I guess at the end of the day, it's all about the lumps.

[onteamdyson]

Who: Galen Howard, Kenzi, and Jesse Finch a little later!
What: Still drunk, coming home plastered is not how we deal with problems.
When: Day 55, Late night!
Where: House 20
Warnings: So many logs, sorry-sorry. Strong language, drunkface mcgee, sexual tension, general dorkery.

[Okay, so maybe staying out late to get shitfaced in the middle of some psycho town where people kept disappearing was a stupid idea. Whatever. It's done. Kenzi expects everyone to be asleep by the time she stumbles home, anyway.

She's trying her best to be quiet, here. Trying being the keyword. This is the downside to having so many freakin' roomies! She manages to shut the door relatively soundlessly and makes her way in a wobbly zig-zag to the couch intending to flop on it, regardless of anyone currently occupying it, instead of trying to navigate all those stairs in her current state!

Hopefully no one was waiting up for her drunk ass, because she's not sure if she could take the disapproving stares.]

Sup, couch. Totes gonna fall all over you, dude. [Or at least she will when she stops snickering and trying to shush herself.]

Comments

[gleans]

[ Galen has been on said couch for a little while with a pen and his notebook, both working and waiting up for Kenzi. He's been worried about her, lately, ever since Party disappeared, so it's the least he can do to make sure she comes home okay. He's not really expecting her to come back plastered, though, so he sort of peeks up over the arm of the couch when she enters, watching her stumble closer.

After she speaks, Galen closes his notebook and peers up at her, wondering if she's even noticed that he's here. Hi, the couch is talking to you. ]

Oh, Kenzi!

[onteamdyson]

[She hasn't noticed! Possibly due to wishful thinking. It takes her a second to register that it is in fact NOT the couch talking to her, at which point she peers at Galen, raising an eyebrow.]

Couch, how could you? Freaking cheating on me? With this cheap hussy? Shameful! [But she flops on it anyway, thereby flopping on top of poor Galen and blindly reaching out until her hand is somewhere against his face and not on his glasses.] Why aren't you sleeping?!

[gleans]

I don't sleep. I wait. [ ... Yep, he just went there. Galen snorts and tries to make room for her. ] Wasn't tired. Where were you, Vegas?

[onteamdyson]

[Pffffffffff! It must be the booze making him extra funny because on some level she knows that was lame, but she can't stop laughing.] Oh my god, dude. You're hilarious.

[She pulls her hand away to examine it.] Nooooo ring. Wasn't Vegas. Just the bar with Dean. We drank nanobots.

[gleans]

Is that like, a cocktail? [ He grins and sort of donks her head with his notebook. ] And have you had any fucking water?

[onteamdyson]

NO! It's a way of life. [Donk'd] Ow! I'm like... made of water. I don't need water. The kitchen is so far away, Galen. I'm not getting water by myself. [And she punches him in the arm so lovingly.]

[gleans]

Ah! Jeez. Trying to prevent a hangover, here. [ A beat, and then he scooches around a little to face her better. ]

Are you, like -- okay, Kenz?

[onteamdyson]

[Her reaction time is significantly slower right now, and she's still trying to think of a witty comeback to the hangover comment when he suddenly gets all ... deep. It catches her off guard. She just kind of stares at him for a second, wide-eyed and a little empty, until she pulls herself together.]

... Yeah. Yeah, fine. Can't a girl do shots in a bar with a dude that barely remembers her until her face ... is all ... [There's a word for that--] NUMB! Until it's numb? It's not against the LAW! Oh my god I can't feel my face. [She's touching it! She can't feel it! Woah. Give her your hand, Galen, check this out! Numb.]

[gleans]

[ Hellooo, anyone in -- oh, good. After she hijacks his hand, he's still smiling a little, but come on, man, he's worried. ]

Not after like, three days of avoiding the subject. I'm just kinda worried, I guess. You haven't talked about him at all.

[onteamdyson]

[hurrrrk! She drops his hand turns away, moving to sit up but-- nope. She falls back against the couch and covers her eyes with both hands. You're killing her buzz, Galen. Literal buzzkill.]

There's nothing to talk about. He's gone, he'll come back. Case cloooosed.

