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Gabriel: The Boy [The Road] ([info]roadtothecoast) wrote in [info]colligo_threads,
@ 2010-01-01 17:18:00

Previous Entry  Add to memories!  Tell a Friend!  Next Entry
Entry tags:!open, claire winchester, luke & gabriel

Who: The Man (Luke) and The Boy (Gabriel) and OPEN! for someone to approach them.
What: Arrival
When: Today. Happy New Year!
Where: Outside the Library
Warnings: Not likely


"What is this place, papa?" The boy's voice brought the man to consciousness. He blinked, and pulled himself to sitting up. Looking around, he stared at the boy, who held a hand up over his forehead to shield his eyes from the harsh glow of...fluorescent lighting. "Papa?" the boy said, voice pitched with the lilt of a question.

"It's a library, son," the man replied. He hoped the boy didn't ask how they got there, because he had no clue. One minute they'd been walking on the road, headed for the coast, and then they were here. In a library. With books, and electricity.

And soldiers. Luke frowned. "Maybe we should go outside, see where we are." Something wasn't right, and the man was starting to feel apprehensive. He lumbered to his feet, using a nearby shelf to leverage his weight.

"I don't want to go outside," the boy, Gabriel, said. he reached for a book from the shelf. "Why are there no words, papa?"

All at once, the soldiers moved into action. Taking both the man and the boy by the arm. The man struggled, and the boy screamed, but within seconds, the two of them were deposited outside, and one of the soldiers dropped something in Luke's lap before disappearing inside.

"Papa?"

Luke shook his head. "I don't know, son. I don't know." Luke looked back at the library, still and silent, like nothing had ever happened. With a frown, he got to his feet, pulling Gabriel behind him. There were people on the street. Normal people, people dressed for the weather, in clean and well maintained clothes. people who were clean and looked to be well fed. "But I think one of us must be dreaming," he said softly.


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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-02 02:51 am UTC (link)
Claire knew that Arthur was still around and knew that she was still in danger as Anakin's vision had yet come to pass. However, she also knew that her video store wouldn't run by itself and that she had to go by there at least once a week to check on things. This week, she picked New Year Day because the store was closed (a last minute decision after keeping it open late the night before) and she figured, if Arthur did show up, she'd rather it be when her employees and various customers weren't around.

It was on her way back from the store that she happened to notice two people being deposited in front of the Grand Library. Most of the time Claire didn't bother stopping to talk to newcomers. She greeted them over the network, of course, but taking time out of her day to stop and talk to them would mean not much time was left in her day for anything else.

This time, though, things were different.

She didn't know them, as she had with Jo, but they caught her attention anyway. Perhaps it was how they were dressed. Perhaps it was the fact that they both looked quite bewildered. Perhaps it was simply because one was a child. Whatever the reason, Claire pulled her car off by the curb and got out.

Making her way up the walkway, she kept her steps light and her gait a calm one. She didn't want to startle them anymore than they had already been. However she couldn't just ignore them either. Not without at least offering help first.

So, pausing a few feet away to give them plenty of personal space, she offered a gentle smile to the boy then looked to the man she could only assume was his father.

"It's a lot to take in at first, isn't it?" she asked quietly. Her eyes squinted a bit as she peered at him - the sun overhead beating down and making the entire library seem far brighter than it actually was under normal lighting conditions. The snow that covered the ground and building only added to the glare.

"I'm Claire," she offered next. "I was driving past and saw you and thought you might like a little help. Or at least an explanation."

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-02 03:34 am UTC (link)
The two each wore several layers of torn, tattered, and dirty clothes. The hadn't bathed for days, and the stench was more than unpleasant. Their shoes had been worn to the ground, stuffed with cardboard to try and make them last a bit longer.

"Is it a car, papa?" the boy asked, when Claire stopped near them. His words were light and full of awe. He'd seen cars before, mostly abandoned at the side of the road, old and rusted, used for shelter sometimes when they walked.

"Shhh." Luke jerked his head, to drive home the command. He eyed Claire skeptically, his instinct to protect the boy stronger than his desire to talk to her and find out what was going on, even if she did offer an explanation.

He tried to usher the boy back. Back toward the library, perhaps. But Gabriel struggled and broke free of Luke's grasp. He rushed up to her, looking every bit a homeless child about to beg for money. "I'm Gabriel. My papa isn't always friendly," he said, without looking back at Luke. "but he's one of the good guys. Are you one of the good guys? So you eat babies?" He tilted his head, hand up to ward off the harsh light of the sun. "The good guys don't eat babies."

