The dam looks much the same as the last time Yan Sun saw it. Though the weather has picked up since and the snow is much heavier. This far out there's little done about the snow, so it just builds up and the wind pushes it around, causing snow drifts and hills that almost appear as white sand in a desert. The small, fenced-in security shack's door interface is red, but there's an echo reverberating throughout the area. A thud coming from
#FreedomFallsDam – December 8, 2016
behind the fenced-in area. Despite the heavy weather lately, tonight has provided a rather clear sky, causing Litae to illuminate everything in a slight glow which is only exaggerated by the reflection it casts on the snow.
Yan Sun exits a taxi after it stops at the side of the service road leading up to the dam. She curses under her breath as her cheap winter boots sink into the thick snow, and then looks towards the security building as the taxi turns, the illumination it provided slowly fading. As soon as she's on the road, and out of the deep snow, she can't help but look up, folding her arms over the paper bag she's carrying to keep it warm
as she looks up at Aite's spectacular night sky. Between Litae and the glowing bands that arc across the sky its an impressive sight to say the least, especially for someone used to seeing little but a yellow murk. Her entrancement is broken as she hears strange noise, causing her to shoot a glance towards the shack. She hurries up to the fence gate, looking in towards the dam. She looks around for the security camera,
The security camera doesn't move. It remains perfectly still, locked in a position aimed at the door. A loud grunt can be heard, distinctly Jessica, coming from behind the fenced enclosure, though the security office blocks Yan Sun's sightline on the source of the noises. Following the grunt is another thud, just like the last. A tree directly behind the enclosure begins spilling snow from its branches, creating a brief, small blizzard
as the snow flurries towards the ground. A loud sniffle can be heard before Jessica's voice chimes in, "Back here!" she calls out.
Yan Sun looks around in confusion as she tries to get a look at what's going on. When she realizes Jessica isn't in the office she starts to move more urgently. "What's going on? Is everything okay?" she calls out loudly, grabbing a hold of the fence and looking up as she ponders scaling it. No. Bad idea. Her eye lights up as she tries to interface directly with the door lock, getting ready to override it. Her gaze shifts
Jessica's disembodied voice sounds out in response once again. "Wha? Yes, is fine." she assures dismissively, though she sounds somewhat out of breath. A moment later the security fence slides open. "Just-.... Gah!" another grunt can be heard, followed by an identical thud, and more snow pours down from the tree above, "...hitting trees!" A moment later she steps out from behind the office. She's wearing her Enforcer hardsuit,
her old beat-up cap replacing a helmet, and clutching a thick tree branch in her gantlet that she's now poking through the snow like a walking stick. Her shoulder pauldrons and cap are coated in a layer of white snowflakes.
Yan Sun 's stance relaxes as she realizes that the possible struggle she was worried about was with a tree. She raises an eyebrow as she steps through the gate. "Uhm... why?" she asks, heading for the office.
Jessica shrugs her shoulders, seeming at first as if that's enough of an answer as she approaches the office door and quickly unlocks it by way of the interface. "Why not? Is fucking boring here..." she responds as she adjusts her grip on the branch and hurls it like a javelin over the fence. Or at least attempts to. The thick branch catches onto the fence and falls to the ground, eliciting a frown from Jessica. She sucks in
another deep breath and extends a gauntlet out to her side, palm up, allowing some of the remaining snowflakes from the tree to fall onto it as she glances upwards. "Besides, it looks nice, yes? Like a snow storm."
Yan Sun snickers quietly at the failed throw. She stops outside the office, smirking slightly as her gaze moves from Jessica to the snow dancing down around her. "Yeah, it does... it's freezing though. Almost as bad as the Snowball." She allows herself a shiver, once again folding her arms and letting out an exaggerated 'Brrr' to make her point. "Don't know why you'd step outside willingly."
Jessica shrugs her shoulders once again as she gives Yan Sun a playful, but forceful, little shove towards the door. "Because I was going to die from the boredom if I didn't do something." she groans, "I just sit. For hours and hours and hours and hours. If I keep doing this job I am going to get fat!" she continues, as if a warning. "I am already crispy, I do not need to get fat, too." she says as if it's funny. The inside
of the office is heated, and looks as it did before. Right down to Jessica's stone-throwing game to keep herself occupied.
Yan Sun heads into the office, taking a quick look around before turning to Jessica with a slight frown. She ignores the questionable attempt at humor. "Yeah, it... it does seem pretty boring." It seems like she's going to say something else, but instead she raises her right arm, showing off the paper bag with a triumphant smile. "But hey, I brought warm food!" she exclaims, shaking the bag a little.
