OPEN :: I used to live in a heartbeat city

[modeststillness.livejournal.com]

Who: Thrice & YOU.
What: Biking, chatting, reading books, or whatevs.
Where: Anywhere and everywhere in Baedal.
When: Sukkardi
Notes:Upon arriving in Baedal, Thrice had a few goals:
   (a) Contact Petra.
   (b) Find employment.
   (c) Continue his 'real' work.

Working for a courier service means that Thrice can be found anywhere in the city, usually on a bicycle weaving around and through traffic almost as if it doesn't exist. When he's able to really hit his stride and transcend his usual distracted way of interacting with the world, Thrice is able to unconsciously react to events that haven't yet happened and move through crowded streets without any difficulty at all. To an outsider it may look as if he prefers odd, circuitous routes through the city, but by following his gut instincts, he'll dodge accidents, potholes, unexpected pack animals and toppling fruit carts all without slowing down.

Others in the cohort are likely to see him riding by, but unlikely to stop and chat with him unless he's slowed down for a break. When not on a bike, Thrice can be found at TeeMuu chatting with the Math department, looking for some rather obscure texts on algorithms in Flyside, or returning to one of Ceith's temples to start negotiations that will eventually end in his sending a letter back home.

Comments

[deadredbird.livejournal.com]

Having the opportunity to watch Thrice at work on his bicycle is an interesting thing, and would not have come about without two facts: one, that Jason had been temporarily held up outside Ceith's temple, and thus in a position to observe Thrice, and two, that at first glance, Dick bears some resemblance to Thrice. That's what initially makes him look, as irritating an instinct as that is. Then his attention stays for the maneuvering. Look, there's no TV here. This is good shit.

When Thrice has actually reached the temple, and may presumably be in the midst of securing his bicycle, Jason says, offhanded, barely looking at him, "Nice riding."

[modeststillness.livejournal.com]

"Thanks," he says with a bright smile and a moment of eye contact before Thrice is seemingly distracted by something just over Jason's shoulder. Hanging his helmet off the handlebars, Thrice runs a hand through his short hair, spiking it up before trying to fluff it up into a more regular, less hedgehog-like pattern. "Do you ride?"

[deadredbird.livejournal.com]

Jason deadpans for a second, glancing between Thrice and the bike. "I'll have to start. It's just... I'm used to motorcycles."

But he shrugs that off. Fuck your expensive and hard to get fossil fuels, Baedal. "You know a good place?"

[modeststillness.livejournal.com]

"I've never been on a motorcycle." While Thrice can do quite well running or on a bicycle, without physical effort to help focus his mind he's too distracted to drive. "And I know it's not as fast as a proper one, but there are a few places that do a hybrid bike that you can dock and charge?"

He's still using the loaner bike that the courier company has given him, but was told that once he's saved up enough most other bikerunners pick up a hybrid to help with the biggest hills and longest routes.

[deadredbird.livejournal.com]

While he appreciates the thought — and certainly, that's better than nothing — Jason can't quite suppress a wince.

"Whereabouts?" He sounds almost sad. How low he has fallen.

[modeststillness.livejournal.com]

Thrice closes his eyes to help him recall his mental map: "There's two, the first is just south of Grafton Square on Herbert, near a house that looks like a hive of bees, and the second is at Uka and Thandiwe, by a house with windows that look like they've got a moving rainbow oil slick. The second one is more expensive, but they've a better selection, even some bikes that can run on myco."

With a shudder like a dog shaking off water, Thrice returns to the conversation and his usual state of vague confusion.