estoria | [closed] wake up call

Entry tags:

[closed] wake up call

Who: Leia and Jude
When: The morning after this, which is around event009.
Where: Research District
What: Exploration! And Jude getting a job, potentially.
Rating/Warning: None that I'm aware.

[Leia hadn't slept terribly well. Even after all that shopping, the place still feels foreign and unfamiliar and a bit uncomfortable. Luckily for her, though, she's still feeling pretty sunny... so she'll just get ready the best way she knows how.

She's yawning a lot, and there isn't anything she can do about that; but at least she doesn't have much trouble finding Jude's place. She smiles quietly, but confidently, because she double-checked the address at least three times.]

Here I am... [She mumbles to herself.] Somehow I'm a bit early.

[She pulls out her CereVice just to check, and ends up slumping down right outside of Jude's door with a yawn once she confirms. He's probably awake, but...]

I'll just wait a little longer.

[7:21...... She'll never be able to do anything like this again.

She's already dozing...]

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[She'd be right, he's fully awake. He's been awake for at least an hour already mostly from an inability to continue sleeping and less from the desire to actually get up that early. He didn't do much but get dressed and then read. Naturally he's already started to collect books here. Mostly he's hoping to learn more about the history.

When the scheduled time arrives and Leia isn't there yet (or so he assumes) he decides to just go ahead and head out on his own. He doesn't expect to find Leia outside his door and nearly trips right over her.

....... What is she doing out here?] Leia?

[--and then of course she jolts awake.

She looks around, alarmed, and for a split second she isn't sure where she is, but it all comes back to her quickly. She hears her name and looks up, brightening almost immediately as she turns to stand up.]

Jude! ...Sorry, I guess waiting was a bad idea.

[SHE IS DEFINITELY AWAKE. She will peer behind him though, admittedly curious about his place.]

Ready to go?

[... She fell asleep out here...? Haha... Leia please...

He looks somewhat bemused though. Why didn't she just knock?] You could've come inside. [His apartment doesn't have anything to hide. And it probably looks exactly the same as hers does except with more books. And her flowers resting in the corner by the window of course.

But he doesn't notice she's curiously peeking and shuts the door behind him once he steps out to stand near her.] Yeah. Did you want to eat somewhere specific? [He hasn't scoped out any of the restaurants but maybe she had.]

[When he shuts the door, she stops peering. Some other time, then; goodness knows she'll have plenty of opportunities. For a moment she looks a little sheepish, but the topic of food cheers her right back up again.]

Mm, not really.

There's a ton of places to choose from though, so I'm not too worried. Let's wander and see what catches our attention.

[Honestly he's impressed she hasn't barged in on her own yet but... the day is young. He makes sure the door locked behind him and that he has the keycard in his pocket before he starts down the hallway toward the elevator.]

That's fine but remember we're on a time limit here. [He did want to get to the medical facility by 9, Leia. Don't forget. Although thankfully the trains are fast so travel time doesn't have to be accounted for too much here. But he's also sure it won't take them too long to find a place to eat either.]

Yeah, yeah. I remember.

[Her tone is dismissive. She glances at her CereVice for a mere moment to confirm the time, and she stuffs it back in her pocket without a second thought. She'll lightly nudge him as if to say "Don't worry so much" as she leads the way.]

There's that saying about how the early bird gets the worms, right? It's a good thing I was pretty close by to begin with.

[She says that but Jude's sure he'll have to remind her again. Not worrying is something of an impossibility for someone like Jude but he appreciates the gesture nevertheless and smiles.]

That's true. It's convenient that they assigned us fairly close to each other. [It's good to be close to friends and all that although...] I'm not really sure where Ludger or Milla live though. [Or Elle but she had told him she lives with Ludger.

They ride the elevator to the ground floor and hit the streets as they chat. Jude's got a vague idea where some restaurants are so he heads in that direction. It's so early so there are very few people out and the air is chilly, the sky a soft color as it begins to grow light out.]

[The atmosphere really is something else. The backdrop of the city lit by the rising sun creates the perfect mood to start her day, and it makes Leia glad that she's actually awake for it. It's worth enduring the cold, too; although her arms do wrap around herself as they go, without her even realizing it.

She lets out a breath, almost as if to test if it's cold enough that she'll see the smoke; and then she turns cheerfully back to Jude.]

They aren't too far! I gave them flowers, too, and Ludger came over to see me a couple nights ago.

We should probably let them sleep, though.

[She does not particularly want any blades pointed at her face or neck. Or swords. Or guns, or hammers. Not that she's scared, and it's more Milla than Ludger that she's worried about... but still. Leia just knows she wouldn't react well to being woken up, and since she's been kind of trying to get into her good graces...

