004. Video; un: driver

[killertrack]

[ When the video starts, nothing shows but a Cadelle street. It's the middle of the night and the streetlamps are all the light around. There's music playing, obviously coming from the phone's speakers, tinny. But it's half covered by Baby's humming. ]

Hellooooo everyone! I thought I'd sing you a lullaby.

[ It's obvious that Baby is drunk when he starts speaking, even without being on the screen, and it's even more obvious when he moves the camera a little, half his face appearing, shadowed by the streetlights he's walking under. He's wearing sunglasses.

Eyes half closed, the unsteadiness of the video shows how much Baby has had earlier. He stumbles for a step, then stops, laughing to himself as he runs a hand over his face.

Then, he starts singing, along with the song playing: ]

So take a look at me now
Since I told you it's over
You got a hole in your heart
I'll find a four leaf clover
You can't tell me this now
This far down the line
That you're never, ever gonna get over me

[ He might be drunk, but at least he's not a bad singer. It's a bit wobbly, and there are tears in his voice as he sings, the words feeling like they're stabbing him, over and over.

Isabelle's gone.

He stops singing, looking ahead at the mostly empty street. He stumbles again, closes his eyes while he takes a deep breath, head tilted up to the sky. When he opens them again, and then turns to the camera, he's grinning. ]

Feels like a perfect night for a joyride, right?

[ The words are slurred, and Baby's smile is already wavering, but then he turns the camera to his car, parked a few feet away. ]

Comments

[righthandgirl]

( As she listens, Jo nods a little with understanding. She doesn't have different names for work Jo versus regular Jo, but they do feel a little like two separate entities sometimes, so she gets that to an extent.

Reaching over to take his hand, Jo gives it a quick little squeeze of reassurance before letting go again. )

I'm sure you can be both, it just might be a delicate balancing act at first. I believe in you.

( She pauses for a moment. )

Do you want someone to walk home with? Not that I'm saying you should or have to leave right now, but just...generally speaking?

[killertrack]

[ He looks down at their hands when she reaches out, the touch surprising to him, but welcome - he's not actually touched anyone since Isabelle left.

When Jo mentions going home, though, Baby sighs, and nods, slowly. He can't keep hiding in here. ]

I do need to get some sleep. You'd walk with me?

[ He stands, unsteady, holding on to the shelves as he looks down at Jo. ]

Thanks, for - for this. You've been so nice.

[righthandgirl]

Sure, why not?

( It seems like such a small gesture to Jo, anyway, especially if he lives in the welcome district like she does. Why wouldn't she want to make sure he got home safe after coming out here to make sure he didn't do something unsafe to begin with?

She gets to her feet after he stands, and she waits, wanting to make sure that he's steady and, if he isn't, she's still standing within reach if he needs something sturdy to grab onto when he lets go of the shelves. )

You're welcome, Miles. I have my moments.

( The smirk on her face suggests that she's kidding. She's nice more often than she isn't, honestly. )

Let's go.