interstellar5555 | Locked in a Room

[In the intervening days since the fight Jamie's emotions have vacillated from righteous fury, to uncertainty, to embarrassment, and finally to a general sense of discomfort that he can't quite put a name to. He doesn't like knowing that Maxxie's upset at him, or that Maxxie is upset in general; it's bad for band morale and just makes things around the penthouse strained and awkward.

[Jamie also doesn't like apologizing, because that implies he screwed up, and the feeling of frustrated shame and anger pertaining to that is another thing he can't really explain. Really, he wishes he'd never followed Maxxie out to the elevators that night and started the whole stupid thing, but what's done is done and all he can do now is try to smooth things over.

[He approaches Maxxie in the living room of the penthouse one morning, coming to stand nearby him. Close enough to talk normally, but not so close as to impinge on Maxxie's personal space. His greeting is, well...less than enthusiastic.]

...hey.

[Maxxie rolled his eyes when he saw Jamie coming, stubbornly looking at the notebook in his lap even though he's just doodling in the margins. He's been mostly avoiding Jamie, hoping not to have another confrontation like they did at Luci's meeting. With how angry he's been that hasn't been unlikely, but he's cooled off a bit so he doesn't immediately stand up and storm away.]

[It takes him a moment to respond, clearly debating on what to say that will communicate how upset he still is but show that he's willing to talk at least.]

Hey.

[Yeah that's what he's going with.]

[Jamie eases himself down onto the opposite end of the sofa, because standing when someone else is sitting is awkward as fuck and this is going to be uncomfortable enough as it is. He leans forward, elbows on knees, briefly lowering his head to rub at the back of his neck; sighs, takes a breath and looks up, not quite at Maxxie.]

Look, I'm sorry about all that shit in front of the elevators the other night.

[That apology's not going to win him any Nobel Prizes, but it's a start.]

[Maxxie presses his lips together tightly, still not looking up.]

You mean for being a complete prick?

[Jamie winces a little at that.] ...yeah. Basically.

[He bounces one leg a couple times, works his jaw silently for a moment, and then plows on before he can lose his nerve.] I said a buncha shit I shouldn't have and got all pushy and stuff. [In both senses of the word.] So yeah, I was a prick. And I'm sorry.

[Maxxie chews his lip as he considers all this and what to do with it. After a little while, he sighs.]

It's fine. I'm sorry for throwing you down on the ground and shit.

[Jamie shrugs. He's still not really meeting Maxxie's eyes, but he at least looks...chagrined, if not ashamed.] 'sokay. Didn't hurt or anything.

[He chews his lip a moment and finally glances up. He looks about as concerned as he ever allows himself to, frowning in a frank, appraising kind of way.] Are you, y'know. Okay?

[He has to think on that one too.]

I will be.

[He finally looks up at Jamie, and his expression is more worn out than anything else.]

I just don't deal with shit the same way you do. I'm just not gonna get angry like that.

[Jamie almost visibly bites back an indignant demand of Well why not?!, instead taking a deep breath and releasing it.] ...fair enough, I guess.

[He debates what he's going to say next, as though actually trying to weigh for once whether it's going to help or make things worse.] I just don't...really understand why not, but - if that's how you roll, that's how you roll.

I'm sorry for...getting mad about you not getting mad.

[Maxxie shrugs and looks back down at his notebook.]

Just don't pull that shit again. Quit picking fights with people who are on your side, yeah?

[Jamie comes close to saying something else - I wasn't sure if you were on my side, I'm never sure who's on my side - but the words die in his throat. He's too insecure to admit he's insecure. So instead he just lets out a quiet breath.]

Yeah. All right.

[He falls silent for a bit, leaving Maxxie to his writing, or doodling, or whatever it is he's up to, and then ventures, carefully:]

So...you looking forward to the EP releasing?

Guess so.

[Despite the lackluster response, his spirits do seem to raise slightly at the change of topic.]

It'll be fun to perform, and it's kinda cool working with the other bands.

[Jamie relaxes a little, too, now that the air's been cleared between them somewhat and they can just talk music.]

Yeah, guess it's been kind of a bonding experience. Hey, have you talked to Lucifer at all? She's planning, like, a flash performance to promote the EP once they let us get out of here. Wanted to know if we're interested.

Oh. I hadn't spoken to her.

[Maxxie frowns.]

How soon after they let us out? Isn't it about soon to perform a song we just wrote?

She didn't really give me a time frame, just brought it up as a possibility. I don't think she'd push us into doing something without giving us enough time to make sure we could pull it off.

[He shrugs, regarding Maxxie carefully.] I think it sounds like a good idea. Get some hype going for the EP, let the public know we haven't all died in here. Y'know?

Yeah, I guess so.

[He sounds resigned, but he really doesn't want to fight with Jamie on this so he searches for something else to say, something that doesn't encourage Jamie to push the issue.]

It'll be fun, to go out again. I'm getting tired of the clubs here, even if they are nice.

[Jamie frowns a little, wondering why Maxxie can't just be happy or excited about something pertaining to this venture, but he's not willing to risk another spat over it, so he doesn't press.]

Getting out of here is going to be awesome. What's the first thing you're gonna do when they let us out?

[He laughs wryly.]

I'd say drink, but I've been doing enough of that.

[He pauses as he thinks on it a little more, frown of concentration on his face. Then he shrugs.]

I dunno, maybe I'll go to the beach or something. Get some fresh air.

Yeah, anything outside sounds great. Even if it is probably cold out there.

Hey, maybe we could do a bonfire or something on the beach. Invite a bunch of hot girls. Hot guys. Hot people. [Jamie is trying to be equal-opportunity here.]

[Maxxie actually smiles a little bit.]

That might be fun. It's a good idea, actually.

[Jamie can't help a triumphant little grin at that.]

See? I'm good for something, sometimes.

[Maxxie laughs softly, and he'd give him a playful shove if he was close enough.]

You're good for a lot of things. Just 'cause one of those things happens to be pissing me off doesn't mean I don't appreciate the rest of it.

[Oh whoops Jamie let some of his insecurity show. More obviously than it does with all the posturing, that is. The only way he knows to combat this is to posture harder.]

Well - yeah, of course. We wouldn't be here right now if we weren't good at a lot of stuff, right?

[Excellent save.]

[Maxxie raises an eyebrow.]

You mean, other than looking good at tight pants?

That is a crucial component, but obviously we have to be good at a lot of other stuff. Like making girls scream and selling issues of Tiger Beat. I'm pretty sure we can put all that on our resumes later, when we decide we get tired of being famous and want to become accountants or something.

Locked in a Room

sometime on the 4th?

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