THE FOLLOWING TEXT CONTAINS: SWEARING, DRINKING, INNUENDO, CRIMES, MURDER. READER DISCRETION IS ADVISED (18+)
COLD FEET
36. INT. IZOLA’S OFFICE – MORNING
JD is running through the current abandoned BITECLAW meet-spot. They’re looking markedly more dishevelled than usual in their gnoll form this morning as they try to straighten up the outfit they were wearing last night before they met up with FRANKIE… Luckily jumpsuits aren’t too difficult to scramble into when you have to leave the house real quick.
They’re going to have to make it up to FRANKIE later, it’s half bad when you have to scamper out of someone else’s place in a hurry but this morning they had to dip their own place… Which meant the awkward part of her having to leave… They probably should have just given her a key.
She gets it though… JD hopes…They sure try not to leave her high and dry like that unless they really have to.
This morning they really had to.
JD slows to a halt by the big door up the steps, they take a second to catch their breath before they knock.
No answer, hm… Weird. They knock another time and again, no answer. IZOLA has been known to mess with the family from time to time but even this is weird for her. One last time, nobody answers and JD peers inside the room just to be sure–and sure enough nobody’s here.
Are they early…?
JD checks the text properly–finding that another one’s been sent to them a little while after the first, slated for…
…does that say an HOUR from now?
JD groans quietly, scrubbing their face before they step over to one of the tired waiting chairs and sit down with a small dusty puff.
Because their comm is open on the texts they got from IZ earlier, they can’t help skimming the last few, she wants to talk to them about something. What could it be? Sounds serious. Does she know about FRANKIE? I mean, it’s not against BITECLAW rules to have friends outside of the mob. At least, IZ made it sound like it wasn’t a problem.
This ends up being a long hour of fretting and worrying. It starts freaking them out just enough JD has to get up and take a walk through the abandoned halls just to inhale as much dust as they can. They smoke it off in some back room and circle back around five-minutes-to.
This time, when JD knocks on the door there’s an answer, IZOLA’s gruff voice behind it says:
IZOLA
Come in.
JD’s stomach is tied up in knots when they peer inside. She’s sitting in a chair, looking out the windows to the rest of PIPETOWN. There isn’t a desk in here this time to give that imposing atmosphere that she’s usually so fond of. Admittedly it had become a bit of a comfort, having a desk between the two of them like some sort of shield.
JD steps inside and shuts the door behind them.
JD
Hey, Iz… You wanted to meet?
IZOLA sighs. That’s not a good sign, is it?
IZOLA
JD… Yes, yes. Come in, sit.
She turns her attention to them as JD pulls up a tattered chair and sits down. IZOLA watches them, difficult to read. JD can feel their nerves tighten the knots in their stomach. When she doesn’t continue they prompt her forward.
JD
What…is it?
IZOLA eyes them, and it’s only now after this hanging silence that JD realises she’s hesitating.
IZOLA
I need a new sharpshooter. Pique is… No longer with us.
Oh. JD takes a second to recover, thankful this isn’t about their current distraction.
JD
Well, I can do some digging for a replacement.
But IZOLA holds their gaze in a way that suggests she already has someone in mind… The sinking feeling returns and drops their stomach into their toes.
CUT TO: ANOTHER LIFE…
A young (kid) version of JD in a black jumpsuit holds a rifle on a rooftop back in EOX.
M [OS]
Steady…
CUT: same shot continues but JD is a little older now (young teens), M leans in next to them, adjusting JD’s grip carefully.
M [OS]
(quiet)
Remember to breathe, still.
CUT: JD is a little older (late teens) aiming more confidently.
M [OS]
Fire.
SFX: ZZZTK TAK TAK TAK–
Flashes of several different bodies being struck between the eyes, blood spurting from the wounds.
CUT TO: NOW
JD
I don’t know–
IZOLA
The job is yours, JD. There is nobody else.
JD
Foxtrot can probably be trained, no? She’s not a sharpshooter yet.
IZOLA
She’s not steady enough.
