02 - Public / Video

[domesheriff]

[Linda comes onto the network today actually dressed casually rather than in her patrol uniform; she's wearing a red T-shirt under a gray sweater jacket over jeans and boots. her hair is pulled back in a braid, and the ever-present engagement ring is on her hand. today of all days, she wants to be wearing it. because despite the dome and her relocation, she's still counted the days, and she knows that if none of that had happened, this would be it--this would be her wedding day. and having realized that, it's a thought she can't get out of her head]

Hey, is anybody free today? [her tone is casual, but there's something a little anxious in the way she's standing. she has her hands in front of her and is unthinkingly playing with the ring as well] I'm off, and I don't want to spend the day sitting around alone. I'll take you to lunch--my treat. Or...I don't know, a walk in the gardens, or even some games in the arcade? Maybe a drink at Pugsy's tonight. Sound good to anybody?

[she smiles, but it doesn't reach her eyes. still, despite the feelings she's fighting, she's determined not to spend today moping. she's going to distract herself with new friends and fun instead]

Comments

[domesheriff]

Honestly? Both.

[she pauses to put in her own order of a club sandwich, and since he's getting dessert she adds a slice of pie to that, too--no cheddar for her, though]

[but noticing the way he's looking at her, she's sure he's expecting more of an explanation than she's given. she hesitates, turning toward the counter like she's watching for their orders to appear so she doesn't have to face him while she speaks. but then, a bit tentatively, she ventures:] I know it's not the same time of year here or anything, but...just knowing how long I've been here, today would have been an event back home.

[domesheriff]

[Linda herself is rather hoping that Belloq hasn't had to suffer frontier justice because of Niko's refusal to have him arrested. she isn't the sort of person to confront him herself--she might have for an explanation, but she doesn't know him well enough to distinguish lies from the truth even if she did--so she's left it alone]

[she waves back at Una, going over to join her with a smile] Hey. Hope you haven't been waiting too long. [she checks to see if Una has a drink because if not, she'll buy her one. that was part of her offer, after all]

[domesheriff]

Did you want to go now, or should I meet you later?

[Bertie is in luck this time. Linda might be worlds away from Rusty, but that doesn't make her consider herself any less engaged, as evidenced by the ring on her finger. so Bertie has nothing to fear--not from her, anyway]

[most_feared]

What would have happened?

[His questions are short, but he does care. One can tell because his tone isn't forceful. It's not authoritative like it is at work, and while he can't be soft it is comparably gentle. He doesn't want his patrol to be stressed. He wants to do what he can for them, especially since they, like he is, are currently displaced and need the support.]

[He's lucky, not permanently so for him. But he knows returning might not be so easy for other people.]

[domesheriff]

[there's another moment's hesitation. her voice is quiet when she says:] My wedding. [she looks down at her hand, rubbing her fingers to feel the surface of the engagement ring]

[a little worried about being so emotionally vulnerable in front of her new boss, though, she quickly adds:] But I know things are different now and I've got a job to do here.

[una_persson]

[There's only a glass of water and a bowl of peanuts—or something as near to peanuts as to make no real difference—in front of Una. She hadn't quite decided what she wanted to drink yet.]

Not at all. Thank you for suggesting this—I rather needed to get out a bit.

[ratkicker]

[The front waiting area isn't too interesting. Several photo samples are hung on the wall: a faraway picture of a lighthouse, several shots of alien animals, and a photo of the inside of a bar, which seems to be populated more by animal-looking aliens than humans.

There sounds of someone walking are heard from the back room.]

[what_ho_jeeves]

I have no immediate plans for the day, or later plans for that matter, so I am entirely at your convenience.

[domesheriff]

[curious, she asks:] Does your job usually keep you busy? [but then she gestures at the glass of water] What would you like to drink?

[domesheriff]

[what is remarkable to Linda is that this shop seems fancier than she was expecting. she hopes Jade sells some photos that aren't too expensive]

[when she hears the sounds in back, though, she calls:] Jade? It's Linda.

