#thread 24

For all they've heard balls be hyped up as the pinnacle of high society, it's mostly just a lot of standing around and talking to people. And dancing, too, of course, but even the veil of anonymity does not stop them from feeling shame at not knowing how to dance.

Well, fun can always be had in other ways.

{Text} Hi Jody, it's me. Steele, I was wondering if you want to get a drink with me?

[text] Hey. Sure.

[text] How about 7 at Ciaran’s? I’ll probably be hungry by then.

[text] I need you to lock Keith in the basement of the club.

[text] Are you joking?

[text] Or

{Steele}: Elijah is back, which I know that you know. I saw him, and things did not go well. I hurt him... physically.

[text] I told him you’d be happy to see him. Is he alright?

[text] I’m coming over.

This is your fault. You sent him into the lion’s den after he forgave you for hurting him. You sent him to an unstable person with anger issues. You did this to him...

Jody ignored the voice in his head, the self loathing... He ignored it, for now, but he heard it, loud and clear. And it was right. He was right. He had done this to Elijah. Day one back. How was Elijah supposed to trust him now, as fragile as that trust was now, Jody felt some of it was repaired... Elijah didn’t deserve that. Jody didn’t deserve that forgiveness. And especially not after this.

I grew up, but when did I get this old?

Jody’s back was giving him problems again. Maybe mid-thirties was just when things started to break down a little more steadily but he knew this problem wasn’t just getting older. Beside all that, it had been a while since he’d seen Frankie... well, sober anyway. She was always quick to help him out. And he had been neglecting the regularly attended yoga class. Now his back was ‘thanking’ him for it.

He could feel the problem and knew if he wasn’t careful today he would really do himself an injury. Glancing at the bedside clock, it was fairly early in the morning, but he figured Frankie would definitely be up by now. He grabbed his phone, texting her.

[text] Care to help out an old man in an uncomfortable situation?

[text] It’s my back. Again. :)

Jody got out of bed, slowly and carefully. Mouse whined to be let out and Jody made his way to his bedroom door, every step down the stairs a roll of the dice, practically white knuckling the railing. He opened the back door for Mouse to run out and pee. Jody snapping his fingers and scolding Mouse for starting to wander too far off sent a series of mildly nerving jolts to his back. Mouse sniffed around closer to the patio before coming inside, heading to the kitchen for water and his expected breakfast.

Well... Shit.

He’d have to wait until Layla was up and about. But she’d probably be a few more hours. Jody was a very early morning person. He gave Mouse a few extra treats before starting in on making his morning coffee and texted Frankie again.

@wade-jensen​ sent...  “Bet I can make you come without ever touching your cock.”

“Oh, I’m sure you can...” Jody was half joking. Jody lounged on Wade’s couch, maybe a few too many glasses of wine in him, but still fully dressed except for his shoes and socks. He hadn’t come over looking to get intimate but now that Wade was in the mood, it was awfully appealing. He felt comfortable around Wade and was terribly attracted to him. In the wake of his break up with Fawn, it was nice to be wanted like that. And maybe, subconsciously, it was why Jody had come over for dinner and a movie and some wine. Just between friends who had sex a few times and enjoyed one another immensely. Jody had shared a lot with Wade over the years they’d known each other. But he’d failed to mention the break up to much of anyone yet.

@elijahxxwilson​ sent...

“Wrap your hands around my throat.”

“I... don’t feel comfortable doing that, Elijah...” One of Jody’s hands moved away from Elijah’s face, kissing him just a moment ago. Things were progressing a little fast than Jody had intended, a lot faster really, but they were half dressed in Jody’s bedroom, one thing leading to another.

Elijah couldn’t believe he was back. Back on the island which he so often disliked but felt more like home then anything else ever could. He was struggling with his hunger, having just been allowed out the cells for some food, when he collided with someone, “Crap, sorry” he said quickly as he bent to pick their things up, “Should watch where I am going right?”

“It’s okay--” Jody said as he knelt down to gather the old books off of the ground. “I think they’re okay, thank god. Dhani told me to take a tote bag and he’s gonna kill me if I damaged these because I didn’t listen--” He gathered a few in his arms before looking up at the person who he’d run into. There were four rather heavy and very old looking books. They had an air of magic to them, probably what protected them from turning into dust when they hit the ground as they appeared they well should have. Books on dark magic, on necromancy, things ordered for Jody with research and special contacts from other people on the island with more questionable moral leanings than his own. But they were necessary. 

Elijah... looked slightly different. He didn’t feel different. Because his power was bound, Jody couldn’t immediately tell he was in the presence of a vampire or not. He looked paler, but that was probably due to his time off the island. But that was hardly the reason Jody’s greeting was awkward.