Jo Harvelle runs on 100 proof attitude power (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
tobeclosetohim) wrote in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png)
abraxaslogs2022-10-03 04:41 pm
tobeclosetohim) wrote in abraxaslogs2022-10-03 04:41 pm
α΄‘α΄ α΄α΄Ι΄ α΄α΄α΄α΄ α΄ κ±α΄α΄Κα΄α΄ Κα΄Ι΄α΄ α΄α΄’α΄ α΄α΄κ±
tobeclosetohim
2022-10-08 10:59 pm (UTC)(link)
Jo is antsy. Jo hates being this level of antsy. Constantly watching the door for Nadine, but also for the appearance of Dean, or Geralt. Ciri, or Claire. Or anyone. She doesn't want anyone else here for this. She doesn't want to have to be calm, cool, collected, unruffled, untouched, all business and sassy for five to ten to whoever knew how many minutes for that person until Nadine shows up.
Until She drags Nadine down into the bowels of The Bunkerβeven though she didn't mention it at all earlier and she hasn't brought anyone there since Dean showed it to her a few weeks backβinto that bedroom she's still not entirely certain about, and they are going to be there.
Where no one can likely find her. Them.
Until this tragedy was figured out.
Until She drags Nadine down into the bowels of The Bunkerβeven though she didn't mention it at all earlier and she hasn't brought anyone there since Dean showed it to her a few weeks backβinto that bedroom she's still not entirely certain about, and they are going to be there.
Where no one can likely find her. Them.
Until this tragedy was figured out.
Ιͺ'α΄ α΄ΚΚ Ι’α΄α΄Κα΄α΄ α΄α΄ α΄α΄ κ±α΄α΄Κα΄
tobeclosetohim
2022-10-09 09:34 pm (UTC)(link)
[ Today wasn't one of her Libertas days. She had sword training with Altair today, and she's already been by Nadine's to have supplies for tomorrow, but there are hours yet until that, with no reasons to go early, no way to go hunting that doesn't take days, nothing to research for or on. Jo took herself to the Roadhouse with that bored yet building buzz in her veins.
It's been quiet most of an hour, and Jo's playing a one-person game of pool that required bounce-off-the-wall pocket scores and nothing else to burn off the energy building toward morning. Something with a higher precision focus than throwing knives. That needs most of her attention not to be distracted by any noise around her or in her head. ]
Nadine rolls up on her bike, leaving it outside the bar and heading inside to meet Jo. She's dressed in her default Horizon wear, a New Hampshire University sweatshirt and a pair of black leggings with sneakers. Comfort over fashion.
She can't quite understand Jo's distress over a costume, but she's here to help. There are hundreds of options that meet the other woman's criteria. It's not like costumes have to be scary, they can be anything. As long as it's a costume of some kind.
"Hey."
She can't quite understand Jo's distress over a costume, but she's here to help. There are hundreds of options that meet the other woman's criteria. It's not like costumes have to be scary, they can be anything. As long as it's a costume of some kind.
"Hey."
( sometimes, it's still a little strange to try and navigate other people's horizons who aren't wanda. he's gotten used to going to hers but other's, that's still something he's getting used to.
but, he thinks he's managed to find his way to jo's especially when he steps inside and hears the pool balls clacking against each other. he stops a few feet away, both hands wrapped around his walking stick while he listens to her play. )
but, he thinks he's managed to find his way to jo's especially when he steps inside and hears the pool balls clacking against each other. he stops a few feet away, both hands wrapped around his walking stick while he listens to her play. )
"Hey."
Whatever Nadine might have expected from the torrent of her earlier wordsβthoughts? word-thoughts?βJo looks like she does every day. Maybe a shade or so into subdue, but nothing outwardly as frenetic as anything she'd said. Or not said. Her normal air of friendly but unruffled aloofness, even as she's already turning away and exiting the back of the three-sided bar.
"This way."
