(no subject)

[shittybirthday]

WHO: Joel + anyone (with a couple of closed threads)
WHERE: Heropa, Maurtia Falls and on the road driving between the two
WHEN: September
WHAT: Catch-all for Joel
WARNINGS: Swearing? Possible violence? Will edit if necessary!

» HEROPA - JOEL & ELLIE'S APARTMENT | CLOSED to Ellie (& also backdated)

[ Joel arrives home, looking a little worse for wear. He's got a couple of bruises on his face, a few scratches here and there, he's walking a little stiffly. He trudges up the stairs to the apartment and when he opens the door, he's greeted by Lucy, the puppy he bought Ellie not long ago, bounding up to him with her tail wagging madly.

He bends down and gives her a brief scratch behind the ear as he closes the door. He's not in the mood to deal with her right now, though, and so stands tall again and continues into the room, dropping his keys on the kitchen counter along the way while heading for the bathroom.

He's gonna have a shower and then patch up some of his injuries. They aren't bad injuries, not compared to the kinds of injuries he's suffered in the past, but they ain't exactly comfortable. ]

» HEROPA - THE PARK | OPEN

[ There are only a few things that gets Joel out of the apartment when he's not with Ellie, and Lucy is one of them. Lucy is the complete antithesis of Joel: she's every bit as excitable and happy as he is intense and hard-looking. The bruises and scabbed over scratches on his cheeks certainly don't do him any favours, nor do the old scars nicked here and there on his weathered, sun-beaten forearms and hands.

He's in the park not far from his apartment, throwing a ratty tennis ball for the puppy to chase. Every time he throws it, the puppy goes wildly scampering off after it and jumps up in the air to try and catch the ball before coming to a clumsy skidding halt when she finally does. Joel has to whistle almost every time to get her attention, to which she'll come barrelling back towards him at top speed, often without the ball.

Sometimes she ignores him and the ball altogether, though, and will go charging after a pigeon plodding around on the ground, or will go excitedly charging after someone walking or jogging nearby to greet them with a furiously wagging tail and muddy paws. ]

» MAURTIA FALLS - A BAR | OPEN

[ It's become routine for Joel now: when he arrives in Maurtia Falls, after driving a couple of days from Heropa, he checks into a motel, has a long, hot shower in attempt to wash away tension knotted up in his neck and shoulders, and then heads out to a bar in downtown Maurtia Falls for a couple of beers and a meal. He's dressed in jeans and a button-down flannel shirt, the sleeves rolled up to his elbows revealing his weather-beaten forearms that bear years-old scars. Under his shirt, his pistol is tucked securely into the back of his waistband; he never goes out without it. And, as always, he's wearing his watch on his left wrist, the glass badly cracked and the hands frozen in time. He's got a couple of fading bruises and a couple of scabbed over scratches on his cheeks. Unlike the scars on his arms and the deep, crisscrossed scar on the bridge of his nose, the bruises and scratches are a lot fresher, only several days old.

As usual, he sits alone at the bar. The only thing keeping him company is a bottle of beer, a plate of fries and the television affixed above the bar that's playing music videos from the 90s and early 00s. Music which Joel hasn't heard since before the outbreak back in his world, over twenty years ago. Talk about a blast from the past. ]

Comments

[vaccination]

[When Lucy scrambles out of the room, Ellie shuts the book she's been reading. Joel must be back from wherever Joel went. He hadn't been happy to see her so tired after working for Levi, but after a shower and some food, she's perfectly fine. When he'd left, Ellie didn't think he'd go after Levi. Maybe she should have.

Fuck.]

Joel?

[When she steps out of the bedroom, she can tell he's been in a fight. It's in his posture more than anything.

Fuck.]

... what did you do?

[shittybirthday]

[ Joel gives Ellie only a cursory glance. He's not in the mood to deal with Ellie fussing, either. He just continues towards the bathroom, his posture a little awkward, his demeanour gruff and dismissive. ]

It's nothing. I'm fine.

[vaccination]

No. What did you do? [There's a teenager moving to block his path to the bathroom, brow furrowed. She knows what he did, and she feels her stomach churn. But more than that, she feels her hands clench at her sides in anger--it's all she can do to stop herself from taking a swing at him herself right now.]

[shittybirthday]

[ Joel stops short at Ellie suddenly blocking his path, a wearily impatient look forming on his injured face. Christ, he'll talk about it later with her if he must, but-- ]

Ellie.

[vaccination]

[Jesus, it's been forever since she's seen his face beat up in any way. It almost makes her lose her nerve, but in the next moment she finds it again, heels firmly planted on the carpet.]

What? Did Levi try to defend himself? Need to go wash it off?

[Levi wasn't all that friendly, but it had to be Joel that became the threat. Of course.]

in the park!

