[Though it has been a long time. Maybe Wynonna still doesn't wear them. But the information Doc gives about a woman on stage captures her attention after that.]
Where was she performing? Maybe we can check online and see if she's still there?
( Wynonna quiets, recalling wearing them for some time after his death. But, unlike her many rings and questionable cut-up t-shirt collection, she no longer keeps them on her.
"They're not in New York," she admits. )
Trio. It was a pretentious, multi-level entertainment venue. But, I suppose it should have a website. And if she were working, then she would be undercover, unless she filled in for someone all of a sudden. Only one way to find out.
[Waverly pulls out her phone and googles the club, hoping that they'll at least have up to date social media, if not the website. She scrolls a bit before holding up a finger.]
Here it is - Serena Chen has her final show tonight. She's doing a early evening and late night show.
[Serena finishes out her run because that's part of being undercover too. She may need a reference from the Trio if she wants to book another gig and dipping out on the end of your stretch is certainly a way to keep that from happening.
Besides, they deserve to have a few casual moments before things get shitty again.
Dolls insists on still watching the shows, just in case there's trouble - whether or not Aalis joins him is up to her. She's between songs when the door opens and the Earps plus Doc make their way in to the club. While she doesn't know the Earps from Adam, Doc's distinctive mustache is hard to miss. And they don't look necessarily happy to be here.]
You know, Gary I'm feeling a little melancholy for my last night. How about we do a little Blue Bayou?
[Aalis and Dolls were chatting over drinks when Serena gives the code word on the night she isn't supposed to be giving it. He's about to comment on how see? He's not being overly paranoid and things can absolutely go wrong, when he turns to follow her eyeline and sees what she's seeing.
He sees Doc, he sees Waverly, and in the biggest gut punch of them all, he sees Wynonna.
Serena isn't in trouble, but Dolls sure is.]
Damnit, Doc.
[He knows asking him not to tell Wynonna wasn't fair, but he had hoped he would at least have enough time to get out of town and disappear. He slowly gets up from the table and leans in to Aalis.]
Stay here with her. I'll catch up with you later.
[They should not have the incoming confrontation in the middle of Serena's set.]
( Aalis has learned not to live life like it's about to be pulled out from under her, even when it has more times than she can count. She would tell him again, but instead, she turns, again recognizing Doc Holliday.
"Are you and Doc Holliday long-lost lovers?" she asks curiously.
That's not an answer. She is going to spread this rumor because Aalis is nothing if not a team-playing gossip.
Doc doesn't meet him in the middle, however, Wynonna does. This is hers. Sorry, Aalys. )
You think Bulshar will go down for double jeopardy, or resurrect himself just to immolate your ass again? I haven't seen it in a few years and Ashley Judd's a stretch for you, except for the perpetual frown. You got that down. Who's the fire crotch?
("Lindsay Lohan would never." But Wynonna's on notice, too. )
You're lucky I'm not packing Peacemaker, Double Jeopardy Dragon.
( She made the joke once. Whatever. Here it goes again.
Yes, they can take this outside. She glances at Waverly and Doc, gestures for them to stay put and practically pushes Dolls above his shoulders towards whatever door they're near.
[Waverly glances over at Doc like should we? She doesn't know anything about Dolls' friends so she'll follow Doc's lead.
Dolls lets Wynonna push him, waiting until they're outside before turning to face her. It's been eighteen years but she's still exactly how he remembered, and in a lot of ways, it both hurts and helps.
Helps, because maybe he didn't make up everything between them. Hurts because of everything he missed.]
This wasn't my idea. Which is not an excuse, but ... it's all I've got.
( What'll hard will it do? And what are they going to do, wait awkwardly at the back? He takes off his hat to maneuver around the tables and join Aalis, introducing himself and Waverly as old friends.
It's all Wynonna can do not to kick him right in the ass.
Outside, she waits for his explanation, like anything is going to make it up to her. )
This being playing third banana to a witch and a siren or...?
And Jeremy smuggled you out. But, we could've. He could've called one of his lame-ass meetings and you could've made your grand entrance and there would have been tears and a punch to the shoulder you deserve. ( He deserves more now. ) And then we as a team could've gotten you away safely. Eighteen years. Eighteen. Your betrayal can buy porn and cigarettes!
[Because unfortunately, this lined up perfectly with the three of them in the Garden, so there was no meeting to call. There were no people to ask. There was just him and Jeremy, and they had to make a call.]
You were gone looking for Waverly, and we didn't have time to wait for you to come back. And yeah, maybe I could have reached out after that, but honestly, Wynonna, I didn't think you needed me.
[Because it was supposed to be Doc, wasn't it? It was always going to be Doc.]
It's not about needing you, dumbass. It's about us being there, it's about letting us be there. Yeah, we were a mess. It wasn't like I planned on going missing for three years, okay?
And I didn't plan on this. But unfortunately here we are.
[And he's not saying she doesn't have the right to be angry. She does. But before he can say more than that, the ground rocks beneath them, unsteadying them both for a moment, and Dolls has to reach out to brace himself on a dumpster.
Turning his eyes to the horizon ahead of them, and he watches as a blast of white light comes from the top of one of the nearby buildings.]