[gleans]

[ >:C A small tug at her hair, then at her wrist, a little. ]

Uuuuh huh. Except I know you don't believe that. Right?

[onteamdyson]

You don't even ... know... what I believe. You don't know-- [Her hands come away and her head lolls to the side, partially resting on his shoulder, and she just stares at him. Her voice gets kind of quiet.] You have no idea. At all. About... stuff.

[gleans]

[ Urgh, maybe he should have left this for when she's not drunk. Galen turns his head a little, frowning slightly. ]

We can talk about it tomorrow. Deal?

[onteamdyson]

Hmmmdeal. Tomorrow. [Whatever. She doesn't want to talk about it at all, but if it gets her out of the conversation for a few more hours. Not talking about how he just vanished. How much it fucking hurt when she thought he was gone the first time and then he came back and it was that much sweeter and maybe there was actually something there and maybe he actually felt the same way...

Feeling all this through the fog of alcohol and her movements not being able to keep up with her brain, Kenzi just kind of folds her legs under her and curls against Galen. Best ever, greatest friend, always there, nicest, wonderful Galen. He's just so awesome and she cares about him so damn much.

Her head feels heavy, but she lifts it anyway and leans in to just press a kiss against his cheek... but ends up full on kissing him on the lips instead.]

[gleans]

[ He, um -- he's not expecting that. He's not really expecting the hand that comes up to pull her close, either, so once his brain catches up, he uses that hand to gently - but quickly - push her away. Just a bit. Just so he doesn't run the risk of kissing her back again. God, it's probably all because of this stupid face thing, anyway. ]

Whoa, whoa, h-hey, Drinkerton. I'm cutting you off.

[onteamdyson]

[Her eyes don't open right away after he pushes her back, but when they do, they're all... fluttery.]

Mmf--Fffffrig. Oh my god. Galen, I'm so-- ... I'm sssso sorry. Not really-- Yes! Yes I am! That was a stupid, stupid thing-- [Her hand comes up to touch her lips and she flops back on the couch. Woah.] Okay, the ceiling can stop freakin' moving any time now, I'm trying to think...

[Trying to think about why that was wrong, because she KNOWS it was wrong, and just-- Wow. Okay so there are quite a few reasons. Jesse being the most important. Party being another one. Drunken idiocy is right up there, too.]

I just think you're rad, you know? We're like-- we're like THIS! [She holds up two fingers entwined and waves her hand around above her while snickering.]

[gleans]

[ Galen shifts around a little, propping an arm up on the back of the couch. He would like to kiss Kenzi, and that worries him a little, because of Jesse. He chews at his lip, watching her and feeling sort of bad. ]

Hey -- I know. I like you a lot, Kenzi. [ Like, a lot. He's being honest, here. ] I just -- I think you're feeling shitty because of Party. I -- I, um, I know how I felt before Jesse got here. Maybe you should... sleep it off, y'know?

[onteamdyson]

[No, no, not like.] Lurve you, Squishy. [Like... even... without the u. Like maybe the actual word. Augh, and then he has to go and mention Party and it hurts all over again.]

He'll be back. [She kind of curls in on herself. He has to be back! He took Kobra with him and neither of them said goodbye and things were just getting good.] Doesn't matter anyway-- ... he wouldn't legit care. That wasn't the agreement. [But she's not sure how well that agreement had been holding up lately, anyway. Ugh, too confusing.

Kenzi kicks her boots off in hopes that it will make walking easier when she half-slides, half-pushes herself up off the couch, pausing with both hands on the arm to steady herself. She then heads for the stairs, stopping at the bottom and just looking up-- woah. Not cool. Too many. She stumbles back a little before falling on her butt and pouting up at the staircase.]

Fuuuuuuuuuuuck this. Fuck everything! [And then she lets herself fall backward until she's lying on the floor and spewing a tangent of slurred, Russian swearwords and unpleasant phrases just a little too loudly!]

[rigging]

[ Some people are trying to sleep. Not now, obviously, with the loud, angry cursing down the stairs, and Jesse groans as he slides out of bed. Have to figure out what it is, just in case. Just case someone is murdering Kenzi and Galen on the ground floor, or... something.

