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Post by NELL DOE DALE on Feb 16, 2013 23:48:51 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; background-color: #77a090; padding:10px; border: 5px solid #95363a;] see my sun will just send you to war IF THE BATTLE DON'T KILL YOU
After almost a year of dealing poker. Nell decided that she'd gotten better at her job. The proof was in the tips she got, because that's how she made the majority of her money. The casino only paid her minimum wage, so for a while she hadn't been making as much as she could. Now she knew how to run her table smoothly, how the casino worked, what to do in order to get the big bucks. Of course she wasn't even in it for the money, but a fat paycheck didn't hurt. It felt good to have a job in which she enjoyed herself, not just a job to get by on.
There were things she didn't like about it, though. Standing stationary for hours on end was not her dream job. By the time her break came around, she was very tempted to take her shoes off and soak her feet in ice. While she considered it, her phone rang from underneath her table, and she looked around her coworkers as she fumbled to get it and picked it up. When she heard Josh's voice, however, she knew she couldn't get upset with him for calling her during work. Not that she even would have been, otherwise. After telling him that she was on break, she headed over to the bar to wait for him, wondering what had upset him and feeling worry in the pit of her gut. She didn't like it when Josh sounded like that.
She headed off the casino floor and over to the bar where a few other patrons were sitting and chatting. While she waited for her husband, she asked for a ginger ale, knowing better than to drink even if she was on a break. People had gotten in trouble for it before, and she didn't like booze enough to get fired from her job because of it. When he showed up, she stood to kiss him before asking, "What's up, what happened?" Of course, Nell instantly fretted over him and his well-being, searching his eyes for an answer.
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Feb 22, 2013 3:18:51 GMT -5
His hands gripped tight to the steering wheel as he drove, forcing himself to focus on the road ahead instead of on the anger that pumped adrenaline through his veins. He couldn't help his thoughts, however, and they assaulted him as he drove carefully in the direction of his wife's workplace. Such a bitch. He was seeing red, and not just the red of the stoplight as he slowed behind a white van. Who does she even think she is? This was his car. His radio. His rules. I'm not a child. He was a grown man, who was she to remind him of his seatbelt? He exhaled angrily as the light turned green. I can't wait to see Nell. His wife was always that dose of calm and kindness that he needed during a time like this. She would help him.
Pulling into the nearest available parking spot when he arrived at the casino, Josh was careful not to slam the car door shut before striding purposefully toward the building. The interior was familiar, as he'd been here many times before, so he did not need to pause in order to know his way around. Nell had told him to meet her at the bar and he was more than happy to oblige, craving something to take the edge off the anger. I could go for a shot of whiskey right now. He knew that drinking when frustrated could be a bad idea but he trusted Nell to ensure he didn't do anything stupid. They looked out for one another like that and it was something he appreciated. She didn't fuss needlessly like Jasmine did. He was clearly still bitter about the fight as this thought crossed his mind.
Spotting his wife, he made his way over to her, offering a strained sort of smile. She kissed him and he returned the gesture lightly before sitting down at the bar, propping his elbow against the counter for support. "I'm just... frustrated," he said at first, a half-assed and uninformative answer. It would not be good enough, not for her. She might be kind enough not to press him but he did not like to lie to her or to cover things up. That was not how their relationship worked. He'd told her before that he wouldn't lie to her about anything and he did his best to stay true to that. How to put his frustrations into words, however? He started by ordering the shot that he'd been so craving, tipping it back and letting it burn a path down his throat.
"Jasmine," he said after a long pause, gray eyes burning with the anger that he felt. "We had a fight." Was that even the proper word to describe what had went down? He, of course, felt like he was entirely in the right and that his decision to kick her out of the car was completely founded. He wasn't going to sympathize or tell her side of the story. No, he wanted to make himself feel better. "She was being incredibly immature and so I kicked her out and now I'm all... pissed off." He shook his head, then gave her an apologetic look. "I'm sorry for calling you during work. I just... needed someone to talk to." He trusted her to understand. She wasn't only someone to talk to, she was the only person he would talk to. She was special to him, his wife.
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Post by NELL DOE DALE on Feb 22, 2013 6:16:45 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; background-color: #77a090; padding:10px; border: 5px solid #95363a;] see my sun will just send you to war IF THE BATTLE DON'T KILL YOU
Though she'd just seen him this morning, Nell was very happy when Josh arrived no matter how irritated he looked. She would be happy to see him if he were the most miserable person in the world. Just seeing his face comforted her. When Josh stated that he was frustrated, she gave him a little smile and waited for something else. Prodding him incessantly for answers would likely only frustrate him more, besides she had time. A half hour, but time all the same, and time she would gladly spend with her husband no matter the mood he was in. She wished he could be in a better mood, she never liked him to be feeling any negative emotion. I wonder what it was, she thought as he ordered his whiskey, contemplating the reasons and if she could make it go away. Maybe if she found the source she could make it disappear.
