Different people, different strokes I guess. Wow I didn’t even get to choose. An agent dropped me off at my apartment, handed me my new identity kit and that was it. Adventurer is sure a great cover though.
I know, the problem if it’s a target from Washington, even if you did use your accent and the target might somehow recognize you, I doubt he would easily be fooled.Â
Well, it wouldn’t hurt to try still - poor language or not. Of course it the usual, languages make us more well rounded people - but in the case of Division, it would help. You have a lot of time outside the bunkers, you could try to review at least.Â
That’s my job sadly - anyway, not really handler related, but I was wondering how Jonathan is? You have seen him after his mission yes?
If there was a target in Washington, I'm pretty sure all of the agents would be screwed over.
I have better things to do with my time than try reviewing Spanish or any other language. Thanks for trying, Major, but no thank you.
How did I know it would be a question about him. I, uh, saw him for a little bit, just to make sure he was alive, but not much since then. The nurses said that they want him to be able to heal in peace.
You make it sound so bad. And it’s better than getting bored enough to consider suicide. What’s your cover then? Adventurer? Glad you’re kepping safe though.
School is always bad. Unless it's some adventure school. My cover? I never thought about it. If anyone asked, I always said I was on business or something. Adventurer sounds more fun though. I'll stick to that.
If you support it then that would be a great help already.
I got the best cover in the world which has been eating away on my social life lately. It’s called university. But it’s been an interesting change so I’m not complaining. How about you?
Why wouldn't I support it? Any chance to fuck with Division is a good plan to me.
University? You're in school? Wasn't Division training enough for you? I've been doing my normal. Getting into trouble and all. But nothing too bad recently.
I remember. Leave the planning to me then, I’ll be sure to place them strategically without causing leaking pipes. Another flood would be really bad.
As if I ever plan anything. But I'll try to let you know so you can get the necessary explosives. Try not to, you know, blow up water pipes though. I'd rather not be in another flood.
Fireworks || Amanda & Emma || Convo || July 4, 2014
Characters: Amanda Magnus and Emma-Leigh Carick
Time Frame: July 4, 2014
Location: Amanda's Apartment
Words: 2780
Emma There was a moment sometime between the start and the end of the fireworks that drove Emma off of her rooftop. She didn't jump down--too many witnesses--but she climbed down the fire escape until she was on the street. She thought about going to her empty apartment, but the thought of being alone at that moment was horrible. You should never be alone today, Jasper used to say. Maybe she will listen to him this time. She stumbled through the streets, walking no where in particular as she pushed passed groups of people watching the fireworks. She hated them. With every "oo" and "ah" that they gave the fireworks, she wanted to crawl deeper into Jonathan's sweater. Eventually, she found herself at a familiar apartment building. Taking a deep breath, she went inside and to her room, hoping that she was there. She knocked on her handler's door, hoping that she heard it above the noise.
Amanda sighed as she sipped her sparkling orange soda. That was probably the only thing that would sparkle in her 4th of July as she sat by the balcony of her apartment. Later on, when things died down she would pick up whatever was left of her things and go back to the house she had purchased a few months back. "It's always the same..." she breathed. Shaking her head at the display, making her both feel somber and melancholic, Amanda moved towards the kitchen when she heard a knock. Funny, she thought, after all most of her neighbors were out celebrating... opening the door she was surprised - pleasantly though - she didn't expect this company. "Not so happy fourth of July?" she smiled down at her agent as she opened her door more, letting her in.
Emma let out a breath she didn't realize she was holding when Amanda opened the door. She never knew where she stood with her handler--if they were supposed to be on good terms or bad ones--but in a time like this, she figured that it didn't really matter. She smiled weakly, trying her best to make it not seem as forced as it was. "Fourth of July isn't a happy day for me," she murmured as she walked into her apartment. She glanced around, not knowing what to do or to say. She didn't think this through properly. All she did know was that she wanted to leave her home. She looked everywhere except at Amanda and said, "So, how's your day going?"
Amanda shook her head fondly. "I can see it in your face... " Amanda definitely thought something was up with the girl, after all, Emma, on all the times such as this did come to her apartment on all the possible days, it definitely did mean something. If the girl was able to do this - come to her - when she was lonely or anything, then Amanda need not to push for anything - for now. "As it is for me, when I look out into that beautiful dark sky, littered with fireworks made from the tax money of the people..." she shrugged with a small smile. Of course it was a cause of celebration, but still - she couldn't help but think that money could have been put to better use. "Me? Just, packing my items for a trip - make yourself at home, though I will need to leave in a while." she went into the kitchen to make a soda fizz for Emma.
