youvereachedthebadend - Tumblr blog

[youvereachedthebadend]

I meant it’s adorable that Delilah has the same habit as you did when you were a kid, but yeah, all kids are adorable!

"Ohhh." Chase nods and laughs. "Yeah. I guess these kids are more like me than I thought."

"What d'you mean?" Stacy asks.

"I dunno. I always just saw a lot of you in them."

Stacy smiles. "Funny. I see a lot of you in them. And I'm happy for that."

Chase blushes a little.

[youvereachedthebadend]

Aww, that’s adorable!

"Huh?" Stacy blinks. "Us? As kids? We're... adorable?"

"All kids are adorable," Chase says, laughing. "Look at these little guys." He gestures to the kids on the swings again. Delilah is insisting on pushing the other girl, Nora, even though Nora is clearly bigger than her.

Stacy looks at this and giggles. "Yeah. I'm... I'm glad they're okay. After all this."

Chase shrugs. "I think it's a sign we did something good."

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That’s a great idea!

“Thanks! I’m full of ‘em, just you wait.” Chase laughs.

The kids are now taking turns pushing each other on the swings. Stacy watches them with a fond smile. “You know, in all our time together I don’t think I’ve asked you this, Chase, but… what was your favorite thing to do on the playground as a kid?”

“Definitely the swings,” Chase says, also noticing the kids playing on them.

“Me too. I always wanted to see how high I’d go. I used to fantasize about going allll the way around.”

Chase laughs. “Even as a kid I was too scared of heights to think about that. But I did like the rush. I would also sit on the seat part and use my feet to turn the swing. Yknow, wrapping the two chains together. Then I would raise my feet and the, uh, momentum or whatever would quickly spin me back the other way.”

Stacy laughs. “That fits you so much. I’ve seen Lilah do that before. Now I know where she got it from.”

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Anything! Do you have any hobbies you want to try or get back into?

Stacy hesitates. "Uh... I... don't know." She shakes her head. "You had your YouTube, Chase but I never had time before, between work and the kids."

"Well... it wasn't a hobby for me," Chase says slowly. "It was also work."

"Right. Right." Stacy nods. "Sorry. Well, you seemed to have a lot of free time outside that."

"Yeah... in a way. But over time everything started feeling... less of a thing, you know?" Chase gestures vaguely. "It all started feeling less fun... And then I got antidepressants, but I've been off those for a while now. Until recently. And I just... don't remember what I did."

"You did a bunch of stuff with your friends, though," Stacy points out. "Your movie and game nights."

"True. Do those count as hobbies, though?"

"I say they do," Stacy says. "I was never really much of a 'gamer' like you, though."

"I still say you just didn't find the right game," Chase says. "You'd probably like Minecraft. Or Stardew Valley. Games like that."

"Okay, yeah, but we're getting off topic. I can do those on my own, the point is to meet new people to do stuff with. Physically, in the real world."

"Hmm..." Chase frowns. "Well, uh... there are... book clubs? And... art... clubs? The city has a rec center, maybe we can check things out there. I think they used to post notifications for clubs there."

[youvereachedthebadend]

Yay for new friends!

"Yay!" Chase does a little clapping gesture without making any sound. "Us grown-ups should try making some new friends too. I man, my whole friend group got caught up in the corruption thing."

"Hmm." Stacy pauses. "I was never all that good at getting to know people outside of circumstances. Work, uni, the whole corruption thing."

Chase bumps his shoulder against hers. "You can figure it out. This is why parents make friends with their kids' friends' parents."

Stacy smiles at him. "Thanks."

"Oo! Maybe we could join a club or something!" Chase says.

Stacy laughs. "A club for what?"

"I dunno!"

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It’s not too out of the ordinary for kids to go to a park by themselves, especially if they live close by. I’d expect parents here to be more cautious than average after everything that happened… but them being here alone isn’t a sign anything’s wrong by itself. Still, couldn’t hurt to ask them where their parents are

“Hmm…” Stacy purses her lips.

Chase leans over and nudges her. “Hey, don’t worry about it, Stace. I’m sure they’re fine. We can keep an eye on them.”

“True.” Stacy nods. “I’ll go over and ask really fast. Just in case.” She stands up and walks over.

Chase watches as she introduces herself to the two kids and chats. These are another boy and a girl, just like Ryan and Delilah, with the girl having her red hair in pigtails and the boy having ruffled blonde hair. It’s clear that they’re related to each other. Twins maybe? They don’t seem bothered by Stacy’s questions, but they don’t get close to her, either. After a minute, Stacy walks back over. “Well?” Chase asks.

