He simply held up the the bird to her in response to her mocking, but the smirk on his face conveyed the gesture's friendliness. "Ask Ruth then," he offered, going back to his notes. "She had to patch him up after our little chat over his loose lips. That fucker ran to Sada like a child and told on me for trying to help Ash," he explained, probably unnecessarily, but he he was still pissed about being shut off from helping his friend so soon.
A soft chuckle fell easily from him and he shook his head gently. "I didn't hand over shit. I was shopping with Ember," he disagreed easily while reminding her of his geographical location during the coupe, finally giving up on his writing and shifting to face her. Although he wasn't sure he wouldn't have done so, all things considered.
He folded his notebook so she could see what he'd been working on, hopefully to satiated her curiosity and avoid her digging further into the makeshift journal. "I don't think therapy is needed or going to do much good," he countered, pointing at the paper. "I'm just making a list of shit to get Charlie for the baby," he only half-lied. "So if there's something you'd like to get off your chest, then by all means feel free, but don't expect any miracles," he offered, letting her read over the list to confirm he hadn't really been doing anything important. Except existing. And maybe his snacking.
"ruth can’t see right now." she drew a line from eye to chin, a little tear that stood in for all the solemnity that could be found in the little doctor. and in the past she’d charged. though, it seemed nowadays she did everything pro-bono and with a smile. a waste of a business venture, but a goodness of heart. she never could decide if it was lame. it certainly felt that way the more she watched the young doctor take personal losses on the chin. so much for the spark of the avante grade when it came to be called out for a raw deal in front of all who cared. it was disappointing, but she couldn’t exactly say it was surprising. it seemed everyone had conspired to let her down in one fell swoop.
“you’re right!” her open hand hits the table, as though he’s reminded her of some fact that makes a world of a difference. it doesn’t, it never does. “next time there’s a coupe, i’ll plead the map!” it was simple enough to say in retrospect, how he hadn’t been there, there wasn’t much to do. they all just had to accept the rules of law that picked blind favorites and silly hours. she doesn’t want to hear anymore about how sada is like a mother, has done so much, she just doesn’t understand. she’s starting to turn towards the odds of leaving again. “for the record, i don’t know who tattled on you, but you might want to double check your allies.”
but she’s not here to split hairs over social status. no, she’s here to help make a supply list! "new parents." she writes in the air, as though she's adding to the notes she hasn't bothered to look at. "a better zipcode." or maybe just a different birth year altogether if that sort of thing was possible. she knows that a baby born in this building will need so much more than they have right now. but none of it works if the people aren’t around to keep them fed and warm. "a case of vaccines." she throws out, eyebrow quirked as she looks for his reaction. after all, she’s never without her own angle on the situation.
she puts a card on the table, call it a gesture of faith. it beats offering to share ill-earned food. "i need a run partner, mononyms not allowed, john-paul rose."
