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]

[ 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. ]

[angelskills]

Is there?

[ That sounds interesting! ]

That sounds like a lot of fun!

Would you like to sometime? Go bike-riding?

[argents]

Sure! That sounds great to me. I bet in the fall they have a lot of trails that go into the trees when the leaves start turning. [ Which was always a really cool sight to see no matter where it is, in truth. Underfoot, the trolley rumbles a little as its coast begins to slow on the first of its stops along the premium line of hotels closest to the ocean.

Banagher peeks along the slope of the road. ]

Let's get off at the next stop!

[angelskills]

All right!

[ So prepared to jump majestically off of this trolley, boy, you have no idea. She waits, shifting her weight to the tips of her toes to the heels as she does. ]

Ohh, you know, I think there is a pet store around here. Somewhere close! I remember because they had puppy sweaters.

[ Whew, thankfully there's more room as people begin to get off at the first stop. ]

[argents]

[ Banagher can't help the sort of half-snort half-laugh he makes, though it's good-natured. He can move a little more freely now that they're not packed in like sardines, picking up on the tang of salt and ozone in the fresh air. ]

Don't tell me you bought all those sweaters I saw!

[ Because it was a lot. ]

[angelskills]

Um... all right, I won't!

[ Hehehe. She sticks her tongue out at him a little, playfully. ]

[argents]

I'll believe you, this once. [ An even grin at her teasing. ] We can still go in if we spot it though.

[ It's only a few minutes before the trolley picks up and slows down again, arriving at a platform right outside a towering white villa-style hotel with potted palm trees at its entrance. ]

Here it is! Ready?

[angelskills]

Ready!

[ Once the trolley pulls to a full stop she hops off, only stumbling a little bit, which is quite the accomplishment for a klutz! ]

Whew! All right. [ She turns to face him, tucking her hands behind her back. ]

I think I know the way to go. This way, right?

[ She points to the left, taking a few steps in that direction. ]

[argents]

[ Solid 9 for sticking the landing! ]

That way! [ He confirms, stepping off the trolley. The breeze drifts by a little cooler now that they're closer to the ocean, and Banagher glances off down towards where the buildings thin out into the expensive condos right up against the shoreline. ] I think I can see the boats from here.

[ He lifts a hand to block out the sun and get a better look as he trails after her. ]

But I don't think it'd be so bad getting lost around here! There's so much to see.

[angelskills]

There is! I could spend hours here.

[ Who doesn't love shopping and boats? They are two very awesome things. She twirls a little in excitement and then moves to stand by his side once more. ]

Some of the stores are expensive but it's still fun to look!

[argents]

[ He matches pace with her easily, stretching his arms skyward and then folding them behind his head. ]

Let's get our ice cream first and then we'll window shop? Maybe they'll have those giant shark jaws set up like last summer!

[ Nothing says fun in the sun like pretending to get eaten by a giant shark, right? Or making good on the birthday photobombs... ]

[angelskills]

Yeah! I was always too nervous to get close to that, though, those teeth look sharp!

[ IS THAT THE ICE CREAM PLACE IN THE DISTANCE??? IT SURE IS. ]

There we go. Hmmm, I wonder what flavor I should get...

[ This is very serious business. ]

[argents]

It depends on if you want a really crazy flavor or just a lot of toppings, doesn't it?

[ Sure enough, the minute they hit the shops lining the marina where dozens of little boats are moored, they're greeted with the smell of sweets. And fresh-baked waffle cones. The shop itself is tiny on the inside, taken up mostly by a fridge holding at least fifteen different types of ice cream. Mason jars of toppings sit behind the glass, and the walls are lined with vintage by-the-scoop bins of retro candy.

Banagher can't help but stare in awe for a minute. Even better than he imagined it. ]

There's so many... you'd better go first!

[angelskills]

[ It's not really clear how she's going to be able to go first, seeing as she's totally overwhelmed by how awesome things are. The cones! All the ice cream! So many toppings! Retro candy!! Ohhhh, if only they had an ice cream shop instead of a tea parlor. She'd weight a hundred pounds more but every day would be so cool and milky and delicious.

She kicks her feet a little in excitement as she stares at the flavors behind the glass, fingers pressed against it like a child. ]

I don't know if I can...

[ It all looks good! ]

Toppings... or flavors? Or both?

And everything can be dipped in chocolate!

[ She taps the glass. ]

Maybe we should both pick a random flavor and see how it is? There are so many! I haven't had half of these before.

[ There's your regular vanilla, chocolate, strawberry but then there's more! Red velvet, pistachio, birthday cake, raspberry, blackberry, red bean, green tea, mango, cinnamon bun, cookie blast, rainbow fudge, fudge fudge black death... ]

Mmmmm....

[argents]

Neither have I! Should we flip a coin? Take one of everything? — Um, we might wind up regretting that one though.

[ But it'd be a good regret, absolutely. Who cares if orange sherbet didn't go with rocky mountain volcano? (Spoilers: it's not him.) Banagher steps up beside her, stooping down and bracing his hands on his knees to get a better look at the colorful vats of ice cream behind the frosted glass. ]

Should I go with birthday cake, I wonder?