JD
Well, maybe–I’m sure I could find someone, less green–
IZOLA
I need someone I know I can trust, JD.
JD slows their roll. One would think they’d be excited by this promotion, no more cleaning up messes, no more grunt work.
IZOLA
It pays better than your fixing. You will have more notice, more free time.
The last thing they were expecting was this, really. They’re caught, hesitating, weighing pros and cons.
CUT TO: YEARS AGO
A hand shapes the curve of a younger JD’s face and wipes away a frustrated tear. JD pulls away from this hand and glares up at them.
M [VO]
It’s not safe for you, anymore, [REDACTED].
CUT: JD sits in a dark corner of a cargo hold wearing a black jumpsuit that’s been mended where patches branded them once. As they feel the ships engines rattle to life. JD scrambles out of hiding and clambers up to the nearest window, it’s just a small sliver.
The ship has already pulled away far enough, M is just a speck on the port looking up at them. They turn their back and leave. JD stares back, setting their jaw.
CUT BACK: TODAY
JD [VO]
Can I just… Think about it…
IZOLA [VO]
What is there to think on? Anyone else here would be overjoyed to take this position.
JD leans against the inside of their apartment door, setting their jaw as they pull their e-cig out of their pocket.
JD [VO]
I just think you’re making a mistake.
IZOLA [VO]
Don’t let me make this mistake, then.
CUT: JD stares at IZOLA who gives them a hard look in turn. They’ve lost this battle, they’re not even sure why they’re fighting. Their guts just squirm. They were fine, happy even, just cleaning up messes.
But they relent.
JD
Okay.
IZOLA [VO]
Good. This is your first assignment.
CUT TO: BACK IN THE APARTMENT
JD pulls a card out of their pocket, there’s an image of an auto-repair shop’s logo on the front, SHIPS ’N SCHITT. They flip it over to find the owner’s very unfortunate name: DUNCAN SCHITT and an address.
JD sighs a plume of pink smoke before they pocket their pen and get ready for work.
37. EXT. SHIPS ’N SCHITT – NIGHT
This place is located closer to the docks, easily overlooked due to its rundown garage-door-like look from the front. There’s not much of an angle here, and after circling the joint, JD finds there were several different exits. This one could be a real pain in the ass. They talked to a few folks all around, trying to get an idea of the owner’s habits.
He isn’t the target but it doesn’t hurt to figure out ways this thing could go sour should the worst case happen. Unfortunately, there aren’t very many locals to these docks. And the hands that work here are really focused on work.
Luckily, DUNCAN is a loud guy, makes a lot of friends, JD manages to get a gist of his character before they find a place to lay low and stake him out. They’re sporting their undead look this time…it’s nebulously human-enough to go unnoticed.
JD looks over the file on their comm while they wait. They’re looking for a gnoll of some type, suspected BARKFANG. The BITECLAW family is sending a message tonight, JD is to shoot this pilot, big gnoll guy, just as big of a grin…make it a scene.
It’s half past two when someone finally shows up, they drive up in a hot red sportsy thing, three gnolls get out of it, the big guy himself and two smaller ones. JD swears one looks familiar but up here, in the dark it’s hard to tell.
JD really needs to invest in better eyesight. A little dark vision could really go a long way. They take aim, following the Big Guy’s stride. DUNCAN comes out to greet them and the opening of the garage door main entrance pools a long stretch of light. Perfect. Couldn’t have asked for things to line up any better.
Make a scene, she said. JD waits for them to approach the building then fires on the big guy just as he waves to DUNCAN. The other two gnolls duck nervously as the big guy drops down, face to the pavement, pool around his head. One of them drops to their knees, looking him over, cursing–
Oh. Shit.
FRANKIE’s face catches the light as she glances around looking for the culprit. The second small gnoll panics and is already scrambling back to their ride. He jumps into the driver’s seat, shouting.
???
Frankie! C’mon!
But FRANKIE has her gun pulled on DUNCAN, approaching him. DUNCAN lifts his hands, trying to reason with her. Oops… Not good. JD can’t exactly hear what he’s saying just that he’s whimpering. Probably denying any involvement with the one firing on them.
