entranceway | [Video]

Entry tags:

[Video]

[Shock and awe, Wonderland. Tom has been here for how long and this is his first time on the network unaffected by an event. But anyone who knows him knows he hates the friggin' thing. Or, more to the point, just really doesn't like drawing too much attention to himself.

But hey. He's happy for once in a very long time. He's in love! And instead of jumping around on someone's couch or screaming from the roof tops, he's sitting outside the back of the house with a power saw, a generator, and a stack of timbers that he has lugged from the closest closet.

A lot of you he hasn't met but you might remember him proposing a football game a months or so back, but he wasn't feeling quite himself then. Living alternative lives and all that.]

Was thinking about doing some work out here. Idle hands and all that.

[It's a beautiful autumn day, guys. Come out and do something constructive.]

Could use some help to get the walls up. Not like we've got much else to do.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Jo is just going to casually interject here, addressing both of them privately, because this is not how she had planned for this to go. She had been hoping there might be more liquor involved. Maybe dinner. Something to make the inevitable interrogation go more smoothly.]

Hey. It's okay. I'm sorry, this isn't how I wanted you two to meet -- be confident, okay? Confident and calm. She'll like that.

What the fuck why is she being like this?

[because sorry not sorry his idea of impressing his girlfriend's parent isnt to fight with them.]

Because she's a hardass. Because in our line of work, you have to be scarier than everyone else to get respect.

[Just how it is.]

It'll take her awhile to warm up but just smile and try not to get defensive even when she pushes you. She's just--

[She sighs. Sorry, Tom, welcome to the family.]

Look, you're not a hunter, she'll like you well enough for that when she eases off being overprotective. But remember how I told you Harvelles were stubborn? This is where I get it from.

[He is just. So. Not okay with this at all. Everything about this interaction has rubbed him the wrong way.]

Call me old fashioned but I thought meeting the parents was supposed to be about respect. Not seeing whether or not she can badger me into fight with her.

I'm not from your world, I don't interact with people like this. It's weird. And really aggressive.

[He's not mad at anyone, he just feels ambushed, cornered and provoked.]

Edited 2013-10-17 22:57 (UTC)

I know.

[She looks truly, truly apologetic. This isn't what she wanted either, and it shows.]

You're from a place where people are polite and respect each other, for the most part. It's different for hunters.

We lived at the roadhouse on the side of a two-lane backroad and spent our lives surrounded by drunken hunters who were armed to the teeth. It's just -- a different world. I know it is. But...

[She smiles grimly. You can get through this, Tom.]

You should tell her what you just told me. That this isn't how you wanted to meet her and you'd rather show respect than be badgered. You could tell her you're not looking to fight, or that you'd rather meet her in person and start over more civilly. I already told her it was unfair of her to ambush you. She's not a bad person, but she's not used to people who are different than we are. She's been in the life too long.

[He's sulking. He knows he shouldn't but he is. Because this is fucking stupid. This is not High School. He is almost thirty for fuck's sake.

Oh God he's almost thirty. Okay. That's another crisis for a different day.

Tom scowls but doesn't reply at first, taking a deep sigh instead.

He's not going to get pissed off at Jo. She hasn't done anything wrong. He's just. Really frustrated because this is not at all what he wanted. And he really wanted it, too. Just not like this. ]

Yeah, okay.

[Frustration is rolling off of him in waves and even over the network, it's easy for her to tell. She feels awful. She had really wanted them to meet, too, but not this way.]

Do you want me to come keep you company? Or maybe meet somewhere else?

[She's just of the opinion that he needs to relax, and if she's being honest, she's wound up about this, too.]

Don't worry. It'll be okay... I promise.

[He shrugs. It's not going to be okay. Maybe in a few hours after he's taken his frustration out through work but not right now.]

I want to work on this a while longer and then put the tarps down in case it rains. A few people have come out, I think we can get the foundation down before nightfall.

Come out if you want, babe.

[But, and as an extra effort to show he's not mad at her, he smiles.]

It's about break time. Come here.

[The first part of his answer doesn't do much to ease her own anxiety, but then he smiles and she feels infinitely better -- an invitation as opposed to 'if you want.' She'd never admit to it, would feel ridiculous saying so because she's known for her confidence, but every now and then she's afraid that he'll decide all of this trouble and harassment isn't worth it and it will all have been for nothing.

She smiles back easily.]

I'll be there in a few minutes.

[It's about ten minutes tops before she shows up at the work site he's established out by the greenhouse, carrying a basket along with her. She waves a little when she gets close, picking up her pace to cross the distance more quickly.]

I brought you lunch.

[She smiles hopefully. Peace offering?]

[It would be unfair to say that he hadn't thought about it? He was taking a hell of a lot of heat, but really, Jo makes him happy and that's worth any bullshit he has to deal with. And really, It's mostly Dean and they'd come to an uneasy sort of I-hate-you-but-lets-leave-it-alone agreement. Which Tom was happy to have over being targeted openly by the elder Winchester, master of butthurt. Whom he can't really blame for being upset. At all. Awkward.

