InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "I have a fighting hand!"

Alec Tremont (fireworkatdawn) wrote in we_float,
@ 2010-05-20 22:48:00

Entry tags:

character: alec tremont, character: mickey o'hare

Who: Alec Tremont and Mickey O'Hare
When: Friday, May 21, 2096
Where: Sea-Tac Airport
What: Alec arrives from Boston to meet Jimmy. Except not.
Status: Closed, Complete

Alec had been aware of the reinstatement of the Wild Card Acts, but only peripherally. None of his current crowd had a wild card, at least that he knew of, so it didn't have any immediate impact on him.

Then he'd gotten an email from Jimmy Banks, who he hadn't heard from in well over a year, and who he'd never been particularly close with in the first place. They'd worked together a few times on consulting gigs, but he wouldn't say they were friends, exactly.

Still, the proposition was interesting. Somehow Jimmy had gotten caught up in a group of wild cards that were being protected from the Acts by some kind of rogue senator. They were supposed to somehow sway public opinion, and apparently Jimmy thought he could be of help.

Alec figured that being able to insert things into the media certainly couldn't hurt. So he'd gotten on a plane from Boston and, after several tiresome confrontations with airport security over his tech, arrived in the Sea-Tac airport.

The trouble was, he couldn't find Jimmy anywhere, and he was starting to get annoyed.

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	fireworkatdawn 2010-05-22 12:35 am UTC (link)
	"Delightful. He might have mentioned he was sending someone else to pick me up. Such as it is. But I suppose that would have taken too much effort?" He wasn't angry at this man, whoever he was. But he was there in Jimmy's stead, so he would bear the brunt of his irritation. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	plusthree 2010-05-22 12:54 am UTC (link)
	Mickey's laugh was no less sharp for how soft it was. "Yes, it would've. He wasn't around this morning, but don't worry, he's been emphatic that I don't forget you." Shrugging, hands in his pockets, he started walking. "This way." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	fireworkatdawn 2010-05-22 01:04 am UTC (link)
	"I need to get my suitcase," Alec said. "I can hardly wait to talk to him and find out what it was that was so important that he couldn't get away to come pick up an old, dear friend at the airport." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

plusthree
2010-05-22 01:12 am UTC (link)

Mickey shifted direction, following the signs towards baggage claim. "We don't have a car; you'd still be using the rail if it'd been him who showed up," he said.

Something in the corner of his vision, trapped in his mind's eye, caught his attention. He paused, turning in place as if it might help his mental image come into focus, but he couldn't capture it before it faded. He finished the turn and fell into step again. "Not sure when he'll show up again. Hopefully not soon."

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	fireworkatdawn 2010-05-22 01:15 am UTC (link)
	Alec stopped in his tracks. "Excuse me?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	plusthree 2010-05-22 01:19 am UTC (link)
	Mickey stopped as well, looking at him. "Which part?" (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	fireworkatdawn 2010-05-22 01:22 am UTC (link)
	"What exactly do you mean, hopefully he won't show up soon? Who are you?" He crossed his arms, jutting his chin out. This was not what he'd signed on for. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	plusthree 2010-05-22 01:32 am UTC (link)
	"Mickey O'Hare." He belatedly remembered to pull one hand out his pocket, holding it out. "And if he shows up, I go. I like being here." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fireworkatdawn
2010-05-22 01:38 am UTC (link)

"Alec." He took Mickey's hand and shook it firmly. "Why does his presence equate to your absence?" He started walking again, glad to see that his suitcase was already on the belt. He grabbed it and set it on its wheels, heading for the exit even though he didn't actually know where they were going. He wasn't very good at being still, especially when he was agitated.

