capeandcowl2020 | Open Post 002

That's assuming you still want to speak.

[ One handed, he worked the window open, the bluntness of the comment softened by distraction -- it was a little hard to do it, while holding on to a lighter and a pack of cigarettes. He nearly dropped both, and when he glanced up, he caught the look in the other man's eye, and he gave him a wry grin. ]

You smoke? [ He was already working one out the pack, tapping it out until he could tug it with his teeth, and the next words had to be worked around the stick in his mouth. ]

Help yourself. [ He tossed the pack to Maskin, then turned away, bringing the lighter up to wake the end of his cigarette into a dull, cherry glow. The pack he'd tossed over was the last of the cigarettes he'd gotten for his last birthday -- the only vice he still claimed -- the stronger, harsher flavor he favored. The real thing, too -- there were some benefits to traveling overseas.

Leaning out a window to smoke without over balancing was a tough act, when you didn't have a hand free to lean on, but he managed, exhaling smoke into the haze-filled night. ]

[ It's about this point, ear still pressed to the door, Nelson realizes the food might be starting to burn. Oddly enthralling as their conversation's become to him -- in so much as he's able to hear it, at least -- he pries himself away, rushing over to the oven and managing to turn the heat down and pull the food out before anything is ruined or catches fire. It's a little overcooked, maybe, but he hopes not badly enough that they'll really notice. He even remembers, at the last minute, not to pull everything out with his bare hands.

It'll be a few minutes more still, but the bulk of the cooking's done. He just needs to do some seasoning and prepare a side. He has, at least, some pre-tossed salad in the fridge for a side that doesn't require much thinking, but his vision and mind aren't quite focused enough for him to consider his next step too clearly, so it's parmesan cheese, vinaigrette, and barbeque sauce that gets added carefully over the meat. ]

[ For just a moment, he considers refusing, but he can't, and he knows smokers don't normally offer their cigarettes without intent. Without noticing some sign of a smoker in the other person. He'd tipped his hand, and he coughed softly, before he inched toward the window, thankfully it was rather big, so he could squeeze his middle through himself, hand reaching out for the lighter, in an unspoken, smokers request.

And when relinquished, he lit, and then returned it, his head dipping when he inhaled.

He held onto it differently. Everything was different. Every gesture, every motion. He'd been careful to relearn everything. ]

Believe me, once I get started, they won't be able to stop me. A change in fields won't change that. Come on, don't imports deserve someone to support them for once?

[ The smoking had been more an educated guess than a certainty, but it was gratifying to see that he'd been right. He passed the lighter with more graciousness than strictly necessary, before shuffling aside to give the other man more room -- and to minimize the risk of bumping his injured shoulder if either of them moved too quickly.

He'd have to get more cigarettes, he thought. With the amount of stress just being here was putting on him, he needed something.

He was too lost in his own thoughts to pay attention to anything Adrian Maskin might be doing with his hands; any scuffling in the kitchen completely slipped his attention, though the odor of burning food would have caught it soon enough, even with the cigarette smoke. ]

Some people would say imports have done enough.

[ He gestured, case in point, at the moon, which was just visible from where they stood. Nobody had every quite gotten around to undoing how it had been defaced.

Nelson was taking a remarkably long time with that food. It was getting to the point that he'd probably go over and make sure he hadn't fallen unconscious in a casserole or something, once he'd finished his cigarette. ]

[ Luckily (or unluckily?), it's about that time Nelson finally reappears from the kitchen, taking a couple of trips out instead of trying to juggle several plates. He weaves out and sets Maskin and Bradbury's plates and their salad dishes on the table by the couch before he goes back in to get his own food. He's particularly smug about getting it all done since he assumes they were both waiting for him to fall asleep in there or something. ]

Sorry that took so long, gentlemen. Everything should be ready now; can I get either of you any wine? [ After he puts down his own food he's already gone to pour himself a glass, although it's not a big one. He glances at them, wondering if he'd missed anything interesting after he'd had to break from eavesdropping their conversation. He looks at Bradbury in particular a little sadly before sitting down. ] There's two kinds of meat. You can help yourself. And um, more food in the kitchen if anyone's still hungry... there's plenty...

[ He sips his wine a little idly. ]

I'm not interrupting, I hope?

Oh no, that looks fine, Nelson. Thanks.

[ He flicks the cigarette out the window, pulling away. Fuck the anti-littering, Disneyfication of the City. He worked hard to make sure that people still had the right to smoke, and as soon as he was out, there it went.

Go figure, just like the ashes that sparked and died, so went all of his hard work. Worthless. He hadn't gone high enough, he hadn't been able to go as high as he'd needed to.

As a natural citizen of this world, it was different.

He turned to the food, giving it a look, well, it didn't look too terrible. (He had yet to eat it.) ]

Pulled out all of the stops for a couple of guests, didn't you?

Hey, I'm not gonna complain about free food. [ Bradbury was quick to interject. He was closer to done with his cigarette, but he stubbed it out on the side of the building before he flicked it away. Stepping over to the table, he dropped comfortably into the far seat, nodding to them both before he sized up the food, less with trepidation and more like he was deciding where to begin.

If he noticed anything off about the presentation, he didn't say, but he was quick to help himself anyway, the food piled on his plate looking a bit like he intended to make up for not eating for the past year, and then some. ]

Didn't get a chance to grab any lunch, so... [ He paused, then shrugged, giving Nelson something closer to a genuine grin, crooked though it was. ]

Thanks, Nelson. It looks good.

