked cigarettes until a break in the case mysteriously appeared. Justin didn't have an office, so he smoked cigarettes behind the restaurant and in Knox's bed, worked his shifts and drank some beers and reaped some souls and generally wondered what the fuck he was going to do next.
Three days later, Justin got his 'break.'
Rube was running late, which wasn't like him. He had called and asked Justin to meet him in the afternoon, but since he wasn't there yet Justin settled into the regular booth and took out his sketchbook, adding a few touches to a sketch of his morning appointment. He was absorbed enough that he didn't really hear Rube come in, or walk up to stand looking over his shoulder.
"That's pretty good, kiddo. Do you draw all the souls you take?"
"I have so far." He darkened the shading around the woman's cheekbones a little, and then flipped the sketchbook closed.
"Mm. I know someone who likes to take pictures."
"I'm not much of a photographer."
"Yeah, well... neither is Betty. I need you to do another pickup tonight, kiddo."
Rube handed the Post-It over with an odd, expectant look on his face, and once Justin read it over he knew why. He looked up at Rube, eyebrows raised. "This address is on Liberty."
Rube just nodded, casually. "Anyone you know?"
Justin glanced down again and shook his head. "No, I don't think so. Not well, anyway." The appointment wasn't for Woody's or the diner or anywhere else Justin used to hang out. There wasn't an 'H. Lafferty' anywhere in his circle of friends and family, either, and he didn't exactly feel like explaining the concept of tricking to Rube just then. He took a breath, and stuck the Post-It to the inside flap of his bag. "Anything else?"
"Nope, that's it." He patted Justin on the shoulder and turned to go. "See you tomorrow."
Justin nodded. "Later."
[718/1789/18938]
Justin couldn't figure it out. Judging by what he had overheard at Babylon, Michael didn't think anything there was doing Brian any -good-, so why keep taking him? He wasn't sure what to think of Michael's apparent breakup with Dr. Dave, either. Justin hadn't had much of an opinion either way on the man himself, but their relationship had always seemed a little... well, not good. And no, he didn't just think that because Brian had. Still, whatever they had between them should have had its chance to do whatever it was going to do, without Michael flying coast-to-coast twice a week trying to keep Brian afloat. It was all a big fucking mess. Justin knew, deep down, that none of it was his fault but he was still determined to do whatever he could to fix things. Only he couldn't do that... well, to be honest he just didn't feel ready yet. Justin couldn't trust himself not to lose it again when he saw Brian if he wasn't prepared for what he would see. He couldn't be prepared without knowing more, and no one he had access to could -tell- him any more than they already had.
It was frustrating as fuck. If Justin had been in one of the trashy detective novels Daphne used to keep under her mattress, this would be the point where he went back to his office and smoked cigarettes until a break in the case mysteriously appeared. Justin didn't have an office, so he smoked cigarettes behind the restaurant and in Knox's bed, worked his shifts and drank some beers and reaped some souls and generally wondered what the fuck he was going to do next.
Three days later, Justin got his 'break.'
Rube was running late, which wasn't like him. He had called and asked Justin to meet him in the afternoon, but since he wasn't there yet Justin settled into the regular booth and took out his sketchbook, adding a few touches to a sketch of his morning appointment. He was absorbed enough that he didn't really hear Rube come in, or walk up to stand looking over his shoulder.
"That's pretty good, kiddo. Do you draw all the souls you take?"
"I have so far." He darkened the shading around the woman's cheekbones a little, and then flipped the sketchbook closed.
"Mm. I know someone who likes to take pictures."
"I'm not much of a photographer."
"Yeah, well... neither is Betty. I need you to do another pickup tonight, kiddo."
Rube handed the Post-It over with an odd, expectant look on his face, and once Justin read it over he knew why. He looked up at Rube, eyebrows raised. "This address is on Liberty."
Rube just nodded, casually. "Anyone you know?"
Justin glanced down again and shook his head. "No, I don't think so. Not well, anyway." The appointment wasn't for Woody's or the diner or anywhere else Justin used to hang out. There wasn't an 'H. Lafferty' anywhere in his circle of friends and family, either, and he didn't exactly feel like explaining the concept of tricking to Rube just then. He took a breath, and stuck the Post-It to the inside flap of his bag. "Anything else?"
"Nope, that's it." He patted Justin on the shoulder and turned to go. "See you tomorrow."
Justin nodded. "Later."
[718/1789/18938]
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no subject
Date: 2003-11-10 05:11 pm (UTC)::whimpers again::
I'm like on pins and needles here. Something is gonna happen, isn't it?? Gah, woman, you are killing me.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-10 05:15 pm (UTC)I promise, no going to bed tonight until there's more. I may not finish out the whole scene, but you'll at least get the gist.
no subject
Date: 2003-11-10 05:45 pm (UTC)(also another awww for justin and knox, and i love the casual way you describe his days - working his shifts, smoking cigarettes, drinking beers, reaping souls.... just another day on the job. :> )
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Date: 2003-11-11 07:00 am (UTC)And :)
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Date: 2003-11-10 07:10 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-11 07:00 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-11 09:19 am (UTC)*brushes self off*
No, I'm okay. Thanks. :)
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Date: 2003-11-10 09:40 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-11 07:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2003-11-15 09:46 pm (UTC)+1 stalker ;-)
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Date: 2003-11-15 09:48 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2004-07-11 08:13 am (UTC)Glad they caught a break
Date: 2008-07-17 11:54 pm (UTC)