Participants:
| Scene Title | Eating Chinese Food In Central Park |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Motorcycle riding and a picnic in the park at night…. Could it be a date? Hmm. |
| Date | August 06, 2009 |
Biddy Flannigan's Irish Pub
Ambient lighting blankets the establishment in a soft luminescence, glowing in tones of appealing orange from the front face of the bar and low hanging light fixtures overhead. Old style brick walls given the pub an appealing depth, reflecting the tone of lights in a more amber hue down upon the lengths of the polished, wooden floors. The bar counter of lacquered dark wood stretches along the northern wall, the forefront for shelves of numerous liquors and the substantially sized LCD televisions spaced liberally behind it. The screens flicker with the latest games and news as the labeled spirit bottles wink from lighted shelves with a beckon of their own. Barstools and high tables welcome tipsy patrons to their support, scattered with throughout the barroom with a few wedge into the darker, quieter, and more secretive recesses. Over the bar are a few banners of sports teams, most notably one of English football club Manchester United.
The thick wooden door to the west is fitted with a single neon sign sponsored by one of the brews on tap, glowing in the door's center window to shed its light onto the sidewalk outside and summoning in new customers when the bar is open for business.
It's late and the pub is thinning out… and thank god… Kaylee's shift is ending. Constantly, the blond checks the clock, ready to just go home. She is currently sitting at the very end of the bar rolling silverware in napkins, a mindless job. Lips pursed thoughtfully, her mind wandering, and her fingers deftly go about their work.
The clock continues to tick by, merciless to those who would rather it speed up. Heedless of wishers and dreamers alike the clock continues on its tedious pace. The clock gives no hope of a change either. It is the stern taskmaster, the mean principle at school, the teacher who wouldn't let you get away with anything. As far as inanimate objects go, the clock is a dick.
The door however, the door is much kinder. The door opens and admits one entity of Hope packaged in a body that resembles one Brian Winters.
Stepping to the side of the door, Brian's back goes to lean against the wall, his gray eyes immediately resting on Kaylee. He gives an irritated glance to the clock before looking back to Kaylee. Apparently he's waiting for her. He is dressed in a suit as usual, but today there is something a little different. A biker's jacket is stuffed under one armpit. He wets his lips, and waits.
The sound of the door opening, makes Kaylee look up. Both brows lift a little as she spots Brian sitting here. A glance to the clock and she quickly finishes up the silverware she was working on. "Hey, Mack.. " She points at the clock, she's off. Hoping off the barstool, she makes her approach. Grabbing her bike helm and Jacket as it's handed over to her by Mack. A small smile tugs at the corner of her mouth, as she gives Brian a look over, "Well, well.. back again? Just missed my shift. I'm sure Rebecca can get you what you need."
"I know I missed it. I'm not here for Rebecca." Brian states flatly, his lips curling into a little smirk. Reaching out, his hand rests on the door and opens it slightly for her. "Hope you don't have any plans." He says sweetly, in a way that insinuates she better not have any plans. Holding the door open for her Brian pulls the jacket out from under his arm.
"Should we carpool or go separately?" Smile.
"Actually, there is a pint of Ben and Jerry's waiting for me." Kaylee quips lightly, eyeing him suspiciously. She slips her jacket on as she steps through the door of the pub, "As well as a shower to scrub the bar smell off me. Why?" She draws out that word as if she can't decide if she should trust him or not.
Kaylee glances down at the jacket in his hands. "You ride?" That actually surprises her.
"Lived in asia when I was younger." Brian explains, slipping his own jacket on as he steps outside the pub behind her. Zipping it up he kicks the door closed behind him. "Only way to get around there are bikes. So I got a fondness for riding." Stepping away from the pub, "Just recently got this one though." He notions with his chin to a bike parked close. A blue Ninja, the helmet still resting on the seat.
Stepping over to his bike, he leans against it lightly and folds his arms over his chest. "So, you gonna choose Ben and Jerry? Or Brian and Kawasaki?" He tilts his head, with a little smirk.
"Persistent aren't you." Kaylee comments with a smirk, though her eyes do wander thoughtfully over the image he presents. She zips up her own worn leather jacket and moves to straddle her own Harley Sportster. Resting a foot on a footpeg, her helmet is held ready to be slipped on, she seems to consider her options again. A wicked little smile touches her lips, "What do you have in mind, co-worker?"
Grabbing his own helmet, Brian moves to straddle the bike. Donning the helmet then shoving it down tightly on his head, he glances over at Kaylee through the visor. "I have some ideas." A light shrug of his shoulders. "But… If you want to know what they are, I guess you have to keep up." The blue Kawasaki starts up, revving up a bit as Brian flicks the lights on.
