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]

[Jesse's expression hardens. He's been afraid something like this could happen, but now that he's hearing it already has? Even if it wasn't this world, exactly... Well, it sure as shit won't happen here. He won't let it. Isn't that the point of making all this money? So he has the power to fight back?]

You get through it okay?

[heartstings]

[Money only gets you so far when it's a situation like New Vesuvius.]

I died trying to help. [She says this in a flat tone before taking a quick drink of beer.]

Still have a scar from it.

[hostage]

[He takes a moment to process that, grinding his teeth. He's angry. Not at her, of course. At them.

Finally, he reaches for his own beer and tosses back a gulp.]

...Want me to fix that for you? The scar.

[heartstings]

[Kenzi pauses, sputtering a bit and coughing as she nearly chokes on her beer. Eyes wide and face a little red from the surprise near inhalation of liquid she stares at him in silence.

After a moment she sits upright and furrows her brow.]

What would it cost? [She already tried this with Loki and he flat out refused her because of Gil. With him she expected a price but she doesn't know Jesse so she has to be sure.]

[hostage]

[Wow, he didn't expect quite that reaction.]

- Nothing. It's old, right? It probably won't hurt that much.

[heartstings]

[It's a pretty common reaction from Kenzi, she's a drama-queen.]

Hurt? What do you mean?

[hostage]

Ah, that's how it works. I take it from you.

[heartstings]

[Her face scrunches up.] So...you'll have the scar?

[hostage]

Not for long. Probably not even an hour.

[heartstings]

That's still...

[She falls silent as she thinks about it. She'd feel bad if he got stuck with such a shitty scar. Then again it probably wouldn't be so shitty to him since he wouldn't have the memories that went with it. The memories of her failure to lift a keycard off a guard without being noticed. Her failure to get away after the fact and then being shot for her failure. It was a scar she hated because it reminded her of how rusty her skills had become. But to be rid of it...that'd be nice.

As she thinks it over her hand moves to her chest, fingertips subconsciously brushing over the fabric of her shirt right over the scar.]

[hostage]

I'll be fine. I promise.

[Scars are easy. They're more like the ghost of a wound than an injury in themselves. And it pains him a lot more to think about her going around wearing the mark of something that killed her.]

[heartstings]

[She lets her hand drop as she nods.]

A'ight. What d'ya need to do?

[hostage]

[Jesse nudges his food aside so he can stretch his arm across the table, offering his hand to her.]

Just hold onto me for a second.

[heartstings]

[She hesitates for a moment.]

It'll only take the one scar right? Because I got another but I'm kinda proud of that one. [She might be vain but the other scar is a testament to her will to live.]

[hostage]

[He gets it, no questions asked.]

I can choose. So just the one? You're sure?

[heartstings]

[She nods.]

Yeah, just the one. [With that cleared up she reaches across the table to take his hand.]

[hostage]

[He squeezes her hand in reassurance and shuts his eyes - no real reason except that it helps him focus. In a way, healing everything would be simpler. But he's had a good deal of practice by now, knows how to navigate this strange new intuition he's got. He flinches for just a second when he feels the scar etching itself onto his chest, but the sensation is weird rather than painful.

And that's it. He opens his eyes, his hand still entwined with hers.]

Done.

[heartstings]

[She watches him, unsure what to expect, maybe something flashy but it's nothing like that. When he says he's done she pulls down the collar of her shirt with her free hand to check.]

Holy shit, dude! I can wear low cut shirts again! [Not that she currently owns that many given the majority of her wardrobe ended up being left behind in the City and her new wardrobe has been picked out to cover up the scar.]

[hostage]

[Jesse politely looks away while she's messing with her shirt, though he breaks into a wide grin.]

Glad to be of service to a great cause.

[heartstings]

[She laughs, releasing his hand so she can straight out her shirt.] The world has been deprived of my cleavage for too long.

[hostage]

Well, thank god those dark times are over.

[He sits back and rubs at his own chest through his shirt. It burns a little, but not enough to wipe the smile off his face.]