oceanview || ❝ hold hands with my demons and creatures of night. ❞

[outlierdirector]

OCEANVIEW I

blinded by reflections.

Is there anybody out there?
Someone who can hear me and drink from the light
To see things from the same side
Is there anybody out there? CODE BY TESSISAMESS

Comments

[crazyisinevitable]

A gun? That's not usually what people think of when they hear the word "job interview". [ Alan looks more worried than his words imply. Maybe her world is more dangerous and unpredictable than he thought or could have imagined. ]

Night Springs. [ He hasn't forgotten the name, of course, but that takes him back: back to when he was still trying to make it as a writer. ] Well, if I did, I guess you could say that I came full circle. I'd say it's an option. [ And really, a kind of attractive one in a weird way. He'd get to write, and he'd have some attachment to the FBC. Not that he needs to be with the FBC to have an attachment to her, right? ]

Well, they picked a good one. [ He takes another look around before looking back to her with a smile. ] It's impressive because it's yours.

[ And that's more important to him than if she owned the biggest apartment with the best view. She could have a small shoebox apartment and he'd still think it was the greatest place on Earth. ]

[outlierdirector]

[ Her jaw sets to the side for a moment. Then, she holds her hand out and summons the Service Weapon. She points it downwards before holding it up for him to see. ]

It's how you become the Director. [ This is all technically classified, and he shouldn't know it. If he is going to live with her shouldn't he know to some degree. ] Pass the test and then you're the Director. Of course, if you endanger the Oldest House... you can be terminated. That's what happened to the Director before me.

[ At least, she is pretty sure that is what happened. She doubts Trench had enough of himself left to try and end it. The Board probably terminated him. Even if it's officially listed as a suicide. ]

We... uh, apparently acquired the rights for it? Sometime before I became Director. They rebooted it. [ She shrugs slightly. ] You could use a fake name to write for it if you wanted. I mean, I'm pretty sure that's something writers do. Right?

[ « We'll leave the fact I know about one of his scripts unknown for now. I really doubt he remembers writing about the "Federal Bureau of Night Springs." »

She will never understand how he has the ability to say things that make her feel special. Not special because she is a parautalitarian with the highest readings or whatever for being a Director. Just being special as Jesse Faden. He'll say over and over that he isn't good with word crafting, but he's damn good enough to make her feel like she's blushing.

Jesse dismisses the Service Weapon. A few steps later and she's beside him, taking his hands in hers. Now what? Do they pick up where they left off in the Motel... or, honestly, she doesn't know or have an idea. ]

[crazyisinevitable]

[ Alan's gaze is instantly drawn to the Service Weapon as Jesse summons it. Looking at it gives him a sense of foreboding, and her words to describe it only make that feeling grow. ]

I don't like the sound of that. So if you just don't come home one day, and no one hears from you, there's a chance that you've been terminated?

[ That's not a thought Alan wants to entertain, but based on Jesse's words, it's a distinct possibility. ]

Huh. I guess I never thought about the possibility of it getting picked up by the FBC. But yeah, I guess that's definitely an option. At least, it's one I'd consider. It might be nice to go back to my roots, in a way. I don't know if I'd be able to churn out another crime novel.

[ He smiles when she takes his hands in hers. There's just something he likes about being together with her. Talking, not talking, holding hands, whatever it is. But he imagines sitting still isn't something she wants to do, so he puts forward the question. ]

What should we do now? You've shown me your home, and it's a great place. [ Too bad he can't stay here indefinitely. ]

[outlierdirector]

...I'm sure someone would tell you. Emily. Steve. [ She glances to the side, shifting slightly. It's not something she wants to think about. But, it's possible. Especially if she keeps pissing the Board off. ] I'd make sure of it. Or, if a mold monster got me.

[ She smiles a bit. ] Maybe it's time to try a different genre?

[ Jesse takes a seat on the bed. She'd prefer to pick up where they left off... but the time might have passed for that. Maybe just sitting and talking is the best. Until he has to go back through the Spiral Door. ]

It's up to you.

[crazyisinevitable]

[ It's clear from Alan's expression that he doesn't like talking about this either, but it feels like something he should be preparing himself for. Somehow. ] I think if the Director of the FBC gets eliminated, letting me know isn't going to be high up on their list of priorities.

[ He can't explain why, except for the fact that his attraction to Jesse is making him feel very strongly about this particular subject, but even just the thought of learning Jesse was gone, regardless of how it happened, leaves an empty feeling inside him. ]

I don't know what I could do about it, but if it meant the difference between... between losing you and keeping you here, I'd find a way to bring the fight to the Board. Or a mold monster. [ A mold monster is more doable. The Board is probably something Alan can't do anything about. ]

It probably wouldn't hurt to branch out from that, although it might take me some time to get used to it. I'm pretty sure that some of the more avid followers would come along. [ Or maybe they wouldn't. Maybe it'd all be a total flop.

He moves to sit next to her on the bed. He'd also like to pick up where they left off, but how much time does he still have? How will he know when he needs to go? If it was solely up to him, he wouldn't go, but he knows he'll have to at some point. ]

I don't know. Honestly, I just like being here with you, doing something, not doing something, whatever we decide. [ It's vague and he knows it, but he spends so much time moving around, chasing after ideas, running from other things, that sometimes, it's just nice to sit. ]