Well.]

[It's peaceful too which is part of the reason Jude likes mornings so much and getting up this early on a fairly daily basis.

It doesn't surprise him to hear that Leia gave flowers to the others too. Actually he's glad to know that because it meant she gave some to Milla too. Not that he had any doubts but he's glad she's making the effort to befriend her better too. It's hard for all of them... but if anyone can make Milla open up a bit more it'd be Leia.]

Really? That's good to know. [Everyone being close by is comforting somehow.] Yeah, probably. Plus I don't think any of them would be as interested in coming with me to a job interview as you are. [He had sort of invited her as penitence for exploring a lot of the city without her but he hadn't actually thought she'd want to go with him to the Research District since it wasn't really in her field of interests.]

[Well, maybe it doesn't exactly line up with her interests... but she was a nurse at one point, and Jude is still her friend. She thinks that counts well enough...! And it'd been enough for Alvin and Ludger.

They helped her and supported her in the same way, in her journey to impress her boss...]

You never asked, did you? [She grins a bit, remembering.] You might be surprised.

[Then again, Leia is harder to say no to.]

[He scratches the back of his neck.] Why would I ask? [Although he supposes he did sort of ask this time around... but that had been more asking if she wanted to explore the city more with him and less about specifically coming to the interview. But whatever, splitting hairs...

Also Leia tends to get bored easily so maybe a part of him worries she'd cause trouble in the end.

But hey, they're here now and she's going with him so too late for that thought.

Jude settles on a small place on the corner that's more of a bakery place but offers a menu of simple breakfast items. It's only just opened judging from the hours posted on their door so there's no one else there but the employees wandering around.]

How about here? It looks nice enough. [He has no eye for this sort of thing, really...]

[She's going to take that for the rhetorical question that it is, and just sigh a bit to herself. She looks quietly amused about it, too, when they approach Jude's chosen cafe; and of course, she won't be picky about it.

She follows him inside.]

Works for me. [And as she looks around, she catches a glimpse of their menus overhead, with rather large, delicious-looking pictures of what she assumes are their most popular items.]

Their breakfast croissants look delicious!

[Sorry Leia Jude's always gonna be Jude...

The atmosphere inside is cozy and quiet. It's peaceful which Jude likes. He wanders up to the counter to peer at the case of breakfast pastries.] They do look pretty good. [Advertised as baked in house and everything too. They must be pretty fresh then...]

Don't buy too many of the chocolate ones. [He knows how dangerous her sweet tooth can be.]

[YOU'RE NOT HER REAL MOM...

......She actually deflates a bit, though, as if caught redhanded. Maybe she'd been planning to buy extras to take home... but you won't catch her admitting that.]

I-I wasn't going to.

[huff!]

Besides, I want to try the strawberry.

[He might as well be!! Well really he's just looking out for her. Too many sweets so early in the morning isn't good for you! .... Okay and maybe the other reason is that he's being a brat to tease her but that's always how their relationship has worked.

By her saying that he knows he caught her and he chuckles.] Really? You're going for fruit? That's a surprise. Maybe getting up so early in the morning isn't good for you after all. [Too bad they don't have soda rice here, huh?]

[WOW...... she hadn't even been thinking about the health implications. The picture just made it look tastier and the red coloring is a lot more vibrant than chocolate would be. That's totally beside the point, though, and she folds her arms.

Alvin isn't even here and she thinks he's been spending too much time with him--

Somehow.]

Hey, I eat fruit sometimes. [Like now.] And I feel great.

What are you going to have then, Mr. Early Bird?

[He can still read her so easily and it amuses him. He doesn't think that's ever going to change no matter what.

He turns his attention away from her to survey the menu.] Hm... maybe a yogurt parfait. [They looked pretty good with all that fruit in it. Unlike Leia he wasn't a particular fan of sweetness. Even strawberries sometimes tasted too sweet to him.]

I don't really want anything too heavy yet. [It's hard to be hungry for that so early in the morning in his opinion. That and he has a potential job interview today. Best to feel sharp, not bogged down from food.]

[Curiously, she peers through the menu to find his choice, which doesn't take long. The huffiness from a moment ago seems to melt into the air, and she nods approvingly, seeming eager.]

Alright! Time to order.

[Luckily, the line isn't terribly long yet, so it's simple to ease into it and wait their turn.]

By the way, Jude... do you feel nervous?

[They took so long to decide that more people wandered in... but oh well. He's sure it won't take that much more time even if they have to stand in line now. He's still wary of the clock though as they waited.]

