Silver Picks Up Timestamper

Characters in this scene: Silver, Jack

Jack recognises as Karma's rental drives into the carpark. It's pretty darn obvious that the driver isn't Karma; for one thing, they're driving pretty slowly, and for another, they... really don't seem to be very good at driving. The car seems to have picked up several scrapes since the last time he saw it, as if its... bumped into things.

A text beeps in his pocket as the car cautiously parks. *That you?* The DM comes through OMO, a'course.

Jack looks at his phone for a moment before glancing up at the moderately damaged car and walking toward it. He still wears overalls and a white sleeveless t-shirt. He went to get in the passenger seat, his farmer's tan apparent as he shifted in the seat as he offered a handshake. "Jack Finnigan. Nice to meet you." His voice matched his slim but muscled body.

Silver's young and fine-featured, dark hair loose. It has a single silver streak straight through. She's in a pink shirt and blue pants, and her hands are hidden in fine leather gloves that go back to the elbow; underneath one of them is the indent of a ring.

She glances Jack over warily, blue eyes taking his measure, before she eventually reaches out to return the handshake. If he's paying attention, the gloves have sharper indents like wire, and he might notice the knives near the wrist as well. "I'm Silver," she says. Her tone is... very bland. "Hi there."

The back of the car and the boot are absolutely stuffed with bags. Most of it is food, of one type or other - including animal feed - but if he looks he can also see a few canvases.

"I've heard about ya. Karma was saying you're good people." He had a tight nervous smile.

"I think she's biased." Silver exhales, a controlled motion; her gaze flickers away. "I... sorry. I'm likely to be... difficult, for a while. I don't know you well, but I guess you probably deserve better'n that? I'd... I would try to hide that, really, but if you're going to be rooming for a little while then it'll probably come up. And that would... not be a hospitable thing to hide, I think."

He quirked an eyebrow slightly for a second before responding, "I appreciate the forthrightness. I'm not sure what your relationship with Karma is but I can't rightly hold your feelings against you now can I?" The smile changed into being a little less nervous now that a dialogue was going.

Silver huffs a bit, half-smiling. "I don't even know what my relationship with her is. She's being weird. Not that she wasn't always weird, but..." Silver shakes her head. "Well, if you're not wanting out after that, I guess we should get moving." Silver's very, very controlled about getting the car started; it's like she's running through a checklist several times in her head, double-checking every action. She's definitely not familiar with this. She's very, very cautious about backing up and getting on the road.

Jack became familiar with the 'Oh shit' bar of the vehicle for a second time. "She... seems nice, in an unrefined kinda way. What about her pisses you off?" The tone was pure curiosity. He looked at the road ahead as he spoke.

"I don't..." Silver makes a growling sound, but it's not a natural one; it's a soft scrape of metal blades, which doesn't sound right coming from a human throat. "It's hard to put into words. Especially without sounding completely irrational. She's... better than I'd have expected, when I first talked to her. But feelings can be difficult. She elicits a lot of those."

"Yeah, I could imagine," he says quietly. He watches the road for a while and sees if Silver volunteers anything themselves.

"I wasn't expecting this," Silver mutters. "Thought they could... get it out of their system, or something, I don't know how it works. And now they seem to want a trip to Alaska, what the fuck, I've only been out for a few fucking hours and -" Silver abruptly cuts herself off, going completely tense. It might be due to the road; Silver barely manages to not bump into another car, and that when they're definitely under the speed limit. There might be a scraping noise. Silver hisses, shaking her head. "Sorry," she mutters. "How 'bout you? Either yourself or... whatever it was you did with Karma a bit ago."

His face turned pink not that he thought that Silver was paying attention to him. "Showed up for a deal about a chupacabra. Ended up getting drunk... and I think we fell asleep next to each other in my hotel? I think there was a lot of crying but I'm unsure what all happened." He held the bar real tight.

Of course Silver's paying attention to him. Probably more than he's comfortable with, in fact. But she's definitely seeming to only be paying attention to the road, which isn't hard, because she's also hyperaware of that.

