Noa Bellamy (sharpthings) wrote in remains_rpg, @ 2016-06-20 09:59:00 |
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Noa: [she had left the raucous noise of the bonfire, not quite up to recalling the faces that were missing anymore that night. She dials Pete’s number once she’s inside the Airstream and listens while it rings] Pete: [glances down at the caller ID, then grins when he sees the name, stepping to the back of the break room and hitting the 'answer button.'] Hey! What's up? Noa: [she smiles to herself when she hears him pick up] Hey. Nothing real serious. Just wanted to talk. Unless I caught you at a bad time, sweetheart. Pete: No! This is good. I have a little bit of time before I have to go back onto my shift, but it's good to hear from you. [It doesn't escape him that talking to a Hellhound sympathizer, where he is, could get him in an awful lot of trouble, and there's silence for a moment while he grapples with his comfort level. But then he continues on:] How are things over in your part of the woods? Noa: They're… complicated. [she doesn't want to talk about it, and it's evident in her voice even as she keeps talking] Can't help feeling a little betrayed since they left. [it’s easiest to admit to an empty trailer, when she doesn't have to look at anybody] But the boys are doing the best they can. Pete: [there's a longer pause as he wonders just what, exactly, to say.]That's the problem with surprises, I guess. Especially when it comes to people you think you know. Noa: [she sighs inwardly] I didn't call to be a rain cloud, I'm real sorry, sweetheart. I'm not expecting you to act like you're torn up about it either. Pete: It's okay. I mean… [it's obvious he's at another loss, but then he speaks up again.] If the situations were switched, I'd probably feel the same, right? But I guess talking about that is just encouraging you to be cloudy, and if that's not what you want then we should talk about something else. Noa: It ain’t that I don’t want that. [she’s silent for half a minute] Just that I didn’t call to unload that onto you, sweetheart. I know you ain’t comfortable with it… [she pauses again] with my people, or their life. [she laughs despite the awkwardness] It makes me wonder, why me, when there are plenty of other women around. Pete: I mean… [he laughs, too, unable to help it. It settles him, somewhat.] I guess I find you interesting. Intriguing, that's a better word. Like after I met you the first time I was curious about you and wanted to get to know you better. I've always felt that way. Noa: Intriguing? [she repeats, an undertone of amusement in her tone] I'm not some exotic thing, sweetheart, and I suspect I’m harder to fit into your life than some. [she’s really starting to wonder why she thought to start this conversation] Pete: Yeah. Intriguing. [there's a pause while he wonders if he's said the wrong thing, though to him it was the truth. When he speaks up, his tone is more defensive than before.] I didn't really mean it like that, though. Like not in the sense you're just a puzzle to figure out. Noa: I just… [she stops, weighing her next words] I know that’s not how you meant it. But it ain’t easy looking at a woman like Savannah and wondering why me and not her? [she knows they’re history, but she still wonders] Pete: I -- [he cuts himself off momentarily, aware of the fact that he doesn't have an unencumbered evening to talk through this. His break will be over sooner or later. When he speaks up again, his voice is a little quieter.] Do you think about this a lot? Noa: Not every waking minute. [she answers honestly] But sometimes. On paper she, or a woman like her makes more sense than I do. Pete: I guess on paper, one could say that. [For once, Pete is thinking through everything he says - or trying to.] But it didn't work out and I don't know if there's a point to beating a dead horse, you know? So even if this doesn't necessarily make sense on paper, the fact that I like you and I want to keep getting to know you, it still. I mean, I still do. Hopefully that's okay. Noa: [she’s quiet, weighing what he said] I’m not trying to run you off. [she says eventually. She hopes it’s reassuring] You’ve just… you’ve said a few times that it didn’t work out, but feelings are a funny thing to shake. [she stops again] I just want you to be sure. Pete: Sure that I like talking to you, and that I like getting to know you and spending time with you? Yeah, I'm sure. Noa: [she smiles despite how their talk seems to have veered] And sure that you aren’t holding onto old history, maybe. [she pauses] I’ve got some ghosts to clear out too, sweetheart, but I ain’t forcing you to do anything. If you’re really sure. Pete: [he pauses, wondering why she'd think he was hanging onto anything, and frowns.] I don't think I am. I mean, I haven't really thought about her like that in years… We're just friends. And I like you. Noa: I trust you. I’m real shitty at showing it, but that’s more important to me than liking you. [she hopes he believes her, because she’s never thought he was lying.] I wish it were easier to see you. Pete: Me, too. [the relief in his voice -- now that she's stopped asking so many questions -- is obvious.] I never realized how close an eye they keep on us over here. It shouldn't be this hard to figure out when the next date's gonna be. Noa: Don’t make it any easier that if I walk through those doors, I’ll make trouble for you. [she admits with a laugh] Pete: [he's laughing, too.] Oh man, you really don't want to do that. We almost got busted the day after I slept over at your place. I don't know if I ever told you that. Thank God the previous shelter leader vouched for us, even though he had no idea what we were up to. Noa: No, honey, you never said a peep about it. [she confirmed] I ain’t real used to having to schedule, though, but how about when they’re not breathing down your necks? And if it gets too long, I’ll just risk the trouble. Pete: I'm sure I can make something work in the next day or so. Or the weekend, whichever comes soonest and works out soonest. All right? [he glances up at the clock and frowns, regret seeping into his tone.] But I gotta wrap up for now. My shift's starting soon. Noa: [she bites back the sigh that threatened to escape. Pete had a job to do, she couldn’t keep him from it] When you have some hours you can set aside for me, you let me know. I can make anything work. I hope your shift goes smooth, sweetheart. Pete: Thank you. [he's smiling again, despite the on-and-off tension earlier in their call and the fact that he has to cut it short.] I'm really glad you called, Noa. We should do it more. Noa: You know my number. [her tone is entertained. Even with the divergence in conversation she was glad she’d made the call to begin with.] ‘Night, sweetheart. |