“They live right next to the park, over there.” Stacy points. There are houses within clear view. “They said their grandparents are watching them from there.”

“Oh good!” Chase visibly perks up. He looks back to the kids, who are now racing each other down the slides. “Anything else?”

“Their names are Nora and Nathan,” Stacy says. “They seem nice.”

“Yeah, must be. Ryan isn’t always the friendliest. He’s a bit shy. Needs some more friends.”

Stacy nods. “We’re still in contact with some of the kids who were with us during the corruption. But even so, Ryan didn’t really socialize with them as much as Lilah did. Maybe new friends will fix that.”

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At least the kids don’t seem to mind!

"Ha! Yeah." Chase smiles as he watches Ryan and Delilah start climbing the playground with the two other kids.

"I guess after being stuck in one place all the time anything is better to them," Stacy says. "You know, they never asked to go to the park before. We always just took them there. So today, when Ryan asked..."

"Just goes to show, I guess," Chase says, shrugging. "Hm... where are those two kids' parents, you think? If we're going to be living in this neighborhood a while we should get to know the local parent scene."

Stacy smiles at him. "Chase, that's a brilliant idea."

"Really?" Chase blinks.

"Yeah. Parents knowing parents is always good. Well, uh... it's also inevitable, I guess."

Chase laughs. "Sounds so ominous when you say it that way."

"I just mean, if Ry and Lilah are going to make friends, we'll eventually meet the friends' parents."

"I get you, I get you." Chase leans back, looking around the park for any other adults. But it seems like they're the only ones around right now. "Huh. I think those kids are... unsupervised? I mean, maybe their parent had to go to the bathroom or something and will be back soon. But for now..."

Stacy blinks. "D'you think we should do something?" she asks, concerned.

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((To Chase)) How’s the park?

Stacy and Chase are sitting on a bench together, overlooking a playground. It’s an older playground, with metal slides and rust on the swing chains, but Ryan and Delilah are enjoying it, running around and kicking up wood chips.

“It’s great!” Chase says cheerfully. “Very nice.”

“This is a nice neighborhood, you’d think they’d have a newer playground,” Stacy says.

“Eh. I think this is mostly older people living in this area. Yknow?”

“Still. Grandparents.”

Chase shrugs. “Good point.”

A pair of other kids walk up to Ryan and Delilah and start chatting.

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If not now, later when you’ve got a job and stuff. Seems like something you’d enjoy!

Jackie nods thoughtfully. “Yeah… maybe…” He trails off, looking strangely wistful for a moment, then shakes his head and smiles at the other two. “Well if we’re not going to sign up for any classes, then I guess we continue looking around!”

Henrik nods. “They have so many things here! I did not know you could make so many things out of pottery.”

You’d be surprised! JJ says cheerfully. My favorites are the teapots and teacups of course, but there are many beautiful things in here. And such a variety!

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At the very least, it can be a back-up option if no other jobs end up working out. Knowing that there's somewhere you have connections can make you more confident in interviews for other things because you know you don't need them

JJ blinks. Really? I suppose that's true. I've only done one interview before; the shop I worked at before the corruption hired me almost right away.

"Lucky," Jackie mutters. "Hey, if you don't take the job here, d'you think I could have it?"

If they're open, JJ says. It all depends on that.

"I do not think you would be as good a worker here, Jackie," Henrik says. "Besides, didn't you say you wanted a job you could use your hands or programming skills in? This is not that type of job."

"Hmm, that's true. But if things get desperate enough, you gotta take what you can get." Jackie shrugs.

You know what you can do with your hands? JJ says. Ceramics.

"Telling me to sign up for a class here?" Jackie raises an eyebrow. "I don't know if I can afford that right now. The magicians may be giving us enough money to live in Marvin's house and fix it up, but I don't think they'll pay for hobbies."

Worth at least one class, if you ask me, JJ says.

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Of course!

I suppose it won’t be too different from the antique shop, JJ signs slowly. But it depends on if a position is open. And what that position is. I don’t think I’ll be qualified to teach the ceramics class they have here.

“Where is that, by the way?” Jackie asks, looking around. “I don’t see any space to do ceramics in the middle of all this fragile shit.”

Over here. JJ heads to the back of the shop, Henrik and Jackie following him. There’s a set of double doors back here, which were hidden from the entrance by some tall shelves.

