Welcome Back

[Jackie Emerson]

There was something very reassuring about spring mornings. The sun is up and showing, even past the tall lines of skyscrapers and fog. Warmth is radiated and you can even pretend and say you smell the slightest hint of honeysuckle in the air. It wasn't summer just yet so humidity was low enough. It was fine. Jackie was...fine.

The sun continued peeping between office buildings as she went along the now more empty streets of New York. Jackie smiled, thinking of how right Kendra was earlier about telling her to take a pair of sunglasses with her.

Now, Jackie always made sure to go out when all the busy business men and woman were sure to be nestled in their cubicles and not racing around the streets. It left room for her and those who called in sick to enjoy the pleasant afternoon.

With her hands stuffed into her pockets of her jeans she stopped at a crosswalk, the red hand gleaming on the other side to say not to walk. She'd promised to meet River at the Empire State Building. He'd picked the spot and she wasn't one to complain. The cars finally stopped and Jackie took her time as she strolled across the street. Jeans and a loose fitting American Appeal 'deep v' gray tee shirt (it belonged to some Ex of hers surely), well it was casual Friday for Miss Emerson everyday.

[River Boyd Ledger]

River was greatly reassured that the weather was getting warmer after a few days of pleasant, but not quite terribly humid days, which was unusual for a typically chillier New York City. But it made better conditions for squatting around, going from place to play with only his backpack and his guitar; still trying to play enough gigs for him to earn enough money to either get a contract or to at least get some sort of cheap apartment. Though he knew that he would probably never get anywhere in a city with so much, or so less, talent; his thoughts and aspirations were probably borderline ordinary.

He felt the dire need to get out of the typical world that he lived in, the stench of the local alleyways having already clogged up his nose as it was; and he certainly needed to get out of the typical environment, you get the point or the gist of it. He decided to randomly walk around the richer portion of the city, merely to take a glimpse of one or two of the people and to watch them and study their attitudes. It was easy to decipher which people had earned their money, and which ones had earned it from their family name or deception. It was clear with the facial expressions and actions.

Okay, so at first it had been random. And then he had became aware of a certain person wanting to meet up with him, and one that if he dared to agree; he wanted to meet up with. It had been a great deal of time since the last time they had actually had a decent conversation or even seen a glimpse of one anothers faces. With River, little had changed despite a slight hair growth, and his clothes becomingn distinctly much more worn than the last time.

[Jackie Emerson]

Jackie pushed up her sunglasses, you know, the ones that seem to shade not only your eyes but about 60% of your face. She smiled to herself as she noticed a familiar figure; tall and lanky with a guitar strapped to his back, you don't find too many of those around these parts of the city. Jackie got a little closer to him, not making any 'rash' decisions with a hello or anything till she was close enough to be certain on who he was. Well, turned out to be him. Good.

"Hey." Jackie gave a light smile, okay it was smirk. She looked up at him, a refreshing change from Kendra's pompous husband-to-be and doctor/lawyer friends. She hadn't changed much herself, still drinking, still watching afternoon Soaps, still cynical, still being Jackie. The only update seemed to be the 5 pages she'd managed to write (and not delete) of her....story-novel-rant-tale. This, of course, was all done not too long after coming home from their previous encounter and while under the influence of Twinkies and Johnny Walker.

[River Boyd Ledger]

Decide not having the largest amount of cash these days, he had managed to scoop up a few dollars here and there at the small gigs he managed at smaller restaurants and venues on the outskirts of town; mostly in the suburbs more than anything for spoiled rich kids. He rolled his eyes, the thought that people could grow so accustomed to that sort of life at the point of not thinking about how others' lives might be was still something that made him rather aggravated anytime he performed. And then there was the fact that he earned a quarter or so when he would bother to play on the streets, knowing that it wasn't the most beneficial way of earning any cash. And he knew he would probably have to sacrifice his current job at the moment in order for him to find another, more well paying one. Even if he didn't want to cash in his soul, he didn't want to starve. He was tempted to slam his head against the bricks of one of the nicer buildings, aggravated and frustrated with himself already thikning about selling his guitar - the one possession he had managed to keep for all these years.

