Sasha Whittaker (praelia) wrote in remains_rpg, @ 2016-12-07 16:14:00 |
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Entry tags: | # 2019 [12] december, ryan mccormick, sasha whittaker |
is there something I can say?
Who: Ryan McCormick and Sasha Whittaker
Where: Their respective houses
What: Ryan found out more about the Greenbelt and wants to talk to Sasha about it.
When: [backdated] December 2nd, 2019 - Early Evening
[Sasha had yet to think up a first date that was worth suggesting to Ryan, but even sans that little fact he found himself dialing Ryan’s number. He had no particular reason for calling and would likely say just that when, not if, Ryan asked. But he wouldn’t apologize for making the call, even if it was just to see how the other man’s day had been and to hear his voice, yeah, it was definitely also just to hear his voice.] SASHA: [set the phone to speaker and starts sketching as he waits for Ryan to pick up and when he hears someone -- Ryan hopefully -- pick up he is quick to say.] Hey, how are you? Hopefully this isn’t a bad time. RYAN: Hi! [despite everything that's been on his mind lately, he's still happy to hear from him.] I'm all right. How are you? SASHA: [smiles despite the fact that he knows Ryan can’t see him.] I’m good, I mean I had someone faint in my chair today, but ultimately it’s been a good day. [he stops himself before he starts rambling.] So, I didn’t get a chance to say it on Thanksgiving, but I’m impressed you survived the zoo that holidays can be with them. [said with a fondness in his voice that made it clear he wouldn’t change how the holiday had gone to save his life.] RYAN: Oh! Um -- Thanks! [he's confused by the sudden switch in topic, at first, but he's starting to get used to this by now with Sasha -- even if the mention of Thanksgiving sort of makes him feel anxious, remembering how his view of his neighbors and Sasha's family had shifted, that day. He laughs, sure he'd probably have fainted too if he'd been getting a tattoo.] And they're okay, right? Whoever it was? SASHA: [he laughs just a little, realizing he had jumped subjects rather abruptly.] Hey, I just thought it should be acknowledged, since I mean I know they’re a bit much sometimes. [he nods despite the fact that Ryan can’t see him.] Oh yeah, they came too rather quickly and I was able to finish the tattoo. But man, it freaked me out for a moment since I’ve never had that happen before. [pauses.] You don’t really want to listen to all my tattoo stories though, right? So tell me, did anything interesting or weird happen today at the restaurant? RYAN: [He laughs again, even if Sasha's level of visible excitement is leaps and bounds above his own.] Hey, slow down, okay? I don't mind your tattoo stories, especially since you're asking about my restaurant stories, too. It's all good. SASHA: Oh god, sorry, I’m talking a mile a minute here. [laughs.] Okay, slowing down now. [he takes a deep breath as to prove his point.] So yeah, that was kind of my only tattoo story of the day. Though, I guess it does make it more amusing if I mention it was a Hellhound who passed out. [takes another long pause.] Your turn. RYAN: Well, no one passed out at the restaurant, so I think you've got me beat as far as interesting work experiences goes. [he's trying hard not to laugh again, but the phone call doesn't do much to make it obvious that he's smiling despite everything that's been on his mind lately.] Just a couple of cranky customers at one of the tables during late lunch, convinced that they'd ordered their burgers a certain way when they'd said something completely different. It was a pretty chill day, all things considered. I've had worse. SASHA: A guy passing out is probably the most excitement I’ll have all month, honestly. [it’s obvious in his tone that he’s grinning from ear to ear, enjoy the relative ease of the conversation.] So was it you or Violet that came out and charmed them until they realized that getting cranky over burgers is insane? I mean not even half a year ago the idea of a legit burger was just a fantasy. Chill is good though, any day that doesn’t end of being marked down as worst day ever is sort of a win in my book. RYAN: It's usually Violet or one of the staff. Today it was one of our waitresses, actually. But I mean, you also make a good argument for why it's reasonable to get cranky over burgers. Maybe they are just really passionate about them after not having them for so long. SASHA: [he laughs] Maybe that’s true, though I guess I fall into the category of being grateful we even have them. [there was a pause.] Plus, I mean it brought you and Violet down here, so I’m pro-having burgers and not complaining. RYAN: [he smiles briefly] I'm glad we're