WHO: Kyrie & Zoe WHEN: July 15th WHERE: Kyrie’s apartment WHAT: Getting to know each other WARNINGS: None STATUS: Complete
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It was kinda a first for her, going to someone else’s place. Well, when she was working maintenance she did it all the time, but now… this was different. This was social. This was new and a bit scary. As she approached the apartment door, she reached up and knocked. Maybe Kyrie wouldn’t be home. Then Zoe could leave and said she’d tried. A hand reached down to her shoulder bag and her fingers ran over the yellow dome that peeked out of the canvas while her other hand held a plate of cookies. Cookies she’d traded for- not cooked. She was a crap cook. Despite having the ability to remember as many recipes as there could be- she just couldn’t get the hang of actually cooking them.
After a few moments, Zoe decided the other woman must be away and she got ready to move away. Of course, that had to be the moment the door opened. “Hi.” She said with a smile, holding out the cookies. “I wanted to say thank you for letting me cannibalize your blender.”
Even now Kyrie still feared the door and what lay beyond it. She was afraid that if she opened it the guards would be standing there waiting to take her away again. Maybe this time she wouldn’t come back and the idea haunted her. Ben had been so kind escorting her around, hanging out with her, but she felt terrible for monopolizing his time. He was there to be with Fitz, to take care of him in case something happened to her.
That moment Kyrie had been pacing. She was trying to decide what she wanted to do - would she brave going outside today or would she simply stay put again as usual? She felt like the most boring person alive at times because of the fear she had of leaving her own home.
There had been a rumor of a man being taken from his own home, that the guards had burst through the door and whisked the guy away from his family right in front of them. That could happen to any one of them and it caused her to sleep restlessly, even with Ben on one side of her and Fitz on the other.
When the knock at the door came she started visibly. A large breath was exhaled. Shaking fingers would reach for the knob of the door and she would pull it open slowly. Luck would be with her upon seeing Zoe, and the nervousness abated. Her smile blossomed and the door would open wider. “Hi,” she chimed, looking at the cookies being offered to her.
Eyes widened a bit and she felt humbled, color flooding into her cheeks. “Oh, thank you. That’s very kind of you. Would you like to come in?” A hand would wave, beckoning the woman into the home.
The invite shouldn’t have surprised her- though it did a little. “Oh, yea. Okay.” She nodded, fingers playing with the strap on her bag. Zoe was dressed in a simple blue on white patterned sundress. She entered the apartment with a polite nod. “I didn’t make them myself.” She felt the need to clarify.
Her bag beeped a little and Zoe brushed her fingers over the yellow dome again. Maybe she’d find a way to give him tactile sensations- so he could feel her touch. Her mind started to make notes and a list of things she’d need to research to make it happen as she glanced around Kyrie’s apartment. It was a bit bigger than hers, and definitely neater.
Kyrie nodded, letting Zoe in. Once the woman had crossed the threshold the door would be closed securely. Locked. Maybe that was an odd quirk but she felt safer for it. “That’s okay,” Kyrie assured her friend kindly. She made herself smile. “I like your dress.” Blue eyes would dip across the pattern of Zoe’s outfit before her gaze would lift up again.
“Make yourself at home, please.” Cookies would be taken into the kitchen and set onto the counter. She would share them with Ben and Fitz later. Maybe Jakob if he dropped by.
“Oh thanks.” She shrugged. “It fit. My mom got me dresses a lot, I always felt comfortable in them. Though I normally do darker colors, the pastel look isn’t really me.” Or maybe it was, Zoe wasn’t very fashion forward. She shrugged again. “I don’t know.”
A blonde piece of hair was tucked behind her ear. “I also though… maybe you’d want to see Juane.” She said. “You did name him after all.”
That was all Kyrie used to do, look at outfits, learn to style. She didn’t try to be as extravagant as she used to be, mostly to keep herself out of the limelight. She’d had enough of being noticed and playing things simple was safer. At least that was how she felt about it. But the dress Zoe had on did look good on the other woman.
“I think it’s very complimentary of you,” she explained, looking up at her friend once the cookies were set upon the countertop. “Brings out your eyes.”
Darker colors could conceal, bright colors tended to flaunt.
