[Tess grins and plugs it into the console. The Enclosure spins up a manicured green lawn around a white bandstand with tall columns, with paths running from it in seven directions like a wagon wheel. Trees all around, and blue-glass skyscrapers peeking out beyond them.
Crazy, seeing it again –– it's like stepping into a memory, but an impersonal one.]
[The cityscape is a little intimidating, but it's not the first time he's seen something like this. The park, however, is a much-needed reprieve. He walks onto the paths from the door.]
You lived near here? [He gives a low whistle as he looks for a good spot to set their their picnic.]
Close. [She turns as she walks, walking backwards, reorienting herself –– North, North-East... she points. Boston's not a very tall city, and there isn't anything of note to be seen past the trees in that direction.]
Fifteen minutes, yeah. I had an apartment in the North End. Just up the street from the Paul Revere house.
[Sometimes Jake hears things that he feels he should know. Paul Revere is one. But there's nothing there, so he shrugs.]
Nice place to grow up. [A fifteen minute walk with all of these trees and interesting things to look at seems like a dream.
He finds a spot beside a gazebo, where the sun is warm but not overwhelming. Setting down the bag, he takes out a rough blanket, spreading it along the grass.]
Don't know many other places than Absolution. [He settles down on a corner of the blanket and starts to take out what he had made for them. Unlike his counterpart, he knows how to cook. How he knows is beyond him, but he just does. And his cabin has supplies that are meant to last for months and months.
He unwraps crumbly biscuits with melted cheese inside. A thermos with a basic stew and two bowls. Fresh fruit from the dining hall. A bottle of wine.]
[He has a memory of swimming. Of plummeting from the sky into a river. Gasping for air, grabbing his hat, making for shore to save Ella. He knows that he can swim, at least.
He opens the wine and pours it into two cups, handing one to her. The stew is divided into bowls with spoons and he pushes the biscuits towards her.]
This water's gotta be cold. [Because he knows they're North somewhere.]
Seems like it. [He crumbles the cheesy biscuits into the stew, mixing it around with his spoon as he thinks.] How old were you when it all went to shit?
[She gives a little chuckle under her breath. What would he know about teenagers in the 2000s, huh?]
Went to school. Had a couple part time jobs I got fired from. I ran away from home a couple times, drove my dad and brother insane trying to keep up with me. They did pretty good, though.
[The answer is nothing. But some things are universal. Teenagers are supposed to be little shits. He's relieved to hear that, at least, seemed normal.]
Wish I could say who my family was. All I have is a brother from the breach and...I liked him alright.
Was in my care for the month. He brought me here for the first time. Showed me how to work this thing. [He holds up his wrist with the gauntlet.] Blew up benches.
Didn't even know what it was when I took it. It was more of an accident. Had me on that table, cuttin' me open, and I got my hand free and it locked on. Seemed to scare 'em, so I just ran. Didn't know what it was until later.
[Alien abductions. It's an uncomfortable thing to think about, and she feels tempted to dance right by the threat of the non-human, the other, but she sits with that and shrugs it off, smiling.]
no subject
Had a bit of help.
Now, what's this place you're talkin' about?
no subject
Boston Common. It was a big park, just a fifteen minute walk from my old apartment. It's a nice place.
no subject
[He shrugs and shifts the bag on his shoulder, absently placing a hand on the curve of her back, giving her a gentle push.]
Then do the thing and let's go. This is heavy.
no subject
[Tess grins and plugs it into the console. The Enclosure spins up a manicured green lawn around a white bandstand with tall columns, with paths running from it in seven directions like a wagon wheel. Trees all around, and blue-glass skyscrapers peeking out beyond them.
Crazy, seeing it again –– it's like stepping into a memory, but an impersonal one.]
no subject
You lived near here? [He gives a low whistle as he looks for a good spot to set their their picnic.]
no subject
Fifteen minutes, yeah. I had an apartment in the North End. Just up the street from the Paul Revere house.
no subject
Nice place to grow up. [A fifteen minute walk with all of these trees and interesting things to look at seems like a dream.
He finds a spot beside a gazebo, where the sun is warm but not overwhelming. Setting down the bag, he takes out a rough blanket, spreading it along the grass.]
no subject
[She helps spread it out, bending over at the waist, hair falling in her face.]
Where would you want to grow up?
no subject
He unwraps crumbly biscuits with melted cheese inside. A thermos with a basic stew and two bowls. Fresh fruit from the dining hall. A bottle of wine.]
Maybe somewhere with water. Near a beach.
no subject
Plenty of places you could do that, at least. Here, even. Walk for an hour and there's Carson Beach, and Pleasure Beach. You like to swim?
no subject
[He has a memory of swimming. Of plummeting from the sky into a river. Gasping for air, grabbing his hat, making for shore to save Ella. He knows that he can swim, at least.
He opens the wine and pours it into two cups, handing one to her. The stew is divided into bowls with spoons and he pushes the biscuits towards her.]
This water's gotta be cold. [Because he knows they're North somewhere.]
no subject
[She takes her cup and the food and smiles a little thanks; it all smells delicious.]
This time of year, it might kill you. Winters here are pretty miserable.
no subject
no subject
[She pops a bite in her mouth. It's good.]
no subject
[He looks around, finally eating the stew. Not bad for something he put together on the damn fly because she had to have this date.
Not that he's particularly complaining. It's actually a good way to get to know her. No real alcohol involved, other than the wine.]
What did you do around here? Aside from freeze your ass off in the water?
no subject
Went to school. Had a couple part time jobs I got fired from. I ran away from home a couple times, drove my dad and brother insane trying to keep up with me. They did pretty good, though.
no subject
Wish I could say who my family was. All I have is a brother from the breach and...I liked him alright.
no subject
[Then again, she hadn't met Jake, either.]
You guys keeping touch?
no subject
Was in my care for the month. He brought me here for the first time. Showed me how to work this thing. [He holds up his wrist with the gauntlet.] Blew up benches.
no subject
no subject
[He picks up the wine in the little cup and takes a drink of it.]
Mm, and I figured out how to take the damn thing off.
no subject
[She glances at it.]
What else does it do other than blow things up?
no subject
Didn't even know what it was when I took it. It was more of an accident. Had me on that table, cuttin' me open, and I got my hand free and it locked on. Seemed to scare 'em, so I just ran. Didn't know what it was until later.
[He takes another drink.]
Ain't much of a story.
no subject
It's the biggest story you have.
no subject
Stole a bunch of gold from a cattle rancher once. Sorta remember that.
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)