New Year Party at the Safehouse

[returnher]

On the West Coast, it's not quite New Year yet, but Locke is hanging out at the Safe House with a few packs of Kirin Beer and hanging out. It's not the biggest deal for him, but it's kind of fun to watch the fireworks go off and this way he doesn't have to dodge drunks who might run him over or worse, compel him to punch the shit out of them. Right now he's pretty much drinking and watching football. If anyone asks, he's totally old enough and Shinji clearly doesn't give a shit.

Comments

[returnher]

Ah. Yeah that'd do it. Locke thinks for a minute.

"Well, you're out here at school now, so it's all about new experiences and finding where you fit in, right? Did you want the TV? Feel free to put on a show that looks interesting, or even bust out one of the video game consoles if you're interested."

[terraburning]

Hmm.

"...can you show me how to work the remote?"

[returnher]

"...sure. Here. This button that says menu gets you to this," Locke says, clicking the menu and bringing up a scroll of program names and descriptions.

"There are a lot of channels so you can watch and see if anything is interesting. If you see what you like, just type the number of the channel in with these number buttons, three digits so if the channel is under 100 type a 0 first. Or you can just scroll through with the up and down arrows. Pretty easy."

[terraburning]

Terra listens intently, and then proceeds to spend at least two minutes scrolling through the options before selecting a channel.

Looks like a Good Eats marathon is on.

[returnher]

Hey, Locke can work with this. He leans back and takes sips at his beer, more interested in Terra's reaction than the program.

[terraburning]

As she continues watching the marathon, she starts to visibly relax from her former slightly tense posture, taking the opportunity of commercial breaks to head for the table for more raw vegetables - she seems to favor the carrot sticks and cherry tomatoes the most.

And then the puppets start showing up and she is glued to the screen. It's just the weird sock puppets they use to represent yeast, but Terra is visibly delighted with them - and when they start burping, she actually giggles.

[returnher]

"Having fun?"

[terraburning]

Terra squeaks a little - she'd forgotten Locke was there - before looking over and nodding hesitantly.

[returnher]

Oh this poor precious sheltered child. Locke chuckles a bit.

"Do you have a TV of your own? Or a computer? You can get this show and others like it pretty easily these days."

[terraburning]

"I...I have a laptop?"

There's a slight pause as she considers what to say.

"It's...not very good."

[returnher]

Oh boy. Locke chooses his words carefully.

"How, uh. 'not good' is it?"

[terraburning]

"Um...it runs Windows 95?"

Terra considers for a moment.

"It might have been the latest thing when it was first installed."

[returnher]

"Well, if it still runs that's kind of impressive."

Fishing for some way to be complimentary here.

[terraburning]

Nod nod.

"I just use it...for the word processor."

[returnher]

"Well, probably a no go but the safe house is a pretty nice place to hang out and watch TV if you need to get away from campus for a bit."

[terraburning]

Terra nods slowly at this, glancing to the side.

"I don't like...crowds. Thank you."

[returnher]

"No problem. Name's Locke by the way. Colin Locke, but call me Locke."

[terraburning]

"I'm...Terra Branford."

She nods at Locke in greeting.

"Nice...to meet you."

[returnher]

"So, are you staying on campus?"

[terraburning]

Terra shakes her head no.

"I...after I changed Grandfather's heart, he...got me a little place."

[returnher]

"Ah, that's how that went. Are things better with him now?"