At mention of seeing the little robot Kyrie brightened a bit and nodded, moving back over to Zoe. “I’d like that! Thank you.”
Zoe blushes a little, not really used to compliments that didn’t come from family- especially on her looks. She moved into the living room and pulled the strap of her bag over her head to remove it from her shoulder. Carefully, she set it on the ground and lifted the yellow robot out. It looked around, getting a reading of the room it was in as Zoe set it on the coffee table.
She smiled up to Kyrie. “I’ve been tweaking with his programming. Improving his VI.” Zoe reached down and turned Juane around as he’d started to wander away. “Juane, you remember Kyrie, say hi.” She said. The robot stopped and looked at the dark haired girl and waived. “I need to get some more books- but I’m not sure they’ll have them… or be able to order them…” She pursed her lips. Thus far she’d done a good job over the last few weeks. But it was still far from what she wanted.
As if she were seeing a favored child Kyrie’s smile widened and she began to move closer toward Jaune, hand lifted in a tiny wave. “I don’t remember him being so adorable,” she cooed. “Bonjour Jaune,” Kyrie greeted. She was proud of this little thing her friend had created.
Kyrie lifted her gaze, straightening up a little bit. “I’ve heard a rumor,” she began, pausing to consider her words carefully. Hands would come to twist into the long, dark strands of her hair in an absent way. “That there’s a guard who brings stuff into the island for the residents.” Of course she didn’t know who he was, didn’t know if that was actually true. She tended to stay as far away from the guards as humanly possible.
Zoe looked at Kyrie, lettin Juane roam a bit, only keeping him for getting off the table. “What kind of ‘stuff’?” JD had revealed to her that he could get a letter to her family, but she still wasn’t sure what to tell them.
A shoulder would shrug. “I couldn’t be sure. The rumors would suggest actual items, but then again it’s only a rumor. I never went looking for real answers.” Even if it did sound a little exciting. What did you have to do to get something in the first place? Kyrie didn’t want to know nor did she want to invite silently anything that might be misconstrued for a few selfish wishes.
People in the cafe talked a lot. She pretended to ignore them or not notice if they were having in depth discussions or gossiping. It was hard not to overhear when someone was being loud or if there weren’t many people around to conceal the conversation.
Zoe nodded. She’d promised JD she’d not say anything. Not that she thought Kyrie would go ratting, but Zoe didn’t want to betray one of the few nice guards. “I’m not sure. I don’t hear much in the facility. But some of the guards are nice. Like JD. He took the report when my workspace was trashed… and then even followed up later to make sure I was okay.” Giving his name in general wouldn’t hurt. “It was really unexpected, but he was really nice. Walked me home too.”
Her eyebrows shot upward in surprise. “Really?” That must have been a rare occurrence, she’d only ever experienced the awful guards. But she was glad to know that there was some hope that someone was looking out for their well-being. Her hands would fall from the twisting tresses of hair and tumble back to their sides.
“I’m glad you’re okay, I didn’t realize something had happened to you.”
“Yea. And yea. I haven’t talked about it a lot.” Not that she had a lot of people to talk to. “Just a resident who didn’t like being here… I wasn’t hurt.” An inch to the left and she’d have lost her head though- or something.
Zoe blushed slightly, thinking about how JD had been so helpful and then showed up to check on her in that tight shirt. The memory came up and she could see him standing there, looking… she blinked slightly, pushing the memory back a little so she didn’t get lost. “It was a while ago. Before you brought over the blender. But yea, a nice guard- and not just one who isn’t outright mean, but one who actually cares… or seems to.” And is easy on the eyes.
Her expression became sympathetic regardless. Kyrie knew what it was like to not speak up about things - she had been kidnapped, herself and she never uttered a word about it. Making herself smile with the idea that nobody wanted pity, Kyrie nodded, “Still glad you’re here and that you’re okay.”
Maybe the residents were going about the guards all wrong. If there were good ones why weren’t things changing for the better? Why weren’t they allowed to have more freedom? She didn’t voice those concerns, but would think about them later.
“It’s actually refreshing to know that there are a few looking out for us.” She wondered what Jakob would think and suddenly she found herself longing to be in his presence. What an odd feeling that was, but she brushed it aside for now.
