Eric's Apartment [evening. Of course it's evening. It's *always* evening with Eric]

[texted3times]

After time drinking, watching Tiny mutter to himself, and making light chitchat with Jaina, it was time to get the entire story out of her--or at least as much as she was willing to tell him.

"After you," he said, opening his door (he didn't lock because really. If you tried to rob Eric, you deserved what you got) and ushering her in.

Comments

[solo_sword]

She nodded almost imperceptibly. "I know. But I can do this because I feel sorry for him."

[texted3times]

Eric reached out to stroke her cheek. "This is no way for him to live."

[solo_sword]

"That almost sounds like compassion." From the same guy who happily told her about popping off heads. Boy had layers.

[texted3times]

"It hurts you," Eric said, "and I'm learning that I don't really like that."

[solo_sword]

"You're getting all sweet on me," she noted. Not that she minded.

[texted3times]

"Tell no one," he said with a slight smile.

[solo_sword]

"I'm not sure anyone would believe me anyway," she said. "But I'm glad I get to see it."

[texted3times]

"Feeling a little better?" he asked after a moment.

[solo_sword]

"I think it's going to be a while before I really start feeling better," she said apologetically.

[texted3times]

"That makes sense," Eric agreed. "If you were gleefully anticipating this, I'd be really worried."

[solo_sword]

Jaina went silent for a moment. "What if I'm just looking forward to it being over?"

When 'over' meant Jacen was dead, it felt like a really horrible way to look at it.

[texted3times]

"That makes sense too," Eric said. "You can't see past this particular event right now. Getting it done with will be a relief."

However horrible.

[solo_sword]

"I don't want it to be a relief," she admitted.

[texted3times]

"You don't really want it to happen at all," Eric pointed out.

[solo_sword]

"No, I don't," she said. "I don't want it to be happening, I don't want my parents to have to lose another kid- or worse, all of their kids- and I don't want this to continue. But I don't want to get to the end of it and feel good about it, either."

Oh, don't worry about that part, Jaina. There was absolutely zero chance of that.

[texted3times]

Eric was probably not the best one to give advice on this: killing Russell's partner had been very satisfying.

"I don't think you're built that way," he said finally.

[solo_sword]

"Don't think too badly of me for it," she said, trying for light and not quite getting there.

[texted3times]

"You're human," Eric said, and for once there wasn't his underlying "and therefore inferior" tone.

[solo_sword]

She did appreciate that lack of underlayment right now. "Sorry to unload on you like this."

[texted3times]

Eric waved it off. "I wouldn't have asked if I didn't want to know."

[solo_sword]

"It doesn't sound like it came as much of a surprise to you," she said.

[texted3times]

"Sometimes you just can't reason with people," Eric said. "But he was family, so I didn't want to say anything."

[solo_sword]

"You could have," she told him. "I knew this was coming for a while."

[texted3times]

"People get touchy about family."

And by "people", Eric meant "Eric."

[solo_sword]

She did have to concede that one. "True... I did throw a guy into a wall for talking bad about him."