FRANKIE backs him out of JD’s line of sight, in past the open garage door so only their shadows can be perceived in the long stretch of light.
JD curses quietly, watching the scene unfold like shadow puppets behind a screen. JD really hopes she doesn’t shoot him. Make a scene but this would be a bit extensive…
SFX: BANGBANG BANG.
The driver in the getaway steps on the gas and beelines out of the scene, leaving FRANKIE high and dry. JD curses several more times quietly as they scramble to pack up the rifle, tucking it away out of sight. They’ll be back for it later–
SFX: ZZZZZZZZT ZZZZZZZZZZT
JD fumbles with their comm, personal one. FRANKIE’s calling them. They peer out towards the junk shop and find her shadow leaning against the edge.
Despite everything in their brain telling them to dip and run, they pick up.
JD
(quiet)
Frankie?
FRANKIE
(nervous)
Hey–ah. Hey–stranger. I know we said um… No work talk but I’m in a bit of a pinch.
JD works to keep their voice level, watching her shadow.
JD
You okay…? What’s going on?
FRANKIE
You close? It’s urgent but I’m stuck. I think someone’s…I’m just stuck, my ride left me high and dry.
JD
Where are you?
FRANKIE
Ships ’n Schitt… Down by the docks, little hole in the wall.
They’re not sure they’ve ever heard FRANKIE this freaked out. They frown, guilty about it. They’re not about to spill they spoiled her gig.
Figures things between the two of them would eventually cut too close.
JD
Gimme five.
FRANKIE
You know where it is?
JD
Yeah. Hang tight.
FRANKIE
Yeah, okay–yeah thanks.
JD hangs up, takes a deep breath, eying her shadow as it pulls away from the door and she shuts it with a quiet, echoing:
SFX: CLACK.
CUT TO: FIVE MINUTES LATER.
JD circles around back and knocks on the rickety old door amidst piles and piles of parts. The windows are greased with decades of grime, so they see a figure approaching but not the details.
But they already know it’s FRANKIE when she un-jams the door with a rough yank. She tugs them inside and slams the door behind them, frantic. Hands and face covered in blood. Inside the shop is just as cluttered, it’s a wonder this guy can even take on starships and repairs with no place to put them.
Er…could have anyway. Rest in peace, DUNCAN.
JD
Hey. You okay?
JD takes FRANKIE’s hands, noticing how frazzled she is. She pulls her hands from them, frustrated.
FRANKIE
(sharp)
Don’t.
FRANKIE sighs.
FRANKIE
Let’s just fix this first…fuck.
JD
Hey, relax, we’ll figure it out. What happened?
JD steps through the space, making their way over to DUNCAN while FRANKIE follows behind them.
FRANKIE
Some guy was waiting for us. Shot up my guy outside…Probably making the crime scene worse with his blood all over the fuckin’ pavement.
JD
Okay well let’s get him in here–
FRANKIE
No. He was hit from the rafters out there somewhere.
JD
Do you want to clean up or dip?
FRANKIE
No–we gotta clean up. My boss’ll be fuckin’ pissed as it is.
JD takes a deep breath, the guilt really setting in. Eesh, they made FRANKIE into a real mess. They glance over to DUNCAN whose been left bleeding out blood on the floor smeared slightly from FRANKIE checking him over.
JD
Okay, there’s a sink in the back if you want to clean up, sit tight. Take a second. I’ll deal with the guy in here and then we’ll figure out what to do about the guy outside.
FRANKIE takes a seat on a stool, eying the shuttered windows warily, stopping to take a breath.
JD rummages through piles of junk before locating a tarp. When they come back to the main area they notice FRANKIE’s found her way to the sink to scrub the blood out of her fur.
JD steps back over by dead DUNCAN and carefully rolls his body onto the tarp, sealing him up in it.
Then they take a second to locate cleaning supplies and set to work on the pool of blood he left behind. Three holes in the chest will really make a mess. It’s almost impossible to clear up without the hose the shop came with. They wash most of it down the drain in the middle of the floor and wipe down any stains with their trusty old friend: bleach.