"That's enough, boy," Luke said softly, but with a rumbling tone.

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-02 04:08 am UTC (link)
She was about to give up, figuring either the man didn't want her help or simply was too freaked out to take it, when the boy broke free and came up to her. Gazing down at him, her smile as friendly as before, she replied, "It's nice to meet you, Gabriel. I know somebody else with that name, too. It's a very nice one."

She blinked at his question, clearly taken aback, and glanced past him to his father. Eying him for a moment, she smiled back down at Gabriel. "No," she answered. "I don't eat babies. Promise."

The smell coming from both of them was strong but Claire ignored it. If there was one good thing to be said about her lack of being able to sense pain, it also included a lack of an upset stomach. So while the stench was rather strong, it didn't make her queasy and she was more than capable of handling a bit of an unpleasant odor if it meant helping out the newcomers.

Once again her gaze fell to Luke, her expression an open and honest one. "I was brought here too. So were a lot of people, in fact," she told him. "If you take your PDA - the device that the guards gave you - to a bank you'll get some money. There's also a note on there that will tell you which apartment is yours. There are already a few things there. Clothes. Toothbrushes. Things like that, so you don't have to spend your money to get them."

Her attention fell back to Luke. "And there's nobody here that eats babies that I know of," she assured him. "Though there are other kids."

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-02 04:27 am UTC (link)
"There's kids my age?" Gabriel asked, eyes brightening. He was a happy kid, despite the situation he'd come from, despite never knowing any other children. His papa and his mama, for a time, had been his only playmates.

Luke meanwhile, turned the PDA over in his hands, looking at it as if it were an animal about to bite him. He heard every word Claire said, but it was all a bit much for him to take in, or take at face value. He'd have to check in to it himself.

"Come on, boy," he muttered, letting his hands fall to his side. He held the PDA in a death grip, his other hand curled in a fist. He felt frustrated. he wanted to grab Gabriel by the collar and drag him away, but Claire didn't seem to pose a threat to them, and he didn't want to come off any more weird than he knew they were.

"I want to know about the other kids, papa," Gabriel said. He looked back at his father, then shifted his focus back to Claire. "Can you show me where they are? The other kids?" He had something of a one track mind.

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-02 04:41 am UTC (link)
The last thing Claire had wanted to do was cause any sort of issues between the father and son, but she also didn't have the heart to ignore Gabriel's question about the other children either. He seemed to very thrilled at the prospect that she couldn't help but smile a little brighter at him.

"Well," she answered, "they're all over, I guess. I know that Leia's probably at home right now, with her dad. Molly might be at the park near her apartment building. Depending on where you're staying, you'll pass it on the way to your place. If not, though, it's not very hard to find."

This was when her attention went back to Luke. "There's a map in one of the programs on the PDA, though not a lot of stuff is labeled. Just marked with stars and stuff," she explained simply. "Apartment building D is the one by itself. The other two are right beside each other." She didn't mention the fire that had burnt down Building B. There really wasn't any point, and if they were staying in Building A or C they'd see it easily enough anyway.

She briefly considered asking him if he needed any other help, or had any questions, or wanted an escort to his apartment. She wasn't sure he'd take her up on any of those, though, or that he'd appreciate any of it. So instead she just added, "And I was actually on my way to pick up some food for dinner. If you want me to show you where that's at, I don't mind." Of course it wasn't the only place in Colligo where you could get food. But considering how they were dressed, and how they looked, and smelled, Claire had a feeling food wasn't something they'd had much of lately either.

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-02 05:17 am UTC (link)
"I'm afraid we don't have any money," Luke answered, but he could feel his mouth watering at the thought of food. From a restaurant. Food that wasn't bugs scavenged from dirty old floors.

"Leia and Molly? Those sound like girl names," Gabriel said, disappointment touch his words. Hey, it was easier to focus on that, than think about food. He had never had food from a restaurant before, and his papa didn't like to talk about stuff like that. "Are there any boys?"

Luke's stomach grumbled and he felt a wave of embarrassment. He wanted to curl up and disappear. He shook his head. "Besides, we're not dressed for it," he added. The clothes they had on had seen better days, and Luke was embarrassed all over again to think he was standing there talking to a beautiful woman, when he looked like some kind of homeless caveman.

