Participants:
| Scene Title | Mixed Feelings Cookies |
|---|---|
| Synopsis | Kaylee brings cookies along with possibly good news to her litte sister. |
| Date | February 23, 2011 |
With the topside of the iconic Grand Central Terminal in ruins, it's its basement level that sees most activity, as covert as such activity may be. Entrances are sealed (at least, to those who don't know any better) to the upper levels leading above ground, whether with rubble, or with manmade additions of gates and blockades, and so most will find their way to this place via the countless tunnels that run like arteries in what could appropriately be termed the heart of Manhattan's train system.
Electric lights shine pallid white in the arching ceilings of the basement concourses and foyers, running off their own generators and so power is only used conservatively. Here, the wide open spaces are used for storage that is destined to be moved either towards the arching doorways opening to platforms and subways for shipping out, or waiting to be dragged down to the subbasements for longer term storage. The floors, the walls, the ceilings are differing kinds of tile and vary in cleanliness.
Tables have also been set up so that supplies can be sorted, shifted, packed properly. Folded cardboard boxes awaiting use can be discovered in most corners. Signs on the walls in the form of crude spray paint indicate where things might go, from food, to clothing, to medical supplies, and some things even more exotic. This is a place of motion and organization.
Last but not least, a makeshift recreation room has been set up for the workers of the Grand Central Station, and this can be found within what used to be known as the Whispering Walls. Famously, this interstitial space was known for its strange acoustics, wherein one could whisper to a companion from one far side of the corner to the other by talking directing into the curving corner, where sound would travel along the curve of the arcing ceiling. This, of course, still works, but now the space is no longer simply a foyer - there's a semi-portable kitchen area offering simple food and beverages, a television (which gets no reception, but is hooked into a VCR and a DVD player, with a modest library for both), a card table, a few comforts such as couches and armchairs.
Upon one of the walls, is a rough but well-meaning mural, a mock up of an aquarium - an addition that came after the Ferrymen claimed this space as theirs. It seems to grow in size every several days, with new aquatic characters added each time.
"Valerie?"
Knuckles rap against the wood of the door frame into the room. It's been a few days since Kaylee Thatcher received a message from Cardinal. Between everything going on within the Ferrymen, the telepath has found herself pushing back telling her baby sister. Or maybe, she's still feeling bad about what happened with the paternity tests.
Either way, she didn't go rushing back to Grand Central to Valerie as soon as she got the news. Even if her first instinct was to tell her.
"You have a moment?" Kaylee's voice is a touch timid and worried, feeling a little like she should tread softly. Blonde curls are not trapped up into a bun today. They are left to hang free, fingers tucking loose strands behind her ear. With a dark gray hoodie and jeans, she looks a little more her ages today. Well, except for the circles under her eyes from sleepless nights, full of tears over a lost child. "I've got some…. news." She doesn't say good or bad, cause she isn't sure what to think about it.
A plate it held in the telepath's other hand, with a fairly bright smile. "And I brought cookies. Chocolate chip."
To call the door a door is generous, because the room that has been turned into small makeshift dorms isn't exactly much of a room. There's a small metal bunk bed with a mattress that serves the purpose, and a bunch of books laid in boxes so that they can be picked up and moved quickly in case of a water leak in the room.
A card table holds a checkers board, which has checkers sitting in place, though they've been adjusted, with markers, to turn them into something else. The red and black circular pieces have been drawn on and colored until they function as chess pieces instead. Even the way they sit on the board shows they're being played as such.
"Kaylee!" the teen cries out, standing from the small bunk bed with a hand on the frame for support. But she's standing. "Cookies and news— you know, one of my tutors used to bring me cookies when I scored good on a test, and one of my nurses would bring me cookies when she had to tell me I was going back to the hospital, so I have mixed feelings when it comes to cookies."
"Yeah… I tend to have mixed feelings too." Kaylee actually, truly smiles now. She moves to give the teen a one armed hug, cookies still held in the other. "I'm sorry I've not been around more. Thing… well, they are going crazy. Not sure what rumors are reaching you."
When she steps back, the plate is shifted to be held in both hands as if presenting an offering. "I — guess these are an apology for screwing everything up for you and being a horrible sister lately." Kaylee's smile saddens a little. "But… I think — " she trails off uncertain on how to say this. "I think there may be a chance to ask Ray why he did what he did." She watches her sisters face, while she waits to se if she has Valerie's attention.