However, it turned out to be a person, and she didn't think making people disappear would be qualified as morally acceptable, even if they did upset her husband. "Jasmine?" she asked. "Oh, I didn't know you guys were hanging out today." She wondered if they'd been at the house, considering he had kicked her out. Not the type to get jealous, she didn't mind when he hung out with girls by himself. Especially since this girl was in high school. Unfortunately, Nell was not completely immune to the pangs of jealousy she had when she saw him with other girls, and she hoped that it wasn't a bad thing. It didn't mean that she didn't trust him, of course not, just that she felt keenly aware of any prettier -- particularly, blond -- girl that he met. As it were, Jasmine was a mutual friend and she felt completely comfortable with not knowing where he was every hour of the day. Rather, she tried to be completely comfortable even though she had become far too protective of him.
However, he'd apologized about being late so she quickly followed up her previous words with, "I'm glad you called, actually. I need something to brighten my day!" she said. Not that her day had been going particularly bad, but how could her husband not brighten her day? Thinking of days, she gave him a warm smile and rubbed his arm with a hand. "I'm sorry that you had such a bad day, cariño. What did she do?" Nell asked, wondering if he would feel like going into detail about it or if he would much rather just leave it alone. And she would be fine with that, considering it was clear just by the look in his eyes he was not very happy with the state of things. She couldn't deny the prickling of upset with Jasmine considering the girl had incensed the man she loved. That never sat well with her, no matter who did it.
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Feb 22, 2013 23:52:32 GMT -5
He blinked, then realised that he had not informed his wife of what he had been doing that day. Though she did not obsess over what he was up to at all hours of the day, Joshua usually made a point of telling her what was going on so that she could be reassured that he was all right. He trusted that she trusted him but that did not mean it wasn't nice to let her know. The meeting with Jasmine had been rather spontaneous, however. "Didn't plan on it," he shrugged. Wish I hadn't. "She called and said it was important. You'd have thought someone died." He scowled. It was something that he had brushed off at the time but which now incensed him. I could have been doing something important. She'd came across like something was wrong with her and so even if he had been a little more occupied, he would have tried to make time.
His lip twitched briefly, fondly, as Nell assured him that his call had been welcomed. At least I'm not being a bother. He never liked to inconvenience his wife and he certainly didn't want to get her into trouble at work. Speaking of work, he let his gray gaze roam over the outfit that she was forced to wear for it, trying not to look as displeased as he felt. It didn't leave too much to the imagination and while he appreciated the view, he wouldn't put it past the other men in the bar to appreciate it as well. It caused his skin to prickle uncomfortably and he couldn't help but to side-eye an older gentleman looking their direction. You better not be looking at her, prick, or I swear to god... He shifted purposely so that his left arm dangled in view of the man, wedding band visible on his finger. Better not try anything. He made sure to lean forward slightly so that he was close as he talked to Nell, displaying his interest and also silently staking his claim. He didn't like to be possessive and overbearing but hell, they were married. He figured he had a right.
He exhaled slowly, a feeling of relief and calm seeming to permeate the air as her soft touch caressed his arm. This was what he had needed, this was why Nell was the one person he trusted to lift him up when he was feeling down. It felt good when she called him cariño, the familiar Spanish nickname a comfort. There it was, the gentle question. He had expected it and had already prepared himself to answer, having no intention of being clipped or secretive with Nell. "Well as if it wasn't irritating enough that she dragged me out of the house under false pretences," he grumbled under his breath, "she was acting like my mother, telling me to put on my seatbelt about a billion times." He couldn't help exaggerating in his frustration. Looking back on the argument, things irked him even more. Who the fuck does she even think she's kidding? "I mean first of all, I can look after my-fucking-self, and it's my fucking car, but then she had to go and repeat herself like it wasn't annoying enough the first time." It probably sounded childish to get into such a huff about it but this was Joshua. Besides, he was only building up to the real problem.
Pausing to take a breath, as he was starting to go into a rant, he went on, "So I'm already pretty ticked, right? And then she starts messing with Harper's radio. I mean, I would have told her to have a fucking field day if she'd asked me but no, she's clearly too special for that." The words were almost a growl as he shook his head. Self-absorbed brat. That was his car, he was protective over it. What if she had broken something? All right, so it wasn't that easy to break a car radio but that didn't mean he wasn't pissed off. "And as if that's not enough," he continued, "she starts singing at me. Not just singing, no. Getting all up in my face while I'm trying to drive. God, you'd think I was dealing with a fucking drunk idiot." Not that his rage would have been lessened if she had the excuse of alcohol to fall back on. As it was, she didn't, and so he wasn't even going to consider letting her off the hook. "We could have got into a fucking accident, so I told her to stop and she just kept going." He was vaguely aware of the tremble in his hand as his rant brought the negative feelings anew. "Then the bitch starts acting like I'm the difficult one, so I kicked her out. Let her walk home, for all I care." He probably should have let her off some place where he knew she could get back without getting lost but he hadn't been thinking considerately. "So now I'm just... ugh." That summed it up, in his mind.
Looking sour, he eyed the empty shot glass before catching the attention of the bartender. "Can I get another shot, please?" Or just hand me the whole fucking bottle. He refrained from ordering anything more, however, for he knew getting drunk in such a mood might be dangerous. His expression strained as he took the second shot, he asked, "So, um, how was work?" He almost felt bad for offloading onto her without so much as asking her about her day first so his tone was a tad sheepish. He really did care, he was just... distracted, today.
