Post by Craven on Jun 11, 2014 14:08:58 GMT -6
With his friend, Merlyn “Rocket” Harper standing outside the car, waiting the last few minutes before his impending night of posible friendship and fronication, Craven turns on his little recorder.
Craven: It’s always funny when you meet somebody who’s really close to you. Quentin Saint is gonna be one of those times because it looks like we’ll be looking into a mirror together. Both of us with pasts we’d rather not remember, full of deaths and personal demons we’re not exactly proud of. The similarities are striking until you see the ages and realize my story is at a crossroads whereas his has been to one several times and is really just now starting out. Here’s hoping this goes well for both of us.
He turns the recorder off and then steps from the car. A few minutes later, he starts to leave when something catches his eye. Craven and the woman he’d most like to speak to again, Skylar Hansen, almost literally bump into each other near the door of the chosen meeting place for their young friends, Sin and Rocket. They were each dropping off their respective charges here for a real date without supervision and both felt like a parent watching their kids going off to school, only here it was standing side by side with somebody equally special to them. As they watch the two youngins settle down at their table, Craven and Skylar find themselves both feeling a certain pull to each other.
Craven: Isn't this kinda sick that we're twenty-two and dropping them off like we're pushing fifty and yet... if it weren't for them we'd be the youngest people here and it doesn't feel like that at all?
Skylar shrugs, trying not to laugh.
Skylar Hansen: Young in age, not in mind. We've probably been through way more than half the people here have ever even thought of.
Craven grins.
Craven: Ever been so hungover and strung out you forgot how old you were and actually had to look at your own ID to remember?
Skylar laughs, nodding.
Skylar Hansen: Dude... I've been so bad I forgot my own name once... been there done that for sure.
Craven nods, his attention drifting back to the two eighteen-year-olds sitting across the building from them.
Craven: Has Sin ever been that bad?
She shakes her head.
Skylar Hansen: No, she's a smart girl, knows her limits.
Craven: How long has she had a habit too?
Skylar sighs.
Skylar Hansen: A couple of years... I tried to keep her away from it as long as I could, didn’t force it onto her. I mostly used when she was gone, in bed or whatever.
Craven nods, understanding the situation perfectly.
Craven: Rocket found my stuff about a year in. Didn't get the guts to ask me for another six months what it all was.
Unable to stop herself, she swings her head over to ask.
Skylar Hansen: What was it?
Pondering this for a second, he shrugs knowing she’ll understand.
Craven: At the time? I had I think three kinds of pills, a little powder, a little smoke. He'd never seen any of it before, he'd just had a couple of drinks.
Skylar nods, seemingly happy to be sharing.
Skylar Hansen: Sin's first was just some weed, then cocaine. Now she takes more, but nowhere near what I have to take.
He nods, the realization of what Skylar’s just admitted hitting him like a ton of bricks.
Craven: Rocket... doesn’t have to. He will, and he'll enjoy it but, if given the choice he'd just have a couple of beers and maybe a shot or two and then come home.
Skylar Hansen: Good to know.
She pauses.
Skylar Hansen: It kind of pains me in a way to see her becoming just like me at the same age. Will be nice for her to have someone who could ground her, help her see the world is a good place sometimes.
Craven smiles, hoping he can get through the fog with her.
Craven: She's here now because of you, Sky. If she chose to emulate you, she could do worse. Look at everything you've been through and yet, you're holding down three jobs and took in somebody else's child.
Skylar shakes her head sadly, the guilt and shame pouring through the walls she’s tried so hard to maintain over the years.
Skylar Hansen: Doesn’t make me a good mother, not really...
Craven cocks his head.
Craven: Is she alive? Is she happy?
Without thinking about it, Skylar nods.
Skylar Hansen: Well yeah, she is...
He nods, smiling to her.
Craven: Then you've done fine. If you hadn't taken her in, what would have happened to her in Georgia?
The mention of the incident in question wipes the momentary smile off her face.
Skylar Hansen: I... I don't even what to think what those frat boys would have done to her...
Seeing the reaction that mention got, Craven decides it’s time to change the subject quickly.
Craven: So, what do you wanna do now? Somehow I don't think we really wanna stand here and stare at them all night.
Grateful, Skylar manages to smile again.
Skylar Hansen: Well... I havent got any plans really. I was just gonna go home and read a book. What about you?
He starts to say something but stops himself knowing that there is no line that will work here.
