[ lorna's no mechanic, but between marcos and her own abilities she's able to finagle her car into pretty decent operation, even when it probably isn't what could or should be legally considered drivable. but it's not as if they're on earth anymore and so long as she's not putting her all into operating the car, it ends up being pretty reliable more often than not. it slows to a 'not' in front of the hospital on her way back to the complex she's been staying in and she swears under her breath, getting out of it to check underneath the hood. moving her hand around to try and sense what might be wrong, she finds it (a crack in the radiator that she fuses together within a few minutes).
letting the lid slam down, she brushes her hands off on the front of her pants (kind of hilarious, since she hadn't actually done anything to get them dirty) and moves to get back in when someone sitting in the distance catches her eye. ]
Hey. [ she hasn't spoken much to him, but she knows she's seen him around; he's kind of hard to miss. ] Do you need a ride?
[ Indeed, most of Alphinaud's neighbours within their little residential complex come and go with barely a smile or a nod. That's not to say he doesn't memorize all of the faces he sees to the best of his ability anyway, and Lorna's is one he recognizes too.
It's her familiarity that puts him at ease, as he waits by the curb of the hospital-clinic for his ride that ... probably isn't coming. He perks his head up, straightening his spine, and gathers his things: not much, just a small bag for his empty lunch-box, and some spare joolies.
It's been quite some time and it's getting late, and really, he is partially to blame for overstaying his shift anyway, but it's hard to leave someone well alone when they're suffering, you see. He's certain now that Alisaie has either forgotten or decided that her brother could find his own way home — but a quick text clears it all up before he approaches. ]
I would be most grateful, thank you. I hadn't realized just how much time had passed.
[ it is hard to leave someone on their own when you see them suffering, at least if they’re an innocent. he at least appears to be that, and if he’s not she’ll hand that when it comes to it. ]
Yeah, no problem. [ she uses her ability to unlock and open the passenger door, swinging it open in his direction. ] Time tends to do that, especially in this place.
I am relieved to know I'm hardly the only one who feels this way.
[ Alphinaud considers the difference between the time he's used to, and the time that exists here — and while it shares its similarities, the way he spends it is not like anything he's experienced before, not since he'd left the Studium, idealistic hopes and dreams in his pockets and rattling around in his mind. Every day in Eorzea was different. Every day in the First was different.
It'll simply take some getting used to.
As he climbs into the passenger seat, he is unfazed but curious about her very open use of her abilities. It just feels ... so familiar.
He buckles his seatbelt as he'd been taught on his very first day here. ]
Forgive me if I'm speaking out of turn, but — you have magic?
[ mutants aren't exactly unknown where she is, but it is essentially considered a crime to have the gene that makes you one at this point, so her brazen use of them in public would be considered unusual there, too. it seems almost as if being normal is the exception, based on what she's seen so far, but even if it weren't lorna doesn't like hiding what she is or what she can do unless it's absolutely necessary. ]
Something like that. [ the car gets started once they're both secure in their seats. ] It's not what it's called where I'm from.
[ as she drives, she glances towards him out of the corner of her eye, an eyebrow raised. ]
I do, yes — though I suspect it works differently where I'm from as well.
[ He hasn't heard anyone mention the word 'aether' for one thing, which is a critical component of his particular magic. It may well be called something else here, of course — such is a topic he means to continue exploring. ]
But I'm curious to hear about yours if you'd be willing to share.
( working at the register of the store was a nice gig, but wanda thinks she likes this better: working at the thrift store. folding clothes, organizing them by color and size, looking at secondhand objects and placing them into specific shelves based on what they are and how damaged they may or may not be...
it's something new every day, and wanda feels more comfortable with the energy of the store overall. )
Hey.
( there's lorna, too, who started working there at about the same time as herself. their schedules don't generally match, but their lunch breaks do, for some odd reason. today, wanda approaches the other woman, taking a seat on one of the plastic chairs around the break room table. )
I got some extra food today. Do you want to try it?
[ lorna hasn't had a whole lot of experience holding down jobs, at least not for very long stretches of time. it's rare that people are willing to hire mutants and even rarer that other employees are willing to work with them, so she's usually ended up holding short term positions down for a period of maybe six months to a year. that was prior to her getting arrested and institutionalized, and it was a good thing that evangeline had found her there, because she's not sure where she would have ended up if she hadn't.
all of that to say, the thrift store had felt like as good a place to work as any, and she's finding that she likes the job better than she would have expected. the people tend to keep to themselves, but they're pretty agreeable and kind when they do make conversation. wanda had been recognized as someone she'd talked to early on and she's glad that she'd found a place to work that's as pleasant as a job can get.
lorna's debating what she wants to eat on her break when wanda approaches, offering her a solution, and she nods to her, moving the chair across from her with a slight wave of her hand so wanda can take the seat. ]
( wanda takes a seat, pushing her hair behind her ears after setting down her 'lunch box' on the table. it's not a paper bag with something inside; it's an actual tote bag, and the container she reveals from within is a rather neat food container.
as an explanation, she says, )
My roommate's a cook.
( the container has a rather large portion of wedge potatoes and some protein, along with a generous serving of veggies. )
[ it'd be a lot for anyone, especially on a lunch break, and lorna's eyes go a little wide at what wanda's offering. she smiles at her, then stands to retrieve what she can find when it comes to utensils and napkins before coming back to join her and handing her a plastic fork. ]
This is great, I usually just get coffee and a snack or something. Thank you.
