InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Poke me in the eye please."

Audrey Parker (lookslikelucy) wrote in thedisplaced,
@ 2020-06-05 15:27:00

Entry tags:

audrey parker, duke crocker

Who: Audrey Parker and Duke Crocker
What: Drinks and a talk
When: June 6, Saturday Afternoon
Where: The Gull
Rating: TBD - Probably low?

Audrey had seen the network and the thoughts of home pervaded her more than she'd like to admit. It was making her suck at her job today with all the distractions that she clocked out early with intent on making it up another day and headed towards home. She realized as she drove in that she was actually heading to The Gull and not the apartment up top. As she stepped into the restaurant, she hoped that Duke was around more desperately than she'd like to admit

Saddling up to the bar, she waited to see if he'd appear or if it was someone else working the bar today.

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leaveatrail
2020-06-05 07:43 pm UTC (link)

As it was, Duke was behind the counter, making sure the things there were in order. He heard the sound of the door opening, heard the footsteps, but he figured it was Audrey by the way they sounded. He didn't immediately stand up because he knew who it was, but once he did, he smiled. "Thought it might be you." There were a few other people around, but he wasn't too concerned about them.

"You're off early today." It was a casual statement. Since she usually went straight to the apartment and he'd see her through the window most of the time. "You need something?"

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lookslikelucy
2020-06-05 08:03 pm UTC (link)

She was only a little surprised he knew it was hear. It made her smile a little. "Beer would be nice." Audrey paused, then her warmed a little to something more personable and she sighed while running her hands through her hair. "Guess I'm just a little distracted. Wasn't being very helpful at work, so I left."

Audrey ran her eyes over him thoughtfully for a moment. "You read the network lately?"

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leaveatrail
2020-06-05 08:35 pm UTC (link)

"Distracted, huh?" Duke arched an eyebrow as she mentioned being distracted. Audrey never let anything really distract her from anything. Maybe when she was looking for her son, but she still helped the Troubled even then. But he gave her a beer and leaned against the counter. In case she wanted to talk about things.

The question caught him slightly off guard and he patted for the phone in his back pocket. "No. Something I should've seen?"

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lookslikelucy
2020-06-05 10:36 pm UTC (link)

She took the beer and as Audrey took her first sip, her shoulders seemed to relax a little. Her own elbows leaned on the counter top as she played with the bottle for a moment. She thought about telling it, but realized if she did, it'd be skewed. She wanted his honest opinion. "How about you log on and look for bureau stuff. Tell me what you think." Audrey looked over at him with slightly pensive eyes before pulling the vulnerability back and taking a long swig.

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leaveatrail
2020-06-05 10:56 pm UTC (link)

He gave her a curious look before he logged in and read through the new posts. He got to the one he assumed she meant and he stilled. There was an option to go home. Only...he knew what was waiting for him at home. He looked back up. "Interesting development." He studied Audrey for a moment, trying to figure out what she was thinking.

"You thinking about going back?" He wouldn't blame her if she wanted to. Nathan was back there, but he wasn't really in the mood to turn evil or die.

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lookslikelucy
2020-06-06 01:05 am UTC (link)

She looked at him while he read, trying not to read too much into his facial expressions. When he finally asked the question she had been asking herself all day, she went to busy herself by drinking more of her beer. She swallowed and tilted her head a little, looking at the bottle instead of Duke as she turned the dark glass bottle slowly in a circle. "I don't know. Maybe?" She looked up at him for a moment, then shrugged. "Maybe not.... the truth is I don't really know. I've gotten really... happy here." Her eyes stole another look at him and this time there was guilt there in her eyes. "Of course if I don't go back, then Haven might never be without the troubles, right?"

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leaveatrail
2020-06-06 01:17 am UTC (link)

He really hated that thought process. "Don't remember you ever being gone, honestly. So maybe it's not the same. Maybe there's the you there and the you here. But whatever you choose is yours. Seen what happens when someone ignores that and I don't really want that to happen again." He lightly tapped his fingers against the counter. "I don't think I'm going," he said after a prolonged silence. "I know what happens there and I don't have anything to go back to. I'd get it, though. Nathan's back there and your life's back there, so it's different. I'd be there, too. Nothing to really miss." Except that he knew that he'd miss her and that was the difficult part.

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lookslikelucy
2020-06-06 01:24 am UTC (link)

She had expected him to say he wasn't going to go, but she hadn't expected him to say a few of it. She wondered what he meant about people ignoring something, but what Audrey really focused on what when he said 'nothing really to miss' as easily as he did.