Craven: To be perfectly honest, and I realize it's gonna make me sound really fucking pathetic, I was probably going to be sitting in the car in the parking lot and wait for him to text me while hoping you'd call. Sad?
She stifles a laughs.
Skylar Hansen: Yeah... That is a little sad...
She frowns.
Skylar Hansen: You been waiting for me to call since last week?
Craven: I been waiting for you to call for eight years, Sky.
She looks down seemingly ashamed.
Skylar Hansen: I'm sorry...
Just then his phone rings and he glances down at it.
Craven: Oh shit... it's your mother...
He pauses.
Craven: She doesn't know I found you yet...
Skylar’s eyes go wide.
Skylar Hansen: My... Mother?
Disbelief is heard in her voice.
Skylar Hansen: I... She... You should answer it...
He nods and answers.
Craven: Hei, Fru Hansen, hvor er du?
Skylar frowns at the unexpected use of her native language, she had no idea Craven knew how to speak it, let alone so fluently.
Craven: Ja... she's right here.
He holds out the phone to Skylar. Skylar’s eyes go wide and she hesitates before taking the phone.
Skylar Hansen: Mama?
Twenty minutes later, the call ends with Skylar promising to call her mother again the next day.
Craven: You're not gonna shoot me for that, are you?
She doesn't answer him, instead she simply grabs him and starts crying into his shoulder, clinging onto him like a lost child does to the one who found them. He quickly turns into her, taking her into his arms.
Craven: She never stopped loving you... or hoping...
Skylar Hansen: Never thought of what I was leaving behind when I ran, who I was hurting... God, how could I be so stupid!
She speaks through her tears.
Craven: Heeey... don't do that to yourself, Sky. You were young and he was...
He kisses the top of her head.
Craven: You couldn't have known when it was safe...
Skylar Hansen: If only I'd stopped to talk with you, listen to what you had to say... Instead I hurt you, punched you in the face, did whatever I could to run, when all I needed to do was stop and listen.
He shrugs, smiling into her eyes.
Craven: You listened now...
She nods sadly, guiltily.
Skylar Hansen: I did... But had I listened years ago, it would have saved us so much pain, so much heartache.
Craven nods slowly.
Craven: Yeah but... where would Sin and Rocket be now if you had?
Skylar Hansen: Good point...
He nods, seeing the cheer coming back into her face.
Craven: Your Mama understands. She lived it too and I...
He shrugs.
Craven: I got my five minutes. Now, all that matters is, we're here.
She looks up at him.
Skylar Hansen: Yeah... we're here...
Craven nods and then moves in slowly, kissing her lovingly. She's surprised at first before she kisses him back.Just then, there's a tap on their shoulders. They turn to find Rocket standing there grinning like an idiot.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: So... are you guys gonna come sit down with us or are we just gonna watch you stare at us?
Skylar almost jumps, looking embarrassed.
Skylar Hansen: Rocket... How long have you been standing there?
Rocket just shakes his head quickly, hoping to reassure them that he has not been eavesdropping the whole time.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: About ten seconds. We saw you get the phone call and I guessed who it had to be. Sin wanted to run over here...
Skylar looks down.
Skylar Hansen: I... It was my Mother...
Rocket’s face tells the story.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: Dude... you hadn't told her yet, had you?
Craven shakes his head.
Craven: No...I forgot today was check in day...
Rocket shakes his head.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: Dayamn...
Skylar frowns.
Skylar Hansen: Check in day?
Rocket nods as he turns back to face her.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: Your Mama calls like clockwork every two weeks hoping he's finally found you and managed to talk to you. It's a set schedule.
Craven nods acknowledgingly.
Craven: And in all the recent excitement, I forgot that was today.
Rocket playfully punches him in the shoulder.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: Genius...
Skylar Hansen: Well, I for one am glad it was today. I haven’t spoken to her in eight long years nor seen her face...
Craven: So... what do we do now?
Skylar shrugs.
Skylar Hansen: Well we can either go back to mine, or yours, and leave these two to their dinner... Or we can join them. What would you rather do?
Craven glances over at the table and grins.
Craven: Cindy looks like she's almost begging us...
Rocket chuckles.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: Not almost...
Skylar Hansen: I guess that makes this a double date then doesn't it?
Craven: It does, huh?
He pauses and then nods.
Craven: I can dig it.
Skylar Hansen: Shall we go in before Sin bursts at the seams?
Rocket nods pleadingly.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: Please?
Craven nods.
Craven: Ok.
