Currently the moon is in the waning Full Moon phase (91% full).
Currently in Saint Claire, it is a cloudy day. The temperature is 73 degrees Fahrenheit (22 degrees Celsius). The wind is currently coming in from the southwest at 10 mph. The barometric pressure reading is 30.00 and steady, and the relative humidity is 49 percent. The dewpoint is 53 degrees Fahrenheit (11 degrees Celsius.)
It is currently 18:46 Pacific Time on Sun Aug 5 2001.
Roach Motel: Bachelorette Pad(#4128RAJ$)
Small, but inviting, this little apartment is clearly dwelling of a person who spends a lot of time at home. The sitting area has a reclining chair with heating, massage, and built in stereo speakers. The sofa is big enough to fit two comfortably. The home entertainment center is overloaded with scores of books. Titles like "Rescuing the Bible From Middle America" or "Zarathustra: Modernism in Antiquity" can be seen here, along with dozens of dime-store paperbacks. Though the TV set and all its accompanying equipment take up quite as much space as the books, the electronics are somewhat dwarfed by the quantity of reading material. A fine writing table and a computer desk are crowded in, the computer powered up and humming softly. Two swivelling office chairs sit nearby, at attention. The walls are decorated with nature scenes, among them a well-rendered image of a pack of wolves howling at a full moon.
The kitchen looks as if it might never have been cooked in. A small microwave on the counter is still blinking "12:00", no one having bothered to set the clock. Beside it is an electric can opener. The only evidence of use is a single glass in the stainless steel sink and a few fast-food bags in the trashcan. The sole decoration on the refrigerator is a postcard bearing a photograph of a monstrous, grimy power plant with "Come to Hanford!" printed on the bottom in fluorescent green.
Through a door opposite the kitchen, the tiny bedroom looks slightly more lived-in. On top of a black particle-board dresser sit a hairbrush, a few hair-ties, and several plastic hairclips, along with a small pile of cheap costume jewelry. A frame designed to hold several of snapshots is hung squarely on the wall. One bed is made, a bright yellow bedspread bravely trying to cheer up the room. Another is made half-heartedly, the bedspread just carelessly tossed over the top, as if to humor someone.
Jeremy's phone rings.
The phone is picked up on the second ring. "H'lo? Winters here."
It's Dizzy! "Hey, Jer. It's me. How ya been?"
"Ah'm ok. Long time no see. Just been studying, working.. just got off actually and I'm trying to get outta these work clothes."
Dizzy smiles, "Hey Jer, why don't we go out tonight? To a club or something?"
Jeremy blinks once on his end. "To a club? Tonight? Can you go out now unsupervised?"
"Does it matter?" Dizzy holds her breath unconsiously waiting for his reply.
Jeremy ums slightly. "Well, yes... it does, cuz' ya'know.. I mean.. they shot Jon for something small, if you disobey them, they may do worse.."
"Who will know, though?" Dizzy asks, "They only check the tapes if there if something happens."
"Well, what if someone tells on you? Or what if John or Roger comes over, or Daisy and asks for you? Um..."
"I'll just say I was over Bernie's, or out with Alicia or something. It's no big deal."
Jeremy sighs slightly and clears his throat a bit. "Its your ass, not mine.. um..where should we meet at?"
What? Doesn't he care if she gets caught? Oh well, she's going out and no one is gonna stop her, "Just come on over, we'll take my car. Okay?"
The kin actually does care if she gets caught, but, what can he say to a 9 foot furry monster? No? pfft. "Um.. Ok.. sure... I'll be there in a bit."
"Okay, I'll see you then." She hangs up the phone and smiles. Grabbing her coat and hat, she rushes downstairs to wait by the door for when he gets there.
Walker Safe House(#2832RAJL)
This small tenement building is a work that any interior decorator would be proud of. The building is somehow filled with light and space, despite the fact that the room is far from large. Mirrored surfaces and lush green potted plants are much in evidence - jarring only slightly with the video cameras that perch unobtrusively in various locations. A small sign on the wall lists the number of apartments upstairs as eight, though there are no names next to the apartment numbers. A very thick door leads downstairs, with no visible method of being opened - except a keypad next to it. A monitor is perched above the entrance, showing images from the hidden camera that watches the outside of the building.