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-02 05:32 am UTC (link)
Okay, Claire had to admit that he did have a point in regards to how they were dressed. However, she also knew that they were both clearly hungry - the rumbling of the man's stomach told her as much, if nothing else - and she couldn't just leave them standing there while she went to get food knowing that they probably hadn't eaten anything very substantial in... actually, she didn't even want to finish that thought.

Before tackling that particular conundrum, however, her attention once more went to Gabriel and she smiled. "Well, Leia and Molly are girls," she admitted, "but they're both very nice." Okay, Molly more so than Leia, but Claire wasn't going to tell him that. Instead she continued with, "And like I said, there are a lot of other kids too. I just don't know most of them myself, but they do come into my store a lot."

And that was when the idea hit her. Her store. It was closed to the public, it was heated and dry, and right next door was a deli. Her attention flickered back to Luke at that thought, the words nothing more than a suggestion as she offered, "If you want, we could get you some food and take it there. To my store, I mean. There's nobody else there right now, so how your dressed really doesn't matter, and it's a warm place for both of you to sit and eat."

If he didn't want to take her up on that offer, Claire would understand. However she did tell herself that was the last offer she was going to make. Beyond that she'd simply answer any questions they might have and wish them both luck. She wasn't going to force herself onto two strangers who clearly weren't used to trusting others. Or, at least, one adult who didn't trust others, and one very sweet, caring little boy, from what she could gather.

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-02 09:55 pm UTC (link)
Luke was torn. He didn't want to take charity, but on the other hand, the promise of real food was too much to pass up. He knew the choice he had to make, even if it killed him a little to accept help.

He didn't know what kind of dream this was, but it felt a little too real. He and the boy were in another world, a world with cars and stores and restaurants and food. Electricity and likely running water and all sorts of things the boy had only heard tell of and never experienced.

After a moment's deliberation for effect, and a glance at the boy for further effect, Luke nodded. "All right. I'd be a fool not to accept." Even if it turned out to be some kind of trap. At least he cold say he tried, for Gabriel's sake. "On the condition that we make it up to you somehow."

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-02 10:41 pm UTC (link)
Claire smiled and nodded. "I'm sure we can figure something out," she agreed easily enough. She understood the desire not to take handouts. If he wanted to repay her somehow, they'd figure out a way that worked. For now, her main concern was getting them both something to eat and out of the cold while they tried to come to terms with where they were.

"My store is just up the street. A couple of blocks. We can take my car or we can walk," she said. "Whichever you'd like." Walking in the cold, ice-covered sidewalks wasn't exactly her idea of a grand time. But she also knew that not many people would be willing to climb into a stranger's car, so she wouldn't blame him if he'd rather take his chances with the weather.

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-02 11:17 pm UTC (link)
"You drive. We'll walk," Luke said. He didn't want her leaving her car behind, but neither did he trust her enough to get into the car, or put Gabriel int the car. And with the way they smelled, though he was immune to it, he didn't want to leave her car smelling like old sweaty socks.

"But papa," Gabriel started, Luke shook his head, and the boy fell silent. He'd never been in a moving car before, and the idea was clearly exciting to him. But Luke wasn't going to budge on that. The boy could walk a few more blocks, and would if he wanted the food Claire was offering.

"I appreciate everything you've done for us, but I won't take undue advantage," Luke explained. "The food will be appreciated most of all, but nothing too heavy. And no meat, the boy's never had meat." And meat would upset his stomach, Luke knew. Not that it had ever been an issue before.

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-03 12:23 am UTC (link)
With a nod, Claire pulled her car keys from her jacket pocket. She knew that her car would be fine if she left it there. The odds of someone stealing it were just as high in front of her store as they were here. However, she knew if she drove, that would give the father and son a chance to talk, without her interference. Plus, it was his decision and that was the one he'd made.

"Just follow the sidewalk that way," she pointed up the street, "about a block and a half. There's a sign out front. Colligo Select Video." She gave them both a smile. "If I'm not there, I'll be next door getting the food." She figured she would probably have the food by the time they got there, but on the off chance that the deli was busy she'd rather not take any chances.

With another smile, she turned on her heel and made her way back to her car. It only took a minute and a half, tops to get to the video store. As she parked, then made her way into the deli beside it, she thought about what he'd told her.

No meat. Nothing too heavy. Biting absently on her lower lip, she eyed the menu on the wall and tried to figure out the best thing to order for two people whom, she was assuming, hadn't had an actual meal in quite some time. Could be worse, she decided as she studied the selections. They could be having to eat my cooking. With a slight grin at her own, mentally told joke, Claire stepped up to the counter and began to place her order.

