Here I Am

Jackson Fisher, go ahead and call me Jack. 22 years and counting. Staying somewhere in the Dakota.

[wxrriior]

You’re welcome.

We probably do, we can help each other on that field, force each other to go out. [She laughs and keep her way towards the library.] When it comes to meeting new people it’s a whole other deal, especially here. People are not the nicest.

[jfish-er]

Oh great, I should force you to go to this club I keep hearing about. I never really want to go, but going with someone else might suddenly make it better. Uh but when I say force I mean like, ask once and be okay with it if you say no.

But about meeting new people yeah I definitely understand that. I've dealt with my fair share of less than pleasant people, it especially sucks when you have to be nice to them no matter what.

[jfish-er]

Like a Walk In the Park || Dana & Jack

[dana-reinhardt-deactivated20140]

"Mm. You’re identifying yourself to him the same way you would to me, except by giving your scent instead of your name. He won’t slobber on you or anything, promise."

Dana stuffed his hands in his pockets and walked upright, almost with a skip in his step, as he led Jack along. Jack trailed along behind him, constantly expressing nervousness and uncertainty, but Dana pulled him along dutifully with his swift pace as if they were connected by invisible ropes, like a blonde ox pulling along a plow. It was almost alarming to Dana how easily this stranger piqued his curiosity. He was such a shifty boy when he had no reason to be, and the blonde male was near determined to break through that a bit, eyes gleaming mischievously as he eyes the prize.

His grin grew as they got off the elevator and headed towards the right apartment on the left, his keys jingling quietly in his pocket. “Not on you, he won’t. He might make a break for us, though, so don’t run, okay? He’s just a dog.” He gave Jack a quick, reassuring smile and turned the key, stepping inside the apartment, one foot at a time. “Excuse the mess. We’re still settling in.” 

There were boxes everywhere, around all the furniture that had been their previously. Contrary to what Dana had said, Maoh did not greet them at the door. His cats did, high from on top of the kitchen counters level with their chests, tails intertwining. Maoh himself was further in the apartment, perched on one of the nicer couches, reclined with his long snout over his ankle, ears quirking at the sound of the door opening. 

[jfish-er]

“He’s just a dog…”Jack repeated after the other to remind himself it wasn’t like he was introducing himself to a bear or something else that was rationally scary. Thinking about how he must have looked being nervous about coming into contact with domestic animals was something he didn’t want to do if he could. “Okay…”  There was a small smile on his face in return for the one he received before Dana opened the door, even if the blonde wasn’t looking at him anymore he thought it was necessary.

After they stepped inside the apartment he closed the door behind him and stayed by it, watching as the cats strolled in and then looking over at Dana. Deciding to ignore that fact that these were the other man’s pet- babies,he found it a bit easier to stay calm since the other was calm as well. He wasn’t sure if his feelings towards Nyx and Styx could even be considered fear, there was just an odd feeling in the back of his head like something back would happen if he interacted with them. Fear or not he still practically jumped out of the way when the pair began to move towards him and he tried to cover it up by going to look at the boxes.

“It looks like it’ll take you guys weeks to get through all these boxes,” he was busy looking in one of the larger boxes, tilting his head to better analyze its contents “I didn’t nearly have this much stuff when I moved in.” He blinked a few times and looked up from the flowers in a vase he was messing with “Well wait, there’s what six residents here? A lot of stuff makes sense.” He said in a manner of correcting himself. His gaze flickered back to the cats “How do you tell which is which?”

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[tastettherainbow]

I do not think there is an actual thing for that. But maybe writing it could get the issue out of your system.

It’s okay, can’t expect you to remember everyone you bump into. There is no secret potion or anything. I suppose I was raised that way and as for the poetic side goes, maybe it’s because I like to read. 

[jfish-er]

Yeah, writing actually helps me clear my head a lot.

I'll remember you next time! If you're not secretly mad about me forgetting and there is a next time. I hope there's a next time. Oh wait, my question didn't have to do with what I had said before that, sorry things in my head are scattered and it comes out like that sometimes. I meant, you're really... pleasant. Last time I talked to you and this time you know? Like if something's bothering you, you still keep a level head? I don't know. Ignore me. [He laughs]

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[dana-reinhardt-deactivated20140]

Well~ Maybe I’d like to listen for a little. That is indeed what that number means, yes. Hey, you’re not even, like, that far away from me, so shut up! I’ve only got a few months left anyway. I’ll be 21 before you know it. Then what, huh?