"I'm not here alone, so you don't have to apologize for anything," Valerie says as if this whole thing had been about what she'd expected anyway— Or maybe she's just good at hiding her disappointment. Either way it doesn't take much for her to accept the hug, and the cookies, getting a few crums on her soft green dress after just the first few bites.
"Warren told me about his plan to try and talk to him— did it work? I haven't gone to see him again… But I should. He wasn't as crazy as you guys made him sound— he was actually kinda sweet." Perhaps in a crazy kind of way.
Shifting around where she can sit on the edge of the bed, Kaylee sighs. "He hasn't always been that way. He use to have multiple personalities and was a mass killer. Very violent back then. Not sure what all changed in him, but the personalities are gone from his mind, I checked." A small smile tugs at the corner of her mouth. "And yeah, he's not so bad now."
Kaylee goes silent, watching Valerie munch on cookies, before glancing down at her lap. "Ray — dad is awake." The works are spoken softly, but the weight of that meaning is heavy. "Or that's what the message said. So yeah, I'd say Warren succeeded." Fingers fold together and settle in her lap as she adds, "Warren wants to talk to us as well."
Awake. Like not just machine talking to comatose brain. But awake. "Do you know where he is? Where they're keeping him?" Valerie asks quickly, the half eaten cookie in her hands forgotten, though part of it is on the upper portion of her dress. There's a wobble in her stance and she steps back to sit on the edge of the bunk bed again, letting out a long relieved breath.
"Okay… I can go see Warren. I need to again— are you going to be able to go? I know you got in trouble last time…" Which is half why Valerie made no attempt to meet him in person, and why she'd likely not try to do it this time, either.
There is a slow shake of her head, though on what isn't clear until she speaks up. "I don't know where he is being kept, no. That might be something Warren can tell you." Kaylee seems almost down as she talks, gaze drifting to her folded hands. "And… no I cant really go see Warren. Too much of a risk.
"Last thing I need is to be followed back here if he's being watched." Kaylee doesn't know for certain, but sometimes that means having to take the more cautious route. "At least for now." Brows furrow a little, before she gives the girl a smile. "You'll at least be able to tell me… well… even show me what happened." She seems to hesitate a moment before adding… "And maybe if we know where Ray is being kept we can get you close enough to see him."
"I wonder if you can come with me, see through my eyes while I'm there," Valerie offers with a sudden smile, looking up into her sister with such similar eyes that they both got from their father, and share in part with their brother. "I've never tried it, but my ability is kind of telepathic, right? So maybe I can go see Warren and you can talk to me while I'm there— "
It's a thought, though one they'll have to try.
"But if not— I can go see him for us, so you don't have to worry about getting followed or anything. No one can follow me." Something which she seems quite proud about, by the smile upon her round face.
"You don't know how jealous I am of that ability." Kaylee gives her sister a good humored nudge, a gentle one. "Pretty useful," she adds. "Double so, if I can hitchhike.
"Actually, while I'm thinking about it…" Kaylee trails off, pressing lips together as if debating. "When you talk to Warren. See what he has to say about the robots outside?" Brows lift a little as she asks. "Don't mention the Ferry or anything, but see if he has information about them. Might be useful for the network. I know Joseph seems to agree that he might be."
Kaylee shrugs her shoulders a bit, as she explains, "Some of the other council want to deal with it on their own, but I figure while you're there." There is a touch of mischief to her smile.
"Sure, I can do that," Valerie says with a nod, knowing that, that much at least, she is capable of doing. The other is just a hypothetical situation that she's unsure she's capable of. Their two abilities could be complimentary— or it could end up giving them both a terrible headache. Only time will tell.
"Anything else you want to tell me about? How's Joseph doing?" There's a lot going on in her head about the situation with their family, but the two of them haven't had girl talk in so long, either.
"There is so much that's going on… that you've missed…" Kaylee sounds a touch exasperated, like the world is overwhelming her. She leans over where she can touch her shoulder to Valerie's as if the teen will have to hold her up under the weight of it. "I should tell you about this dream…"
With everything from dreams about the future and dying kids… robots and the like, the they will have plenty to talk about, before Kaylee is again called away.