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Comments
Sure do! I call up the number Erica gave us before we left PRD.
"Trev! Hang on one sec." Water starts running in the background, then she's back. "Sorry, helping my Mom make cookies for her Christmas cookie exchange. It's a 'big deal'. What's up?"
I start off with, "Hey, that's cool." Christmas cookies already? "I don't know if Reggie told you, but she decided to stay in North Carolina for Christmas, to make it "feel permanent". It's a Reggie thing. Anyways, I wanted to see if you'd be interested in coming down for the holidays. I know it's last minute and I'm sorry. But, if you're interested, I can fly you down."
"Man, I would love that! But I'm already home for the holidays. No place like, right? Bainbridge Island, technocrat's home-away-from-office. Maybe after Christmas? I don't have anything big on the horizon... I could fly out for the weekend? And don't worry about paying for the flight." She sounds almost a little embarrassed about saying that last bit.
"After Christmas is great!" I say excitedly. Then, the flight thing stings a little, so I have to cover, "Hey, I didn't mean anything. About the flight. What I meant was basically, "Hey Erica, I'm so stoked to surprise Reggie with a visit from you that I'd fly you. Nothing. I mean. Shit. Sorry, we miss you, is all."
As long as that moves us past it, I hope it does, I ask, "You didn't mention where you're from. Bainbridge Island? Right on the Sound, that's awesome. Man, you're a whole country away from us."
"No, it's not the offer, Trev. Don't worry about it. I do appreciate the offer, just saying I can get there on my own steam."
When you talk about being on the other side of the country and Bainbridge, she says, "It's actually really beautiful here. They've had laws since forever protecting green space and limiting development, so you're never far from a park or some sort of public space, and the architecture's gotten interesting because people get creative instead of just big. It's a long way away from most everything I care about, though."
After you chat for a few more minutes, she signs off. "Cookies not making themselves, Mom says. Guess I'd better go."
It's a good chat. She's surprisingly sweet, thoughtful, too. I like this Erica as much as the sexed up one back at the PRD. It's neat to see a different side of her. I bet this is what Reggie was most attracted to. "Okay, Erica. I'll let you go. Hey, the whole thing about keeping it secret from Reggie, it's just a little thing. If you'd rather she know, that's totally okay."
You can hear the smile in Erica's voice. "It's cool. I like surprises when I'm on the surprising end. I'll come in sometime on Friday and rent a car. We'll coordinate later. Hey, Merry Christmas!"
I like hearing that smile in her voice. "You've always been a surprise, Erica. A very pleasant one. Merry Christmas!" Once she hangs up, I do, too.
I walk around the apartment a bit, then decide to check out Zero's thing. What the heck is this dealie?
So, between you and Reggie you've come up with a few possibilities for this print. Reggie thinks it might either be a representation of someplace in the real world, or maybe that there's something hidden in the image like those old "find the hidden object" puzzles. The resolution is so high that you'd have to look very close.
That idea triggered you to think about steganography. You've heard of messages hidden in seeming noise, every hundredth pixel's color changed to indicate a number or letter. The possibilities are wide, though, and again with this super-high resolution image (and a physical copy instead of digital, to boot), you'll need to be very clever to detect anything. You also wonder if it's not a landscape for some in-game region that no-one's opened up yet, sort of a preview/clue.
Of course, it could be some combination of those four.
Wow. So many possibilities. I'll spend a bit of time looking at it from different angles, like that illusion puzzle thing. If that isn't fruitful, then I'll snap a picture of it, and do a Google image search, see if it comes up with anything, which I rather doubt.
Trev, you cock your head this way and that, but nothing pops out at you. Image search comes up with "similar" results that don't look too similar, most of them digital paintings of the Rockies.
Why don't you give me a Tinkering roll, Trev, to see if you can use the tools at your disposal to start unravelling the mystery of this print. Static difficulty of Moderate (7), with more benefits if you hit Hard (11).