Well, I mean, you don’t, really. It’s not your responsibility, I’m just glad you’re cool about it. I wouldn’t say “bad”, necessarily, I’d be lying if I said otherwise. Don’t worry, man, I won’t bore you, ha. It’s no biggie.

Oh ew. So like dry puking probably. Yuck-a-roonie. You sure know a lot about tums. Sounds like I’ve met my soulmate.

Uh, well, aha, too late, right? Doesn’t matter.

[jfish-er]

Then I guess you're going to need someone to go drinking with? And uh, no it's okay. I can tell you my stories some other time maybe. I know I'm only two years older, it's just fun to joke about it. A few more months though? When's your birthday?

Oh I didn't mean like you would bore me! I just don't want you to feel like you have to talk about something that'll bring up bad memories, unless you want to. Then I'm all ears. I don't want you to feel like I'm one of those people who really doesn't want to be bothered with other people's problems.

I just, keep track of the drug facts, on the back of the bottles you know. You can't just decide who your soulmate is by that can you?

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[dana-reinhardt-deactivated20140]

I got to go once in middle school, but yeah, that’d be fun. Seems like you should be making some stories of your own though, instead of just listening to me talk about my adventures all the time! Well, I wouldn’t say “crazy”. I was a good kid. Sure, I probably did a few things, went a few places my parents were wary of, but I’ve never really been a party animal or anything. I’m twenty, what about you?

Hey, no, it’s fine, Jack, really. No, no—I know! Jack, I know, it’s cool, don’t worry. And no apologizing! It’s not that it’s a secret. I just got here, you know, a total stranger, and it’s not like I go around telling everybody I meet straight off. It’s not that big a deal to me. You’ve just got to be careful; sometimes it’s a much bigger deal to other people and I guess I’d rather someone know ahead of time than make friends and have to deal with that fallout later. Especially with guys. Talk about stories.

Oh, yum, that sounds like quite an evening. Ah, I figured. Can you overdose on tums? Can you get high off tums? This doesn’t sound like  a question I should be getting the answer to.

[jfish-er]

Well I have some stories! I just like hearing new ones more. You're twenty? You can't even drink yet! I'm twenty two.

Okay, I'll remember that. To be careful about it. It's not like I'll just tell everyone. Why would there be a big fallout later? You sound like something bad has happened before. I don't know if I want to hear those stories.

You can't overdose on tums, it's more like taking too many vitamins and you'll just have weird things going because you have like too much calcium or something. You can't get high off of them. ...Did you not want the answers?

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[dana-reinhardt-deactivated20140]

Right? Wouldn’t it? I mean I know that sport gets a lot of its steam from teenage boys but I’d jump on a bike in a millisecond if I had the chance to do some crazy off-roading up here or something. Oh, I get you. Parents. Mine were pretty liberal so to speak but you’ve got to know where your kids are in St. Louis so right around dusk was when I’d have to be walking back through the doors, or else. Doesn’t mean I didn’t sneak out every now and then, you know? Though, uh, not to see Radio City obviously. I bet you were the same way, huh. Boys will be boys and all that.

Well, not all the time! Gimme some slack here, c’mon. You never know what’s gonna be a big deal to someone and what isn’t. Takes spunk!

Ooh, shade. Nah, I wouldn’t worry about it if I were you. After all, my folks and I are reaping the benefits of this “bountiful new wealth” or whatever. I bet I could buy a truckload of them or something if I wanted. Ridiculous.

[jfish-er]

Maybe you should go to Denver some time, find a place that'll let you get on a bike. I'm sure I'd love to hear the stories. You must have done a lot of crazy things when you were younger. Unless you're still doing crazy things. How old are you?

Oh, oh, do people not know? Fuck, I didn't- did I make you feel bad? I'm sorry. It's okay with me, I'm not judging you or anything so you don't have to worry about it. I'm sorry.

Oh, alright, let's go use all your tums then. Not really though, you can get sick if you eat too many of those. I used to think they were like candy when I was younger,

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[dana-reinhardt-deactivated20140]

Denver? Sweet. That’s a pretty city.  What do you mean you didn’t go out much? That’s like the perfect setting for Motocross or whatever, right? Jesus, I’d be all up in that stuff—why didn’t you go out?

Kind of? Well, not kind of, just, yes, traditionally. Usually. All the time? Yes, Jack, yes, guys are more so my forte.

Yeah, me too, I’m—I’m so sorry about that, jesus. Maybe we could both use some tums.

[jfish-er]

It is a pretty city, yeah. Motorcross? That would have been fun. Why- I- Well I did go out, I mean I wasn't always in my house. I just had weird curfews so I didn't do much. Yeah I still went out, mhm.

