We will never leave our lives.

[hostage]

Who: Jesse and Mary
When: 7 pm on Saturday, March 10
Where: Mary's apartment
Summary: Jesse admires some interior decorating.
Warnings: MILFs MILFs MILFs


[It's already past sirens, so Jesse's practically been bouncing off the walls just waiting for time to pass. He actually gets down to the second floor ten minutes early, then spends a little while pacing back and forth before finally knocking at Mary's door.]

Comments

[hostage]

[The way he smiles at that is rueful.]

They do say that, huh.

[failedparenting]

[Knock knock knock. Break up the party, kids, Mr Buzzkill's here to borrow shit.]

[momchester]

[Distracted as she is, she distantly glances at the door rather than getting up.]

Come in!

[Probably the landlord come to ask something, or maybe an angel finally learning the marvelous use of doors.]

[hostage]

[Jesse looks up sharply, the way he always does when he hears a knock at the door these days.]

[failedparenting]

Hey Mar, sorry to do this but I need-

[He stops in his tracks when his eyes land on Mary and Jesse. Out of the corner of his eye he sees the wine bottle on the kitchen counter.

Color him very suspicious.]

Am I...inturrupting something?

[He looks at Mary, brow furrowed. The look is half confused, half upset, and maybe a hint of pissed.]

[momchester]

[S H I T. Mary's on her feet before she realizes it, glancing sideways at Jesse, then back to John.]

No, no- just being new-neighborly. [Standing awkwardly halfway around the coffee table, looking between the two men.] Ah, this is Jesse, he's brand new. Apparently his Greeter wasn't much help, so, ah, here I am.

[Shrug. Reaching out is part of her job, John knows that.]

Jesse, this is John, my... [Mary turns a little, reaching up to touch her chin idly, a meaningless thoughtful gesture. It's her left hand, and it lingers long enough for John to see the lack of wedding ring.] ...It's complicated.

[hostage]

[From that reaction - and considering the age difference between them - Jesse assumes this guy's her father or something like it. Boss, maybe? Glancing between the two of them with his eyebrows raised, he doesn't know whether he's supposed to stand up and shake the guy's hand or keep sitting here. He opts for the latter and just nods in greeting.]

Hey, yo. Uh... Nice to meet you. Yeah, Mary was just telling me about the apartments and stuff, you know. The, uh... The decorating. 'cause she's really made this place look, uh, nice. And all.

[failedparenting]

[John's ring, on the other hand, is still very much in place. He twists it around on his finger absently as he looks from Mary to Jesse.]

Thanks for that.

[Is comes out harsher than he intended. Just, the prospect of Mary all cozy with this asshole (he has to be an asshole, look at him) and not even admitting who John is...]

No, don't get up. You keep...doing whatever the hell you're doing. I just left a few things in the bedroom.

[momchester]

[She turns slightly red at that. Yeah, okay, maybe she deserved that- but outright saying "husband" without some backstory would be kind of misleading, in her mind. Especially when Mary has separation papers she's intending to file, just as soon as she takes that citizenship test.]

John-

[Sigh. This, kids, is what we call a no-win situation.]

-Okay. I've, um, been collecting all your stuff in the bottom dresser drawer, so you don't have to go looking.

[She gestures vaguely, hoping he'll get his shit and get out. What was a perfectly fine conversation with company is now horrendously awkward, because John can't behave himself. She feels like a criminal.]

[hostage]

[Oh crap, an ex-boyfriend? Jesse's eyes just keep getting wider and wider and he shrinks awkwardly back into the couch while they talk.]

[failedparenting]

Oh, thanks. You didn't have to do that ba- Mary

[Whoops.]

Do you mind if I...? [He gestures vaguely at the bedroom door. He doesn't want to intrude, in case she has anything she doesn't want him to see. Like more boyfriends.

Jesus, what the hell's wrong with him to even think that? He's being a jealous asshole.]

[momchester]

[She just brushes her hair back and looks away at the almost slip-up. Ignore ignore ignore.]

Yeah, go ahead.

[As soon as John isn't looking, she sends an apologetic glance Jesse's way.]

[hostage]

[Jesse, out of John's line of sight, points to the door and lifts his eyebrows at Mary in question: Should I get out of here?]

[failedparenting]

[He nods, and books it for the bedroom. The less time he spends with this kid, the better.

He has to steal a small duffel from their- Mary's closet to carry all of his things. He's sure she won't mind anyway.]

[momchester]

[While he's gone, Mary shakes her head at Jesse.]

No, really. This won't take long. I'm really- sorry.

[She can hear John moving around; it sounds like he'll be out of here soon. Oh god, the awkward.]

[hostage]

Nah, don't... You don't gotta be sorry.