[rhymes with demon]

[porcupineliz]

Liz is standing at the bar, reading a brief note over and over.

Anyone wanting to talk to her may have to put in a little extra effort to get her attention.

Comments

[dr_j]

It's easier to be vaguely next to them, rather than in the middle of them. Then he might say something he'd regret.

But --

Blonde curls. It was the first thing he noticed; it's the first thing he notices now.

Jordie slides off his stool and hurries over. Her silver bracelet is on his wrist. "Liz?" Low, worried.

[porcupineliz]

The paper's rustling in her hands, with a barely perceptible tremor.

She turns to look at him, eyes wide.

[dr_j]

That look --

"What happened?"

[porcupineliz]

"I."

Her hand closes on the note convulsively, crushing it.

(She feels like she's going to be sick.)

"I just talked with the demon."

[dr_j]

Jordie goes sheet white.

"You what."

[porcupineliz]

"I -- it left me a note --"

She's shaking.

[dr_j]

One hand braces on the bar.

The other touches her shoulder, hesitant. "Did it hurt you? Do you remember -- ?"

[porcupineliz]

She shuts her eyes and leans into his hand, struggling to swallow.

[dr_j]

Better not to question, maybe. If just for a moment.

"You're safe down here." He steps closer. "Remember?"

[porcupineliz]

Liz nods, unsteadily.

"Yeah," she manages.

[dr_j]

"Hey." He slides an arm around her. "Do you want to sit...?"

[porcupineliz]

His arm slides around her; she turns in toward him, burying her face in his shoulder, clinging hard.

[dr_j]

"Hey." Jordie's got both arms around her now. "Hey. It's okay. You're okay." Smoothing a hand down her back.

[porcupineliz]

Her breath is coming short and choppy; she tries holding each breath for a count of two, forcing herself to slow down.

(She can feel his heartbeat. It's soothing.)

"I'm okay," she echoes after a moment, and swallows again.

[dr_j]

Murmured: "We can sit. We can stay like this. We can do something else."

[porcupineliz]

"Can we sit? Sitting would be good."

She's starting, just starting, to calm down. She hasn't yet hit the point of feeling ridiculous.

[dr_j]

"Sure." He runs a hand over her hair. "Are you the kind of person who wants a stiff drink in times of emergency?"

[porcupineliz]

"Oh god yes." Fervently.

[dr_j]

A quiet laugh, mostly a rumble. Gently: "Hey, bar? Two of whatever she's drinking?"

[porcupineliz]

"Whiskey," she says, "whatever you've got that's good."

Two glasses appear on the bartop; she lets out a sigh and reaches for one.

[dr_j]

He still keeps an arm around her as he picks up the other. "Let's find an empty booth? -- do you want to talk about it?"

[porcupineliz]

"Yeah." Very low. "I ... yeah. In a minute."

[dr_j]

"Sure." Jordie tightens his hold on her. "Whenever you want. Like after the drink."

[porcupineliz]

"After the drink," she agrees.

They've reached the booth. She disengages, reluctantly, to sit down.

[dr_j]

Rather than sitting across from her, he eases onto the bench next to her. "Is this okay?"