Jessica grins as she follows Yan Sun inside and closes the door before eyeing the paper bag. "You see? This is why I keep you around." she teases as she snatches the bag away from Yan Sun. "What did you bring?" she asks as she tugs the top of the bag open to look inside.
Yan Sun raises an eyebrow. "Oh, that's why?" she asks, frowning slightly as the bag is yanked out of her hand. "Burger, from the place past the spaceport. You're welcome."
Jessica sets the bag down in front of the console and takes a big whiff. "Mmhmm." she hums. "What other reason would there be, mmm?" she continues to tease as she glances back over her shoulder at Yan Sun. She unslots her omni-tool and sets it down beside the bag. The interface opens up, displaying the program she used to unlock the gate. Once she closes the program, it gives sight to a small collection of winterland photos. A
flurry of snow with a fence separating the camera from the vast, snowy landscape beyond. Jessica promptly closes that down as well and begins to take off her gauntlets.
Yan Sun peeks over Jessica's shoulder at the omni-tool, shooting her a curious glance. "Did you take those? Practicing?" she asks, walking closer behind her.
Jessica gives a dismissive shrug. "Just-... dumb photos." she answers in a mutter, looking slightly embarrassed at her developing hobby. She digs into the bag for one of the burgers and thrusts it towards Yan Sun. "Speaking of dumb shit that nobody gives a fuck about, they are making me go to this stupid wedding shit at work." she says, eager to shift the focus away from her photography as she gestures to Yan Sun with the
burger, "So you are coming with me, kitty cat. If they are going to make me suffer, than I am going to make you suffer."
Yan Sun smiles to herself, about to comment again on the photos she briefly glimpsed when she's handed a burger. She starts to unwrap it as Jessica speaks, but soon stops, a surprised look crossing her face. "A wedding? There's a wedding? I mean... sure! Uhm... who's getting married?"
Jessica shakes her head as she gets her own burger out of the bag. "That bitch and the moron." she spits. "The bosses. She's lucky to even be alive after the way she talk to me!" she says, sitting at the edge of the console and using her boot to push the wheeled chair towards Yan Sun. "If someone talk to me like that in Adrasteia?" She pantomimes stabbing the air with her burger before setting it on her lap. It's pretty
Yan Sun stops the rolling chair, moving it around to sit in it. "Right. Yeah, I remember." she says, mostly unfazed by Jessica's stab-happy reaction. "And, uh... they're making you go to the wedding why?" she asks before taking a bite of her burger, a thoughtful look on her face as she chews.
Jessica shrugs, adjusting her position at the edge of the console-desk. "I don't know. He just tell me everyone is going to be there..." she says in a mutter. She lifts her snowy, dirty boots and sets them on Yan Sun's knees once she's seated and tries to pull her closer on the wheeled chair. She gains a frustrated look briefly as it begins to become obvious that she doesn't have to go to the wedding. "Look, will you go with me
Yan Sun frowns as Jessica's boots press against her legs, rubbing dirt and melting snow on her pants. She looks a little frustrated as she's pulled closer, and she's quick to shove the boots out of her lap, but Jessica's question causes a small smile. "Of course I will! I haven't been to a wedding since I was little. And never with a girlfriend. Could be fun, I guess. Although... I don't really know anything about... Aitian
Jessica pointedly puts her boots right back up on Yan Sun's knees, giving the woman a brief scowl. "Girlfr-... gah.... Way to ruin things. Is not-... I save you, remember?" she stammers, "Lifedebt? You are my pet for now." she nods, though there's an obvious smile hidden beneath the surface as she takes a bite from her burger. Not that she'd admit it.
Yan Sun just barely manages to lifts her burger out of the way as the boots come back up on her knees. She shoots Jessica an annoyed look as she's forced to look at the dirty footwear again, but it doesn't last long. A small grin creeps up at the not entirely unexpected reaction to her words. "Right. My bad." she says with a shake of her head. She takes another bite of her burger, glancing off to the side at the door as she
Jessica looks at her burger for a moment as she finishes chewing before setting it back onto the wrapper beside her. "Mmm? What is it?" she asks, shuffling her feet in place a bit for no purpose other than to continue to annoy Yan Sun. She gives an annoying grin as she does so.