“And cute ones too.” She said softly, under her breath. “Juane, stop trying to walk off the table.” Zoe sighed, correcting him again. “Sit down.” The small robot stopped and took a seat. “If someone really can get stuff in secret, there are a few books I could use.” She sighed.
Brushing her hand over the skirt of her dress, she turned to Kyrie. “I’m sorry, is it rude to ask for a glass of water?”
Nearly giggling, Kyrie placed a hand over her mouth. “Cute?” She couldn’t deny that but she had a guard who stalked her, she wasn’t as keen to them. “If I find the guard I’ll tell him to find you.”
And then Kyrie smiled, shaking her head, “Not at all.” The woman turned and was off into the kitchen, gathering the glass of water requested.
“Yea, but he’s way older.” She blushed. “And I think he’s seeing someone. I don’t know, I’m not good with social cues.” Zoe admitted. “I was seventeen when I came here and never went to school like normal kids. So,” she shrugged and pointed to herself. “Clueless.”
“You should find out,” she purred. Never before had she ever entertained or encouraged such a thing but she could live through a friend. She couldn’t imagine courting someone else.
“Young, but I was young too when I came here.”
“Clueless. My siblings were so much better with that stuff and even homeschooled my brother had friends.” He’d always been more social savvy than she was. As much as Zoe wanted to be. “Have you dated anyone? I mean in general. Not here… or here? I mean… there are some cute boys- or are you into girls?” And there was the nervous ramble. “Sorry.” She winced. “There aren’t a lot of people my age here. Everyone seems so much more adult.”
At mention of siblings Kyrie made herself smile and nod. “My brother died a long time ago,” she breathed. They’d both had a good education. Her brother was much like Zoe’s brother, charismatic and social. Ezra had been her best friend.
A giggle. Kyrie bit at her lips and shook her head as Zoe. “I haven’t...I’ve never… um,” she breathed. Her cheeks flushed. She’d never been with anyone. She really didn’t know what she liked in a person. “I understand. I feel like that, too.”
“I’m so sorry!” Zoe frowned. “I have an older step-sister and a twin brother. They’re still… well they were in San Francisco.. now who knows.”
“Right? And so much more experienced. I graduated high school when I was like six. I didn’t get kids my own age and older kids were- older. I watched my sister do all the normal teenager stuff and part of me was jealous. But I figured I always had time. I’d make up for it when I went to CalTech.” All the time in the world- sure. “But…”
Kyrie offered a patient smile in response to Zoe’s condolences - she was used to that by now, and she didn’t want anyone feeling sad about Ezra’s passing. It had been a long time ago. Once in a while she and Fitz would share memories and stories but otherwise Ezra had faded into the threads of time and lasted now as only a memory. She missed her brother terribly but if this was the way they all ended up she was glad he didn’t have to experience it.
“Thank you, I appreciate that.” Her parents had been beside themselves though she felt her mother was acting simply out of the sake of looking good for the cameras. Fallen soldiers tended to attract media.
Her eyebrows arched, impressed, “Six? Wow. That’s young. You must be very smart.” She knew from reading Zoe’s ID card that the woman was smarter than the average bear. “Well, you have the time now,” she murmured, shrugging a shoulder. “I didn’t have much of a childhood either. Every day I find something new that I haven’t yet done before. I remember drinking a Coca Cola for the first time a few years ago.”
“All the time in the world, in a place where the median age is about 31.” She chuckled. It was sad but true. There were some younger people, but the majority of people she’d encountered had been older. Maybe it was because she’d been so young when she came to the island that her perception was skewed, but she felt sometimes that she tended to be treated younger as well. She was, but she was an adult now and old enough to drink- so not a child anymore.
“Really? Wow. I was always more of a Pepsi girl myself, but I wasn’t that sheltered.” She chuckled. “Or maybe just not in that way. Being homeschooled does mean I missed out on a lot of the normal ‘teen experiences’. Like, I always wanted to go to a school dance.”
A nod would come as a reply to the statement regarding age. “Well, I like being twenty five. Maybe I’m not as worldly as the others around, though I try my best to fit in where I can.” She had a lot of catching up to do with the world. Kyrie wasn’t necessarily sheltered but her life bordered on it. She wasn’t allowed to watch certain things, listen to certain things. Fitz had been a large proponent in catching her up with the times. “You should come over for dinner some time. Or we could always go do something, if you’d like.” Having a friend was exciting, the potential for an actual friendship with a woman close to her age who wasn’t a rival.