Emma played around with her fingers, mentally scolding herself for being so transparent. She was better than this. She remembered days where she would cry into her pillow and leave her house as if nothing had happened. Now wasn't a time to be soft in any way. It wasn't just the day though. It was everything on top of it that made her feel like complete shit. Emma glanced outside, noticing that fireworks continued to light up the night sky. It would be over soon she knew, and the sooner it was the better. "They're supposed to be pretty, I guess. I think they're stupid." She sat down on her couch, remembering that the last time she was there she had been bleeding out. She smiled weakly at the memory. She and Jonathan also had the start of their awkward conversation that night. Amanda's words gratefully pulled her from her thoughts. "Where are you going?" she asked, feeling as though she was being abandoned yet again.
Amanda smiled as she looked back again at the fireworks. "They are pretty... just maybe wasteful." she shrugged to turn back to her packing. After all, there was a time she also experienced this kind of pleasure watching the fireworks... now, there were just that, memories. "Penny for your thoughts?" The handler asked, silly as that point may be. "I could offer a dollar even - I'm concerned I guess - I don't think that's bad right? For me to be concerned about you, even in the slightest?" she asked sparing the girl a small look before turning back to her things. After all, when was the best place to start talking if not now? Amanda only knew that she just... shouldn't push as much. Finished with her packing she took up two trolley bags, one each saddled with two other giant backpacks. "Me? I'm going home, if you want, I'll be more than grateful if you'd come ---"
Emma smirked at Amanda's words. Jasper used to tell her that. Except he would always give her a penny when she asked. Sometimes she wondered if her kept a handful of pennies on him at all times just in case she became thoughtful. Regardless, she didn't know if she wanted to trust Amanda. She has proven that she could be trusted, but Emma didn't know how much. However, she figured she saw her file and knew at least some of her background. Maybe she already knew what this day meant to her. "I... uh... Amanda... do you hate me?" She looked at her from under her eyes. She didn't know whether she wanted to know the truth or not, but she wanted to know what she would say. "Home? You live somewhere other than here?"
Amanda walked around her apartment as she and Emma conversed. After making sure everything was set - the handler made her way back into the kitchen to grab the orange soda she was making and placed it on a saucer in front of Emma. At the girl's words a thought of concern passed through her features. "You? Is this as a handler? Hmm, no - probably not -" she smiled, making it seem as a jesting nature in which as a handler, if Amanda was any more proper and strict, maybe, maybe there would be a smidget of hate. "But as an adult no- not really. Why? Should I be?" she asked lightly - this day, or rather for this holiday, Amanda didn't want to feel like a handler, just like how she treated Cambria back then during Christmas, it would be nice to just be - an adult at times. Sitting on the sofa adjacent to Emma she answered the other question. "Yes, I do. Well, recently a few months in yes. It's not that far away, but it's a real house - and a real garden. I really can't have my own garden here anyway. Would you like to come? At least for the Holiday?" she said eager in her invitation.
Emma watched Amanda as she walked around the apartment, distracting herself with her mundane motions. As she answered her question, she sighed. She figured that she would get that sort of answer from her. She shouldn't have even asked. "I...no. I don't want you to hate me. It's just... It's just that a lot of people do. And..." She rubbed her temples and closed her eyes, feeling as though a weight was in her chest, keeping her from saying anything about it. "I was... today... my mom was raped twenty-five years ago today and then I was born and I don't know... Today just feels like complete fucking shit." She kept her eyes on the floor, almost afraid to look at Amanda. She shouldn't have said anything about it. She should have done what she always did and pretended that everything was okay. But it wasn't okay, and today she didn't have the energy to pretend it was. "Yeah, sure. I don't have anything else to do." She smiled weakly. "A garden? Do you plant vegetables or something?"
Amanda blinked glad that she was finished in everything she prepared, anything else she would add to do were just movements she wanted to continue doing, most probably just to keep her hands busy somehow. She of course knew that background somehow - rape victim mother - etc - the only problem was - how Emma would be reacting to it - to any of what the handler would say. Most of the times she didn't ask her recruits about their past unless needed, the psychs did a lot about that - and it wasn't always pretty. It never was. They, in a way force the recruits and agents to say, and these more in depth revelations needed time. "I would say it wasn't your fault, the only fault would be the one who brought you to shame - that you still have a choice - but would that help?" she asked, so many factors could come into play, Amanda thought - would she be shaming herself, a father, a mother, friend, would shame on her? Amanda wasn't technically the best at many heart to heart talks, but as much as possible she had an open ear and an open mind - that was the best she could give after all, she knew every person was different and understanding everyone - no matter how helpful would be quite a feat. "Are you sure that they hate you Emma? These other people? Hate is a very strong word, something that rips your feeling out of your gut and it would be enough to make you do something that can either make you worse or break you." Slowly, a small smile formed on Amanda's lips - "No, but I like plants, I don't think I can keep them alive though, but I can try, being in an apartment is too... stiff for me."