A few minutes later she exited the deli - once again thanking the elderly couple who owned the place and had been more than kind in helping her figure out just what to order. There was a bag of food in one arm and a bag containing a bottle of milk, a couple of types of juices, and some bottled water in the other. Her gaze swept around, checking for any sign that anything was amiss, before making her way back around the corner to her store.

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-03 01:50 am UTC (link)
"Why couldn't we go in the car, papa?" Gabriel asked, watching the car drive out of sight. His tone was flat, let down, disappointed.

Luke hated to hear that tone. It twisted his heart, but he held strong. "Because you stink like a sewer rat, boy, and a car is a small, closed up space." Luke ruffled Gabriel's hair, to lessen the blow, and make it more like a joke.

"I don't think the lady really cared."

"Well, I do," Luke said. He felt like he couldn't take another step, but he kept putting one foot in front of the other. It didn't take them long to get to the shop, just as Claire was approaching from the deli.

Gabriel perked up when he saw her. "I can carry the bag for you!" He offered. He was helpful like that, when he had the opportunity to be helpful. He moved toward her, hoping she would let him help. He wanted to do something.

"You have running water? We need to clean up before we eat." Luke kept his distance, but had a watchful eye on Gabriel.

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-03 02:08 am UTC (link)
Claire smiled as she spotted them, her grin growing a bit when Gabriel offered to help and began moving toward her. "If you want, sure thing," she replied lightly, holding out the bag of food for him. It was a bit lighter than the drinks, plus she needed that hand free to get to her key anyway.

Her gaze swept to his father, realizing a bit belatedly that she'd yet to learn his name. Figuring he'd either offer it, or she'd ask once he was a bit more at ease and with a full stomach, she simply nodded at his question. "There's a restroom in the back, to the right," she answered. "It says for employees only, but that's really just to keep the teenagers from trying to steal stuff. There are towels under the sink."

She'd had to clean up from one too many accidents on the job, both from her own clumsiness as well as messes made by others, to keep simply paper towels and tissue paper on hand anymore. Although she'd only had to use the actual cloth towels once, she now found herself glad they were there if only for her guests' sake.

As she spoke, she slid the key into the lock of the door and opened it. Once inside, she moved to the alarm directly beside the door and entered in her code. The lights came on automatically as the code was accepted and she glanced out the doorway at the duo.

"Come on in," she offered. "It's not as nice as the apartments, but it's warm and nobody will bother you in here. We're closed for the holiday." Pausing, she added, "And sorry, about the faint smoke smell. We had a fire a little while back. The damage has been cleaned up but getting rid of the smell has proven pretty tricky."

Honestly, she was used to it by now and wasn't sure if they'd even notice it, but she figured she'd at least mention it. Nervous chatter and all that.

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-03 03:31 am UTC (link)
After Gabriel put the bag down on a counter, Luke led him toward the bathroom in the back. There wasn't much he could do about the smell of their clothes, but he used the soap to scrub Gabriel's face and hands clean, then his own. The water going down the drain was nearly black.

"Do you smell the smoke, Papa?" Luke shook his head. "Me either. Just smells like home."

"Maybe this is our home now." Not the shop, exactly, but he hoped Gabriel understood that. "Wouldn't that be nice? With food and running water and-"

"Sunshine," Gabriel interjected. "I can't wait till it gets dark, so I can see the moon and the stars like Mama used to tell me about."

Luke smiled. "Come on, let's not keep our hostess waiting." He ruffled Gabriel's hair, and nudged him toward the door. They were only marginally more presentable, but it was better than nothing.

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-03 03:57 am UTC (link)
While they were busy cleaning up a bit, Claire was unpacking the bags that she'd got from the deli. By the time they re-emerged from the back, the counter was covered in a varied assortment of cheeses, breads, and fresh fruits and vegetables. She hadn't gotten any meat - just as he'd instructed - and also had made sure not to have any condiments put directly on any of the food. There were small packets of mayonnaise and mustard, a container of dressing for the vegetables, and a small container of chocolate dipping sauce that was homemade by the woman who owned the deli, for the strawberries and bananas.

The drinks were all set out beside the food, the bottles still covered in a thin sheen of sweat from the cooler they'd been pulled from. She had also set up a few napkins and some paper plates, left over from the Christmas party that she'd held for her employees a week or so earlier.

