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

[ratkicker]

Sure, I'd like to hang out some time. I don't get a lot of people at my shop around lunch.

[domesheriff]

[Jade's response is a surprise, as Linda had gotten the initial impression that she didn't like her for some reason. but, always willing to reach out the hand of friendship, she nods with a smile] Okay! How about I meet you at your shop? [since Jade mentioned being a photographer before, she's actually pretty curious to see what she has for sale] What one is it?

[ratkicker]

[Linda seems like a nice person, and Jade needs to spend some time outside of work.]

Northern part of town. A couple streets west of The Rising Sun. Just ask around for Jade' Photography and most people'll know what you're talking about.

[domesheriff]

Great. I'll stop by around lunchtime. [she figures Jade won't mind if she peruses the shop a bit before they actually head off. her room is very bare right now since she had no chance to get anything to bring with her when she left Chester's Mill in such a hurry, so she thinks maybe buying something to put a little personality into the place will cheer her up, too]

[and, accordingly, it's about midday when Linda finds her way to Jade's Photography and enters the shop]

[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.]

[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]

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

[ratkicker]

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

[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.

[ratkicker]

[She chuckles.] I don't really sell my old pictures, but if there's something you like, I can print it out.

Normally, you'd tell me what you want me to photograph and I go out and take it.

[domesheriff]

Oh. [well, now she feels a bit silly, and it shows] Then...I'll think about what would be good. [she pauses for a beat before adding sheepishly:] I guess we could go ahead to lunch if you want.

[ratkicker]

[Jade shugs.] Sure. Got any place in mind? There's always the bar down the street.

[domesheriff]

Sounds good to me. I haven't tried many places here yet. [it hasn't seemed like a good way to spend what wages she has made so far--not dining alone, anyway. today is different]

[ratkicker]

Alright! [Jade heads out the door and turns towards the right.] It's few minutes down this way. I've been there once, and it's actually pretty good.

[domesheriff]

Anything you'd especially recommend? [she follows, matching pace with Jade]

[ratkicker]

[Jade thinks for a few steps.] The Earth Asian dishes are pretty great, but I'd think any kind of real food is great compared to the stuff I could afford back home.

[domesheriff]

[she frowns, not sure how to respond since those sounds like painful memories for Jade. but she is here to get to know her, so she decides to just ask a question that's more general and let Jade decide how much to talk about] What kind of place did you come from?

[ratkicker]

Hyllis? It's pretty nice. The city's right on the water, so we use hoverboats to get around. I live outside the actual city, but it's close enough that I go there to do some shopping.

[They reach the doors of the bar. It's not too small, but it's certainly not the size of The Rising Sun. Several groups of friends are eating lunch at the tables, while the counter is mostly empty.]

[domesheriff]

Hoverboats, huh? That sounds neat. [it's hard for her to picture a place so reliant on water travel, but she wonders if it's anything like Venice--not that she's been there, either. she loves the water, though, and she thinks Hyllis must be very pretty] Are you on the water where you live, too?

[she follows Jade inside, gesturing at a nearby table] How about here?

[ratkicker]

Nah, all the houses are on islands or artificial land. I live in the lighthouse with my uncle and six kids I look after. It's really beautiful there. You can see the ocean and the Hyllis skyline every day.

[She nods.] Sounds good. [And sits down on one end.]

[domesheriff]

That sounds gorgeous. [from Linda's expression, it's something she'd love to see. it puts her in mind of the honeymoon plans that are nothing more than dream to her now--but she quickly steers herself away from those thoughts]

[and one other thing stands out about Jade's description. so once they're seated and she's opened up her menu, she asks:] So you took care of six kids back there? That must have been a lot of work.

[ratkicker]

[Jade waves a waiter over to their table and gets two menus from him.]

Yeah, all orphans. Lots of kids back home had their parents killed by the DomZ or got captured, so my uncle and I took some of them in. [She taps at the menu a few times, thinking.] We managed defeat them, but their parents never came back. But we've become kind of a family of our own.

[She reaches to the metal device on her belt and presses a few buttons on it.] Wanna see some photos?

[domesheriff]

DomZ? [Linda frowns, not liking the sound of that at all, but she's glad to hear that at least it's a past problem rather than a present one]

[at Jade's offer of photos, she nods in interest, menu temporarily forgotten] Yeah, if you don't mind.

[ratkicker]

They're this alien race that've been attacking planets for years. They got to Hyllis, too.

[A stream of digital information emits from the belt device, which forms into two photographs. Jade lays them out on the table. One of them shows a lighthouse on a green island (minus the evil glowing portal) and a shot of children gathered around a table indoors.]

That's Fehn, Kip, Oumi, Pablo (he's the oldest), Yoa, and Zaza. [She points to each kid as she names them.] We also have a dog, but he's usually sleeping when he's inside.