Tom nods and gets back to work, knowing Jo will show up soon enough. And when she does he slings his hammer back into it's place in his tool belt and smiles. They're working hard. He's sweaty, but he seems happy in this environment. Despite being ambushed on the intranet. Despite having been stewing on it all day. Despite having been completely blindsided.]

Hey.

[Food is, however, a game changer and he sits back on the pile of lumber they'd managed to collect.]

Hey.

[Her own smile brightens and becomes more confident when it's clear that he's happy to see her, and she sets the picnic basket down beside him on the stack of lumber before leaning in to grab a hug. Sweaty or not, she doesn't care. He'd been nothing but unassuming and friendly when he'd addressed the network and wound up getting a lot of crap that he hadn't signed up for. Even though she knew her mother wasn't being malicious, he wasn't used to dealing with the kind of people Jo was, and he tended to be on the defensive anyway. His feathers were clearly ruffled and needed some soothing.

She plants a kiss against his left cheek before hopping up to sit beside him, laying a hand over his in a discreet but very steady display of solidarity -- something she hopes will be reassuring.]

You've been hard at work, huh? Making some good progress already.

[He smiles and shrugs, taking her hand and giving it a light squeeze. He'd lean in to kiss her but he's already gotten shit just for appearing on the network, he doesn't want to stir up any trouble. But on the other hand? Fuck it. He's an adult and Dean can cry. So he does, in the end, lean over for a brief brush against her lips in return for the kiss on his cheek. Suck it, Winchester.

Maybe he shouldn't be so forward, was it even being forward? Fuck if he knew, but he just wasn't in the mood to tip toe around anyone right now. He felt good for the most part. And having something real and intensive to do made filled him with purpose- however short lived or medication free it might be.]

Yeah, we're doing alright.

[It is obviously more about the process though as they're all taking their sweet time and doing most of it by hand.]

I reckon it'll take a couple of weeks.

[Yes, good, let's talk about the shed and sideline the elephant in the room.]

[She doesn't hesitate in the least when he leans in for a kiss, meeting his lips and letting her hand slip comfortably into his in the process, lacing their fingers together. Maybe it was 'forward,' but the fact of the matter was that decisions had been made, and that meant there was no reason to sneak around. Nobody was staring at them, and nobody had any right to judge them at this point, either. She would kiss her boyfriend in public if she damn well wanted to.]

Y'think this is the first of many projects like this?

[She leans forward a little, looking up at him an affectionate half-smile, approving of how he'd decided to keep himself occupied. He'd mentioned wanting to build something awhile back, early on in their friendship. About time he got around to what he wanted to do.

Unfortunately, that elephant can't stay sidelined forever.]

About today... Tom, I'm really sorry. I didn't want it to go that way. I was actually going to ask her to meet you in the next couple of days, but-- she's new. Wonderland is a lot to swallow. I didn't want to overwhelm her.

[Ah. Yeah. He didn't think He'd get out of this that easily. His shoulders drop a little and he glances over his shoulder to the check no one is around to eavesdrop. Not that they're talking about particularly sensitive information, but his business is his business.

Everyone seems busy with the work, though, and he turns back, giving a small frown and shaking his head. NO no, it's fine.]

Don't worry about it.

[Only he is worried about it because seriously.]

But what was that? [He should just let it go. Just take a breath and forget it.]

It's like she was trying to get me pissed. Who does that?

[She hates seeing his shoulders drop like that, like she's suddenly taken all the air out of him and there's nothing left to do but deflate. She, too, takes a moment to look towards his building buddies, but nobody is paying any attention to them. Good. The conversation doesn't necessarily need to be taken to someplace more private, but she doesn't want anyone actively listening in. There's potential for things to get touchy.]

She wasn't. I promise, she wasn't.

[But she can see how it might seem that way from his perspective. Ellen can come off pretty aggressive if you're not ready for her.]

She's just -- hard, you know? On the outside. And only at first. She figured out who you were and wanted to know things about you and didn't really stop to think about how it sounded because that's just how things work where we're from. She's tough, but once you get past it, she's a huge softie.

[It's just getting past it that's tough.]

I know you felt ambushed. That's crappy. She said she didn't mean it that way when I told her to cut it out, but I know she knows how she sounds.

[Well. Manic or not hes not stupid enough to say Ellen is being a huge bitch but SHE IS and he doesn't understand it at all. Jo your world is so fucked up.]

I get it. I do. She's protecting you and she doesn't know me and I look like Dean, I get it.

He huffs and turns a scowl, but there's little more he can really say about it. Jo knows how he feels.]

I just. Want her to like me.

[It's important to him.]

