Juliet Daimen

Jack did not know how he was going to survive this interaction. On a good day, he had a habit of scaring Juliet off with his temperament, and while she always tried to hide her hurt, she rarely succeeded. In the mood he was in now, he was sure to say something that would have her hating him before ten minutes were up. Well, perhaps that was for the best, anyway. He clearly also had a habit of damaging those around him, and it would be for the best if she did choose distance. He turned his attention to his hand as well, deciding it would be for the best to merely keep his mouth shut as much as possible. “I’ve no quarrel with regular medicine.” He pointed out. He saw it do plenty of good, and even more healing magic needed the boost that it gave. 

She was careful in her work, and while Jack’s fist tightened on a few occasions, he didn’t wince throughout it. It could have been worse; but the damage was not so bad and not too much dirt had worked it’s way into the wound. Once she finished, hearing and approving of the spell she had used, Jack flexed his hand briefly. It was stiff, as she said, but there was very little pain and he could appreciate the work done on it. “As someone who wrote your grades for a semester, I’ve faith in your ability to wield magic.” 

“You never know who sees modern medicine as childish or can see that there is still a need for it even with magic. It’s about finding what works together,” Juliet pointed out as she slowly dropped his hand so that he could move away if he wanted to. She never wanted to make him feel trapped by her. She was glad that he didn’t just run off the moment that she was done it gave her a moment to keep an eye on his hand at least for her own peace of mind. “Personally though I find a good balance is the real way to live life. But I use that in more than just medicine if we’re being honest. But I’m sure that’s a conversation that you would find boring,” She admitted looking down at she blushed at the admission. She was rambling, and there was no hiding that.

Juliet didn’t bother to hide the wince from her face as she looked up at Jack. She tried to push it from her mind that he was her professor, but she supposed if it’s what made his life easier in order to push her away she unfortunately understood. Still though she hoped that he wouldn’t just rush off and would instead she would have enjoyed having an actual conversation with him outside of the bar. “Just because academically I was a good student though doesn’t mean I’m worth a damn outside of a classroom but I’m happy to have your approval.”

Oof, he’d clearly struck a nerve. Most people assumed that getting his way through magic resulted in a complete neglect of James’ capacity to read facial expressions and understand basic body language. He had neglected neither, and thus saw instantly when her brows creased and lips pursed. She was preparing an answer that would not strictly be the complete truth and, right on cue, she murmured something about him being her professor back in the day. His smile widened. No need to press that nerve quite yet.

What is Jack to me…? Pain in the ass, overbearing control-freak… Usual brotherly stuff. “We’re family.” James decided on, eventually. “Cousins.” That smile remaining in place and expression perfectly level. As would be expected of someone sporting his personality, he was exceptional at lying… and the best lies were woven from partial truths.

“You here looking for him, then?”

Cousins. Jack had never mentioned anything about his family, but she had never expected for him to have a cousin much less to be close to them enough they’d visit. It just went to show just how much she knew about Jack, or rather didn’t know. “He’s never mentioned anything about his family. You do both have the same charming looks though,” She admitted allowing her eyes to rack over him for a moment before turning her attention away from him again. “Are you two close then?  I’m sure you didn’t just pop in because you felt like you had to out of the goodness of your heart.”

Of course the moment she wanted to see him was the moment that Jack seemed to be hiding away from the two of them. “I suppose you could say that I am. I have a few questions for him, but it seems like he’s hiding away doesn’t?” She asked arching her eyebrows trying to pretend to be amused rather than anything else he might pick up on. She didn’t want to cause him any problems with his family though.

“I don’t presume to know what you’ve seen. I merely do not like to lose my temper, much less be seen doing it.” He was known for being even-tempered, even if that temperament was surly. It was even, if nothing else could be said for it. Still, he didn’t not try to fight her off from inspecting his hand, feeling as though that would only make matter worse. He wanted to return to his own room and pace, analyze each moment of his conversation with James, ever that had been said and everything that should or shouldn’t have been said. He was certainly in no state to be around Juliet. “I’m so glad to have your permission for it.” The words slipped out unexpectedly. He blamed them on his mood. 

