September 20th, 1890 — Egypt
Somersby Fudge

The heavy stack of papers sat besides her on the table untouched. After another long and exhausting day of searching for the hidden door, Jo had no remaining energy to sift through and sign the paperwork for Saturn. Really, he didn't need her licensing anyway, it wasn't as though she contributed to the book any. All Jo did was work in the ruins, the rest was all Saturn's writing.

She missed Zach. His next letter was due any day now, but the letters were rarely enough. They were just a snippet of him when she yearned for and dreamt of the real thing. Her crush was ridiculous, really, and completely unlike her. Jo had never cared about hurting a man's feelings before, nor had she ever gone hundreds of miles out of her way to spend a few short days with a man. But, Merlin, was she glad she did. He was so ... Zach, and she so was smitten.

Which made the problem she was facing that much more difficult. When her course was a week late, Jo hadn't thought anything of it. It rarely began on a routine, what with her stress levels and varying eating habits. However, there was no mistaking the other beginning symptoms. Like the perpetual exhaustion and queasiness at certain smells. And, if she pressed hard enough on her lower stomach, Jo would swear there was a firmness where she was usually soft.

Of course, there was no conceivable way for her to have the baby, not if she wished to be able to return home. Not to mention the small fact that she had no desire to be a mother. After watching what Mars went through earlier in the summer, Jo was certain motherhood was for anyone but herself. Finding a safe method to force a miscarriage, though, was proving impossible. There were possible potions and spells, but the potion ingredients were difficult to source in the desert. And the spells ... well, Jo wasn't confident enough in her charmwork to safely perform such a spell.

She swallowed back the bile as a steaming bowl of stew was delivered to the pub's table. Great, another night of not eating as well. Jo sighed heavily and rested her forearms on the table. What on Earth was she to do?

  

It was only supposed to be a one time thing, a moment of passion in India, but then Somersby had been sent to Egypt for training and Jo’s team had arrived at precisely the same place and well… history had repeated itself. Since that night in June though Jo had treated him as if nothing had happened, her attentions cheerful and friendly as ever but nothing else. Somersby liked her, a lot, and he tried not to take offense to this - he after all was hardly in a place to offer any one any type of suitable marriage - but it had left him rather confused.

After a day following around the curse breaker in charge of him, a surely man by the name of Wood who seemed to dislike Somersby on principle, he was exhausted and covered in a layer of dust that he was fairly certain would never disappear no matter how many times he bathed. Wood had abandoned him in a tomb and fight his way out in a method that Somersby had found was his method of teaching, nothing like his studies at Hogwarts had been. Grimy and tired, though Somersby had to admit to some level of effectiveness of the man’s teaching style, he had afterall not only made it out alive but had learned to move effectively. He had definitely earned his drink and supper this evening though.

At a table in the corner Somersby spotted Jo and made his way over. She looked half away and her bowl of stew was pushed away from her - again. “Long day?” Somersby asked as he plopped onto the bench across from her.

  

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Made by magic (MJ) <3

Long month, it more felt like. Jo raised her head and smiled tiredly at her friend. Somersby was a good man, a bit young and headstrong at times, but a decent friend at least. Much unlike some of the more colorful characters she had met along the way. Their few nights together were pleasant when they had happened. Now, though, sleeping with another man felt like she was betraying Zach.

"Yeah," she nodded. The brick tapping was tiresome and frustration. Soon, maybe, they'd have an answer on how to get into the tomb. Jo slid the bowl across the table to him. "Help yourself, I've no appetite tonight." A lie, as she was starving, but not for stew. For something soft and sweet. Everything else just made her nauseous.

  

While the stew smelled delicious, Somersby frowned at Jo. He’d seen her eat before and could hardly believe she had no appetite. “You alright? You never give up a meal.” His brows crinkled in concern, wondering if she had caught some illness from the locals. When the tavernkeeper stopped at the same Somersby ordered his own stew. Perhaps Jo would grow hungry as the evening wore on, after all it looked like a lot of papers in front of her.

  

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Made by magic (MJ) <3

"Just tired, is all," Jo shrugged as she eyed the evil stack of papers besides her. Damn Saturn for adding to her plate. "My brother needs me to read and sign all these, feel like I'm signing my life away." The doubled smell of the stew turned her stomach, leading her to push the bowl further from her. Somersby could have both if he wanted. "How was your day?"

  

Jo looked more than tired, but even some lines Somersby knew not to touch. His sisters would have been offended themselves if they’d ever heard that he had told a lady she looked tired and unwell.

“What’s he want you to sign?” Somersby asked as he started on the stew that had been brought to the table. It didn’t smell anything like what he could get back home, full of exotic spices, but it was almost as good as the stews he had tried in India which he had rather liked.

“Oh, you know, just another day of Wood attempting murder. So all around I’d say fine.” Somersby shrugged.

  

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Made by magic (MJ) <3

Jo kept her gaze trained on the stack of papers as Somersby began to eat. Watching him enjoy the foul smelling stew would be the final nail in her coffin and she'd be running out the door to vomit. She flipped through the first few pages, barely even skimming for a place to sign. Really, what was he thinking putting this stack on her?

"Oh, he's an author. He wrote a novel about our experiences in South America and this is ... licensing? He called it?" Jo didn't much understand the intricacies of publishing. Book selling, perhaps, given the week of hunting down texts throughout Greece with Zach, but not the actual act of publishing. "It usually isn't this nightmarish."

  

In a previous life - one where Somersby had been quite content to work a desk job and ignore his father's horror at that fact - Somersby had been mildly interested in publishing. The world of the written word with all the knowledge to be soaked up had appealed to him. But looking at the mountain of papers know he could hardly believe that had once been a thought in his mind. "Seems nightmarish to me." He commented spooning another mouthful in.

"From the stories you've told of South Africa though it should be an interesting novel." Somersby would have to make a point of having someone send it to him once it was released. He doubted the limited magical stores he'd stumbled on here in Egypt would have it any time soon. He'd probably be back in England by that point.

  

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Made by magic (MJ) <3

"Mmm, it is," Jo hummed before dropping her head back onto the stack of papers. Merlin, just the sound of his spoon scraping along the edge of the bowl made her nauseous. She needed to find a solution for this problem and fast, otherwise the signs would soon be unavoidable.

At least Zach would never have to know.

"It should be, yeah." Jo missed South America more than Greece, even. "The digs out there are incredible if you ever get the chance to go. More so than here, I'd guess. There's not many great discoveries left I don't think." She lifted her head as she spoke but continued to look anywhere but him. A bit rude, perhaps, but completely necessary.

  

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beautiful set by mj

Something was definitely up with Jo, Somersby determined as she dropped her head back onto the stack of the papers. "You sure you're alright?" He asked, concerned.

Digs weren't actually his thing. They were Jo's. He cared a lot more about unraveling curses and protecting people than the adventure of it all. In fact it was the adventure portion that had made the job less appealing for him. He just wanted to do some good in the world. "Mm. Maybe one day they'll send me there."

  

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Made by magic (MJ) <3

One final whiff of the abandoned stew and Jo could no longer maintain a hold on her nausea. "No," she muttered tensely as she slid the papers off the table and into her arms. "I'm just really run down .. I'm uh - I'm going to go." It was a miracle she didn't hurl as she forced the words out. Then, without waiting for any response from him (or paying for her untouched meal) Jo rushed from the pub.

  

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beautiful set by mj