He practically zombies his way down the stairs - only to find Kenzi rolling around on the floor. Jesse flops against the wall and peers down at her from three steps up, squinting. ] Th'fuck you doing down there? [ He growls, voice gravelly from sleep. ]

[gleans]

Kenzi!

[ He wants to know what he wouldn't care means, but then she's on the floor, and he's standing by her head when Jesse appears at the top of the stairs. Stifling a smile, he ssshhhhs in Kenzi's general direction, then looks up at Jesse. ]

Uh... talking? [ Sheepish smile! ] Sorry, babe. Our лох is hammered. [ HE REMEMBERED A WORD. ]

[onteamdyson]

[Okay, the combination of Jesse standing up there looking grumpy and Galen calling her a goof is too much. She starts snickering and can't stop smiling. Bad thoughts currently forgotten! She can't even remember why she's on the floor.]

How... how d'you re-fff. Remember how to INSULT me but not the important stuff about getting free drinks and calling people whores?

[Both her arms are now straight up in the air because like hell is she getting up by herself.] You're hammered. [Nice comeback, Kenz.]

[rigging]

[ Jesse just watches the two of them with a skeptical, sleepy look, almost frowning. He needs his beauty sleep, dammit. When Kenzi lifts her arms, he sighs and heads down the last three steps to help her up, yawning widely. ]

Ugh, Miss Murder, y'smell like a brewery. [ He mutters, glancing at Galen as he slips an arm around her waist. A beat. ] She say why she's Lindsay Lohaning all over?

[gleans]

[ Galen reaches to help her up, too, still grinning a little. He's always found Jesse adorable when he's grumpy. ]

She's just -- [ Well, that started off as a great lie, but he falters. ] Missing some friends. Right?

[onteamdyson]

That's not helping... [It's like emotional whiplash! Smiling one second and then suddenly sad again. Really exhausting. And Jesse still looks kinda pissed and is talking about her like she's not here so she wraps her arms around his neck and hugs him super tight. Pay attention to her, Jesse! Be more awake!]

Can't miss something that's not gone, Galen. They're just-- YOU came back! You left and it sucked and this massive douchewaffle broke the dishes, remember!? Jokes on you, I hate dishes. Never leave again or we'll kick your ass. [You come here, too, Squishy. She reaches for him to pull him as close as possible.]

We're totes a crew, you guys.

[rigging]

[ Not pissed! Just sleepy and grumpy. But Kenzi throwing her arms around his neck makes him jump a little - okay, okay, he's paying attention! He finally smiles a little, and it's soft. Missing friends. So nobody found Party Poison or Kobra Kid. Somewhere, Jesse makes a note to find Ghoul. ]

Yeah. Yeah, we're a crew. [ He tells Kenzi, reaching to run his fingers through Kenzi's hair gently. He gets it. He understands. C'mere, Galen, get in on this. ] S'okay, ladyface, we got you. Right, songbird?

[gleans]

[ Galen does get in on it, wrapping his arms around both of them and sort of squishing Kenzi in the middle. He'll even rest his chin on Kenzi's head. ] Leeean awn me. [ A stupid grin. ] As long as we can help it, K.

[onteamdyson]

Such a dork, oh em gee. [It's said with love! A lot of love, actually. She feels way better now. Always feels better when they're around. The next part is more of a sleepy mumble because this is just too damn comfy and her eyes are closed and she's just picturing a bird version of Galen perched on top of her head?] You guys are soooooooooo weird.

Hey, let's play the drums or paint the living room or get pie from Ned. Team no sleep ever! [None of these ideas are good ideas. She needs a bed.]

[rigging]

Says the queen'a weird. [ Jesse snorts, kissing the side of Kenzi's head, and then the side of Galen's. Maybe they woke him up, but he's got a lot of affection for both of them. A lot of love. And when Kenzi keeps talking - Jesse laughs and tugs at her hair a little. ]

Nuh-uh, Kenz. We're putting you t'bed. Ned'll be even more grouchy than me if we woke him up. [ He'll carry you to bed, ladyface. Jesse grins a little at Galen. ] C'mon. Help me get the prisoner to her room.

