(Untitled)

[doneanddoner]

Fred is holed up in her room at the Conrad Hotel, in the process of becoming engrossed in a very stimulating book. However, she has made the unfortunate (or fortunate, depending on who comes across her) decision of leaving her door partially ajar.

Care to interrupt the bookworm?

Sam and Avery are behind the bar and in the basement of the Luna

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[gotbottle]

Rachel's out in the park, having left the Conrad to head out and do some things before work. She's striding along one of the sidewalks when she's sure she sees a familiar figure approaching from the other direction. She smiles, speeding up--she hasn't seen Spock for a bit, and she'd love to say hello and see how he's doing.

When she gets closer, however, it occurs to her that he's carrying himself way differently than she remembers. Something seems off, and by the time she's close enough to speak, she's starting to have her doubts. At the same time, she's been watching him long enough now that it'd be rude to just keep walking without saying something.

"Uh, sorry," she says with a sheepish smile. "You look like somebody I know. I didn't mean to, like, stare or anything."

[technicallykill]

"Do I?"

His interest is starting to become fairly piqued, but only time will tell if it will actually remain held right now. Though the fact that he bears a certain resemblance may or may not work in his favor.

"Well, that's a coincidence," he adds, grinning.

[gotbottle]

Rachel smiles too, relieved. "Yeah. There's this guy I met once... here in this park, actually. He's--"

And then the thought of having to possibly explain the concept of Wanderers to a guy who may not be one himself hits her. Her smile widens a bit, and she shrugs one shoulder, feigning disbelief.

"He says he's Mr. Spock, actually. But, I mean, his ears weren't even pointy. Can you believe it?" She laughs, and adds, "Anyway, thanks for being so understanding. I just wanted to make sure you didn't think I was casing you as a potential mugging victim or something. I promise I'm harmless."

[technicallykill]

"Spock," Sylar says, echoing the name. "Well, I can't exactly say he sounds familiar, but if we look as identical as you say, I'll keep my eye out for him."

There's a chuckle that follows as she promises him of her harmlessness, and when it stops, he shakes his head.

"I wasn't terribly worried."

[gotbottle]

"You totally can't miss the guy," Rachel declares. "If you see another dude who looks like you? That'd be him."

She laughs at his reassurance, shaking her head. "Good. I'm glad. It's nice to know you don't seem particularly threatening." She offers him her hand. "I'm Rachel, by the way."

[technicallykill]

"Like I said, I'll watch out for him."

He takes the hand offered to him, nodding very slowly, and squeezes with a gentility that's very nearly convincing.

"My name is Gabriel," he answers.

[gotbottle]

His hand feels normal, temperature-wise. So he's at least not an angel or demon.

...Rachel wonders, idly, when it is she started sizing people up like that.

"Gabriel," she repeats, smiling warmly up at him as she drops her hand. "That's a lovely name. It's nice to meet you. Do you live around here?"

Meaning, the Conrad. She may wonder when it is she started trying to suss everyone's origins but that doesn't stop her doing it.

[technicallykill]

"Around? Yes, I suppose you could say that," he admits.

He's been trying to keep his whereabouts a secret, for the most part, but he doesn't see the harm in telling her.

"I'm actually in the apartments," Sylar adds. "Still trying to get my bearings, I'm afraid."

[gotbottle]

"The apartments," she repeats, eyeing him appraisingly. Rachel's aware they're in the middle of a very open, public place, so she's not just going to come out and say it directly, but she's dying to know.

"I'm staying at the Conrad Hotel right now," she tells him, "though I'm thinking of moving out. I looked at some apartments. I heard this one place, the Main Gauche, was totally nice. I know some people who've lived there. Getting your bearings, huh?"

She smiles, canting her head, like this is the most innocent question ever, but her eyes don't quite match that expression. "Are you new to Chicago, then?"

[technicallykill]

"That's the one," he says, as she mentions the Main Gauche by name. He jams one hand into his pocket to curb the urge that's just overwhelmingly cropped up. If he's sensing her right, she's got an ability, and we all know how much Sylar loves those.

"New?" Sylar echoes.

A pause, and then: "I suppose you could say that. New to the area, and I'm afraid I don't know many faces here."

[gotbottle]

So he very likely is a Wanderer, then, if he's living at the Gauche and he's new in town. It always breaks Rachel's heart a little to come across another one--she remembers what it was like when she got here, how hard it was to start over. Maybe that's why she almost feels like it's her responsibility to try to help others, as much as she can. They're all in this together, after all. And "this" frequently sucks