An Attempt to Seek Help (Closed)

[John Thornton]

Despite comments to the contrary, John Thornton did own a phone, and knew how to use it.

He just chose not to, most of the time.

This was an emergency. Well, perhaps. He'd been sitting at his desk on his third scotch when the englishman realised that he was feeling exceedingly miserable. It was unpleasant; that usually went away after his second drink.

Still, even then, it took him longer then it should have to find his address book and look up Ella's number. The recruiter had made an effort to befriend him, why he was still not sure, but it meant there was someone other then Josh, who John realised now would be rather unless when it came to a topic that had anything to do with relationships with women.

He almost hung up as soon as he heard the ringing tone, but managed to stay on the line.

"Ah, Ella," he started, clearing his throat. "Do you have a minute?"

[Ella Tate]

After a rigorous workout at the gym, Ella decided not to go back home. Instead she went to the park to sit by the lake, stretching her legs out in the dark. It had been almost two weeks since she had asked Chloe for a serious relationship. Ella was starting to wonder why the hell she went and did that but she was now in a committed relationship with a woman who probably liked Ella more than she liked her back.

The responsibility weighed on her like a boulder and she could honestly say she was suffocating under all the feelings Chloe was driving her way. Ella couldn't break up with Chloe. They lived together. It would all just be a ball of awkward if she did. So yeah, she was stuck.

She was the last person anyone should ever call for women advice.

Her phone buzzed in her bag and she rummaged through it to find John Thornton's name on the screen. Her eyes narrowed in curiosity as she pressed the call button. "Hi John." Her voice filled with confusion. "I have several. What's...up?"

[John Thornton]

"Up?" Thornton parroted, then shook his head and with his free hand rubbed over his brows, "Oh, why am I calling? I'm just..."

Thornton hated asking for help, really and truly hated it. He had managed to get through his entire life without needing help, making it on his own, but this... Well, his way of doing things was clearly ending in disaster and he had no clue what to do. Only that he had to do something. "Are you, are you acquainted with Doctor Prideaux? I mean, have you seen her... recently?"

He sounded like some sort of stalker, and as soon as he'd spoken, the words were ringing in his ears. "Actually, look, it's nothing."

[Ella Tate]

Ella grinned at her friend's response to her colloquialism but said nothing. He was probably already so uncomfortable even calling her, she didn't need to make this any harder than it already was for him.

The mention of the side effects expert that Ella may or may not have checked out more than once had her raising an eyebrow. Her curiosity piqued, especially when John decided to deflect from it.

"Hey, John. John wait. What's this about uh?" Ella asked, sitting hunched over her now pulled up legs. "Um...want to get a drink or two?"

[John Thornton]

"Nothing, it's nothing," John muttered, in a tone he'd usually reserved for telling his mother that the bills would get paid, before having to go and pull extra shifts for the next month.

But then she mentioned drinking. He could do that. The englishman glanced at his glass, which was indeed nearly empty. "I have scotch," he offered, realising he was in no state to leave the house. His shirt was rumpled, and the state of his shoes.... "And vodka... and most things that are more then forty percent alcohol."

And there was no rule saying he had to talk about anything important. It was friday, he could have a few extra drinks and just stay up later to do the paper work he had to finish.

[Ella Tate]

John's tone was a little off. Not only can Ella hear the distinct slur of a semi-drunk man, there was something else there that was seriously tugging at Ella's curiosity.

"Why don't you text me your address? I'm outside and wouldn't mind not paying for alcohol." She laughed lightly as she got up, gathering her things.

[John Thornton]

"Ella, for gods sakes, I'm calling you from a home phone," John exclaimed, resting an elbow on the desk and propping his head up. "I don't have one of those little ones. And I don't text."

He'd left the mobile he'd had to carry for work back in Englad, where it wouldn't constantly frustrate him with its tiny buttons and strange buzzing noises. "I'm going to tell you my address, so you might want to get a pen and paper. You do have pen and paper, don't you?"

He was only partially joking, but spoke his address slowly, made her read it back, then hung up the phone and ran his hands through his hair, something else he never did when he was expecting to leave the house.

[Ella Tate]

Ella couldn't help but laugh right then. This was a guy who still had a home phone. It was a novel concept. Adorable.

She snorted when he asked if she had a pen and paper. She didn't. She did, however, have a pretty solid memory so as he said it out slowly, Ella mouthed it and when he asked, she repeated it word for word and hung up.

Booze and a buddy. She needed this. She left Chloe a text saying she'd be home late.

[OOC: Wrapperito!]