Emma stared at the floor and played with her fingers as she listened to Amanda's words. Those words weren't unfamiliar to her. It's not your fault. If that was really the case, however, Emma figured she wouldn't feel so guilty about it. How could it not be her fault that her mother was miserable and left with a reminder of what happened to her. "Not really," she murmured. "Thanks for trying though." She chewed on her bottom lip and tried to force down all of the dark thoughts in her head. Amanda was trying to help her and she should focus on that. Focus on her. She scoffed and shook her head. "Yeah, I know that they hate me. I had basically twenty-four years of them hating me; I know what it feels like." She ran a frustrated hand through her hair and jumped when she heard a firework that was a little too loud. "If that's what hate feels like, then yes, I am definitely sure that they hated me." Her smile slowly grew, finding herself amused by her lack of a green thumb. "You can keep recruits alive, but not plants?" She looked up at Amanda, a small sparkle of her normal self twinkling in her gaze. "What kind of house is it? Please don't tell me you live in the suburbs like a boring person."
Amanda bit her lips trying to decide about it - basically what Emma was trying to say was her parents, or rather her mother - who else would it be? After all it was 24 years. "I can't really help you that much, even if I wanted to - it's obvious I'm not going to push regarding that topic, but I appreciate you opening up to me, all I can say is maybe they don't hate you - maybe... maybe they are angry at themselves and it flows to whoever was nearest." she shrugged as she stood up, ready to start leaving "I guess it's like, a boss gets angry at his employee for the rising stock market, employee comes home angry at his boss but takes it out on his wife, because he can't shout back at his boss, then wife to the child because she can't talk back to her husband, the child then gets the burden and is angry but the mother, but can't really shout at the mother for fear of getting scolded, hence the child takes it out on the dog. Poor, innocent dog in the end would be scared, but at least a dog will always love the owner right?" she give a small smile at the end. "Right now you're just the dog, and those people hate your for something they are powerless to be angry at someone else or themselves." Then, another wave of fireworks started and cheering came in. "Just remember, once you get angry and take it out on someone, remember that it should be a dog, someone you know who will be there for you, because hating people? Isn't that such a strong feeling of loneliness?" With that she took a hold of her bags and walked towards the door. "I do try you know, maybe this time it will work out with the plants. It's near the suburbs, but not exactly in between all the houses who look the same - I'd rather like it to be a bit farther away from civilization, but close enough for emergencies." A small smile came at Amanda's features - after all, she remembered her old house ... and Jack.
Emma sighed and shook her head. She knew that Amanda would not understand. How could she? No one could understand what she had to go through. She finally tore her eyes away from the floor and glanced up at Amanda. "You're calling me a dog?" There was small smile in her voice, but she could see where she was coming from and in some sense it was true. Her mother maybe didn't hate her, but who her father was and what she represented. But that didn't matter in the grand scheme of things. Emma was still hated by her, no matter how much she tried to win her love. She closed her eyes for a moment and shook her head. "I don't have a dog and if I did, I would never want to hurt it, even if I was angry." Jasper used to be her dog. She could yell at him for hours and he would still be there afterward to hold her and tell her it was alright. But he wasn't around anymore and no matter how hard she might try to see it, Jonathan wasn't Jasper. Yelling at him would only make the matter worse. This discussion wasn't helping her feel any better. As Amanda started walking to the door, Emma got to her feet and helped her with some of her bags. "Emergencies like me needing my stitches redone." She smiled weakly. "I guess that doesn't sound so bad. At least it's your own place and not something Division gave you."
Amanda smiled, mirroring her wards own. "I would like a dog, but for this weekend you can be one why not?" she said. "I'd like a dog too, Jack loved dogs -" she said wistfully, not even aware that Emma was there and that she said his name out loud. Blinking back into her senses she shook her head. She let Emma help her out, glad in a way what this simple bonding could do - if it made their relationship better, then great, if not - well, she'll just hope it doesn't come to that." Finally opening the door - not looking anymore at the fireworks blazing outside, Amanda turned her key in and walked down the hallway towards the elevator. "That it is - i've been meaning for my own place, and it's a better retreat and view than this..." The handler pressed the elevator button and looked down at the girl beside her - "I'm glad you're going to come with me." she said - another smile on her features, before entering the elevator.
