001 ♦ Jesse Finch ♦ Audio

[rigging]

So I've got three guesses as to what this is right now. [ The voice that comes through the communicator is quiet and calm. The undertone to this voice, however, is not at all -- there's a hint of panic and a whole lot of anger underneath. ] One, I traveled back in time to land in some Twilight Zone-Silent Hill bullshit. Two, I've finally cracked and I've gone insane, which, y'know, could be worse, my brain coulda put me in somewhere much more terrifying than a room with a camera -- or three, I'm dreaming. [ Which is what he's afraid of. There's a beat, and then the sound of a lighter being flicked on, a cigarette being lit. ]

Watch, m'just talking to myself. I don't even know if anybody's out there. [ It's been an hour and he hasn't seen anybody yet, after all, though to be fair he hasn't gone very far. He's waiting. Come get him, nightmare. He's not scared of you. ]

Comments

[gleans]

[ Galen takes Jesse's hand and starts leading him out of the cemetery, in the direction of number twenty. ] Yeah, you might've missed it, but the creepy welcome wagon message tells you which house you're in. Not that it matters, cuz you're coming back with me. [ A small smile. ] It's a big house, and the roomies are pretty cool -- especially Kenzi. Pretty sure you're gonna like her a lot.

[afallenstar]

I know my word isn't much, but I'm one of the good guys.

[ This time the paper is pulled away deliberately, and she looks at the communicator for a moment. She's not smiling, but it's as close as she can get to comforting at least. She used to be a lot better, honest. ]

[audio]

[rigging]

[ WUTEVA she's just jealous of Jesse's humming. Totally. He laughs, though. ] Nah, it ain't really, I guess, just seems weird t'me. You live under a rock or something your whole life?

I mean, maybe it is relevant. Other dimensions swallowing you up and pulling you through, that kinda thing.

[akshun]

[rigging]

[ That's a little unfair, isn't it? Jesse has no idea what he's about to see, but he didn't show up unprepared. Paranoid might as well be Jesse's middle name, and with all that's happened to him, he feels like he has good reason to be. The pipe he found isn't exactly easy to hide, but it serves its purpose. Protection. Just in case.

Jesse heads to the bar, peeking inside, calling out. ] Oi, this the right place?

[rigging]

[ He had missed the number, but it's fine. He'll figure out where he wants to live, the stupid creepy voice isn't the boss of him. He listens quietly as they walk, hand not holding Galen's in his pocket; his grip on Galen's hand is loose, though. ] Wait -- Kenzi? Y'mean conscience girl? She mentioned you.

[rigging]

[ He's not sure how much he can trust what she says (that's what all the villains say, I'm a good guy, trust me!) but he's tired and cold, and she looks nice. Nice enough that he can at least ask questions. ]

Alright, fine. [ But he'll have a weapon of some kind when she gets there. Just in case, okay, he's gotta be careful. ] Looks like a park. Near the edge. I can see a cemetery from here?

[gloryisbullshit]

[He's just gonna get stared at for a moment. Party takes a deep breath, then, and whistles for his attention.] You the right guy? Probs, since I keep hearing ignorant questions, wow.

[gleans]

[ Galen holds a little tighter, as if that'll make up for it. It's also a very quiet 'fuck you' to whatever Jesse's problem is.

[ He laughs a little. ] Conscience girl? Yeah, we're friends.

[rigging]

[ Jesse's expression is a little sour, but he's trying. Let him adjust. ] Yeah. She came on, said she was my conscience and that she was charging for her services. [ But he sounds vaguely amused, so. ] I liked her enough.

[rigging]

[ Wow, rude. Jesse is going to say something, but. Y'know. There's a small issue he has to handle first. He's pretty glad he brought that pipe, actually, and he immediately scowls, grip tightening. ]

Christ. So that Kenzi chick was right. [ That's a pretty ridiculous similarity, right there. Except for the red. ]

[gleans]

[ Pffft. ] Okay, kinda disorienting. She's great, though, and she's been a huge help.