Backing up, he flashes a smirk that will never be seen through his helmet. "Or you could always go and see what exciting things Ben and Jerry are up to." And with that, he's zipping out onto the road.
Biting her lip, Kaylee looks like she can't decide what to do. Her brain is saying go home, but then, when has Kaylee ever done the smart thing. Slipping her own helmet on, her head turns to watch him back up. As he starts out, curiosity gets the better of her. "Dammit is all.. I know I'm gonna regret this." As quickly as she can manage, the Harley rumbles to life and shortly there after the telepath is roaring after the smaller bike.
As he gets on the road a quick precursory look is given. Looking over his shoulder, noting that yes Kaylee is following him and no there are no cops. Once that is established he returns his vision to the road in front of him. Feet firmly on the pegs, he accelerates quickly before flinging the front end of the bike up, balancing on the back. The wheelie doesn't last very long, it's landed back down seconds after he raises up.
Holy shit I'm glad I pulled that off reverberates through his brain before he leans hard to the right to make a corner.
The sportster rumbles up behind him as he pops that wheel up, Kaylee's laughter rolls through his head, even as he can't hear her laugh outloud.. it's a hollow sound as if through a tin can . Show off. is added after a moment. She wouldn't dare do something that that, but then her bike is a wit bit heavy.
The blond arches a brow at him as they come off that corner and she can pull up along side him. Her expression is clearly, 'Well?' She's curious what he has in mind.
Try and keep up. It's not said, but purposely thought loud if such a thing was possible. The smaller bike darts through traffic, and lights. Leading the larger bike yet smaller ride through the city to whatever destination they may be roaring off to. More maneuvarable, Brian seems to be a fan of darting around slower moving vehicles. Though he isn't going out of his way to try and loose Kaylee.
If she ever needs it, he'll slow down. Every now and then a glance is shot over his shoulder at her. Then the ride continues.
Kaylee lets the man lead her through the streets of the big city. The larger bike, while one of the smallest and faster made by Harley-Davidson, is made for the most part for street cruising, so he does have to slow down now an then. Kaylee is still able to move in and out of car, but with more graceful maneuvering rather then darting in and out of traffic.
Central Park
Central Park has been, and remains, a key attraction in New York City, both for tourists and local residents. Though slightly smaller, approximately 100 acres at its southern end scarred by and still recovering from the explosion, the vast northern regions of the park remain intact.
An array of paths and tracks wind their way through stands of trees and swathes of grass, frequented by joggers, bikers, dog-walkers, and horsemen alike. Flowerbeds, tended gardens, and sheltered conservatories provide a wide array of colorful plants; the sheer size of the park, along with a designated wildlife sanctuary add a wide variety of fauna to the park's visitor list. Several ponds and lakes, as well as the massive Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis Reservoir, break up the expanses of green and growing things. There are roads, for those who prefer to drive through; numerous playgrounds for children dot the landscape.
Many are the people who come to the Park - painters, birdwatchers, musicians, and rock climbers. Others come for the shows; the New York Shakespeare Festival at the Delacorte Theater, the annual outdoor concert of the New York Philharmonic on the Great Lawn, the summer performances of the Metropolitan Opera, and many other smaller performing groups besides. They come to ice-skate on the rink, to ride on the Central Park Carousel, to view the many, many statues scattered about the park.
Some of the southern end of the park remains buried beneath rubble. Some of it still looks worn and torn, struggling to come back from the edge of destruction despite everything the crews of landscapers can do. The Wollman Rink has not been rebuilt; the Central Park Wildlife Center remains very much a work in progress, but is not wholly a loss. Someday, this portion of Central Park just might be restored fully to its prior state.
After a long ride through the city, complete with plenty of wheelies, (a few where it seemed like he might have fallen off) near misses with other cars, and a stop at Chinese takeout. The night is getting on, the sun almost completely down. A secluded part of the bark is where the two have camped their bikes. Although there was a tiny amount of illegal riding through grass, not many are around here to catch them.
The blue ninja rests next to the Harley, as Brian sets out his jacket on the grass. A pond not too far from their view. Setting down the bags of Chinese on top of the biker jacket he then goes to take off his suit jacket as well. "See? Isn't this more exciting than ice cream?"
Leaning over, Kaylee pulls off her helmet and shakes out her hair. As she stands straight again she says with a teasing grin, "Jury is still out on that, buddy boy." Her cheeks are somewhat flush from the ride, which if the smile is any indication, she enjoyed. "I like my Cherry Garcia." The helmet is hung on the handle bars before she moves up along side him looking over the set up.
