6:30: wake up, shower. 6:50: find the first aid ( loose stitches ) and make a note to see the doctor again. 7:00: throw out the bed sheets ( the blood isn’t going to come out this time ) . 7:10: breakfast, coffee. 8:00: Chinatown, Doc’s. 9:00: return that phone call. 10:00: fitting. ( Quite the schedule… Was it truly meant for you? ) He’s checking his watch as he approaches the door – on the dot. He takes the handle and opens it slowly, gently rapping his knuckles against the doorframe to announce his presence, just to be polite.
There’s a small catch to his steps, favoring the left. That indigo bruise on his right simply sinks further into the muscles with every waking moment, and yet he powers on. This is routine for him. The occasional scratch to his brow and split in his lip is a familiar sight and feeling – no one thinks twice, least of all him. And he wears it well, hiding it under that veneer of casual professionalism. Maybe the turtleneck is a last-ditch effort at some semblance of comfort while leaving his home to return to the underground for another day. But – make no mistake – the suit jacket over top says it all: John is, as always, on the clock.
“ Hey, Josie. ” The greeting is warm and amicable. There’s a careless ring to it ; this is a strange part of their world, this single room. It feels so othered, the environment she’s created, but never unwelcome ( not to him at least ) . The ash he trails behind him halts at the door, he wouldn’t dare spoil what she’s created, for herself and for others. He glances at the plate of cookies, but politely declines as he lightly clears his throat and answers: “ Just a jacket. ” ( Those small, deep bruises on his back throb ; he can still hear the gunshots ringing in his ears before in the impact. ) Lips twitch in something akin to a small smile : “ My vest did its job, but the jacket wasn’t so lucky. ”
❛ Glad to hear the vest held up , at least . ❜ Her response is quick , light , despite the very obvious context . If someone had told Josie that this would be her new normal a few years back , she would tell them they were out of their minds . Now , however ? Fitting someone for a new jacket because the old one was littered with bullet holes was just about as standard as it got .
Josie takes a moment to survey the old jacket as John approaches her , tongue clicking against the roof of her mouth . She takes a mental note that she could perhaps salvage some of the untouched fabric for a personal project , but John -- like all of her clients -- would get something brand new that suited his desires . ❛ Alright , let’s get this old thing off you , then !! ❜ She knows to let the other take the lead on that ; Josie never knew who would be injured and what was okay to touch , so she would carefully observe body language in order to figure out exactly where she would have to take utmost care when taking measurements .
❛ Any alterations you want to make ? I’d ask you if you wanted to look at different fabrics , but we can save that for when I make you a whole new suit if you’d like . ❜ The one thing she knew about her job was that her clients always came back .. until they didn’t .
