[ open ] Valparaíso, Jewel of the Pacific

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Characters: OPEN to all!
Location: The city of Valparaíso, Chile.
Date/Time: The first weekend of March (1st & 2nd).
Summary: The first group of Cadets are finally released on the city of Valparaíso. With a curious city wanting to meet them, both Cadets and Staff of the Shatterdome itself will find plenty of people willing and curious to hear what it is they're up to - not to mention complain about the unapologetic ugliness of the Shatterdome.
Additional Notes: Cadets are expected to be in uniform and represent the PPDC at it's best. For more information and any questions, please refer to this post in the OOC community.

Valparaíso is a city with an old reputation, struck hard by the Panama Canal back at its completion, and struggling and rising to a place of cultural prominence since. Nowadays it remains an important sea port along the Chilean coast, though not as busy as San Antonio, and has helped foster artistic communities and a wealth of Chilean culture well worth recognition and appreciation on its own.

For such a beautiful city, the Shatterdome is both an honor and an eyesore. The Cadets from the new program are a subject of gossip and fascination, novelty selling them in the short term in ways that weren't sustainable over time.

For those who hadn't been able to spend time outside looking over the city, Valparaíso provided all kinds of sights and hidden gems, from murals on stairs to a hundred plus year old tram that runs the hillsides, museums paying homage to the 16th Century roots of the city, to statues and architectural structures and beaches galore. Free from the industrial efficiency of the Shatterdome for a short time, where will the Cadets and Staff find themselves today? The possibilities might not be endless in actuality, but they were a far cry more varied than the last two weeks had been!

Comments

city!

[keyes]

Jacob hadn't been quick to learn Spanish, he hadn't really seen a need for it but he had some scraps of it from when he was in school and just by being around some Spanish speaking people when he was in the service. It was really just enough to get him around the city, which is really all he needs and so making his way through the crowd is easy enough that way, even with his smile and he tries to, like Catherine, set folks at somewhat of an ease. His leather jacket, a hold over from his Navy days, has both his old jaeger patch from Zero Atlas as well as his old squadron on it, and just out of habit he has sunglasses on.

Which is probably why he didn't immediately spot her when he was talking with a local, ordering food. In fact he happens to turn around with his food in hand in time to see her.

"Catherine?" And there's some amount of shock there in his voice.

Re: city!

[charliehotel]

She's having a nice conversation with one of the local artisans, and it's going quite well. She thinks she might buy a trinket or something for her office before the day is out, considering how helpful the man is being. However...

"Como--"

Catherine is stopped dead in her tracks by that voice, by her own name. Well, hasn't it been a while since she heard that? Excusing herself politely from the man she's speaking with, she turns around and walks a few strong steps toward Jacob.

"...Let me guess. You've been assigned to the Academy."

[keyes]

The only problem with buying a sandwich while he's out and about is that now he has to keep track of the hand holding it, which means trying not to make it a squishy mess when he sees that yes, it is in fact, Catherine Halsey standing there and approaching him. After paying for his food real quick he joins her in stepping closer, probably a little to close but what is that when you're trying not to show this may be a problem?

Jacob however isn't one to not look someone over and he does, even going so far as to nudge his sunglasses down so as to look at her better.

"I'm an instructor here, yes. Let me guess, J-Tech?"

[charliehotel]

"Among other things."

She looks him over, too, then, tipping her chin up so she can get a good look from beneath the brim of her hat. He looks... Good. Healthy. Better even than the last time they saw each other, and that was more brief than this is sure to be. They won't get transferred one place or another. He isn't a pilot anymore, so he won't get shipped off into battle.

"How long has it been?"

Stepping a little closer, too, she tries for a smile.

[keyes]

"Never happy with just the one thing."

He actually takes his sunglasses off with his free hand this time, smiling so big and he tries to hang them off his jacket collar. He won't get shipped off to battle no, and that's at least a little more permanent then what they had before, right?

"To long really, I could try and count the days for you if you like." There's a bit of humor there, just enough to show he's teasing.

[charliehotel]

"I'm never satisfied. You know that much."

Her coffee is shifted from one hand to the other, along with a small tote she'd been carrying. If he counted the days, she might feel a bit guilty, somehow. Maybe she had turned him down those years ago, noting that the end of the world wasn't the best time to make a long-standing agreement with someone, but now she's... Well, she misses him. Frequently. He's in idle thoughts when she's not working, his visage sketched on stray papers and notes from time to time. She isn't a love struck little girl by any means, but they had something so good when they had it, didn't they? Maybe time together wasn't as much as Jacob would have liked, with Catherine being such a workaholic and him being away in the service, but still.