She throws a hand over her shoulder easily, pointing with her thumb toward the only door on this side, which has a sign reading Dr. Badass Is: In. When she gets the door to a foot open, she stops, turning back to Nadine, her back on the door. "This is just between usβ" this being why she's come; but "βand thisβ" This time with a nod toward the way she blocked. "βis, too. It's not open to the public like the bar."
Jo's pretty positive Dean'll be fine with it and all. Nadine's someone they both trust if Dean's had longer to get there; some of Jo's is from Libertas, and some is borrowed from Dean. With that, she opens the door to let Nadine walk through it into the bunker, making sure to close it soundly behind them, even if they are the only two people here right now.
Whatever Nadine might have expected from the torrent of her earlier wordsβthoughts? word-thoughts?βJo looks like she does every day. Maybe a shade or so into subdue, but nothing outwardly as frenetic as anything she'd said. Or not said. Her normal air of friendly but unruffled aloofness, even as she's already turning away and exiting the back of the three-sided bar.
"This way."
She throws a hand over her shoulder easily, pointing with her thumb toward the only door on this side, which has a sign reading Dr. Badass Is: In. When she gets the door to a foot open, she stops, turning back to Nadine, her back on the door. "This is just between usβ" this being why she's come; but "βand thisβ" This time with a nod toward the way she blocked. "βis, too. It's not open to the public like the bar."
Jo's pretty positive Dean'll be fine with it and all. Nadine's someone they both trust if Dean's had longer to get there; some of Jo's is from Libertas, and some is borrowed from Dean. With that, she opens the door to let Nadine walk through it into the bunker, making sure to close it soundly behind them, even if they are the only two people here right now.
[ Jo sinks another ball, having only two left, and she's about to line about the second to last when the door opens and closes. She's pretty sure when Dean brought her here the first time, the screen didn't quite make the right sound, but the longer she's here, the more things smooth out. It sounds right, that barely perceptible, almost squeak they'd all get around to oiling when the world wasn't ending.
She stops a combination of leaning her hip on the pool table and the pool cue set with its end the floor, a smirk starting to cross her mouth even as she starts. ]
Hey. Look who it isβall upright and everything.
You aren't looking for a new napping spot, right?
This table is currently occupado.
Uh, no. I'm β well, I guess I'm technically asleep to be here so I'd rather not double sleep. Not sure if I can even do that.
( but no, he's good and awake. he just thought he'd visit, say hello. )
This place reminds me of a bar I used to go to back home. Just the...sounds and all. The feel.
( but no, he's good and awake. he just thought he'd visit, say hello. )
This place reminds me of a bar I used to go to back home. Just the...sounds and all. The feel.
[ If he were someone else, Jo might dither into that distraction, rabbit hole, discussion on the technicalities of sleeping, and awareness that go into this thing. But she tries to play nice with the people who aren't actually from her world or were drawn to this interaction of bar here for a reason. ]
Yeah?
What kind of place was it?
"No problem." Nadine holds up a hand in understanding. "I think we all have our places that are invitation only. I know I do."
Only people she knows well and trusts are invited into her own little house in her domain. Often Nadine simply meets with people in the square, or the little bit of woods and farmland at the edges of her own space. Her home is private. For a multitude of reasons.
She's not going to question Jo about this, either. It's hers and Dean's place, and it's their business. She just follows the other woman and waits.
Only people she knows well and trusts are invited into her own little house in her domain. Often Nadine simply meets with people in the square, or the little bit of woods and farmland at the edges of her own space. Her home is private. For a multitude of reasons.
She's not going to question Jo about this, either. It's hers and Dean's place, and it's their business. She just follows the other woman and waits.
There's a quizzical look that Jo gives Nadine while letting her in, but it doesn't make it to words. Something that's still balling in the center of her, and only a little over two months, starting to realize it's not normal.
None of this is her in that way. In the making and the choosing of it, when there was nothing there before. She never made her own Domain. She didn't even make The Bunker. That's all Dean. One that he had little to no choice to share with her and that he had made a space in for her, before showing it to her.
There was too much tangled up in the dominoes, and getting even that far into them in her head was too much with all of this on top of it. "Yeah? What's yours like?"