[ratkicker]

[Jade's footsteps grow louder as she walks to the front]

Hey. You ready to go?

[domesheriff]

[his way of speaking is still baffling, but she understands it well enough to smile in amusement] Then how about I meet you at the entrance to the gardens?

[una_persson]

Ah—Bushmill's, neat. Thanks. As for work— [she makes a "comme ci, comme ça" gesture with her hand] it comes and goes. Sometimes we get an influx of work, and then sometimes there's dead periods of not much to do at all. But no, my problems have less to do with work than ... other things.

[domesheriff]

Yeah. [she nods] But do you think I could look around a little first? Or should I wait until we get back?

[domesheriff]

[Linda turns to the bartender to order Una her whiskey and herself a beer. Una's answer is interesting, but she's missing one very important piece of information for Linda] What kind of work do you do?

[but she frowns at Una's comment about the "other things" she wants to get away from] Yeah, things haven't exactly been quiet lately... [she's not sure if Niko's betrayal and the surrounding events are what Una means or not, but she doesn't want to pry when they've only just met either]

[what_ho_jeeves]

I shall be there forthwith, awaiting your arrival.

Cheery-o!

[ratkicker]

Sure, feel free. But id you want to look at pictures, I have an album of old stuff in the back.

[una_persson]

Oh, I never did say, did I? [Una shakes her head, bemused at her own negligence.] I'm on the Travel Agency. You would have met one of my co-workers just before you came here.

[She's not quite going to offer more details about her recent adventures, not until she has a better sense of who Linda is.]

[most_feared]

[He grunt/hums a soft acknowledgement to that, thinking of the engagement long ago that he never followed through with. But, also thinking of later. When they married, and then one day she realized he was no longer the man she was missing.]

[He's still not open enough to share the story directly, but he is reminded, though. And that makes his sound sympathetic, even the hard features of his grizzled face lightening up about as much as they can.] Yeah. Who knows. Today might have been a wedding for a different woman. Think you've changed much since you said yes?

[domesheriff]

[Linda heads straight for the gardens, as agreed, wondering what a walk and lunch with someone as odd as Bertie is going to be like. because who ends a conversation with "cheery-o," really? she didn't realize people like that existed outside of movies]

[domesheriff]

Things I could order, you mean? [she pauses, considering how to describe what she's thinking of] I guess I was just thinking I could get a picture for my room so it's not so plain. I...didn't have a chance to bring anything with me when I got here.

[domesheriff]

Oh. [that's actually a surprise, and it shows for a second on her face; it didn't occur to Linda that non-natives would work in that area]

[the bartender offers their drinks just then, and Linda accepts hers, taking the brief pause to debate whether to ask the question she's thinking of--before she decides it can't hurt] So with that job, you know a lot about how those teleporters work, right?

[domesheriff]

[she frowns at those words. she's never thought about this from that angle, and she's not sure she cares to. she quickly shakes her head] No.

[but after a pause, she adds:] I mean...I've changed. But...if I had the chance... [she sighs] But that's all speculation anyway.

[he didn't say good-bye. what if she does find a way back to him and he still blames her for Freddy? what if he blames her for all of Chester's Mill now?]

[Linda suddenly finds her coffee cup very interesting, and she takes another sip, trying to banish those thoughts by focusing on the hot liquid instead]

[una_persson]

[Una catches that moment of surprise.]

Let's just say I have some unique qualifications. And yes, I've had a fair amount of training and some experience on them. I imagine it won't be too long before I log some more.

[what_ho_jeeves]

[Bertie is waiting in the gardens for it, hat on his head and walking stick in his gloved hands. He was sniffing the flowers as she approaches but once he sees her, he stops and straightens and tips his hat to her.]

What ho, what ho, Linda! What a blustery winter's day, what? The sort of day that stirs the blood and makes one want to read gothic novels about fair fillies standing forlorn on dark and windswept moors.