Bad habits make for good memories.

[hostage]

WHO: Jesse Pinkman & OPEN
WHERE: Heropa & Maurtia Falls
WHEN: June
WHAT: It's a catch-all for everyday situations involving Jesse.
WARNINGS: ...Drugs. Like. Obviously.

HEROPA - YOUTH CENTER

[As soon as the kids' painting class lets out, Jesse hops outside for a cigarette. It's more out of habit than need, these days. Nicotine does nothing for him. Nothing does anything for him. But he likes it: the smoke in his lungs combined with the sweet summer air around him, salt on the breeze and the sun on his skin. He keeps away from the building's entrance - doesn't want to make the children breathe second-hand smoke, of course - and wanders the grounds instead. It's a good chance to survey the area for any creeps lurking around, too. The place doesn't have much in the way of security, and if there's one "heroic" job he's willing to do, it's protecting these kids.]

MAURTIA FALLS - RED BRANCH

[It's funny. He's been living in Pennsylvania for over a month, but he couldn't be assed to explore the place very much. Honestly, he doesn't like Pennsylvania. There's not nearly as much sun as he's used to and it just isn't his scene. Downright gloomy, sometimes. But he's slowly getting used to it, and his leisurely exploration finally leads him to the imPort pub on the outskirts of town. It's cool-looking, at least. Not a place to hang out on the regular, but definitely a place to look at. He snaps a few photos as he hops up the steps, and does the same when he walks in. That's going on his instagram, for sure.]

HEROPA - THE STREETS

[It's about time for dinner. Jesse never cooks for himself - he doesn't need to save the money and it's lonely as hell eating in his apartment by himself - so he heads straight from work into town to scope out the options. Sometimes he'll choose pizza. Sometimes tacos or a burger. Sometimes he just grabs ice cream, because he's a responsible adult. Anyway, he parks his stupid banana-yellow convertible off the street and hops out to look around. There's probably someplace he hasn't tried yet. He'll just walk until he finds a good one.]

MAURTIA FALLS #001 - CLOSED TO GREED

[It's the worst time of night, when Jesse has to come back to this place. Half the time, he doesn't even bother. It's often hotels for him, wherever he happened to just be partying. But since he couldn't land a girl for tonight, Jesse comes shuffling into his government-sponsored apartment as soon as the bars close. He smells strongly of liquor but he isn't remotely drunk, which is his curse, really. No one should have to be this sober. He tosses his jacket over the nearest chair and opens the fridge to grab a beer, not quite ready to sleep yet. He rummages around for some leftovers, too, but they're all gone. That's great. The roommate probably ate them again. He heaves a mildly irritated sigh and wanders out of the kitchen, chugging his beer.]

AT THE DRIVE-IN - CLOSED TO SKYE

[Okay... So he was honestly only half-paying attention to the movie, if that. He's been mostly focused on Skye, because he's a teenage boy at heart, and who really goes to a drive-in to watch the movie? But now the credits are rolling and the engines of the cars around them are starting up. Jesse sits back and looks up at the starry sky over their heads, letting out a quiet laugh.]

Over already, huh.

Comments

[vaccination]

What are you doing here?

[Their last conversation was a little heavy, and so she feels a little bad about maybe making Jesse do things he didn't want to. She greets him with a smile. See? No ulterior motive here, and no Joels lurking about.]

[hostage]

[It'd be ridiculous if he held a grudge. It's not Ellie's fault that Joel's out of his mind. Jesse doesn't even want to talk about it.]

Grabbing dinner. You wanna join me?

[vaccination]

Can I? [She's not particularly hungry, but she figures Jesse could show her something cool.]

[hostage]

Yeah, totally. It's on me.

Anything you're in the mood for?

[vaccination]

[Ellie gives him a look. This is better than him leaving money for her to find, at least.]

I don't know. What should a girl born into a world without fast food or even restaurants in general experience?

[hostage]

Oh my god.

[What a question. There are a million things, actually. It's hard to name just one. But he glances up and down the street, checking out what's nearby.]

...Ever had a taco?

[vaccination]

Never had a taco. Seen pictures, so I think I get some credit.

[She folds her arms over her chest as she pretends to consider. Certainly not a motion she's picked up from Joel.]

Sell it to me. What's so good about a taco?

[hostage]

Oh, man. Um... I mean, there's all kinds. Mostly the fun part is just having this crunchy shell around a pile of spicy meat and cheese. But when you add all the other stuff, like guac or sour cream... It's just like a messy, crunchy flavor explosion, you know?

I wish we were in Albuquerque so you could try it Christmas-style.

[vaccination]

[No, she doesn't know, and it's clear by the puzzled expression on her face. Crunchy... shell? Gauc? Sour cream? What the hell is Christmas-style?]

I'm already up to like, four questions. Should I save them or ask them now?

[hostage]

[He laughs.]

Okay, okay. Maybe it's just something you gotta experience.

[vaccination]

Just as long as it doesn't land me in the bathroom for half an hour.

[Not that... that's happened...]

[hostage]

You know what, some places you gotta be careful, but this one's quality. You oughta be fine.

[vaccination]

Alright. I'll take your word for it. Onwards to tacos.

[hostage]

[He leads the way! Honestly, tacos aren't his favorite favorite, but he feels like he ought to be an expert, since he's from New Mexico. So when they arrive and walk up to the counter, he orders hard-shell fish tacos, because they seem like they're probably the most authentic. (Spoilers: they're not.)]

[vaccination]

[Ellie follows along obediently, quiet. She's content to let Jesse do the ordering because she has no idea what most of the stuff on the menu behind the counter is. Carnitas? Tacos al vapor? One big shrug.]

Smells good in here.

[That would be grease and meat, Ellie.]

[hostage]

Don't it? Half my town smells like this, back home. Always somebody in the neighborhood cooking something delicious.

[God, he's homesick.]

- Oh, hey, grab a couple Jarritos outta the fridge over there. They're soooo good.

[vaccination]

Ugh, lucky. My town smelled like shit and piss.

[She is not homesick at all. The best smell in the world is clean clothes, followed by cologne and then whatever is being cooked in the back of this place.

She heads over to the fridge, pausing to read the labels.]

What color? Err, flavor, I guess. [Jamaica? Isn't that a place? Weird.]

[hostage]

Orange for me. But they're all good, so get whatever looks cool.

[vaccination]

Alright. Can't go wrong with red. [Strawberry, though she's never had the fruit. She brings over the bottles.]

Is this stuff like Pepsi?

[hostage]

It's better than Pepsi. 'cause it's fruit, you know? It's good for you.

[No, it isn't.]

[vaccination]

Cool. [Like she knows any better. Have fun paying for Elle's dental, Jesse.]

There's so much different stuff to drink here. Like, at work? We sell milkshakes that taste like cookies. So fucking crazy. They taste better than the cookies, even.

[hostage]

[Isn't he doing that anyway?]

Yeah? I gotta get me one of those next time I'm there.

[vaccination]

I'm sure you've had an oreo milkshake before. Psht.

And, uh--thanks for the meal, by the way. I'm glad Joel didn't scare the shit out of you.

[hostage]

[He glances aside, rubbing at the back of his neck.]

Ah, you know. He tried, but I don't scare so easy.

[vaccination]

[Given previous conversations, Ellie doubts that.]

He's... rough, sometimes. But he just wants to be careful. He's good at what he does. Maybe even the best, if that's a thing.