pluggedintheoverlord

[The social temperature was plummeting here.]

So why're you asking if you already know the answer, Batman?

I'm just wondering why it was such a big secret.

Hell, if it was me and Sol, I'd be bragging about her.

Well, it's not you and Sol, is it?

[He shouldn't be angry at Garrus because his family survived the war; he shouldn't, but couldn't help it. Garrus' family got out alive from a full-scale invasion on Palaven, but his sister couldn't make it out of a small one on a backwater colony-- it wasn't fair, and it felt like he was going to choke on his own goddamn bitterness.]

[WELL NOW]

[It's probably safe to say that he hit something there. He tries not to let Joker's tone faze him, taking the liquor in front of him into account.]

What is it this time? Another fight?

[Garrus sure did hit paydirt with that one.]

No, it's not, and fuck you for asking.

[Speaking of that alcohol, now seemed like a good time for him to take another pull.]

Me and Gunny are none of your damn business, so try to keep your flat nose out of it.

[Two stubborn assholes walk into a bar]

[Then this happens]

Congratulations, Moreau, you just made it my damn business.

What the hell is wrong with you?

Edited 2013-01-27 22:36 (UTC)

[Two assholes walk into a bar, only one walks out.]

Drop it, Vakarian.

No.

[HAH. BEAT THAT.]

Now tell me what the hell is going on.

I said, drop it!

[Joker punctuated that sentence by slamming his tumbler down onto the bar top hard enough to make cracks spiderweb across the glass. He may or may not have also broken a finger or two, but he wasn't paying attention.]

[That sure escalated quickly.]

[Garrus' mandibles twitched. Angrily so.]

[Despite that, however, there was an underlying twinge of concern when he spoke next. Joker, as much of an ass as he could be, never got explosively angry. Not like this.]

Like hell, Joker.

What happened?

[He had to very carefully make himself let go of the glass, because it was already cracked and if he kept putting pressure on it, he might just end up with a hand full of shards.]

[This was a bad idea, the alcohol was a bad idea, he should've locked himself in the helm until he'd gotten his shit together. And he was going to get it together, he would damn well man up and deal with it, because didn't need anyone's help even when his life was turning into a mess. This was his mess; he'd made this bed and he was damn well going to lie in it.]

[Joker forced his voice into something sort of like calmness, but he couldn't make it not sound tense.] I'm fine, Garrus. Nothing happened, it's just been a long couple of days.

No, a missed diagnostic check is 'a long couple of days'. Waking up cranky is 'a long couple of days'. This is not a long couple of days, Joker.

[Garrus pushes his own drink aside carefully, as if anything but would cause even more damage]

Damn it, let me help you.

I don't need help. Take a hint and get off my back already.

[Locking himself in the helm was looking like a better and better idea.]

Either you talk to me, or your sister does. And even if I have to go to her, then you can bet your ass I'm coming right back for you.

So take your pick.

Don't. Don't bring her into this, she's dealt with enough shit already.

[Wow this conversation totally got out of his control at some point.]

[Pretty sure it was out of control from the very beginning]

[But at least they've made progress]

Like what?

Come on. Talk to me.

[He planted both elbows on the bar top and pushed his hands into his hair, tipping his hat back a little.]

I don't even know where to start.

Start with the first thing that comes to mind.

...

[Joker is not good at this whole 'sharing is caring' thing. When he has a problem, he keeps it to himself and fixes it, he doesn't start talking about his feelings.]

I need a drink.

[Stalling tactic is go. He's going to get up and get himself another glass of kerosene.]

[Garrus waits patiently, keeping his eyes on Joker's every move until he sits back down]

[He poured himself a very generous helping of alcohol, not even bothering with the ice, because who the hell wanted to water-down alcohol?]

[And he knocked the whole thing back, all at once. It burned all the way down.]

[When he set the glass back down again, his eyes went to the door; not that he could've possibly made it there before Garrus blocked him, but he was tempted to make a break for it anyway.]

[LASER]

[FOCUS]

[ON]

[JOKER]

[Yeah, wow, he was getting nailed by Garrus' eye-beams of death over here.]

[Escape was clearly not an option.]

[He poured himself another glass, just about as full as the last one, and took his seat again. He left the bottle out, because he was probably going to need it.]

[Okay.]

[Okay, he could do this. He wasn't going to be able to get out until he said something, so he might as well get it over with. And Garrus was trustworthy, right? He could do this.]

...Do you remember when I said that Gunny blamed me for our dad being dead?

[Garrus wasn't about to make any move to stop Joker, but he was also definitely keeping a mental tally in his head. If for no other reason than because helping Joker would be pointless if he just drank himself into oblivion]

Yeah?

She was right, it's my fault that he died.

[That glass was looking real interesting right about now; in fact, he couldn't seem to take his eyes off of it.]

And that she did, too.

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