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[charring]

[There's a face peering at the device, frowning. Nose wrinkled, frustration in her eyes and a quickness to her tone. A hint of a short temper and a slight sense of worry. An urgency found only in the voice of people used to being on the run. She fights to keep her expression neutral, aiming for boredom. It comes off as impatience and annoyance.

She's outside, blue sky behind her and the sound of water nearby. The hum of a breeze just in the background.]

I want answers. I don't know where I am or how I got here. Last thing I remember, I was on a bus to Alaska.

[No, she wasn't. She was on her way to New Mexico but who knew if the Shop was listening or not. Better to be dishonest and safe than honest and dead.]

What happened? Who brought me here and why? The sooner I find out, the better. [A pause as she looks around, trying to gain some information as she does so. A sign of where she is or a way out.]

I really, really can't be here. It's important that I continue my trip.

[And there's fumbling with the device before it stops recording.]

Comments

[charring]

Yeah? That's good to hear.

[Sympathy is not something Charlie knows how to deal with.] Where are you from?

[magnets]

Ain't good to hear for whoever took us.

[ He's got a lot of stock in someone finding him for the time being, let him live in his fantasy. ]

Oh, yeah, New Mexico. Hell yeah. The Big A, born and bred.

[charring]

I lived there for a few weeks. It was nice. I kinda miss it.

[Thank you for allowing the subject change, Jesse!]

[magnets]

[ He knows very well the need to change conversations that aren't any fun, you are WELCOME. ]

Oh yeah? Only a couple weeks, ya should'a stayed. It's a good place! You, uh. You move around a lot?

[charring]

It is. But, yeah. I travel a lot. [A pause and a shrug.] Itchy feet, I guess.

[Well, yes and no. Itchy feet but only because people are chasing her.]

[magnets]

[ Well, at least what he doesn't know can't hurt him. ]

Hey, ain't nothin' wrong with that, long as you got the bread for it. Where ya been, anywhere else good?

[charring]

Texas. Right at the border of Mexico. Right in Eagle Pass. That place had some of the best street food ever.

[magnets]

I say hell yeah, man, burritos, right? Eat up. Mexico's gotta be the bomb. Never been.

[charring]

Oh, yes. I pretty much live for trying street food everywhere.

Best place I've ever eaten though is in Philadelphia.

[magnets]

What, Philly cheese steaks? Those things, right? I dunno, they make some pretty mean ones 'round here.

[charring]

Yup. They're one of my favorites. I haven't yet figured out how to make a good substitute but those are kind of an art form.

[magnets]

I know, right? No one ever advertised that the meat cooks all unevenly when you get shaved steak. Right? And it all sticks to the pan.

[charring]

Yeah, it's pretty much stir-frying and moving faster than I'm used to. I usually use really thin cuts of beef or sometimes if I'm lazy, I take stew cubes and cut those to bits. It's not quite the same but like I said...art form.

[magnets]

I'll take your word for it. I haven't cooked in, like, forever. Totally microwaving it up, y'know?

[charring]

Yup. I once lived in a place so small, all it had room for was a microwave and a small plug in hot plate. Really annoying.

[magnets]

[ Jesse shrugs. ] As far as I know, that's all ya need to cook three squares a day, yo.