Her own jacket is dropped on the ground so that she can sit on it. "So.. I talked to Adam and he said that you are working for him." Probably the only reason she came out there. She rests her hands on the ground behind her and stretches her legs out, eyes watching the dark ripples of the pond.
"You didn't believe me?" Brian asks, glancing over at her he smirks. "Well that hurts Kaylee." One of the boxes is brought up, he pulls the chopsticks out of the baggie. He tosses them over into Kaylee's lap. "So when I went in I bought a bunch of crap because I don't know what you like. Broccoli beef, orange chicken, chow mein and mongolian beef. But that's for me. It's all I get." Winters murmurs, pushing the one box closer to him a bit. Then he reaches into the baggie again. A little cookie is tossed over to her. "Fortunate!" He exclaims happily. Going to settle on his own jacket next to her.
"He hasn't given me any jobs to do yet. Did he say he liked me?" A little smile is given over to her.
"Well, can you really blame me?" Kaylee gives him a matter of fact look. Oh no.. chopsticks land in her lap. She gives them an uncertain glance. "Adam took me out for Chinese once.. Had to show me to use these." She sits up and brushes her hands on her pants before picking them up. She gives him a little smirk, "The broccoli beef is my favorite." She pulls the sticks apart and biting her lip, she maneuvers them into place, she is indeed a beginner.
Reaching for one of the containers she mulls over his question. "He says he doesn't trust you. And I know he told you that." She gives him a look as she opens the box and digs out a bit of broccoli. "And I can assure you, being out like this with me.. will probably not put you on his good side." There is that wicked little grin again, "So you sure you want to be here?"
"I use them pretty well. But I kind of invented my own neat little white people way of using chopsticks." Pulling his chopsticks out he twirls them around his index finger before breaking them apart. "Good." Winters says, pushing the broccoli beef over to her. Crossing his legs he sets his own box straight in front of him. The box is opened up. "Doesn't trust me. Do you not trust me either?" He asks with a tilt of his head.
He frowns a little bit as she informs him this will be putting him on Adam's bad side. "Why will it put me on his bad side?"
"Let's just say I'm not letting my guard down." Kaylee watches his little chopstick display with amusement as she eats. She then turns her head and motions to her cheek with her chopsticks. There is a pale scar there, "That is the last guy I went out with. Hit me." There is another bite before she continues, "Adam seems to think I'm a bad judge of men and feels the need to " She looks out over the water as she tries to think of the right word. " dictate who I can and can not see." Her shoulders lift in a small shrug. "Maybe he's right. But then, he hasn't liked any of the guys I've found lately." She finds that thought amusing.
"Alright." Brian concedes, as she informs him her guard is staying up. Though anger flashes over his features as she reveals her scar. "The asshole who left you at Staten?" Going through his Mongolian beef, he pulls up a piece of meat and takes a bite. "You want me to kill him?" He asks as if asking is she wants him to walk her dog. "I could make it look like an accident."
"I would never hit a girl." Brian says, "Unless she was like a crazy ass ninja and trying to kill me. It's okay if it's self defense, right?"
"No. The guy on Staten was a different one." Kaylee admits, with an embarrassed look. "No, this one was at a night club. I had seen him one day when out with Adam." Her chopsticks digs in the box, her expression thoughtful. "He said no.. and I went anyway." Blue eyes glance over at Brian with a sheepish look. "I give Adam one thing. He doesn't treat me like I'm just something to screw."
She gives a little shake of her head and sighs. "Sorry. Out here with you, and I'm talking about my boss. " Kaylee pops a slice of beef in her mouth and ponders a moment, "So… You'd really do that?" His offer doesn't seem to bother her at all, it seems. "You'd kill a guy just for hitting a girl?" A brow twitches upward as she watches him out of the corner of her eye.
He gives her a very serious look before a broad smile winds up. "No." He answers with a little bit of a laugh as if she's funny for asking so. "No, I wouldn't. I'm not a psychopath. I was joking." He laughs a little bit. "If you wanted me to, I would scare him. Maybe beat the shit out of him, teach him a lesson. But I think he would need to be pretty shitty to deserve a bullet to the head." Winters explains, giving a shrug. Though he's put many bullets in many heads without so much as thinking twice about how 'shitty' their lives are.
"He's like a million years old." Brian responds blandly to Kaylee's comment about Adam. He gives another shrug, "It's alright. Don't worry about it. I don't know about you, but I'm enjoying myself. This is nice." A warm smile winds up his lips.
