#jo cuthbert

[pixeldolly]

Walden BACC

Louis was feeling a bit deflated after Fiona's criticism of his life choices, like the party had already been spoiled by the very gloomy thoughts and recriminations he was trying to keep at bay.

So, when Achilles sidled up to him and all the memories of their college fling came flooding back, it proved hard to resist.

Maybe hooking up with your ex who was clearly trying to spark the old flame despite a messy breakup wasn't the most sensible choice, but nobody had ever accused Louis Calhoun of being sensible.

"Ah, youth! I remember how I was at their age..."

"You're still young though, Jake. Unlike some of us."

"You're hardly old, ma'am."

"Hah! Flatterer! I wish. And it's Abby, please."

"I'm just telling the truth, m- Abby. You're a very attractive woman, if you don't mind me saying so."

"I don't mind it at all."

Jo wasn't sure of the ethical implications of what they'd just witnessed, but hey, it was none of their business.

"Get it, Mrs C!"

"I'm acting like an old fool," Abby thought ruefully.

But she wasn't dead yet, and it had been so long since she'd had a man in her bed.

[pixeldolly]

Walden BACC

Louis did enjoy throwing parties often. That big old house felt empty and much too quiet when he was rattling around in it by himself.

It was much better with a nice group of people to fill the silence.

"Mmm that smells divine, Lou!"

"Oh, uh, thanks, but Wilkes made it."

"I can't wait to grab a slice or four. I'm so hungry, you're starting to look tasty right about now."

"Please don't wolf out on us!"

"Relax, I was joking. Mostly."

"Oh shit, is Lee wearing his old llama suit?!"

On reflection, maybe inviting his ex from college who once drunkenly proposed to him wasn't the best idea...

[pixeldolly]

Walden BACC

Jo had mentioned a few more people would be joining them, but Louis hadn't expected his own cousin would be among them.

Not to mention several of Jo's other former (and for all he knew, current) lovers.

Damn!

The girls eyed Louis with interest, much to his chagrin.

Rhae: "Your friend's cute!"

Drake: "Is he single?"

Scheherazade: "I wanna know too!"

Jo: "He's...not really into women."

The girls: "Aw!"

Louis decided to approach Jo before he lost his nerve. Fortune favoured the bold, no risk no reward, yadda yadda yadda...

Louis: "You look amazing, Jo. It's great seeing you again, maybe we could get together sometime? Just the two of us."

Jo: "I don't think so, Louis. I'm sorry."

Fiona: "Oof! Awkward, cuz."

Louis: "Oh...okay..."

Jo: "I just think we should keep things strictly friendly between us."

Louis: "Friendly...yeah...sure. No problem."

[pixeldolly]

Walden BACC

Louis gave Jo a smug look as he went to collect his prize. For one thing, he wouldn't have to ask his mother for money that week.

For another, it felt nice to be good at something.

Scheherazade: "Ah well, I guess we losers should stick together, eh?"

Jo: "I'm sure we can think of ways to make each other feel better."

Fiona: "She seems interesting."

Jo: "Zade? I should properly introduce you; I have a feeling you two might hit it off."

Fiona: "Do you?"

Jo: "I do; in fact she told me she thinks you're hot."

Fiona: "Mmh. She has excellent taste; I like her already."

Jo: "I think she's interested."

Scheherazade: "But...you don't mind?"

Jo: "You know I'm good at sharing."

Scheherazade: "Maybe all three of us could...share."

Jo: "If Fi's up for it, I am."

Amid all of this, Louis was entirely forgotten.

[pixeldolly]

Walden BACC

Scheherazade: "Fiona, right? It's nice to finally meet you; Jo's told me so much about you. Only good things, don't worry."

Fiona: "You two were talking about me? I'm flattered."

Fiona looked more amused than flattered, but her eyes sparkled with interest and a smile tugged at her lips. For Zade, that was encouragement enough.

Scheherazade: "I'm Scheherazade, but you can call me Zade. All my friends do."

Fiona: "Confident, I see."

Scheherazade: "Is that a problem?"