Henrik peers through the windows in the upper half of the doors. Through there is a room that’s all brick and concrete, with a wide wall of windows. There are sinks, tables, shelves, and some pottery wheels. “Have you ever taken a class here, Jamie?” Henrik asks.

Jameson shakes his head. Ceramics are too messy for me. People always leave the classes covered in clay.

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Do you want to work here?

Jameson thinks about it. He picks up a small teacup, examining it and its tiny, curving detail.

"I think you'd be good at this," Jackie says. "The place is quiet, and you know a lot about teacups and pottery and stuff so you can answer questions."

JJ puts the cup down. Maybe... Do you really think I could do it?

"You would be great at it!" Henrik says encouragingly. "Right, voices?"

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I wonder if Megan's brother is one of the uncorrupted...

"That is most likely," Henrik whispers.

"You know, Jameson, if you are looking for a job, I could put a good word in with the manager," Akane says.

JJ blinks. Well... maybe, he says slowly. For now, we want to continue browsing. I'll let you know if we need help.

"No problem!" Akane smiles, then turns and leaves.

"Friend of yours?" Jackie asks.

I've been here often enough that apparently they remember me, even if it's been a while.

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Do you plan on buying anything?

"Yeah, are we buying anything?" Jackie repeats.

Not right now, JJ says. I need a place to put all my things first. And not Marvin's basement, a place of my own. Not to mention I need some spare money. But he is eyeing that solar system teaset.

"Oh, did you lose your house, Jameson?" Akane asks, looking concerned.

Yes, unfortunately, JJ says. We have had a... tough couple years.

Akane nods understandingly. "I get it. You know, Megan's brother went missing? She quit the shop because of that."

Jameson winces. I'm... sorry to hear that.

"Oh. Hey, Jamie." Schneep nudges him. "It sounds like they have a position open. You like this shop, yes?"

"Oh! Yeah!" Jackie nods in agreement.

Henrik, Jackie, that's a bit callous, isn't it? JJ asks with concern.

"...sorry," Henrik mutters.

"Yeah, um... I just... thought it might... n-nevermind," Jackie says.

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Ooh, pretty!

"Yes, I do like this one," Henrik says. "There is something about it being so round." He checks the bottom of the cup. "Ooo! Handmade! By someone with the initials CNP. I wonder what that stands for."

"Hey, look, there are more cups like that one over here," Jackie says, pointing. "I think they're part of a set. That one must've been misplaced."

Henrik hurries over. He gasps. "Oh Jackie! They are planets!"

"Huh? Oh! Oh they are!" Jackie laughs. "That turquoise one must be Neptune or Uranus."

JJ also hurries over. It's a tea set that looks like the solar system!

"Yeah, these plates kind of look like rings, and this yellow teapot must be the sun." Jackie nods.

See, this is why I love this shop, you find the most delightful things here! Jameson smiles, flapping his hands in excitement.

"Hmm? Jameson Jackson, is that you?" A woman in an apron approaches the trio, her black hair pulled back in a ponytail.

JJ looks towards her. Oh A-teapot! It's been a while!

"It is you!" The woman smiles. "It's been a while, I wondered if something happened. These are some of your friends?"

Yes, this is Henrik and Jackie, JJ says, gesturing to the two of them. My friends, this is Akane, she works here. He spells out all names so there's no confusion.

"Pleasure to meet you," Henrik says.

"Yep." Jackie nods.

"The same to you!" Akane says. "Jameson, can I help you with anything?"

Not now, but maybe later, JJ says.

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((To JJ)) How’s the shop?

JJ, Henrik, and Jackie are currently looking through the shelves of Letitia's Studio. The shop is decorated in pale wood with metal highlights, a clean and nice space brightly lit by hanging lamps with colorful shades. Jackie is staying in the middle of the floor, not getting too close to the shelves and shelves of pottery. It's great! JJ says. I'm glad they managed to stay open through the time loop!

Henrik is examining a cup, turning it over and over in his hands. It's almost perfectly round, covered in a smooth turquoise glaze. "This place is so colorful," he says. "And everything here is so uniquely shaped!"

I know, right?! JJ says excitedly.

"Are all of these hand-made?" Jackie asks, glancing around.

Some are, some aren't. Check the bottoms of the pottery. Handmade items tend to have the artist's initials carved in while mass-produced ones have a stamp or logo of some kind.

[youvereachedthebadend]

Yeah, see you later!

"See you." Anti gives you a wave, then turns and looks out the bus window at the street going by.