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Post by NELL DOE DALE on Feb 24, 2013 5:54:10 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; background-color: #77a090; padding:10px; border: 5px solid #95363a;] see my sun will just send you to war IF THE BATTLE DON'T KILL YOU
Nell's mouth pulled up into a half-smile when he told her about what had happened, that Jasmine had called him apparently sounding as if someone had died. She supposed that he responded to the call pretty quickly, because this was Josh and she liked to think that her husband was an upstanding guy like that. Because, well, he was! She considered his geniality one of the many reasons she was in love with him. So in love, as fact, that she remained innocently oblivious to any attention she may get from male patrons and Josh's protectiveness because of that. His behavior flew over her head as he prepared to go into his story about what their friend had done, while she forgot that she was even wearing the uncomfortable and flashy outfit. At that moment, she was more concerned about whether her husband was feeling all right. Course he isn't, he's mad, the rational part of her brain told her.
She remained quiet as he ranted, drinking her soda and noticing him become increasingly more incensed as he went on about how she'd been acting like his mother and then made it a point to distract him from driving. While not one to react to anything with anger, she empathized easily. Especially considering that it sounded like she had been overbearing and difficult. He'd told her to stop, right? Nell may have only been given one side of the story -- her husband's side -- but she couldn't help her bias. For why would he lie about it? As it were, she wanted to do something to make him feel better since he seemed really agitated by it all. But there was the question if affection would only disturb him, like hugging a growling animal. Instead, she opted for leaning over and kissing him on his cheek before saying, "Aww, that really stinks though. At least you don't have to deal with her again, right?" She would try to find the silver lining, for his sake. Anything to make the situation better.
Nell didn't feel too concerned about his drinking, only the usual those are empty calories voice in her head that was drowned out by the you're drinking ginger ale, hypocrite voice. Plus, he deserved it. It sounded like he had an exhausting day, and she felt bad that he had to go through anything trying like that. Even the fact he went to medical school could make her wince; she constantly worried whether he would over exhaust himself. "Hmm? Oh!" she said, realizing that he'd asked her about her own day, removing her lips from the straw to tell him about her own experiences. Of which there were none. "Good. Uneventful, no grievous poker injuries as of yet." While she described it as uneventful, she enjoyed what she did and every game she played. In some ways, this was her dream job -- playing card games for five hours a day. "You wanna play?" It was a casino, and while she did know he loved poker, there were also slots and shopping and a whole bunch to do. Especially if one wanted to take their mind off a long day.
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Mar 6, 2013 8:40:11 GMT -5
Though strained, the smile that touched his lips as hers pressed against his cheek was genuine. He had known that coming here would be a good idea. It would be another hour or two before the anger and tension faded completely, of this he was fairly certain, but with Nell around he was less likely to snap. He gave a frustrated but agreeable grunt at her words. At least. He didn't want to see the Water elemental again, much less talk to her. Only Nell could get away with fussing over him like a mother. Like a wife, in her case, and thus she had every right to express any concerns she may have. He might not always like it but he would tolerate it.
Having had a foul day himself, it was hard for Joshua to truly express the relief he felt when Nell told him that she'd fared much better thus far. Nevertheless, he trusted her to understand. She knew him well enough to know that he wished the best for her. "Lucky there wasn't," he said with a faint smirk, "or I'd have a bone to pick." No one messed with his wife, no matter who they were or how 'harmless' their interference was. Having a shoe thrown at her wasn't the worst the Earth girl had endured in her life time but that didn't mean it was all right. He felt a pulse of rage at the mere thought of the bitch that had committed this particular offence but as she was not around for him to vent this anger, he did his best to put it aside.
He craved another couple shots, anything to get rid of the twist in his gut, but he resisted the urge to catch the bartender's attention when he passed yet again. Nell's suggestion was welcomed as a much-needed distraction from the poison of his thoughts. He nodded. "Couldn't hurt. What were you thinking?" He was open to whatever Nell had in mind. He had the money to spare. He figured that some might not approve of Nell's husband hanging around and distracting her but hell, he was a paying customer like anyone else in the casino and he'd have something to say if they tried to claim otherwise.
[Would you like to play the resident jackass, or shall I?]
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Post by NELL DOE DALE on Mar 12, 2013 0:55:13 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; background-color: #77a090; padding:10px; border: 5px solid #95363a;] see my sun will just send you to war IF THE BATTLE DON'T KILL YOU
Nell found Josh's overprotective nature simultaneously endearing and concerning. There were a few things she found simultaneously endearing and concerning about him, his studying habits one of them. Otherwise, she simply found him endearing. At his question, she lifted her shoulders with a grin. "You can play at my table!" Then she tilted her head a little, "If you're okay with me whooping your butt." She raised her eyes as she continued to sip at her drink with an innocent smile. She knew Josh would never back down from a challenge, no matter how lighthearted it may have been intended. Her job description meant that she needed to win, but this was her husband. The moment competition between a couple became a factor was the moment things turned sour.