"Good answer." Kaylee says around a bit of broccoli. Even though, she herself made a man mow down his own buddies. "Actually, there was a guy there the night I got hit.. he beat the crap out the prick. " She grins, " So I was properly avenged."
When he mentions Adam being old this makes Kaylee slow her eating. "You know that's twice now you've said something like that." She studies him with a small frown. "He can't be all that much older then me really. Twenty years at most. Doesn't look old." She rolls her eyes a bit, but then she grins. "And yes.. this is much better then my container of Cherry Garcia at home."
"Are you still pretending like I don't know things?" Brian asks, taking another mouthful of Mongolian beef. Placing the chopsticks in the little takeaway box he goes to lean back on his hands. Studying her in turn, he finally turns his gaze to the pond. He gives a shrug. "If you want to pretend like I don't know things, we can pretend like I don't know things." He lets out a little laugh. "So. When's your next day off?"
“Actually… " Setting her chopsticks in her own box, Kaylee's tone is a touch irritated. "I'm being serious here." Giving him a level look, she tries to convey she's not playing. "Do you seriously think he could be that old? It's like… unheard of." She sets the box aside and sighs. "Maybe this was a mistake. Coming here like this with you."
A flick of his eyes over to Kaylee, his features serious before they once again melt into laughter. " I'm not being serious." Brian says, grinning. "You need to learn, I like to joke a lot Kay. I just make fun of him because he's older than me." He gives a dismissive wave of his hand before re-equipping himself with his chopsticks and taking another bite. She doesn't know about him being immortal? Is that leverage I smell?
Chewing on his newest mouthful, he frowns over the onion and beef. "I'm sorry. I won't joke like that anymore." He sets the box down. "Here. Let's do something fun." he presses his hands on the grass and starts to get up.
Kaylee's eyes narrow at him for a moment and then she relaxes with a small smile. "No.. look, I'm sorry.. Guess I'm not use to being around the joking type." She gives him a 'please forgive me' look. "Then again.. look at my track record with men." She rolls her eyes and then watches him move to get up. "Something like… ?" She asks, hesitating a bit, before moving to push to her own feet.
"What do you like to do?" Brian asks, taking a few steps away from their makeshift picnic. He watches the pond closely, going to scratch the stubble at his chin. "Swim in public parks possibly with fish and people's beer?" He asks as if sure that's exactly what she likes to do. "Or do you just like poking around in people's brains?"
"Me?" Kaylee asks as she climbs to her feet, brushing off her back side. "I use to take trips out to Staten for fun, until Adam grounded me from it. I go clubing when I can, though with the hours he has me working…" She gives him an embarrassed look. "I like helping. Soup kitchens.. Meals on wheels. Humane Society Adoption Drives…" No she doesn't look the type, not to mention she works for Adam. "And no.. I don't just go poking around in peoples brains for fun. I don't spend all my time digging around him peoples brains if I can help it. It's rude." She holds up a hand to stop any protest. "Unless I'm uncertain about my safety or I'm ordered to."
"So you're saying swimming in ponds is out." Brian repeats in a sad sort of tone. "That's nice of you. You like to help, but you don't mind people getting killed or.. screwed over. Royally." He tilts his head at her. "Unique combination, Kay." He pauses for a moment. "I like calling you Kay, can I call you Kay?" he asks with a little smile.
A glance goes to the pond and then slowly Kaylee looks back at him with and 'Eww' look. "Do you know what could possibly be living in that water?" Looking back at the inky water, light flicking out over the surface, she squints. "I bet there is a sign down there that says 'No Swimming. Infested with leeches or something.' " She turns her attention back to him and gives him suspicious look and shakes a finger at him. "I see what your trying there.. No skinny dipping on the first date."
But then Kaylee sobers a bit. "Is it so hard to believe that maybe I give a shit about those who don't have what I have?" She takes a step closer looking him in the eye. "Is it really that hard to picture me actually caring?" It bothers her a bit that someone might not take that seriously. She finally , looks away and s small smile touches her lips. "And yeah.. I guess you could call me Kay."
"Maybe a mermaid or a magical land unknown to man.." Brian answers wistfully to her question of what might be living in the water. "We could discover atlantis.." It's said very quietly and in a whimsical fashion. It's almost said mostly to himself. Then he's jerked back to reality, looking back over his shoulder he arches a brow. "This is a date?" He gives a shrug as if he's okay with that.
"Not saying that. Just that 'giving a shit' means you have a more tender heart. You care about things, people. Rolling around with Adam insinuates that you might be a bit more calloused. As Adam isn't the most tender hearted fellow, I'm sure you know. He chased me in a hospital while people were getting shot, by the way." He adds in quickly, before continuing. "It's just an odd contradiction." Says the hitman who runs an orphanage as his day-job. "Kay." He adds in with a grin.
