ArchivedLogs:A Healthy Distrust of Authority

A Healthy Distrust of Authority
Dramatis Personae Anette, Eric	2014-03-01 A meeting at Bethesda Terrace turns to talk of registration
Location <NYC> Central Park South
Central Park South is home not just to the park itself, but also to the Belvedere Castle, the Alice in Wonderland statues, and the Central Park Zoo. These areas tend to draw tourists like a magnet - it is, perhaps, for that very reason that places like Bethesda Terrace tend to attract more New Yorkers than not, if just to escape the press of tourism that infiltrates the whole city. As the day winds on towards evening, darkness setting across the city as street lights and neon signs flicker to life, the southern half of Central Park is in transition. The tourists at Belvedere Castle and the Zoo are beginning to flee the cold night air to scurry off back into the city for dinner and photographing the sidewalk, and the New Yorker's begin stepping through the park on their way home, or on their way out. Bethesda Terrace is fairly quiet, during this transition; not that it ever gets that busy. A few vendors selling hot dogs along the upper street side, a few tourists mingling with the couples and New Yorker's enjoying the quiet of the city. Eric, for his part, seems to be leaning towards the latter. Winter jacket wrapped around his body and navy slacks visible underneath, he is sitting on a park bench, cigarette between his lips. Smoke rises slowly into the air as he spins a metal lighter slowly between two fingers, staring off into space. One of the few people heading deeper into the park, instead of out, Anette walks quietly down the path. She is wearing a long, leather coat, thick against the cold air, the only other item of clothing visible is a pair of leather boots. She makes her way into Bethesda Terrace, eyes lingering on each person present momentarily, including Eric. Looking slightly dissapointed, she makes her way over to a vendor and buys a hotdog. Then takes makes her way to a nearby bench, making herself comfortable and eats, looking around as she silently waits. Waiting for what, who knows? Eric does not see the woman looking at him, so caught up in his thoughts and his blank look into the night sky. He does notice, however, the cigarette burning out with a sputter against the filter. Eric grinds it out into the bench and leans over to drop it into the cigarette container. He pulls out a pack and slowly hits it into his hand several times before he withdraws a second cigarette. He flips the lighter open with a flick of his wrist and spins the wheel once. A shower of sparks appears at the tip, and then nothing. He frowns. Again, more sparks when he flicks the wheel, but no fire. He closes the lighter with a snap and, now, his eyes scan around in a circle. Standing to his feet, Eric steps over towards Anette, cigarette hanging unlit between two fingers. "Hiya," Eric drawls, giving her a wave with one hand. "I don't suppose I can bother ya for a light?" His voice is warm and friendly as he looks her over with a glance, holding out the cigarette with a little wave. "Looks like I ran out'a lighter fluid." Anette turns her head to the side, as soon as she hears the lighter clicking uselessly, despite the distance between them. She watches in mild amusement as Eric struggles to light his cigarette, apparently the most entertaining thing around here. She's still watching him when he stands up to approach her, though she does stiffen slightly. When Eric states his reasons, she shakes her head. "Sorry, don't have one. Don't smoke." She does relax slightly though, probably due to his overly friendly nature. "Unless you want me to grab two sticks and rub them together," she offers with a half smile. "Give me twenty minutes and I may come backt'ya and ask you to give it a try," Eric says, smile spreading on his face. "Desperate times call for desperate measures, and my lighter failin' me definitely qualifies as pretty desperate." He pulls out his lighter again to flip it open and try - unsuccessfully - again. "Ain't nothin' sadder than this," he says, waggling the lighter at her before pocketing it and the cigarette, and extending his hand. "Eric. S'pleasure ta meet you, Miss....?" "Anette," she replies, taking Eric's hand giving it a brief shake. "Pleasure to meet you." She watches him put his cigarette way. "You know those things will kill you, right? Then again, the way the city's been lately, death by cigarette doesn't seem like a terrible option." She looks up at the sky again, already darker than when she first sat down. "It feels busier here than usual. It's usually quieter this late. Or maybe I've just been lucky when I've come down here." "Ah, well, if the last year's any indication, I ain't such an easy guy to kill." Eric's grin is broad as he gestures to the bench next to her, raising his eyebrows in question. "It's definitely busy for an evenin', but I think that's just since it's Saturday. And maybe 'cause it ain't quite so fuckin' cold as it has been the last few weeks. People're tryin' to enjoy it before that storm come on up here. Nemo're Titan or whatever the fuck." Anette nods. "It -is- a lot warmer than it's been," she says, moving over to make room on the bench for Eric. "I may just head home early then, if it doesn't empty out soon." She doesn't really clarify what she means and leaves it at that. "So...have many near death experiences last year?" she asks curiously, silently wondering what kind of trouble