Library [07-11]

[furnaceface]

Today was a turtleneck day, for Jono. It was a turtleneck and jeans day for Jono. And tomorrow would probably be the same, and maybe even the day after. Just so long as he could spend a few healthy days with a little bit of distance from anything that would remind him of wet leather.

He'd get over the fact that turtlenecks looked more than a little stupid when rolled clear up over one's nose. Sometimes, you just had to look stupid in order to not look terrifying.

His wardrobe choices for the day having been justified, he was going to settle down, reach for the first book he could see that hadn't been re-shelved, and he was going to read. It was Sunday. He was allowed to be a little lazy, at least for a little while, considering he was the aide who tended to work through his lunch breaks, without fail.

[Open!]

Comments

Re: Talk to Jono!

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"My opinions are based on observation," she said, a bit snarkily. "By all means, prove me wrong."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//By learning sign languages,// came Jono's somewhat flat reply. //Two different dialects of it. Because it would be covering my bases, is that it?//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"By working at your job," she said, unimpressed. "Rather than sleeping. By not sitting around in the rain with open injuries."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//And you don't think that th'reason I'm tired at work so often has anything at all to do with th'reason I end up with open injuries in th'first place?//

Jono was similarly unimpressed, but at least he was making an effort to sound reasonable about it.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"Does it?"

See, she could ask flat out.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//Well, it's certainly not th'result of my being up all night, drinking and getting into trouble in th'local bar,// he noted, dryly. //For a myriad of reasons.//

Including but not limited to his own inability to drink, and the bar's strict no-violence stipulations.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"Are you attempting to excuse your weeks of not doing this job as having been busy with another job?"

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//I've been doing th'job,// Jono stressed, crossing his arms over his chest. //Just not at bloody hell 'o clock in th'morning, when you wander in.//

A beat. And then another shrug.

//And no, not another job, really. But another duty, certainly.//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"Practice makes perfect," she said, picking through retorts. "In order to juggle your responsibilities as well."

Like he hadn't been, from her perspective.

"As well as dealing with whatever else might come up."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

Jono needed to take this moment to send forth as close to a groan as he could muster before thumping his elbows onto the desk and burying his face in his hands.

//But there is no perfect, is there? It's just push, push, and if you fall over making the effort, then you clearly weren't pushing hard enough.//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"I don't believe that," she said coolly, chin going up.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//Then what do you believe?//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"That perfection can be obtained," she said flatly. "That hard work and skill will pay off."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

Jono needed to take this opportunity to attempt to stare her down, now, one eyebrow raised slightly, face still framed by his hands.

//For everybody?//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

She met his gaze steadily.

"Of course."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//And you really believe I'm not trying hard enough.//

That was the kicker, there. Jono was a hard worker, but life had an interesting way of kicking him in the arse lately, with things entirely out of his element. Serial killers. Demon lords. He'd wanted to grow up to be a musician.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"Without knowing what else is occurring," she said measuredly. "I have to say that you do not appear to be doing so."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//Brilliant.// The worst thing about that statement was that he couldn't even deny it. Not without saying things about Sookie and about Raven that weren't anybody's business. Not without saying things about himself that he'd really rather not. //I think... maybe I'm a little out of my depth, is the thing.//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"Then your options are simple," she said, and only Rosalind would call this simple. "Sink or swim."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//The trouble there is, I can sink like a stone, and I still don't drown. And I can swim all I want, but I don't believe I'll ever reach the shore.// He shrugged. //It makes for a slightly skewed opinion on what makes simple.//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"If you don't believe, then yes."

That, as far as Rosalind was concerned, was that. He reminded her, in this one conversation, of Elena. It was depressing.

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

And now it was time for a moment of absolute silence while Jono attempted to wrap his head around that.

//Did you really just say that to me?// He sat up straight again, resting his hands on the desktop. //Really? Believe, and it'll all come together? Keep the faith and yer ship will no doubt come in? You know, it won't make everything easier, when th'world comes down all around me and there's nothing I could possibly have said or done, so clearly it was my own fault for not believing in things.//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

Her face shut down. What little animation she allowed free range on her face sliding away until she was little more than a statue with ice cold eyes.

"You asked me what I believed," she said, refusing to permit her voice to raise. "You were told what I believe. Whether or not it pertains to your situation is not my call."

Re: Talk to Jono!

[furnaceface]

//No,// he replied. //I suppose it isn't.//

Well. This was going well, wasn't it?

Jonothon's eyes slid closed for a moment, and he ran his fingers through his hair, trying to work himself into some state of being reasonable, at least.

//And,// he said, carefully, opening his eyes but keeping his gaze on the desk, //maybe it even works. Maybe my problem is that I do give up too bloody soon.//

Re: Talk to Jono!

[give-areason.livejournal.com]

"Decide for yourself," she said, still in that same cool voice. "I only gave my opinion."

Which was perfectly valid, thank you very much.