The Other Side

Struggle

Joseph did not like being knocked out a second time to be taken to the location of the base. It wasn't as if she hadn't given him a choice in the matter but he was much too claustrophobic about wearing a bag over his head to keep him from seeing where he was being taken. In the end he reluctantly accepted the sedative. He was brought into the base and taken to her room at her insistence. Jamie was still waiting in there, which surprised her, but she guessed if he had attempted to leave at any point he'd have just gotten yelled at. The man carrying Joseph like he was a sack of potatoes dumped him on the bed and then left, giving her a glare as he did. Like any of this was her decision or her fault.

"Joseph?" Jamie asked getting up from the couch where he'd been watching something on TV before they had entered.

"He had to be sedated so he'll be out for a little longer, not much though." She said, "It was only light enough to keep him down for maybe forty-five minutes."

"That's all well and good but...what happened when you were there?"

"Why?" She asked and went to get a bottle of water from her minifridge, "He wasn't hurt, he was kind of scared but-"

"That...that part."

"How do you...or should I say why are you asking about this like you already know it happened?" She opened her bottle of water and took a long drink. He sat on the bed next to Joseph and reached out to stroke his hair in a painfully adorable fashion. If it hadn't already been obvious with his behavior in regards to Eddie that he had feelings for this man it definitely was now.

"I think I was there or I saw it somehow but I couldn't stop it." He said, "In the bathroom at the hotel, right? Vecna said something to you about pleasure and uh...returning to him?"

"That's the basic summary then he just left and I fell and Joseph was not happy. I guess I had some kind of Chrissy Cunningham moment without all the horrific death part." She sighed and walked over to sit at the foot of the bed. "How is it that-"

"You're asking the wrong person if you think you're going to get answers from me, darling." He said, still paying more attention to Joseph than her. "Also where in the world did you learn about Chrissy? I thought you never saw the show."

"I still haven't but when he said I levitated and accused me of being a stalker or fan or something I could only assume he was referencing the show." She finished her water and stood up. "I should go see Eddie, have you seen him at all?"

"I was in there a few times but I think I creep him out. Not that I can blame him with what he's seen and heard. You'd be the better one, he keeps asking about you." He said, "Maybe he has a crush, it's kind of cute."

"Super cute that a fictional but also real guy from the 80s has a crush on me, maybe, and probably only because I saved his life...kind of. Not more than you."

"Well, he's not interested in that part because I'm also Vecna."

"Fair enough." She said, "Come and get me when he wakes up and for the love of God don't let him freak out. It might be better if I'm not here when that happens, come to think of it. If he hears everything from you he may be more likely to believe it."

"Or think I've lost my entire mind."

"I guess we'll have to cross that bridge when we come to it. Also, do not tell him about Eddie, I'll take care of that."

"Seeing as how I don't think that would be the best thing to lead off with, don't worry." He smiled and laid down next to Joseph kind of snuggling up to him but not doing much more than that. It was cute and she kind of wished she had someone who cared about her in that way but in the end if the world wasn't destroyed they were both going to leave. They'd have no reason to be concerned with her anymore. Not the way she saw things.