Imperial Junke Yard, Sunday

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

Marcus was not good at having nothing to do. It wasn't good for him, and in the past had rarely been good for others. Sitting in his hotel room had no appeal, so he'd returned to the junk yard and hung up his sign.

The shed he'd originally broken into had started out empty and filthy. Now it was swept clean, had an old couch, duct taped and worn, and an empty crate as a table, both of which he'd scavenged. It even had power and space for a fridge. All Marcus had to do was take the three old ones he'd found and turn them into a single working unit.

The best of them was sitting on its front, door leaning nearby, back panel off with its guts hanging out. The other two were already gutted, the parts he needed lined up nearby.

[Open, but player is sleeping for a few hours.]

Comments

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

Kyle received his response from home. The short version was 'It's him. Be careful.' The long version had taken a while to read. He didn't know how Connor knew without even being here, but Kyle trusted him. He always trusted him.

He would be careful, but that didn't mean he was going to stop coming here. He followed the noise to where Marcus was, keeping his distance and circling to get a good look at what he was doing.

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

Marcus knew he was there, but he didn't look up, continuing to twist wires together. "Going to shoot me today?" he asked casually.

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

"Wasn't planning on it. You going to give me a reason to change my mind?"

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

"Wasn't planning on it." He glanced briefly at Kyle. "Want to make yourself useful?"

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

He shrugged. "What do you want me to do?"

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

Marcus stood, a smallish metal box in one hand, which was trailing wires with a clip at the end. "Come here."

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

Kyle approached with caution. "What are you doing?"

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

"What does it look like I'm doing?" He held out the box. "Take this. Reach in behind the motor. There's a small hole in the back, you'll feel where the clip goes. Attach it and slide the box into the bracket."

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

"I don't know," he said, doing as he was told. "That's why I asked. Are you salvaging parts?"

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

Marcus leaned over so he could see what Kyle had done. "Yeah, so I can get a working fridge."

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

"Why do you need a fridge?" He offered the box so Marcus could get a better look. He'd done it right. "Planning on staying?"

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

"Looks like it." He looked the box over, nodded, and offered a screwdriver. "It goes there," he said, pointing to a spot in the back of the fridge.

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

Kyle took the screwdriver and attached it where it was supposed to go. "You're not the staying in one place type. Why here?"

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

"Why not?" He wasn't going to admit he couldn't leave.

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

"Narrow streets, tall buildings, can't buy weapons, small enough that everyone knows everyone." Not to mention Kyle still didn't know why he was here of all places. People from home didn't just show up.

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

That earned Kyle a long and measuring look; Marcus had had those exact thoughts. "Move," was what he finally said. "I need to put the back on."

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

Kyle scurried out of the way before Marcus had a chance to shove him. Not that there was any evidence that Marcus would, but Kyle always took past experience into account. "So?"

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

Marcus lifted the back panel with ease, settling it on the back of the fridge, and began silently fitting screws into the holes. He didn't answer, just pointed a finger first at the screwdriver Kyle was holding then at the screws.

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

With a slight roll of his eyes, Kyle took the hint and started to help with the screws. "What's the fridge for?"

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

"Keeping things cold," Marcus replied dryly, grabbing the door and carrying it over. "You about done?"

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

He finished off the last two screws, then nodded. "Done. You planning on living here?"

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

"Nope," he replied, setting down the door. He moved to the top of the fridge and lifted it easily up onto its base. "Never hurts to have a backup. Grab those screws," he added, nodding at the torn box near the pile of tools while he retrieved the door and held it in place with no sign of strain. "Hinges."

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

Again, Kyle followed Marcus' instructions, still very aware of where the exit was if he needed. "You probably could have traded for one that doesn't have something growing inside it."

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

Marcus almost smiled. Stepping back, he checked the hang of the door, then shut it, looking satisfied. Without a word, he wrapped his arms around it and hefted.

It was a small fridge, but he knew he shouldn't have been able to lift it so easily. After a moment's hesitation, he carried it the short way into the shed.

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

Kyle followed him, keeping a safe distance, and glanced around the shed. "Nice place." He wasn't being sarcastic. It was better than most of the places he'd slept before Fandom.

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

It was better than a lot of places Marcus had lived, and was larger than his cell had been. "Work in progress," he said, shoving the fridge into place. Crouching, he plugged it in. After a moment, it responded with a rough hum. "But it's got a fridge."

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

"You should probably buy the stuff to go in it. They don't like it when you take what you want without giving anything back." That was a lesson he had to learn the hard way.

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

Again, Marcus gave Kyle a long look. "Place is too small."

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

"And they still use money." Apparently that made a difference.

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

"They don't where you're from?" He'd taken in what Kyle had told him about the future, but not grasped exactly what it meant.

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

"What good's paper and metal you can't even use as scrap?"

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

"True," he agreed, studying Kyle, considering what the kid had told him about the future, the future he was apparently going to share. "I've got a question for you."

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

"So ask it."

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

"You and me are gonna be such good friends in eight years, why are you afraid of me?" The two facts didn't add up, and Marcus wanted to know why.

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

Kyle frowned. He couldn't tell Marcus why. What do you say to a guy? Because you're really a machine on the inside and the chip in your head could make you kill every human in walking distance in an instant? "I'm not afraid," was the instant reply. A moment later came the concession. "It's not you I'm afraid of. It was not knowing if you were you."

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

Marcus was silent for a long time while he turned the answer over. "Know the feeling," he finally muttered in response. "And now?"

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

Kyle stifled a snort. "I have it on good authority you're the genuine article."

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

That caught Marcus' attention. "This good authority happen to know why I'm here?"

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

"No," Kyle admitted. "I don't think anyone would know." Maybe Skynet, but Skynet wasn't an anyone. "Especially if you're from 2003. You didn't talk about anything from before." Except his brother, but Kyle knew better than to bring him up.

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

Not a surprise, but he'd had to ask.

Marcus stretched to his feet and walked out of the shed, needing to move, stopping outside to stare out over the junkyard.

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

Kyle watched him for a moment, then made a decision. "I've got stuff to do." No he didn't. "The next lot over is a general store." He pointed to the right of the exit. "You can get stuff for your fridge there. Pretty decent prices. Just don't tell Apu I sent you or he'll probably try charging you more."

[notquitewright.livejournal.com]

Marcus flicked a glance Kyle's way, acknowledging the info, then went back to watching the junk yard. After a moment, he added, "Good job with the fridge."

[weetinyreese.livejournal.com]

Kyle was surprised by the compliment. "Thanks." He walked towards the exit, turning his back on Marcus for the first time since he'd gotten here.