Blue Sky

by Cunticuss

Summary:

Years ago– bad, okay, good, worse, then terrible. A pleasure wheel you could never leave. Endless. Unstoppable. On bad days, tears and vodka and the smell of piss and sweat. On okay days, no complaints and laughter in your eyes. On good days, the blue sky and the scent of forget-me-nots. A smile on your face, a deep exhale from your lungs.

Harry buys Jean flowers.

Notes:

What if you didn’t lose your memory? What if something in Martinaise came and stored it all away. For you to slowly open one box at a time.

Uses this work skin.

WITHERED FLOWERS – Withered flowers stand forgotten on your windowsill. They sit within an ornate glass jar painted with designs originating from Mesque. Light beats down on their dried out stems. Behind, the grey sky stretches out endlessly.

1. [Inland Empire – Challenging 12] Inspect them. (Proceed)
2. Bag them.
3. [Leave.]

INLAND EMPIRE [Challenging: Success] – You approach the flowers carefully, like a wounded animal bleeding onto the dirt. The dried stems scratch at the back of your mind. The petals are long gone, but you remember them. Blue and small with a watchful yellow eye.

VOLITION – The lieutenant told you about them before.

ENCYCLOPEDIA – A symbol of the Moralintern. Blue forget-me-nots; a piece of the grey sky.

SHIVERS [Formidable: Success] – Satellite-Officer Jean Vicquemare sits by the balcony of his cramped one bedroom apartment and watches as droplets of water begin to rain from the sky.

He lights a cigarette and waits for it to end.

YOU - What was that?

VOLITION - What was what?

YOU - That. What just happened. Why did I see Jean?

INLAND EMPIRE [Impossible: Failure] – Nothing. It was nothing. Don't think about it.

LOGIC [Medium: Success] – Satellite-Officer Vicquemare was very involved in your life before your deluge. Perhaps it's connected to another memory.

SHIVERS [Easy: Success] – Jean shifts his gaze to his unlit bedroom where a glass jar tenderly holds two wilting may bells. The flowers will have a few more days to live before he'll have to get new ones.

He moves away from the fence that separates him from a four story drop and floats like a ghost in his own home. He takes a bottle of water from the fridge, throws out the water in the jar, and replaces it with something new. In a few minutes, the may bells will spring back to life.

He sighs and settles back into his previous position. Droplets have landed on his shoulders, riddling his grey shirt with dark spots.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY – He's beautiful when he's angry, and even more beautiful when he's not.

YOU – There it is again. How is he connected to this?

VOLITION – I don't know. Perhaps you can look into it?

INLAND EMPIRE – No. Don't. Those flowers are little stop signs painted in signal blue. A pathetic attempt to lessen the panic caused by the red underneath. Abort. Do not continue.

1. Why not? (Opt in)
2. Doesn't matter. It's just the chill seeping in. [Discard thought]

Thought gained: There was hope

|Problem
Years ago– bad, okay, good, worse, then terrible. A pleasure wheel you could never leave. Endless. Unstoppable. On bad days, tears and vodka and the smell of piss and sweat. On okay days, no complaints and laughter in your eyes. On good days, the blue sky and the scent of forget-me-nots. A smile on your face, a deep exhale from your lungs. Let the wind take you there, let it carry you on its barren wings.

---

KIM KITSURAGI -- "What do you think, detective?"

YOU -- "Green, probably. The one on the right-- no. Not that one, higher."

KIM KITSURAGI -- Kim doesn't react. He is trying his best not to react. He is definitely *not* judging you right now. "You mean this?"

GARISH PAINT -- Kim's hands briefly brush the can of paint just out of his reach. It's a garish neon green paint that clashes with every single piece of furniture in your shared bedroom. He's not bothered by his height, or lack thereof. Especially in this moment. He's just glad he doesn't have to *touch* it.

CONCEPTUALIZATION -- What's he so hesitant about? He barely has any conceptualization skills. *You're* the art cop here. Neon all the way, baby.

EMPATHY -- Don't be like that. Kim has your best interest in mind. Besides, it's *his* room too.

VOLITION -- Look for another shade. Compromise. He wanted blue, you wanted red. Something lighter, maybe.

PERCEPTION (SIGHT) -- Something that doesn't burn your eyes to look at.

YOU -- "Okay then, hmm..." You make a big show of rubbing your chin.

KIM KITSURAGI -- Kim smiles, if briefly. He doesn't bother to hide it.