Still, he didn’t fight her. Jack allowed himself to be led down the many halls of Les Amis, thinking that this had to be the meaning of insult to injury. He was sure he could find a spell to fix it, but he did not think he could change her mind on the matter short of saying something truly damaging, and he wasn’t sure that he wanted to so thoroughly end her short visits to The Crusty Lemon. In her room, he did his best to not glance about it, turning his attention instead to inspect the gash on his hand. She wasn’t wrong; it was worse than a scratch. He reluctantly sat on the end of her bed, beside her. 

“I can understand that,” Juliet admitted as casually as she could muster. She personally liked to be seen as someone that had it all together and never lost her calm. The only person she had ever allowed to see her that weak was Nico, but even then it was always at her last straw and she had no idea how to bring herself back down to the ground. He always knew the best and easiest way to get her back to herself in ways that no one else knew. His other set of words though stilled her for a moment but she did her best to hide the hurt from her face as she bit down on her inner cheek to will herself control over her emotions. 

“Magic is wonderful and everything, but sometimes modern medicine is the first step in the process,” She pointed out as she tenderly cleaned out the wound keeping her gaze intensely on what she was doing so that she didn’t become distracted. Once she was sure that the wound was cleaned she covered the now cleaned wound with her hand before murmuring a quiet spell that she had become all too use to using with Nico. “It might feel stiff for the next few hours, but it should be back to normal before you even go to bed. If not you’re free to call me a liar.”

“At least it’s not as bad as your face.” He shot back, crossing his arms. His face was fabulous and they both knew it. “You aren’t boring. You are fantastic, and any guy should be insanely grateful to spend the rest of his life with you.” And if Jack couldn’t see that, then Nico might have to have a talk with him. Literally. He wasn’t much for fighting. “Thank you, I’m sure mom would faint at the thought. Which makes it much funnier to think about.” It wasn’t that he was that attached to having long hair, it was just easier. Short hair took a lot of upkeep, and was more difficult to fix.

“Wow that’s mean even for you,” Juliet did her best to have her eyes begin to water up as if she was about to start crying. She was good at making herself cry on demand mostly to guilt her brother, but it certainly came in handy with their parents as well. “You’re literally the singular most biased person about that though. You always think I’m way more worthy than anyone else would ever. You’re the best brother I could have though,” she gushed knowing she could never stay mad a him for long. “Mom would absolutely die if either of us dared to touch our locks though. It’d be fairly entertaining to say the least.”

“He’s so ancient. It’s awful.” Nico said, making a face in her direction. He was mostly teasing, Jack was a good guy. Oblivious, but a good guy. “Okay, but what he wants seems to be boring things. Not fun things. He would be the worst boyfriend.” No imagination at all, from what Nico had seen. “My hair is glorious. Your parents keep trying to get me to cut it though.” They were her parents when they were being annoying about things like cutting his hair, or getting a ‘real job’. Their parents any other time.

“You know what’s awful? Your shirt,” she teased him even knowing she had bought him the shirt. “Okay but I’m boring too. I just want to be happy and spend my life loving someone. Which might be boring to you. Tell our parents that it would be a crime for you to cut those beautiful locks. I’ll cut mine off in rebellion if you cut yours,” Juliet knew what he meant by the comment. She did the same whenever they annoyed her. They were his parents whenever they tried to set her up with some child of a friend or got on her about finding a boyfriend.

Juliet was perhaps the last person Jack had any desire to see him in this condition. He would rather have run back into James, or even Nico would have been preferable. He was in a terrible mood and he did not trust himself not to say something particularly rude to whoever he was around. There were a few in the house he knew could handle that. Juliet, however, was one of those who took him much too seriously. He gave his hand a seething look, as if he could convince it to stop bleeding just through that. Yet still, he allowed her to take his hand, forcing it to un-form the fist it had been in and drawing in a deep breath. 

“It’s just a scratch.” He insisted. He could wrap it on his own, he knew, without the likelihood of alienating her. “Nothing worth fussing about.” His voice was more even than he had expected, as he swallowed the bubbling anger that was still trying to escape. Some of it had eased out with the display of violence and now he was feeling more ashamed than anything of his reaction. “I’m sorry you had to see that.” 

“You think this is the worst I’ve seen?” She asked him curiously as she looked up at him as she tenderly ran her thumb over his skin. If she was honest there was a chance that it was the worst, but she was use to outbursts. It didn’t change the way that she saw him except that maybe he needed someone to talk to. She didn’t expect for him to just open up to her, but she hoped that he at least allowed her to take care of his hand. It would allow her to make sure that he was fine and calm her own fears that anything was wrong with him.  “It’s more than a scratch, but I promise once it’s all fixed up you can avoid me.”