After she finished up her break, she tugged him by the hand over to her table, the other employee giving her a nod and leaving. Two players from the last game remained, but Josh and one other joined as she stacked up the chips on her table. The other turned out to be a familiar face, the man she recognized as the d-word who insulted her accent. Though she had moved past it, the sight of him made her stomach drop, though she focused on her job, proving that neither her husband or a rude and drunken gambler wouldn't be enough to distract her. "The game is three card, five dollar min." Her focus was on who would make which bets, keeping them in mind, watching to make sure everyone did as they were supposed to. As staff, it was her responsibility to see that everyone played as they were supposed to.
However, there was no real rules in dealing with rude patrons with a drink in hand. He laughed, the unrestrained kind marking too much alcohol. "What a voice... It still grates on my ears." he said as he placed his bet, and she felt the lump in her throat. She hadn't been paying attention to her accent. I don't need to, she thought defiantly, trying not to look to her husband for reaffirmation that it was okay to speak the way she was speaking. She had told him that night that she liked her accent, and it didn't matter what other people said. And this gave her the strength to look straight at the laughing man and tell him, "You're the blind bet." The highest made at the table, he set the pool. This was business; she didn't want any problems.
The nameless stranger had other ideas however.
"I wish I was the deaf bet too!" He laughed at his own jokes, and the player next to him joined in with a forced chuckle. You are being rude, sir. She felt a battle between actually saying this out loud and calling him out, asking to leave the table, or countering his comments with silence. Nell hoped the latter would be enough to deter him from any further comments so she could enjoy a game with the lovely addition of her husband.
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Mar 25, 2013 17:17:04 GMT -5
He couldn't help but to smile back at her as she faced him with a grin, feeling some of the weight lift from his chest. "Sounds great." Her next words would have instilled in him a great discomfort had she been anyone else. He was naturally competitive and a sore loser at that, so challenges among friends and family were never things he enjoyed. It created a rift between the fun of gambling and the ire of losing to someone else and often caused tensions between Josh and anyone else involved. Toward Nell, however, the Fire was marginally more relaxed. She never pushed her accomplishments down his throat and he was proud enough for her that he could accept defeat much more gracefully in her presence. "I'm used to it," he assured her, lip twitching in a half-smirk.
He allowed himself to be led by the hand to the appropriate table, feeling the warmth of her fingers where they intertwined with his. It was amazing how comforted even an independent person like Joshua could feel by a lover's touch. Not recognising the accent offender, as he'd never seen the man in person, he was oblivious to any accidents waiting to happen as he positioned himself at the table and focused his attention toward Nell. Determined to help her keep a good impression, he resolved to do his best not to be a distraction. Play like she's a stranger. A very attractive stranger wearing that damn uniform. He cast a furtive glance toward the other males. They better not be thinking about her.
His thoughts were snapped from jealousy as the offending words reached him. He tensed, veins standing out against the back of his hand as he fought against the burst of anger. He glanced first at Nell, then at the stranger, at a loss for what to do. He wanted to be rash, threaten him, but that small voice in the back of his mind reminded him that Nell was on the job right now, that he might get her into trouble. Nostrils flaring as he drew breath, he said in a calm and steady voice, "You can leave. There are other tables, no one's stopping you." What did Nell think of this? Their discussion about her accent fresh in his mind, he turned his attention back to her with a suggestive sort of smile. "I think it's hot." He dared anyone to challenge him on that. Oh, he didn't like other guys hitting on his wife, no, but he also didn't like the insinuation that her voice was grating.
That the other strangers were not aware of the marriage neither occurred to nor concerned him. His focus was on the ignorant drunk, whose insolence didn't stop there. Having successfully kept his temper in check, Joshua found it harder to remain neutral as the insults continued. That's my wife you're talking to, he thought, feeling offended for her. "Do you really?" His tone was cold, clipped. Standing up, he turned to the man with a scowl. "Cause I can make that happen. Want to say that again?" He knew he wasn't helping the situation, knew he was contributing to the problem, but he ceased to care when Nell was involved. You didn't mess with his family, especially not his wife.
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Post by NELL DOE DALE on Mar 26, 2013 14:13:07 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; background-color: #77a090; padding:10px; border: 5px solid #95363a;] see my sun will just send you to war IF THE BATTLE DON'T KILL YOU
Though Nell didn't want any problems at all, she appreciated when her husband said something. A blush spread over her cheeks at Josh's words, her eyebrows drawn together. "T-thanks," she said to the unexpected compliment. She tried her best to keep her professionalism; it wouldn't look good if she were flirty with a "random" customer. Their drunken friend, however, did not like having the truth pointed out to him. "You can't tell me what to do. I play whereveerrrr I want," he said, leaning forward so he could catch Josh's gaze. The other people at the table made a very good show of ignoring the tension as Nell flipped over her cards, hands working deftly while she made no move to encourage the man in his behavior. Maybe it would past. Maybe when he lost he would go away.
She looked over at Josh, though, when he spoke up again and bit her lip. It wasn't hard to tell that he was pissed off, and while Nell wanted to do nothing about it and ignore the guy, her husband seemed to take the opposite approach as he stood and threatened the man. "Josh, it's okay," she said weakly, but the drunk stood up too and she thought of her bartending days when she had to break fights up every other night. She didn't want Josh to get her, especially over something she wasn't going to let bother her anymore.
