audio | 001 | day 34

[retrograding]

[ Jet may not be fantastic with electronic things, but he knows enough about them to not freak out when the thing talks to him. His voice is quiet and vaguely amused. ] I'll try to, Miss, though I'd appreciate it more if I could get some coordinates.

... No? Alright, that's shiny. [ Snort. He'll just do some exploring on his own, then! ]

Comments

[retrograding]

[ That works out for Jet, who likes the company, and thinks Jesse looks like he could use it, as well. He adjusts the patch over his eye - really, he just lifts it up - and peers around him. ] Chart yourself to the fountain in the middle of the city, then? We'll work out way outward.

Oh! I had meant to ask - red giant or black hole? [ ... Jet, your slang makes no sense to anybody. ]

[magnets]

[ Jesse, who's half-expecting some kind of freaky gaping eye-hole under there or something, actually jumps a little when he does lift it, settling back carefully when, oh, it's just an eyepatch. Well, all right. ] Yeah, man, the fountain. I can go there.

[ Unless some broad tackles him into the street again. ]

Uh. [ What a weird question, and it's clear on his face that he's really not sure where it came from or why, but he still shrugs and. ] Black holes are badass man, just kinda suck everything all up in there. I guess. If I had ta choose.

[retrograding]

[ That actually confuses Jet a little, but then he remembers he's not in the Zones and Jesse isn't as good at deciphering zonespeak as well as killjoys are. Jet adjusts his ponytail with a bemused look. ]

They are. Did you know if you managed to fall into one past the event horizon, you would appear to be stuck there forever? [ And for his question: ] Are you new here, or have you been here a long time?

[magnets]

...Whoa, man, seriously? [ Meet Jesse, the massive Discovery Channel fan who's just had his mind blown. ]

[ But that's probably the less important question there - as if. But he skips on to the other one anyway, figuring there's more constructive shit to do than talk about black holes right now. ] Nah, man, just showed up. Outta the blue. Bang, right in the middle'a town, same as you.

[retrograding]

[ Oh god, just you wait, Jesse. Jet's gonna drop so much space knowledge on you. ]

Crazy. [ Jet says thoughtfully. ] Why us? Rhetorical question, that, I don't expect anybody here to know or I think we would've been told by now. Are you coming? I'm itching to see the ocean up close, I've never seen it before.

[magnets]

[ He's so ready for it, he's so ready. ]

For serious? [ But then again he guesses he never really did before earlier with that Laura chick. He didn't think too much about it. ] Well. Right on, I'll be there pronto. We'll show you some goddamn ocean, man.

TO ACTION???

[retrograding]

[ HE'S SO THRILLED. He grins, sitting on the edge of the fountain to wait. ] I'll be here. [ He'll be whistling to himself when Jesse gets there! ]

ACTION WE GO

[magnets]

[ It doesn't take Jesse too long; he wasn't far off by that point, investigating a couple of the houses and buildings around to little avail. He's sniffing, presumably from the cold, fingers rubbing nonchalantly at his nose as he approaches. ]

Yo, man, name that tune.

[retrograding]

[ Jet offers a little salute as Jesse approaches. ] Billy Joel, The Longest Time? At least, that's what I remember it being. Good song, as well as a hailing tune.

[magnets]

[ Jesse waves right back with a pocketed hand. ]

[ There's a blissfully blank look on Jesse's face as he finally comes to a stop right by Jet. ] Right, yeah. [ Totally knew that. ] Got any Blue Oyster Cult in that arsenal?

[retrograding]

[ Jet snorts. Hm - that's before his time, and growing up in Battery City didn't leave much time for music, so the only one he really knows is Don't Fear the Reaper. He stands up, nudges Jesse with his elbow gently, and leads the way to the ocean, whistling. ]

[magnets]

Right on.

[ It coaxes a big grin out of him regardless, a half a hop-skip to start off Jesse's steps as he follows beside Jet. His own hands lightly drum out a beat on his thighs. ]

[retrograding]

[ Aw, Jesse is endearing. Jet's seeing him a little like a big puppy, enthusiastic and with paws bigger than the rest of him, but he knows well enough that people can be deceiving. Killjoys are a good example of that.

Either way, he leads the way out to the ocean, and by the time they get there, he's whistled his way through a few different songs. But he stops when they get to the water. Oh, it's so pretty! Jet's a little starry-eyed, don't mind him. ]

[magnets]

[ Jesse keeps pretty mum on the way up, content to just pat his hands against his jeans as Jet whistles his way along. It could be the meth - it's probably the meth - but he also just likes this guy. Jet's calming in a whole other kinda way that Jesse hasn't seen on someone in a long time. ]

Hell yeah, bitch, here we go. [ he all but announces it as soon as they arrive, jogging ahead a step or two to kick a rock right on down into the beach. ] Y'know, back in the Big A, beach is a good- nine hundred, a thousand miles out. Guess we went once when I was a real little kid, but uh. I don't really- remember.

[retrograding]

[ Totally distracted by the waves, here, wow. ] The Big A? [ He squints. ] I'd lived in California my entire life, but I'd never been interested in seeing the ocean until I escaped into the sands. [ Absently, as he squats down to run his fingers through the water and sand: ] I don't even know if the ocean is still there, tell you true.

[magnets]

Uh, Albuquerque. New Mexico. [ He's lived there his whole life too; having to specify is a whole new thing for him to get used to. ]

[ He watches Jet as he paws at the water, squinting right back down at him - it's bright out here, and it's cold. ] Yeah. Desert kinda does that to ya. You're all, 'hell yeah, bitch, I'd like to get me some water access,' and it's just all- y'know, more sand. [ He nudges Jet's shoulder with a hand before he starts digging in his pockets. ] That's what pools're for, though, right?

[retrograding]

[ It's absolutely cold - it's freezing, really, and Jet's not sure he likes it. The desert nights are cold, but he rarely ever is out in the radiation after dark. ] Pools. [ Jet hums, thoughtful. ] Now there's something I've only ever been in once. I think we were required to, in high school. It's a little fuzzy.

What's Albuquerque like? [ Y'know, since New Mexico might not actually exist in Jet's world anymore, he has no idea. ]

[magnets]

[ He fumbles around with a packet of cigarettes, peering down at Jet with the filter of one hanging haphazardly out of the corner of his mouth. ] Yo, I thought you were all like from California. How you only been in one damn pool?

ABQ? Shit, it's- [ He smiles sardonically. ] Best place on Earth. [ His grin fades slowly and systematically as he plays with the cigarette pack, fingers toying at the cardboard. ] I dunno, man, sunny. Real sunny. You ain't ever gonna find any green chili better than down there either, lemme tell you. [ He finally lights the cigarette, reluctantly holds the pack out in case Jet might want one of the paltry amount inside. ] Miss my bed.

[retrograding]

[ He watches Jesse's reaction carefully, reaching up to straighten his ponytail. His hair is everywhere and it's trying to escape. The reluctant offer of cigarettes makes Jet hide a smile, and he shakes his head, running his fingers through the sand, tracing shapes and names in the dirt. ]

I'm sure it's better than where I'm from. I think anywhere is. [ He says absently. Did he not hear the pool question, or is he conveniently ignoring it? Probably the latter. ] I'm not sure I've ever had green chili, either.

Is it a good bed? I miss my car, and it's only been a few hours.