Skylar nods as well.
Skylar Hansen: Let’s go then.
And thus commenceth their first evening back together.
Craven: It’s always funny when you meet somebody who’s really close to you. Quentin Saint is gonna be one of those times because it looks like we’ll be looking into a mirror together. Both of us with pasts we’d rather not remember, full of deaths and personal demons we’re not exactly proud of. The similarities are striking until you see the ages and realize my story is at a crossroads whereas his has been to one several times and is really just now starting out. Here’s hoping this goes well for both of us.
He turns the recorder off and then steps from the car. A few minutes later, he starts to leave when something catches his eye. Craven and the woman he’d most like to speak to again, Skylar Hansen, almost literally bump into each other near the door of the chosen meeting place for their young friends, Sin and Rocket. They were each dropping off their respective charges here for a real date without supervision and both felt like a parent watching their kids going off to school, only here it was standing side by side with somebody equally special to them. As they watch the two youngins settle down at their table, Craven and Skylar find themselves both feeling a certain pull to each other.
Craven: Isn't this kinda sick that we're twenty-two and dropping them off like we're pushing fifty and yet... if it weren't for them we'd be the youngest people here and it doesn't feel like that at all?
Skylar shrugs, trying not to laugh.
Skylar Hansen: Young in age, not in mind. We've probably been through way more than half the people here have ever even thought of.
Craven grins.
Craven: Ever been so hungover and strung out you forgot how old you were and actually had to look at your own ID to remember?
Skylar laughs, nodding.
Skylar Hansen: Dude... I've been so bad I forgot my own name once... been there done that for sure.
Craven nods, his attention drifting back to the two eighteen-year-olds sitting across the building from them.
Craven: Has Sin ever been that bad?
She shakes her head.
Skylar Hansen: No, she's a smart girl, knows her limits.
Craven: How long has she had a habit too?
Skylar sighs.
Skylar Hansen: A couple of years... I tried to keep her away from it as long as I could, didn’t force it onto her. I mostly used when she was gone, in bed or whatever.
Craven nods, understanding the situation perfectly.
Craven: Rocket found my stuff about a year in. Didn't get the guts to ask me for another six months what it all was.
Unable to stop herself, she swings her head over to ask.
Skylar Hansen: What was it?
Pondering this for a second, he shrugs knowing she’ll understand.
Craven: At the time? I had I think three kinds of pills, a little powder, a little smoke. He'd never seen any of it before, he'd just had a couple of drinks.
Skylar nods, seemingly happy to be sharing.
Skylar Hansen: Sin's first was just some weed, then cocaine. Now she takes more, but nowhere near what I have to take.
He nods, the realization of what Skylar’s just admitted hitting him like a ton of bricks.
Craven: Rocket... doesn’t have to. He will, and he'll enjoy it but, if given the choice he'd just have a couple of beers and maybe a shot or two and then come home.
Skylar Hansen: Good to know.
She pauses.
Skylar Hansen: It kind of pains me in a way to see her becoming just like me at the same age. Will be nice for her to have someone who could ground her, help her see the world is a good place sometimes.
Craven smiles, hoping he can get through the fog with her.
Craven: She's here now because of you, Sky. If she chose to emulate you, she could do worse. Look at everything you've been through and yet, you're holding down three jobs and took in somebody else's child.
Skylar shakes her head sadly, the guilt and shame pouring through the walls she’s tried so hard to maintain over the years.
Skylar Hansen: Doesn’t make me a good mother, not really...
Craven cocks his head.
Craven: Is she alive? Is she happy?
Without thinking about it, Skylar nods.
Skylar Hansen: Well yeah, she is...
He nods, smiling to her.
Craven: Then you've done fine. If you hadn't taken her in, what would have happened to her in Georgia?
The mention of the incident in question wipes the momentary smile off her face.
Skylar Hansen: I... I don't even what to think what those frat boys would have done to her...
Seeing the reaction that mention got, Craven decides it’s time to change the subject quickly.
Craven: So, what do you wanna do now? Somehow I don't think we really wanna stand here and stare at them all night.
Grateful, Skylar manages to smile again.
Skylar Hansen: Well... I havent got any plans really. I was just gonna go home and read a book. What about you?
He starts to say something but stops himself knowing that there is no line that will work here.
Craven: To be perfectly honest, and I realize it's gonna make me sound really fucking pathetic, I was probably going to be sitting in the car in the parking lot and wait for him to text me while hoping you'd call. Sad?