Fiona: "Not at all; confidence is good, as long as it's not misplaced."

Jo wasn't kidding when they told her that Fiona could be remarkably...direct. Which made her both intimidating and hot. Zade had fantasized about a woman like that for a long time, and had a brief mental flash of Fiona wearing that same impish smile, thigh high boots and nothing else -

Okay, Zade, don't get ahead of yourself!

Meanwhile, Louis downed one glass after another, and tried to pretend he hadn't heard any of that.

If I drink enough, maybe the alcohol will erase this night from my memory.

He didn't notice when a tipsy old lady sat down next to him and leaned across the counter.

Mrs Crumplebottom: "Well hell-o there, handsome! You look sad; what's the matter? Did some awful hussy stand you up?"

Louis: "Aargh! I-I mean no, ma'am -"

Mrs Crumplebottom: "Bah! Girls these days! Forget about her! What you need is a woman with experience!"

Oh Watcher...Help!

[pixeldolly]

Walden BACC

As he happened to be an excellent dancer, Louis proposed a little challenge for the group: a smustle dance-off!

He'd show Jo what they were missing.

Fiona: Drat! Hope the judge didn't notice! Hmm...a quick memory charm would take care of that..."

And the winner is...

[pixeldolly]

Walden BACC

😳, part deux

Jo: “I don’t know why you’re asking me, I’m not the morality police!”

Louis: “You know people. I can tell. And you’re good at giving advice.”

Jo arched their brows quizzically; they were pretty good at reading people, true, but Louis made them sound like a...wise Jedi master or something! The idea was amusing.

Jo: “I don’t think you’re a bad person, Louis. Just someone who still has some growing up to do, maybe - which feels weird to say, since you’re older than me.”

Louis nodded in acceptance. 

Louis: “Lee was my first, you know. I'd never even kissed anyone before him.”

Jo: “Yeah, Fiona told me you guys grew up pretty sheltered up there.”

Louis: “Sometimes I feel like I’ve missed out on a whole bunch of milestones in my life: dating as a teenager, losing my v-card in the back of my parents’ car, rebound sex with a hottie..”

Tyler the dormie: “Damn, Calhoun! You move fast!”

Jo: “Whoa whoa whoa - what was that for?!”

Louis: “Just making up some lost time.”

Jo: “I’m not sure this is such a good idea.”

Louis: “I’ve seen you looking at my butt before. You’re saying you’re not at all interested?”

Jo: “It’s not that, but you just fended off a marriage proposal from your ex; is this really the best time to be hooking up?”

Louis: “Look, I’m not asking you to get into a relationship with me, not even a casual one - all I’m proposing is that we screw each other’s brains out, I feel better, and then we can go back to the way things were.”

Jo: “Well, when you put it that way...”

A good person would have resisted, explained to Louis that he couldn’t solve his emotional issues with meaningless sex, but Jo Cuthbert had never claimed to be a good person.

------------------------

ACR, you’re killing me here.  🤦‍♀️

[pixeldolly]

Walden BACC

Jo: “...What are you doing?”

Louis: “Oh hey, you’re back! How was your visit, got up to much? Wait, don’t answer that! I know what you and Fiona are like.”

Jo didn’t as much as crack a smile at his joke.

Jo: “That’s my guitar.”

Louis: “Yeah, I know. I’ve been practicing while you were away, check this out -”

Jo: “I don’t let people play my guitar. It’s...a personal thing.”

Louis frowned in confusion; Jo was one of the chillest people he knew, and this had come out of left field.

Louis: “I was careful, if that’s what you’re worried about...”

That was partly it, but not all.

Jo: “I just don’t like anyone else touching my guitar. No offence.” 

Jo was very possessive of their guitar; it was a gift from their uncle, who had passed away when Jo was sixteen and was just learning to play. Since then, it had attained an almost talismanic quality.

Louis: “Uhh, right...sorry.”

Jo: “No harm done.”

Jeez, Louis thought. They sure could be a bit of a Diva at times, acting like they were some kind of Rock God or something.