[By the time Connor gets home, Mia is gone and JJ is nursing a drink in the corner. When he hears the key in the door he knocks it all back, needing to keep his brother in his good graces. Not that this version of Connor is anything to shake a fist at, but depending on what Mia knows, it's good to keep a pawn wrapped around his finger, just in case.
Honestly, he has them all wrapped around his fingers. Upside to this Mia Queen being a complete mess, everyone has spent the last almost year trying to make JJ feel better. Now he just needs to weaponize that to his advantage.
He's putting the bottle of whiskey back in the cabinet, just in view of the door as it opens, and he paints on the understanding wince.]
( Connor does work for their dad and A.R.G.U.S. to pass the time. It's research or recon for him, but it keeps his mind and hands busy. He moved in with J.J. after getting out of rehab. The plan to move out slowed once Mia disappeared. He's strong enough to be around his brother's... reaction. It takes time, but Connor thinks J.J. numbs to what happened. He almost finds himself again, or so he thinks, and then Mia blows back into town.
He stands there, keys in his hand, still holding the door open. He can only guess. But, J.J. has his own stress with dad and with his work, too. He doesn't jump to a conclusion, only closes the door behind himself. )
I told you. You can drink. You drinking isn't my problem.
( Other people can drink. )
Long as you recognize the difference between an impulse and a coping mechanism.
[He lets the sentence trail off, allowing Connor to fill in the sentiment without him having to say it. JJ the Good Brother would have a meaningful statement about how just because it's not his problem doesn't mean he wants to rub it into his face. Current JJ isn't sure he'd be able to pull it off with convincing candor, so he let's Connor's familiarity with his brother do it for him.
It's not like it's a conversation they haven't had before.]
Mia came by. Wanted to talk about why she left.
[Vampire slayer. That's going to be a problem.]
She said you saw her at Verdant last night. Did she tell you anything?
( He brings a hand up. No buts. Maybe ifs and ands, but no butts. His brother continues at least as he makes his way into the kitchen and gets himself a bottle of water. )
She told me her brother found her in London. She said she was going to talk you. ( Judging by the bottle. ) Didn't go well.
( The Mia they both know doesn't match up to that. Bailing, shutting down, playing it coy. She's been her father's daughter, but like socialites are, so he too feels personally behind. )
Maybe that's it. There's more Oliver Queen in her than we thought.
( That's not the best outcome and frightening at worst because she was one of his closest friends. But friends are there for each other. )
Maybe imagine what it was like. She had everything, she had you, and then she was activated. 'S-alot for anyone, especially a girl newly engaged in Europe.
( He's trying here, but even the Mia they know would -- reach out? Attempt to get help? Communicate? )
[It's definitely her. This timeline's version of JJ is as close to saccharine as you can get, so he highly doubts he did anything to merit this unceremonious dumping, even if he didn't have Mia's explanation to go off of.]
It's just he's not sure how much Mia knows about everything else. How awake she is. The Slayer strength is definitely a problem, though. He's going to have to see if there is anything left on Mirakuru in the Arrowcave.]
It still doesn't make it any easier to hear. To get confirmation that there's nothing I could have done.
Because she's never been complicated. ( There's a reason she hated joining in on their poker nights. She jokingly got frustrated because she had no poker face. ) I'm not saying cut her slack, or give her another chance. But, she's different, J. She's been through it. We can't even imagine.
( Like alcohol, like rehab. But, he's not here to change his brother's mind. He's here to be supportive. So he is for the rest of the night, sharing in the cooking responsibilities and reminiscing about their childhood.
It's that night that a kernel starts to eat away at Connor. He has a nagging feeling Mia is hiding something else. But that's no longer his brother's jurisdiction. )
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everyonelives2023-01-03 09:05 pm
no subject
Honestly, he has them all wrapped around his fingers. Upside to this Mia Queen being a complete mess, everyone has spent the last almost year trying to make JJ feel better. Now he just needs to weaponize that to his advantage.
