(no subject)

Are Mondays really so much more terrible than any other day?

Suppose that depends on your average day, don't it?

They're all more or less the same to me. You?

My sympathies. One in a few are tragically redundant. In the case of t'day I admittedly can't be arsed to do a thing.

That certainly sounds like most days. Do you have any pressing obligations that absolutely must be seen to today?

[ A slow brow raises. Well, he's on call. He's always on call.

A hand lazily motions to the seat near by before pushing a cigarette between his lips] Not yet.

To whom do I owe the pleasure?

Then it sounds as if you don't have to be arsed into doing anything just yet.

[She sits down and crosses her ankles, resting her hands in her lap.] Don't be too hasty now - I could be awful company, for all you know.

[ He sounds amused, if not with a very subtle implication of it. ] Pardon my manners.

No pardons necessary. [She offers a hand.] I'm Jacqueline. I'll try not to make your Monday type day any worse.

[ He leans forward to receive the hand with a single firm shake ] They call me J.

Cig?

J. Very chic and mysterious. Who's they? [A nod to the cigarette.] Thanks.

[ Comes a single laugh as he holds out a light for her. ] No' really. Figure they tire of saying Johnson. Lazy gits.

Co-workers and the like.

[She lights the end, then takes a drag.] If you get tired of saying Jacqueline, you can call me Jac. What kind of job do you have?

With or without the accent? [ A bit of a smart smile tugs his lips as he exhales ] I'm afraid if I tell you, you'll hound me for my vices.

Without. I'm not French. Egyptian, actually. [She chose the name Jacqueline simply because she liked the way it sounded and her brother could still use the same nickname for her that she's grown so fond of. It just fit.] I don't think I'm really in a position to judge most people.

Lovely. Never been but have always wanted to. Born there? [ A small break as he flicks the ashes into the nearby tray. ]

Paramedic. An' you?

Yeah, in Cairo, but my parents moved us to the US when we were little because they wanted my brother and I to have an American education. It's a lovely place, though. You should go sometime.

Mm, wow. I'm a makeup artist. Do you enjoy your job? I imagine it must be difficult.

[ He waves a hand dismissively ] American education is overrated. Like Oxford. Lot of good comes about it but just as many failures.

It's safe to say there's never a dull day. Something of a love/hate relationship, me an' my job. You must see an array of interesting people, aye?

Tell me about it. My parents shipped us off to an incredibly posh boarding school in hopes that it would make doctors and lawyers out of us. My brother joined the Air Force and left right after he graduated. You went to Oxford?

It must be stressful, but it's an admirable profession. [She turns to blow out a stream of smoke, considering the question.] I do. I enjoy my job. I like being able to help people look the way they really want to.

Pre-med, but continued at Cambridge. Father was a surgeon and for awhile there I figured, he wants me to be one so that's what I should do, aye? But I decided not. After the fact. [ He offers a short laugh ]

It's an unappreciated talent, that. [ he means her line of work ] All you hear everywhere are people telling everyone else to appreciate what they have and love themselves and all that.

[ He takes a moment and kills the smoke, exhaling ] Like someone can't love themselves enough to do something different. I say, butt out and let people do as they want.

Our fathers sound a bit alike there. My dad has his own clinic. Was he upset that you didn't want to be a doctor?

It's an awful thing to be unhappy with how you look, and no amount of motivational speak can make them love themselves. I think it's cruel to try to force someone into appreciating what they have when what they have is all wrong. [She smiles, meeting his eyes.] Life would be easier if more people thought like you.

Wrong, different, just not what they like. What a woman or a man for that matter does with their body hardly effects anyone but themselves. I just don't get it?

[ There's a moment; ah - he wouldn't agree with that but he was painfully good at seeming incredibly normal. So he just smiles. Hell, he'll even shy away with a small laugh after a moment. ] Flattery, my dear Jac, will get you everywhere.

Aye, he was a rigid sort. [ A shrug ] it is what it is.

Humanity just seems to be awfully preoccupied with the things everyone else wants to do.

[She laughs and tips her ashes to the ground.] You'll have to forgive me. My business is flattery.

In my experience, parents are a terribly depressing topic. Now I'm not sure I'm improving your Monday type day.

Please, by all means continue to cater to my ego. [ said in jest ] I can let the family chat slide.

I would, but you are still a bit of a complete stranger. However, I'll keep my eyes open for another opportunity to do just that.