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	plusthree 2010-05-22 02:14 am UTC (link)
	Mickey hesitated, then reached out to touch his arm, redirect him in the right direction, towards the rail. "You don't know?" The note had said an old friend -- Mickey thought he knew. Knew about the voices, knew about the way things were all mashed up inside. Information flipped again and his eyes disfocused as he went quiet, reading it. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	fireworkatdawn 2010-05-22 02:20 am UTC (link)
	Alec snorted. "If I knew, why would I ask?" He tapped his foot, waiting for Mickey to come back to himself. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

plusthree
2010-05-22 02:26 am UTC (link)

It took him time to scroll through it all, and even then, he almost missed the details in the deluge of information. But there it was, buried in a hint, and Mickey blinked as he turned towards the other man. "You don't know Jimmy."

Music swelled abruptly, drowning everything else out in a sudden rush of painful sound. Mickey pressed the heels of his hands to his ears, trying to push it away, stepping back and turning as if he could shake it off. Stop it. Stop it.

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	fireworkatdawn 2010-05-22 02:33 am UTC (link)
	Brilliant. He was following a schizophrenic or something. Not that he was any kind of beacon of sanity, but at least he didn't let it show in public. "I do," Alec said. "I've worked with him several times. How else would he have known to call me when he determined that you might all be able to use a little... technical support." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	plusthree 2010-05-22 02:35 am UTC (link)
	Mickey shook his head roughly. "No. You know Jimmy, not..." he shook his head again, then reached out to grab Alec's sleeve, dragging him along as he started walking faster. "Not here." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	fireworkatdawn 2010-05-22 02:39 am UTC (link)
	"I'll thank you to unhand me," Alec snapped, yanking his arm back. "If you must manhandle something, you're welcome to deal with my damned suitcase." His mood was going from bad to worse, and if they didn't get somewhere soon, he was really going to lose it. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

plusthree
2010-05-22 06:11 pm UTC (link)

Mickey froze when he jerked away, moving in slow motion to shove his hands back into his pockets and sidle away before silently leading the way to the train again. Music rose in his mind and he sang under his breath, voice cracking on the falsetto notes of a pop starlet's soaring range.

He didn't speak again, just led the way to the rail, stating the stop in a low voice before he found a seat and let the information flow wash over him and block out everything else.

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fireworkatdawn
2010-05-22 11:14 pm UTC (link)

Alec sat nearby, pulling his phone from his pocket to scroll through his email and various newsfeeds. He checked their progress compulsively, and was relieved when they finally got off, even though it then meant walking to the house where he would apparently be staying.

As soon as they were inside he collapsed on the couch, his suitcase and laptop case and everything else lying falling on the floor nearby. "Please tell me there is at least alcohol available. I am excruciatingly sober."

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	plusthree 2010-05-23 02:49 am UTC (link)
	Mickey stood there, looking at him for a long moment, then shrugged out of the jacket and tossed it onto the back of a chair. "Andy has beer in the fridge." He pointed in the direction of the kitchen, "through there," then towards where the rooms were, "and you can take a room up there. There's plenty of space for everyone to have their own." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

fireworkatdawn
2010-05-23 02:52 am UTC (link)

Alec levered himself back up and went into the kitchen to retrieve a beer. It would have to do for the moment. First order of business would be to find a liquor store, or something better if he could manage. He popped it open and sat back down, his legs stretched in front of him.

"I'll think about whether I'm not just going to turn right back around after you've told me who exactly you are, where Jimmy is, and why it couldn't be discussed in the airport."

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plusthree
2010-05-23 08:49 pm UTC (link)

Mickey sat quietly for a moment, then went to get a beer of his own. Sitting down once more, he leaned back, eyes closed as he took a long swig of the hoppy liquid.

Jimmy hadn't mentioned that the guy was an asshole.

Maybe he'll mellow now that you've got him drinking my beer. Stay out of the weed.

Mickey didn't want the weed. Didn't want any of this. Wondered, for a moment, if he could fade into sleep and let Jimmy slip out somehow, but there was a chance it could be any of the others, and he didn't think that would be any better.

Information scrolled across the mental screen of his mind, almost a dossier, close enough to something like stalking. Links to online resumes and references, everything publicly known and available about this man. Mickey pressed his fingers to the bridge of his nose.

"Jimmy's in here." he said quietly.

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