@spygrid (for jo!)
“Do you want to talk about it?” Her silence is enough of an answer and for a moment Lucas considers leaving her to it, considers walking back to the bustle of the other room and pushing Jo and her demons into whatever storage his mind has for such things .. but instead the agent finds himself pulling out a chair, sliding into a seat with a graceful ease as elbows come to rest atop the table that sits like an impenetrable wall between them. “They’ll make you, you know. Harry and the rest of them. We spend our careers delving into other people’s secrets, but we’re not allowed to have any of our own.” Fingers drum a restless rhythm on the table and he leans forward, waiting until his colleague’s gaze meets his own. “Fancy a drink later? Exorcising demons is much more fun when you’re in a pub somewhere rather than a dim office full of fake plants and someone who hums like they’re doing their best to appear thoughtful. after your every word.”
The scratching of the pen had been the worst, really. How can you really listen to someone when you’re too busy writing down your opinions as to what they said? Lucas had learned to recite the lines they wanted to hear, smile in place and laugh practiced until it was instinctual and sounded genuine .. and he would teach Jo to do the same. “Give it a chance. I’m even more of a good time than my party boy demeanor makes it seem...”