A Gathering, of Sorts

[junosteel]

[Immediately after the trial, to absolutely no one's surprise, Juno makes a beeline for the bar. He spends about a half hour alone, wallowing in his self-pity before he gets it in his head that people would probably try and seek him out. Punch him, or maybe pity him. He welcomes the punching, not so much the pitying. And, God, he doesn't want to deal with that right now.

So, what better way to redirect people than by giving out an invitation? He gathers about three different whiskey bottles in his arms before setting off on his quest. The survivors will find a haphazardly scribbled note slipped under their cabin door that reads one word -- BAR. When people start to gather at the bar, they'll find some varying types of alcohol sort of just...haphazardly strewn about on the tables. There's no host in sight--at least, not currently. Juno, himself, can be found elsewhere about town, trying to avoid everyone.

It's an apology, of sorts. He wishes he didn't have to make it.]

Comments

[junosteel]

[He stares at Watson, then lets out a single, harsh laugh.]

Really putting a lot of faith in me, huh, doc? I don't know what your world is like, but in my world, you can't take back your mistakes.

[And he's back to being stubborn and abrasive again. Hah. Finding Nureyev? He'd be more likely to survive this hellish place than to actually track down the elusive man. Nureyev is a master thief--if he doesn't want to be found, he won't be. Juno would have to search through dozens of false identities to even get close to locating him.]

[dearboswell]

You can't take them back, no. But you can apologize and try to heal what you've done.

Holmes learned that well enough. God knows I didn't forgive him right away. But he tried. He did everything he could to prove to me that despite everything he'd done, despite the fact that he had a reason- that he knew it didn't excuse leaving me for three years. And he did everything to prove that he loved me despite it, and to prove that he deserved my forgiveness.

It's not too late to at least give him closure. Even if he never forgives you, he'll at least know there was a reason.

[junosteel]

...

[Juno leans back against the wall, sighing. He pinches the bridge of his nose. Watson is right, of course. He never got the chance to talk to Nureyev about their relationship. What they both wanted.]

I'm...I'm sorry.

[He doesn't even know why he's apologizing.]

[dearboswell]

... You don't need to apologize to me. If anything, I'm sorry for being a bit pushy about it. But I do genuinely believe... that you should seek him out again. As it is, you're beating yourself up over leaving him, but not actually doing anything to try to make up for it.

And I... I get it, I really do. I get why you don't want to do anything about it. But it's affecting you, and I'm sure it's affecting him. And at least closure would help you both.

We don't have to keep talking about this, if you'd prefer not to.

[junosteel]

No, it's...fine. I'm the one who brought it up in the first place.

[He scratches his injured hand. The thought of seeing Nureyev again makes him feel...a lot of things. Confused. Upset. Angry. Maybe even a little hopeful. But, really, he just kind of wants to go to sleep right now and just not think about this too much.]

Just...don't tell anyone else about this conversation, all right? I don't want any more people getting on my case about my personal problems.

[He already has too many people trying to make him feel better about the trial, he doesn't need any more trying to make him reveal any more about his personal life.]

[dearboswell]

I can promise you that the thought never even crossed my mind. I am "The Confidant", after all, aren't I?

[junosteel]

[He snorts.]

So you are.

[After a moments hesitation, Juno carefully gets up from the cot. It takes a bit of stumbling for him to keep his balance. The man just drank, like, two whole bottles of whiskey.]

...I think I'm going to take a walk. Get some fresh air. Avoid people for a while. Everyone just keeps coming and knocking on my door.

[dearboswell]

[He nods.]

That's fair. I'll go find a few of the others I wanted to talk to, tonight.

... Take care of yourself.

[junosteel]

...

[Juno doesn't respond. He opens the door and stumbles outside, leaving Watson alone in the cabin.]