down here, too. [he pauses for just a moment, but it's enough for his mind to pull back in all of the worries and anxiety he's had in the back of his head ever since Thanksgiving.] How long do you have to talk? SASHA: [a flicker of a smile crosses his features as he answers.] I’ve got all day to talk, if you need it. [he wonders then just why Ryan was curious.] I mean my phone battery might die if we talk for the rest of the day, but it’d be worth it. RYAN: Good to know, [he says through a slight chuckle, unable to help himself even as he wonders how best to even bring up this topic. It's a total 180 from the lightheartedness of their conversation, and that alone makes him move on to speak up again -- because to him, the Hellhounds' past is the complete opposite of how he knows them.] I guess… I mean, Violet and I have really enjoyed being in Austin overall, even after what happened over the summer… but I guess we never really thought about what it meant, with the MC having that blanket amnesty and everything. I never really looked into why that was, or why other people didn't like being around Hellhounds sometimes. [He's trying to tread carefully, knowing that the issue is more than personal for Sasha.] But then a friend of a friend made a comment about how we were hanging around criminals, so it's just been on my mind. I talked to Marina a little about it on Thanksgiving, just to get some of her side of the story, but… yeah. I guess I don't really know what I'm saying, or if I'm even asking anything, I just…. Was wondering what you thought about all of it. SASHA: Oh.[while the shift in topic was a bit of a surprise, he tried his best not to let it show in his tone.] You know my opinion is probably a little different from anyone else’s, I mean my dad is a Hellhound and the rest of the guys have been like family. So if you’re asking me what I think about them, I have to be honest and say they’re family and I’ll always care about them. [he paused.] Plus, I mean I was a kid who was raised in the mafia, even if I didn’t actually know that at the time. [his mom and dad had made a point to keep that from him until he was older.] Still, if you’re asking me where I stand on the things they did or whether or not I believe they’re criminals? I know they are. A lot of it had to do with who was president of the MC before, but that doesn’t absolve the rest of them, they went along with his plans. Look, I’m not stupid and I know they should be in jail for that they did, but I’m also not sorry they got amnesty. My dad was in jail this time last year and I hated it, he’s the only parent I have left. [he knows he’s rambling and not necessarily answering Ryan’s question.] Maybe I fall on the side of thinking people deserve a second chance and to make amends for their actions. Or maybe I just feel that way because they’re all the family I have left. RYAN: [he's silent for a moment, considering all of this, before he speaks up again.] Are they actually making amends to the community or the people they've hurt? SASHA: [a long pause follows Ryan’s question as he tries to sort out just how to answer.] My dad, Bishop and Pikachu have helped to build the wall around the secure areas... [a pause.] I don’t know if you would consider that making amends, but they’re trying to help protect the communities now. Maybe they do need to make some kind of public apology or compensate the people they’ve hurt, but that’s not my call to make. RYAN: [it's not enough, as far as he's concerned, but it's more than nothing.] Yeah, I get that. It's just… This is all brand new to me, you know? I grew up in the suburbs. [he laughs, though the sound is short lived.] I guess I just need a little time to figure all this out. I've never had to deal with something like this before. SASHA: [he chews on his lip for a moment before answering.] Yeah, no, I get that. It’s a lot to sort of take in and figure out. [a pause.] Look, I’m okay with giving you time or space or whatever to figure this all out. I don’t really plan on going anywhere, but I understand the need to sort out how you feel about everything now that you know it. RYAN: Yeah. It's just… I mean, it's like you said. It's a lot. But I don't want to stop talking… and there's the holiday party in a few days so I'm sure I'll see you there, right? SASHA: [there was a hope that Ryan wouldn’t hear the relief in his voice as he replied.] I wasn’t really looking forward to not talking either, so like, I’m glad that still on the table right now. And yeah, I’ll be at the holiday party. [he paused.] Really though, I get needing time to process and there’s no pressure here, I promise. RYAN: Okay -- thanks. I'll talk to you then, I guess. SASHA: Okay, yeah. Talk to you then. |