Putting down the stack of mail she'd been sorting through while waiting for them to return, she smiled lightly and motioned to the counter. "Help yourselves," she said softly, not quite sure what else to say. There was a touch of nervousness - worry that she'd gotten something they wouldn't want or had forgotten something they would - but she did think she'd done pretty well for such a short period of time and made a mental note to thank the woman who ran the deli profusely the next time she was in there, for her help getting everything together in such a hurry too.

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-03 04:13 am UTC (link)
"Don't eat too fast," Luke warned as Gabriel stood in awe at the spread of food. "I know it looks tempting but it will give you a belly ache."

Gabriel nodded. He looked back and beckoned Luke to come closer. He wasn't sure where to start, he'd rather follow his father's lead. Luke had lived when food like this existed, he'd know what to do.

They both gathered bread and cheese, assorted fruit and vegetables. Luke gave Gabriel a bottle of apple juice, but chose water for himself. With a grateful smile for Claire, he nodded for the boy to sit in a nearby chair. "Remember. Slow. Even if it tastes good."

"I know, Papa," Gabriel said with a grin. He looked down at the plate, not sure where to begin. He decided on the cheese, and took a small bite, so he wouldn't eat too fast like his papa said.

"I am going to pay you back for all of this," Luke said. He held a piece of bread, but he hadn't taken the first bite. He was watching Gabriel discover the tastes on his plate, thinking it was one of the most magical things he had ever seen.

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-03 04:40 am UTC (link)
Claire snagged a bottle of water and leaned lightly against the counter so as to give them space to eat. Gabriel's enthusiasm, and determination to eat slow, both brought a smile to her face and made her heart ache a bit. Just what sort of world had they come from, she wondered, but wasn't going to ask. At least, not just yet.

Instead she simply sipped on her water, her gaze flickering to Luke when he informed her that he would find a way to pay her back. She understood his reasons, or at least what she assumed were his reasons, but she also didn't want him to feel obligated.

"It's okay," she finally said, her gaze flickering back to Gabriel and a soft smile adorning her features. She turned back to Luke. "Nobody should have to go hungry when there's plenty to spare. Especially a child."

Another sip of her water and she added, "But, if you don't mind, you could tell me your name? I'm not sure exactly what to call you, and 'hey you' seems a little rude."

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-03 05:06 am UTC (link)
Luke laughed. It was a rare sound, even for Gabriel. He looked up, startled, but looked back down at his food and kept eating.

"My name is Luke, but no one's called me by my name for a very long time." He was just Papa, to the boy. He could remember the last time he'd heard someone else speak his name, but he didn't want to think about that.

Gabriel balanced his plate on his knees, so he could open the juice. He didn't need his father tot ell him to drink it slowly, his stomach was feeling a little queasy, and he figured it out for himself.

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-03 05:25 am UTC (link)
Claire felt mildly accomplished, somehow, at managing to get a laugh from the man. It was obvious from Gabriel's reaction that it wasn't a very common occurrence. She smiled when he finally gave her his name.

"Well, it's nice to officially meet you, Luke."

He hadn't offered another name in lieu of his own, so she opted to call him that. She could only hope that, if he did have a preference for another one, he would tell it to her. If hearing his own name somehow had bad memories attached, she didn't want to upset him. Still. 'Hey you' did seem a little rude, and there was no way on this planet or the one she came from that she was going to call him Papa as Gabriel did.

Again, she wondered what sort of place he came from where even first names weren't commonly used. Or maybe it was just that he didn't have anyone else around, aside from his son, and that's why he hadn't heard his name spoken? Still, their state of dress and various other things made it clear that wherever they did hail from, it wasn't a very nice place.

"I do have another question," she spoke again after a brief pause. "It's probably going to sound a little crazy." She absently peeled at the label that covered her bottle of water as she decided on a way to word it. Finally, she just looked to him and simply asked pointedly, "Are you two from Earth? Or somewhere else? And I promise, I'm not crazy. It's just, this isn't Earth, and some people here aren't from there, and if you are from there it's not the same one I'm from, so I guess I'm just..."

She gave a slight shrug and small grin. "Being a little nosy," she admitted somewhat sheepishly.

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-03 05:50 am UTC (link)
"It was earth," Luke said with a nod. He took a bite of bread, then set it down. "And it's fine. You have every right to ask, obviously we're not from around here." He was starting to think this dream was just a little too detailed.