I'll spend three XP for this, it's important! For Tinkerer, that's roll six, keep three.
(Rolled: 6d6. Rolls: 6, 5, 2, 2, 2, 6. Total: 23)
Wow, that's a 17! Yay!
In the end it winds up being a lot like one of those "illusion puzzle" things, only it's not the angle or focus of your eyes that makes the difference, it's something that just clicks in your brain. Or a series of clicks, really.
First step, you head to Jake's room and scan the print on the high-rez scanner he uses to digitize his hand-drawn sketches for further work.
Once you have the file, you do a quick search and download an open source "landmark recognition" program that was developed to aid in crowd-sourcing identification of old hardcopy photographs. You know, like from family albums from the dark ages, that sort of thing. You set it chugging away on the highest-rez capture you can make of the print.
While that's working, you find yet another open source program that uses a fancy bayesian algorithm to detect possible steganographic noise within large graphic files. That process is very mathy, as well, so both programs take a while to run.
The steganography program finishes first. It's found three possible patterns and parsed them. One is a long random string of characters with a header that makes it look like a high bitrate encryption key. The program interprets the second as repetition of a single name, the repetition probably so that it's actually detectable. "Gerard James Dickey." The final one is a string of coordinates made redundant as the landmark recognition program beeps to indicate that it's found a match. View of the Teton Mountain Range from the roof of the Jackson Hole Center for the Arts, Wyoming. The image it flashes is from decades ago, but the mountains clearly have the same silhouette. Buildings removed from Zero's image, but you can absolutely see it.
Hot damn! Some progress finally. I look up some details on Jackson Hole Center for the Arts and Gerard James Dickey. Interesting. Looks like they're Eve-related, which I expected.
To: Reggie Unlocked a new puzzle piece from Zero's art. I should head to Wyoming in the new year. If you can make it between classes, would love it if you'd come along. TrevThen, what the heck? I shoot out another text.
To: Jessi Got the apartment to myself. Feels like it might be 420. TFrom: Reggie To: Trevian Details tomorrow? I'll try to find a gap, but more likely I'll need to be home-base support. Anything you need me to do? So proud you figured it out! I knew you could!From: Jessi To: Trevian Sure, why not? You holding?Hot damn! Some progress finally. I look up some details on Jackson Hole Center for the Arts and Gerard James Dickey. Interesting. Looks like they're Eve-related, which I expected.
To: Reggie Sounds good. Sleep well. See you tomorrow. TrevThen, what the heck? I shoot out another text.
To: Jessi You bet. TFrom: Jessi To: Trevian On my way. Should I bring toys?I think about the answer to that one. Really hard.
To: Jessi Prolly shouldn't. TFrom: Jessi To: Trevian ::evil smile:: Be there in 20.From: Tandy To: Trevian Hey, don't know if you're at the apt. Won't be home tonight. Getting lucky. Finally.Tandy's getting lucky? Shit. I was counting on that pressure to keep things civil.
To: Tandy Be careful. Have fun! TrevTandy responds with a smiley face, but no more.
You've got twenty minutes, give or take, before Jessi shows up. Anything between now and then?
Honestly, not much. I'll wash the dishes in the sink, walk around and pick up little stuff, but Tandy's pretty clean. I'm not bothering with my bedroom, as if it's some kind of warning to stay in the living room.
I'll check auction house on TSol, see if any cool priest gear shows up. Might grab something for Jackie. I'll message Shak!ra, but I'm starting to think this might be teenager drama and all in my head.
When she arrives, I'm watching a super-old series about an android cop.
You're watching episode 3 of Almost Human for the umpteenth time, once again cursing Fox for cancelling yet another show that had promise, when there's a knock on the door. You assume it's Jessi, and it is.
"Been a while. How's it hanging, Trev?" She gives you a hug and a kiss on the cheek in the doorway.
Once she's inside, she flops on the couch in the living room. "You and your 2-d lost-cause TV shows. You said you were holding?"
