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

[hostage]

[So she's like Carrie. Awesome.]

Um, like three months. I guess close to four.

[heartstings]

[Sudden power upgrades are awesome. Only not really. Not when you don't have full control.]

Not a complete newbie then.

[hostage]

Pretty much settled in for the long haul, yeah.

[heartstings]

So take it you're doing pretty good then? [Which makes her wonder what he's up to. She struggled when she first got to the City. They didn't have anything set up to help imPorts beyond a weekly stipend and free housing. The money wasn't much so people had to get jobs. She took to her old thieving ways in the beginning.]

[hostage]

Ain't the worst kidnapping I ever had.

[It's a joke. Haha so funny joke.]

[heartstings]

[Kenzi gives a little laugh as she nods.] Gotta agree with you there.

[hostage]

Name's Jesse, by the way.

[heartstings]

Kenzi. [The waitress comes over and places Jesse's food before him and asks if there's anything else he needs. Immediately Kenzi grabs up a fry and stuffs it in her mouth. She's quick about it.]

[hostage]

[Jesse turns to the waitress with a smile.]

I'm good, tha -

[At the blur of movement across the table, he looks at Kenzi again and laughs.]

- nks...

[heartstings]

[The waitress nods with a smile and heads off to finish delivering the food she has on her tray.

Kenzi flashes a little smile.]

The fries are really good, by the way.

[hostage]

Apparently.

[But seriously, he doesn't mind. Having company is so much better than having food. He'll always share.

He grabs a few fries for himself.]

You own this place, or..?

[heartstings]

[She grabs a few more. She hasn't really eaten today, aside from what she could grab here and there, and is only just now realizing how hungry she is.]

Naw. Cu does. I just kinda weaseled my way into getting hired.

[hostage]

[Ugh, she is way cute.]

Who's Cu?

[heartstings]

Cu Chulainn. [She says the name perfectly, accent and all. She can't seem to help it.] Big guy with blue hair and red eyes. If you see him, you can't miss him. He's kinda intimidating but secretly kinda a softy. [Her voice drops as she leans forward and speaks the last bit. She grins and gives a little laugh as she draws back, stuffing more fries in her mouth.]

He's an ancient warrior from Ireland, also goes by Lancer.

[hostage]

Gesundheit.

[Gosh, he is hilarious.]

Yeah, ain't met him.

I take it you guys aren't from the same world.

[heartstings]

[She rolls her eyes and shakes her head.]

You probably will eventually. He can be kind of over the top about things sometimes. Like, you shoulda seen him on the network a while back. [She pulls out her comm to find that post because, man, he can be ridiculous.]

Naw. But a version of him existed. He's a historical figure. Might have even existed in your world too.

[hostage]

No idea. I flunked History.

[He's leaning forward, though, to get a look at her comm.]

[heartstings]

I kinda did too, honestly. But I don't think they ever taught about him in school unless you, like, grew up in Ireland. [Or are Fae. Because he was totally Fae in her world.

She keeps digging through the network.] It was a while back so...

[hostage]

My dad's family's Irish. But, like... from way back. They came over on the Mayflower or the Titanic or something.

[heartstings]

[Kenzi snorts, pausing in her search of the network.]

Russian here.

[hostage]

Yeah? Must suck for you, being in this place. All the paranoia and shit.

[heartstings]

Yeah, why do you think I don't give out my full name to anyone. Pretty sure the fucking government is watch me more closely than anyone else. And watching what I say? Do you know how hard it is to not slip into Russian when I get stressed out? [So very hard. She's the sort that'll cuss in Russian more than she will in English.]

[hostage]

Yo, it's so stupid. Like any of us really gives a crap about their war, anyway.

[heartstings]

It really is.

[She snags another fry before turning back to her comm. After a moment she lets out a small sound of triumph and passes it over to Jesse.]

Just hit play.

[hostage]

[Jesse watches the video, his face breaking into a wider and wider grin. At the end of it, he passes the comm back.]

Wow.