[gloryisbullshit]

[Oh he smiles.] She talkin about me too?

[rigging]

Cute, too. [ Jesse says, glancing at Galen. It's innocently said and he means it to be playful. Just another person on their rating scale, right? (he's not so sure he likes how awkward he feels, it makes him want to run away, he's trying for normal) ]

[rigging]

[ And Jesse's scowl gets deeper. ] No. She just said there's clones runnin' round, and m'seeing that.

[gleans]

[ Ha, a smirk. ] Mmmmmhmm. And she's fucking tiny, it's adorable.

[ He notices the awkward, and he doesn't like it. It just makes him itch even more to know what the hell happened in November. He squeezes Jesse's hand. ] ... Hey. I love you, Jess.

[ na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na na actioooon! ]

[afallenstar]

[ She doesn't exactly give him long to find said weapon. Having spent most of her free time scoping the town instead of actually talking to people (since, you know, she can't) she's figured out the blind spots.

If Jesse's paying attention he might just about hear a sound oddly similar to a flock of birds taking off, but other than that there's no real indicator as to where Anna comes from when she walks out from behind a building. Not the best approach, it has to be said, but at least it's fast.

She can't call out a greeting, so instead she just waves. ]

[gloryisbullshit]

Ooh. [He feigns a shiver, shoulders hunching up around his ears, brow furrowing dramatically.] And what're you gonna do? Is that what the metal's for? C'mere, witchy, just come sit.

[audio]

[solidrighthook]

[ Okay, that does sound somewhat relevant. Shame Peggy still doesn't have a clue what he's talking about. ]

Quite a similar thing seems to be happening here, you're right. What exactly is Twilight Zone? Perhaps it could help her escape.

[ Shut up Jesse they didn't even have Twilight Zone in the 1940s. ]

[rigging]

[ Jesse looks up at Galen, away from his shoes, biting his lip absently. It's like he's not even the same person, like a memory of someone from before they were terminally ill, and it's jarring. Jesse wants to give in.

But he would've never made it in life this far if he'd just let his guard down. ] ... Love y'too, Galen. [ He says quietly, squeezing Galen's hand back. Because it's true, he does - just not what November gave him. ]

[audio]

[rigging]

Uh, well. It's a TV show, for one. [ He's totally amused. ] Dunno if it'd actually be good for helping escaping, yeah? Never saw enough of it t'really have a plan of attack for, y'know. Escaping pocket dimensions or whatever shit -- I dunno if we're even in another dimension, is this Earth?

[rigging]

[ omg Anna you can't just pop out of nowhere, how did you even get here so fast. Jesse hasn't had time to find a weapon, so that means that Anna's appearance earns a sort of jump as he spots her out of the corner of his eye. He shoves his hands in his pockets, gripping his lighter, his flask (light it drop it in the grass make a quick getaway if he needs, not enough but it's the best he can do) and offering her a nod. ]

Ahoy. You're a fast walker.

[rigging]

No, I just ain't stupid enough t'come to a meet a complete stranger without some way t'protect myself. [ Jesse snarks, rolling his eyes. But he does, he goes to settle, sitting on one of the barstools and eyeing Party warily. ] Jesus, this is weird.

[gloryisbullshit]

I don't think so. [Except he does, but whatever. He scoots an inch-full tumbler in Jesse's direction, giving the other man a look at least as wary.

[A sniff after the long pause, and he picks up his own glass.] What's wrong with Howard's Kool-Aid?

[rigging]

[ That glass gets some eyeing too. He picks up the glass and swills the liquid inside around once or twice before sniffing at it. And then he gives Party a sharp look. ]

Ain't really your business, now is it?

[gloryisbullshit]

What, it's K's business but not mine? [A gesture for Jesse's glass.] Look, I'll fuckin trade, Wesley, it's not a trick, just booze. Look, this one's safe, let's trade.