#wanderingthroughideas

Joey froze up for a moment, relaxing slowly as the tension faded.

"I...know that, logically. I do but I just....."

He sighed and sat down, leaning over his legs with his hands folded across them. He bounced on of his legs anxiously.

"A long time ago there was someone that I would confide in but, she never had the chance to confide in me when she needed it and, I just can't help but blame myself a little for it."

Bill briefly wondered if he should have allowed Joey to register his presence before speaking. But it seemed that he had recovered quickly.

He remained silent so allow Joey to get his thoughts together, but then he nodded, some sympathy coming into his face.

“Sometimes that happens, Joey,” Bill said, “I don’t think you can blame yourself for that.”

But then he thought.

Joey sighs.

"I know, and I know this sort of thing- recovery- it's not linear but shit. I wish I didn't have as many bad days around this time, you know?'"

Russell nods.

“I’m, I’m sorry. I, yeah, you, you do already know that,” Russell then says, “I just, just felt that, that the reminder is, is important. I, I gotta remind myself of, of that, is all.”

But sympathy creeps across his face once more.

Rook raised a brow. Was that how she sounded like when she avoided sleep on purpose? Maybe that was why no one ever let her be, that really didn't sound very convincing.

"Joey, I'm sorry but I can't let you do this. You're all but vibrating, you'll have to stop before you actually have a heart attack."

And she was no healer, so she couldn't let that happen.

“Been doing great! I’ve had a lot more time to do things around the house and took Luka camping a bunch recently. I don’t know if you’ve met Luka, she’s my dog. I think you’d really like her- real friendly girl. This is actually my second year with her! I can’t believe it’s been that long.”

Joey couldn’t help but ramble on. He was happy to see his friend again!

The soft purple flush spread all the way to his pointed ears. Clawed fingers reached up to tug experimentally at the end of his hair. Trying to get his brain to accept the new- much shorter- length. 

It felt like a weight had been taken off of him. Well, a second weight, outside of the very literal one. 

Surfing was one of those funny things that humans did that didn’t make a whole lot of sense but was rather entertaining to watch. The siren was currently watching one such example as he laid on the sea floor underneath the waves, looking up at the little shape gliding along the water.

Oliver looked at the other, arching his brows “it’s not that kind of nasty business. More in the- literal it’s my job type of way.” He shifted a bit, and fussed with the gloves he kept on his hands.  

His golden eyes seemed to stare straight through Joey. 

“What is it this time?” 

Truth be told, Ozai only tolerated the visits because of the snacks.

And being in prison probably had something to do with it.  

He eyed the waterbender.