[waiting]

[ Taking Terror out for walks is part of Bradbury's routine, one which he carries out dutifully, though in a recent attempt to incorporate more activities promoting physical fitness into his routine, he's tried to go on runs with the dog as well.

It would probably have worked better if he had an actual large dog meant for running rather than a completely misnamed terrier that doesn't even come up to Bradbury's knee, but. That's lack of foresight for you.

So Bradbury's walking past with Terror off the leash, wiping off sweat from the brisk jog he's taken them through, when someone's puppy comes out of nowhere, catching him off guard. He should have been paying better attention, but Terror's already yipping back in excitement, and he automatically reaches out to snag him by the collar and get him to ease off before they get in trouble with the puppy's owner.

Speaking of which, where are they? ]

[shittybirthday]

[ Once again, Joel has thrown the tennis ball, and once again Lucy has gone chasing after it... and has gotten distracted by bounding off, leaving the ball behind. Joel spots exactly what's distracted her, too, and he tries whistling to get her attention but, nope, she's not paying any attention to him. She's heading straight for that terrier. ]

Goddamn it.

[ He starts brisk stride, stooping down along the way to swipe up the ball from the ground. Joel has a pretty effortlessly intimidating stride; his height and his broad build, along with the hard look on his weathered face, makes him look pretty daunting, the polar opposite of the cute, fluffy puppy that belongs to him. He's walking straight towards the guy holding the terrier back, where Lucy has taken to jumping and yapping around the dog.

When he finally reaches Lucy, he, too, reaches down to snag her by the collar. ] Get back here, you.

Park! And 2 + 1 more thread = Because I can, fight meh! =D

[ohmydarlinme]

[ She's been trying, dearly, to make her mind NOT flash back to the way things were back home, and Thane has been really nice trying to help her - but this whole meditation thing was not working.

Trying to get used to being out in the open without having to duck into cover, run for shelter or grab the nearest weapon to you was not easy. But she was trying, damnit. She had made progress for a while, but after one too many uneasy nights, with noises of the apartment around her just made her revert back.

She was sitting on a tall rock; practically a boulder; in the park with her legs folded beneath her and a math book in her lap, but it was plainly obvious that math was the last thing on her mind. Nope, she was sitting tense and watching her surroundings, distracted briefly when a familiar puppy goes charging through a flock of pigeons and sends them scattering in terror. ]

<3!

[shittybirthday]

[ This dog, Joel swears to god. Really, Joel has grown pretty attached to Lucy, but Christ, she's a handful. On the upside, she helps take Joel's mind off things a little. Where he's normally pretty tense and hyperaware of possible danger or threat, keeping an eye on Lucy distracts him. Not completely, of course - Joel is never completely distracted from his surroundings, not when he's outdoors and around people. Survival instinct is never fully switched off in Joel.

Walking briskly to keep up with Lucy, he bends down to grab up the tennis ball the dog has forgotten in favour of chasing the pigeons and whistles at her to get her attention. She comes to a sudden stop and peers in his direction, alert, and then suddenly breaks out into a bounding gallop towards him, tongue lolling out happily.

He throws a quick glance around the park as Lucy is running towards him, and he spots the kid up on the rock nearby. Huh. That Clementine kid. He's momentarily distracted by Lucy jumping up at him, muddy paws smearing dirt on his jeans, and he waves the ball in front of her face to get her interested in it before pitching it. The dog sprints off after it.

Joel starts strolling the short distance towards the rock and he comes to a stop nearby it. He peers at Clementine, noticing how tense she seems. ]

You alright, kid?

<33 :DD

[ohmydarlinme]

[ Lucy was a pretty cute dog, all full of spirit and happiness. Clementine couldn't help but smile a little while watching her. Hearing that whistle, Clementine almost startles, half expecting it to be someone in a tree whistling to an ally. But no, it's just Lucy's owner. She watches him approach with a guarded expression, before she nods slowly. ]

Yeah.. sure. [ She's just trying to keep the memories of the past from ghosting up behind her, and remember this -wasn't- zombie apocalypse time. And missing her friends, wishing they were here to take advantage of the way things once were, even if it was another world to do it. ]

She looks like she's having fun.

[shittybirthday]

[ Joel gives a vague one-shouldered shrug and an equally vague nod, glancing off towards Lucy chasing a pigeon pecking at the ground. That's about as much as Joel has to say about Lucy having fun. His attention returns to Clementine. ]

You here on your own?

[ohmydarlinme]

[ That question always makes her nervous. She hesitated a bit, and then straightened from her sitting position. ]

Yeah.

[ She has to remind herself it's not like back home, where questions like that are almost always followed up by the kind of person that would only take advantage of someone on their own. ]

I wanted to get some air. It's ..nice out here.

[ It's a park that looks like a park, and not just... a completely wrecked park. ]

park!