“I’ve tried Pepsi, too,” she laughed, offering a smile, “I forget that you can just say soda and people tend to understand.” She didn’t have a favorite necessarily.
Upon mention of a school dance, Kyrie’s eyebrows arched. “Like a prom? I never did that, either. I was homeschooled too.”
“That would be nice. I don’t tend to socialize much- was never good at it. My brother helped a lot.” Zoe rolled her eyes slightly. “I’d start talking about something ‘smart’ and everyone would just look at me like I was a weirdo.” She sighed, as if it were just a fact of her life. “I think people put up with me because they liked my brother.” So, she spent a lot of time with books instead of people.
“Prom, homecoming, dancing in general.” Zoe rubbed shyly at her arm. “I’ve never actually danced with a guy. Or anything…” with a guy.
“You’re not a weirdo,” Kyrie stressed, shaking her head at Zoe. “We are different, but not in a bad way. I would love for you to come over. I hope you don’t mind that I have a stray cat that I feed when it comes around.” That wasn’t how she would describe Fitz but it was almost robotic now. “I’d like the chance to be your friend.”
Kyrie smiled a little, “I have only recently gotten close to a guy.” Just being close was enough for her. She’d not done anything past that. Maybe that was a milestone. Kyrie chewed her lip and her cheeks flushed. “Maybe we should see if we can have a dance here? We could do it at The Facility. Maybe at the Marigold?”
Zoe shook her head. “I don’t mind animals.” It was true. She didn’t give them much thought most times honestly, but animals were animals in her book. Neither good, nor bad. Having never had a friend outside of family, it sounded nice to have one. “I think it would be nice to have a friend.” She smiled, for a moment she had a memory flash of her siblings she missed so very much.
At the prospect of a dance she laughed. “You really think they’d do one? Though, I mean who would go? It’s a little juvenile, isn’t it?” Right? Adults didn’t go to ‘dances’, right? However, the comment about being ‘close’ to someone didn’t go over Zoe’s head. “Really? What are they like? Are they nice? Cute?” Yea, she may be smart and having someone who could hold their own in a conversation might be nice to be with. She was still a twenty-something year old and looks did matter. Granted, Zoe probably found some people attractive that others might not. She’d had a crush on some of the guys she’d seen on the history channel who could be classified as ‘nerdy’. But she also got giggly when JD or Logan were around as well. So there was that.
“It is nice to have the kitty around,” she agreed. Kyrie was not always good at stretching the truth but she knew the gravity of anyone finding out about Fitz. Losing her brother had been hard, losing Fitz too was unspeakable. “I talk to it sometimes, as if it could actually understand me.” A small laugh coupled with a bit of redness in her cheeks, “Sorry if that sounds strange.” The loneliness was a good angle to use.
And then Kyrie would tip her head with consideration. “Maybe. It wouldn’t hurt to ask, right? If we found the right person to ask, came up with a plan or something.” Perhaps the prospect of a ‘formal dance’ was a bit silly but for someone like her she felt excited about it.
When Zoe started inquiring about Jakob, Kyrie’s cheeks really did flush. Her hands twisted against each other as she processed what to say, eyes averting. “He, uh, well… he’s very nice. Saved me from a few instances which might not have gone well with a guard,” she explained, making herself look at Zoe again. “Attractive. He has these tattoos.” She bit at her bottom lip with shyness, leaving out the swimming event that she and Jake had done recently. They hadn’t hung out recently though.
“I doubt he feels anything for me,” she explained in a hurry, shaking her head. Did that meant she felt something for him? It felt scary but true.
“I talk to Juane, and he’s not alive…” She said, sharing that she didn’t think talking to a cat was strange.
“Maybe.” Zoe shrugged. “I mean, it could be fun. I guess.” But what if she went and didn’t dance with anyone? What if no one asked her? What if she asked someone and they didn’t want to dance with her?