FRANKIE
You work fast.
JD pulls themself out of their thoughts, when they look over FRANKIE is all cleaned up, looking less shaken than she was earlier. A lot more like her usual self.
JD
I wager that’s why my boss hired me.
FRANKIE laughs quietly.
JD
I don’t think there’s much of a chute we can toss him into nearby. We’ll have to find a dumpster and toss him or just hide him in his own junk.
FRANKIE
Running outta time I think.
JD
Yeah.
JD moves to open the garage door and FRANKIE scrambles from her seat to stop them.
FRANKIE
JD–wait don’t.
JD
We’ve got to at least figure out what to do with your friend–
FRANKIE
What if the guy’s still out there.
They stop, letting the garage door rattle up. The panic colouring FRANKIE’s features is enough to get them to crack.
JD
Frankie it was me. Alright?
FRANKIE falters.
FRANKIE
W-what?
JD
The guy who shot your guy. I was on a gig–
FRANKIE
(loud)
WHAT.
JD
SHH–Y-yeah. Why did you think I knew exactly where you were? Shit. We don’t have time for this. Help me grab him.
JD moves over to grab the dead gnoll’s feet, expecting FRANKIE to be bending down to pick up his top half… Except she’s still standing in the garage doorway, arms crossed, leaning against the frame with a frown.
JD
Frankie… C’mon. I can do this myself but it’d be easier with you.
FRANKIE
So that’s it. You make a mess and clean it up and what, you were gonna pin it on me?
JD sighs.
JD
That wasn’t the job, no.
FRANKIE
Then what was the job, huh? How do I know your job’s not about killing me when you have an opening??
She scrambles for her gun and points it at them. JD frowns and lifts their hands up.
JD
Hey…hey I’d never take a job like that.
JD shifts to carefully approach her. Okay, she’s terrified, that makes sense. They can diffuse this. It’s FRANKIE she wouldn’t actually shoot them. They’ve got to break the tension here, somehow.
FRANKIE
So what was your job then, huh?
JD
You know I don’t do work talk.
FRANKIE
Yeah well, this time you almost shot me.
JD
Mm…I’m a bit insulted you think I can’t aim.
FRANKIE
Shut it, idiot.
There’s a waver that time, they see the small edge of a facade she’s put on, peeling away. The little shit. JD approaches more confidently, this time, upkeeping a charade to make her believe they still believe her.
JD
I thought you wanted to know what my job was.
FRANKIE
What was your job, then?
JD’s close enough they grab the gun and her hand on it. They press the barrel to their chest, giving her a look.
JD
To make a scene.
FRANKIE
(scoffs)
Well you sure did that. How’d you know I wasn’t gonna shoot ya?
JD smirks.
JD
Because you loooove me.
FRANKIE
Ballsy thing to say with my gun to yer heart.
JD snickers and moves the gun out of the way to lean in and kiss her. She sticks her tongue in their mouth and JD pulls back with a grin.
FRANKIE
You’re fuckin gross making me kiss this.
She gestures to their undead look they’ve kept up all night long.
JD
Yeah well, that’s what you get when you pull a gun on me. Now help me get rid of your guy before the Stewards show up.
38. INT. NOT SO DAIRY CREAM – REALLY EARLY MORNING
The two of them are found sitting in the window of a frozen treat parlour shop with a bound up lump sitting in the seat beside FRANKIE. It’s hard to tell what this misshapen thing is though it seems like it might be the Big Gnoll’s dead body they had tagged along.
The keeper of the shop hasn’t said anything, too tired to bother, too busy trying to get things sorted for the real morning rush.
JD
You know he’s gonna start smelling if we don’t get rid of him.
FRANKIE licks her frozen treat in a cone and eyes him.
FRANKIE
Didn’t you have that like anti-stink spray all over him? It’ll last until my ride shows up.
(lick)
I just can’t believe we got him here after all that.
JD sips their drink. It looks like it might be some sort of energy booster based on how bright it is.