The lobby branches off into what appears to be a small recreation room; for use only by residents and their guests. Much like the rest of the building, mirrors are prominent. There is a pool table set up in one half of the room, along with a small fridge for storing drinks and a cabinet for snackables. The remainder is dominated by a large home theater system, with an incredibly expensive-looking couch in front of it. The couch nearly screams out, 'Don't spill anything'. For those who might, there are also two matching side-chairs, and a bean-bag on the floor - far too close to the television to be good for anyone's eyes.
There's a knocking on the door, three quick bursts.
Dizzy opens the door quickly, "Hello!" She smiles in greeting.
Jeremy blinks and steps back at the unexpected energy. ".. Um.. Hi." He gives a sheepish grin.
That step back is Dizzy's cue to hurry outside and close the door. "Come on, let's go," she prompts, taking out her keys and unlocking the doors to her car with a push of a button.
Regan Avenue, Downtown
Tenements, small businesses, and tiny restaurants line the street. Heavy metal bars encase the glass fronts of the stores. Battered cars, almost falling apart with rust, are parked haphazardly here and there along the sidewalks. People travel in groups, here, wary of the small gangs of young boys at street corners. Several blocks have the same dull repetitiveness, from Fifth Street all the way to Twelfth. Only the graffiti marks a difference between the blocks, the occasional rudeness sometimes broken up by light colors and strange designs.
Jeremy follows after her quickly and smiles to himself. He's wearing a pair of baggier black jeans with a white stripe down the sides, and a solid green shirt. A black wind breaker finishes off his new design.
Tonight, Dizzy is wearing more makeup than normal and is wearing a lavender knit sweater over a white halter top and a purple patterned skirt. A couple of shiny, decorative bracelets that adorn her wrists jingle as she opens the driver side door. "I know this sounds crazy," she says, grinning at the kin boy, "But unless you know of a happening place, I'm just going to cruise around until we find something."
Jeremy slips into the car and glances over to her, tilting his head to the side. "You look good." He notes. "Um.. Well, I know of a jazz club across town. There's also that weird goth one that Rina hangs out at. There is also a record store underground that has live punk bands."
Dizzy smiles happilly at the kin boy, "Thanks, you look good too." She starts up the car and look over at Jeremy, "Jazz isn't really my thing, and neither is the goth scene. Let's try the record store?"
Jeremy closes the door behind him and gets comfy, reclining into the seat, pulling the belt across his chest. "Sure, why not. I haven't been there before yet."
Dizzy blinks, "Do you know around where it is, at least?"
Jeremy nods his head and smiles. "I'll give ya the directions."
Dizzy looks behind her to pull out into the street and hits the gas, following the kin's directions.
East Elson Commercial Sector and Waterfront
Motels, movie theaters with posters of scantily-clad women, and even a few posters of nudes, and bars are interspersed with stairways leading to dilapidated second stories or downwards into basements. Women saunter along the western streets of the district, around Third and Fourth Streets. In the area around Second, a profusion of graffiti markings of black knives or the words 'The Blades' are scattered along buildings and sidewalks. A little further eastwards beer cans are scattered around the entrance to one bar with, if one looks through the window, several pool tables in enthusiastic use for several hours a night and even occasionally during the day.
Dizzy parks the car and gets out, waiting until her passenger gets out so she can lock the doors. "Right in the middle of the red light district I see. Fun," she deadpans.
Jeremy grins slightly at Dizzy. "Oh? You got a better idea? I just said I knew of the place, didn't say it was on my hot list."
Dizzy offers her hand to Jeremy with a smile. "Okay, in we go. Here's to living on the edge. Let's go."
Jeremy smiles and takes her hand, his fingers interlocking with hers. With a grin, he tugs her towards the steps that lead downwards towards the hidden store. You can already hear loud music coming from below.
The Underground(#3559RJ)
Down a flight of stairs and through an unmarked door to the left, this music store's whereabouts are betrayed only by the coming and going of the punk clientele and occasional bills posted around town.
The ceiling is painted matte black, as are the walls, the darkness broken only by occasional panels of floor-to-ceiling smoked mirror. The bare cement floor of the remodeled basement remains, resounding occasionally to the bootheels of one punk or another looking over the arrays of new, used and abused CDs. Old vinyl is to be found here in plenty as well, choice, rare specimens locked in the glass counter under the cash register. The atmosphere is hazed with cigarette smoke, faintly tainted with scents of clove and ganja, the smoke seeming to effervesce under the store's dim red and blue lighting.