None of this is her in that way. In the making and the choosing of it, when there was nothing there before. She never made her own Domain. She didn't even make The Bunker. That's all Dean. One that he had little to no choice to share with her and that he had made a space in for her, before showing it to her.
There was too much tangled up in the dominoes, and getting even that far into them in her head was too much with all of this on top of it. "Yeah? What's yours like?"
Just a bar that my friend and I used to go to. A lot. Shitty beer, loud, not all that clean but β
( it was a home away from home kind of deal. and he liked it. he misses it. )
Josie let my friend and I run a tab because we were flat ass broke when I was in law school.
( it was a home away from home kind of deal. and he liked it. he misses it. )
Josie let my friend and I run a tab because we were flat ass broke when I was in law school.
"It's just, you know, my space. Where my personal things are. I have a little cottage in my domain." It's nothing remarkable, and Nadine rarely changes anything about it. Only moving most of her photographs and reminders to a locked room in the attic. But even so, it's still private and a sanctuary of sorts. And there are things she doesn't want to be asked to explain.
Besides, she likes having control over who comes in and who doesn't.
"I just like having a private space."
Besides, she likes having control over who comes in and who doesn't.
"I just like having a private space."
[ Jo have a soft hmm for the last part. You're part and parcel of the family when people do that. Her mom wouldn't have done it for some random law school kids, but they'd done it enough for hunters who fell on hard times, who it was more important to have crashlanded on them still alive than it was to present a bill at any time.
That's how it goes with family.
You know when's the right and wrong time.
When the needs to so much greater than the cost. ]
Sounds like a pretty nice place altogether, given that.
"Makes sense." Leading the way down the hallways without stopping or touring notes.
In many ways, Jo had none of that for a long time. Growing up in a pile of hunters, lying to other children and adults she interacted with after about the age of four. The bar is big, but it's not that big, and it's more than half to almost never empty, and the years after it, when all she was was alone against the dark, denied even the meager amounts of earlier interaction, doesn't count.
"In here." Jo opens the door to a bedroom Nadine will find is not so much sparse as a little untouched. It's well-made and spotlessly clean. It lacks any personality until you reach the picture of her mother under the bedroom lampβbright hair and a bright smile, with canny sharp eyes that stand out even through those.
In many ways, Jo had none of that for a long time. Growing up in a pile of hunters, lying to other children and adults she interacted with after about the age of four. The bar is big, but it's not that big, and it's more than half to almost never empty, and the years after it, when all she was was alone against the dark, denied even the meager amounts of earlier interaction, doesn't count.
"In here." Jo opens the door to a bedroom Nadine will find is not so much sparse as a little untouched. It's well-made and spotlessly clean. It lacks any personality until you reach the picture of her mother under the bedroom lampβbright hair and a bright smile, with canny sharp eyes that stand out even through those.
It wasn't bad. I think Josie actually liked us despite the fact that we were cheap and only settled our tab sometimes. She never kicked us out.
( but she also always had a lawyer on retainer for pennies. )
This place has that feel. Just β of being somewhere regular for people, you know.
( but she also always had a lawyer on retainer for pennies. )
This place has that feel. Just β of being somewhere regular for people, you know.
Nadine follows, glancing around but not commenting. As someone who doesn't like being asked about things, she tends not to ask others in turn. If Jo wants to explain anything, she will. The lack of much in the way of personal touch only emphasizes that idea.
Anyway, she's here for a specific reason, this isn't just a social hang-out sort of thing.
"Alright. I promise, this is not going to be a big thing. You just need to focus on the costume part, not the Halloween part. Just think of it as an excuse to wear something cute that you normally wouldn't."
Anyway, she's here for a specific reason, this isn't just a social hang-out sort of thing.
"Alright. I promise, this is not going to be a big thing. You just need to focus on the costume part, not the Halloween part. Just think of it as an excuse to wear something cute that you normally wouldn't."
