And I ran, I ran all night and day.

[terrigenjunky]

WHO: Peter Magnus (terrigenjunky), Roxas (bitchykid)
WHERE: The 110th Street Station, East side, down to 86th Street or so.
DATE: October 8th
SUMMARY: Peter and Roxas go for a jog around the park.
STATUS: Closed and as of yet, incomplete.

Comments

oh my god when did that get so long? D: sorry

[bitchykid]

My new home--(I could use that word now, the tenement wasn't just a place where I slept, it was where I ate and where I learned and where Nate was and where 'my' 'patients' were and even though all the spaces were shared, they were still mine and I... was happy to call it home)--was farther out from the warehouses than the boardinghouse had been. I didn't find the city difficult to navigate, it was predictable enough, laid out over square blocks of space. As long as I knew the general direction, I'd get there eventually, but over the past few weeks I had slowly been learning the fastest routes back into the city and the neighborhoods I was familiar with for work

It's fine! :D tl;dr is good, I live for it.

[terrigenjunky]

Ten minutes stretched into twenty and I began to think that I may have been stood up. On another day, I might have simply left, but this meeting was rather delicate. It was entirely plausible that Roxas might have simply passed me by without either of us even realizing it. Such was the morning commuter traffic.

Finally, I spotted a slight, vaguely shifty looking kid approaching my corner of the rail. He might have been a touch older than I'd thought, but it was difficult to really tell. Ages were next to meaningless anyway, so I figured there was little point in dwelling on it.

Extending my hand as if to shake his, I stepped forward. "Roxas, isn't it? It's lovely to finally meet you."

Well, if I was mistaken, then that was that. Social faux-pas were something else I didn't like to dwell upon.

[bitchykid]

I hadn't really expected him to take to me so easily. I'd expected having to breach the subject, explain who I was and maybe then he would hold out his hand, or not. It wasn't like I wanted to do it that way, I didn't enjoy the awkward social finagling that came with meeting people, from the journal or not. It was all wasteful, tedious ritual.

I stared up at him for a moment, taking in features with open curiosity. In the back of my mind, I tried to remember which name I had actually given him the first time, but couldn't call it up.

"Yeah," I agreed then, knowing I should answer before he thought I didn't know who he meant. I stood hesitating a moment longer over shaking on that greeting, but finally convinced myself to. "It's... nice to meet you too, Peter." It was an easy platitude to put forth because it was true.

[terrigenjunky]

Perhaps my lack of social intimidation was one of the few positive things I could attribute to my father. From as far back as I could remember, my sister and I were toted around to various gatherings. I though it was good sport back then, getting to meet all of his police buddies. Nevertheless, being a convenient prop in his circus had taught me how to shake hands and make introductions with virtually anyone. I suppose I should be grateful, to some degree

[bitchykid]

I reclaimed my hand thoughtfully. The statue? That didn't sound like it was too far, but I'd never gone on a concentrated run before. We used the trucks for some things, big shipments of various items that wouldn't do well under close scrutiny, but most of the time I was on foot, running around all over the city delivering packages and messages and making meetings. I thought I could do it, and probably wouldn't have admitted otherwise anyway.

I wouldn't give up even if it was too much, not in front of him. "Sure," I agreed with a nod. The only real issue I could even imagine was keeping up with Peter. Like most people I met, he had at least half a head on me in height.

[[ooc; -forgives.- 83]]

[terrigenjunky]

The trail from the station was rather winding and perhaps a little more narrow than I'd normally find comfortable. But all the waiting had begun to wear on me. Never an overly patient person, I started walking into the park, gesturing for Roxas to follow. I figured he would eventually get the idea, he seemed like a smart enough kid. Quiet, but smart.

The further you got into the park, the less people could be found lingering. After only a few paces in, the path seemed to widen and running became more probably. I stopped, checking behind me to be sure Roxas had actually taken the hint. Finding him, I jerked my head in the general direction of the path. "Shall we begin, then?"

[bitchykid]

It was easy to interact with him. He knew what he wanted, where he was going and wasn't wasting time trying to pussyfoot around me. I'd recognized pieces of that from the way we spoke in the journal, but it was refreshing in person. I followed him through the flex and press of the morning's traffic.

I wasn't as familiar with this park as I had become with Williard's, but I managed not to lose sight of him and the route he intended to follow made itself clear enough eventually. I gave him an attentive look, ready to follow him into motion. Getting moving sounded great, the weather was only getting colder, hours of sunlight decreasing, I didn't like it at all. Especially not before noon when the night's chill still clung to the blades of grass and to the cornerstones.

The sun would take care of it eventually, but for the time being I could run.

[terrigenjunky]

Seeing him rush past me, I picked up my pace. There was nothing wrong with letting the kid have a head start, but as this wasn't a race it was unnecessary. And the morning child might have been getting to me too, not that I was about to admit it, or let it show quite as much

[bitchykid]

It was an interesting sensation to push for no better reason than for the sake of it. My bones seemed to resist at first, my body and my mind stalling as it searched for purpose. It was hard at first, but as his steps brought him in front of me, I was able to give in to following in him, to keeping up, to not giving in. That was motivation enough.

I was pleased with myself that I was able to achieve it thus far. I could keep him in distance without any symptoms of breathlessness or weakness settling into my skin. I glanced up from where I had been watching the rhythm of his feet when he said something to me.

Warmth was seeping up my throat as we moved.