everyonelives | the ground could open, he could still say please

I just got back this afternoon.

[Maybe she shouldn't have gone out tonight. Does this make her look like an asshole, coming back to town and daring to be in public when they hadn't settled whatever happened between them in Europe. Maybe.

But it's too late to take it back now.]

I was going to go see him.

[She feels like she needs to put that out there, just in case. But before that can be dwelled on too much.]

Oh, Faith, Connor, Connor, Faith. William is back too, but it looks like he and his boyfriend bailed.

William's got himself a brand new boyfriend. How long will this one last?

( It's easier to banter about her brother's boys than to doubt that Mia was going to see J.J. He doesn't blame her for taking her time. He doesn't blame her for bailing, too. Deep down, the pressure he lives being Connor Hawke, being J.J.'s brother, living up to his father's legacy... He can see why she bailed. Now is not the time to identify with her. Hot, mixed company and all. )

Hey Faith. Uncle Tommy.

( "Are we expecting the Squirtilla, tonight?" Tommy asks, referring to all the squirts together. He missed William and J.J. was here, but he has to get his childish dig in. He loves these kids like his own.

Faith just smirks, shaking her head. "Adorable, all of you. You got a kistch life, Mia." People love her. People miss her. People forgive her for up and skipping town. She's not saying Mia should remember that. Faith just remembers feeling these familial... pangs back with Joyce. It's giving her that itch she doesn't like, but that she's worked through. Tonight, she's not going out in a destructive ball of fire. "Who's up for shots."

Just yet. )

He seems to really like this one so maybe they'll stick it out.

[Her brother has never not been the relationship kind of guy. He just keeps picking the wrong relationships. Though it probably says something that Mia likes him, as she hasn't liked the rest.

She nods at the mention of shots.]

I'll catch up with you.

[She waits until Faith heads to the bar before turning back to Connor.]

You look good.

[She wonders if that doesn't feel like a this Mia thing to say. She knows she used to give him so much shit. In a lot of ways, she has a lot she needs to make up for.]

( (18) Something definitely seems off with Mia, but because what's off is far beyond his purview, he expects things to be weird after everything. Not quite to this level of compliment weird, but, weird. )

I look like I got here at 2 in the afternoon. Late lunch turned into blowing off some steam.

( Connor lasted. J.J. liked a party as much as the next guy, but he was always able to reel himself back in. )

Don't worry. Strictly club soda.

( He should have said no to shots, but Mia can have two for him. )

So. Where did William find you?

London. I got this job in Scotland, and it's really been helping even me out.

[Granted, freaking out from getting this job is what put her in this situation in the first place, but that's not really important at the moment.]

We wound up at the same job site, oddly enough. I'm glad he did, though, I was ... doing a lot of hiding.

We've all been there. You needed time, you didn't need some photog in your face.

( Speaking of, he lets that linger. Because, she was definitely featured on TMZ with Hope and that definitely went national. )

Edited 2022-12-03 18:56 (UTC)

[She nods, because dragging poor Hope into the shenanigans was not her best move. But at least Hope is far away and doesn't have to be exploited further. Faith can handle it.

Or Faith will punch a paprazzi. The end result remains to be seen.]

How's he doing? I know I probably shouldn't ask, but ... is he doing okay?

( Smiling through it. Their dad misses the signs, but Connor knows it's eaten away at him. He knows bad habits have taken over. He's along for the ride and there if J.J. hits a wall. )

He's J.J. He thinks we can't see he's going through it.

( Since she bailed, J.J. deals on his own. He put his trust and heart into Mia's hands and she -- crushed it. But, he doesn't say those words. Those words aren't fair. )

He'll be okay.

[She nods, because she knows part of that is her fault. That she hasn't given him any closure.]

I'll go see him tomorrow. Does he still have the same place?

Same place.

( J.J. likes his routines. )

You okay?

I'm figuring it out.

[She doesn't know how to explain it to Connor any more than she knew how to explain it to William, but she's going to try.]

Something did happen, but ... it wasn't JJ's fault. It wasn't anyone's fault.

[It just is, and there's nothing they can do to change that now.]

I just don't really think that's going to make him feel any better.

Is this about making him feel better?

( Sometimes, what he thinks might make his brother feel better - or do the opposite - isn't the case. He's also wronged his brother more than he thought Mia ever could. His brother and his father. He's just now getting back onto solid ground. )

Want me to keep this between us?

( A second passes before Faith returns with shots for the group, a few more than expected now that Tommy's moved on, and she has Mickey in tow.

"Kid was sitting all by his lonesome, thought I'd bring him to the party, what'd I miss?" )

[If she thought there was an option where JJ would be able to feel better, maybe. For now, though, she's just hoping for some closure. She hesitates longer at Connor's second question, enough for Faith and Mickey to join the party, and she shakes her head.]

No, you don't have to keep it from him.

[She doesn't want to make Connor and JJ's relationship more complicated in the process. But she smiles as she glances back to her friends.]

Nothing. Just catching up. Connor, Mickey.

("Connor."

"Mickey."

Wonderful conversationalists, these two.

The group minus Connor with his soda water cheers. Connor lets everything else go unsaid and Faith regales the kids with safe for work stories about her 'private security' gig. )

the ground could open, he could still say please

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