“Come on! Let’s do something! I want to do something, anything. Let’s just get out of the apartment before I burst.” Emma paced around Jasper’s bedroom as he played his video games on his computer, not finding his search for the gold triangle as thrilling as he did. He was deeply enthralled in his game, but he paused to let Emma in and give her some of his attention.
“I told you when you came by that I was going to be playing my game and you said okay,” he said calmly as he put the game off pause and started to kill grass with his sword.
“Yeah, but it’s boring here. Let’s do something.”
“Emma.” She glared at the back of his head, her expression unchanging as he turned around to look at her. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing’s wrong,” she said crossing her arms over her chest. He shook his head and paused the game once again. “Don’t lie to me, Em. Tell me what happened.” She narrowed her eyes at him, but he was unfazed by her. He kept his face calm which unnerved her to no end.
“Nothing happened!” She finally tore her eyes away from his and kicked one of his chairs down. Through her small surge of frustration she heard him say, “Second floor Emma. Be nice to the neighbors.” When he didn’t start his game up again, she knew that he wasn’t going to take that as an answer. She glared at him and he adjusted himself so that he could fully face her. Their eyes met, his calming blue eyes battling her brown ones.
“I know that something happened. You came here, sat down, and less than ten seconds later started pacing. Normally you wait at least a minute.” Emma rolled her eyes at him, but didn’t say otherwise. He was right after all. But that didn’t mean she intended to tell him that. “Emma, please. Just tell me.”
“My cousin came by today and he’s being a douche like always. Of course, Mom thinks he’s an angel who doesn’t do anything wrong, so I was blamed for breaking the five hundred dollar vase that she got from Tokyo or wherever it came from.” Her hands curled into a fist and she kicked his wall. When she turned around to face Jasper once more, he was at her side, placing his hands on her shoulders.
“Your cousin has always been jealous of you and you know it. After all you’re half his size and you can still beat the shit out of him.” Emma smiled as she looked up at him. “Let him be a douche. Next time you go over for Thanksgiving, we can conveniently leave out his porn collection for his parents to see.” His mischievous grin matched her own as they imagined how that would play out. Emma could picture her aunt’s face as her innocent baby boy tried to explain why he had so many Playboy magazines.
She was brought out of her thoughts when Jasper placed a kiss on her forehead. “Don’t let him get to you, Em. You’re better than that.” He led her to his bed and picked up the game remote he left on his desk. “Let me get to the next level, I’ll make us some ice cream, and we can sneak into the mini golf course and mess up people’s games until they try throwing us out.”
She pursed her lips and thought about his plan. It didn’t sound as fun as some of the other things they could do, like jumping off of a building or robbing the corner store really quick, but she figured that his plan didn’t hurt. The thought of being able to get back at her cousin managed to take some of her anger off as she started to plan it out in her head. Still, she didn’t know if that would be enough to calm her down before going home. “Why don’t we rob the golf course instead?”
He narrowed his eyes at her. “Emma…”
“Rob the liquor store on the way?”
He sighed and shook his head. Taking her hands in his, he smiled. “Do you know what would be really fun? Sneaking to the lake and borrowing a house boat for the night.” He had a mischievous grin on his face and she couldn’t help mirroring it. She was pretty sure that he already knew someone who owned a house boat on the lake so it would literally only be borrowing, but she figured she could delude herself into thinking that they were stealing it.
“Okay fine. Let’s do it.” She grinned at him and tried to hop off the bed, but he still had her hands in his. She looked down at them and then up at him. “Wait until I finish this level.” She rolled her eyes, but sat back down, making herself comfortable on his bed. She knew that he would have to check every rock and blade of grass when he played.
He smiled as he unpaused his game and continued cutting the grass until green diamonds popped out. She leaned against him as he focused on the screen, thankful that she had him as her friend.Â
You'd think that there would be a change down here...
.. yet everytime I check into this place it’s just the same old, grey bunker. At least I think they fixed a lot of the flooding damage. Wonder what happened to the repairmen…Â
This place will always be the same. Not even a flood can convince them to add some color. They probably killed them. You know, dunked their bodies completely in acid.Â
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