Get back in the club. Get back in the club now!
[But before she can argue or listen - more likely argue - the wave of magic washes over them and everything goes white.]
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[Waverly is very much going to give Jeremy a good talking to once all of this is said and done.]
But what are we going to do about Dolls now?
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( Because they were friends. )
If keeping this to yourself and "finding the right time" didn't coincide with him slipping away again.
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Your wife is a witch, right? Can she do some sort of spell to find him?
[Or one of the other witches that have been hanging around?]
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( But, that could be an avenue they can try. )
He was working with a witch. And a siren. Serena was on the stage. I did not get the witch's name, but I could describe her.
( "Let's get a sketch artist in here, then," Wynonna mocks. )
Wynonna, he is working with others. That is our link.
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[Though it has been a long time. Maybe Wynonna still doesn't wear them. But the information Doc gives about a woman on stage captures her attention after that.]
Where was she performing? Maybe we can check online and see if she's still there?
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"They're not in New York," she admits. )
Trio. It was a pretentious, multi-level entertainment venue. But, I suppose it should have a website. And if she were working, then she would be undercover, unless she filled in for someone all of a sudden. Only one way to find out.
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Here it is - Serena Chen has her final show tonight. She's doing a early evening and late night show.
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Isn't her job done? If I were undercover X-tina, I'd ghost my final two shows.
( Not that Wynonna even has a voice worthy of this show. Or any show. )
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[She shrugs, because she doesn't know anything about what Dolls and his crew is doing.]
Are we going to look a gift horse in the mouth, or are we going to go try and catch a song bird?
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( Cause a fucking siren. But, Dolls. )
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Besides, they deserve to have a few casual moments before things get shitty again.
Dolls insists on still watching the shows, just in case there's trouble - whether or not Aalis joins him is up to her. She's between songs when the door opens and the Earps plus Doc make their way in to the club. While she doesn't know the Earps from Adam, Doc's distinctive mustache is hard to miss. And they don't look necessarily happy to be here.]
You know, Gary I'm feeling a little melancholy for my last night. How about we do a little Blue Bayou?
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( It indicates trouble. )
She may be in trouble, or Dolls may be in the house.
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He sees Doc, he sees Waverly, and in the biggest gut punch of them all, he sees Wynonna.
Serena isn't in trouble, but Dolls sure is.]
Damnit, Doc.
[He knows asking him not to tell Wynonna wasn't fair, but he had hoped he would at least have enough time to get out of town and disappear. He slowly gets up from the table and leans in to Aalis.]
Stay here with her. I'll catch up with you later.
[They should not have the incoming confrontation in the middle of Serena's set.]
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"Are you and Doc Holliday long-lost lovers?" she asks curiously.
That's not an answer. She is going to spread this rumor because Aalis is nothing if not a team-playing gossip.
Doc doesn't meet him in the middle, however, Wynonna does. This is hers. Sorry, Aalys. )
You think Bulshar will go down for double jeopardy, or resurrect himself just to immolate your ass again? I haven't seen it in a few years and Ashley Judd's a stretch for you, except for the perpetual frown. You got that down. Who's the fire crotch?
( "Lindsay Lohan would never." But Wynonna's on notice, too. )
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[She's mad at him, and she should be. She doesn't need to take it out on his friends.]
Can we take this outside?
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( She made the joke once. Whatever. Here it goes again.
Yes, they can take this outside. She glances at Waverly and Doc, gestures for them to stay put and practically pushes Dolls above his shoulders towards whatever door they're near.
Aalis meanwhile waves Doc and Waverly over. )
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Dolls lets Wynonna push him, waiting until they're outside before turning to face her. It's been eighteen years but she's still exactly how he remembered, and in a lot of ways, it both hurts and helps.
Helps, because maybe he didn't make up everything between them. Hurts because of everything he missed.]
This wasn't my idea. Which is not an excuse, but ... it's all I've got.
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It's all Wynonna can do not to kick him right in the ass.
Outside, she waits for his explanation, like anything is going to make it up to her. )
This being playing third banana to a witch and a siren or...?
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[Because he assumes that's the part she cares about, not what he's doing here.]
It was Jeremy's idea, and I agreed to go with it, but if I was going to get away from Black Badge, I had to get away from Purgatory.
[Which, sadly, also meant getting away from Wynonna.]
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[Because unfortunately, this lined up perfectly with the three of them in the Garden, so there was no meeting to call. There were no people to ask. There was just him and Jeremy, and they had to make a call.]
You were gone looking for Waverly, and we didn't have time to wait for you to come back. And yeah, maybe I could have reached out after that, but honestly, Wynonna, I didn't think you needed me.
[Because it was supposed to be Doc, wasn't it? It was always going to be Doc.]
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( Nearly three years. )
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[And he's not saying she doesn't have the right to be angry. She does. But before he can say more than that, the ground rocks beneath them, unsteadying them both for a moment, and Dolls has to reach out to brace himself on a dumpster.
Turning his eyes to the horizon ahead of them, and he watches as a blast of white light comes from the top of one of the nearby buildings.]
Get back in the club. Get back in the club now!
[But before she can argue or listen - more likely argue - the wave of magic washes over them and everything goes white.]