"May or may not be a date, just saying. A girl has to have her limits." Kaylee grins at him, her eyes searching his face in the dim light. "You…. are a strange man." She doesn't say it like it's a bad thing though.
Considering for a moment, Kaylee closes the distance between them, slipping an arm though his, and stands by his side looking out at the pond. Her voice is soft and her tone matter of fact as she talks to him, "Maybe it's a contradiction, but it is who I am. I just.. had everything given to me by a man I never met. My father to be exact. So I try to give back." She glances up at the dark hazy sky. "And as much as he might seem cold, Adam treats me well. Treats me like I am actually worth something. So I count him as a friend."
"Don't I get to decide whether or not it is a date?" Brian asks, tilting his head at her. "I started it, right?" He allows her arm to be slipped through his. He gives a little smirk over at her, tugging her a little closer. "Never met your father." He repeats, glancing down for a moment. "I never knew my father either. My real father that is. I was adopted. Didn't know until.. a few months ago. Anyway, you didn't answer me. When's your next day off, KayKay?" Smile.
"I gave you Kay.. KayKay? Not just no, hell no." She gives a little shiver, and grimaces. "KayKay.." said like it's a bad word. A small frown touches her lips, "I had my mom.. she got knocked up by my dad when she was working for him. Called her all sorts of wonderful things, till he got the paternity test."
Tugged closer, Kaylee leans against the arm while she thinks. "My next day off.. This weekend. Saturday. Unless someone calls off."
A laugh leaks out of him. "KayKay." He repeats with a giddy grin. Tilting his head back his laugh continues to bubble out of his mouth. His hands slide into his pockets, his arm staying linked with hers. Lowering chin he listens closely before glancing the other way. Guilt stings deeply for a moment before he looks back at her. All for a cause. Hopefully the means will justify the end.
"Saturday." A light hum. "What about next week, what you doin' then? What did your dad do? That she worked for him?"
"I don't know my schedule next week. I know Adam is dragging me out of town at some point." Kaylee gives a little shrug, giving him a bit of a smile. "I might not even be here next week. Hard to plan my life right now." The question about her dad, makes her sigh heavily, "He was a Lawyer. Was married had two kids already.. He had offices in Midtown." She lets that little bit sink in. "She was his secretary, until she told him she was pregnant with me. Part of the deal they made once he realized I was his.. Was that she leave the company. Anyhow," Kaylee murmurs letting go of his arm slowly. "I should head home, this all was great though. Never had a guy drag me to the park for a late night dinner."
"Where you guys going?" Winters asks casually. He frowns at her immediate disposition change when she talks about her dad. "I'm sorry Kay." He offers, his voice soft. As their arms unhook, it automatically raises and slips around Kaylee's shoulders. Attempting to reel her in, the man tries to pull her in close for a moment. "I didn't have a good relationship with my fake-dad either."
Kaylee gives a little shake of her head and glances up at him with a small smile, "I dunno the details, just that I'll be gone for several weeks. Didn't enroll for the semester cause of it. You'd have to ask him about it." She doesn't protests that arm around her shoulder. "I think he's got plans for you here, doing something, dunno."
A hand waves off the father subject. "Seriously, Brian. It's not all that big a deal. He was a low life." Kaylee gives a small shrug of her shoulders. "Probably better off that I never got to meet him. I'd probably try to deck him." Or more like, make him jump off a building.
"Several weeks?" Brian repeats loudly, his brows arching upward. His other arm slowly slinks around her waist. "What am I gonna do." He mumbles. "You at least gonna call me when you get.. wherever you're going?" He asks, leaning his head back a bit to look down at her. "I ask Adam anything he'll probably tell me to.." A little shrug. "Like you said, he doesn't trust me."
"Maybe.. Maybe less. I dunno. I go where he wants me." Kaylee gives a little shrug of her shoulders, she's a good little lackey that way. Or she just trusts him that much. The question about calling, makes her chuckle. "One maybe date and he's wants me to phone him, while I'm gone," she teases, even though she gives him a smug little smile as his arm slide around her waist. "I can't promise anything."
A hand lifts to pat his chest lightly, "You do good work and show him your dedicated, I think he'll start trusting you."
Brian grins a little, "You'll call." The replicator assures her. He sounds very sure of it. His arms drop from her shoulders and then her waist and hang at his side. "I'll do good work. When I get work to do." Taking a step away he glances back at their makeshift picnic. "Anyway, wanna race back?"