"You wanna go?" The stranger did not seem to have any qualms about going fisticuffs, as a matter of fact it might have been what he wanted. And now the entire table turned their attention to the scene, the drunk rolling up his sleeves, red face set in a grimace. "Cause we can go. Anytime, anyplace." How about we not go anywhere, she pleaded in her head, now worried about her husband. They were going to fight, weren't they? They guy already pissed Josh off, and was only encouraging it and she knew better than to tell him to calm down. Telling anyone to calm down was an incredibly bad idea.
Noticing that her pit boss was coming over she said, "Please you two, sit down or take it outside." Nell definitely didn't want Josh to get in trouble, but she didn't want him to take it outside, either. She didn't want a fight at all, and her gut twisted as she looked between the two of them. She was being more biased than she usually would have, only because this was her husband and she believed she had a right to be.
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Mar 28, 2013 22:57:35 GMT -5
Smirking deviously at the blush on her cheeks but not wanting to take the innocent flirting too far, Josh simply shot her a sly grin and turned his attention to the cards. Perhaps this wouldn't be so bad after all. Then the arrogant drunk opened his mouth again, and all that wonderful progress made crashed right back down to square one. The Fire graduate worked his jaw, trying as hard as he could not to snap. "Then maybe you should shut the fuck up and play the game." He hated this guy. He didn't know him, but he hated him.
Though he heard his wife's attempt to mediate the situation, her words went without response. Standing up and facing the other man, his mind was only on where he would strike first the moment their argument turned into a fist fight. He went into conflicts waiting for them to turn sour. It was how he handled things. That he was in his wife's place of employment and could get her in trouble had since slipped his mind as he fantasized about the many ways he could strangle her offender. "I'd love to," he said, almost too casually. "You and me. Try me, I'll knock you the fuck out." A strong shot to the jaw or temple ought to do the trick, he figured. The guy wouldn't be out for long but would it be enough to teach him a lesson?
A fresh rush of anger caused him to turn his head sharply toward Nell, gray eyes narrowed. "I am not sitting down," he said adamantly, voice climbing slightly above regular volume. He wasn't the type to yell but the rage was prevalent in his tone. "Nell, do you hear this asshole?" Though he sounded frustrated at her, he was mostly upset for her. "He has no right to talk to you like that!" No one talked to Nell like that, not around Josh. He knew in the back of his mind that this was not physical and that she was 'capable' of standing up for herself... but at the same time, he knew she wouldn't. She was too much of a pushover. There was also the fact that she was at work and it would be very unprofessional, but Josh chalked it up to the fact that she was simply too nice for her own good. So he stepped in.
Nostrils flaring as he turned back to the drunkard, he jerked his head sharply in the general direction of the doors. "I dare you. Come on." He was itching for a fight now, could feel the adrenaline rushing through his veins. It had been too long since he let his anger get the better of him. This had been a disaster waiting to happen.
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Post by NELL DOE DALE on Mar 30, 2013 20:53:49 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; background-color: #77a090; padding:10px; border: 5px solid #95363a;] see my sun will just send you to war IF THE BATTLE DON'T KILL YOU
In coming to know Josh -- befriending him, falling in love with him, marrying him -- Nell had learned to accept a few things early on. One of them being the fact that he didn't shy away from confrontation like her. Quite the opposite. And while she didn't understand it, she understood it. He had the strength to back up any threats he was no making. Her husband didn't fear hurting others or being hurt himself. He had a temper, and she supposed that his anger didn't allow for that fear.
Even in understanding this, she didn't approve of it. She just wanted a peaceful day at work and a calm husband. It probably didn't help that he'd already been angry coming in to the casino. As luck would have it, the jerk she told him about was here, too. Thinking back on their conversation not so long ago, she recalled how angry he'd been with the man back then without even having met him. His reaction could have been easily predicted, and she knew she should have done something as soon as the guy sat down. But what? She didn't think Josh would like being shooed away from her table after her inviting him.
It was a moot point now. They were both standing up, glaring at each other. Or they had been, until Josh turned his glare and anger on her. Nell had hoped that not acknowledging the man would show her husband that she didn't mind, but clearly not. It only caused to incense him. Though she acknowledged that he likely was not angry at her and just angry in general, it still wasn't a good thing to deal with. "Yes, uhmm...I don't know..." It was hard to form valid arguments when Josh's anger was directed at her. She usually just said nothing, not wanting to make it any worse. "He's just drunk!"
The man cut in with, "'Scuse you, I am sober as a clarinet."
Her eyebrows furrowed together at the analogy. That was hardly the concern, however. No, her major concern lay in the fact that the situation had escalated into a full-blown confrontation and the random drunk man was leading the way outside. People parted as he stomped through, looking around with confusion on their faces. Even while knowing unlikely, Nell hoped that Josh wouldn't go with him, would just stay and resume the game.
It didn't work like that, though.