Zoe listened to Kyrie talk about this guy she was clearly interested in. Even without the perfect understanding of social cues, it was obvious. “Sounds like a nice guy- I mean I’ve seen guards pester people and no one does anything. Or maybe, it’s because he likes you?” She shrugged. “Do you like him?” As if she had to ask.
The idea of talking to a small robot wasn’t that much different though she understood that a cat and a machine were entirely different things. A nod would suffice as a reply to the statement and she found a bit of comfort in it.
“It might be,” Kyrie expressed, trying to sound hopeful. Had the concerns been brought up she would have quelled them with assurance. Who wouldn’t want to dance with Zoe?
The idea that maybe Jakob liked her being the reason he stepped in to her problem was interesting. It should’ve been obvious but she hadn’t connected the dots until now. The concept of anyone liking her in a way more than a friendship was still complex to her.
“I think so,” she confessed. This was a strange, new, exciting feeling for her and she lacked the experience.
Zoe giggled a little, she’d never really talked about this sort of stuff, even with her siblings. Not that they’d purposefully kept things from her, but perhaps they thought she wouldn’t have been interested. Or maybe they didn’t want to make her feel bad considering she wasn’t as social as they were. A piece of blond hair tucked behind her ear and she smiled. “Maybe if there’s a dance you can ask him.” She mused with a small shrug. She could live vicariously through someone else’s excitement.
Biting at her lip Kyrie nodded, offering a small, almost timid smile. “Maybe.” She didn’t know if she would have the courage, or even if Jakob would say yes. She wasn’t the most glamorous looking anymore, and in the way of skills she didn’t have a lot to offer a young man.
Part of her wished that Fitz was there - Kyrie trusted him and having Jake meet her ‘brother’ would have made Kyrie feel better about everything.
Zoe took a sip of her water and looked down to Juane. “Or maybe he’ll ask you.” And maybe Logan or JD or any one of the other attractive guys would show up in a suit and she can sit and daydream. “They would look good in a suit.” She said, not intending to speak aloud at her though. “I mean- Like, when guys dress up… sometimes they look nice.” Her cheeks reddened slightly. “And it would be nice to dress up. I watched my sister go to prom, but I’ve never really worn a dress like that before.”
She went back to taking a drink of her water before she started to ramble more. She knew a guard couldn’t ask her to dance or anything. And JD was so much older than her. Then again so was Logan, but he was real nice- if a quiet and inclined to let her ramble. And rambling meant she said embarrassing things. And then she’d blush and want to just hide and hope he forgot about everything she’d said. But he was always nice about it. The thought of the scruffy maintenance man in a suit, but still scruffy made her giggle a bit. He’d look so different from his normal casual ‘ready to get dirty’ look.
Eyebrows would arch though her expression softened at her friend’s comment. Gentlemen had a way of seeming very fine when they were dressed nice, and she knew that the same could be said about a woman. Kyrie had done enough dressing up to last a lifetime but the prospect seemed interesting regardless. “They do,” she agreed.
Patiently she watched her friend daydream a little. Curious as to who Zoe might be thinking about Kyrie braved an inquiry. “Who would you want to ask you if we did have a dance? Your secret will stay with me.” She made a promise regardless of whether or not the other woman would actually spill the beans.
She shook her head. “Oh, no. I couldn’t-” She looked to Kyrie, then away shyly. “I mean, I don’t think anyone I’d ask would say yes. I’m not really interested in anyone like that- not really. I mean, it’s fun to look and imagine, crush a little, but I know nothing would come of it.” Zoe answered as if she’d put a lot of thought into it in the past. “The dark haired man who works at the general store is cute.” Though she didn’t know his name. “There’s this doctor I’ve worked with on a couple of projects.” But he’d mentioned someone he was seeing once. “And Logan’s nice, and good with his hands.” If not just as socially awkward as she was.
She wouldn’t press her friend, even if the situation was really more or less hypothetical. “Of course they would. Look at you, you’re beautiful and smart. But I have a feeling there’s a lot more to you than just those two obvious things.” But then who was he to give advice that she couldn’t even take, herself?
Nodding, Kyrie smiled, “I’m sure those are all good choices!” Logan sounded vaguely familiar, she was better with putting a face to a name when she could visualize the person.
