for im_apimp } we have not touched the stars, nor are we forgiven.

[badever]

[ Elena hasn't stopped longing for the possibility of going back home.

Along with the longing and that pang in her chest whenever she thinks of it is near-frightening determination. She doesn't accept things easily, if at all, and letting go isn't something she's truly able to do. Not unless she has absolutely no other choice. The world she comes from wasn't a picnic party, but it wasn't practically a Third World nation. More over, she was responsible for so many things that happened.

She couldn't leave everyone she loved behind, Klaus reigning terror down on them in her absence. She doesn't let herself think about it too often, or she wouldn't be able to attempt adjusting here as best she can. Life doesn't stop, and even if she hasn't fully accepted her fate, she has to be doing things so she doesn't lose her mind.

Per Alec's suggestion, she ends up working at Jam Pony. She's hired on the spot, but today ended up being a disaster. Once her shift ends, she's invited to join her co-workers for an after-shift drink. Or two or three or four of them. She doesn't really have a 'home' to go back to as it is, and Elena can't say the idea sounds terrible to her at the moment.

(Ask her again later tomorrow.)

She's at the bar, alternating between staring at her drink and staring at the pool table that was recently vacated. ]

Comments

[im_apimp]

[he smirks, before signaling the bartender to order one for himself]

I think you will have much more fun if you do it the old fashioned way.

[badever]

I suppose it can't hurt. [ After the day she had, the day itself is gonna need a beer or two. She takes a drink from it at last, a generous one at that, before she turns to Alec again. ]

Do you guys hang out here often?

[im_apimp]

More often than not. Max hates breaking in new bartenders, and these guys aren't really sleazes in the first place.

[badever]

Max. [ She's still learning everyone's names, but Max would be hard to forget. At first she thought Max and Alec were... something. At the very least, they bicker a lot like -- Not going there. ]

It's not bad. Everything is just -- different here. Seems obvious, as I jumped over a decade, but ... [ She glances around, like it's foreign to her somehow. She'll be having more of that drink now. ]

[im_apimp]

[If he and Max ever were something, Hell might freeze over. Or at least that was Alec's opinion on the matter.]

It's a little more different than you were expecting.

[badever]

I wasn't expecting any of it. [ Her lips twist into something of a smile before she takes another sip. Don't worry, Alec. You won't have a drunk Elena on your hands. Maybe. ]

There's a lot I could've been expecting. [ And by her tone, she really means a lot. ] Time travel? Not exactly.

[im_apimp]

I don't think anyone expects time travel, so you're not really alone there.

[badever]

... Good point. You make good points, Alec. [ She points at him with her index finger before she finishes her beer. She asks another one before she swings on the stool and looks over at him. ]

So! Alec McDowell. Tell me more about yourself.

[im_apimp]

[he takes a breath, and shrugs]

Not much to tell that you don't already know. Bike messenger. Occasionally likes to play pool.

[badever]

I don't believe that. [ Not that she's calling him a liar, just that there's always so much to people, even when they don't think there is. She tilts her head to the side to appraise the pool table once he mentions the game. ]

How good are you at it?

[im_apimp]

[oh, there is, but that might be too much for this conversation. he's glad for the distraction via pool.]

Well, I don't like to brag ...

[badever]

[ Elena's going to file it away, regardless. They've just met, though, and she's not that pushy, so she glances at the pool table when he mentions it. ]

Something tells me that's not true. [ She smirks lightly before she stands, walking over to the pool table in question, bringing her drink with her. ]

[im_apimp]

[he grins as he grabs his beer before getting up to follow her]

Are you challenging me to a game, Gilbert? Because I'll have you know, I won't be going easy on you.

[badever]

[ Elena's brow lifts as her expression grows cocky. ] Maybe. Maybe I want to see if you can back up your claim.

And who says I want you to go easy on me? [ She grabs both of the pool cues, tossing one at him lightly. ]

[im_apimp]

I'm just putting it out there. When you see my awesome pool skills, you'll understand why.

[Alec is kind of a rockstar. At least in his own mind.]

[badever]

Any day now.

[ Elena smirks in amusement and stands back, as if waiting for him to show this awesome set of pool skills that will, presumably, rock her world.

She's waiting, Alec. ]

[im_apimp]

[he tosses her an amused look, before leaning down to line up his shot. A minute later the balls go scattering across the table, and a few even sink into the far corner pockets.]