Still.

Screw it.

With her free hand, reaches out for his, then leans in to place a very continental kiss on his cheek.

[keyes]

He had been about to answer, because he did know how she was. Which is why he only teased her with the number of days, he's not out to make either of them feel guilty here. They'd been busy, he was in the service and she had her work, what they both did was important and he couldn't ever make her feel guilty about that. But he could just keep quiet himself how often she cropped up in his thoughts, the teasing from Andrew when they'd been piloting together about her, how he had thought about writing to her after the car crash. She was still, really in the end, his friend, even if they weren't anything more than that. What they had was wonderful, but being on good terms with her was important as well.

So you know, a totally continental kiss on his cheek? Is totally fine, and he squeezes her hand as he ducks his head down, both to make it easier on her and to kiss her cheek in return.

"No,you never are. Coffee any good?"

[charliehotel]

"Superb. This one, at least. Well worth the money."

Looking up at him brings back way too many memories that she tries to ignore at all times, but she doesn't want to move away just yet. Being closer to him than she has been in a few years makes her feel warm and comfortable all over again. She hates it, on one hand, wondering if she looks somehow weak and vulnerable. But on the other hand, it's Jacob. And he's wonderful.

Glancing down again, she notes his food and frowns.

"I've interrupted your lunch."

[keyes]

"Some benefits then, to being out of the country."

He just stays smiling even as he pulls his head back, away from her even though the temptation is there to keep close to her and rest his cheek against hers. He's not allowed to be like that with her though, is he? But he does enjoy having her around so keeping her close is the name of the game, at least for now. He squeezes her hand again, chuckling.

"No, you're seeing me in the middle of my culinary tour of the city."

[charliehotel]

"Shall we go somewhere that's a little more conducive to eating?"

In other words, somewhere quiet they can sit and talk and either catch up or make plans for the foreseeable future. If they're going to be around each other, they're going to have to keep the peace or keep their distance. The reunion may be sweet now, but with his temper and her sourness, it could go south fast.

[keyes]

"If you want, I wouldn't object."

Which is really all he needs to say, isn't it? He's more than happy to try and figure things out from here, how they'll handle one another. He knows he has a temper, and his mood is going to be very dependent on how the cadets do and behave around him, and he doesn't want to take it out on her if he can avoid it. But it is her too and she has a way of bringing that out in him. But for the sake of a lot of things he hopes they can find a way to stick close and not rub each other the wrong way.

[charliehotel]

For starters, maybe she can try harder to be civil this time around. Maybe she can stop focusing on the initial panic of the kaiju's existence and instead make herself a little more accessible.

Wait, why is she thinking like this? It's been years. She can't just expect to hop back into his good graces. Or can she?

"If you don't mind me accompanying you, then yes. I'd like to sit and talk for a while, if nothing else. Before we get swallowed up by work, whatever's going on in the Breach."

[keyes]

Maybe he can stop focusing on the now, or at least focus a little more on the future. And maybe he could just stop harassing her at every opportunity, give her some time to herself and also be serious while avoiding her when in a bad mood.

He's finding it just so easy to step back into being nice to her, that well he probably should rethink his life choices. But it's been years and he's used to not seeing people so often that it isn't so hard for him to do this.

"Of course I don't, I just found you again, can't have you slipping away here."

[charliehotel]

They're both older and wiser now, even if just by seven years. Seven years is a long time to learn about oneself, especially when every day is an exercise in wondering when the next massive threat to your life will occur. PPDC staff and crews live that fear every day, of dying, of watching those they care about be defeated, and it's harrowing to imagine those possibilities. She worried, too, when Jacob was out. But she held it in, never let anyone know her feelings on it. It wouldn't have been right.

"I won't let you lose me this... time. No, that sounds... Let's just go eat."

[keyes]

They are and frankly, it's those years that have mellowed a lot of his usual habits around her, but some are still there. Though there's some amount of fame that comes with his job too and he's had that go to his head, even if he's a little bitter about things, a little sadder now. He doesn't like to think about the idea of dying because it's not just the kaiju you have to worry about.

His face falls some at her wording, shoulders slumping just a touch. It wasn't intentional, at least he hopes not and he just nods, starting to walk and tugging her along by her hand. He's not letting go of it if she doesn't fight him, though he is staying silent.

[charliehotel]

Let it not be forgotten that he's the one who came to her, courted her, and foolishly proposed. She's been nothing but sensible about the whole thing, or so she thinks. So she'll say. Maybe she'll admit to having made a mistake or two along the way, but who knows what the future will hold?