[gleans]

[ Galen smiles, but that turns into a smirk as Jesse grins conspiratorially at him. Without warning, he reaches to scoop Kenzi off her feet. ]

Coooooome on, Drinkerbell.

[onteamdyson]

I'm not five! I can get to a bed. [Which is totally why she was going to crash on the couch in the first place, apparently. And then suddenly she is scooped!] Noooooooooo, not an amp!

[But it's late and she actually is sleepy and she's not fighting being carried or dumped into her bed which is obviously all ready for her because she never makes the damn thing. What's the point? You're just gonna sleep in it later anyway.] Heart you guys. So much. Freakin'... weirdos.

AFTER THE KENZI IS TUCKED IN

[gleans]

[ Well, if he wasn't tired before, he sure is now. Once they've more or less rolled Kenzi into bed, Galen takes Jesse's hand on the way back up to their bedroom and doesn't let go once they've both flopped back onto their bed. It's still sort of warm, where Jesse was sleeping. ]

Nnngh. Sorry for waking you up.

[rigging]

[ Jesse holds Galen's hand tightly in his own, dragging him back up to bed with a sigh. The bed's soft and smells like them, and Jesse pulls Galen close to him, face to face, blankets over their legs, hand sliding up and down Galen's side affectionately. ]

S'okay. I don't do nothing but sleep much lately anyway, s'not gonna kill me. [ He steals a kiss. ] Party's still gone, huh?

[gleans]

[ He sighs quietly and curls in a little closer. ]

Mm. Keep worrying he's gonna turn up like the other two. [ He does not want Kenzi to have to deal with that, after Phil. ]

[rigging]

[ God. That'd be awful, if only for Kenzi's sake. Jesse slides his hand up to hold Galen close, rest his hand on the back of his neck. ] I hope he don't. Worried about our girlie as it is. She's been havin' a hard time.

[gleans]

Mmm. [ She really has, and it's easy to forget, sometimes. She's just so good at hiding it. Hell, sometimes he even forgets about her fucked up arm.

Galen sighs again, and presses close to kiss Jesse again. Time to drop the news. ] Sooo... she kissed me.

[rigging]

[ Oh, okay. WHAT. Jesse blinks, and pulls back a little to stare. ] She did what? [ boy u better explain ]

[gleans]

[ Galen looks sheepish for a moment, which turns into sorry. Nooo, come back. ] She kissed me. Like -- nothing crazy, just. A drunk kiss. Y'know?

[rigging]

[ Like a drunk kiss. Right. Jesse settles down. Don't get all bent out of shape, it was nothing, and... well... ] ... Yeah. Why, d'you know? [ A beat. ] Did y'kiss her back?

[gleans]

-- No, no. I just -- I dunno. I wanted you to know. I mean -- [ He reaches to brush Jesse's hair aside a little. ] I like her, yeah, but I love you.

[rigging]

[ ... No, that's - that's better. Jesse's expression settles down as well, almost mollified by Galen's 'I love you'. He sighs, and closes his eyes, resting his hands on Galen's chest. ] Thanks. For tellin' me.

[ He takes another kiss. ] I love y'too. [ More than anything. ] And I like her, too, actually.

[gleans]

[ Galen slings his arm over Jesse's side and curls closer, tucking his leg between Jesse's. ] Yeah? I'm just -- really glad we met her, and I don't want this to get awkward.

[rigging]

[ Jesse's happy to curl up around Galen and keep him close, face buried in Galen's hair. That same feeling he had earlier, the overwhelming affectionate feeling - comes back, and he clings a little more tightly. ] Me neither. S'okay. We'll figure it out, yeah?

She's a good girl. And I ain't mad, promise. Maybe a little jealous'a you. [ He smiles lightly, teasing. There's a pause, and he brings his hands down to cup Galen's face the best he can. Looks him in the eye. ] I love you, songbird. I really fucking do.

[gleans]

[ Galen snorts a little, but that amused smile turns genuine, and he looks at Jesse - really looks at him - for a moment before pressing closer for a soft, gentle kiss. When he pulls away, he's still smiling sleepily. After everything that's happened, everything he's done, he feels so lucky. ]

More than anything, Jess -- I love you too.