I plop down beside her, but not on her or anything. "What can I say? I have a thing for lost causes." I roll over on my right hip, slightly away from her, pull my baggie out, along with my lil pipe, "I didn't call you over for your sparkling conversation and lack of appreciation for 2-D sci-fi TV excellence."
I set them both down on the coffee table, "Go for it, Jessi. I bequeath the first spark. To you." I do a fancy gesture, like I'm doling out parcels of land.
Jessi takes your cue, and very grandly picks up the pipe. She loads it with weed and tamps it down just so with her pinky, then picks up the lighter. She primes it first, waving the flame over the leaf, then holds the fire over the bowl and takes a deep hit. After she holds the smoke in for a few seconds, she blows it out and says, "Not bad, Trev. Guess fame has its privileges..." She hands you the pipe and the lighter.
I pause before I take a hit. "Micro-fame. Fleeting. Like the latest meme." Then, I take a nice, broad hit and hold it. I want the smoke to curl out of my eyes. But eventually, I blow it out. Wish I could do smokey flying ships like Gandalf. "How're you doing, Jess?" I hand her the pipe.
Jessi takes another hit off the pipe, then blows it out. "Asshole poked his nose out, got arrested. He'll get out in not too long, but hoping he takes the hint. Dipper's the Dipper. 'More cheese? Court Bouillion? Oh, is the chocolate not to your liking?' Haven't gotten laid in a while, but don't worry, I'm not going to push it. Unless..." She hands the pipe back to you.
I take the pipe, flick the lighter over the bowl, suck in some flame and take a hit. I shake my head "no". I wanna, but I better not. I can't do that to Reggie.
After that hit, I blow out some smoke, wave my hand in front of it. Damn, getting a buzz already. "Glad asshole's been arrested. If you're worried about when he gets out, let me know, okay?" I look over at her, even though my lids are half open. "I'm serious. We're buds. I don't wanna leave you hanging." I pat her arm.
Jessi settles into the old rhythm, passing the pipe back and forth and giving you shit about your vintage taste in entertainment.
"So, how's your room-mate doing, T? Jake, not Tandy. Or both, if you want to share. Still carrying a torch for Tandy?"
I'm feeling really relaxed now, so I lean back into the couch. "Jake's moved in with his parents while he's recovering. He's doing better every day, but it's a long road. Tandy's out on a hot date, thinks she's spending the night." Shit, shouldn't have said that. "And no, I'm not pining for her anymore. Too many wonderful women in my life to lust after to worry about that. Besides, I finally figured out that I love her, and us, as we are. She's like my second little sister."
"So, what's your secret, then? I knew you had a thing for Tandy that you couldn't ever tell Jake or whoever. If that's done, why does it still seem like you have a secret?" She takes a drag and looks at you appraisingly through half-lidded eyes.
I reach over for the pipe, and yeah, my arm brushes against her boob. Because, they're big, not because I chose to do it or anything. Seriously. I lean back and take a big hit. Hold it. Exhale. "See. That's a trick. You look at me and tell me I have some big secret in hopes that I spill aforementioned secret." I look at her with my permagrin on. "What secret do you think I've got, Jess?"
And, finally, the fingers of her left hand brush against your thigh. Her words contrast. "Wish it was me, but I don't think it is."
I snort just once, "You're not a secret. I told Reggie we used to hook up. Told her we're friends. She's cool with it." Chill out, lil T. Play it cool. "I don't have any secrets. I even told Reggie when some lil jailbait girl hit on me at one of the events we went to. Not that I'd dip my stick in that, you know? That shit's illegal, and teenagers are walking balls of drama. I do not need drama. At least, nothing extra."
Damn, Jessi's looking good tonight. Smells nice, too.
Jessi takes off her sweater and tosses it on a chair before taking another hit off the pipe. The scoop-neck top underneath is light blue and thin enough that you can tell for sure she's not wearing a bra. She licks her lips and you see the little tongue stud that added such... texture... to the last time you were together.
