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[thenormalsquint]

[Angela's sitting cross-legged on a sofa in an apartment that if anybody knew her well enough can tell that's not hers. One, the wall colors are in neutrals and there's no amount of controlled chaos around. What gives it away especially is a grey cat in her lap snoozing, and even though she is not a fan of them, Angela can't bear to move it. Her device is propped up so her hands are free to write things down on a nearby clipboard.]

The worst part of coming and going here isn't the coming back, it's coming back and realizing there are things you should already know, but you can't remember. I hate not remembering things. My life experiences are so important to me; I want to look back and go "Yeah, that was fantastic how we got arrested." but when I can't remember faces, much less names or events...

[It pisses her off. But she's not going to say that much out loud.]

So here's your mission, should you choose to accept it: tell me things about us I should remember. Doesn't matter if it's big or small. If we went to the beach together and almost got eaten by sharks, great! Or not so great, but still that's useful to me.

And if we didn't do anything together, lie to me. Make something up. It's not like I'll know the difference.

Comments

[trenchknives]

Yeah, but y'know, a lotta people made some good money off that bullshit. Politicians especially.

[Not that he'd know anything about making money off illegal liquor.]

[thenormalsquint]

[Sure, whatever Jimmy.]

Naturally. I'm really not surprised politicians were messing with the black market.

[trenchknives]

I bet they still do, where you come from.

[thenormalsquint]

[She laughs, reaching across the table to snag his glass as soon as the waiter places it on the table. Booze theft!]

I live in D.C. Of fucking course they do.

[trenchknives]

[He'll just have to order himself another drink, then. Nothing wrong with a little more alcohol.]

Yeah, it's gotta be even worse in D.C. My dad was a politician. The guy that raised me was, too. Fuckin' criminals, all of 'em.

[thenormalsquint]

[The way she looks at him while he rails on politicians says that Angela thinks there's a lot more than just politics behind those two men. But she won't ask, not here anyway. In fact, she'll change the subject to get his mind off of them.]

How's the hand feeling?

[trenchknives]

Not bad, y'know? Doctor Wilson fixed it up real nice, 'n it's gonna heal pretty quickly.

[thenormalsquint]

[His word is good, but Angela's far more tactile than verbal so she scoots her chair closer to him so she can gently take his hand in hers and inspect it like she knows what she's doing.]

How'd you manage to only get these three stuck in the door?

[trenchknives]

Well, um, y'know...

[A pause, and then, because he's a little drunk and because he likes her and because she's basically holding his hand, he decides to 'fess up. Kind of.]

Actually, I got into a fight. 'n not with a door. I lost, obviously.

[thenormalsquint]

So you lied.

[She's still holding his hand, but her eyes flick to his face.]

With who?

[trenchknives]

[He nods, an appropriately sheepish expression on his face.]

I didn't wanna say, 'cause it was personal. Y'know, 'n I felt embarrassed...

[thenormalsquint]

Because you lost. [She frowns, both at him and his hand.] You didn't have to lie, though. If someone lies about little things, they'll lie about big things.

[trenchknives]

Sometimes there're things...

[He shakes his head.]

I dunno. Where I come from, 'n probably where you come from, too, there's just some stuff you don't say. Doesn't mean you're a dishonest person, it's just a way of protectin' yourself, y'know?

[In other words, he's not a snitch, and doesn't intend to be.]

I shoulda said I didn't want to talk about it, instead of inventin' the stupid door story. I'm sorry I lied to you.

[thenormalsquint]

[She fully believes in honestly and honestly with tact. It probably stems from her not being able to lie to save her own skin.]

Did lying protect your hand though? [But as much as she's a stickler for the truth, she is forgiving as well. And the fact that she's absentmindedly stroking his fingers says as much.] What were you fighting about anyway?

[trenchknives]

Dumb shit.

[Of course it was dumb shit. He gives her a tiny smile, sensing that this is probably not the time to turn on the cheesy Darmody charm, as much as the fact that she's stroking his fingers is appreciated.]

Y'know, I said some shit I shouldn't've, he took offense... It ain't gonna happen again, though. We worked out our differences.

[thenormalsquint]

Try not to say anymore dumb shit, okay? [One last stroke and she's letting go of his hand.] Next time, it might not be your fingers he breaks.

[It might be that pretty babyface.]

[trenchknives]

You got no idea what a tall order it is for me not to say dumb shit.

[Saying dumb shit is practically his job.]

I'll try, though. Wouldn't wanna disappoint you.

[thenormalsquint]

Do I have to follow you and make sure you keep your mouth shut?

[Moving back to the drink she stole from him, she pulls it and her own in front of her, chuckling at that last line of his. Make it more obvious, Jimmy.]

Don't want to disappoint me, huh? I would have thought it was less about me and more about keeping your bones in one piece.

[trenchknives]

Of anyone who could be followin' me around, I think you'd be a pretty good option.

[He takes a sip of the drink he'd ordered to replace the one she'd stolen, finally giving her that charming smile of his -- at least, he considers it charming.]

Yeah, well, I like keepin' my bones intact, but y'know, it never hurts to have a little extra incentive, right?

[thenormalsquint]

[It is charming, but he'll still have to work a little harder to get anywhere with her.]

Right. I see how that is. Wouldn't want to fail you now.

[trenchknives]

I don't foresee you failin' me anytime in the near future, kid.

[thenormalsquint]

[She's in mid-sip when she chokes in reaction.]

Kid? Really?

[trenchknives]

What? Do people not call each other that where you come from?

[He has a habit of calling most people 'kid' if he likes them. It just kind of comes out of his mouth.]

[thenormalsquint]

Only people who are referring to somebody younger than them and by the looks of your face, it seems you have it backwards with me.

[trenchknives]

Well, I dunno about that, although I guess people always do think I look pretty young.

[He is pretty young, but he has no idea how old Angela is, either.]