The Park, Tuesday evening

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

Waking up to a message that Kaidan was in town was one of the better ways to start the day Allie thought as she took a seat on the park bench near the pond to wait for him. Of course while she waited, she was going to take the opportunity to get past the stupid Candy Crush level she was stuck on.

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[not_a_whiner]

Kaidan'd had food at the house, courtesy of Emma-- then he'd slept. A lot.

He only had a couple of hours left until his portal now, and frankly, the smart thing would've been to sleep some more. But that'd mean missing out on time with his favorite vampire, when he had no idea when - or if - he'd see her again.

"Allie!" he called, as soon as he spotted her.

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

That level was just going to have to wait for another day, because Allie was on her feet and shoving the phone in her pocket as soon as she heard Kaidan's voice.

"You're here!"

[not_a_whiner]

"I am," Kaidan said, smiling broadly at her. "C'mere."

She was going to get hugged now, yes.

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"I'm so glad to see you," Allie said, happily moving in for a hug. "How are you?"

[not_a_whiner]

"I'm full of food and I've had a couple of hours of sleep," Kaidan said wryly. "For my current standards, that's pretty good. You?"

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"Still here, still have my nose stuck in a book eighty percent of the time, so pretty same old, old same," she shrugged. "Which isn't such a bad thing."

[not_a_whiner]

Kaidan smiled and let go of her. "Oh, c'mon," he said, "There's got to be more to it than that."

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"Okay, a tiny little bit of excitement," Allie grinned. "A few weeks ago Nick got me in touch with someone he knew in L.A. who was able to get me a good deal on a bike of my own. So that's been fun."

[not_a_whiner]

"I... have to admit I never saw you as a biker," Kaidan said, blinking. "I mean. I'm glad you're enjoying that, just... man. I miss a lot."

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"I'm not a biker exactly." Yes, there were air quotes. "I just like the speed. When you've spent the majority of your life walking places, being on a bike's almost like flying." Which honestly meant she was a biker.

"Besides, you're out fighting to save the universe. I think you're allowed to miss things."

[not_a_whiner]

"I'm also allowed to feel bad about missing them," Kaidan said, with a little sigh. "I didn't even know Emma'd come back to teach."

He shook his head a little. "How did you get into the bike thing, anyway?"

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"I'll just have to do a better job of keeping you up to date on stuff then," she promised.

This time it was Allie's turn to give a wry smile. "Back before I came to the island, when Zeke and I were trying to get his family back, we stole a bike from one of Jackal's raiders. Even though we were in a life or death race to save his family, it was...fun. Then, after we went back last year and everything that happened...." Zeke dying, Kaidan getting hurt. "I wanted a distraction. Nick would take me out on his bike. Now that he's back in L.A. it made sense to get one of my own."

[not_a_whiner]

"I take it you're not using it to try and navigate these tiny streets," Kaidan said. He thought about it. "I mean, I guess if you got really maneuverable..."

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

That image made her laugh. "No, I pretty much stick to the highways over on the mainland. I don't need pissed off rickshaw drivers after me."

[not_a_whiner]

"Those drivers are pretty mean, if I remember right," Kaidan said, smiling at her. "You know, it's weird, being back here."

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"I can only imagine. Probably pretty peaceful compared to where you've been." The medi-gel was a good sign that things hadn't exactly been sunshine and roses. "How is it being back with Shepard on the Normandy?"

[not_a_whiner]

"Strange," Kaidan said, "But not in a bad way. Kind of like... coming home after a large renovation, maybe. Mostly I'm just glad to be doing something again."

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"I bet," she nodded. "Wanting to do something and not being able to...not fun."

[not_a_whiner]

Kaidan let out a soft laugh. "Yeah. I bet you get that."

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"It's another reason for the bike. I mean, there's only so many times I can rage at the Portalocity rep," Allie said only a little sheepishly.

[not_a_whiner]

"They probably know you pretty well up there now, huh," Kaidan said, sounding fond. "Poor guys."

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"I'm not that bad," she countered. "Besides, they have the upper hand. If I want to keep traveling by portal, without getting stuck on an extended layover in a world without night, I have to play nice."

[not_a_whiner]

"Ah, c'mon," Kaidan said, "You haven't cursed at them even once?"

[allie-vamp.livejournal.com]

"Cursed, intimidated, loomed menacingly. I tried it all," Allie admitted. "I have to give them credit because they didn't budge."