JD
I can’t believe you convinced me to follow.
FRANKIE
Well I couldn’t lug it all by myself.
JD snickers.
FRANKIE
So whose got it so bad after us they wanted you to make a scene?
JD sips their drink again, taking their time and giving her a look.
FRANKIE
I know. I know.
(mimics JD)
No work talk.
(normal voice)
But you did almost kill me, so.
JD keeps sipping their drink, watching as FRANKIE bends her ears back and gives them an unimpressed look. She watches their drink drain down, waiting for their answer.
Out of the corner of their eye, JD watches a vehicle pull up outside, finishes their drink and leans back.
FRANKIE
You’re an asshole.
JD swallows whats left of their drink and smirks.
JD
Your ride’s here.
FRANKIE
You gonna help me take him outside or am I doing that myself?
JD
I’m not meeting your side if you’re not meeting mine.
FRANKIE gasps.
FRANKIE
(sarcastic)
Oh my god! Meet the parents! Let’s do that!
JD
Ha. Ha.
FRANKIE mushes the rest of her cone onto their nose before she tosses it into the garbage and shoves the dead weight around to get it out the door.
JD scrubs the goop of their nose, watching her struggle with the door for a moment before they get up to help hold it open for her.
FRANKIE
Don’t go anywhere.
JD
I make no promises.
FRANKIE
No you’re making this one!
She drags the mysterious lump of a dead body out the rest of the way to the guys picking this up for her. Huh. If only BITECLAW had that kind of service. Clean-up and fixing would be so much easier.
JD doesn’t keep their promise…entirely, slipping out the back way and sidling into the alley, out of eyesight but still within ear shot. They pull their e-cig out of their pocket, smoking and thinking.
This is getting a little messy for them. Maybe they ought to talk to BITECLAW about a few things… Maybe they can convince FRANKIE to switch over from BARKFANG… They’d be poaching her instead. She’s high enough in the ranks she has a real nice place though…it’d be hard. Maybe the two of them should just fuck off the station find somewhere else to go… Away from all of this.
JD perks up when FRANKIE peers into the alley and crosses her arms.
JD
Hey. I didn’t break the promise I didn’t make.
FRANKIE
You’re real squirrelly for someone who can change their face.
She sidles up to them, fingering their belt loops and tugging them up against her. JD inhales on their e-cig and exhales the plume out into her face. FRANKIE blows it back at them.
FRANKIE
Dick.
JD just smirks and takes another long drag before they yank her into a kiss and share their smoke. FRANKIE shoves against them but not hard enough to actually push them away, kissing them harder before she pulls back, rolling her eyes.
FRANKIE
Just tastes sweet.
JD
Aw, you’re sweet.
FRANKIE punches their arm.
FRANKIE
Fuck off. You busy?
JD
Gotta pick up the piece before anyone spots it.
FRANKIE
And then?
JD shrugs.
FRANKIE smirks, pressing herself up against them, smirk turning into a more genuine smile to mirror the one crossing JD’s face.
FRANKIE
Kay then.
39. INT. FRANKIE’S PLACE — EVENING
JD twirls their e-cig between their fingers, worrying without smoking it because they promised FRANKIE they wouldn’t smoke in here. She’s taking her time in the bathroom while JD thinks and thinks and thinks too hard about what-ifs that didn’t happen.
But that maybe could.
There’s a knot in their stomach that hasn’t left since SHIPS ’N SCHITT the other night. They stare down at the coiling thick of pipes, watching people walk by. Alien of various shapes and sizes, a melting pot of different backgrounds all stuck mingling and hurting one another.
What if IZOLA had given them FRANKIE as a mark? What then? Could they have really said no? They’d probably have to run for it. Grab the next ship out to CASTROVEL… Or AKITON… Maybe hitch it further… Maybe they’d just go and go and go and never stop going.
JD leans their shoulder against the window and looks over to FRANKIE who wraps a robe around herself, bright red thing, emblazoned with a bit B on the back. She stops behind the bar and starts pulling up bottles of drink, setting up a mix.