Juliet moved to pull him along with her determined to make sure he got the proper care that she felt he deserved. Which of course only meant that she was the one that had to do anything to his hand. Once they were safely tucked away in her room she didn’t even pause to worry about what he thought of the space before she dropped his hand completely in order to locate her first aid kit before sitting on the edge of her bed gesturing for him. 

James was used to being turned down. Tactics as forward as his often resulted in a rather polar range of results, not all of them good. What he wasn’t used to, was being turned away so bluntly. Usually his powers curbed that hateful edge to the woman’s voice, the indignant shuttering of her eyes against his charm. She didn’t seem affected in the slightest, as if she were talking to just any other flirtster in some back-alley bar. It meant she was either married or had an agenda, or so he guessed. Moments later when she glanced back towards the bar before making a jibe at the owner, he realized.

Oh Jacky-boy.

She was here to see his brother. Instantly James was interested in this woman for a plethora of other reasons, his smile widening further. A lover? Girlfriend? He shuddered at the possibilities before focusing back on the conversation. A hand waved at the bartender, gesturing to both of them for drinks without his eyes ever leaving her own. “You know Jack, then?” He inquired, innocent.

Know Jack? Well perhaps not in the ways that she wanted to, scratch that absolutely not in the ways that she wished she did. He made it quite obvious that she had no chance with him despite how much she may wish that she did. Instead of some snarky comment about being able to afford her own drink she decided to let it slide as accepted the drink. Anytime she was there she needed to get drunk before she made any mistakes. At least if she was intoxicated Jack would brush it off, sober though? Then she would remember every pathetic detail of how much she wanted him and how much he did not return the feelings.

“He was a professor of mine in university,” It was as much as she was willing to give him. Not the fact that she was completely taken with him. That there was every bit of her that given any single chance to be with him that she would jump on it, and him. No, she kept those between herself and Nico. ““What about you?” She asked noting that even if he lied she would know. He knew his name.

“Something other than your word. Because for all I know you may be fabricating this entire tale you told me. Another person’s word, maybe, or you know, solid evidence. Such as a chance for me to actually witness these things you’re saying. I’m sorry but my suspension of disbelief doesn’t go that far.”

“He’s gross because you like him. And he’s a decade older. Practically ancient.” Nico made a face, confident that she had to know that he did support her in her weird crush. Just that he also was going to tease her no matter who she liked. And Jack was very easy to tease about. “I would never. I am adorable and innocent.”

“He’s hardly ancient,” She pointed out to him rolling her eyes dramatically, “Besides it just means he’s established and it’s better for me than just settling for someone that doesn’t know what they want,” She pointed out to her brother raising her eyebrows. “You are pretty adorable though. Especially with your fluffy hair.”

“Yes well, I’m sure that even the unlawful inhabitants of this bar can see when a woman is not suited to them.” Were she a random woman, he might have had a very different response. But there was something very different about a one time fling and a person one shared a living space with. “That may be the only saving grace of this bar. People know not to make a fuss here.” It might have taken time for that word to get around, but he’d gotten it through a few thick skulls and now it was common knowledge that no matter the crowd in The Crusty Lemon, they would behave themselves. 

“Your choice.” At one point at least, Jack knew she could afford it. His school had not been easy to get into and didn’t offer many scholarships, which meant it was full of kids with more money than they knew what to do with. Obviously she was not still in that life, given she was living at Les Amis de l’ABC, but he would assume some of it was still there. Not that it was any business of his how much money she had or what she chose to do with it. 

“And I’m sure that many of them still stare as they please except with me,” She didn’t know if she liked being a special case, but she tried to not question it too much. It made life a bit easier at the very least. “I happen to find it quite charming in it’s own ways. But perhaps that’s because I’m usually left alone without anyone asking too many questions.” She enjoyed the no drama that came with the bar. It always made it easier to allow herself to relax and even joke around with a few of the patrons. They’d become extensions of the bar for her.