[earnedmystripes]

[So being technically unemployed until the Xavier school opens means he's got a lot of free time between the emergencies he shows up to help as Wild Tiger, and today he's spending some of it hanging out in a park, people-watching until he meets his partner for lunch later.

He's smiling softly as he watches some kids out across the way flying their kites when the puppy runs by the bench where he's sitting, chasing said ratty tennis ball, which manages to lodge itself in one of the artfully designed holes of the bench handle, and the puppy whines and snuffles at it tries to bat it free. Kotetsu allows a soft laugh as he gets up, working the ball free and attempting to offer it back to the puppy before he's suddenly tackled by overexcited dog, and he slips on the freshly watered grass and lands with a decidedly ungraceful thump, muddy paws on his chest as she wags her tail and barks loudly at him.]

....Oi oi oi, wouldn't you rather play with your owner?

[But he doesn't sound angry or irritated, just a little breathlessly amused.]

[shittybirthday]

[ Joel is reaching the point where he's had enough of trying to keep up with Lucy in the park for one day. The good thing about the dog is she's so full of endless energy and needs such constant supervision that it distracts Joel a little from being otherwise hyper-vigiliant to his surroundings, constantly on guard for danger. Of course, that part of him never fully switches off - he's got a gun tucked in the waistband of his pants, hidden by his shirt, and he's forever on the lookout for danger out of habit. But Lucy at least helps take the edge off a little.

With the tennis ball clutched in his hand, he's striding towards Lucy and heaves an impatient sigh at seeing her jump up at yet another person. That's when he spots who it is she's knocked over: it's that kid who got coffee all over him in the coffee shop that day. ]

Lucy. [ A gruff and firm command. Joel gives a sharp whistle to get her attention and comes to a stop just a few feet away from the guy.

Joel doesn't ask if he's alright. Just peers at him with an expression that might resemble something vaguely apologetic hidden within the hard lines on his world-weary face. ]

[earnedmystripes]

[The whistle gets Lucy's attention and she bounds happily back to her owner, leaving Kotetsu free to get up. The seat of his pants are wet from falling in the grass and there was mud all over his shirt from her pawing at it excitedly, which means he's gonna have to go home and change before he meets his partner for lunch, but he's not particularly fussed about it. They're just clothes, after all. It's not as if she damaged something with more sentimental value to him, like his ring.

For his part, Kotetsu doesn't recognize Joel straightaway; he's not the best at remembering faces, and they'd only talked the once--if his awkward flailing and Joel's glowering could be considered a conversation, anyway.]

Lucy, huh? She's cute.

[And a part of him might be just a little bit surprised to see such a big, rough-looking guy with such a small, fluffy puppy. He bends back down onto the grass to give her a scratch behind the ears.]

How old?

[shittybirthday]

'Bout four months.

[ If there's anything Joel is painfully bad at, it's smalltalk. He can't stand it. He does, however, stand on the spot and throw a glance across the park with a quietly impatient sigh while the kid pats the dog.

He had, however, promised Ellie that he'd try a little harder with people. Her friends more than anything, but he supposes it extends to those she doesn't know, too. He lifts a hand to scratch the bridge of his nose, flinching ever so slightly at as he accidentally brushes a bruise on his face from where Levi had pummelled the shit out of him the other day. He drops his hand back to his side and gives a gesture towards the dog.

Try to think of something to say, Joel. For Ellie's sake, try to be a little more sociable. ]

She's, uh, my kid's dog.

[earnedmystripes]

[That has Kotetsu's eyes lighting up like a Christmas tree, expression going up like three notches in enthusiasm from its original "mild and friendly" state. People's kids (especially his own) are one of his favorite topics in the world.]

Aaah, your kid's here?

[Aw, and he must be walking their dog for them while they're still in school. How sweet. 'u']

Pretty lucky for them to have their dad around in a brand-new world like this. [He offers a slightly knowing grin, then, clearly having found some kinship in this mutual dad-hood.]

Must be kinda stressful for you, though, huh? I know I'd worry like hell if my daughter showed up here.

closed to john watson

[shittybirthday]

[ Swigging back the last foamy dregs of his beer, Joel sets the bottle on the bar and nudges it away from him. He signals to the barkeep with a subtle raise of his hand; the barkeep gives him a quick nod and signals back that he'll be with Joel in a moment.

Resting his elbows against the bar, Joel turns his attention up to the television overhead the bar showing a football game. He's looking pretty worse for wear: the bruises and scratches on his face are only a day old, and the bruises on his ribs hidden beneath his shirt have turned an ugly purple colour. Joel has looked a lot worse for wear before, that's for sure - back home, he was forever in scratches, in gashes, bruises, dirt and filth and sweat, sometimes covered in blood (sometimes his, usually someone else's). It's the worst he's looked since arriving in Heropa, however, old scars on his arms and face and body aside.

