WHO: Oded & James WHAT: A much needed drink WHERE: Oded's trailer WHEN: May 24th, late evening RATING: TBD
There were several times in his life when James could remember having been exhausted by too much talking. It happened in family gatherings after long stretches of absences, or in HR meetings that dragged on till the nerves were raw and everyone felt like jumping out of their skin. It was a fact of life he'd always tolerated as a dutiful member of society. It had never occurred to him before that he could be tired from not talking, but today had been draining in a way that was completely new to him. The few who found his condition amusing wouldn't have annoyed him so much if he'd been able to tell them to fuck off. Mercifully a few had attempted to be helpful, Oded chief among them. That James considered the demon a friend perhaps ought to have called his sanity into question, but he did.
Armed with a bottle of aged whiskey (it was rude to show up and drink without someone else's booze without restocking) and the picture board Diana had given him folded in his back pocket of his jeans for use if necessary, Jim knocked on Oded's trailer door before letting himself in. He whistled to announce himself, holding the bottle aloft when he spotted the other man. Managing a wan smile, Jim heaved a meaningful sigh, slightly exaggerated to convey how badly he needed to kick back. Alcohol wouldn't cleanse him of the shit day he'd had, but it would go a long way. He tapped the glass, then pointed to Oded, indicating that the bottle was for him.
Fuck this felt awkward. Never again would he take the simplicity of a casual 'Hey man, what's going on?' for granted.