Video

[trenchknives]

[Jimmy hasn't been around much in the last couple of days. There's a good reason for that, a damn good one, and he's about to make it known. He looks tired, worn down, maybe even a little sick as he turns the communicator towards himself to begin recording.]

I died.

[No preamble, no explanation for the moment.]

I died, 'n I don't know what to think about it. I don't know whether I could've done anythin' to stop it. I don't know why the hell I had to come back to life.

[He rests his chin on his hand, sighing.]

All I know is I could sure use someone to talk to right about now. Or drink with. I ain't picky.

Comments

[affectioning]

[ It doesn't sound funny. ]

I don't really drink. [ A beat. ] But, I could have a beer or two. I have a fake. And I know people who don't card besides. [ Another beat. ] Have you been to the casino before?

[trenchknives]

No.

[A long pause, and then he remembers some of his manners.]

I ain't goin' to the casino. A bar somewhere, maybe. There're a lotta places that don't card. I've been to most of 'em.

[affectioning]

...Anywhere's fine.

[trenchknives]

There's a place real close to my apartment. As far as I know, it doesn't have a name. Maybe it does, 'n it just doesn't have a sign. Anyway, I'll meet you out front of there, okay? It's right across from the fountain, 'n then kinda down the alley.

[Because that doesn't sound shady.]

[affectioning]

Uhm, okay. Yeah, I can meet you there. Ten minutes? Do they have food there, too?

[trenchknives]

Sure, all the normal bar food. Y'know, anythin' that's greasy.

[A nod.]

I'll see you there, kid.

[affectioning]

You too.

[ He finishes up at the clinic. It's really coming along. Before sending the guys home and heading on down across from the fountain. He finds the alley easy enough - he'd also be able to smell Jimmy, but he stands outside just in case he's not inside yet. Is it rude to go inside first? ]

[trenchknives]

[Shortly after Scott shows up, Jimmy does, too, and it should be pretty clear from the look of him that he's already been drinking. He nods at Scott wearily, not even bothering to put on a cheerful face, but he does give the kid a pat on the shoulder just for showing up.]

Good to see ya. Thanks for comin' out here. I know you ain't the kinda guy that likes to get drunk in places like this, but y'know...

[He opens the door and ushers Scott inside.]

Sometimes we all need to have some drinks.

[affectioning]

Yeah. [ He steps inside and follows Jimmy to the bar. ] You died?

[trenchknives]

Yeah, I died. I definitely died.

[He sits down, immediately trying to decide what kind of drink he wants.]

[affectioning]

[ he takes a seat beside him. ] Just a beer. [ he tells the bartender. he waits patiently to hear more. Jimmy will talk when he wants to. But, they're going to talk. There's a story here and Scott's worried. ] What happened?

[trenchknives]

[Jimmy's ordering a vodka and tonic, and then he's shrugging.]

I was walkin' with Penny. Out of nowhere, this guy just attacks us. He's goin' for her, but I get myself in the way, 'n he... rips my throat out with his teeth. It ain't pretty, but that's how it happened.

[affectioning]

With his -- [ He takes that in. ] Regular teeth or -- were they fangs? You're sure it was a guy?

[trenchknives]

Definitely a guy. Regular teeth, as far as I could tell, but y'know, he was sure actin' like a vampire.

[affectioning]

A cannibal? [ He does seem sure it was a regular guy. Werewolves usually spark the ideas of an animal attack. ]

[trenchknives]

Could've been. He seemed pretty intent on eatin' me.

[affectioning]

But, you're alive now. Again... Has anyone told you what happens if you die here, though?

[trenchknives]

You mean the whole bein' City-dead thing? No heartbeat and all? Yeah, for whatever reason, that didn't happen to me.

[affectioning]

So, you can still go home.

[trenchknives]

Theoretically, yeah. But I don't wanna.

[affectioning]

I remember. [ Not even for your kid? ]

[trenchknives]

Guess we don't get a whole lotta choice about what happens around here, though.

[affectioning]

No. We don't. We don't choose who comes or goes or what happens to us. But, we can choose to live our lives. And deal with the stuff we can't choose when we need to.

[trenchknives]

You're a real smart kid, you know that?

[affectioning]

[ Oh, he's not. He's ... street smart. And he has common sense. He just thought he was reassuring someone with something they already know. ]

Thanks, Jimmy. [ He finally takes a sip of beer before sliding a menu over to himself. ] Are you doing okay, though?