but I know I'll go crazy if I don't go crazy tonight [open like burning]

[notenlightened]

10am: Dani Reese is sitting in a booth at The Kitchen Table, an untouched cup of coffee in front of her. Despite desperately needing the caffeine, her thoughts are way too full of 'how the hell are we getting out of here?' at the moment. Crews is - well, last she checked, he was still in bed. She pauses in her thought process and briefly debates

Comments

[waywardnoblet]

Someone is watching Fred from his spot on the couch. He's an average-looking guy, for the most part, with nothing very remarkable about him except maybe the fact that his hair is extra shiny today.

...and even that isn't really noticeable to anyone who isn't him.

Anyway, he's watching her, eyes a little wider than usual. He's not going to say anything, though, because the last person he spoke to here threatened to punch him in the face for bothering them, and he is far too young and handsome to have a broken nose.

[doneanddoner]

It doesn't take her very long to notice she's being watched, but she tries to ignore it, giving that bag a couple of punches that would definitely break a nose or two.

She might look small, but thanks to the Rift, now she's packing a pretty hard hit.

After another minute or two of punches, she straightens up out of her fight stance and walks over to grab her water bottle. That's when she finally catches sight of her watcher.

"Hi," she says, somewhat breathlessly.

[waywardnoblet]

He nods over at her, more of an acknowledgment than a greeting. "Hello."

She does look small, but not harmless. Chuck's learned that small does not necessarily equal harmless. Small, in his experience, usually equals mentally unstable.

"Nice day to work out aggression on inanimate objects, isn't it?"

[doneanddoner]

"Is it?"

Fred finds a small white towel and uses it to wipe off her face, brushing her hair out of her eyes.

"I haven't been outside yet," she admits.

[waywardnoblet]

"I was just making conversation," Chuck says, after a slight pause. "I haven't been outside, either. I've been here." He motions at the couch.

It's a very comfortable couch, you know.

[doneanddoner]

"It looks very nice," Fred says, in what could be constituted as a very good observation.

She takes another sip of water and moves over to him.

[waywardnoblet]

He straightens, a little, suddenly all too aware of his slouched posture. "I guess," he shrugs. "If you like this place. Which I do, sort of."

Not that she asked...

"It's okay if you can look past all the crime."

[doneanddoner]

"Oh, I try to stay away from all that," Fred answers, wrinkling her nose.

"I've never been one for violence."

Ironic, considering what she's just done to that punching bag.

[waywardnoblet]

"For some reason, I do not believe you."

He wrinkles his nose right back at her, skepticism written all over his face.

"If you're so peaceful, why were you trying to beat the stuffing out of that poor bag?" Never mind that its purpose is to be punched.

[doneanddoner]

Fred pauses, and then leans in as if to convey a secret. Which, given the nature of how violent certain groups tend to be towards her type, isn't that farfetched.

"I sort of just got all this strength," she admits, "and I'm a bit at a loss as to how to deal with it."

[waywardnoblet]

"Oh."

Give him a second, Fred. It'll sink in.

"OHHHH. Okay. I get it. You're like me! Except... nothing weird happened to me, I think. I can't really tell. I think I'd be able to tell if something was different."

[doneanddoner]

Fred's relief is nearly palpable as her smile brightens.

"Yes! Exactly. Though I'm sure it's given you somethin' - it gives everybody somethin'. Even if it's minor."

[waywardnoblet]

"Pff. Figures."

Noblet is bitter about his entire life. This is like... icing on the crap cake, or something. Of course he doesn't get anything cool, like super strength. Pfffff.

[doneanddoner]

Fred tilts her head.

"I wonder if you've got somethin' cool, though. You seem like a person who would get somethin' unexpectedly cool."