FRANKIE
What do you want? I’ll make it.
FRANKIE looks over at JD and catches something off about them.
FRANKIE
You good, over there?
JD nods and pockets their e-cig before she chastises them for it. It’s been a year now since the two have been together, the keep kidding each other out of it but JD can’t shake the ache of leaving her behind. If they did choose to go and go and go and never stop going.
JD
You ever think about leaving…?
They ask and feel silly the second she tilts her head and plays it off.
FRANKIE
You wanna go out? We can go out, figure we can pre-game a bit, loosen you up and then we can go dancing.
She winks at them, pouring a mixed series of drinks into the shaker.
JD
No, like…leave the station…get out there, start fresh.
FRANKIE stops and gives them a wry smirk, leaning both hands against the counter. She raises an eyebrow.
FRANKIE
You plannin’ to whisk me away, stranger?
JD
Maybe.
They chuckle but they know it doesn’t hit right because they can see a bit of worry sketch itself lightly under that smirk of her’s.
JD looks away, back out to PIPETOWN.
JD
I could, though. I’ve been saving up. Hitch on with a crew, maybe make our own, even. Travel for a while, leave this crime-mess behind.
FRANKIE mixes the drinks, getting quiet, quiet enough JD eyes her and notices her ears bent back, worry sketched deeper on her face. When she catches them looking she grins.
FRANKIE
C’mon. What would we even do out there, huh? What’s a planet got that the station doesn’t? Besides, I got my family to take care of, friends I’d miss.
JD
Right…yeah.
Somehow being reminded of everything she’s got going on here reminds them of everything they don’t. The feeling grips them in their gut and pulls them right down towards that pit by the billboard, yawning up to swallow them whole.
JD is snapped out of their thoughts when FRANKIE takes their elbow.
FRANKIE
(quiet)
Yer losing yourself, stranger.
She places a drink in their hand and watches them, whatever their reaction now, it better fix this thing before it breaks.
JD starts by shrugging it off.
JD
Wasn’t serious, just imagining.
FRANKIE
Awh, imagining your future with me? That’s gross.
JD sticks their tongue out at her, fluffing up the mood despite the death grip on their heart.
They take a sip of the drink and make a face.
JD
Ah, yep. That’s strong.
FRANKIE
What? I barely put anything in that.
(tsk)
Strong.
JD chuckles, watching as FRANKIE sips her drink and lifts her glass after wincing like she forgot.
FRANKIE
Wait–shit–cheers!
JD
Cheers. To a year.
FRANKIE grins.
FRANKIE
Yeah. To one whole year.
She clinks her glass against their’s.
40. INT. THE NEXT GIG — NIGHT
Well, regardless of their attempts to keep the gig from going too sour, the SHIP ’N SCHITT gig continues to haunt them. IZOLA wasn’t particularly thrilled when JD’s little scene was fixed. Even less so finding out that DUNCAN was killed in the process. JD was dropped back to cleaning…just for this job. IZOLA made it clear she wasn’t going to let them sabotage themself into keeping their lower class gigs.
But this job’s a real punishment because both TANGO and FOXTROT are here. And they never get a clean up unless they’ve fucked something up, too.
Not that JD’s complaining about being on something a bit more low-key, like cleaning.
They’re on their hands and knees scrubbing blood from the red carpet. They lean back with a sigh… They’re barely making a dent here.
Across the room TANGO shoves at a couple of lumps on the ground.
TANGO
Hey so, what should I do with the bodies? I think folks might start catching on if we keep dumpin’ ‘em in the disposal.
FOXTROT
You just want to set them on fire. I said it before, it’s gonna stink up the place and the Stewards will be on us in five.
TANGO
I wasn’t going to make that suggestion.
TANGO gives FOXTROT a look, she was definitely going to make that suggestion. She turns away with a disappointed sigh.
JD only listens to parts of their conversations, scrubbing and scrubbing while the other two chastise each other.
FOXTROT
How the hell am I stuck back on cleaning duty.
TANGO
C’mon now, it’s all in the character building.