"So that's what she meant by sad drunk, huh? I'd appreciate it if none of you would get drunk in our van. I am... very weary of the consequences of people getting drunk. Very, very weary." Silver pauses, carefully making turns. She manages not to bump the curb. Barely. "Do you have any food allergies or anything? Apparently I'm making dinner."

"Uh, not that I know of. I don't plan to get drunk on the trip although I'll probably have something to help me sleep. How big is this van? Like can we all sleep comfortably in it?"

"We'll probably need to mess around with the insides a bit, but y'all should fit. It's Glory's demesne, and all. Might be a bit squishy, though."

The pink drained from his face as did every other color in the rainbow. "It... it is... it's a demesne? Like the whole van is a sanctum? It isn't really fucked up inside or something is it?"

That earns a sidelong glance from Silver before she returns her attention to the road. "I wouldn't think so. It's arguably better'n it was, without all her goblins in it. The place is a bit of a mess, granted, but it's not... Look, I don't know what you're thinking of, but I'm willing to bet that it isn't what you're thinking of."

"Yeah, sorry. Demesnes can reflect some pretty fucked up things right out of the mind of some very fucked up practitioners. I just get nervous when I'm going into them for the first time." He makes himself settle down before continuing, "So have y'all picked out a route to Alaska?"

"Hah. If a demesne is a reflection of their mind then... I think Glory's pretty okay." Silver's tone warms, for a moment, utterly fond, and then it goes flat. "I don't know. As far as I'm concerned this came up out of the blue."

"Spontaneous can make it more fun." He leaves it at that seemingly out of questions for Silver.

"It can. Suddenly dealing with more people, though..." Silver sighs and shakes her head. "So, you're a chronomancer, right? What do you even do all day?"

"Usually I take care of chickens and maintain my family's property. Occasionally I hunt down problematic Others and pull time out of them. Got three years out of that chupacabra. One for each chicken it killed. Some days I don't really remember. Those are usually the days I test new rituals. I've lost a few weeks that way." It was all said so plainly like losing weeks at a time was casual. "Anyway, what do you do?"

"Not really sure anymore," Silver muses. "I used to work with Fae, but, well, disowned. Then there was all that shite lately. I'm... not completely sure what we're doing now. I guess we're going to school soon? I... I'm trying to get back into crafting. I've been making Glory presents for her birthday." Silver's smile is small and secret. "I'm... honestly pretty happy with my first one. Though I guess I'm not sure if she'll like it, but. Well. What can I do but hope, huh?"

Jack gives a small nod and mhm. "You don't drive too often do ya?" It was a mindless observation to make the conversation continue.

Silver flushes. "I think I drive reasonably often," she mutters. "But, well. Wasn't formally taught, exactly. ... Might've been taught by a goblin."

Jack looks straightforward intensely as he stifles a laugh as hard as possible. "That... that's a new one for me. Could it reach the pedals?"

"Glory's van's set up... weirdly." Silver's very red, but she seems to be relaxing somewhat. "So, uh, yeah, he could reach all the pedals. It... did mean that trying to translate that knowledge to this car was, uh. Well. Interesting. I've only driven one other car before, as far as I can remember."

His grip tightened on the 'Oh shit' bar ever so slightly. "Why didn't you use that car? Seems like it would make more sense?"

"That car's still back in New York, I think. I'm not actually sure where we left it? Kind of forgot about it."

"Huh. So what's Glory like?"

"Glory?" Silver's tone immediately warms. "Well, I rather think she's the best ever, but... I'll admit she can be her own kind of difficult." Silver huffs, clearly utterly fond. "Oh hell, how do I describe her? She's... incredibly energetic. She's generally pretty blunt, and likes that back; I wouldn't recommend trying to be subtle with her. Trust me, I have... tried. Doesn't tend to work out. Uh. I've found her... pretty understanding of shit. Pretty nice." There's a pause. "Don't, uh. Please don't push her on the loss-of-title thing. Her goblins meant a lot to her."

"I don't intend to insult a practitioner in their demesne." He seemed distant. He was clearly fiddling with something in his pocket. "You love Glory?" It was said quietly as he looked out the window.