"About ten years ago, everything changed. Some might call it an apocalypse. I'm not sure what I call it. There was no more electricity, no running water, no gas for the cars, no food. Within a few years, there were no animals left, and not that many people either. As time passed, more and more people killed themselves, or starved to death. Some were killed by bandits, who acted like pirates on land. We were headed to the coast, when we found ourselves in the Library."

Well, that sure made a long story short. Gabriel kept his head down, focused on his plate while his papa spoke of where they'd come from. "I hate it there," he said softly. "Except for Papa. Can we stay here?"

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-03 06:05 am UTC (link)
Her stomach churned slightly as he spoke, her heart aching at the thought of humanity suddenly meeting such a grisly end. It sounded absolutely nothing like the Earth she was from, but realized with startling clarity that, if he was from a further point in time than she was from, it easily could be the same reality. There wasn't a real way of knowing without getting into dates, and as curious as she was Claire couldn't bring herself to ask.

So instead she glanced to Gabriel as he spoke, her expression a tender one at his innocently spoken words. She couldn't blame him for wanting to stay. Who would want to go back to something like that, anyway?

"It's hard to tell who stays and who doesn't, around here," she finally spoke, deciding to be honest rather than fill the boy with some sort of false hope that could turn her into a liar in the future. Her attention slid back to Luke.

"I've been here almost a year. As far as we know, not counting the locals, I was one of the first to show up. But there have been other people who have come and gone since then. Some come back. Some don't." She sighed softly and admitted, "We don't really know why some leave and some don't. We all just... make the best of it while we're here, mostly."

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-03 06:14 am UTC (link)
"Then we'll stay as long as we can, then." Luke spared a glance at Gabriel. The boy nodded, and fingered the food that remained on his plate. "It's all right, if you don't want to eat it. Maybe we can save it for later."

Gabriel shook his head. When he looked up, tears glistened in his eyes. "I don't want to go back, Papa. I like it here! I like Claire and I like food and I like running water! I won't go back. I won't! You can't make me!" Gabriel didn't often get upset, but he tended to scream, when he got worked up.

Luke moved to him and knelt, hands on Gabriel's knees. "I know, all right? I feel the same way. So we'll stay as long as we can, and you heard Claire. We don't know how long it'll be." He took the plate from Gabriel's hands and set it up on the counter, so he could pull the boy into a hug. "You know I'll always take care of you, right? I'm not going to let anything happen to you, and I don't want to go back either."

He'd apologise to Claire for the outburst later, but for the moment, comforting Gabriel was his priority.

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-03 06:36 am UTC (link)
Claire felt her heart all but break at the boy's tearful words. She wondered if maybe she should have lied, but knew that no matter how upset he might get, she couldn't bring herself to do that. The thought of having them suddenly wind up back home without being prepared for it was much worse, she was sure, than having to deal with the thought that they might not be able to stay here forever.

Still, as she watched the father and son embrace, she found herself hoping that whoever was responsible for bringing them all to Colligo took pity on the duo and let them remain. No one should have to live in the world that Luke described. No one.

Still, she couldn't help but feel guilty for having caused Gabriel such upset. "I'm sorry," she whispered, voice thick with regret. "I just... I'm sorry."

She wasn't sure what else she could say, what she could possibly do, to make it better. Yes, they were here now, and she could point out that staying upset meant they wouldn't enjoy this place as much as they might otherwise. However that was of little consequence, really, and wasn't her place to even bring up.

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-03 06:55 am UTC (link)
"You didn't do anything." Luke looked back to give her a small smile. "He's always been a wet blanket." He slowly eased back from the hug, and Gabriel raised a hand to wipe across his nose. Luke reached over to get a napkin and handed it to him, but didn't chastise him.

"It's better than lying to him, anyway. Even if he doesn't think so right now. He'll thank you later." Luke ruffled Gabriel's hair. Gabriel looked up, tears still shining in his eyes, but he said nothing. Luke retrieved his plate and plucked up a strawberry.

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-03 07:27 am UTC (link)
Luke's words helped, but Claire still felt guilty. She could have just stayed silent about the whole thing, she knew. She probably should have, she realized however belatedly. Still, Luke didn't seem upset and Gabriel... well, his father knew what was best for him, as all fathers did, so Claire really couldn't say much else on the subject.

Instead she turned her gaze to her water bottle, giving Gabriel a few minutes to compose himself. It was as she was glancing up that a box near the register caught her eye and she remembered just what was in it.