FOXTROT
Ugh. I’ve got enough character to last me a while.
TANGO
Maybe if we distract ourselves with some big serious personal questions. Now, that’ll get us through it faster.
FOXTROT groans.
TANGO
Doe! How’s your new girly?
FOXTROT
They’ve been dating for like five years now.
JD
One.
FOXTROT
Sorry–wait what the fuck? Only one? Eh, that ain’t new, anyway.
JD shrugs to TANGO’s question, scrubbing this carpet raw.
JD
(unconvincing)
Um…it’s fine.
JD pulls back, wiping out the stain, glancing over to the other two when the silence hangs too long…only to find them both staring back.
JD
What?
FOXTROT
Mm…honeymoon phase over so soon?
JD completely misses the out they could have had here.
JD
What–it’s not over or anything just. I dunno. It’s good, yeah.
TANGO
Okay well…are you ever going to tell us her name?
JD turns around, collecting the spray bottle of bleach and the rag before they move on to a new stain. They decide to deviate the topic.
JD
Hey, so, you two really made a mess of this place. I thought poker games were clean.
FOXTROT
Mm, not when you lose.
TANGO
Wasn’t my idea to bargain that high.
JD looks between the two of them.
JD
…what did you bargain?
FOXTROT & TANGO
(irritated)
Nothing.
JD
Doesn’t sound like nothing.
FOXTROT
Look, you’re like, Iz’s golden child. Like fuck I’m tellin’ you.
JD
Golden child back on grunt work with you two.
FOXTROT
Well, we all know you faked it because you’re a freak who likes cleaning up shit for a living.
JD eyes her some, frowning. FOXTROT holds their gaze.
TANGO
We’re getting away from the topic, c’mon Doe. You never tell us about any of yer personal life and suddenly Fox is finding out you’re dating a gnoll?
JD casually reaches for the hand vacuum to avoid anything to do with this topic of conversation but finds that, instead FOXTROT still has it over by the poker table. She flicks it on and it’s, honestly not even loud enough to stifle their conversation.
JD glances over at TANGO who watches them expectantly.
JD
Yeah. That’s why they call it personal. It’s not my fault Foxtrot pinched my personal comm the other day and went scrolling.
FOXTROT groans.
FOXTROT
You still not over that? Fine. Sorry.
FOXTROT’s apology is nothing short of forced.
FOXTROT
Now would you spill it already? Tango’s questioned practically every gnoll we know down here and none of them are fessin’ up. I’d like to get my weekends back.
JD’s skin ripples and the fur on their gnoll form fluffs up.
TANGO
C’mon Doe, it’s not like you don’t know anything about us, like how we’re married and when I slipped Fox’s real name and how I’m from Vesk 2.
Most of these things they never outwardly asked. The last one was an honest to go guess they made once when TANGO was giving them shit for not knowing much about anything outside ABSALOM STATION.
They keep scrubbing until the next stain is out, brushing the liquid off to the side. They weren’t planning on answering but when they look up, both their teammates have stopped working, yet again.
JD
(relents)
Okay… Fine… Yeah.
TANGO
Yes!
JD stands after cleaning up this stain, moving to sit on the edge of the pool table while the other two finish up their work. TANGO is immediately getting distracted by the fact that JD is about to tell them something personal while FOXTROT buries herself in her work.
TANGO
Okay so we know you two have been all serious, enough you got a bit frisky.
TANGO snickers.
FOXTROT
Yeah some of those texts were nasty. Good for you.
JD
(flustered)
Now, that’s none of your fuckin’ business.
JD chuckles with TANGO that time as they pull out their e-cig.
TANGO
What’s her naaame?? Do I know her??
JD snorts and gives her a little look. FOXTROT across the room sits back and sighs, catching JD’s attention.
FOXTROT
Look, joking aside, we’re here to look out for ya, you and yours. So if you tell us about her we’ll protect her, same as you.
JD hesitates with FOXTROT getting more serious that time.
JD
Oh… Yeah?
TANGO
Yeah, course, Doe. That’s the whole point of you bein’ here, no?