The small store is very densely packed, a few rebelliously ragged punks of all flavors working their way slowly between the tables down narrow aisles that do not permit one to pass another. Dark music plays steadily at high volume.
Dizzy looks around and frowns, dissapointed. Wispering loudly (because of the music) to her escort she says, "This is just a store, not a club."
Jeremy glances about the place and shrugs. "They tend to have live bands here on the weekend, and it is early afterall." Glancing about, he moves to some posters on the wall and peers at them. "Hm.. just.. not tonight it seems."
Dizzy brushes her bangs out of her face. "Well, this sucks. Maybe we should try somewhere else?"
Jeremy nods his head as he laughs, rolling his shoulders in a shrug. "Yah, we should. Just, not that goth place."
Dizzy leads the kin boy back up outside, where it's easier to talk. "Well, I'm not to hip on Jazz. We should just cruise around, then?"
East Elson Commercial Sector and Waterfront
Motels, movie theaters with posters of scantily-clad women, and even a few posters of nudes, and bars are interspersed with stairways leading to dilapidated second stories or downwards into basements. Women saunter along the western streets of the district, around Third and Fourth Streets. In the area around Second, a profusion of graffiti markings of black knives or the words 'The Blades' are scattered along buildings and sidewalks. A little further eastwards beer cans are scattered around the entrance to one bar with, if one looks through the window, several pool tables in enthusiastic use for several hours a night and even occasionally during the day.
Jeremy follows after her, getting tugged by her hand. "Sure, we can do that, or maybe just stop at some place that looks decent."
Dizzy nods, "Yeah, sounds good." She unlockes her car and climbs back inside, "I just wish I knew of some place... maybe I should call Alicia. I'd bet she'd know a good place."
Jeremy laughs and shrugs, strapping the belt along his chest again. "I bet she would, c'mon, lets just drive around for a bit."
Dizzy nods and pulls out with one hand on the wheel while simultaniously taking out her cell phone with the other. She divides her attention between the road and dialing Alicia's number.
Jeremy reaches over and turns on the radio, making sure the volume is soft, but loud enough to hear as he flips through the channels.
The phone rings a couple of times before a (snuffly) voice answers. "Hello." Somewhere in there, there is a sneeze, and he repeats, "Hello?"
Dizzy blinks, not recognizing the voice. "Hello?" she asks, "Is Alicia there?"
The voice answers, "Ah, no, she's out right now. Can I take a message?"
"No, that's okay," Dizzy says, frowning and giving Jeremy a glance. "I'll just try and catch her later."
Tom replies, "Um, okay. Not sure when she'll be back though."
"Okay, good bye," Dizzy says, hanging up the phone. "Well, no luck there, Jer. What now?"
Jeremy shrugs his shoulders a bit and smiles, leaning back into the cushions. "Dunno.. lets just go for that drive? Maybe get something to eat?"
Dizzy nods, wiggling the phone into her jacket pocket, not taking her eyes off of the road. "Okay... McDonald's or Denny's?"
Riverfront Drive Historical District
Bordered on the east by the Columbia River, with a grassy bank shaded by trees, the district stretches out a street or two westwards and a few more northwards, as well. Along Riverfront, the street turns from concrete to cobblestone, a sudden transformation to historic waterfront. Small shops sell handmade ice cream or craft items along Riverfront. Osprey has clubs along the block between De Haviland and Riverfront; then high-rise apartments take over down De Haviland. Market, between Osprey and Four-Leaf Clover, contains elements of the clubs and of the taller buildings to the south.
As the two drive, Jeremy ponders, glancing about. Finally, he points out across the street. "Hey, thats where Eamon works at, a Fianna Fostern. The music store. And there's a really cool cafe and that seems to be a club." He motions to the Demilich.
Dizzy pulls over to the side and parks the car, "Thank god. Well, hopefully we'll do better this time." She grins at the kin boy. "Everyone out."
Jeremy grins and slips out of the car.
Dizzy gets out and shuts the door, clicking the little button on her keychain to lock the doors and activate the alarm. She drops the keys back into her pocket and hops up onto the sidewalk.
