Morning After [Closed]

[heysoulsister]

Jodie wakes with a jolt, shuddering with adrenaline. What the hell was that?

The memories of her dream are fractured variations on a theme, like a weirdass choose-your-own-adventure book that someone else was reading - several someone elses. And she's pretty sure one of them was Johnny. Christ. They really need a new living arrangement; now he's invading her dreams.

She pushes herself up and rubs her face as Aiden hovers nearby and mutters to himself. Casting a glance toward the other bed, she sees that Johnny's awake. Great. Now she has to pretend she didn't just have a really bizarre dream about him right out of the gate.

"Morning," she mutters.

Comments

[johnny_truant]

Johnny hasn't mentioned Gabriel to Jodie before - in fact he's been trying to put the guy from his mind for some reason, but it hasn't worked. He has a pretty good idea how Jodie will react to him, which has been the major hesitation. That and Gabe's weird offer didn't really extend to her. But he can't just abandon her, not after all they've been through.

"Yyyyyeah, kind of," he says. "I sorta met this guy who sorta offered me a place to stay. In his building. He made it sound like there might be a few open apartments." He shrugs. "I haven't actually called him up yet, but I was thinking I might today. You, uh... want me to mention you?"

[heysoulsister]

Well, doesn't that just sound sketchy as hell. Some guy is offering random people he just met places to stay? Who does that?

… Okay, Jodie sort of did that. But that's different. She owed him. And it's not like she offered him an apartment (what, rent-free?). She's just letting him stay in the same motel room.

What is she going to do, though - stop him from checking it out? He's an adult. All she can do is make sure she's there to bail him out when this turns out to be a big mistake. "Yeah," she says. "I want to check it out, too."

[johnny_truant]

Johnny can sense her suspicion, and he doesn't blame her, nor does he really have a defense for it. Gabriel was weird - appearing randomly but serendipitously, hitting on him... making things from thin air... should he try to explain all this? Probably not.

"I know it sounds weird," he says, "but right now it's kind of our only option. And he's not just some guy. He's like us. Came through the Rift. Been here a lot longer."

He stands up and stretches, anxious for something to do. "So, he knows things, at least."

[heysoulsister]

That's better than having him be some random guy from the city, she supposes. God only knows how many people have come through the rift, but she can understand why Johnny would find another rifty to be a bit more trustworthy than a native.

"What about rent?" she asks, allowing some of her dubiousness to shine through.

[johnny_truant]

Good question. Gabe had said he didn't need to worry about money, but how likely was that to remain true? Or would he require something else, and if so, what? (Johnny is mildly concerned that it might end up being sexual favors. He supposes he could survive something like that, if it really cane down to it, but no way would Jodie tolerate it.)

"I really don't know," he lies, because it's simpler. "But I'm gonna call him, because it's something, at least. If you want we could just... arrange to meet him? And you can decide for yourself."

This would sure make HIM feel better, having Jodie with him. He wonders if he should feel pathetic that she's becoming his bodyguard of sorts, but hey, at least he stood up for her in her dream.

"I'll need quarters," he adds, patting his pockets.

[heysoulsister]

"Yeah, okay. Somewhere public," she adds. He probably doesn't need to be told that, but she doesn't want him coming back and announcing that they're meeting the guy in his apartment building.

And of course he needs quarters. She huffs out a quiet sigh as she reaches for her own jeans, folded on a nearby chair, and rummages through the pockets. There's not much stopping her from continuing to obtain money the same way they have so far, and getting a legitimate job isn't going to be easy without I.D. - or proof of any kind that she's even a U.S. citizen (or a citizen of anywhere in this universe). Maybe she should get a guitar and start busking for some comparatively honest cash.

"Here," she says, fishing out a dollar's worth of quarters and passing them over.

[johnny_truant]

"Thanks. I'll pay you back when I can," he adds hastily, "for everything."

He pulls on his shirt and hoodie, which are disgusting - god, he has to get some new clothes - and looks at her.

"Coulda been worse, right?" he says. "As dreams go."

[heysoulsister]

Jodie shrugs - it's not like it's her money they're really spending, here - but she appreciates the sentiment. "Yeah, I'm keeping a tally," she deadpans as he pulls on his shirt.

Then he brings up the dream again, and she frowns. It's still all fragmented and weird in her head, but she remembers a hell of a lot more bad than good. The apartment, the condenser, the entities, and a man in a surgical mask… she shivers.

"Could've been better."