"That's not true, Duke, and you know it." The words came out automatically before she could think too much about them. She paused and looked back at him, eyes searching. Her gaze dipped to his lips for just a moment before they moved back to his eyes. She wet her lips thoughtfully, pausing.

"... there's this. I'd miss this."

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leaveatrail
2020-06-06 01:37 am UTC (link)

Duke didn't know what 'this' was. But he also wasn't sure that it was strictly true. "You wouldn't even know you missed it." He stared down at the countertop before glancing out at the guests to see if anyone was paying attention or needed anything, but the staff seemed to have things under control. "You'd be okay." He gave her one of his quick smiles. He considered it for a moment, trying to decide if he even wanted to ask.

"What..." He glanced up briefly before looking back down. "What about this are you going to miss. Whatever 'this' is."

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lookslikelucy
2020-06-06 02:43 am UTC (link)

It was definitely easier to look at Duke when he was looking down and not at her. It was kind of stupid how easy this should be and yet how it wasn't easy at all. It was a good question though and one she took a moment to answer as she searched his face again slowly.

"For one I'd miss how easy this is to just sit here and talk to you without feeling like I need some sort of excuse." Plus in Haven all eyes would be on them and word would spread like wildfire. "I don't have to worry about being anyone but me here. Even being a cop here is less stressful." Even with crazy witches and goblins.

She paused, her voice going softer. "I'd miss you, Duke."

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leaveatrail
2020-06-06 04:31 am UTC (link)

"I could argue that I'll still be there for a while." Which was true. "But I'd miss you, too." She might show up again, but then he'd be stuck in this forever sort of in between of continuously hiding his feelings to avoid any discomfort because in the end, it was always Nathan and Audrey and that was okay.

"I..." He wasn't sure what to say or even if he should say anything. He pushed back, starting to clean the glasses. "I'm glad you're here. I don't want to sway anything or make the decision harder. I just...know it's complicated to have a decision about it." He wasn't sure what to do, so he focused on the glasses.

"Have I mentioned I hate this?"

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lookslikelucy
2020-06-06 07:55 am UTC (link)

She couldn't help it. She smiled at his last statement which was just so Duke. She exhaled a quiet little laugh and then shook her head. "Yeah. Me too." This was easier when there wasn't a decision. Would Haven really be okay without her if she chose to stay here? It was really the only big considering. That, and Nathan, but things were complicated there too.

Audrey considered him, then made up her mind about one thing, at least. "Okay." She put her palms on the counter. "Well I guess you're just going to have to take me on a date sometime this week and see what happens, then."

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leaveatrail
2020-06-06 04:29 pm UTC (link)

Duke was entire not sure that he'd heard her correctly, so he looked up at her in confusion for a moment. In any other scenario, Duke would have played it off and make a comment about how he always knew she was trying to date him, but this was mostly a situation in which Duke was sure he was hearing things because he was also sure that sounded nothing like something Audrey would say.

"I seem to remember you stood me up on our last dinner date." It was enough like him to not come off weird, but it was combined with a questioning look.

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lookslikelucy
2020-06-07 07:42 am UTC (link)

She pressed her lips together, looking off to one side thoughtfully before looking back to him. Maybe back home this wouldn't have happened, but that was exactly the point. She also knew that from her timeline, she hadn't gotten as close to Nathan as she was going to, from what she read.

"Well... then I guess you're going to have to choose something better than a dinner date to keep me from standing you up this time." Though as she looked at him, the message was probably clear that she didn't plan to stand him up again, whatever he suggested.

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leaveatrail
2020-06-09 06:57 am UTC (link)

Duke felt somewhat exposed. He knew it was probably because he'd considered the possibility of Audrey ever looking at him the way she did Nathan and the idea made the world feel like it had slowed down. He'd never been exceptionally lucky with relationships and there'd been a time that he didn't want to be and where it didn't matter because he liked the field.

He ignored all of that, however, and gave her his best patented half smile. "I'm really going to hold it against you this time because knowing my luck, if you don't show up, I might actually die."

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lookslikelucy
2020-06-11 02:20 pm UTC (link)

She sent him a look that was a smile both amused and admonishing which was her usual wry expression with Duke. "Guess I'm definitely showing up this time, huh?" She held his gaze for a moment and then needed to break it - do something - so she drank from her bottle because otherwise she had a lot of pent up energy now. Placing the bottle on the counter, she stood, slightly clearing her throat. "I'm serious, Duke. Whenever you're ready." She looked at him, adding silently if you're ready. "Just let me know."

Audrey paused. "I should go though. Take a shower and get out of my work clothes." Which was more of an excuse to exit than anything else because she was worried she made things incredibly awkward.

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