Mr. Captain-of-the-Football-Team, Homecoming-King could get himself into. "Well, here's hopin' it warms up soon, f'r both of our sakes." Eric pauses for a second and then grins. "Well, with the plague, it ain't been much'a easy year, 'specially if you're a cop." Eric points out, giving the woman a bit of a surprised look. "But that sort of comes with the job description too, ya know?" He shrugs his shoulders and chuckles as he sinks down onto the bench next to her. "My fair few. More'n I'd like to have had, I'll tell you that." Oh look at that, Anette's tense again. "Cop? Didn't expect that from you. You're certainly friendlier than the ones I have run into before," she says, looking Eric over again. She is noticably not quite as relaxed as before though she's still attempting to keep up a friendly conversation. "Can't imagine it's been an easy year for you. God knows I've been hiding in my apartment for a good chunk of it." "I'm glad to hear it." Eric says, grinning at Anette and glancing over her face. "Ain't nothin' wrong with hidin' in your apartment through what happened. Hell, it's certainly the smart thing to do. We lost a lot'a good police officers durin' that, and when we found'm again, it was twice as hard." His smile fades through this sentence, but it brightens again. "Still, we beat the bastards in the end, and I lived ta tell the tale." Anette nods quietly. "That must've been hard. Lucky for me, I'm not particularly close to anybody around here." She nods slightly with a brief chuckle. "I'll give the city credit, they did take care of the plague relatively well. Almost had respect for them and then they fucked it up with the registration act." At this last statement, Eric gives Anette another slow look over, and his face moves to a more neutral expression - carefully even. "Well, that ain't the city's doin'. That's federal. You'd want'a take that one up with Congress, not the Mayor." He shrugs his shoulders, then glances away from Anette. A moment later, he stands up and stretches, cracking out his arms with a tilt to either side. "Then again, for that matter, the city ain't able to take care'a the plague itself. Too many dead. That's what we got the army for." Anette shrugs slightly. "City, state, federal. Either way, not particularly fond of any of them at the moment. Nothing personal to you but you could say I have a...healthy distrust of authority." She watches Eric rise, falling silent for a moment as she watches him stretch before speaking again. "For curiousity's sake...what are your thoughts on it?" "You askin' me as a cop, or you askin' me as a citizen?" Eric asks curiously, turning to look down at Anette. He pulls his lighter and cigarette out of his pocket again, and shakes the lighter up and down before lighting it. The flame flickers, but it stays long enough to get the end burning. He takes a long drag and then shrugs his shoulders. "As a police officer, it ain't my job to make the laws, just'a enforce 'em." "Fair enough. Both then. What do you think of it as a boring, old citizen?" she asks, standing up and walking around to stretch her own legs. She tucks her hands in the pockets of her jacket as the temperature begins to dip, walking in circles to get the blood flowing as she admires the park in the dark. Eric takes a long drag on his cigarettes and shrugs his shoulders, silent as he thinks. It appears to be a painful process. "I think that registration should be paired with anti-discrimination... but that it can be a good thing, if access is limited to those who need'ta know. But there's'a problem. Who's the right people? Who needs'ta know?" Eric's smile belies the serious tone in his voice as he blows a ring of smoke into the air. Pursing her lips, Anette pauses a moment before responding. "First response like that I've heard. Very interesting idea. I'm more in the "It's nobody's business who is or isn't a mutant" boat. Too much chance for abuse and discrimination, even if it is limited to those who 'need to know'. Again, healthy distrust of authority. Actually...it's most people I don't trust." "Ain't nothin' wrong with a healthy amount'a watchin' your back." Eric says, shrugging his shoulders. "Especially these days, when you still ain't know what' lurkin' around a corner." His fingers drum on his leg for a moment, and he nods at Anette awkwardly. "Still, I can see both sides'a it. Not sure what I'll feel in a few weeks. Gonna be lookin' for work, I guess. So maybe it ain't so great after all." Anette looks over to Eric curiously. "Oh? What's happening in a few weeks?" she asks curiously. She makes her way back to the bench and sits down, tucking her hands comfortably in her sleeves for warmth. She looks around briefly, noting that most people have gone home and it's now dark and quiet. Eric's smile twitches to life as he gives Anette a wink. "Registration." There is a pause, as he lets the word hang in the air and gives her a widening smile. "It was good talkin'ta you, Anette." he says, as he turns on one foot and begins to head off. Anette Anette's eyes widen, clearly shocked by the sudden revelation. Just as he turns, she manages to call after him. "Shame you're leaving now. It's finally dark and empty enough for me to stretch my wings." With that, she also rises and makes her way off the path, heading into the trees. This last causes Eric to turn a grin onto Anette over his shoulder and raise a hand in a wave goodbye. "Have a good flight!" he calls, stepping out towards the stairs and into the tourist ridden streets beyond.