( action )

[runicking]

Who: Celeste and you
When: Forward-dated after the conclusion of the parade of envy, throughout the week
Where: The safe house
What: After confronting her father about issues related to her awakening, Celeste finds herself looking for somewhere to go.
Warnings: None

[ She should have seen this coming, and yet Celeste did nothing to prepare for the possibility that her father would not take what she had to say well. For the reality that he wouldn't take it well. That she was no longer going to let him run her life, to give her to someone like Phelps as a favor to the family. That people like him did not fight for justice, but for prestige and notoriety.

And that is why she's here at the safe house, for the first time since meeting Locke outside. But instead of coming here relatively empty handed, she has two bags with her—a backpack on her back, and a duffel slung over one shoulder. She can also be found around the common areas throughout the week in a bit of a daze and attempting to carry on as normal. Cooking, studying; doing her best to not think about what being here means.

Or that this might be something more permanent for her now. ]

Comments

[runicking]

[ Normally she would fight him on that, but she doesn't have the energy for it right now. Sitting on one of the chairs, attempting to look like she was studying (she hasn't been all day), she looks up at him briefly before letting her eyes trail back down to her notebook. ]

What is it?

[ She doesn't need this right now. ]

[returnher]

[Locke grabs a chair and flips it around, sitting in it backward and facing her directly]

Been hearing some things. You get kicked out?

[runicking]

[ She knew what this was about even before he said anything, but he still manages to get a small reaction out of her. Drawing her lips together in a fine line, she continues to avoid looking at him. ]

Why should it matter to you?

[returnher]

Let's face it you're not about this dorm life and I'm in a position to help you out.

[Sorry Celeste, no time for stiff upper lip bullshit]

[runicking]

[ That gets her attention, as she finally looks at him. ]

Why would you help me? If you're expecting me to do something for you in return...

[ That's the last thing she wants, more favors and debts she has to repay. ]

[returnher]

I got you into this and you can't tell me it isn't related to your current situation, I figure it's the least I can do. But if I need to have an angle you might be able to help me save a few hundred a month on rent.

[runicking]

[ For a moment she is silent, because... did she really just hear him right? ]

...You'd let me stay with you?

[ Do you hear how ridiculous that sounds, Locke? Even without the overwhelming doubt in her voice. ]

[returnher]

I live in a house with four other people, two of whom hooked up recently and left an open room. It can be crowded but you would at least have your own space. Well, assuming Mom, er, Christine gives the final OK. She said you can come by and look if you want to.

[runicking]

[ She raises an eyebrow. ]

You already talked to them about this? And how did you find out about this? I haven't told anyone else.

[returnher]

You're here all the time now. I tried to text you and call you earlier and got a disconnected line. I finally just asked Shinji about it and he confirmed you were staying. Not hard to figure out why.

[runicking]

[ Of course Shinji ratted on her, why is she not surprised. ]

You would make a good detective, you know.

[ Is she a little bitter? She might be a little bitter. And possibly impressed, he didn't have to go through all trouble. Not that she would ever admit it. ]

[returnher]

Maybe, but you gotta deal with cops and I'm not great at not calling them fascist pigs to their faces. Anyway, you in?

[runicking]

You do realize that I still work at the DA's office, right?

[ Just. Thought she would point that out to him again, before he goes around openly calling the law enforcement "fascist pigs." But all right, she'll play along for now. It will probably be easier to turn him down in front of this "Mom" person. She slowly stands up, putting a hand on her hip. ]

But fine, I have nowhere else to be right now.

[returnher]

Hey, I'm not gonna do it to their face. Without a mask on, anyway. C'mon.

[He'll lead her down the road a bit of a ways, to an older-style two-story house of decent size. It's clearly been altered to add more room space for multi-student housing. Approaching, Locke pulls out a key]

HEY MOM! YOU HOME!?

[A slim black woman with short, curly hair, a giant cup of steaming coffee, and heavy bags under her eyes dressed in a sweatshirt and yoga pants comes staggering down the stairs. She looks at the two, and then slowly, deliberately drains her cup in one gulp]

This her?

[runicking]

[ For most of the walk over, Celeste is quiet, lost in her own thoughts. This isn't how she anticipated this to go. She hadn't been relishing the idea of staying at the safe house, and asking some of her colleagues... No, that was out of the question. She can't let them know what happened.

He said that it was because he was the reason she was here, but was that really why he offered? It seems a little too easy.

Her thoughts are cut short as they walk up to his house, and she looks genuinely surprised. This was nice? A lot nicer than she expected, actually, and as he opens the door, she stops short. Seeing "Mom" stagger down the stairs, Celeste suddenly stands up very straight, shoulders rolled back and with a very muted look on her face. ]

...I'm Celeste.

[ It's almost hesitant. ]

[returnher]

[She walks directly up to Celeste and circles her once, before looking her straight in the eyes]

Hmmm... got a job, hun?

[runicking]

[ ...Did she just call her hun? ]

An internship, but it pays well.

[ Why does she feel so intimidated by this right now? She should not feel intimidated, but it takes more than a bit of willpower to hold her ground and keep eye contact. ]

[returnher]

That right? You look rich. Why're you hanging out with trash like him?

[She jerks her head at Locke who winces and gives a strained smile]

[1/2]

[runicking]

[ To her credit, Celeste doesn't make a face at that, even if the comment is a bit jarring to hear. But there's an opening here, and hopefully she's reading this right. Her gaze trailing over to Locke, she lingers there for a moment before her shoulders raise. ]

I don't know.

[ Harsh. But— ]

[2/2]

[runicking]

[ She looks back at the other woman, a glimmer of a smile touching her lips. ]

But where most people like me would rather turn up their noses to "trash" like that, I don't mind it. He keeps me on my toes.

[ Although she can't just leave it at that, and looking at him again, the smile fades away. ]

That, and I can't seem to get rid of him no matter what I do.

[returnher]

All right. Keep it down and you can stay. I'll need a $400 deposit from you and first month's rent, also $400. Rent's due by the first, have your check to me by then.

Locke, don't get tangled up in anything too crazy and don't ruin her rep with whatever you do. Rules are pretty simple, buy your own food, clean your dishes, chore rotation is on the fridge, keep the common room clean and keep it down. I'm usually working at least 12 hour shifts on my residency and if you wake me up it will be the last decision you ever regret making.

[And with that she shuffles off to the kitchen for more coffee. Locke looks a bit like a kicked puppy, but generally recovers quickly]

See? Easy.

[runicking]

[ Easy, he says. She has hesr of interrogations that were less stressful than that was. Exhaling in relief once she and Locke are left on their own, she glances toward the kitchen before turning her attention back to him. ]

Are all of your roommates like that?

[ His. Not hers. She hasn't made any solid agreements yet. ]

[returnher]

Nah, she's pretty intense. Been living here since undergrad so she kind of runs the place. Jim is usually high or drunk on the couch but he pays his rent so she lets him stay, we all tend to avoid that area because it smells like garbage. Dana and Aaron are a couple, two drama students. They can be... temperamental.

[runicking]

So, the stereotypical college experience.

[ She isn't trying to look down upon it, just stating what she sees. Crossing her arms over her chest, she lets her gaze stray from him. It's better than staying at the safe house, at least. She might be able to have some privacy here. ]

...I still don't understand why you insist on helping me, but thank you. I'll pay you back somehow.

[returnher]

If you have to pay me back, change a lot of hearts. Help a lot of people. That's what's important.