Yan Sun is quite obviously bothered by the rather uncomfortable presence of boots and melting snow, and she nudges Jessica's feet off again, sliding her chair closer to make sure she doesn't have enough room to do it again. "Look, I... I've been covering the cost of the room, and most of the food, but... I wasn't really planning to be here very long. All I have is the money from the ExoGeni job. I'm looking for some options to
Jessica gives a brief frown as she moves her boots to rest at the back edges of the chair's armrests instead. "You are asking me for money, kitty cat!?" she asks with a scoff, as if the mere thought offends her. "Tell me this, mmm? What have you done to earn it?" She leans back slightly, propping herself upright with her hands as she continues to be a nuisance by rocking the chair back-and-forth ever so slightly with her
Yan Sun lets out a sigh. "Come on, this isn't a joke... I don't mind paying, but I'm going to run out of money. You still have your pay, right?" She maintains a frown as she looks at Jessica, but her serious expression is somewhat undercut by the movement of the chair.
Jessica lets out a loud sigh in return and stops shaking the chair. "Fiiine..." she agrees reluctantly. "You worry too much, kitty cat. Is fine. Credits come and go, mmm?" She reaches down, keeping herself upright with just one hand as she uses the other to pat Yan Sun on the cheek, a staple of her annoying repertoir. "My credits from the snowball are almost gone. But I get paid for sitting in this shithole, so if it will stop
Yan Sun flinches at the cheek pat, looking mildly annoyed. But she nods regardless. "Yeah. I know you don't like this job, so... I'm going to keep looking for a good way to earn some money. We'll, uh... we'll figure it out from there, right?" she asks, awkwardly dancing around making any long term plans.
Jessica nods a couple of times. "Mmm. Whatever." she says dismissively and not sounding all too interested in talking about financial plans. She falls silent for a moment as she glances out towards the window. She resumes slowly rocking the chair absently with her boot for a short while before looking back to Yan Sun with a bit of discomfort. "Is... Is actually something I need to talk about too..." she finally says.
Jessica sits upright once again, hanging her legs off the edge of the desk as she scoots a bit and fishes into a compartment on her hardsuit. "I-..." she begins, furrowing her brow as she fiddles with it for a moment until she retrieves what she was looking for, "...I want you to have this..." she says, holding up a small removable storage drive. The same one Kirill gave to Jessica. She holds onto it tightly as she raises it
between them, staring at the small object. "Don't lose it, kitty cat." she urges, as if this storage drive may as well be the most important thing in the galaxy. "I-... I look through it and I-..." she shrugs her shoulders as she studies it, turning it around carefully between her fingers, "...I don't know how to use any of it." She looks to Yan Sun, a hopefuly expression crossing her face. "But you-... I thought maybe
Yan Sun 's apprehension is replaced by surprise as she sees the drive. She looks at it in silence as Jessica speaks, watching it turn in her hand. "I-... of course. I can look through the data, see what there is." she says, holding out her hand and waiting, rather than trying to grab it.
Jessica bites her lower lip for a moment as she continues to study Yan Sun, her good eye moving back and forth from Yan Sun's brown eye to her blue eye as she awaits her answer. As soon as the woman agrees her discomfort seems to fade away and she lets out a deep breath, her expression replaced by a small smile. She leans forward, setting the drive down gently in the palm of Yan Sun's hand and folds her fingers closed around it.
She brings both boots back up to the armrests, bouncing one foot in place. "It-... Thank you..." she says, a phrase not used by her very often. Without warning, she leans a little bit further forward, bringing her other hand to Yan Sun's cheek as she presses a kiss to her lips, leaning down in quite in uncomfortable position to do so.
Yan Sun nods, returning the small smile, but her underlying expression is much more ambivalent. She has a distracted look on her face as Jessica kisses her, almost frowning slightly, but she compels the smile to return when she pulls back. She studies her in silence for a moment, looking uncomfortable, as if holding back from saying something. Her gaze darts down to the burger still in her other hand. "Let's eat before the
Jessica frowns as she notices the discomfort, returning to her previous position leaning back against her hands. "What?" she asks, ignoring Yan Sun's fear of cold food. "You are doing that-..." she lifts her hand, drawing a bunch of circles around Yan Sun's face with her index finger, "...That. With your face. Again." she sighs. "Don't do that. Say what you are thinking or I step on your burger." she threatens, raising her
Yan Sun sighs, having hoped Jessica wouldn't notice her hesitation. "It's just-..." she shakes her head. "Are you... sure about all this?"