Instead of pulling away, she falls into step beside him, indicating the area they ought to head toward, a little low wall where they can sit down out of the way and talk while he eats. She'd rather be away from tables, away from prying eyes for now.

"...You look good, by the way. Better than I expected."

[keyes]

Well that's totally normal isn't it? Like end of the world, he dated her, he approached her, he did all the leg work okay. He tried, no one can say differently. But who knows what the future will bring.

He just goes along with her, wherever she would like to go. He's not picky, he just wants a seat and a chance to eat and catch up. So he's just going to look down at their hands before shrugging.

"What were you expecting me to look like? I was lucky, you know." His smile is just a little tighter, his eyes just a little sadder. "Though you're as beautiful as ever."

[charliehotel]

The future looks pretty good so far. Lunch, talking, pretty easy stuff. She can work with this. It's just around a corner, a little hidden away, but with half a good view of people going by several yards from them. She takes a perch on the wall, just a little higher than she ought. Her feet swing as she adjusts her skirt, and she looks over to him, sipping her coffee.

"Older. You don't look older at all." Oh.

[keyes]

He looks around them when they get to the wall, nodding in approval as he sits up onto it. Being as tall as he is, it's about right for him and he starts to unwrap his grilled cheese and meat sandwich, looking her over more as he goes.

"It hasn't been that long, and I do try and stay in good shape. I'd think you'd be showing it more then me." He doesn't mean much by it, just a casual observation as he bites into his sandwich.

[charliehotel]

"I am." She is. She knows she's aged, her hair is almost completely gray now and there are fine lines beginning to show here and there. But it's fine, and she's always thought it fine. As he begins to eat, she doesn't take her eyes off him, scrutinizing for any changes. He doesn't have that characteristic Ranger strut, that arrogance she always expects, even in minute doses. He's humble in that regard, content to do his job for the betterment of humanity, and to do it well. It's not wonder she fell for him, though she'll always wonder why she was his target. Maybe someday she ought to ask.

[keyes]

"No, not really." But she hasn't changed in the ways he's looking at her. She's still her, she still has a certain way she walks and talks and he could pick her out in a crowd if she were bald and hunched over. Whereas he lost a lot of his arrogance, his need to show off, but loss does funny things to even the cockiest of people. He would rather do it well then show off, and he knows what he can and can't do now, hard lessons and such. All that's really physically changed is he's a little more muscled, a few more scars on him in places not readily obvious.

"I was half expecting you to be hunched over with a cane, glasses on your nose and yelling at all the cadets to get back in line." He tries to hide his amusement at the idea though with another bite of his sandwich.

[charliehotel]

Perhaps Catherine ought to laugh, but she doesn't. She imagines she'll waste away in R&D as time goes by, hiding behind walls shes put up herself. Maybe he's referencing that: her isolation, always acting older than she is, and never compromising on anything if she can avoid it. A stubborn old maid.

"You know I only wear my glasses when I've been working too long."

[keyes]

No, he's oddly enough just teasing her. He's always seen her as the sort to be that grumpy old lady down the road that chases the kids away when they play outside her house and somehow distract her from her work. He's honestly trying to tease her here really, he doesn't mean much by it and when she doesn't laugh he sighs and looks away, handing her half of his sandwich still in it's wrapper.

"Times change though, right? People change, you and me included in that."

[charliehotel]

She accepts the sandwich, hand lingering near his for a moment longer than perhaps it ought to.

"We do."

And she's not sure she wants to know precisely how he's changed. She doesn't want to see her brave young soldier with his shoulders slumped and his pride beaten down at all. She wants the vigorous and bold young man she fell for, only older, wiser, and somehow more attractive.

That matters, yes.

But she's changed. What she wants and needs have changed, and she doesn't know if pride will ever let her communicate that to him. She can appreciate him now, who he is, what he stands for. She has trained and worked and connived and built and has felt true loss at last. Nothing has ever been handed to her, but so little had ever been taken away until the kaiju came along.

[keyes]

"We're lucky to see it, you know. Us, each other, the changes to things, after everything."

He's gently bumps his shoulder against hers, not very hard but just enough to make contact as he talks. He doesn't want to mention how he's changed, he doesn't want to ruin what she thinks of him because it always happens somehow, doesn't it? Though with her it feels good to just be himself and not an instructor or old Ranger, just a guy hanging around his old girlfriend/lover/whatever they were.

He's just happy for it all, and that in some way she gets it now, maybe. If she's involved at all she has to, right?