let's have dinner.
Hello. The name's Irene Adler, but some of you may know me as 'the Woman'. Either way, you should know that I'm used to getting what I want, and nothing you say will get in my way.
“Don’t worry, I already have. He basically said the same thing.” Joanna shifted in her position on the bed, feeling a bit awkward. “It’s okay, really.”
She raised an eyebrow. “I’m always…what? If I’m doing something, then I really don’t notice it.” It was true - she was usually accused by a few people over her actions, but Joanna usually paid no mind to them. At Irene’s explanation, she went silent. After a few minutes she pushed the woman on the shoulder. “Yeah, I’m really going to go running out of the room. I probably wouldn’t talk to you for about an hour as well.” She shook her head. “I’m just curious. Who knows, maybe I’d even like it. But I promise it won’t cause me to look down
Frowning, Irene didn’t know how to respond. She didn’t want to upset the girl any more than she already was, but she knew it was unavoidable. “You’re always provoking them, aren’t you? I don’t know if you mean to, but it definitely seems like you are at least trying to keep their attention on you. Not that it’s a bad thing,” she said with a shrug. “It’s certainly admirable.”
Growing worried at the silence between them, Irene shifted her position a bit before she answered her. She grinned at her friend, suddenly feeling as if it was alright to tell her. If the girl really didn’t care, Irene didn’t find any problem in telling her. “Well, you know, it’s quite hard to explain. But I could always show you,” she said, leaning closer and cupping the girl’s cheek in one of her hands. She raised an eyebrow at Joanna before leaning in to press a soft kiss to her lips, wondering if this was alright with her. She would know soon enough. The last person that had kissed Joanna without her approval had gotten punched in the face, as far as she knew.
Joanna just stared at Irene, taking in her words. When she was done, the younger girl scoffed and shook her head. “Well, I certainly didn’t expect that to come from you.” She understood where the woman was coming from, but it didn’t stop the words from hurting. “I know, and I do see it from his point of view. That’s why I’m in this room instead of in there.”
“I don’t want people noticing me because I don’t like it. I hate the attention.” She shrugged. “I guess it’s mostly from being the captain’s daughter - everyone noticed me. It was annoying.” Joanna noticed how Irene didn’t answer the question. She leaned up and switched into a sitting position - both legs underneath her. “You forget, I’m twenty years old. I’m old enough to make my own decisions.” She ran a hand through her hair. “I don’t understand why no one will explain it. It can’t be that bad.”
“Come on, you had to hear it from someone,” Irene said, trying to brush it off as nothing. She could tell she had hurt the girl, and she wished she could take her words back. “And I’m glad you are,” she said quietly, trying to see if she was actually doing alright.
“You don’t shy away from it very often, though. You’re always, oh, never mind,” she said, shaking her head. Irene pulled her legs up to her chest, resting her forehead on her knees. “Damnit, Joanna. I don’t want you looking down on me. I like you, and I don’t want you running from me because of my job. I’m sure your dad has other reasons, but that’s mine, alright?” Sighing, she looked up at the younger girl again. “I know how people react whenever I try to explain my job, and I just don’t want that from you too,” she said quietly.
“Ugh, I’m tired of being a worry on everyone’s mind. I’m a nurse for crying out loud - I can keep my composure pretty well.” Joanna sighed, shaking her head at the statement. That was true, she’s seen enough to not faint at the sight of blood. But she could see where everyone was coming from. It was her dad, not just some patient.
She tilted her head. “I know I’m pretty, and I hate it. I’d rather be the plain jane than have guys notice me.” She rolled over onto her stomach and looked up at Irene. He had described her job as something to do with S&M - she may be innocent, but she knew what those letters stood for. “Why not? I think if you enjoy what you do, it deserves to be respected.” She began to pick at the covers under her. “What is it exactly? The dominatrix thing?”
“It’s not that he doesn’t think you can handle it, I’m sure. It’s more of the emotional side of things,” Irene said with a sigh, looking down at the girl. “You’re already not taking things well, and your dad doesn’t need that right now, I’m sure. He’s probably got his own problems to work out. He doesn’t need yours too,” she said before she realized how harsh that sounded. “I don’t mean that in a bad way, sweetheart. I’m just looking at it from his point of view.”
“That’s definitely not the attidude I was expecting,” she said, rolling her eyes. “Why don’t you want people noticing you?” Irene could see the curious look in Joanna’s eyes and started to get worried. She was going to start asking questions about her job again, and she just didn’t want to explain it to her, for fear of scaring her off. “It’s not exactly like that,” she said, shaking her head. “You’re going to be the death of me, you know that? It’s hard to explain. And if I do, your dad will kill me,” she said, trying to brush it off.
“Less distractions? The last thing he needs to be is by himself with my dad. If someone is there pestering him he’ll keep a clear head.” Joanna pulled her knees to her chest, pressing her chin on top of them. Tilting her head slightly, she regard the woman with a blank stare. “Okay, so that statement came out a little harsh. But can you blame me for it?”
She made a face. Of course Irene would mention something about the guys. “I hate it - I honestly don’t even know what they see in me.” It was true, even when she was going through the academy it always seemed to freak her out whenever guys would say things like that. “I also don’t get why people don’t like you. Like my daddy. He said something about it being because of your profession, but even that’s confusing.” Joanna blew out a puff of air and laid back down. “Everything is confusing.”
Closing her eyes, Irene leaned her head back to rest against the wall, rubbing her temples. She obviously wasn’t doing a good job with getting Joanna’s mind off of her dads. “No, of course not. But I’m sure he’s fine right now. Caroline and Gwen are in there, aren’t they?” she asked softly. “He probably doesn’t want to see you upset about all of this, and I don’t blame him. He doesn’t need another worry on his mind right now,” she said with a shrug.
Rolling her eyes, she responded, “You’re gorgeous, Joanna. And don’t try to deny it. You’re something special, and of course they all like it.” When the girl brought her job up again, she became quiet. She had never really thought about it, it just came with the territory. People always acted weird around her, and she didn’t really mind it. “My job isn’t the most respectable profession, you know. I don’t even really care what your father thinks. I’ll stick around if you’re happy with me,” she said, knowing that really didn’t answer much of anything. But she really didn’t want to talk about it, especially with someone as innocent as her.
Sweetheart, are you alright? You don’t look so great.
Ooc; I’m mobile an cannot read tags, Irene what did you suggest?
Hah, I just suggested everyone getting drunk and playing spin the bottle. Stupid idea is stupid. Expecially because I think everyone died.
Oh, and my name’s Kayla. And I don’t know anyone’s name here, so don’t feel too bad :P