Jessica sets her boot back down on the armrest and gives a shrug of her shoulders, either not quite understanding what Yan Sun is talking about, or just playing stupid. "What are you talking about, kitty cat...?" she asks with another sigh, beginning to look agitated. "Am I sure about all of what? Am I sure that I want to see the man who burn my entire family alive get what he deserves? Is that what you're asking me if I'm sure
about...? Please. Tell me, mmm? What you think it is that I am not sure about? Because if that is it, then you sound really fucking stupid right now." She speaks calmly, though it's through gritted teeth and it's clear that her mood has done a quick 180 by the mere implication that whatever she has planned for Cross may not be the right course of action.
Yan Sun quickly regrets asking when she picks up on Jessica's reaction. She lowers her gaze to the floor and nods. "I-... right. I d-... I'm sorry. Forget it. I'll look through the drive when I get back to the room, okay?" she looks back up at Jessica, a cautious look on her face as she studies her expression.
Jessica gives another frustrated sigh as she remains in place, her eye searching back and forth across Yan Sun's face. A few charged seconds pass before her frustration slips away. "I am going to kill that bastard." she says plainly. "If you don't want to help me, then don't. But I'm doing this with or without your help. Maybe is hard for you to understand. Maybe-... maybe is easy for you to forget about your family. Maybe is
not so easy for me, mmm? I have too many ghosts that need to be put to rest." She swallows hard, looking down briefly before extending her hand, "Just give it back if you are not going to help..." she says softly.
Yan Sun meets Jessica's gaze as both of them look silently at each other. When she starts to speak a small frown appears, only deepening at the suggestion that she's forgotten about her own family. Her gaze breaks away briefly before going back to Jessica, her expression softening, looking more sad than anything, and for a moment her eyes inevitably travels along the burns on her face. "I'll go through the data when I get back
Jessica nods softly as she remains perched at the end of the desk and brings her hand back. She reaches for her burger in silences and takes a small bite from it as she returns to rocking Yan Sun's chair slightly with her boots. It's obvious she's realizing she probably shouldn't have said what she said, but expecting an apology out of her would be ridiculous. "You are the most annoying person I ever meet..." she says, though
there's almost an endearing spin on the statement, as if it was a compliment. Her eyes remain on her food and she goes for another bite.
Yan Sun looks down at her own burger, unable to keep meeting Jessica's gaze during the uncomfortable silence. The unexpected comment causes a quiet snort and a small smile as she looks back up at her. "Thanks...?" she says, shaking her head to herself before taking a bite of her not-so-warm burger.
Jessica takes another bite from her burger before setting it aside. Yan Sun's remark causes her to roll her eyes. "Mmhmm." she mutters as she swallows her bite. She finally looks to Yan Sun, giving the armrest of the chair one good kick to jostle her. "You are lucky I put up with your shit. You know this, yes?" she teases.
Yan Sun is caught off-guard by the kick, coughing as she almost chokes on a bite of food. She stops the chair from spinning away too far from Jessica, but makes sure to remain out of reach for further kicks. She swallows with a grimace. "You are... hnkg... such a 壞蛋." she mutters between coughs.
Jessica bursts into laughter as Yan Sun begins to cough, seeming pleased at just having relieved some of the tension that had filled the room. "Hurry and eat your food. I am going to show you the dam. Is heated to keep the snow from piling up on it which meeeeans... We can get butt naked on it without freezing to death!" she says, giving a suggestive wiggle of her eyebrows.
Yan Sun furrows her eyebrows, giving Jessica an incredulous look. "Wh-... outside? No way!" she exclaims. "You are the worst security guard ever!"
Jessica tilts her head to the side. "I am not!" she argues. "Since I have been here there have been no break-ins! I am the best security guard!" she decides. The evidence holds up. She lifts her leg, reaching out with it in an attempt at poking Yan Sun's chair with her boot but it's just too far and she sits back after almost toppling off the desk. "Oh come on! Do you not remember how fun the snowcrawler was?" she adds with a
Yan Sun looks a little flustered at the mention of their misbehavior during the expedition, but she struggles to supress a faint, mischievous grin. "It's outside! " she repeats. "Someone could see us!" Her gaze darts briefly to the camera as she reminds herself that she should wipe the recordings again. Of course, she was already planning on doing that anyway.
Jessica snickers to herself, "So then you agree! Is good idea!" she says, Yan Sun's concerns seemingly a net positive in her eyes. "Come onnn. How many people can say they fuck on a dam in the winter, mmm? Is good opportunity." She gives another goofy wiggle of her eyebrows, the burns allowing little movement out of one.