"Yes." Silver's tone has settled back to something resembling neutral. "More'n anything else I seem able to think of."

"Glory loves you?" It was getting more quiet although still perfectly audible. He had slowed what ever he was fiddly with.

"Yep." Silver's gaze flickers, momentarily glancing over. "What're you doing there?"

He snaps back looking terrified for a split second before falling on a tight smile again. "I'm sorry." The apology was blurted out reflexively and he clearly realized it needed context, "I was just changing something. Uh, like I was kinda doing something like augury. Takes some focus but I was listening." He seemed terribly embarrassed Silver had noticed.

"Nothing harmful then?" Silver's tone was light.

"No, I wouldn't want to insult you by telling you if that's okay?" He kept his hand in his pocket but it didn't look like he was doing anything.

"I've been living with goblins for over a month," Silver says flatly. "My partner was a goblin queen, and I've been - flirting?" Silver clearly doesn't know if that's the right word. "With another one. I ain't that easy to insult. But if you weren't doing anything to hurt me or someone I care about, sure. Keep your secrets."

"Uh, I was... I was seeing if we were going to get in a wreck. Your driving kinda worries me...."

Silver giggles, at that, sitting back in her seat. "Oh, that's quite fair," Silver says, amused. "I'm not even as good a driver as Glory is, and, well. Did you hear the story of how she got me as her Familiar?"

"I don't think I have. Did she run you over?" The worry INTENSIFIES.

"She hit me with the van, yep." Silver sounds utterly amused. "Didn't manage to run me over, though. My other shape isn't small enough for that to happen easily."

"Uhuh... is that what brought y'all so close?" There was a dawning horror as he realized this road trip could kill him or worse yet kill several J-walkers.

"Not exactly. It was... it's a complicated story. She posted about it on OMO. Mostly the accidental crash into me kind of... made a few of my issues worse, which resulted in us... talking. I assure you, the crash did not endear her to me. Her actually trying to make up for it and care about me? Did."

"That makes more sense. By the way, I don't think we crash in the next several blocks although I wouldn't change how you're driving. Where is this van anyway? Like why didn't you bring it in?"

Silver waves a hand. "Oh, just outside the city. We got stopped by one of the local Practitioners. We were allowed to visit, but, well. Had to leave the van outside. It's a demesne, we do kinda keep all our shit in it."

"That does make sense. Does the van run on gas still?" He seemed curious.

“Yeah. It can run on other stuff if need be,” Silver snorts, seeming to remember something, “But yeah, gas is preferable.”

"A magic van." He says to himself more than Silver. "So how do y'all... uh... you and Glory... do stuff?" Once again some pink crept onto Jack's face.

Silver blinks. “Stuff? Not following your meaning.”

"Oh, uh, how does being a uh, part fae and stuff change s-sex stuff?" Jack was incredibly red from blushing.

“Oh.” Silver’s tone goes flat. “Well. There’s a few ways it could change it, if I were actually interested in sex. Which I’m not.”

"Oh, is that a fae thing? Like sex is just a means to an end or something? Or is that a you thing?" His curiosity is not deterred.

“Fae seem to enjoy sex, I guess. Hard to tell for sure, and I’m not that Fae.” Silver grimaces. “If I were Fae I’d... probably just decide I wanted it. I guess.” She pauses. “I guess I could still do that.” Her tone is... utterly unreadable.

"So what made you not want it? Don't like touch maybe?" He was clearly getting into a roll with the questions.

“I just don’t.” Silver sounds... frustrated. “I’d blame overexposure to Faerie wiles, but I wasn’t interested in those wiles in the first place, far as I can recall. Maybe Mother pulled it out. Maybe I sold it and forgot. Maybe I’m just like this. I don’t fucking know, but I still don’t want sex and do you have the slightest fucking clue how frustrating it is to not be able to do something to make your partner happy?”

Silver ends with another half-metallic snarl, hands clenching on the steering wheel. She doesn’t fuck up her driving. Somehow.