Thankfully, his mood much improved after a couple moment's notice, and a familar voice coming from behind where he was standed; propping himself up against the side of the wall and watching the stockbrockers and business men in those fancy dancy suits walk around the downtown Manhattan area. He recieved the occasional glare, as many seemed to note that he wasn't the typical guy to be seen in these parts of town. "Well, well," he began, taking out a pack of ciggerates and offering one to her before lighting up one for his own self. Some habits just never died, it seemed. "If it isn't Miss Emerson."

[Dustin Cambridge]

Jackie smiled at the offer of a cigarette and took it, gratefully. She'd pulled out own lighter from her back pocket, giving it a quick flick to get the end of her smoke going. By the time she got the lighter (almost empty in fluid) back into her pocket, Jackie had taken a nice long drag.

She'd been aware of their surroundings, the buisness suits and the brief cases. Heck, she didn't like it herself, but it was something she'd gotten used to due to Kendra's relationship past. Her sister was getting married a nice guy she'd met at the hospital she was doing her residency in a while back. He was nice, from a upper-middle class family, and didn't bother Jackie as much as she expected him to. But, there were other 'suitors' before him, business men and ass-wholes with large trust-funds. those were usually the kind to fall head over heels for Kendra, but then again who wouldn't? Dirty blond with a great smile, bright green eyes, and she pediatrician. Thankfully she'd opted for brains and personality over blank checks and exotic cars.

Jackie drew the cigarette away from her lips momentarily, blowing the smoke delicately from her lips like it was an art. She then smiled and took a deep breath, now relaxed and in her element. With her free hand she'd brushed the strands of brunette hair from her face and then peeked over at the busy man in his suit with his phone attached to his ear tripped on a crack in the side walk and scuffed his shiny black shoes (as well as his ego). She giggled.

[River Boyd Ledger]

River smiled as he watched her take the ciggerate. It was at least one of the few things that they had in common, that they were smoking their lungs - which would surely be diseased by their mid fifties - out. But hey, life's not exactly fun without a little risk here and there, eh? That was his philosophy, at least. "Somebody's deciding to go for the mysterious counterpart companion. Perhaps this woman's trying to be mysterious, or perhaps she's trying to be flirtacious," he told her in his newscaster sort of face, obviously referring to Jackie as if she weren't standing right there. He grinned mischeviously.

He watched with curioisity as his companion started to head off towards one of the guys that had given River a mean look earlier in this particular afternoon, and couldn't help but purse his lips as the agitated man flicked them off and continued on his leisurely business. Though it was clear that he was pissed, he was trying to hide it unsuccesfully. As soon as he was out of sight, he burst into laughter, her still giggling. "God, now I'm in the mood to go along with you in juvenille deliquency. Though I don't think I could pass for a juvenille anymore. Only a refugee child from many foster homes and cults."

[Jackie Emerson]

Jackie smirked at his comment, the clumsy business man now lost in the masses of other gray and black suits farther off on the other side of the street. Jackie blew a bit more smoke and gently tapped her cigarette so a bit of residue fell from its end, and to the gray concrete side walk. She wasn't in much of a rush to start puffing again, responding to her companion first. "And in the right outfit and time of day, I could pass off as a hooker." Jackie smirked, now taking another drag. Again she blew some smoke, then lightly licked her lips. "But you can pass as a juvenile..." She looked up at him through some of her hair that crept back into her face, "Mmm, or a sensitive musician, just strumming away at his guitar without a care in the world." Jackie smirked, tossing her cigarette on the ground so the butt of it just stained the otherwise clear sidewalk.

[Autumn Skye Vista]

"I hope you wouldn't want to make yourself some sort of hooker. Even though I wouldn't ditch you, and would be a bit turned on as I am a male in every way; I would be dissapointed that you would sell out your body to other random business men in suits," he pretended to pout and look like he was sort of upset, though he was aware that this particular piece of the conversation was pretty much joking around. That's what made conversations with Jackie nice, he didn't have to be so serious and whatnot. He stuck her tongue out at her when she pointed out that he probably could pass off for a juvenille, and if you looked at his boyish face, that much was clear. River laughed acknowledingly. "Oh, I'd wish to be that careless and oblivious of the world."