1. Signal blue.
2. Livery Green.
3. Burgundy.
4. Fern Green.

YOU -- "What about this?" You point to something a bit further left. It's also green, and also annoyingly bright. There's hardly any difference between the two shades.

KIM KITSURAGI -- Kim raises his brow.

EMPATHY -- "Really?" It seems to say.

VOLITION -- Try again.

1. Signal blue.
2. Burgundy.
3. Fern Green.

YOU -- You sigh and resume rubbing your chin. What else, what else...

CONCEPTUALIZATION -- There.

YOU -- You move your gaze up a shelf and spot a desaturated green a few cans to the right. It reminds you of the plants you'd often see at the entrances of canals, the ones that preferred the damp darkness over the dry light.

You point at it. "This one."

KIM KITSURAGI -- Kim nods, smiling once more. "Mmh, yes. That's what I was thinking too."

YOU – You take all the things you two picked and bring them over to the teenage cashier who is understandably less than interested in their job. Kim is busy paying for your joint purchase when your eye catches on something in your peripheral.

PERCEPTION (Sight) [Easy: Success] – A bright yellow underneath the dull gray. Below it, a burst of colour you only ever really see in the neon signs of the redlight district. Flowers, and to the side– forget-me-nots.

INLAND EMPIRE – Look away. Run.

SUGGESTION [Easy: Success] – Maybe Jean would like some.

1. Jean is a manly man. He wouldn't like flowers (lie)
2. Why would I give him flowers? That's weird.
3. Tell Kim.

YOU – You tug at your partner's sleeve and point outside. "Hey, Kim! Look, flowers!"

Kim Kitsuragi – Kim stops in the middle of taking money out of his wallet to look at where you're pointing. He adjusts his glasses and squints his eyes a bit. "Ah, yes. A flower stand."

EMPATHY – He has no idea why you're mentioning this.

YOU – "Do you think Jean would like some?"

KIM KITSURAGI – Kim's eyes widen then he nods "Vicquemare? I guess. He's rather knowledgeable about them, surprisingly.". He hums and goes back to rummaging in his wallet.

SHIVERS [Medium: Success] – a brand new orange toolbox sits in Satellite-Officer Vicquemare's living room. It's been left open, likely forgotten on his rush out. The inside is filled with sturdy tools used and scratched but clean nonetheless. They are loved as much as the plants they're used to tend to.

ENCYCLOPEDIA [Heroic: Success] – You recognize the make of them. They're from the same store Kim buys *his* tools.

YOU – "So that's what you gave Jean for his birthday! Tools!"

KIM KITSURAGI – "Khm." Kim keeps his expression carefully neutral but you can already see the telltale flush of red on his ears. He doesn't question how you suddenly found out, he knows not to question your *supra-natural* abilities– even if he refuses to call them that. Kim smiles politely at the cashier and takes your two plastic bags. He hands one over to you.

YOU -- You take it and the two of you exit the store peacefully. The lieutenant still refuses to be too close to you in public for his and your safety, but occasionally your shoulders or elbows brush and it sends a tingle down your spine.

EMPATHY – He loves you as much as you love him.

BRIGHT FLOWER STAND – You look over to the flower stand. It's still as bright and colorful as before, a harsh contrast against the dreary backdrop of Revachol's cloudy days. It's waiting for you.

KIM KITSURAGI – "Let's go." He says softly, tugging at your elbow. Kim approaches first and browses the flowers. He talks to the vendor who is more than happy to chat, and she points him to a few May Bells in the middle of the stand. He raises one against his nose, breathes in the scent.

ENDURANCE – He's beautiful.

YOU – You move to stand beside him and casually press a hand against his upper back.

KIM KITSURAGI – He's surprised at first but doesn't mention it. The touch isn't incriminating. Besides–

EMPATHY – He likes it. It's warm, soothing.

YOU – You lean to the left and pick up the forget-me-nots. They're fresh, and stunningly blue. Small in your hand, begging not to be thrown away.

KIM KITSURAGI – Your eyes are far off again. Kim looks at you almost as if he's expecting another political rant. They're the symbol of the Moralintern, and your opinion of them isn't exactly…

YOU – "Jean will love these."

KIM KITSURAGI – Kim blinks. "Really? How so?"

YOU – You make an odd hand motion and grin at him. "Gut feeling."

KIM KITSURAGI – Kim raises an eyebrow and shakes his head. "Alright, though it might be insensitive to give him that considering your…" he motions to your head. "Unfortunate circumstance."

YOU – You laugh.

KIM KITSURAGI – "Just don't blame me if it goes south." He turns to the vendor and takes out his wallet. "Hello, we'd like these two wrapped if possible."