Nervous? Well, not really... [Having been around the medical facility before he kind of knew what to expect and what they might ask. Sort of.] I guess a little. They already showed interest in me and what I know. I guess I'm just worried about how little I know of their medical technology.

[That might be something they could stack against him and honestly he wouldn't blame them. He knew he could learn it, and quickly, but it was still a weakness they'd probably consider.]

[Leia on the other hand is more than happy to pass the time away chatting with him. When the line moves, so does she, and it feels like it's going pretty fast. More people huddle in behind them, but she doesn't pay much attention, other than maybe a glance or two when she hears the door open.]

Yeah. It sort of feels like we're the aliens here... but I don't think it'll be that way for long.

[She smiles.]

They're going to be lucky to have you.

I guess we sort of are. [In some sense of the word anyway. They certainly didn't belong here and more than anything Jude wanted to be home... if that was even possible anymore. He tries not to think about that a lot but he in the back of his mind he worries.

So honestly, it helps to be distracted. It's why he jumped into getting a job here as quickly as he could.

At her compliment though he looks a little sheepish.] If they'll have me. [He still might get turned away so best to hope for the best, prepare for the worst in this case.

They're finally at the counter though so Jude orders and pays for them both.]

[There's no ifs in her book, but she'll let it slide this time. She wasn't expecting him to pay for her order as well, either... but they're close enough that she doesn't really contest it, and tucks her card back away in her pocket.

There'll be plenty of opportunities to repay him, and in more ways than one, too.]

Thanks. [said quietly as they slip away from the front with their orders] You didn't have to do that, you know... but I know you do.

[do-gooder.

Leia will lead them to a open table near the window.]

[That's what he does best. Even if he nags Leia more than others and is maybe harder on her he's still just as kind in the end.

Of course he does this partially in hopes that she'll remember it when he inevitably makes her mad. He knows better though...

He takes his food and shuffles away with her to the table, deciding it looks better than it did in the picture. Good choice. He sits across the table from her and takes a moment to check the time. They're doing okay on that front...

At her gratitude he just shrugs a little, slightly embarrassed.] It's fine. I don't mind. [Do-gooder, etc.] It wasn't that much and you should probably save your money until you can get a job yourself.

[The only person better than Leia at embarrassing Jude is Milla... not that she'd admit that aloud. As they take their seats, Leia sets her plate down and looks over her chosen dish, impatience in her eyes.

She'll turn her attention to Jude regardless though when he responds, noting how hard he tries to hide his embarrassment.]

Right. I'll be keeping my eye out, too. I just know there are people who could use my help.

[...And finally, she takes that first bite. It's warm, fresh, and suuuper tasty, just like she expected.]

[It's true although the two of them embarrass Jude for completely different reasons...

He'll eat as well and wow, that's some surprisingly fresh fruit in there. He isn't sure why it surprises him so much. Perhaps it was just the location. They were surrounded by so many artificial things that suddenly getting to taste such fresh fruit was almost jarring. He won't complain though.]

Good luck. [You can do it, Leia...

Anyway he watches her eat with some amusement. The girls in his life and their food, man.] It's pretty good, huh? [He clearly made the right choice.]

Mmm, it's incredible!

[She beams before going right for the second bite, and the next, and the next. She slows, though, imagining how much Elize would enjoy it... she can practically hear Teepo now.

Her, and the others... even that goof Alvin.

At least it gives her enough pause to actually savor the taste.]

After this, I think we'll be ready for anything.

[He watches her eat with some amusement. She eats almost as recklessly as Milla does. In which case wow please slow down you're going to choke...

He takes his time with his, ever the calm foil to Leia's enthusiasm. It is good and his earlier thought of Milla gives him a hollow feeling. He really misses her... It's like that feeling he carried with him during the year she hadn't been around except way worse. He was confident she was okay but it was harder to think about with the fate of their world still unknown. Also the guilt he carries every time he talks to the other Milla...

Of course he misses the others too. He worries about Elize and Alvin and Rowen... and his parents... but mostly Milla because, as per usual, she's always in his thoughts. This might be obvious in the way he sort of starts to stare into space, chin in his palm and elbow resting against the table as he stares out the window with a somewhat forlorn expression.

He sort of snaps back out of it at her words although he doesn't move from his position.] More or less. I just hope it works out. I could learn a lot about this place if I get this job. [Mostly about the tech here which would be pretty useful.] It might help us understand the situation were in a little better too.

[Yeah, Leia pretty much recognizes his "thinking about Milla" face anywhere. The temptation to revert to a child again and yell out SPARING TIME to snap him out of it is high, but she sticks to her meal... for now.

