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Tommy/Bones
Tommy had found their way through multiple bars, a few random partners, and even multiple bottles. They were taking this bender a long way around.
This is how they ended up outside the backdoor of Whittaker Sharpe's theater. They were leaning half against the door.
They looked masc but had make-up and the like running off their face, and wore a wet and dirty sundress.
Asbolus
While not his theater in name Asbolus kept it running smoothly day to day, and as such he was on site when Tommy found themselves using the door for support. He happened to emerge from the other half of the door in question for a spot of fresh air, a quick flicker of caution quickly shifting to concern as he saw the state they were in. "Are you injured?"
Tommy/Bones
"Mmm. Good question... I don't think so... Time is loosey goosey soup. Only hurt inside I think " they giggled a bit, "Promoted and demoted in a month."
Asbolus
He gave Tommy a cursory once over to check for any visible wounds before escorting them inside, heading towards his office nearby. "Let's get you seated and some water, perhaps. Whittaker Sharpe, at your service."
Tommy/Bones
"I'm Bones... Nope I'm Thomas... No... Tommy..." There were no visible wounds besides a few scratches from falling here and there.
They didn't fight the escort, "Whit and Sharpe? Are you bright as well?" A laugh again.
Asbolus
The mention of the Shadow Name piqued the Darkling's attention, although he refrained from addressing it while they were still in the lobby. "I like to think so," he said with a small smile, "but I leave that for others to judge."
The office that he led Tommy to was cozy but practical, a laptop resting on the sturdy wooden desk along with the usual tidy stacks of paperwork once expected in such places and collections of playbills for the theater's productions displayed on the walls. Asbolus guided them into one of the chairs in front of the desk, making sure she was settled before claiming the other for himself. "What do you need at the moment? Food, drink, shoulder to cry on, a ride home?"
Tommy/Bones
"Not A, B, C, or D. I prefer E, all of the above, I think... sorry for... wait, is this a theater?" they looked around, frowning, "I've... I started on one side of town, and I think I'm to the other," they rolled their head back and forth, thinking and absorbing information around them. Even through whatever binge they had been on for twenty-four hours.
"You're cute... remind me of a professor... from the University."
Asbolus
"That can be arranged, and yes, it is." He nodded, watching as they pieced things together. "Sounds like you've had quite a night."
He paused as she continued, thinking briefly before answering. "I get that often. From UPenn, yes?"
Tommy/Bones
They bobbed their head and spoke, "Yeah... from my last... presentation. Lots of handshakes with lots of staff... woohoo fame... I'm sure the papparazzi would love it, if they followed archaeologists."
Asbolus
"Being recognized for one's work is often a good thing in my experience." He nodded, looking them over before scooting his chair closer to offer the aforementioned shoulder. "Let's focus on the now, though. What happened that led you to stumble your way here?"
Tommy/Bones
"MMmm.... it's secret stuff," a hand through their hair, as if it should be shorter than the length it is. Then they pulled their fingers out and sighed, "I... was promoted for... doing a lot of good research, right? Also, I hate politics. So the politicans in the job didn't hate me."
Asbolus
"I've seen your name around the diner, if that helps om the secrecy front, and a friend of mine has spoken of you helping with their recent troubles."
He nodded quietly, noting the odd motion of their hand. "I see. Not a fan of such myself, I admit."
Tommy/Bones
"Oh! A Waflflflfle Frens. Pleasure to meet you. SOrry to meet you this way... my name... kicked out and then let back in... just like this job. I'm Awakened, though right now I wish I was asleep... are you Lost or Kin?
Asbolus
"Good to meet you as well, circumstances aside." He smiled a touch. "I wager its not so bad that you can't bounce back from it, as dark as it may look at the moment."
"I am with the freehold, yes."
Tommy/Bones
"Oh... so are a few partners... and a few friends... and... " a sigh, " I'm... I was looking into the robots. Among other things. I broke some society rules, and social faux paxs and maybe a few laws..."
Asbolus
"Ah hah." A small nod. "And drinking away your sorrows felt like the right course of action?"
Tommy/Bones
"I've never done it before... I figured that working through ... well ... nothing.. for a bit... no thinking... no overthinking.... no analyze everything..."
Asbolus
"And how do you feel now having done it?"
Tommy/Bones
"...Idiotic."
Asbolus
"Sorrow can make us do foolish things, as much as anger. You were at a low point and sought solace, just not from the best of sources. Were there others you could have reached out to, or were you conceded about their possible judgement?"
Tommy/Bones
"... I just formed a group... and one of them was my deputy. No longer. I shattered a longtime friendship with my boss...there are partners I could have reached out to, and yet...I wanted to feel sorry I think. I wanted... a day of selfishness."