A smile was creeping onto James’ face unbidden as the voice scorned his simple request, those famous Connolly blues turning to regard the new, blonde arrival. It was, of course, not the first time he’d been turned down… but though he’d never admit it, that rarely happened. His passive power only influenced people, it certainly didn’t force them to do anything. That said, if this new girl was able to so bluntly deny him, she clearly felt very strongly for her opinion. She obviously hated assholes.

We’re going to get along just fine.

James’ entire intention for the evening shift as he swivelled to face the beauty, hip leaning against the aged wood of the bar as toned arms fold over his chest. His self-proclaimed smolder was paired with a faint smile as he bowed his head, silently apologizing for his rudeness as if embarrassed. Far from it. “I am truly sorry for my rudeness.” And that it didn’t work. His head straightened, “Lass as good looking as you, fetching people’s drinks must be far beneath you.” At least that was honest. The woman was gorgeous. His pulse quickened, smile widening.

Juliet’s gaze flickered over to the man knowing that she was probably being too harsh on him, but it was clear even to her that he was someone that was use to getting his way which tended to get underneath her skin. Despite growing up in a well off family, okay they were more than just well off, Juliet still had to work for certain things and wasn’t always allowed to charm those around her into giving into her every whim. Perhaps that was a lesson the pretty boy could learn. 

“You can stop sucking up to me. Your charm is absolutely wasted because I’m still not getting you a drink,” She assured him with an amused smirk pulling at her lips. Even if she had no interest in him and was only there in the small chance that she would run into Jack  it still felt good to be able to tell him off even slightly. “You do know who could get you a drink though? The bartender. Considering that’s their job, but I’d make sure to tip well. The owner can be a real pain in the ass,” She had meant the comment teasingly considering just how high in regard she held James but still.

“That’s because he’s a gross old man and I think it’s weird that you like him.” Nico teased, shaking his head at her. “Good. I might cry otherwise, and no one wants to see that. We all know I’m an ugly crier.”

“He is not gross nor is he that much older than we are,” Juliet pointed out knowing already that her cheeks had blushed at the admission that she did like Jack. “And we both know that you’re not an ugly crier. How many times have you cried to me to get your way?”

“I don’t believe there’s anyone who regularly visits this bar within an acceptable age to be hitting on you.” Outside of her, Adelaide and Nico, Jack was fairly certain that he was the youngest person in the bar on a nightly basis. Were he half a decade younger, he might have had a very different comment, but he was not. Even if she hadn’t been a student of his; Jack was older but he still knew how to appreciate someone as beautiful as her. He could remember an old coworkers comment, ‘I might be too old for her, but she’s not too young for me’. At the time, he’d found it distasteful, and while he still did, he could now understand the sentiment of it. 

“That bill is only going to find it’s way back to your room should you leave it there.” Jack commented as soon as it was laid down. He really hadn’t meant to chase her off; he was accustomed to most of the residents of the house ignoring every bit of the worst bluster he could put forth. “I believe I remember that much, though.” He could always tell, the students who actually put their work in, as well as the ones who enjoyed it. Of course, Juliet had only been there for a semester, so he hadn’t gotten as much of a feel for her as some of the others. 

“I can think of one that is an acceptable age to hit on me, however I doubt he ever will,” Juliet pointed out to him sure that he wouldn’t pick up on the very slight hint that she had been meaning him and even if he did put it together she was certain he would just brush it off. Jack never seemed to be the type to hold back if he wanted something. If anything he seemed to be the kind of guy that would go after something if he wanted it enough. “I think as long as the regulars know that you’re keeping an eye on me though they remain well behaved and on their best behavior. I don’t have any complaints about the people that are here.”

She didn’t hold back on her eye roll as she looked over at him, “Even if you don’t take the bill towards my drinks at least leave it as a tip for the bartender. They shouldn’t serve me for free,” Juliet pointed out to him with the slightest smirk pulled at her lips as she looked back to him. Part of her wished he had never been her professor. It made for blurry lines and while some were into that particular fantasy for her she actually enjoyed him. He might be rough around the edges but he always kept her interested.

“Okay, that sounds more like it.” He nodded a few times, still working on getting fully awake. “Jack? Really? How is he in the competition for your favorite?”

“I just like seeing your reaction whenever I mention him. After all it’s pretty entertaining,” She admitted reaching up in order to pat his cheek tenderly. “You will always forever and ever be my absolute favorite.”