003 — handwritten [graph paper]

[argents]

[ July 1st.

This time, Banagher's number is copied down on graph paper. What appears isn't anything handwritten, but a rough technical sketch. An empty jumpseat of some kind, crowned by three screens and what looks like an impossibly advanced panoramic HUD. The rest is left sparsely detailed — no buttons, concrete controls, or clues as to what this cockpit (what else could it be?) belongs to. Save for the odd one-on-one occasion, he's been tight-lipped about what exactly has splashed itself uninvited across his memories, never knowing for sure what to trust when it came to himself. Never quite believing he could have been this... thing's pilot.

Off to the side, around some messy notes, is a scrawled out line of text in another language: À mon seul désir. There's a poetic ring to it, nearly romantic.

It's odd, placed next to a piece of technology so futuristic. ]

It's weird. I had to wrack my brain to remember this thing enough to put it on paper, even if I can't forget it. [ A pause, possibly to tap his pencil. ] If you asked any kid when they were younger what they wanted for their birthday, a giant robot probably ranked pretty high, right? Not so much when you're 18, though. When things like this aren't even supposed to be real...

[ Let alone crazy brain powers. At least he was getting used to those. And more importantly: ]

...it could have come with a better name.

[ Which he is hoping like hell wasn't his doing. ]

Comments

[argents]

You'd get hiccups from trying to eat it all before the ice cream melted! [ SOUNDS LIKE A FAT MESS. Theme? There's no theme here. ]

What do you say, should we go down there to check it out?

[angelskills]

Yeah! That sounds good to me.

[ Huzzah, waffle cones! ]

What's the best way to get there?

[argents]

Um, hm.

[ Banagher gazes upward in thought, trying to think of the best way he knew that wouldn't be too boring. With summer in full swing... ]

We can catch the Peace Street trolley! Lots of tourists use it at this time of year, but it goes right by all the hotels near the harbor. We won't have to walk as much that way.

[angelskills]

Oh! That sounds fun!

[ As long as they're not squashed between tourists with bad body odor, that is. That's the worst. ]

Hee, we should go photobombing while we're making our way there!

[argents]

That's so sneaky! [ A little grin tugs at his mouth. ] I wonder how many we can manage before someone catches us.

[ He fishes into his pocket for his phone to check the time. ]

[angelskills]

Hmmm. That's a good question. I guess we'd have to see.

[ She walks ahead, looking both ways before crossing the street. ]

Birthday photobombs!

[argents]

We'll have to make them count, don't you think? — and look, right about 1:20! [ Tucking his phone away again, he gestures a little ways down the street towards a busier-looking corner. ] There should be a station right over there... come on, want to try to make the next one?

[ They've got a few minutes! Plenty of time! ]

[angelskills]

Yeah! We can do it.

[ She picks up the pace, though admittedly... she is not very fast. At all. Gym is the worst class. ]

Isn't it the worst when you miss something by a minute? That happens to me all the time!

[ With how fast she moves it's not really surprising. ]

[argents]

It was the same for me when I was learning all the bus systems! Really, the worst. [ Of course, you can't exactly go marathon sprinting through a bunch of people, so he does the next best thing en route. Taking her hand, he's able to maneuver them through the milling tourists fairly easily, heading towards the old-school red and gold lacquer car with Peace Street Trolley Tours! painted on the side in big black and white carnival lettering. ]

There it is!

[angelskills]

[ Ah, he's so good at navigating through the crowd! She stumbles and trips over her own feet a few times before she manages to catch herself, not falling to the ground, or collapsing into a circle of tourists. It's so crowded! Crowded areas are dangerous for a klutz. ]

Oh, great!

[ She lets out a laugh as she heads toward it. ]

It's going to be so packed.

[argents]

We'll manage, come on. [ Like he'd let her trip. Even if they both had to eat asphalt as a result. As promised, he manages to gain them enough wiggle room to make their way onto the next available car, popping some loose change into the fare box as he goes.

Glancing over the tops of the people already on board (or... trying, he's not very tall and there's a lot standing...) his face lights up after a second. ]

Look, there's still a good spot!

[ The trolley is pretty packed, but mostly tourists have taken the seats along the open windows, leaving a bit of room available towards the back of the car, near the two open entrances on either side. Banagher guides them towards the one on the left-hand side, eventually swiveling and planting his back against the frame, one hand on the guard rail. He looks entirely too pleased to nearly be hanging out of what'll be a moving vehicle. ]

Fresh air and the best view! Here, stand in front of me.

[angelskills]

[ She follows him without complaint, depending on him to lead the way since he's taller anyway (even if it's not by much) and she's focusing on not accidentally groping someone - that's a lot harder than it sounds! ]

Oh, good!