Asbolus
"An understandable desire. When failure strikes it can seem daunting, overwhelming even. I've been there myself." He offered them a hand to take. "Recognizing the spiral when it forms is important, though, as finding a healthy way to work through it."
Tommy/Bones
They clasped the hand and squeezed tightly, for an average strength person anyways, "I'm... afraid. I run away when I"m scared. I run when there's a fight."
Asbolus
He squeezed their hand in return, his own grip well within normal parameters. "I understand that reflex, believe me. It took some time after my return to break that particular mindset, and that came from finding people I could trust and who I knew would have my back. It sounds like you have that here as well, or at least the foundations of it."
Tommy/Bones
"... yeah... I do. I had to hide. I'm a hider... I hate it at times too... It might be the cause of this drama. I wanted to burn a bridge rather than have a tough conversation."
Asbolus
"Perhaps. Leaving something behind can be easier in the moment, but do it often enough and you find yourself adrift with nothing to anchor yourself to those around you."
Tommy/Bones
"...are you the on site counselor or something?" they looked around... and as they drank water and thought quietly, they realized their current state.
Magic was woven under their veils and released into the air.
Tommy/Bones
The old makeup, spitup, and other messes formed into a ball in their hand, which they deposited into a trash can, and instantly seemed brighter and happier than they had been earlier, more alert and with it.
Asbolus
"Just the manager, but I've been helped by others and do my best to help in kind." He watched curiously as they magically tidied themselves up, smiling a touch as they perked up as well. "Very impressive? Feeling better, I hope?"
Tommy/Bones
"Physically yes, mentally, I feel even more idiotic. I am known as Dr. Thomas, Tommy, Shanks, also known among the Awakened as Bones of Magic or simply Bones.... and yeah, it's been rough."
Asbolus
"Asbolus, a pleasure." He nodded, giving their hand another light squeeze before letting go. "Don't be too harsh on yourself. We all make mistakes, and it's what we do afterwards that speaks the most to our character."
Tommy/Bones
"I guess... I keep doing my regular job of gathering information, researching, and using my expertise to push forwards the dream issues that we've all faced."
Asbolus
"A sound plan indeed. A dear friend of mine is working on that as well; Lux, if you know them?"
Tommy/Bones
"Indeed. They gave me the list of dream symbols gathered at present. I studied them and ... got a few ideas. It lead to other research... and now I have to figure out what to do with or without the title... I didn't wnat the title, did I say that?"
Asbolus
"You mentioned you don't like politics, so close enough. I'd say pressing forward even without the title to go with it would be worthwhile. The sooner we get to the bottom of that issue the better."
Tommy/Bones
"And the other thing... it looks like... fuck... do you have a digital device that I can give you the report? I feel like you're a good person to ahve it."
Asbolus
"Certainly. I can pass it on to them as well if you haven't already, seeeing as we live together." He pulled his phone and unlocked it before handing it over.
Tommy/Bones
They tapped the phone with a finger tip, and suddenly there was a perfect copy of Bones' report on it in the files.
"I sent theirs through official channels. Hopefully it made it."
Asbolus
"Handy, that." He smirked a touch as he reclaimed the phone, nodding as they continued. "I wager so."
Tommy/Bones
"... you are agood person, Mister Asbolus. I'm glad I ran into you and not some of the other elements of the world."
Asbolus
He smiled quietly at that, giving them a nod. "Thank you. I do my best, and I'm glad I was able to help. Just Asbolus is fine, as well."
Tommy/Bones
"So... Sharpe is you? an Alias? I want to make sure to refer ot you as the right name at the right time."
Asbolus
"Correct. Here or out among mostly mundanes Sharpe would be preferred, but among others in the shadows Asbolus is fine."
Tommy/Bones
"As Tommy and Bones are split," a bob of the head, "...what do you know of New york?"
Asbolus
"The city? Not much, I've visited but that was before my time away, as it were."
Tommy/Bones
"...Understood. Just, trails lead there. I think... I need to go home. Face my family and my friends."
Asbolus
Asbolus nodded, standing and offering them a hand up if needed. "Would you like a ride there?"
Tommy/Bones
"Probably should... don't know what part of twon that I'm In... " they blushed, and grinned and rubbed the back of their own head.
Asbolus
"No worries. Lord knows I had a bender or two to recover from while at university." He chuckled. "Shall we?"
Tommy/Bones
"Let's... can we get food on the way? My tre-- I don't have my wallet and shit... oh well. I'll find it all later..."
Asbolus
"Of course, and I can cover it. I know a fabulous Indian place nearby, if that would work for you."
Tommy/Bones
"Thank you, my friend."
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