JD smiles, admittedly touched by this revelation.
JD
Fine, her name’s Frankie. I did’t pry to far since…anyway–I didn’t want to make things weird or put her in any danger considering.
JD gestures to the mess the three of them are cleaning up, only now noticing the look the other two are giving them. FOXTROT and TANGO slowly meet each other’s gaze and JD sits there, out of the loop.
JD
What…?
FOXTROT
Your girlfriend is a gnoll named Frankie?
JD
Yeah…? Why…?
TANGO
Awh… Doe…
JD can feel a pit forming in their stomach but they steel up, pushing them both at arm’s length.
JD
Okay, well. I don’t know what this is all about but I answered your question, so we’re good?
FOXTROT
No. Not good, D. You can’t see her anymore. This is why you sort out all the facts from the get go.
JD
(scoffs)
Uh okay. You both made me tell you. So what’s the deal?
JD glances between the two of them, FOXTROT’s look gets harder while TANGO’s just straight up avoiding their gaze looking anywhere but at them, suddenly extremely busy with wrapping up the bodies in the corner.
FOXTROT
Look, you’re still new so you didn’t know and we won’t tell boss or anything about it. But you need to put this to bed. Do what the kids do, just ghost her ’n move on.
JD
I’m not gonna ghost her.
FOXTROT
(frustrated)
You have to, Doe. Shut it down and move on.
JD
Not unless you tell me why.
FOXTROT is getting really frustrated now that JD isn’t backing down. The two of them butt heads like this all the time, really so this isn’t new.
FOXTROT
Don’t pull this stubborn shit with me, JD. I’m telling you, you need to drop it.
JD
Who is she that she’s got you so riled up?
TANGO
Frankie’s one of Iz’s kids.
JD slows their roll when TANGO speaks up.
FOXTROT
(wary)
Tang…
TANGO
They’re gonna find out anyway.
JD eyes TANGO, hanging on to that defiance, hanging onto the hope that she’s lying. But she doesn’t relent and they can feel that hope break under this tension.
JD
Is there not more than one gnoll on this station named Frankie? C’mon.
They try to brush it off but the other two don’t seem convinced.
Something in their face makes TANGO’s voice soft in that pitying way they never wanted to hear come out of anyone’s mouth again after setting foot on that starship off of EOX.
TANGO
Doe…
JD
Forget it. Let’s just finish and go.
JD pulls themself together only barely and focuses on the task at hand, cleaning what’s left to clean. They’re quiet, if TANGO or FOXTROT say anything to them, JD doesn’t hear it. They split when the work’s mostly done and before TANGO can think to take them aside.
PIPETOWN is really dark when it wants to be. JD walks seedy fissures and pipes all the way back to their place, stopping only once to puke on their shoes in a back-alley halfway home.
41. INT. JD’S APARTMENT – NIGHT
It’s too quiet in here but the sound of their record player was too loud, their puzzles too frustrating, the light of their comm too bright. Especially after their search through ABSALOM’s records for every gnoll named FRANKIE on station…
Of course nothing came up. She’s saddled with crimes so her name would be blotted off any public registry to keep the STEWARDS off her back. She’s got friends in real high places.
It’s fine. They promised they wouldn’t dig about her so they listen to nothing, stare up at nothing but their face is set, hard like everything inside them is still too loud, a ringing pit of anger, black like loneliness but louder.
FOXTROT would pull something like this just to make them crack. They’re letting it get to them.
But TANGO wouldn’t.
SFX: ZZT ZZT.
Even the vibration of this incoming message is too loud. They pick up their phone to shut it off, hesitating when they see a message from FRANKIE: [Been a bit, you wanna take a walk tomorrow? ;)]
JD stares at the text and can feel a hole open up beneath them.
Another message drops down and stops the hole from swallowing them up. It’s M.
[You can not stay mad at me forever. Always ready to talk. I love you. Xoxo M]
JD presses their lips into a taut line, eyes getting harder and in a second the phone is out of their hand and making a sharp dent in the wall.