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]

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.

[hostage]

If he was real good, he wouldn't be so paranoid about it. But he's got the job, anyway, so don't worry about it.

[vaccination]

I was the last thing he smuggled. He has good reaaon to be paranoid.

[hostage]

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Hold up. He what?

[vaccination]

[What did Joel say about keeping quiet? ]

His last job, it was me. To get me out of the quarantine zone. It... didn't exactly go as planned. So, yeah. Paranoid. Understandably.

[hostage]

[That is shady as fuck. Jesse's having trouble keeping his voice down.]

Okay, first off - what the hell? Why?

[vaccination]

Whoa, whoa. Calm down. It's not like he kidnapped me. He was asked to do it. I'm just saying--he kept me safe.

[hostage]

You know what don't sound safe? Being outta the quarantine zone. And who the hell asked him?

[vaccination]

You'd be surprised.

[Ellie opens her mouth to explain, but shuts it, not really knowing how to begin. After a moment, she exhales.]

It doesn't matter who asked him. The point is that he did it. He went above and beyond. So while he might be an ass, you've got a good guy on your team. I know he has the job, I just... don't want you feeling screwed over or anything.

[hostage]

[Yes, he feels so much better. Employing the child kidnapper. Jesse sighs, scrubbing his hand down his face.]

[vaccination]

... I just fucked up again, didn't I.

If it helps, I'm an orphan. It's not like he plucked me from a cradle. It was for the best. Honest.

[hostage]

You didn't fuck up. Just... none of that makes sense to me. Like, at all.

[vaccination]

Shitty world. Did Joel tell you anything about it? The infected?

[hostage]

'course he didn't. You think that guy's big on telling me anything?

[vaccination]

I'll tell you. I mean, it's obvious we come from a shitty world. But that's because of this infection, Cordyceps. Twenty years ago, people started losing their minds. They would rip each other apart like mindless animals. If you get bitten or scratched, you turn into one. Now, there's like half the population left, hiding in the quarantine zones.

[Ellie purses her lips together. One hell of a conversation to have here, but there's no harm in Jesse knowing about it. Her secrets are meaningless.]

Joel was asked to take me to people who were still looking for a cure. 'cause I'm immune.

[She pushes up her sleeve to expose the bite on her forearm, scarred over yet still discolored and angry looking.]

He's risking everything to help me get to these guys. It was supposed to be a few hours, but we've been looking for them for almost a year now.

[That's dedication.]

[hostage]

[Right. He kind of put some of that together, what their world was like. But the rest of it... Something doesn't make sense to him.]

If they're the ones working on a cure, how come it's so hard to find 'em? Wouldn't the government or whoever want 'em in the quarantine zone with you guys?

[vaccination]

We have this while martial law thing going on. [She rolls down her sleeve.] Everyone's pretty much given up now. The Fireflies, though--they're still fighting for a cure, but they've been branded as troublemakers. Like, I had drills every morning in school to teach me how to kill them.

[hostage]

And you never met one of 'em? Like, in person?

[vaccination]

A Firefly? Yeah. I know their leader. Not a scientist Firefly, though.

[hostage]

[Jesse isn't quite done asking questions, but their order's up, so he darts away for a second to grab their tray off the counter. When he returns, he glances all around.]

Outside or inside?

[Seating, he means.]

[vaccination]

[It takes her a moment to not reply that yeah, Marlene was on the inside. Duh.]

Uh. Inside?