New videos. Inventory for the start of the year, as well as a few that she'd ordered that had been lost in the fire and were just finally coming back into stock at her supplier. Glancing at the television monitor that hung on the ceiling not far from where Gabriel sat, she looked back to the box with a thoughtful expression.

They didn't have electricity, where they were from. That meant they didn't have movies either. Which meant that there was a very good chance Gabriel didn't even realize what the boxes on the various shelves around him contained. And while Claire knew that most of them likely wouldn't hold his interest, or even what his interests might be, she did happen to have a few movies in the box by the register that might be entertaining to him.

"What do you say we put on some entertainment while we eat?" she finally asked, glancing first to Gabriel then to Luke, gauging his reaction as he was the one who would have a better idea what she was talking about. "We are in a video store and it's not like I'm going to be renting any of them today."

Plus, she thought, it might help to lighten Gabriel's mood once more. And Claire was willing to do just about anything to see that happen. Sitting through the re-release of Toy Story, or any of the other plethora of children videos that she had in stock, was well worth it if it achieved that goal.

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-03 05:47 pm UTC (link)
"What would you suggest?" Luke asked. Their conversation would give Gabriel time to pull himself together. The boy would be fascinated by the moving pictures, something he thought must have come from a science fiction novel when his parents talked about it.

"He'd probably like something basic. Looney Tunes, maybe. I don't know that he'd make it through a full length movie." He gave a small smile, in Gabriel's direction. The boy was just sitting there, staring, now. He knew what they were talking about, but at the same time had no idea what they were talking about.

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-03 06:57 pm UTC (link)
"Looney Tunes works," Claire replied with a smile. Making her way around the back of the counter, she began sorting through the large shelves that contained the various DVDs that corresponded with the cases out on the sales floor. Finding one - Looney Tunes Golden Colelction - that was a particular hit amongst some of the children who frequented the store (and their parents too, Claire was pretty sure), she slid it into the DVD player behind the counter.

Picking up the remote, she turned on the television hanging from the ceiling then glanced first to Luke, offering him a smile. "This is one of the more popular rentals. I just happen to have a copy I keep on hand, in case any of the kids who aren't from here want to borrow it. I usually don't charge the off-worlders. It doesn't seem fair, somehow," she told him. Then her gaze flickered to Gabriel to gauge his reaction as the first cartoon on the DVD appeared on the screen. She hoped he liked it. While she couldn't imagine a child who didn't like cartoons, she wasn't quite sure what someone who had never seen one would think.

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-03 07:17 pm UTC (link)
Gabriel's attention jerked up to the television when the sound started. He stared up at it in wonder, amazed at the moving pictures. "It's just like you said, papa," he murmured after a moment. The cartoon itself hadn't even started.

Luke smiled. "It is." He took another piece of cheese and ate it slowly. He had eaten more than enough, his stomach hadn't felt so full for many years, but the food was too good to ignore.

The cartoon started, and within the first few seconds, Gabriel was trying to stifle a laugh. He was more fascinated with how it worked, than what was really going on on the screen.

Luke looked over at Claire. "Thank you, for this. For all of it."

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-04 03:17 am UTC (link)
Claire had been watching Gabriel, smiling at his reaction to the cartoon, when Luke spoke. Her gaze moved to him, her smile still in place. "You're welcome," she replied softly, so as not to disturb Gabriel from the show. "But really, it's no trouble. Like I said. Those of us that aren't from here try to help each other out when we can manage it."

Looking briefly back to Gabriel, she turned back to Luke and added, "Besides, it's worth it just to see his reaction to everything." Noticing that, while they both had eaten, there was still quite a bit of food left, she studied the spread of various items.

"So the people I'm staying with aren't going to eat most of this stuff," she commented as she turned back to Luke. "Which means you two should take it. Otherwise it's just going to go to waste." Which, okay, that wasn't entirely true. She was sure her employees would happily gorge themselves on everything when they showed up for work in the morning. But her employees had money, and food of their own. Until Luke showed his PDA to the bank he didn't have any money, and the apartments only came stocked with a few necessities.

Plus, they needed it more than her employees did. If anything, Claire knew they'd certainly appreciate it more.

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-05 01:18 am UTC (link)
"He is pretty amazing." Luke said, softly, in response to her comment about Gabriel. He was a proud father, and shameless in his pride and love for his son.