In the parking lot, Arnie McDrunk was pumped for battle, and in a fit of testosterone, tore off his Hawaiian shirt and threw it down in the parking lot. Then he began to step side to side, hands lifting up like he was preparing to fight in Mortal Kombat. With a very uncoordinated person at the controller. "Yeah, I'mma kick your ass," he said in his pumping-up mantra. He felt very confident in himself, liquid courage pulling through his veins. "You think you can knock me out, fucker, I will destroy you." This he said louder, meant for his opponent to hear, as he drew in close, "Whatchu gonna do about it, huh? That whore of a dealer can't stop me now, I will tear into you."
He got enough of an opening for a quick jab to the face, but that was about as good as he got. Coordination was not his friend that night. By the time Nell came out at the request of her boss, the stranger was already laid out on the pavement. Not for the first time that night, her expression contorted into one of concern as she looked from Arnie McDrunk to Josh. That's when she noticed his busted lip, and she went over to him with and took hold of his arm. "Oh Josh, are you okay?" She should have been concerned about the stranger -- and she was, even though he had been unreasonably cruel to her -- but she couldn't help that she was also worried about her husband and his state.
Gingerly touching at his jaw as she inspected his lip, she said, "Jeez, I think you should go to the doctor." It may have seemed very extreme, but Nell was prone to over-worrying and if anyone understood that, it would be her husband. A thousand things that could go wrong just from this injury flitted through her mind, and none of them seemed very appealing to her. She knew the stranger would rouse soon and her boss would be coming out to see if she handled this, and she just wanted to this day to end.
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omg i am so sorry about the length idek what happened i didn't want to stop writing DON'T HURT ME. (also sorry if pacing sucks or w/e, dealwithit)
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Apr 15, 2013 22:19:06 GMT -5
As usual when he turned on Nell, a sense of guilt nagged at the back of his mind. He shouldn’t be taking his frustration out on her. Guilt, however, did not solve the problem. It did not soothe his anger. It wouldn’t make this go away. The guilt achieved nothing but a knowledge that he was going to have something to apologise for later. And, present as it was, it did not stop him from fixing her with an exasperated stare. “I don’t care how drunk—”
Before he could finish his heated retort, the man in question intercepted with a comment so outrageous that it stopped the Fire elemental mid-sentence. He blinked, a harsh laugh bursting from his throat. “You’re full of shit, that’s what you are. Come on.” His tone full of challenge and gray eyes blazing, Joshua was out for blood. He wanted a fight. He wanted to knock this asshole out for what he’d said against his wife. It was not the comments tonight that had sent him into such a rage but the memory of how Nell had tried to change herself because of what he’d said in a previous setting where Josh was not around to jump to his wife’s defence. Abandoning his wife and the other shocked patrons of the casino, Josh followed hot on the man’s heels as he led the way outside. His fists were clenched tight and he was eager to rip this guy a new one, though he still retained caution as he faced him in the parking lot, waiting for an opening. He had not expected the drunkard to rip off his shirt and the gesture actually made him smirk, shaking his head. “Yeah? Come at me, then.” He made a gesture with his hand, wanting to entice his opponent into making a reckless move. The exact opposite happened when the word whore left the lips of the shirtless McDrunk. “The fuck’d you just call my wife?” Forgetting his caution, he stepped forward and swung a punch, leaving himself completely unguarded in the process.
Wham.
Stars burst in his vision and pain erupted in his jaw as Joshua staggered back slightly, lifting a hand to gingerly brush the injury. He felt blood, tasted its iron tang in his mouth, and it was enough to force him back into a less reckless state. Not bothering to say another word, he shook his head to distract himself from the pain and started toward the man again. I will fucking end you, jackass.
He was still breathing hard from the exertion when Nell came on the scene, blood dripping from his chin resulting from a busted lip. He met his wife’s gaze with a guarded expression, wondering what she was going to say. What she was thinking. Joshua tensed as she took his arm, though her gentle touch relaxed him after only a brief moment. “Fine,” he said predictably, then, proudly and with a little more venom, added, “He didn’t stand a chance, drunk fuck.” The Fire was trembling lightly, all the pent up rage getting to him at last. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d been that angry. He’d slowly gained more control over his anger as the years passed but this? He didn’t think he could have held his tongue if he’d tried. He asked for it.
His lips still tasted of blood and stung something terrible but he furrowed his brow at the suggestion of a doctor. “It’s nothing, I’m fine,” he insisted, waving a hand as if to shoo her off. After a pause, however, noting her concern for him, he sighed. “If it would make you feel better?” He didn’t want her fretting over him and though he normally would have let it run its course without seeking medical attention, it wasn’t that big of a deal to stop by the hospital to ease Nell’s worry. Speaking of Nell, he glanced toward the doors of the casino and then back at her with a cringe. “Did I get you in trouble?” Well. There was that regret from earlier. He hadn’t meant for things to turn out like this, but, well… anger was anger.
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Post by NELL DOE DALE on Apr 15, 2013 23:18:23 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; background-color: #77a090; padding:10px; border: 5px solid #95363a;] see my sun will just send you to war IF THE BATTLE DON'T KILL YOU
For Arnie McDrunk, the stranger's reactions to his revelry was way out there. Not that he minded at all about the fact he had no clue why this guy wanted to fight him so bad. A fight was a fight was a fight, and right about then he was feeling pretty damn good about kicking this guy's ass. He was the one full of shit here, not him. Needless to say, especially with his behavior this night, Arnie had gotten himself into a few altercations before. Notably, his opponents had been equally as trashed. And right now, he was thinking this dude was hammered as he was given his reactions to a little goofing off.