[Jackie Emerson]

Jackie couldn't help but laugh lightly at his response to her simply comment, "Mmmm, but what if I gave you a great discount?" She teased, her brow raised as if she were serious, "Perhaps a complimentary trick or two?" She started to smirk up at his blue eyes. "Careless and oblivious..." Jackie thought, well that was her in a nutshell. She paid no rent, had no job, and lived in a rather spacious apartment that belonged to her sister. "We can careless and oblivious today if you'd like." She suggested with a smirk, giving River a glimpse into her everyday.

[River Boyd Ledger]

River arched his eyebrows, not particularly sure whether to take her statement literally or out of context. He just smirked before shaking his head. "I'm afraid I don't accept charity, and anyways. I wouldn't have much to offer you," he explained, laughing a little bit with some sort of amusement; and continuing to walk a little ways down the sidewalk. He was anxious to get out of this part of town with so many judgemental men in business suits. "I'd be interested in learning how to be that way."

[Jackie Emerson]

Jackie smirked. Personally, she didn't think she'd make a good prostitute anyway. She disliked sleazy pick-up lines, high heels, and lying (bending the truthi was okay, but she HATED lying). As they continued to walk she was able to pick up on River's attitude towards their environment and his eagerness to leave. "So were we off to?" She asked casually, still following him down the sidewalk as if it wouldn't phase her even if he said they were going to a back alley to talk to a dealer...In all actuality, the proposition would've sounded quite tempting. Jackie shook the thought away, reminding herself that she needed to keep her vices to a minimum; cynicism, drinking, and smoking.

[River Boyd Ledger]

River was just pretty much an honest and out front person, the type to let you know anything he wanted or thought you would want to know. He didn't like the concept of keeping secrets, to him it was the same as lying, and he couldn't remember the last time he had found out lying did the best for him. Sure, everyone did now and then, but most of the time; the outcomes because of them weren't ending up so great. "Somewhere random. And spiffy. Where I habitat," he told her vaguely, grinning and giving her a 'wait and see for yourself,' sort of expression before pulling her arm along. Eventually they made their way a considerable few blocks from where they had been, and nearing the parts of the city where he would squat or reside in for a while. He took her down an alleyway where a few familar people grinned at him, and a few street musicians looked up hoopefully. It was like a mini bohemia.

[Jackie Emerson]

Jackie grinned devilishly at his less than specific response. It was like an adventure, and Jackie being a child of some sorts herself (some would say figuaritivly, some would say literally), she loved the prospects and element of surprise. She followed along like a puppy till they left the sight of shiny tall buildings and stiff suits. There was a sense of relief when they'd left the region that she herself hadn't consciously noticed.

"Hmmmm..." She carefully raised a brow and felt a smirk come on as he got closer to the destination. Well it certainly wasn't what Jackie was expecting, and she'd concocted a slew of ideas as they were walking there. Still, she seemed intrigued and almost excited with the change in sights. It was a childlike 'fun' that she hadn't had in a while. "Well this is random," Jackie looked up at River happily, "In a juvenile sort of way." She teased with a grin, returning her sights elsewhere than up at companion.

[Autumn Skye Vista]

"I do realize that it's like a mini Bohemia in poverty and spontaenity alone, and tell me if you're the least intimidated with the junkies and whatnot alone. They're actually all pretty good acquaintances of mine," he commented, looking around and almost feeling proud of where he was instead of humbled or shamed. He didn't care if others would get misconceptions from where he lived on the poorer side of town, squatting in a broken down apartment illegally or not. Eventually he was going to save up some money and actually get an official residence, but for now he was fine iwth what he had.

[Dustin Cambridge]

Jackie had her hands stuffed into the pockets of her jeans, it was a habit she'd picked up from her father along with the infamous smirk and brown hair. River's choice in environment seemed to fit well with Jackie's idea of fun and adventurous. It surely beat where they were.

Like a curious child, her green eyes picked up the most she could of the area and the people as River took her along. The place had also armed Jackie with a better idea of River, the same way you could pick up on a few things about a person by the song their listening to or their favorite food.

It was a while before she actually caught what he was saying and looked up at him, she smiled before even starting to respond. "No, I'm just really surprised...in a good way." She was quick to correct herself, "This is interesting, different." She slowly smiled, kind of nibbling on her lower lip, not sure if it was out of nervousness or just habit this time.