resort_link | 02 - Public / Video

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02 - Public / Video

[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]

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[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?

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.]

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?

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.]

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.

[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?

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.

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.

[her expression is solemn] I'm sorry.

Ohhh, you really meant a lighthouse! That looks like some view. [she smiles as Jade names each of the children; she obviously cares about them a lot. but out of everything Jade shows her, the hardest for her to believe is, oddly enough, the idea that they have a dog. this is because some of those children look more like animals than people to her, so she's not sure why dogs would be different. but she isn't about to be so rude as to mention that] What a group! What do they like to get up to, living in a lighthouse on an island?

[She doesn't notice Linda's reaction to the non-human children. In a planet of a variety of sentient alien species, she assumed the policewoman would understand.]

Yup. The kids aren't allowed on the top deck alone, since me and my uncle work the lights. But the lower levels have all the room they need.

[She lets go of the photos and leaves them on the table for Linda to take.]

There's a lot of space outside for them to run around, and they really love going on the deck on good days. Then they're always up to something in the kitchen. But everyone's got hobbies. Actually, Pablo's growing his own strawberry bushes out back. Last year he got a good batch for us!

[Linda is still working on that, really. it's taking a lot of getting used to]

[she picks up the photos, getting a better look while Jade continues] Hah! What kind of food do they make--or should I say "try to make"? [then again, if one of them can cultivate strawberries, she wouldn't be surprised if there's some culinary talent in there, too]

Anything they can make with what we can afford. My uncle is usually in the workshop and I'm sometimes out working, so a lot of the kids can cook. But they have fun, which is what's more important. [She gives the photos a gentle smile as she reminisces about home.]

Oumi once tried to make strawberry cake, but we didn't have enough flour. Still was pretty good.

[Linda offers the photos back to her] They look like they must have a lot of it.

[but the waiter comes up then, and she hurriedly opens her menu back up] You go first. [since she's just guessing anyway, she figures she'd rather quickly pick something than send the waiter away]

[Jade sends the photos back into her digital compartment and picks up the menu. She scans the soup menu, since those tend to be the least expensive meals.]

I'll take the spicy ramen bowl, please. [With such decent meals nearby, she's taking advantage and treating herself.]

[she raises an eyebrow at that choice] You know, that sounds good. I'll have one, too. Thanks. [being new, Linda also has to watch her spending--not to mention she plans to make good on her offer to pay for Jade's meal as well as her own]

[she offers her menu to the waiter, thinking that she's lucky that, after sharing so much about her own home, Jade hasn't yet asked her about hers. really, she's not sure whether it would be helpful or painful to think about some of her happy memories from there]

[The ramen bowl isn't that expensive compared to a lot of the restaurant entrees, but it sure is delicious.]

[Jade hands back her menu and rests on the table. A minute of awkward silence passes before she comes up with something to ask and continue the conversation.]

Do you go out to eat a lot back where you're from?

[she nods] I used to with my co-workers, yeah. And when Rusty and I had shifts that ran close-- [abruptly, she cuts herself off, surprised by how easily the words came out. it's the first time here that she's even said his name. without thinking about it, she's started rubbing the ring on her left hand between her fingers. there's an awkward pause before she manages to finish, a note of melancholy in her tone now:] We--sometimes we'd just go out to eat if we didn't have time for anything else.

[That gestures does not go unnoticed, and it's the first time Jade even noticed the ring on Linda's finger. Her expression grows serious, with a hint of sympathy.]

So you and Rusty were...really close? [Just to be sure she wasn't assuming things.]

[she nods again, not meeting Jade's eyes] He's my fiancé.

[is, not was, because she knows that Rusty is still out there somewhere even if she has no way to get to him. but the whole reason she's here is to avoid going down that path today, so she shakes her head, looking back up at Jade] Sorry. He's...on my mind today. [she tries for a smile, but it doesn't reach her eyes] But that's why I wanted to do things like this. I know there are a lot of people here who will be great to spend time with! I just have to get to know them.

It's alright. [Her voice is gentle, trying to be supportive.] I miss my family and friends, but I'll see them again. And look, you invited me out for lunch! [She smiles.]

[she nods] I hope to, too. [she smiles back at Jade's kind words, banishing thoughts of Chester's Mill and the difficulties she left behind for now] I'm enjoying it so far.

But...can I ask you something personal?

[because seeing Jade's family, she has to wonder what made her leave at all, even temporarily]

[Jade folds her hands and leans on her elbows.] Sure.

What made you decide to come here? I mean...with your family back there and all. [she pauses and, worried she's prying, adds:] If you want to answer. You don't have to.

[Jades lets a small chuckle escape.] I'm always worried about the kids, but that doesn't mean I can't find work! I'm almost always away from the lighthouse with projects or running errands in Hyllis. Besides, the Science Center back home was interested in off-planet species, so I'm getting a few hundred credits for ever photo of a new animal I find here.

Ohhh. [understanding dawns on Linda] So you're kind of...working overseas for a while. [it's a concept that makes sense to her now but not one that she'd thought of when she was first faced with the idea of coming here. in her mind, she's been assuming most imports were like her--refugees. but Jade has just opened up a whole new possibility] Well, I'm sure you'll surprise them when you get back, reappearing right when you left with everything you get from here!

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