He's putting the bottle of whiskey back in the cabinet, just in view of the door as it opens, and he paints on the understanding wince.]
Sorry. Bad day.
no subject
He stands there, keys in his hand, still holding the door open. He can only guess. But, J.J. has his own stress with dad and with his work, too. He doesn't jump to a conclusion, only closes the door behind himself. )
I told you. You can drink. You drinking isn't my problem.
( Other people can drink. )
Long as you recognize the difference between an impulse and a coping mechanism.
( But enough about rehabilitative psychobabble. )
You wanna talk?
no subject
[He lets the sentence trail off, allowing Connor to fill in the sentiment without him having to say it. JJ the Good Brother would have a meaningful statement about how just because it's not his problem doesn't mean he wants to rub it into his face. Current JJ isn't sure he'd be able to pull it off with convincing candor, so he let's Connor's familiarity with his brother do it for him.
It's not like it's a conversation they haven't had before.]
Mia came by. Wanted to talk about why she left.
[Vampire slayer. That's going to be a problem.]
She said you saw her at Verdant last night. Did she tell you anything?
no subject
She told me her brother found her in London. She said she was going to talk you. ( Judging by the bottle. ) Didn't go well.
( Nothing was going to make him feel better. )
no subject
Apparently, the reason she just left me without a word is because she got called to become a vampire slayer, and couldn't deal.
[His tone is incredulous, but at the same time, they know the world they live in. Is it really so far fetched to believe?]
no subject
( He's not an expert but a (12) makes it clear they're on ARGUS' radar, at least. )
Why now.
( Or, then. )
She say she was trying to protect you?
no subject
[He sighs as he drops down onto the couch.]
I just don't know why she couldn't just tell me that, instead of leaving me with no answers at all.
no subject
Maybe that's it. There's more Oliver Queen in her than we thought.
( That's not the best outcome and frightening at worst because she was one of his closest friends. But friends are there for each other. )
Maybe imagine what it was like. She had everything, she had you, and then she was activated. 'S-alot for anyone, especially a girl newly engaged in Europe.
( He's trying here, but even the Mia they know would -- reach out? Attempt to get help? Communicate? )
It's her, it's not you.
( Cliché or not, he knows that. )
no subject
[It's definitely her. This timeline's version of JJ is as close to saccharine as you can get, so he highly doubts he did anything to merit this unceremonious dumping, even if he didn't have Mia's explanation to go off of.]
It's just he's not sure how much Mia knows about everything else. How awake she is. The Slayer strength is definitely a problem, though. He's going to have to see if there is anything left on Mirakuru in the Arrowcave.]
It still doesn't make it any easier to hear. To get confirmation that there's nothing I could have done.
no subject
( He pauses. )
... Did she say anything about trying again?
no subject
[He was pissed. He unloaded. And while staying close to Mia is what he needs to do ... ]
Don't know if that's why she came though. I think she just wanted to clear the air.
[Then there's a pause as he eyes Connor, remembering what he did from the previous timeline.]
Why?
no subject
Because she's never been complicated. ( There's a reason she hated joining in on their poker nights. She jokingly got frustrated because she had no poker face. ) I'm not saying cut her slack, or give her another chance. But, she's different, J. She's been through it. We can't even imagine.
no subject
Maybe she has. But that doesn't mean I'm her shoulder to cry on anymore.
[He gestures back at him.]
You're more than welcome to it, though.
no subject
( Is that where this is going? )
So, you get me in the divorce?
no subject
[If that ever happens. He might be able to fake it in order to get his plans into place, but he doesn't plan on letting it stick.]
Some things you can't come back from.
no subject
( Like alcohol, like rehab. But, he's not here to change his brother's mind. He's here to be supportive. So he is for the rest of the night, sharing in the cooking responsibilities and reminiscing about their childhood.
It's that night that a kernel starts to eat away at Connor. He has a nagging feeling Mia is hiding something else. But that's no longer his brother's jurisdiction. )