"This is good stuff, Trev." She leans back lazily, her eyes half-closed and that blue top rides up to expose her belly button and the tops of her hip bones. "You want me to tell you another story, Trev? I think you liked the last one."
"Girl, I loved the last one." I agree. Lil T agrees more loudly Down, boy. Gotta think of sweet Reggie, her trust in me, plus the idea of questing with Jace after I break her heart. "Just a little one." Just words. No deeds. Not gonna touch her.
ADULT CONTENT BELOW
...and so you get a story. "I don't know what it is, but I've been as horny as hell, these last few weeks. Even squeezing past a crowded table, the chair back rubbing against my ass, that makes it worse, you know? So, two nights ago I was just ready to pop by the end of my shift. I looked around and decided to make Josh's night. He's cute enough, even if he's a little soft in the middle. And he lives alone. So I just walked up to him and said, 'You, me, naked. What do you think?' I thought he'd swallow his tongue, but he nodded."
She pauses, checking your reaction so far.
Well, hot damn, Josh! I grin, more happy for Josh than anything. "Weren't you little Miss Santa Claus?" I give her a complimentary wink. Then I nod, "Do go on."
Jessi licks her lips again. "So, I followed him back to his apartment, which is super clean, by the way. We get inside and crack a beer, just chillin' on the couch, like we are right now. Then I leaned in real close." She demonstrates. "And I kissed him. It was like I flipped his 'on' switch, Trev. He just started kissing my neck and my ears, and his hands were so warm on my back, and I was sooo horny. I got off the couch and got on my knees in front of him. I swear he held his breath while I undid his belt and unzipped his pants. When I pulled his cock out, it was like a Christmas miracle! They say Koreans aren't well-hung. Well, they're wrong, apparently. I couldn't wait to get my mouth on him."
I'm looking in her eyes, permagrin still spread. Lil T is going apeshit hearing this, but I'm playing it cool. "Damn, girl. I do adore your oral fixations. How long did he last?" I know I couldn't last long, especially not right now.
Jessi gives you a Mona Lisa smile. "So, I just flicked the head with my tongue-stud, you know, to let him know it was on, and he hissed in a breath like he'd gotten an electric shock. When I went down on him, though, he leaned back and just rode it. He was humming something, I think it was some sort of Korean hymn, if I had to guess. You do remember that I really like giving head, don't you? I just like the way a cock feels in my mouth, and Josh's felt really good. When I tickled his balls with my nails, he stopped humming and started up with the profanity and grabbed the back of my head, really started fucking my face."
No part of Jessi's body is touching you, right now, but you're keenly aware that her knee is millimeters away from yours, her hand is draped on the back of the sofa so close that she could stretch out a finger and stroke your neck without moving it. Her other hand is on her own thigh, rubbing up and down unconsciously.
I do remember she likes it. I remember how good she is at it, too. And that tongue stud. Fuck, this is a bad idea. I could just jump her right now, and nobody would know. Nobody but us. Evil lil T, shut the hell up.
"Did you get any action, Jess?" my voice comes out a little less collected than I'd hoped.
"Are you trying to skip ahead, Trev? Don't you want to hear about him shooting a giant load in my mouth and me swallowing it? Because he did. Well, that calmed things down a little, and he wasn't shy about kissing me after, so we just made out for a while until I pulled off my shirt and Josh started in on my nipples like he'd never seen any. A girl can really appreciate enthusiasm, you know? So yeah, eventually his hand made it up to the crotch of my pants and he started rubbing." Jessi's own hand mimics the action. You're still not sure if she knows she's doing it, but she's definitely rubbing herself through the fabric of her jeans, and her nipples are as hard as drill bits. "Finally I said, 'Stop teasing!' and started taking my clothes off. He did, too. Left his shirt for last, like he was embarrassed by his tummy, but I just didn't care about a little belly fat. He wasn't hard again yet, so I pulled his hand in and let him feel how wet I was. I don't know how many girls he's been with, Trev, but he must play the piano, because he's got some freaky manual dexterity. Then he surprised me, I thought he was too... something... but he went down on me."