Jeremy smiles and follows after her, sliding his hand back into hers as he shifts his gaze to her. "So..? Cafe or club?" He asks, already heading towards the place filled with music.
Dizzy grins, "Club, of course." She once again holds out her hand for Jeremy. "Can't dance at a cafe."
Jeremy chuckles. "I can't dance at all..."
The Demilich(#159RDJMVh)
This is a huge round room, with music reverbrating through it like a pulse, full of people and shadows and shifting light and noise. The architecture is a strange but harmonious combination of medieval and modern; the stone floor and walkway of gothic arches give way, far overhead, to a faceted skylight supported on long, curved lines. In the center of the room is the round, lowered dance floor, alive with the dappled movement of the dancers, and beyond it is a crescent-shaped stage underneath an enormous pointed arch.
The stone floors and part-stone walls create a clean, short echo which adds eerie overtones to the music without distorting it. The room is mostly dark, and occasional flashes of colored light from the stage or dance floor paint it with weird shadows, which somehow fail to reflect on the panes of glass in the dark skylight above. People seem to appear, then vanish, moving through the pools of light and shadow without ripples.
Chaos is currently on the stage.
Dizzy grins as she looks around, this is the sort of thing she was looking for. "Come on, Jer. Dancing is easy. You just move to the music."
Jeremy wets his lips a bit as he glances about nervously. "Um.." He says loudly over the throbbing music. "I'll... um.. I'll try.." He lets her lead him out to the dance floor.
Dizzy takes her jacket off and sets it down in an empty chair, then grabs the kin boy's hand without a thought and leads him down onto the floor. This is her element. She blends in perfectly with the other bodies getting their grove on. She throws her hands in the air and dances close to Jeremy.
*Gulp* What did he do when Rina was doing this to him? Oh yah, stand there and look stupid. Glancing about at everyone dancing, and now Dizzy doing circles about him, Jeremy steps from one side, then to the other, looking ridiculous in his two step. He tries to follow the beat, but its clumsy.
Taking note of the incredible lack of dancing going on in front of her, Dizzy yells to the kin boy over the din, "Would you rather sit down? We could get something to drink?"
"Um.. No.. I.. Um.. I think I got this down." Jeremy really isn't, he's just doing the two step a bit faster, his hands swaying at his sides. He's also glancing about everywhere as he does this, watching the others dance and move.
"Don't watch everyone else," Dizzy suggests, "Just move to the music and don't worry about all the other people."
Straightening out a bit, Jeremy takes a deep breath and tries to focus on just her, moving his arms a bit now, not doing so much a two step. He even gets his hips to work.
Dizzy giggles, slowing her dancing to just swaying with the music. "Jer, you're killing me," she says, "You're sure you wouldn't rather just get something to drink. Maybe wait for a slower song or something?"
Jeremy looks embarrassed as he stops dancing, biting on his lip a bit. "Um.. Sure, if you want." He glances about again, then slumps his shoulders some. He can't get this cool thing down, its impossible!
It's not impossible, it just takes practice. Luckily for Jeremy, Dizzy's a patient teacher. She grins and grabs his hand, leading him to the table she'd claimed earlier and sliding into her seat. "Isn't this great?" she asks.
Jeremy slips down next to her as he twitches slightly, glancing about. "Oh. Um... Yah.. Its.. cool." He murmurs, the flashing lights blinding him a bit. This is just too weird.
Dizzy places her hands on the table on top of his, "Let me go get us something to drink. Prefer anything specific?"
".. Water." Jeremy says with a nod, smiling a bit more now as at the touch.
Dizzy returns the smile and stands, disappearing into the crowd, heading towards the bar. She comes back with a pair of glasses, which she sets on the table. Both are apparently full of water. "You should have seen the look on the guy's face when I ordered two waters." She giggles and sits back down.
Jeremy grins at her. "Water is free and doesn't cost much." Taking the glass, he sips at it for a moment. "You seem to be really into this.. you are used ta' it huh?"
Dizzy nods, drinking from her glass. "You don't realize how much I miss this. I used to hang out at places like this all of the time with my friends." Her smile starts to droop a bit as she thinks about how much things have changed within the last month.
Jeremy nods his head a bit and continues to look about with wide eyes. "Yah? Shane and I.. um.. we never did stuff like this. He did tho', cuz he was cool.. " Was?