[ Things look promising when he says there's a good spot, though when he swings into place she's a little worried. What if he falls out? Isn't that a little dangerous?? ]

Um... are you sure?

[ HE LOOKS SO PROUD THOUGH... ]

I mean - all right!

[ She stands in front of him, and anyone looking at them will see one pleased as peach young man and one slightly worried looking young lady. She peeks up at him. ]

Hold on tight!

[argents]

[ Gripping the rail, Banagher wards an arm near her just in case and anchors himself as the trolley car lurches on start up. When it coasts forward and away from the station on its track, the motion itself is fairly smooth. ]

It only looks old. [ He explains, gazing off past the gold strands of her hair lifting as the air rushes by. ] Since it's a tourist trap. But they maintain it really well, so it's not bumpy or anything. And it doesn't go too fast.

[ Which is why he's okay leaning up against an open door when the car hits its stride, which is just about enough to generate a nice strong breeze. ]

[angelskills]

[ She jolts a little when the car begins to move but steadies herself with the help of his arm. Once she's balanced and secure she can enjoy the view of things passing by and people walking, the sound of laughter, and the brightness of the sun soaking into her skin. The breeze feels especially wonderful and she lets out a sigh of delight. ]

Oh, this is wonderful! Look, look!

[ She points as they pass a woman walking a group of puppies. ]

How cute...!

[argents]

[ He follows her line of sight with a surprised smile — he had no clue you could feasibly walk that many puppies at once! ]

You really do like dogs. Have you ever had one?

[angelskills]

Heheh... no, I haven't. One day I'd like to get one, though.

[ BECAUSE THEY ARE THE MOST PRECIOUS. SO PRECIOUS. EEEEE. ]

I like all animals though! Dogs are just... too cute...

[argents]

[ The trolley glides along the street, deviating from the more modern central roads off into the historic parts of the district, where the storefronts of little mom n' pop shops peek out from the high rises and bank offices. ]

I always wondered what it'd be like to have a pet. Haro is a little like one.

[ He glances ahead, when the car slows for a turn onto a downward sloping street. ]

What kind of dog do you want? ..."All of them" doesn't count!

[angelskills]

[ This is so much fun! She doesn't take the trolley often, so seeing things this way is really exciting. And she doesn't hide her excitement as she giggles and watches everything pass with obvious glee. ]

A -- [ Oh damn it, Bannie. ]

Well... I think I really want a Shiba Inu! A fluffy one! They're so cute...!

[ But all dogs are cute. Ugh!! ]

[argents]

[ Hah, beat you to the punch. Eyebrows raising, he looks up a little, the whoosh of nearby traffic ruffling his hair all over the place. ]

I don't think I've ever seen one of those before. They must be special to get your top pick!

[ Out of all those puppies in sweaters... one reigned supreme after all. ]

[angelskills]

Well... I like how they're not too big, but still fluffy and sweet, and they have the cutest pom pom tails!

[ AHHH BUT THERE ARE SO MANY GOOD PRECIOUS BABIES... ]

I love golden retrievers, too! And -- oh, there are too many...

I'll show you one if we pass a pet store, though!

[argents]

I feel like I have to see one now, I had no clue they were popular... we'll stop if we find a pet store, okay? Just in case!

[ Wow he feels like he just tapped into Pandora's Box of puppy feelings. Carefully, he shifts next o her, pointing off down the street. ]

Look, all the hotels should be that way, we can stop off at one of the stations and walk to the marina.

[ The breeze that rustles past them is cooler now, and smells like the sea. ]

[angelskills]

[ Oooh, that feels good. She closes her eyes a tad when the breeze ruffles her hair, enjoying it. ]

That feels so nice...

[ After a second she'll nod her head. ]

Sounds good to me! Soon that ice cream'll be ours!

[ She pokes her head out of the trolley a little. ]

I should come this way more often!

[argents]

[ He steps back so she can have a better view if she chooses to take the plunge like he is, looking pretty at home. ]

I'm glad you like it, you know. The trolleys don't run as often on the off months, like fall. But during the summer everyone loves them because of the novelty.

[angelskills]

I usually ride my bike places! I think I'll take it more often, when it's running.

[ That's better than huffing uphill on a thing that's about 20 years old. ]

Do you bike ride?

[argents]

[ Extreme vintage bike riding. That's so hardcore. ]

I have one, but I don't use it too often! Almost everything is in walking distance to me, so that's what I do all the time. I hear there's nice bike trails if you go upstate a little though.

[ Though now that he's thinking about it, a bike ride doesn't sound so terrible. ]