She shifts position a touch, and her thigh is right up next to yours, touching lightly.
Sounds like Josh made it count! Go Josh! I'm pulling for the guy, although the fact she's here with me and not him does make it feel a bit anticlimactic. "He did? How was it? Did he have some oral skills?" I'm watching her hand, watching her rub herself.
Jessi chuckles low in her throat. "It was only okay, but really? He hit the right spots most of the time, and I was ready by the time I noticed he was hard again. I just pushed him on his back and rode that big ol' Korean cock like it was a bronco. It didn't take me long to come the first time, and it lasted like thirty seconds. I was just shuddering and panting and practically choking on my tongue. I could tell he wasn't taking the lead, so I climbed off and went face-down ass-up. He took the hint, and pounded me hard, Trev. You wouldn't think Josh had it in him. I came again quick, and he wasn't far behind. He must've had a lot built up in there, because that condom was full when he finally pulled it off."
Her eyes have a sparkle behind the cannabis glaze, one you've seen before. Jessi moans low, and you know she's just on the verge of making herself come, through her jeans. "Sure you don't want to make a story, Trev, instead of just hearing one? I see your little friend wants to come out and play."
Way to go, Josh! Proud of you, dude.
Jessi asks if I want to make a story and of course I do. I do I do. I reach my right hand down, between her legs, put it over her hand as she rubs, look at her, "I do. But I can't, babe. Go ahead and finish, though. That's story enough for me."
Jessi unzips her fly, but leaves the top button of the jeans fastened. She slips a finger in and starts playing with herself through the silky fabric of her underwear. No more than thirty seconds later, she stiffens and cries out her orgasm. After, she looks at you through half-lidded eyes. "God, Trev. That was... You sure you don't want something? Would a handjob be cheating?" She gives you a look from the corner of her eyes. She's teasing now, doesn't expect you to say yes, but enjoying the moment.
Damn, that was a sight. Beats the hell out of a strip club.
She asks if I want a hand job. I chuckle, she's got a mean streak a mile wide. I don't answer right away, just leave my hand on hers, feeling the warmth, imagining the old times. Even that coke time. I could so pound her right now, man.
"That would be cheating and it would be messy." I answer finally. Lil T is aching, he is dying to get out and beg for that handjob.
Jessi picks up the pipe, taps out the burnt remainders, and reloads it from the little Ziploc. She lights it and takes a big hit, then passes it off.
"So, why, Trev? You text me to come get high, knowing I'm going to do my best to get that cock out of your jeans, and knowing you're going to go right to the edge and then not jump, because you've got this amazing, beautiful, smart girlfriend. Why did you text?" There's no bitterness in her tone. If anything, it's a sort of predatory curiosity.
It's a good question. Been wondering why I did it myself. I look over at her, my permagrin fading a little. "Jess, I like hanging out with you. I miss what we have sometimes. I don't want to string you along or nothing like that. And I don't want to break Reggie's heart. Reggie is amazing, and we've got a good thing going, you know? Hell, I wish I could clone myself. "
Jessi blows out a breath. "You miss what we had, you mean." That lopsided grin comes out to play again. "This is pretty fucked up, smoking up and telling dirty stories. But I guess it's... well, something about it's pretty hot. You have to be the storyteller next time, though."
She traces a finger along your thigh, and Lil' T springs back to attention. "So, unless you want to whip that out and jerk off for me, I should probably go and let you take care of business in privacy."
"i promise to be the storyteller next time. And yeah, some privacy would be great." I'll walk her out, prolly not give her a hug goodbye, though.
Jessi puts on her sweater and coat and you walk her to the door before doing what you need to do. As it happens, Tandy doesn't come home tonight, just as she thought, and the apartment seems very quiet.
—End Scene—