[ Nelson beams slightly, satisfied that they seem pleased with efforts. He doesn't really ever get the chance to cook for anyone, so he wants to do a good job of it. Maybe they'll come back if it's good, after all. ]

It's the least I can do, I don't want to be a bad host. Um, you both know where the drinks are if you decide you want any. [ He smiles and holds up his wine glass, taking another small sip and crossing one leg over the other. ] So, now that we're all good friends, [ It's slightly facetious, of course. ] I hope life hasn't been treating either of you too poorly lately. I know I -- well, Mr. Maskin and I spoke a little on our way over here, we're on a similar page, I think... I haven't read the book all the way through yet, though I will.

[ He cuts into his meat a little, realizing he's doing that thing again where he Talks Too Much. ]

... But I haven't seen you in years, Bradbury. How did--

[ Stares at the bandages. Stares. ]

How... are... you?

[ Same page, right. He nodded at Nelson, even while he served a little of the food. He wasn't much of an eater, but maybe it was just that he'd eaten earlier.

It was a better excuse than the fact that he really just didn't eat that much. He'd just finished, but the spoon fell a bit harder into the salad bowl than he'd been expecting at the question.

Instead of offering an explanation, since apparently he'd been the fucking cause of the injury, he got up, to get a drink.

That seemed like a much better course of action than just sitting there and looking mildly guilty. ]

[ Bradbury had not gotten much better at lying over the years, but he was much better at keeping his expression neutral. He also, really, didn't look at Maskin as he stood up. ]

Same as everyone else, I guess. Could be a hell of a lot better. Just glad I'm not any worse. [ He raised his good shoulder in a light shrug. Nelson may be staring at his bandages, but he pretended he hadn't noticed the aborted question, just giving him a mild smile. ]

I've been out of the country. Picking up work along the coast, mostly, on freighters-- you know how it is. People are shorthanded, and they don't ask too many questions. Hadn't really planned on ending up back here, except we had to do some emergency repairs, so I guess I'm on shore leave, for now.

[ he paused. ]

It's good to see you. [ Simple, and straightforward, as heartfelt as anything he'd ever said.

What he really meant was, it was good to see him alive. It was more than he could say of other people. Sobering a little at the thought, he dug a fork into a slice of meat and brought it up to his mouth.

Stopping mid-chew and gently twitching when the taste actually registered. ]

Edited (EDITS THIS A MILLION TIMES) 2013-03-07 07:57 (UTC)

I'm glad to see you, at any rate. You never really know who's still around... I have better luck meeting new friends than finding old ones.

[ He glances after Maskin, taking a bite of his food and chewing before he chases it with some wine. If there's anything off about the taste, it doesn't seem to register to him.

He's also using "friends" very broadly. ]

Most of them are hiding, I suppose, if they're even still alive. It's not too different from home in that regard. [ Another glance; he'd been cagey about his own imPort status with Maskin when the two of them had been alone, but with Bradbury here that seemed like a pointless facade. He cut another piece of meat and chewed, frowning slightly this time. ] We were discussing it a little, on the way back from Brooklyn. Uh -- not specifically, of course, but change isn't something we can really escape... easily. It only becomes more apparent as time passes how trapped we are.

[ He blinks, smiling a little and realizing he can't keep eye contact at that without feeling inappropriately moved by the sentiment. ]

It's good to see you, too. It's thanks to Mr. Maskin here I made it home [ "at all" ] in one piece. Very kind of him.

[ He waved a hand, pointedly pouring a drink, formulating the right response, or trying to. Maskin was, well, an import author. He had some things to say about imports, and he'd very obviously spoken with some, but the crime was looking too comfortable with imports.

Even a pro-import writer needed to look uncomfortable, wary.

He'd always put on the facade, and he did so now, a slightly nervous smile. ]

Ah, so you two are-- [ He pointed at the two of them, around his drink, before he sat, finally taking the most ginger of bites, chewing around it, before drowning it with the drink. ]

Wow, it's like I hit the interviewing jackpot.

What was your first clue? [ Bradbury asked, dryly. ] Nelson letting people who got shot into his house like it's nothing, or us talking like we're in the shittiest class reunion of all time?

[ The curious state of the meat aside, he wasn't in any position to comment on the flavor, so he stolidly soldiered on through the food, chewing and swallowing before continuing, this time his attention on Nelson. ]

What'd he do for you, take a bullet or something?

[ If there was a sardonic touch to the smile curling his lips, it was all for Maskin (and possibly the taste of the vinaigrette in his last mouthful of chicken). ]

Well, I can't just not help -- lucky that we happened by in time, what a coincidence that he turned out to be an old friend, too. That's an argument to

[ Nelson took another large gulp of wine, then cut himself another piece of meat, frowning more noticeably this time at the taste. He looked at it for a moment, blinking slowly, before he looked back at Bradbury. He swallowed a little too abruptly, coughing once. He shook his head. ]

He just wandered by at the right time. I was a little out of sorts, as embarrassing as it is to admit.

Hey, don't worry about it. I can't imagine the strain you guys go through every day, trying to hide like that.

[ Actually, he could. He did, but he also recognized that he was far different. He'd always been alright, he could get through anything, if he had a goal, and that was what he'd set his sights on. The prize at the end, or what he thought was important.

Getting the imports back into being treated like human fucking beings, instead of monsters. ]

Sorry, I must sound a little out of place. I don't even have a tape recorder, or a notebook. [ He paused, before thinking on something. ] Oh, but don't worry, I would remove anything that could lead anyone to find out who you are.

Open Post 002

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I THOUGHT I TAGGED THIS

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