All the time? Your forte? [He laughs] Wow...

Apology accepted, you should be sorry, but don;t worry about the tums. i wouldn't want to use up yours so you don't have any for the boobs of the Rockettes.

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[dana-reinhardt-deactivated20140]

Nothing wrong with that. They didn’t have a whole lot of shows like that in St. Louis either, so. Are you from New York? Or did you grow up in some place where the Rockettes didn’t think to travel?

…because they’re icky and weird? Not for me, they’re not. I just. [brief shiver] This might be worse than the chicken finger conversation.

[jfish-er]

Uh, no I'm from Denver. They've probably been in Denver a few times, it's a busy city. I just didn't go out much, so I probably missed them. Boobs are icky and weird? [He laughs] Dana... do you like guys?

And nothing is worse than the chicken finger conversation. I don't want to hear anything about anyone eating other people. I'll throw up.

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[dana-reinhardt-deactivated20140]

Uhh, aha. How am I supposed to know? The point of being strangers, maybe? That sounds like some shitty romance novel line, though.

Yeah! The ladies with the poofy hair that kick their legs up and wear these big leotards. I’m expecting to see a lot of bouncing boobies and I don’t know how I feel about it. Actually, I know exactly how I feel about it, but I’ll ingest a metric fuck ton of tums and suffer through it. For the glitz!

[jfish-er]

Okay, I just wanted to know.

The closest I've come to watching the Rockettes is from ads on Youtube I think. They always look really happy. Why do you have to ingest a metric ton of tums if you're going to see a lot of bouncing boobs. That's... good?

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[dana-reinhardt-deactivated20140]

I guess that’s a little better. Right on the money, friend. No fleeing! Next time I might just follow you—we’re past the point where that could be considered creepy, right?

Ooh! I! Discovered! That! The Radio City thing is gonna start playing soon around here! Like the Rockettes or whatever with those silly folk dances and shit, you know the ones? I already bought my tickets, I’m. So. Excited. I’ve never been to a Christmas Spectacular!

[jfish-er]

I guess you're right? I've never had someone want to follow me around before, but wait what would that point be? The point that we're past I mean?

I've never been to a Christmas Spectacular either. I've heard about Radio City, I've never seen a show there, but cool, I'll be excited for you when you go. Are the Rockettes that dance group?

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[tastettherainbow]

Mind-blowing stuff. We’re basically pawns in their supply and demand wars. 

It’s Brooklyn. Aren’t you Jack? Don’t you remember me? When we met I think I was going on about stupid people or people being stupid and going into the greeting card business.

[jfish-er]

That's really strange. I want to send a complaint to someone but I wouldn't know who to send it to.

That's right! Greeting card girl is Brooklyn. sorry. I should keep better tabs on people. You were the girl who was really poetic and nice. How do you do that?

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[dana-reinhardt-deactivated20140]

Uh. Hey, you’re, uh. Making me pretty sad with that face you’re giving me, there. Don’t be so nice. You’ve gotta stop apologizing, man, it’s breaking my heart practically.

[jfish-er]

Okay, sorry- I mean, not sorry. Um, I know you don't like it when I leave...

How's your day?

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[tastettherainbow]

Oh, I get you. Well, don’t feel bad, it was a bad move on the food industry part. Guess that’s why they are pushing the name chicken tenders now. And fish sticks. All names in reference to how they are eaten. With our hands.

[jfish-er]

Woah wait really? I didn't notice that!

I- wow... what's your name?

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[dana-reinhardt-deactivated20140]

Sssssorry, did I go a little far? Maybe I’m not as funny as I think I am.

[jfish-er]

No... no I'm sorry. I didn't know you were joking.

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[scarlettmorel]

Well…come to think of it, I have no idea. 

[jfish-er]

That's really weird isn't it? I'm not eating those anymore. They freak me out.

So um, how's... your day?

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[tastettherainbow]

Should I go over the history of chicken fingers for you? Or is it that what you ate looked or were shaped like, well actual fingers?

[jfish-er]

I- No you don't have to. I'm just worried... because chickens don't have fingers and I never thought about it before.

[jfish-er]

Okay...

[dana-reinhardt-deactivated20140]

Not sure. Lemme see. [he reaches over and takes one up, biting a big chunk off]

Hm. No, I wouldn’t say so. The taste of human is extremely diluted in this one—must’ve been a super organic joint. The fingers must’ve come from somewhere else. Or something else.

…I’m making myself sick. 

[he stalks towards the nearest garbage can to spit everything out]

[jfish-er]