He's smart, and she knows she'll be alright if he's here--no matter how bad CERES makes it seem.]

Yeah. It definitely feels like a "strength in numbers" type deal... so the more we work together, the more we can learn.

[She's right about that much but Jude just wants to get to the bottom of things. His ever scientific mind wants answers and a solution he can work towards. If the whole destruction of their world really is real then how can he help wok toward that goal faster?

Although on that note...] Ideally I'd like to just confirm what they told us is even true or not. It seems to easy to see it as a complete farce but on the other hand trying to explain our situation any other way doesn't work out either.

[It's a strange conundrum but... maybe he can try and solve it. The medical wing he'll be working at is where the mostly locked down research building is too, after all...]

[Leia understands his determination well. She allows his words to sink in as she takes the last bite of her pastry, slowly now unlike before; and for a while she doesn't know what to say.

The more she thinks about it, the more sad it seems, and her expression deflates to match.]

If it is true... I don't know if I could accept that.

[Her emotions are fickle though. She's determined, too.]

So there's got to be something else at work, and we'll find it. Let's see just how cooperative they are, and what this place can do for us.

[The research district... ready or not, here they come.]

[He isn't sure he could accept it either. In fact even if the proof is shoved in front of his face he can't. He can't accept Milla would let that happen to begin with. He can't accept any of them would have.

He finishes his food in the silence that settles over them after his words and when she speaks again he's finished. He smiles a little at her words. She's right. All they can do is work toward it and make it happen. He's determined to and thanks to Milla his will is steel. He'll find the answers no matter what.]

Yeah. All right then... Shall we go? [He's standing up now that they've finished. It's a little later now than he wants it to be but they'll still make it if they leave now.]

Yep!

[She's finished long before Jude, and although that means no more delicious pastry, she still bounds up cheerfully from her seat. She gives a friendly wave and thank you to the waitress who served them on their way out, and pretty soon, they're on the streets again.

Leia continues to take in all the sights on the way to the train station.]

Things are starting to pick up.

[It's a lot less quiet than it was when they first set out, and the trains are abundant with people starting their day.]

[Being here reminds me a lot of Trigleph. Even the times of day in which things pick up seem to be the same... then again Trigleph was a city that really never slept. In some ways this place reminded him of Fennmont too.]

Yeah, you're right. I guess everyone must be awake now. [And heading to work or school or where ever else people spent their time here. By now Jude has explored every district except the Pleasure District so he knows just how much there is to do around here.

By as they head into the train station his thoughts become more focused on the task at hand. He's really going to have to impress them to land this job, he thinks. His age seems to work against him here rather than in his favor like back home.]

We're a little behind schedule but I think it'll be fine. [They made it in time to catch the right train so that's all that matters.] But maybe I should have brought a book with me to brush up on everything. [Nevermind the fact he spent like two whole days devoting time to studying the medicine here, including most of last night. The worry is strong with this one.]

[Leia glances around. Most people are listening to music through their headphones and minding their own business; others are texting or talking on their CereVices, and some are reading.

They grab quick sets and Leia offers a shrug.]

I would've helped quiz you, too. But it doesn't matter now... you've got to keep your eyes forward.

[...]

Got it?

[He settles into the seat beside her and smiles.] Right. [Thanks for being a bro, Leia. Letting her quiz him isn't something he ever thought of... mostly because he didn't want to bother anyone about this. But then again here she was willing to go all the way there with him.]

Thanks, Leia. I really do appreciate you coming with me. [He's maybe more nervous than he realized so he appreciates the support...]

[She grins proudly, looking content to accept his gratitude; but it's an otherwise quiet ride as they make way towards the research district. Leia does the most predictable thing ever and nods off with her head propped against the window glass...

...until they arrive.]

[Leia please...

Well he'll let her sleep until they get there. Then he'll have to wake her up. And off they go.

In the end his worrying was for nothing. They don't ask him anything he doesn't already know medically and they aren't worried about his inability to use their technology right away. They tell him they're in need of more human medical personnel in the end anyway and deem him worthy enough to hire him on as an assistant. Understandably he can't be an actual doctor here right away...

Anyway afterward he tells Leia the good news and although they stay together for a little bit after Jude eventually parts with her so he can start to study. He wants to be as ready as he can to work here and that means jumping into the books to learn about the technology and everything else he can. So unless Leia really wants to sit around while he reads (he doubts it) they part ways.

He thanks her again though, truly appreciating her support, and says he'll contact her later. Of course he'll forget... but hey, he does know he owes her one now. So she can hang that one over his head and fully use it against him... presumably later when she badgers him to go to the winter gala with her.]

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[closed] wake up call

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