He's got a sullen expression on his face to match. Perhaps no different to how sullen he normally looks, but there's a heavy tiredness weighing him down that has little to do with his injuries and everything to do with the argument he and Ellie had the day before.

The barkeep finishes up what he's doing behind the bar and approaches, and Joel digs his hand into his pocket to fish out some money. ]

Another beer. Some chili cheese fries, too.

[acclimatized]

[ it's friday evening and john is drinking on his own: he can think of nothing more pathetic. but this isn't something that he does this often – he was already on route to the bar when he got a message from bradbury, telling him that he wouldn't be able to make it tonight. different careers and full-time hours make it difficult for them to meet up reguarly, but he decided to go ahead and have a drink anyway.

he noticed joel sitting at the bar a while ago, frowning at the visible injuries illuminated by the lighting behind the bar. john doesn't know whether he deserved it or whether he should be worried about what he gets up to when he isn't waiting outside ice-cream parlours and threatening people.

he is still a bit sour about that. when joel barks an order at their barman, john looks away from the football game (rugby is far better than this tripe, he's decided) and mumbles into his pint of bitter. ]

Don't say please or anything.

[shittybirthday]

[ Joel hears that. It might be a mumble and Joel might getting old, but he's got pretty damn good hearing, and he heard what the guy sitting right near him just mumbled.

Joel looks over at him. And... oh. It's that supermarket guy. What was his name again? Joel ain't sure if he even knows the guy's name. Supermarket Guy'll do. ]

How 'bout you mind your own business?

[ He doesn't truly sound all that threatening. Tired and gruff more than anything, like he ain't got time for anyone's bullshit. ]

[acclimatized]

[ john doesn't feel threatened when he addresses him, nor does he express any semblance of embarrassment when he realizes joel overheard his remark. it was his intention to rile him up; barb the man who tried to intimidate him in the supermarket and hasn't even exchanged names with him yet.

raising his brow, he takes his time with his drink before he puts his glass back on the counter with a gasp and looks at joel. ]

As you lot like to remind us, it's a free country. Manners don't cost anything either.

[ inclining his head, john takes stock of his injuries now joel is looking directly at him: they look mostly superficial, but he bets they sting quite a bit when he tries to go to bed. ]

Who've you been winding up now, then?

( 9/21 | the park )

[huntergames]

[ Being hauled forward by two large dogs is Sasha, who gives the leashes a firm tug to no avail. She continues to rush behind the dogs, trying to keep up with their pace and when Joel's dog comes rushing in their general direction, it sets off the two dogs from the shelter she's been put in charge of exercising for the afternoon. They begin to bark excitedly and drag Sasha further, with her entwining the leashes around her wrist to ensure she doesn't lose her grip on it. ]

P-Please slow down! Come on!

[shittybirthday]

Oh, Jesus.

[ Muttered under his breath as Lucy begins taking off excitedly towards the two dogs dragging the kid along on their leashes. He picks up his pace, his stride calmly intimidating as he approaches the girl. He remembers her, too - it's the kid from that cruise ship. The kid Ellie had said looked after Lucy when she'd needed to stay with him up in Pennsylvania that night Riley had arrived. ]

C'mere, you. [ He leans over to snag Lucy's collar and tugs her back at the same time he reaches the other hand out to take hold of the dogs' leashes. They sure won't be able to drag him around. ] I got it.

[huntergames]

No, I am fine! No need!

[ Sasha tries to wave a hand as if to politely dismiss the offer, but the dogs seize the opportunity to drag her forward, nearly knocking her off balance. Still, she holds on as tightly as she can, trying to rein them in. They're not like horses, but she's been able to control those for the most part. It can't be too hard!

She makes use of both hands, grinning nervously at Joel before quickly looking over the dogs: ]

Heel! Heel!

[ The dogs still try to sniff Lucy, trying to get around to her backside, but they aren't trying to yank Sasha forward anymore. ]

... phew. [ She sighs and glances back at Joel. ] Good afternoon!

[shittybirthday]

[ Well, alright. Joel takes his hand away, takes a step back, and watches this nervous kid trying to rein in her dogs. Honestly, he could take those leashes in one hand and control those animals for her but, fine, if she thinks she can do it... ]

Heh. Yeah.

[ Which is kind of Joel's way of saying 'good afternoon' in return. He stands there a little awkwardly for a moment, watching the dogs sniffing Lucy's backside - Joel has never been particularly good with smalltalk or conversation - but then he turns his attention back on the girl.

He promised Ellie he would try to be a little nicer to her friends. And so: ]

Look, uh. [ Awkward gesture at the girl with his hand. ] S'pose I oughta say thanks for lookin' after Lucy the other week.