---

YOU – You stand outside of Jean's apartment with a bouquet in hand. Your hands are sweaty as you wait for him to answer the door. You're not sure why you're so nervous to give these to him. You look down at the flowers in your hand.

TOTALLY PLATONIC BOUQUET – The May bells and Forget-me-nots are wrapped in delicate yellow crepe paper tied off with a white bow. Tucked into it is a note card with Kim and your name inside.

YOU – Speaking of Kim.
You turn to the window where you can see him a few floors down seated inside the Kineema.

KIM KITSURAGI – His grip on the levers is loose undercut with the tap tap tap of his finger. The beat is steady. You're not sure if he's listening to speedfreaks FM or not. Occasionally, he steals glances at you through the window.

EMPATHY – He's nervous.

VOLITION – It's surprising Jean hasn't come out yet considering how *loud* the Kineema is.

DOOR OF DOOM – You hear the sound of footsteps on the other side. Rushed, and then slow. Like whoever was on the other side was pretending they weren't running. There's the clack of lock being released and the sound of a chain being slid off the door. A few seconds later, the door opens.

JEAN VICQUEMARE – "Kitsuragi. You didn't say you were visi– Shitkid?"

YOU – You wave at him. "Hi."

JEAN VICQUEMARE – He looks at you incredulously. He hasn't even noticed the flowers.

EMPATHY – He isn't off-put by your arrival, just surprised. You haven't visited in a while, pre-bender era included.

JEAN VICQUEMARE – He gets his wits back together and composes himself into a more neutral expression. He doesn't know why you're here, and that hardly ever bodes well.

COMPOSURE [Easy: Failure] – You try not to flinch. You do.

JEAN VICQUEMARE – He softens his expression to be a bit more accommodating. Emphasis on a bit.

VOLITION – That's good. Keep going.

YOU – You offer the bouquet to him. "Kim and I got you flowers. I felt like you might want them."

JEAN VICQUEMARE – He finally notices the ticking time bomb in your hands. It takes him a moment to adjust to a world where they exist, and you can clearly see when it finally *clicks*. A blush creeps up his neck from the collar of his black shirt and its effects are terrifying.

ELECTROCHEMISTRY – Wowza!!! Look at that neck! Those biceps! That chest! Those thighs! Ooo baby give me a piece of *that*!!!

JEAN VICQUEMARE – He takes the bouquet with some reluctance, but the way he holds them almost feels like worship. Like it wasn't just flowers, like it was something *divine*. "Fuck uh… thank you. Who picked these…?"

YOU – You pointedly keep your hands in your pockets. "Kim picked the May bells and I chose the Forget-me-nots. The packaging was a joint decision."

JEAN VICQUEMARE – He nods slowly and finally looks up at you again. The flush still hasn't gone yet. "Thank you… I guess?" He winces at his own awkwardness. "Sorry. Do you want to come in?"

EMPATHY – He's a bit embarrassed, but he's glad for the gift.

YOU – "I'd love to but Kim's waiting for me downstairs. I just came to deliver these."

JEAN VICQUEMARE – He seems disappointed for a moment but it's gone with the blink of an eye. Jean nods, and finds his composure again. Back a little straighter, head held a little higher. "Alright then, I won't keep you waiting. Thank you for this."

VOLITION – He'll be waiting, for your next visit.

YOU – You smile and scrunch up your nose slightly.

JEAN VICQUEMARE – He chuckles and shakes his head.

YOU – Task completed, you turn around to return to the Kineema. You hear the soft click of the door shutting close the moment you're halfway down the first flight of stairs.

Days later you visit with Kim, Judit, and Trant with the excuse of playing Wirral. When you enter his room to grab something from his desk, you see it.

A blue glass jar in the same make as yours.

May bells and Forget-me-nots.

Thought complete: There was hope.

|Solution
Breathe in. It is there now, in your lungs. The answer to questions you didn't know to ask. You see him across you in the carriage, body framed by the clear blue sky. His eyes are closed, pocked cheek resting against his fist. Your ankles are twisted together until you no longer know where you end and he begins. He is as much of you as you are of him. He will wait with you to the end of your ride, until the air is nothing but a mix of your breathing. When he opens his eyes, there is hope.

---

Notes:

So you can *choose* which parts to keep. Keep almost none of it. Only the flowers on the windowsill. Only the distant sound of a radio. Lose all the actors, the dark shadows, leave only the still lifes, the blissful distant wash of waves. If everybody knew -- you never did. She’ll be coming soon. That is all.