New York City, Thursday

[suitably_heroic]

Sometimes mornings were nice. Time spent in the music room, after people had woken up, but before he needed to be anywhere. Jack let his fingers move over the keys, his ear fied on the sound of Dane's chords flowing from the phone recording - Em, G, Cmaj7, D... "Why do we always crave absolution? Why can't we put these ghosts to rest? Why won't we tell the dead to leave us alone? Why let the ghosts follow us home, to let our blood and leave us to roam? The dead should leave us alone--"

"I like the triplets and the duplets," Dane commented quietly from the doorway. "Very cute."

Jack let out a sigh as he looked up and away from the piano. "Well, we aren't all fancy assholes with pretty pieces of paper that say we're qualified to make music good."

"It is a nice thing to have." Dane lifted his cup of coffee with a small smile. "I like it, though. It's getting better."

There was still a quiet exhaustion in his face, and Jack knew it wasn't physical - Dane had slept just fine last night. He put the sheets with the notes down and rose from his seat. "Thanks," he said. "How are you holding up?"

One of Dane's shoulders slid up in a helpless shrug. "I'm okay--" he started. "Okay, no, that's bullshit. I'm sorry. I'm, I don't know. Stuck in some bad memories. I guess. It'll be fine."

Jack took a moment to roll his wrist, fiddling with the straps of his glove. Then he took a few steps, getting in closer, seeing the truth of that reflected in Dane's eyes. "Look, I know you're probably not eager to hear my Jedi zen therapy bullshit," he said. "But try and find a moment to sit with it for a while today, okay? Grab a break or something. Listen to the dulcet tones of cabs racing past, I don't know."

"Aye aye, Zen master," Dane said, a wry smile tugging on his mouth.

"And if you want, I can call the band, cancel our performance at the protest this weekend," Jack added casually. "Give you some time."

"And deprive you of a chance to yell 'fuck the system' in public?" Dane sipped his coffee. "I'm not that much of a monster."

Jack shook his head. He brushed a kiss against Dane's cheek before he passed him by. "Just think about it," he said.

"You tell Lana I said hi," Dane called over his shoulder.

"She agrees with me about the zen shit!" Jack called back.

He grabbed a thermos of coffee on his way out, shoving half a sandwich in his mouth. Lana was probably not going to be outside at 10 AM on the dot, right? He would be that lucky?

[[ for her ]]

Comments

[unusual_sith]

"That's because you don't see me at work," Lana pointed out. "But even so, being happy myself and being able to cheer up someone else are two entirely different things. Sometimes when you're feeling bad the last thing you want is a happy person hanging around."

[suitably_heroic]

Dane shrugged. "I think it's just about... listening," he said. "Getting a feel for what somebody needs, you know? Instead of trying to do some standard cheer-up routine or doing whatever you think is best."

Not that Dane had any issues or concerns. Issues and concerns were Jack's department.

[unusual_sith]

"That makes sense," Lana agreed. "What kinds of things cheer up people from around here?" Hypothetically speaking.

[suitably_heroic]

"Like I said. Depends on who and when and why," Dane said, with a thoughtful smile. "If I feel like crap, maybe I want a good meal from my favorite place, or maybe I need to get out of here and get some exercise."

Or some guy listening in on his moody jamming and making up funny lyrics while they just sat there for an afternoon.

He shrugged. "It's personal."

[unusual_sith]

"Let's say you were feeling poorly, but you had to go to work soon," Lana conjectured. "What sorts of things might help?"

[suitably_heroic]

"... I don't know. Congee and bad TV?" Dane said, tilting his head thoughtfully.

[unusual_sith]

"Why don't we watch terrible TV until Jack finishes, then?" Lana asked, smiling.

If nothing else, it would give him something to complain about.

[suitably_heroic]

Dane laughed. "Thanks, but I really do have to get going," he said. "Maybe later."

"Stop trying to get him to get on my nerves," Jack called, as he shut the bathroom door behind him.

[unusual_sith]

"I like to keep you on your toes." Lana stood up. "Are we heading out, then?"

[suitably_heroic]

"Going to go for a walk, and I'll let you play tourist as much as you want," Jack said easily, tugging his jacket back on. Behind Lana, Dane rose from the sofa, stretching.

Jack pointed at him. "Bowl, dishwasher."

Dane rolled his eyes. "Sir, yes, sir."

[unusual_sith]

"I want to buy one of those terrible smashed coins," Lana decreed.

She smiled at Dane. "Good to see you again. Take care."

[suitably_heroic]

"Bye, Lana!" Dane called, fishing around for his work clothes.

"Why would you want a smashed coin?" Jack complained, as he opened the door and held it for her. "You can get smashed coins anywhere."

[unusual_sith]

Lana shrugged as she followed him. "It was the most touristy thing I could think of. I don't think I've gotten any of those yet on my class trips."

[suitably_heroic]

"I think your class trips have tourist-poisoned your brain," Jack told her, as he headed back down to the entrance. "My suggestion? Just enjoy where you are."

[unusual_sith]

Lana laughed. "Duly noted, Master Jedi." She shook her head. "I'm perfectly happy to, honestly. You're the one who mentioned being a tourist."

[suitably_heroic]

"I meant like roaming around and looking at things and taking way too many pictures of the Brooklyn Bridge," Jack groaned. "Space, you're impossible."

He'd missed her.

[unusual_sith]

"How many pictures do I need of a bridge?" Lana asked. "Is it that interesting?"

[suitably_heroic]

"Some of the tourists seem to think so," Jack said. "But I live in a place called 'Two Bridges', so my ability to figure out if a bridge is interesting is shot."

[unusual_sith]

"You lived on Coruscant, too," Lana pointed out. "Isn't it all just bridges at this point?"

It was one of the few places she'd never actually been, but as tall as it was, it must have plenty of bridges.

[suitably_heroic]

Jack snorted. He pulled open the door. "Coruscant is a different story," he said. "Coruscant doesn't really do bridges as landmarks. Gotta have space for speeder traffic."

[unusual_sith]

"So, even more of a traffic nightmare than this place?" Lana guessed. She'd never had to deal with New York traffic, but she'd heard stories.

[suitably_heroic]

Jack shrugged. "What is Dromund Kaas traffic like?" he asked.

[unusual_sith]

Lana smiled wryly. "Very well regulated. In and around Kaas City, if it's not official business, it's mostly public transport, which fortunately is very good. Beyond that, there are a limited number of speeders and transports for rent, or you can walk. If you're very rich, you can have your own, but there are strict rules about them."

She shrugged. "Outside the city, it depends a lot on who's in charge of the local region. Some prioritize locals, some military, some don't even bother to maintain the roads."

To be fair, road maintenance involved a little bit of plasteel and an awful lot of gundarks.

[suitably_heroic]

"Yeah, no, Coruscant is chaos," Jack said. "There were weeks I thought traffic there might actually be more deadly than on Nar Shaddaa. Hutts have nothing on an anxious Besalisk trying to get to level 5,102 during rush hour, or a Senator late to a party halfway across the block you're on."

[unusual_sith]

Lana laughed. "I'm surprised the Senators haven't learned the fine art of avoiding parties by blaming transport. Unless their parties are much more interesting than Sith parties."

Which she somehow didn't see.