(no subject)
*Soze is here, right on time, as always. He's carrying two cups of coffee in one hand when he knocks on the door.
Jeff_Levitt: It's open!
*Soze slips in. He's wearing one of his usual tacky, cheap outfits-- dark blue shirt with white, almost star like patterns, and faded grey slacks. He's still recovering from the last week-- circles under his eyes and all that-- but he's doing -much- better. He even manages a smile, albeit weakly.
Soze: How've you been?
*Jeff_Levitt is actually packing his things into a bag when Soze comes in. He finishes folding the shirt he has in his hands and moves to a chair. "I've been getting better," he says, nodding to the suitcase. "I've been getting used to the Keep again. I'm still working on...actually going *outside,* but..." He trails off, shrugging. "One step at a time, right?" He smiles weakly.
Soze: Right.
*Soze offers a cup forward. "I brought coffee."
*Jeff_Levitt takes the cup. "Thanks," he says, sipping. "How have you been?"
Soze : Not bad. I'm thinking of getting a temporary job to hold me over.
*Soze gestures vaguely with his cup. "Until we get the restaurant off the ground. You know."
*Jeff_Levitt nods. "Right. I was actually thinking of testing some stuff out here every so often. You know, to see what people think."
Soze: Like requests?
*Jeff_Levitt nods. "Right. Or trying recipes out on people."
* Jeff_Levitt runs a hand through his hair. "I have to figure out how to tell Jon I'm moving out of the Library too."
*Soze purses his lips. The look in his eyes is not all together friendly. "I guess you should. You wouldn't want him to--" Something changes. It's only for a moment and then things are normal again, but still. It felt -strange.- It's like their link suddenly lead out into something far away, something ELSE... and then settled back down again.
*Soze stares ahead, blinking. "...Huh."
*Jeff_Levitt felt it too, and he stiffens, dropping his cup on the floor. His eyes go very wide. "Keyser? What was that? Did you feel that?"
Soze: ...yeah. Like...
*Soze 's voice trails off.
Jeff_Levitt: That didn't feel right. That didn't *feel* right.
*Jeff_Levitt sounds panicky.
Jeff_Levitt: ...Keyser?
Jeff_Levitt: Are you all right?
Soze: I'm--
*Soze takes a chair.
*Soze is suddenly caught up in a bath of light-bright, blinding light-that sweeps over his arms and legs and neck and eventually consumes his whole body. He gives a muffled choke through the haze. His arms. Can he feel his arms? It’s over fast, though-luckily.
*Soze is, when the light clears, seven years younger. He’s wearing a suit without a jacket-white shirt, blue tie, suspenders-and a pair of round, non-prescription glasses. He stares out ahead for a moment, unseeing, before keeling over. Acks.
Soze: *The bond feels out of time, now, reaching ahead towards an unspecified point... but the point is not this man. Not right now.*
*Jeff_Levitt stands frozen, unable to do much but stare at first. Then tentatively, one step at a time, he approaches and kneels next to Keyser. He knows a bit of first aid, and checks his breathing, etc.
Jeff_Levitt: *timidly* ...Keyser?
*Soze[30] flinches, stirring.
Soze[30]: ...where...
*Soze[30] 's entire body tenses.
Jeff_Levitt: A-are you okay?
*Soze[30] 's arm LUNGES out, grabbing for Jeff's wrist. He shoots up into a sitting position, pulls Jeff forward, and attempts to wheel him around to pin him.
*Jeff_Levitt is too surprised to offer any resistance, not that he'd offer much if he *was* expecting it, and is easily pinned to the floor. "Keyser, what are you *doing?*" he yelps, his eyes wide and frightened.
*Soze[30] 's expression is probably familiar... from all those months ago when he was still Jeff's enemy. They say the eyes are the window to the soul, but there's nothing here-- only dull, brown irises and pupils and Jeff's frightened face reflected back in them.
*Soze[30] speaks each word slowly.
Soze[30]: Who are you?
*Jeff_Levitt 's face drains of all color. He remembers that look, that expression. The same one Soze had when he pressed a gun to Jeff's head all those months ago. "J-Jeff," he stammers. "You don't know me...you don't know me yet. Th-this is g-gonna sound crazy but we're in you're future now and s-something must've been in the c-coffee you drank and you're all back in time..." Yeah, babbling is go.
*Soze[30] 's voice is perfectly even. There's a slight, implacable accent, now and again, slipping into certain words. "You're right. That does sound crazy."
*Soze[30] leans in closer, inches from Jeff's face. "Let's try this again."
Soze[30]: Where am I?
*Jeff_Levitt flinches and closes his eyes, turning his face away. "It's called the Nexus. It's a sort of...crossroads between different worlds and different times."
Soze[30]: Look at me.
*Jeff_Levitt obeys.
Soze[30]: Jeff. 'Jeff,' right?
Soze[30]: I have a lot of questions for you.
Soze[30]: I'm hoping you'll answer.
Jeff_Levitt Right. Yes.
Jeff_Levitt is shaking.
Soze[30]: You tell me-- this is the future. Okay. All right.
*Soze[30] doesn't sound like he believes him.
Soze[30]: How do you know me?
Jeff_Levitt: We met when I first came here. Al-almost a year ago. You were going by a d-different n-name then.
Soze[30]: What was it?
Jeff_Levitt swallows. “R-Roger Kint. But you went by Verbal. You had a limp, too.”
*Soze[30] pauses. "Go on."
Jeff_Levitt: Oh Christ...th-there's a lot. Um...well um...we were both from New York...and um...there aren't a lot of regular humans h-here. S-so we s-sort of stuck together for awhile.
Soze[30]: Here. This 'crossroads between worlds.'
Soze[30]: Can you prove that?
Jeff_Levitt: J-just walk ouside the f-front door of the b-bar. You'll see for yourself. Or...um...
*Soze[30] very slowly, gets up off of Jeff. He doesn't break his gaze.
*Jeff_Levitt very slowly sits up.
Soze[30]: Why don't you come out there with me.
*Jeff_Levitt hesitates, then nods. "I can s-show you the door, sure."
*Soze[30] flashes a pocket knife-- just out of his sleeve. "You're coming out with me."
*Jeff_Levitt goes white. "But...I..." His eyes are drawn to the knife. "aaaahgod...okay. Okay." It looks like the very idea makes him want to throw up.
Soze[30]: How many other people know that I'm here?
Jeff_Levitt: You're...not exactly hiding anymore. But if you mean...you right *now*, just me.
Soze[30]: Okay. Well. Show me.
*Jeff_Levitt swallows audibly and nods, opening the door to the side room.