(Long) Weekend entertainment, part 1: Test Drive Meme

[havetubawilltravel]

It's an app_this_plz weekend, so it's time to break down the walls and let in the new, the departed, and the already here with a Test Drive Meme!

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Comments

[claudiometer]

...oof. Claudia's thinking this looks like a job for spaghetti, but she'll wait until they're actually having a conversation for that one.
"It's... in between places. Not where you came from, not where anyone else here came from, but a few people do call it home now."

[dreamed_a_dream]

"Oh." Fantine shivers a bit. "Is... is it safe here?" That's something she hasn't had for a while. "How do people live here? Is there work to be had?"

[claudiometer]

"Absolutely safe. And I think there's work - plenty of stuff that needs doing, at any rate." Bar tends to draft bartenders, so Claudia's not sure if that's... something people get hired for. But there's plenty of other stuff.
(It's probably good for Fantine's sake that Claudia doesn't know about the brothel.)

[dreamed_a_dream]

"There are things I can do." Fantine is thoughtful for a moment, clinging to her shawl, as if it is the only thing she has. "I know how to be a domestic, I have worked in a factory..." She trails off.

[claudiometer]

"I don't know what all's here, I have to say. My job's back at home, so I get pulled in for bartending here sometimes but that's about it. But there's stuff here, I can point you to a couple people to ask. And at the very least I can get you some dinner."
Because seriously. No really seriously.

[dreamed_a_dream]

"You do not have to, Mademoiselle. I can find my own way." There's a flash of pride on her face, quickly squashing the hunger pains that she's had for a week.

[claudiometer]

"Hey, I understand not wanting to rely on charity, I really do. But you're new here, and it doesn't look like you've eaten well in a long time. I can cover one dinner for you."
Really, either Claudia does it or Joshua does. It all comes off the same tab anyway.

[dreamed_a_dream]

Fantine looks at the strange woman for a long moment. "May I ask why you are insisting, Mademoiselle? You do not know me, you do not know what I have done."

[claudiometer]

"Because I know what it is to be completely on your own and not sure what comes next. I was just extremely lucky when I figured it out."
She was one crappy foster family away from taking her chances on the street (because she would have bolted, if she'd had worse foster parents).

[dreamed_a_dream]

"There are those who say that women should just find a husband and be content." She pauses, then sits down at the table with Claudia. "I have a feeling you are not one of those. Perhaps I will have some dinner, but you must let me repay you somehow."

[claudiometer]

Claudia snorts. "It'd be really damn hypocritical of me to say you should get married when I have no plans for that any time soon."
Instead of commenting on the repayment, she flags down one of the waitrats. "Double helping of Mom's-recipe spaghetti, salad and garlic bread, please?"
The rat nods and scuttles off.

[dreamed_a_dream]

"You seem to be doing well for yourself in that case." Fantine seems to curl in on herself for a moment. "You seem to be from a very different time than I am."

[claudiometer]

"2012. I'm guessing you're a ways behind me. I'm Claudia, by the way."

[dreamed_a_dream]

"Eighteen twenty-two." Fantine actually relaxes a bit, unclenching herself from her shawl. "What is it like in the future?"

[claudiometer]

"Well, I like it. More machines to help with stuff, for one thing. And a lot less people thinking women are only good for marrying - not perfect by any means, but better."
In fact, her foster parents' problem was never that Claudia didn't want to get married, but that she didn't want to finish college.

[dreamed_a_dream]

"What kind of machines do you have? There are only a few machines back home." Some of her fear and anxiety is fading as she listens to the other woman. "Would you tell me about it?" The future seems to be a magical time, one full of the hope that she's barely clinging to.

[claudiometer]

"Sure."
After a few moments - how does she always end up in the position of having to explain electricity to people? - she starts there, and she's worked up to telephones and cars by the time the rat comes back with the food.

[dreamed_a_dream]

Fantine has been relaxing even more as the other woman speaks, leaning closer over the table. Everything that is being said is fascinating, almost a dream to her, as she knows these things will seem even more fantastical when she returns to the threadbare mattress she calls a bed.

"Oh! This smells delectable. Are you sure, Mademoiselle?" She can barely hope that this is true, that she won't wake up in a minute or two.

[claudiometer]

"Very sure. There's no comfort food like it."

[dreamed_a_dream]

Tentatively, she takes a bite of the spaghetti, an actual smile blooming across her face. "Oh! This does taste as good as it smells. I thank you." She pauses, eating for a moment. "What is your name?" She wants to at least know the name of this kind lady."

[claudiometer]

"Claudia. And you're welcome."
...gah, Claudia's no lady. Far from it.

[dreamed_a_dream]

"I am Fantine. It is a pleasure to meet you, Claudia." She smiles, a bright, engaging smile, and falls silent while she eats. "Claudia? Would you tell me stories of the future?" There's something very childlike about Fantine, the girl who grew up too soon, but never really grew up.

[claudiometer]

Om nom nom spaghetti.
"Of course. What do you want to hear?"

[dreamed_a_dream]

"Tell me about what you do when you're at home. What is your family like?"

[claudiometer]

"Well, my job kind of is my family. But as far as people I'm actually related to goes, it's just me and my brother. Our parents died when I was little, and he took care of me for a few years, and then... he was doing some research and it went badly, and he disappeared. I got placed with another family until I was old enough to take care of myself, and a few years after that, I found him again."