But then, with the guy's next words, he realized that he may have been a little more sober than he was giving him credit for. He had a sudden moment of clarity for someone so shit faced he was willing to get into a fight with a dude at a casino. Huh. Wife. It connected in his head that just maybe, whore may have been the wrong word to use in reference to the woman. Though he had just used it as a sentence enhancer, he said, "Oh." And that was it. Of course it didn't stop him from taking a swing, and it definitely didn't make him feel very bad. How in the hell was he supposed to know the two were married to each other?
The man didn't have long to ruminate on such matters, his thoughts soon turning to, shit, I'm fucked. Because this guy was really pissed off, and Arnie McDrunk was missing quite a few steps as he did his shuffling idle-Street Fighter routine. Which eventually ended because he was very unprepared to take on the complete sober and very angry stranger.
And though Nell did spare concern for the guy who was laid out, her energy went toward the completely conscious and still fuming man. She hated to see him like this, trembling and angry and bleeding from the freaking mouth. It would have been reasonable for her to be mad with him, to yell at him and lecture him about the fact he'd caused a scene in her workplace but she did not enjoy the idea of that. Especially not when she was busy fretting over his state, even when he said that he was fine. She pursed her lips when he said that, clearly incredulous, even though she was glad that he hadn't anything worse...that she could see. Not surprising, though, since Josh's rather callous words were right. Nell didn't think that a guy way past his limit would be able to stand much of a chance in a fight, but that didn't stop her from being concerned about her husband. She did respond to that, no swatting on the arm or warning words that he shouldn't have done what he did. He was a grown man, he could do what he wanted even if it she had tried to stop it.
Nell couldn't say she was too surprised when he waved her off, but she stayed right there her eyes still full of worry even as he tried to convince her that he was all right. One day, she was sure he would give her an ulcer with how much she worried about him. Usually in his diet, but now in his physical condition. But then he offered to go if it would make her feel better, and she blinked before nodding, and dropped her arms at her side, clearly happier than she had been moments before. It was a load off her chest, that was for sure. It would have weighed heavily on her if he decided to just brush it off, a part of it being the attack he'd endured that still felt so recent to her.
A glance back at the doors, and it was enough time to choose between a little while lie and telling Josh the truth. "Just...a little," she said with a small shrug, smiling to ease him in the fact that she wasn't in something big. Like getting fired. At least she hoped not, since she figured that given it wasn't her doing she'd be let off easy. She hadn't lied to her boss about the fact that it was her husband who had caused the disruption. Nell wasn't ashamed of the man she married. "The police aren't getting involved, as far as I know. And here we go..." She trailed off as her boss walked out after shooing away anyone curious, a few people trickling out to leave the casino.
He stopped short of the couple, looking at Nell expectantly. "I think he's okay," she offered lamely, nodding her head toward the man who was rousing himself from the pummeling. He shifted positions, rolling over that he could dust himself off. She couldn't see what kind of damage had been done, and didn't really want to see, either.
"I don't want to see you," the boss said to Josh before inclining his head to Arnie McDrunk, "or him around here again. You're lucky I'm not calling the cops."
"Thank you, sir. I have to uh, take my husband to the emergency room?" The man nodded in understanding before walking away, and she was glad that he didn't have anything more to say about that. She was glad that she could keep her job.
Arnie McDrunk wandered away, presumably to his car, and she called out, "Uhm..sir, do you need help?" She didn't get a reply again and she looked at Josh with a half-smile, not entirely full of mirth. "I'll change and meet you out here, okay?" She told him, not eager to be ending her shift early but eager to see that he would be doing better. Nell didn't want to talk about what had happened, really, because she knew exactly what had gone down. She understood that Josh was a naturally angry person, and she always took it in stride, accepting it for what it would be. She was just happy that he hadn't gotten off worse.
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Post by JOSHUA DONOVAN DALE on Apr 16, 2013 0:38:03 GMT -5
Words could not describe the rage that boiled his blood at the simple, monosyllabic response. Oh? He was going to kill this guy. He was going to wrap two hands around his throat and fucking throttle him. You call my wife a whore and all you can say is oh? Though sudden and sharp enough to startle him from his homicidal urges, the hit to his jaw was not enough to deter the angry husband from his goal of whooping ass. He proceeded to do just that without so much as considering the consequences, that is until the man was laid out on the pavement and his wife was coming toward him. As always, it was in the aftermath of a situation that he realised all the things he should have done different.