"Moving sucks, huh?" Dizzy comments, jumping to conclusions. "I knew I'd make friends up here, just didn't expect most of them to be so hairy." She laughs at her own joke. "By the way, thanks for coming, Jer. I knew I could count on you."
"..Yah.. Moving sucks.." Jeremy trails off for a moment, then glances over to her. "Oh, um.. anytime, of course. I need this anyways, its better then sitting on the internet." He smiles and turns his blue gaze over to her, tilting his head to one side.
Dizzy giggles and takes another drink of water. She sighs contentedly. "I am going to be in _so_ much shit if anyone finds out."
Jeremy nods his head with a grin. "I think you are ganna get busted." He notes, propping his chin up in the palm of his hand.
Dizzy shakes her head, moving her head closer to the kin's so that he can hear her better. "Yeah right. Sneaking around is my job now, right? Can't get in trouble for doing my job."
Jeremy keeps grinning as he turns his eyes forward to meet hers, inching over as well. "But you are still a cub who is disobeying orders, and you know how Roger is."
Dizzy watches the kin boy intently, staring into his eyes, grinning. "Yeah, but I don't live with Roger. How's he gonna find out?"
Jeremy teases her. "I live with Roger, maybe I'll tell him...." He trails off, leaving it open. "Unless of course I bribe you."
Dizzy giggles and rests her head in both of her hands, elbows on the table. "You mean, unless _I_ bribe _you_, right?"
Jeremy grins slightly. "Well, if you insist, how would you bribe me into shutting up?" He asks, doing the same with his hands, propping his chin up.
"Well, how about five bucks?" Dizzy asks facetiously.
Jeremy shakes his head a bit, grinning. "Nuh uh, that won't do at all."
"Okay... how about you can use my computer whenever you want?" Dizzy giggles. It's not like he can't do that now anyways.
Jeremy thinks about that for a moment. "MMM... Nooooo.. I got one of my own also.. keep thinking."
"Well, how about I bribe with you this," Dizzy says, with a wry smile on her face, "What if I don't tell Sophia what _you_ did tonight?"
Jeremy shrugs his shoulders a bit. "Go ahead an tell Sophia that I hung out with you, she'll only get more pissy and you have to live with her, remember." He points out.
Dizzy rolls her eyes, apparently she was being too subtle with kin boy. "Well, what would Sophie have to get pissy over? All we're doing is talking."
"And holding hands." Jeremy points out as he tilts his head to the side. "And dancing together." His lips tug a bit as he brushes away some of his blonde bangs.
Dizzy giggles, "Well, then I guess I'm out of ideas. If taking you out wasn't bribery enough, what am I left with?"
Jeremy grins slightly and offers a shrug, a coy smile touching his lips. He simply stares at her.
Dizzy returns with a shrug of her own. She tilts her head to the side, hoping to provoke the boy into action with her own silence.
The kin's cheeks grow into a slight blush as he clears his throat, finally ducking his head, embarrassed. "Ok ok.. um.. I won't tell.."
Dizzy giggles, "Thanks, Jer." She leans over and gives him a kiss on the cheek.
Jeremy blushes even more as the lips touch his cheek. A wide smile appears upon his lips as he turns his eyes over to peer up at her.
Dizzy smiles and sits back in her seat. She takes a sip of her water, still watching the kin boy.
Jeremy takes his water quickly and sips at it, peering over at her from the brim of his glass. His blue eyes sparkle over in amusement, cheeks a burning red.
Seemingly satisfied in her handywork, Dizzy leans back in her seat and closes her eyes, listening to the music.
Jeremy smiles and puts the glass down and lets his gaze wander about the club, staring at the people dancing. Its amazing how people can be so coordinated.
Dizzy opens her eyes and sits up, shifting a bit in her chair. "We should probably get going, Jer. I don't want to get home too late."
Jeremy nods his head and pushes himself up, brushing down his jeans. "Alright. Thats a good idea." He chuckles and shakes his head, then heads around the table.
Dizzy gets up and takes her coat off the back of the seat, effortlessly sliding it on. "Okay. Let's jet." She grabs her keys out of her pocket and heads for the door.
Jeremy follows after her quickly, reaching out to snag her hand. Ha! He can make the first move too once in awhile.