The Morning After (RP for asthenoseonyourface)

[coatandscarf]

You should have some coffee. -JR

...John? How did you...? Nevermind. When you took my phone. Of course. I already had coffee. RH

One cup? Stingy. -JR

All I need is one, Holmes. RH

I like caffeine. -JR

When are you moving into the office? -JR

Well, I'm packing the things I need now, John, but someone keeps interrupting me. RH

Oh. Who? -JR

Go look in a mirror. Or at Jacob. It's close enough. RH

...Why? -JR

Because it's you who keeps interrupting! RH

Well I'm BORED. -JR

You're welcome to help me pack. RH

Really? Why? -JR

Because you're bored. RH

So? -JR

Just giving you something to do. You're welcome to say no. RH

I'm not saying no. -JR

But why are you helping me? -JR

There a reason I shouldn't? RH *attached is her address*

Comments

[coatandscarf]

She stared at him, meeting his gaze for the longest time, watching as a smirk appeared on his face. Whatever the hell had just happened, she had a feeling she had reacted exactly as he had expected. Had that been an experiment for him? A test of some sort, and nothing else?

What surprised her most was that he continued as if nothing had just happened, and offered her some of his coffee. Randy just stood there, looking at him as if he'd just declared himself the Queen of England. Sociopath. She was seeing it now. It was that simple for him to toss aside everything he'd just done to her and move on as if he'd done nothing wrong.

Without a word, she withdrew then, turning her back to him and withdrawing into the bathroom. What she was about to do, she didn't need him witnessing.

[asthenoseonyourface]

John blinked, startled and confused as she whirled around on him, but it made sense after a second. When she was gone, he set his coffee down and pulled his phone out of his pocket. Three brief, fast, and heated texts later, he sighed and stared at his sister's response on his screen, all in caps.

"Right. Bad idea." he sighed, vaguely annoyed with himself as he slid his phone back into his pocket and began to consider leaving before Randy got back.

[coatandscarf]

It was easier to compose herself than she thought it would be. She didn't really need to cry, so much as a few moments to decompress without him analyzing her every movement. She stood against the wall, steadying her breath to compose herself again.

She had no idea what to make of the man. Because no matter how much he denied it, he *was* a man. She just had to be far more careful about how she reacted to him from here on out.

Splashing some water on her face, she ran a towel over her skin before stepping out once more, half expecting to see him gone. Much to her surprise, there he stood, in the midst of her boxes still. "Sorry. Needed to recompose myself," she said simply. As she walked back towards him, her limp was obvious, and she stood next to him uncomfortably as a result. She just wanted to finish packing. She'd deal with her leg later.

[asthenoseonyourface]

She was limping worse. That was bad. She'd also splashed water on her face, she was badly rattled. Not pleased at all...well, maybe Jane was right.

Fortunately, he had something better to offer than coffee.

"That's okay...I'm just leaving." he explained. "Client, dead body." The pause was barely there.

"Wanna come?"

[coatandscarf]

She didn't look at him as he explained that he was just leaving. She had expected as much. She could imagine it would be easier for him to not deal with emotions by leaving than by witnessing the results of his actions.

He completely floored her with his question though, and her head shot up in shock, her eyes wide as she looked up at him. "You... What? You want me to come with you?"

[asthenoseonyourface]

John nodded tersely, looking at her as if she was crazy.

"Yeah. Dead body. Coming?"

[coatandscarf]

Part of her really wanted to tell him to fuck off. Another part of her was curious. Yet another part of her wondered what she could possibly help with if the person was already dead.

All of these thoughts crossed her mind as she looked up at him, but rather than voicing any of them aloud, she found herself speaking without any thought at all. "Grab the box with the books and give me a minute to grab my coat and cane."

It wasn't far, as both items were right by the door. She slipped the coat on, immediately comforted by the heavy material. Gripping the cane, she leaned on it as she grabbed her keys from the other hook. "After you, then."

[asthenoseonyourface]

John opened the door, ushering her ahead of him cordially. Waiting as she locked it, he led the way outside to the cab, coffee still in hand (he'd surrender the rest to Randy, it was the only equitable thing to do).

And there was a cab, idling and waiting. The cabbie, a different man from the one he'd hired, stood outside leaning against the hood.

"Cab for John Riley?"

John sighed, rolling his eyes as he opened the door for Randy to get in, muttering audible as he did.

"I ditch one stupid client to have coffee...miracle he didn't call me a police cruiser, I suppose..."

[coatandscarf]

Suddenly, the man was nothing if not polite. He held the door, he waited for her, he walked with her down the steps to the curb. He didn't grab her box, though, which sucked. She'd have to struggle with it later.

She arched a brow at the comment about the police cruiser, settling into the seat and looking over at him as he sat down next to her. "I suppose your siblings are used to having to chase around after you at this point, no?" Randy said, rubbing her knee lightly as she spoke. The rest of his comment clicked then, and she frowned slightly, confused. "And you had a client, but you came to help me pack instead?"

[asthenoseonyourface]

John shot her another incredulous look as it to say duh! before he shut her door and slid into the cab beside her.

"549 Downing Street, please."

"I got instructions to take ya to 8874 Elm, no detours."

John cursed quietly, slamming his fist against his knee peevishly. So much for stopping by his apartment for his favorite magnifying glass. He hated using Jacob's...

"Stupid bloody cabbies." he growled as the cab pulled out.