( when lorna gets up to get some utensils and napkins, wanda pushes the container to be closer to the 'center' between the two of them. it feels a little criminal, sometimes, to have this much food available to her while others seem to be having a hard time of it. not because of the lack, but because—
well, sanji finds a way to make the most unappealing food delicious and nutritious. )
Yeah, you know, ( she grabs at the plastic fork, twirling it between her fingers before settling on stabbing a potato to bring to her mouth. ) that would probably also be me if circumstances were different.
( she's lucky, she knows.
which is why she adds, smiling, )
I'm sure I could ask him to prepare you lunch, too. His name's Sanji.
[ lorna's had to make do with worse, but she does find herself impressed once she gets to taste the food, going in for another bite as wanda continues explaining how she'd gotten it. she takes a napkin to wipe at her mouth, smiling once she's finished the bite. ]
I'd appreciate that. But I'm not sure how I could return the favor.
I really don't think he'll want you to return the favor.
( wanda says this a little conspiratorially, leaning in a little closer, elbow leaning into the table. )
He's a bit of a flirt. Makes him happy that women are happy. ( but by the sound of how wanda is saying this, it's clear that he's harmless. ) Especially if he can feed others.
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alphinaud.
no subject
It's her familiarity that puts him at ease, as he waits by the curb of the hospital-clinic for his ride that ... probably isn't coming. He perks his head up, straightening his spine, and gathers his things: not much, just a small bag for his empty lunch-box, and some spare joolies.
It's been quite some time and it's getting late, and really, he is partially to blame for overstaying his shift anyway, but it's hard to leave someone well alone when they're suffering, you see. He's certain now that Alisaie has either forgotten or decided that her brother could find his own way home — but a quick text clears it all up before he approaches. ]
I would be most grateful, thank you. I hadn't realized just how much time had passed.
no subject
Yeah, no problem. [ she uses her ability to unlock and open the passenger door, swinging it open in his direction. ] Time tends to do that, especially in this place.
no subject
[ Alphinaud considers the difference between the time he's used to, and the time that exists here — and while it shares its similarities, the way he spends it is not like anything he's experienced before, not since he'd left the Studium, idealistic hopes and dreams in his pockets and rattling around in his mind. Every day in Eorzea was different. Every day in the First was different.
It'll simply take some getting used to.
As he climbs into the passenger seat, he is unfazed but curious about her very open use of her abilities. It just feels ... so familiar.
He buckles his seatbelt as he'd been taught on his very first day here. ]
Forgive me if I'm speaking out of turn, but — you have magic?
no subject
Something like that. [ the car gets started once they're both secure in their seats. ] It's not what it's called where I'm from.
[ as she drives, she glances towards him out of the corner of her eye, an eyebrow raised. ]
What about you, do you have magic?
no subject
[ He hasn't heard anyone mention the word 'aether' for one thing, which is a critical component of his particular magic. It may well be called something else here, of course — such is a topic he means to continue exploring. ]
But I'm curious to hear about yours if you'd be willing to share.
towards end of june!
it's something new every day, and wanda feels more comfortable with the energy of the store overall. )
Hey.
( there's lorna, too, who started working there at about the same time as herself. their schedules don't generally match, but their lunch breaks do, for some odd reason. today, wanda approaches the other woman, taking a seat on one of the plastic chairs around the break room table. )
I got some extra food today. Do you want to try it?
no subject
all of that to say, the thrift store had felt like as good a place to work as any, and she's finding that she likes the job better than she would have expected. the people tend to keep to themselves, but they're pretty agreeable and kind when they do make conversation. wanda had been recognized as someone she'd talked to early on and she's glad that she'd found a place to work that's as pleasant as a job can get.
lorna's debating what she wants to eat on her break when wanda approaches, offering her a solution, and she nods to her, moving the chair across from her with a slight wave of her hand so wanda can take the seat. ]
Sure. What'd you find?
no subject
( wanda takes a seat, pushing her hair behind her ears after setting down her 'lunch box' on the table. it's not a paper bag with something inside; it's an actual tote bag, and the container she reveals from within is a rather neat food container.
as an explanation, she says, )
My roommate's a cook.
( the container has a rather large portion of wedge potatoes and some protein, along with a generous serving of veggies. )
...it's a lot for me.
no subject
[ it'd be a lot for anyone, especially on a lunch break, and lorna's eyes go a little wide at what wanda's offering. she smiles at her, then stands to retrieve what she can find when it comes to utensils and napkins before coming back to join her and handing her a plastic fork. ]
This is great, I usually just get coffee and a snack or something. Thank you.
no subject
well, sanji finds a way to make the most unappealing food delicious and nutritious. )
Yeah, you know, ( she grabs at the plastic fork, twirling it between her fingers before settling on stabbing a potato to bring to her mouth. ) that would probably also be me if circumstances were different.
( she's lucky, she knows.
which is why she adds, smiling, )
I'm sure I could ask him to prepare you lunch, too. His name's Sanji.
no subject
I'd appreciate that. But I'm not sure how I could return the favor.
no subject
( wanda says this a little conspiratorially, leaning in a little closer, elbow leaning into the table. )
He's a bit of a flirt. Makes him happy that women are happy. ( but by the sound of how wanda is saying this, it's clear that he's harmless. ) Especially if he can feed others.
( she shrugs, taking another forkful of food. )
His food's really good, though.