"Cute's mostly been reserved for cover before here," Jo says, looking around at the bare room, like somehow it could explain, without graphs and diagrams, why she did not attempt to wear the things 'girls her age should try' as her mother put it. As though anyone around her ever wore anything like it.
"Dressing up for a case, or dressing in whatever I needed to for making tips at a bar, or distracting people while hustling them at pool or poker, as I was blowing through a town and my back-stash of cash was running thin."
Everything in the middle was jeans, motels, and driving.
But. Part of it. Nadine's not wrong.
There's a part of it that has to do with that, too.
"Dressing up for a case, or dressing in whatever I needed to for making tips at a bar, or distracting people while hustling them at pool or poker, as I was blowing through a town and my back-stash of cash was running thin."
Everything in the middle was jeans, motels, and driving.
But. Part of it. Nadine's not wrong.
There's a part of it that has to do with that, too.
"Well, it's basically the same sort of thing. You're dressing up for a party. You just have to show up dressed like anything but yourself."
Which, she supposes, may also be making it hard. The options are practically endless, it can be hard to sift through and narrow down. Nadine doesn't even bother, she'd never really dressed up for Halloween outside a hat or headband with cat ears in class. And that was for the kids. She just leaves it to Julie, who she imagines will be happy to stick a costume on her again this year.
"And...what you think is 'cute'. That doesn't necessarily mean the stereotypical idea of 'cute'."
Which, she supposes, may also be making it hard. The options are practically endless, it can be hard to sift through and narrow down. Nadine doesn't even bother, she'd never really dressed up for Halloween outside a hat or headband with cat ears in class. And that was for the kids. She just leaves it to Julie, who she imagines will be happy to stick a costume on her again this year.
"And...what you think is 'cute'. That doesn't necessarily mean the stereotypical idea of 'cute'."
That's a Jo Harvelle paradox there in one: a tide of fire and brimstone at anyone who demands she be anything other than her truest self, and yet so bone deep it's effortless lying the part of someone she wasn't for half of most of her life and still skipping in and out of doing it, on her own, for nearly three years, with no one who truly knew who she was during most of it?
Yeah. There are some things to untangle in this place the longer Jo has to stand still.
When people ask if she's a mess, they should start with that leyline.
"Yeah. Sure." Jo's words are evasive against the thought that sprung into her head too clearly. "How do we do this? Do we imagine it up and try to see what it looks like? Or?"
Yeah. There are some things to untangle in this place the longer Jo has to stand still.
When people ask if she's a mess, they should start with that leyline.
"Yeah. Sure." Jo's words are evasive against the thought that sprung into her head too clearly. "How do we do this? Do we imagine it up and try to see what it looks like? Or?"
Edited 2022-10-19 00:21 (UTC)
"That's pretty much how it works. You just imagine it hard and..." Nadine shrugs. She doesn't know the science or technical explanations for how things work in the Horizon. But she can demonstrate.
"And it's the Horizon, you can go a little further than just a traditional costume. Like this." She closes her eyes and thinks for a minute, changing not just the clothes she's wearing but the length and style of her hair. Her comfortable lounging around clothes just sort of fade into an iconic pink satin dress, her long hair and simple hairstyle shorten and twist themselves into a short bouncy glam instead.
"And now I'm Marilyn Monroe. It's that easy."
"And it's the Horizon, you can go a little further than just a traditional costume. Like this." She closes her eyes and thinks for a minute, changing not just the clothes she's wearing but the length and style of her hair. Her comfortable lounging around clothes just sort of fade into an iconic pink satin dress, her long hair and simple hairstyle shorten and twist themselves into a short bouncy glam instead.
"And now I'm Marilyn Monroe. It's that easy."
There's a huff out of Jo's nose.
Nadine looks nothing short of iconically gorgeous, no hair out of place and no weird fake costume patchiness to it all, and β
"You make it look so easy."
Nadine looks nothing short of iconically gorgeous, no hair out of place and no weird fake costume patchiness to it all, and β
"You make it look so easy."
Edited 2022-10-19 00:52 (UTC)
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