Affection softened his steel gaze as Nell stayed close to him, his breath starting to slow as the subtle tremors ran their course. He could feel exhaustion setting in, his mind tired and his limbs like lead. His mouth hurt and he wanted to inspect it a little more closely, press upon it to assess the pain, but Josh refrained from doing anything that would betray his suffering to Nell. He had worried her enough. The knuckles on his left hand felt tender and throbbed with pain from the force of his delivered punch and so he lifted his right to play with a lock of her hair. He felt unsure of what to say and so worried at his lip a moment, swallowing hard. He'd gotten them into yet another sticky situation with his big mouth and foul temperament. Each time it happened he swore it would be the last but in the back of his mind he knew that he was making empty promises to himself. He confirmed his decision to drop in at the ER with a simple, silent nod.
His brow furrowed. How much is a little? He trusted that she wasn't fired or suspended, as those seemed to him like very big things, but what would be the repercussions of his mistake? His mistake. The knowledge that all of this was his fault was a bitter pill to swallow. So he only swallowed half, retorting to the guilt with a stubborn, He started it. Like a child in a playground scuffle. McDrunk had been the one to insult Nell with no rhyme nor reason behind his actions, Josh just hadn't taken it very lightly. He opened his mouth to reply when the doors opened and her boss strode out, the interruption causing him to fall silent.
That silence lasted only for a moment, his defiance flaring up again the moment the word 'cops' left the lips of the other man. "Lucky?" The mere idea that he was lucky to be standing here with a busted lip and an insulted wife astounded him. Was that luck? His was rather shit if that were the case. "It's not my fault that jackass was looking for a fight!" All right, so Josh had been the true instigator when it came to throwing down in the parking lot but he hadn't been the one to make a cruel remark about Nell. "Sides, we took it outside! We weren't even in the damn building!" All right, so they were still on the property, but they had left the casino when things started to heat up. They'd done the irresponsibly responsible thing. Josh did not believe that he should be penalized for his actions and he was especially incensed about getting Nell into trouble. It had nothing to do with her, McDrunk was the one to blame!
He was positively fuming by the time her boss headed indoors. It was a wonder that steam wasn't gushing from his ears and that he didn't breathe fire when he opened his mouth, a feat he was elementally capable of. Instead, he spat a bitter, "I don't like him," before actually spitting to rid his mouth of some of the blood. Her boss, in his opinion, was a total jackass. Didn't even do anything wrong, he thought to himself. Fucker deserved it. Speaking of Arnie McDrunk, his response to the man's return to consciousness was much less pleasant than his wife's. "Fuck you, asshole!" he called, loud enough for the retreating loser to hear. Wounds both physical and internal still smarting from the confrontations of the night, he grunted in acknowledgement to her words. He'd be here. Not like I'm allowed inside anyway. Ugh.
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Post by NELL DOE DALE on Apr 16, 2013 5:21:16 GMT -5
[atrb=border,0,true][atrb=style, width: 400px; background-color: #77a090; padding:10px; border: 5px solid #95363a;] see my sun will just send you to war IF THE BATTLE DON'T KILL YOU
When Josh took her hair in his fingers, she felt a smile tug on her lips. She didn't want him to feel bad about what he had done, even though she wished that he hadn't reacted the way he did. It would have been a whole lot better, and he must have realized it too so she would also not give him any stern words. It had always been in her best interests not to treat him like an unruly child. Especially not when she just wanted him to be all right and not hurt and she had to admit, she was upset with the man for hurting her husband. Though it was obvious he got the worst of it.
Ire seemed to replenish when her boss effectively banned Josh from the casino. Nell had seen it coming, when the man had been explaining that since the incident occurred at her table she would have have to deal with the "repercussions." She already knew what they would be, even if they were not explicitly stated. It was pretty unfair, but her boss had been incensed, and looked it as he regarded Josh with a cold expression, his sharp features made even sharper. Her husband tried to argue the decision, and she knew that it wouldn't turn out well for him. "Josh..." she said pleadingly, before looking at her boss and noticing that he was not at all amused by this. She just hoped he wouldn't say anything that would incense her husband even more. "Sir, I do not care whose fault any of this was," he said very carefully, his tone carrying a professional edge. Nell looked between them, while bouncing intermittently on her heels. Josh's further arguments didn't help either. "Good night," he said succinctly before going. She looked after with a disheartened look. It was only expected, her boss didn't really sway easily.
Her lip twitched a little when he announced his dislike of the man and spat blood on the ground. Balling her hands into fists, she tapped them together as she thought. "I'll try to vouch for you. The guy was drunk and disorderly, it's not really fair." This ignoring the fact that Josh could be considered 'disorderly' as well. Leave it to her to put her husband in a good light. "But Nate will probably forget about this in a few days." She waved her hand as if shooing away a gnat. Hopefully he would forget, but she doubted that Josh would count on it. She sighed when Josh gave the man some profanities to take with him. In response, the stranger flipped him off over his shoulder, almost knocking himself off balance with the gesture.
She grabbed her bag and inside and went to change, wondering who would be covering her shift. Nate would already be docking her pay and giving her less hours, so a few hours lost wouldn't be much. Nell returned to Josh dressed in sweats and sneakers to take him to the ER. Inevitably, they had to wait at the hospital with other people. She was thankful that none of them had gaping wounds or something, as a matter of fact she couldn't tell what was really wrong with them. "Highlights," she said happily as she held up the magazine before moving to sit next to Josh. She loved that waiting rooms still had them, but they lacked in the pen and crayon department.
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