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Jill couldn't sleep. for whatever reason, the city was a lot louder than it usually was at this hour. This hour was likely one or two in the morning. The bartender didn't exactly feel motivated to grab her phone to check, knowing that she'd be scrolling through the Augmented Eye until she got to last year's posts. Still, her place beneath the kotatsu no longer felt as comfortable as it had when she first laid down. And she suddenly felt suffocated by the air in her room, not to mention her throat felt dry out of nowhere.
With an irritated groan, she forced herself into standing and fetched herself a glass of water. She was thankful for the fact that her path was illuminated by the neon lights right outside her window. Not literally, but it saved her from going through the trouble of turning on her lamp and seeing Fore's blatant disappointment. The downside? Her body felt more awake now that she had downed the water, her mind unable to take the hint that she wanted nothing more than a full night's rest before she'd have to witness any of Dana or Gillian's antics. Not that she minded them, she just wished she was told a week in advance what kind of chaos they would have planned for that day.
At this point in time, she knew for a fact she wouldn't be able to wind down properly on her own. She needed a small nudge in order to calm herself. That nudge was more like a kick, and it was right atop one of the few shelves within her room. Sure, it was a bad habit to take up and rely on, but nicotine really worked wonders. Making a beeline for her nightstand, Jill nearly stepped on Fore, who jumped and then just stared up at her as if he wasn't in her way and she was the one in the wrong.
“Where are you going?” he asked as Jill scooped up the pack and lighter.
“Just the balcony, don't worry,” she assured him as she made her way to the glass door, not sparing him another glance. Sometimes, that cat's expression could be intimidating, and that was far from what she wanted to see at the moment.
“Make sure you come in quietly,” his voice had been nothing short of a grumble, the feline shifting back into a relaxed, curled up position. The bartender let out only a hum of acknowledgement as she stepped outside, pulling a cigarette out and lighting it. She made sure to close the door behind her. It wasn't that she didn't trust Fore not to escape, but if a ninja suddenly jumped up to her balcony, she'd like to think he'd be safer inside.
As she exhaled a cloud of smoke, she couldn't help but allow a wave of calm to wash over her. The warmth from the cigarette mixed with the chill that rode upon a passing breeze really stirred up some thoughts and emotions within her.
The bar was closing soon. It would be easier to accept the news if it wasn't for the fact that she had made so many memories within it. What about the patrons? She was so used to Dorothy's near constant (albeit disruptive) presence, it'd be weird if suddenly that was gone from her daily life. And Alma? Who would provide Brandtinis to the hacker? But most importantly, where would she, Gil, and Dana end up? Actually, those other two would likely be fine, they'd pick up something new quickly. But Jill? She worked too hard to just stop mixing drinks. Her life had changed since she started working at Valhalla, for better or worse.