The red in Jack's face quickly fades as his face goes completely neutral as does his voice, "No. I don't really have a clue. Sounds terrible honestly." It was matter of fact in statement. No sympathy in the voice but still recognition. "Can't you trick someone out of their sex drive, or are you trying not to be that fucked up?"

“I could.” Silver sounds tired now. “I could... I... I think I could just change my own Glamour. Believe hard enough in something until it’s true enough. But. I. I don’t want to do that.” Silver seems to slump a bit. “Is that fucked up? I’m all twisted up - metaphorically - over this. And like. There’s a solution. But I don’t want to take it.”

Jack lets a beat pass before speaking again, "Could make yourself want it or just make peace with it. Not saying either is easy but it sounds like you need to choose a path. Letting this eat at you while you wonder if it's costing you is not going to help... Sorry if I overstepped." He kept his neutral tone.

“It’s... ‘you’re fine’ would probably be a lie, but. The sentiment?” Silver shrugs. “Glory... has told me she wants me to be me. And that’s... part of me. So, trying to make peace. Kind of gets harder to make peace when -“ Silver cuts herself off, shaking her head. “Do you know what you want out of this trip?” She asks, her tone lightening, easygoing.

"Friends who aren't chickens or related to me." It was still very neutral but the smallest amount of humor could be heard in the cadence.

Silver chuckles, and she manages a smile. "I think we can do that. More friends sounds like a good thing, and... you don't seem so bad. Though you might make more chicken friends. We picked up some a while back."

"Can I name a few? I'm thinking Henrietta for one? Eh?"

Silver outright laughs. "I don't think we'd have a problem with that," she says through giggles. "Given Glory recently attempted to Name a sword Feculence, I don't think you can do worse than she does!"

Jack gives a small chuckle happy with himself, "What's in Alaska by the way? We're going to help someone right?"

"I don't know," Silver says, shaking her head. "I opened my phone to check chat and then they were talking about going to Alaska. Some kid in trouble? I guess?"

"Y'all do this sort of shit often?"

"Random bullshit? Guess so, yeah. Hope this doesn't go as violently or dramatically as the last batch of it, though. Still don't think I'm recovered from that."

"Oh. Do y'all deal with violence a lot? Would you say it follows you around?" There was a smidgen of concern in his voice.

"I'd say it did. Given that Glory gave up her title, I sincerely hope it doesn't still. I don't want it to. I want a new pattern." Silver's tone is grim.

"Well y'all have new friends to disrupt the old pattern. Maybe you'll get my fairly boring pattern on ya."

Silver huffs. "That'd be nice, I think. Not that I'd want too much boring, but... a bit of calm, to try and... exist? Settle down? I think I'd like that."

"Chickens, doublewide trailer, and the land. Not a bad life although it could use more company. Y'all welcome to visit sometime. Sound like something you'd like for a while?"

Silver hums. "Could be worth a look, maybe. How much open space're you talking? I haven't really properly run in a while."

"My closest neighbor is about a half mile away. Plenty of wide open space and some trees to help with privacy."

"That does sound nice," Silver muses. "Might be a good visit, yeah." They're creeping through to the edges now; Silver's bumped a few things, but they haven't crashed, as predicted. Perhaps miracles occur. Maybe Silver's burning what little good karma she has, hah. "Wouldn't mind the ground getting a bit scratched up then? I'm not sure my other shape is capable of moving around without stuff getting damaged."

"Uh, so I don't own the land. It's my family's but I doubt they would care that much. The area is kind of a fall back. Mattered more when the family's powerbase was more insecure."

Silver nods. "Not to suggest I'd try, just. Other shape is made of swords." Silver sounds oddly embarrassed. "'S not the most friendly thing around."

"Hope you get the chance to visit. It would be nice to have friends over. Oh, hey is that the van?" He points out toward presumably a van.

Silver glances over. "Yep, that's it." Silver exhales, parking nearby. "Hope they didn't make too much of a mess in there and that they're decent," she mutters. She looks at Jack. "You good to help get the shopping in?" She gestures to the... extensive mass of bags.

"Of course," is all he says as for the thousandth time he blushes at the mention of girls being decent or perhaps at the thought of them not being.