The beach, Tuesday morning

[betterthanaplan]

Duke was out here as usual for morning yoga, but something kept . . . blipping in and out on the edge of his vision. Like little movements that went away as soon as he looked. And he could swear he kept hearing weird, high pitched grumbling. . . .

It made it very hard to concentrate on yoga.

[open! And will include gremlin wackiness just as soon as we figure out what said wackiness will include! COME ON DOWN AND JOIN THE TALK SHOW.]

Comments

[thatwaslucky]

Yeah, somehow Rey had a bit of a bad feeling about this. But she was still figuring out what those meant, so she didn't book it far away from there.

"How's it going?"

[betterthanaplan]

Duke's glance flicked away, tracking something that he was sure was moving behind the rocks.

"Alright," he said distractedly. "Octavia and I are still trying to work things out. My ex showing up this weekend did not help."

[thatwaslucky]

"Which one?" Rey asked, because if it was Nathan she figured he'd have named him.

[betterthanaplan]

Duke winced. "The one I'm technically still married to."

He should maybe do something about that.

[thatwaslucky]

Rey tilted her head at him. "I thought you were divorced?"

[betterthanaplan]

"I am . . . not divorced," Duke said. "She ditched me on a job, just before I came here. Didn't really have time to file the paperwork."

[thatwaslucky]

"Regretting that now?" she asked.

[betterthanaplan]

"I am pretty much constantly regretting everything to do with Evi, yeah," Duke said on a sigh.

There was another flash of movement out of the corner of his eye. This time much closer. Duke barely had time to glance over before a gremlin was darting through a tiny portal and sinking its teeth deep into his leg.

"Oh come on!"

Why did these things keep happening to him?

[thatwaslucky]

Rey was not proud of it, and she might have to answer for it on Sunday, but her first reaction when it let go of biting Duke was to flick it the hell away with the Force.

And then she said, "Uh oh."

[betterthanaplan]

Duke Jimmy looked up from his leg with a grin. "Hey, everybody! Welcome to the show! Looks like we have our first guest here already! Welcome!"

[thatwaslucky]

Rey paused, and even knowing she was the only one here, looked around.

"What?" Oh no. She had to participate?

[betterthanaplan]

Jimmy laughed. He couldn't help it. Breaking and laughing was his thing, it was what made him charming!

He patted down his pockets, checking the inside of his shirt suit jacket. "I don't have my notes. I don't have my notes!" He hammed it up for the non-existent cheering crowd. "Sorry, uh, hi! Tell us your name?"

[thatwaslucky]

Oh boy.

"It's Rey," she said, already with seeing to what degree she was going to have to play along.

[betterthanaplan]

"Rey! Rey, Rey, like a ray of sunshine. Anyone ever tell you that? I bet you get that all the time. Have a seat, Rey!"

[thatwaslucky]

"I've actually never gotten that before," Rey said. Only in fanfic.

[betterthanaplan]

"No! No, I don't believe it." Jimmy set his chin on his hand. Even without anything to lean against. "Tell us about yourself, Rey. Where are you from, what do you do?"

[thatwaslucky]

"I'm from Jakku and I work at Stark Industries."

Rey really would guys just terrible interviews, let's be real here.

[betterthanaplan]

"Fantastic!" Jimmy cheered. "That sounds fascinating! Tell us more. What's Jakku like?"

[thatwaslucky]

"Sandy," she said. "And hot. And incredibly boring. You'd hate it."

[betterthanaplan]

"Noooo!" Jimmy laughed again. "No, I bet it's great. So what brings you here to New York?"

Did you know you were in New York, Rey?

[thatwaslucky]

"Oh, am I in New York?"

News to her!

[betterthanaplan]

"Didn't you know?" Jimmy asked, like he was in on some great joke with her. "Did someone kidnap you and force you on my show? I've told them they've got to stop doing that. Yes! You're in New York! Exciting, right?"

[thatwaslucky]

It was wrong to record this, right? It was wrong to like, send this to Silver to show him what else a phone's camera is for?

"Very exciting," she nodded. "What should I see while I'm here?"

On the beach.

[betterthanaplan]

Well, what were gremlin bites for if not sharing the evidence with posterity?

"What should you --" Jimmy giggled. "What should you see here?" He turned to the nonexistence audience. "I don't know, folks, what do you think she should see?"

He paused for cheers, pressing his hand to his ear as though he needed to hear them better.

"Maybe my house band can help her out. Ladies and gentlemen, the Roots!"

He applauded wildly at some porgs his band, then bopped his head and played air guitar as they started eating rocks playing.

And then sang.

"Statue of Liberty, Staten Island Ferry, Co-op City, Katz's and Tiffany's
Central Park, the Brooklyn Bridge, Empire State where Dylan lived
Coney Island and Times Square, Rockefeller Center
Wish I was there!"

[thatwaslucky]

...Yep, she was recording this now, even if she only ended up showing it to Duke later so he'd know how this looked.

Honestly, it was cute, and Rey politely applauded.