[She gives him an apologetic smile as she reaches up to tousle his short hair, not particularly bothered with public displays of affection. In certain company, she might be more cautious, but here she'll do what she wants.]

She'll like you.

[She says that with confidence. Maybe Ellen won't love him at first, maybe she'll want him to prove himself before he fully passes inspection, but Jo's convinced she'll come around either way. As far as she's concerned, Tom's not going anywhere.]

How could she not?

[It's mushy and stupid, but Jo is happier when he's around. He makes her feel normal. Better. How could Ellen hate that?]

You're kind of a charmer, whether you realize it or not. Next time you see her, I'll make sure you get to do things your way, okay? Our way.

[He gives a light smile. Okay, Jo. If you say so.

Still, it's reassuring to do things as a team. He likes that. It's not something he's known very much and it means a lot to belong. Belong with someone. Belong to them, belong along side- just. Belong.

Jesus, Tom. You are falling fast. Who'd have thought it was even possible.]

If you say so.

[And he really truly means it. Jo knows her mom best, and while this is possibly the worst first impression ever, if Jo says it will be okay- even if she's just placating him, he'll go along with it. For now.]

I was kinda thinking, like. More of the usual interrogation. Don't get me wrong, I knew one was coming. I just thought maybe it would be over a meal.

[With a lot of drink. And some prior warning. And medication.]

That's what I'd been thinking, too.

[That was what most people did when they introduced their significant other to their parents, wasn't it? She'd never been through it before, but she's pretty sure that was the drill. Even if he's only smiling a little, she feels better knowing that he's potentially starting to relax.]

We can set that up soon. I'll ask her. You can help me make something? That would probably impress her. [Ellen likes hard workers and team players, and would definitely approve of something like Tom helping out in the kitchen, even if it seems like a small thing.] She'll warm up to you in no time. Though while we're on the subject...

[She smiles sheepishly before looking downward, letting it fade.]

Dean kind of blindsided me when I was yelling at him to butt out and mind his own business while you were talking to my mom.

[Tom is about to answer when he stop and just. Looks at her. Any amount of relaxed he was has tightened right back up.]

What happened?

[Fucking Dean. He's always up to something shitty.]

[Ugh. Don't look at her like that, it just makes her feel even worse. Guilty.]

I was telling him to stop being a dick and stop trying to make things harder for you with my mom. I get why he's pissed, I do, but I don't think that gives him free reign to be an asshole. We argued for awhile, it got pretty heated.

[As their arguments often do. Heated and personal and all kinds of cutting remarks.]

He got me to agree to the clause that he'd leave you alone until things blew over with mom.

[Implying that afterwards, everything else is fair game. She was flustered, okay? She frowns, clearly disapproving.]

Obviously I'm not going to let him think I'm okay with him harassing you. I'm not.

[Processing processing]

What? No, you shouldn't be.

[He can't help but react.]

Jo, what the Hell? Why were you even talking to Dean about me? For me?

[This is really not what he wants to hear. Tom takes a step back.]

You're making deals with him? The fuck were you thinking?

[Because now Dean thinks Jo has to fight on his behalf. And now he can't trust Jo not to go around behind his back, even if it's to try and solve a problem. This is his problem to solve, not her's.]

[She presses her lips together as he reacts, leaning back and away from him in the process, but she's never been a girl who just sits there and takes it, especially not when she feels so strongly about what she was doing in the first place.]

I told you, he blindsided me, he got me when I was flustered, it--

[No. The deal isn't the point. That's the part she wanted to tell him about before it got framed in the worst possible light, but that's not the part that makes her want to shout back. She manages to keep her volume dialed down, but she grits her teeth and shakes her head, folding her arms over her chest.]

I talked to him because I'm fucking sick of seeing him take his anger out on you when I'm the one he's really pissed at, that's what! He should be mad at me, not you, and I'm tired of you having to take crap because of what I did.

Well it's my problem now!

[He bites back, pacing a step to the right and then back to the left.]

You can't fight my battles for me. Especially not to him. Do you realize how that looks? Like I'm not man enough to have him back down, myself?

I.. Jesus Jo, you can't just do that without telling me. He blindsided you, what about you blindsiding me?

[A breath. Throw him a bone here, huh? He's trying really hard.]

I thought I was helping.

[She's defensive as all hell, despite the fact that she sees where he's coming from. She hadn't been thinking about that at the time. All she'd been thinking about was finding a way to get some of the heat off of him.]

I'm sorry. I just wanted him to leave you the hell alone. I didn't think about--

[She cuts herself off and sighs, arms still folded, keeping herself closed off.]

I just wanted to help. I don't want you to wake up and decide it's too much aggravation and tell me to take a hike.

[Video]

[Video/Private]

[Video/Private]

[Video/Private]

[Video/Private]

[Video/Private]

[Video/Private]

[Video/Private]

[Video/Private]

[Video/Private --> Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]

[Action]