He nodded toward the food. He intended to pay her back, especially if she was giving him the left overs. He wasn't going to say no. He'd lived too long where food was scarce, to turn it down now.

"Who knows, some day it might be our turn to help someone else." He smiled a little. He did hope to stick around that long. He didn't want to go back to where they were before. He didn't want that for Gabriel, now that he had a chance for a better life.

"Any chance there's a farm? A ranch? Somewhere I can find a horse?" He missed riding, grooming, even mucking the stalls. Horses had been his biggest passion, before Gabriel came along and the horses went away.

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-06 01:59 am UTC (link)
"In this place, it'll probably happen sooner than you think," Claire replied with a smile. She was glad he wasn't going to try to argue with her over the food. He and his son were the most deserving of it, she'd bought it with them in mind, ergo they were the ones who needed to take it. To her, it was as simple as that.

Her brow furrowed a bit at his question, her mind running through a list of the various things she knew to exist within the city. "I'm... not sure," she finally answered slowly. Her eyes widened a bit and she added, "But I know one way we can find out."

Moving back around the counter, she rooted beneath it for a minute before finally finding what she was looking for. With a soft, victorious 'aha!' she pulled out a phonebook and cast a grin at Luke. "The Colligo directory. The locals around here may not be the most helpful when it comes to why we're all here, but they make a pretty thorough phonebook," she explained.

Opening it, she began flipping through the pages in search of anything that might resemble something that had horses. Being from Texas, Claire was certainly no stranger to the concept of farms, ranches, and stables, and it was as she was searching the S's that she found what she was looking for with a practiced ease.

"Here we go," she exclaimed, glancing back up at him. "Looks like there are some stables, on the outer edge of the city near the forest." She studied the address for a minute, absently running her finger along the top of the page with the intention of checking to see if there were more listings, when she felt the telltale tugging against her skin that signified she had cut herself.

There was no pain, there was never any pain, but Claire still managed to hiss in a semi-believable fashion before instantly sticking the digit into her mouth just on the off chance she had cut herself. The last thing she wanted to do was have to explain why she was bleeding one minute and not the next. She wasn't sure how he would handle something like that.

Grinning sheepishly around the tip of her finger, she finally just turned the book so Luke could see for himself what she was talking about and looked past him, to Gabriel, to see if the cartoons were still holding his interest.

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-06 02:11 am UTC (link)
"Maybe they're looking to hire new help," Luke said idly. He glanced at the phone book entry, committing the address to memory. It meant nothing to him, at the moment, but he would remember it, and soon enough he would find out exactly where it was.

Gabriel stared at the television, focus reduced to the screen. Nothing else seemed to exist for him, just then. His hair fell over his eyes and he brushed it away with a jerky motion. He laughed at some antics on the screen, Luke smiled.

He didn't notice for sure if Claire cut herself or not. He didn't want to make a big deal of it. He didn't think it polite. He kept his eyes on the boy, watching his son discover the marvels of television, which Gabriel had previously thought unreal.

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[info]x_clairebear_x
2010-01-06 09:24 pm UTC (link)
When Claire was sure that any possible damage she might have done to her finger was gone, she pulled the digit from her mouth and smiled at Luke. "They might be," she agreed easily enough. "The locals are usually pretty open to hiring us. They're actually a really helpful, friendly bunch as long as you don't ask about the reason we're all here." She gave a faint shrug. That had been her experience thus far.

Glancing at the phonebook, she looked back to him. "Did you want a pen and paper to write down the information?" she offered. "I think I have a map around here somewhere, too, if you want it. I only know that area in passing so any directions from me would probably just get you lost."

It was almost embarrassing, admitting that she didn't know more about the layout of the city considering how long she had been here. However Claire tended to stick to her route - work to home and back again - and if she did vary from it, it was with a specific destination in mind. The only time she'd been on the outer edges had been when Barbas was affecting her and... well, she didn't like to think about that too much.

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[info]roadtothecoast
2010-01-08 12:16 am UTC (link)
Luke shook his head. "I can remember it." He smiled a little. "I was always good with addresses, and phone numbers." Even if he'd had no need of either for about ten years. He still remembered the concept. "I'm sure I can find it. And if not, I'll ask."

Gabriel laughed out loud, then looked shamed, like he thought he'd done something wrong. Luke laughed then, to show Gabriel it was all right. The boy said nothing but went back to watching the cartoon.

"We should probably get going, let you get back to your life." Luke said, looking to Claire again.

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