“Not really.” She admitted. “I mean, being smart is always just what I’ve been. And after my powers developed, it became moreso.” Zoe didn’t seem to sound too upset about this, it was just the facts. Everything she was stemmed from the fact that she retained and processed information in a way no one else could. “Not like you, who I’m sure has so much more to her than being a waitress.” She laughed lightly.
Zoe didn’t acknowledge the comment of her being beautiful. She knew traditionally she had beauty, it was genetics. But there was more to beauty and attraction than pure looks. Confidence and self-esteem played a bit part in being noticed. These qualities weren’t strong in Zoe. Normally, it wasn’t something she particularly disliked- not being noticed. But when in those moments that she wanted to be seen, she found herself lacking.
The end of Kyrie’s nose wrinkled. “Honestly, there really isn’t.” Like Zoe, she didn’t feel as if she contributed to much more. She was smart, capable, but as far as life skills went Kyrie was at the low end of that sort of development. Being a waitress here was her first real job on her own.
“Well, if there ends up being a dance maybe we can talk more about who to fix you up with.” It was a light-hearted comment coupled with a smile.
“And figure out how you’ll ask this tattooed guy out.” Zoe giggled.
“Come on, are you telling me you were a waitress before coming here too?” She asked incredulously. “I mean, there’s nothing wrong with that, there are plenty of nice people who are. But… I don’t know.” She shrugged. “I always pictured you as like, I don’t know, doing plays or something.” Or maybe that was just her mis-reading someone again. Wouldn’t have been the first time.
Kyrie nearly burst out laughing, cheeks flushing with color. “I don’t know about that,” she breathed, shaking her head though she was unable to hide the smile. She liked Jakob but she wasn’t sure he was even interested, plus she has never dated before. She had never done a lot of things before that she had an idea wouldn’t sit well with a guy.
Only offering Zoe a small smile at the next part for a reply, Kyrie shrugged. “Plays would have been nice.” She didn’t have stage fright so there was that.
“I’m just glad I’m not the only one clueless.” She said with a small smile, it was nice not to be alone in that. “Though, we may end up being the blind leading the blind.” Maybe they’d need to find someone who knew stuff to help guide them on the ways of… boys? Being an adult? Just socializing with other people?
Zoe looked at her water and for the first time in a while wished she had something stronger. Not that she’d ever been actually drunk. She’d had one drink once. It kinda made her mind fuzzy- she wasn’t sure how she felt about that. But maybe one day she’d try it, maybe things would be more quiet in her head. “So, neither of us have been to a dance… have you ever been to a party?” She inquired. “The closest I’ve been was a birthday party when I was ten. It was for me and my brother, but it was all his friends. I spent most of the day reading. It wasn’t a good party. Not for me at least.” Zoe shared. “Oh, and of course the holiday stuff they’ve had here… but I wouldn’t really count that because they’re mandatory sometimes and not really the same… not from what my sister told me about the ones she’d been to.” Someone she’d lived vicariously through when she was still too young to fully understand things.
If there was one thing to bond over she supposed there could be worse things than being socially awkward. “Me too,” Kyrie replied. She made herself smile a little and a metal note was jotted down to ask Fitz about a few things later on.
When Zoe mentioned parties, Kyrie nodded. Her mother threw a lot of parties, and because of her social status, her parents often went to other parties. Birthdays had always been big events mostly for show and not really designed for the true purpose.
“One or two,” came the confirmation.
“One more than me.” She laughed. “Well, if there is a party I promise I won’t leave you- unless you’re going to go dance with tattooed guy. That way we won’t be awkward alone.” Zoe offered, then an idea came to her. “You know. I should teach Juane how to dance.” She laughed again, looking at the little yellow robot. “I’m sure I could program something… even if I don’t think I have good rhythm myself.”
Kyrie nodded at the comment. “It’s a promise,” she assured her friend. Were they friends? She supposed that they were and it felt good to think so. She doubted anyone would want to dance with her but then again there probably wouldn’t be any parties so she felt she was safe there.
The idea of Jaune learning to dance nearly had her laughing. Her eyes shimmered with the amusement, “I think he would be a great dancer.”
“What do you think Juane? Do you wanna learn to dance m?” She asked him, knowing that he couldn’t answer. But it didn’t matter, it was fun and she was enjoying hanging out with her friend.