She stifles a laughs.
Skylar Hansen: Yeah... That is a little sad...
She frowns.
Skylar Hansen: You been waiting for me to call since last week?
Craven: I been waiting for you to call for eight years, Sky.
She looks down seemingly ashamed.
Skylar Hansen: I'm sorry...
Just then his phone rings and he glances down at it.
Craven: Oh shit... it's your mother...
He pauses.
Craven: She doesn't know I found you yet...
Skylar’s eyes go wide.
Skylar Hansen: My... Mother?
Disbelief is heard in her voice.
Skylar Hansen: I... She... You should answer it...
He nods and answers.
Craven: Hei, Fru Hansen, hvor er du?
Skylar frowns at the unexpected use of her native language, she had no idea Craven knew how to speak it, let alone so fluently.
Craven: Ja... she's right here.
He holds out the phone to Skylar. Skylar’s eyes go wide and she hesitates before taking the phone.
Skylar Hansen: Mama?
Twenty minutes later, the call ends with Skylar promising to call her mother again the next day.
Craven: You're not gonna shoot me for that, are you?
She doesn't answer him, instead she simply grabs him and starts crying into his shoulder, clinging onto him like a lost child does to the one who found them. He quickly turns into her, taking her into his arms.
Craven: She never stopped loving you... or hoping...
Skylar Hansen: Never thought of what I was leaving behind when I ran, who I was hurting... God, how could I be so stupid!
She speaks through her tears.
Craven: Heeey... don't do that to yourself, Sky. You were young and he was...
He kisses the top of her head.
Craven: You couldn't have known when it was safe...
Skylar Hansen: If only I'd stopped to talk with you, listen to what you had to say... Instead I hurt you, punched you in the face, did whatever I could to run, when all I needed to do was stop and listen.
He shrugs, smiling into her eyes.
Craven: You listened now...
She nods sadly, guiltily.
Skylar Hansen: I did... But had I listened years ago, it would have saved us so much pain, so much heartache.
Craven nods slowly.
Craven: Yeah but... where would Sin and Rocket be now if you had?
Skylar Hansen: Good point...
He nods, seeing the cheer coming back into her face.
Craven: Your Mama understands. She lived it too and I...
He shrugs.
Craven: I got my five minutes. Now, all that matters is, we're here.
She looks up at him.
Skylar Hansen: Yeah... we're here...
Craven nods and then moves in slowly, kissing her lovingly. She's surprised at first before she kisses him back.Just then, there's a tap on their shoulders. They turn to find Rocket standing there grinning like an idiot.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: So... are you guys gonna come sit down with us or are we just gonna watch you stare at us?
Skylar almost jumps, looking embarrassed.
Skylar Hansen: Rocket... How long have you been standing there?
Rocket just shakes his head quickly, hoping to reassure them that he has not been eavesdropping the whole time.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: About ten seconds. We saw you get the phone call and I guessed who it had to be. Sin wanted to run over here...
Skylar looks down.
Skylar Hansen: I... It was my Mother...
Rocket’s face tells the story.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: Dude... you hadn't told her yet, had you?
Craven shakes his head.
Craven: No...I forgot today was check in day...
Rocket shakes his head.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: Dayamn...
Skylar frowns.
Skylar Hansen: Check in day?
Rocket nods as he turns back to face her.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: Your Mama calls like clockwork every two weeks hoping he's finally found you and managed to talk to you. It's a set schedule.
Craven nods acknowledgingly.
Craven: And in all the recent excitement, I forgot that was today.
Rocket playfully punches him in the shoulder.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: Genius...
Skylar Hansen: Well, I for one am glad it was today. I haven’t spoken to her in eight long years nor seen her face...
Craven: So... what do we do now?
Skylar shrugs.
Skylar Hansen: Well we can either go back to mine, or yours, and leave these two to their dinner... Or we can join them. What would you rather do?
Craven glances over at the table and grins.
Craven: Cindy looks like she's almost begging us...
Rocket chuckles.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: Not almost...
Skylar Hansen: I guess that makes this a double date then doesn't it?
Craven: It does, huh?
He pauses and then nods.
Craven: I can dig it.
Skylar Hansen: Shall we go in before Sin bursts at the seams?
Rocket nods pleadingly.
Merlyn "Rocket" Harper: Please?
Craven nods.
Craven: Ok.
Skylar nods as well.
Skylar Hansen: Let’s go then.
And thus commenceth their first evening back together.
