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[outerfringe]

open post for jeff

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[outerfringe]

I'll keep it to constructive criticism, then. Want you to be the best artist you can be.

[But this is such an idiotic conversation and Jeff can't help but be amused by every bit of it. He watches David take the bottle and wonders if he's ever enjoyed drinking anything this utterly foul so much before.]

I'll be your mentor. Help you find your muse.

[hardlydead]

Lucky me. Got the best artist in the fog to annoy.

[ he definitely hasn't enjoyed a drink this horrible before, not so oddly genuinely at least, nor has he felt this good in... fuck, it's been a long time. since before he arrived, probably. warm and relaxed with that gentle haze settling in his head. ]

What about you?

[ hopping topics, he's sure jeff can follow what with how he gives no warning or indication of where his thoughts are going. ]

[outerfringe]

[Jeff is silent for a moment, considering, because he's definitely missed a jump here and he's not quite sure what David's asking. He gives him a sideways look, eyes narrowed.]

You want me to be your muse? I'm flattered, man.

[Who knew that dicking around and pretending like you weren't trapped in an eternal hellscape for a few minutes was so good for the soul?]

[hardlydead]

No-- [ he laughs ] I mean, sure.

[ he does actually get distracted by that for a second, thinking about it with his eyes narrowed. the word certainly brings to mind someone more feminine, but jeff's handsome and he's kind and he probably has a million better ideas than david could come up with. could be worse. ]

[ --wait. he shakes his head and sits up properly with a grunt, putting the bottle down after another deep pull. ]

I mean we get outta here, you wake up back home like none of this shit happened. Do you just go back to your old life or nah?

[outerfringe]

[The response leaves him chuckling, and Jeff considers what's left in the bottle, tries to gauge how much he should slow down. He hasn't drink to get drunk in a long time, but it's not like either of them are sharing this for the taste of it.]

I mean. Yeah. Mostly?

[He plucks a bit of scrubby grass from the ground, shreds it with his fingernail before tossing it into the fire.]

Might... get out more. Join a book club or something, I don't know. [People on the whole are less frightening after countless brutal deaths at the hands of serial killers.] But I was happy.

[hardlydead]

[ happy, huh. david envies that. he doesn't think he's ever known what that feels like outside of fleeting moments. ]

You should, when you get back.

[ 'when' he says. they all know there's no getting out of here, not in any way that's good, but it's nice to pretend. make believe that if they escape enough trials or come up with the right plan then they can go home. ]

A book club though? You and a bunch of middle-aged bints reading about fuckin'... I dunno. Some feel-good bullshit.

[outerfringe]

[Part of Jeff knows that they're probably never getting out, but the rest of him isn't ready to accept it. Isn't ready yet to give up that hope. He worries that there won't be any turning back when be does.]

I don't know. Where do people in their thirties meet other people?

[He's chuckling despite himself.]

I'm not a very interesting dude.

[hardlydead]

That's not true.

[ david says it instantly, zero thought or hesitation. ]

Fuckin'... Artist covered in ink who brews his own beer. Funny, listens to vinyls.

[ sounds interesting to him. jeff shouldn't be so down on himself. ]

And you're nice.

[outerfringe]

[It's probably just because he's approaching drunk, but Jeff flusters pleasantly under the compliment. He likes himself just fine, but he's never really considered himself fascinating.]

Only so long someone can talk about beer.

[Gentle ribbing, a callback to earlier.]

But thanks. Yeah, I'm alright. What about you? What would you change.

[hardlydead]

Change about what?

[ he goes back to his half-reclined position against the log. ]

[outerfringe]

You go back tomorrow. Back to fighting, sure, but you can't tell me you're changing nothing.

[Jeff mimics the position, stretching his back against the log as he does. Not as effective as a foam roller, but not bad.]

No book clubs?

[hardlydead]

Nothin' to change.

[ that's a lie. there's one big fucking thing he'd change, or do, but he'd have to spend any time thinking about it at all and that's not gonna happen. ]

[outerfringe]

Mm.

[Jeff's hum is slightly disbelieving, but it's not his business and he's not going to pry. He considers the fire thoughtfully.]

I told you about my book club idea and you can't even make up a lie? Man.

[hardlydead]

Okay, okay.

[ he squints at the fire for a couple of seconds and then-- ]

Guess I'll fuckin' take up knitting. Why not?

[outerfringe]

Yeah? I'll buy a hat. Gets cold up in Canada.

[Jeff gives the bottle an uncertain glance.]

Do we kill it or save it?

[Is it worth saving for later.]

[hardlydead]

Might as well polish it off.

[ there's not enough left to get drunk off and that's all it's good for ]

[outerfringe]

You think being shitfaced in a trial would make it better or worse?

[Yeah, he's picking the bottle up again.]

[hardlydead]

Worse for everyone else.

[ he says it with a bit of a laugh because he knows how pissed off he'd be if someone showed up drunk to a trial ]

[outerfringe]

Dunno. I could be a mechanical savant when I'm drunk.

[He isn't.]

[hardlydead]

Love to see you react quick enough not to blow the fucking thing up.

[outerfringe]

[Another long pull from the bottle. He holds it out to David, letting it dangle by the neck.]

Alright, fine. I'd be a good distraction.

[Hopefully this is all hypothetical!]

[hardlydead]

[ he snorts and takes the bottle ]

Makes both of us.

[outerfringe]

[Jeff leans back, seems to be saying that's it, the rest of it is David's. He sits in silence for a while, then adds:]

Thanks, man.

[For sharing. For the respite.]

[hardlydead]

Course.

[ is it a mistake to drain the rest of the bottle? yes. but david does it anyway. ]

This was nice.

[outerfringe]

Find me first if you get another one.

[It's lighthearted, not a demand. He wouldn't be hurt if David chose to relax with someone else in this hypothetical next time.]