[It's not a long wait. Jim's shirt options are limited to three: romantic white, billowing white, and scratchy white. He's gone with billowing white, because the scratchy white is distracting. Mavis doesn't seem like the kind of person who tolerates distractions.
Everything else is standard issue, a little-too-snug linen and riding boots he managed to, well, steal while it's just them in the town. One pair among hundreds; he doubts anyone will miss them. The jacket someone might miss, but he's seen a hundred just like it, too. It's fine, and it's cold. Finders keepers, etc. ]
Okay, I'm just coming out. [Which is mostly true. He only stops briefly to lift a slice of bread to eat. It's a little stale, a little salty. Has him grimacing a little as he steps into the cold air, moving towards Mavis. ]
Nice to meet you, Mavis. [he's cordial enough; not as grumpy as he might have been two years ago about having to get dressed and roll out for a wander around town. besides, he did tell Alicent he would help.]
How far out we going? [not that he's avoiding the woods or anything. he's a grown man. he can face his fears. ]
Oh. [A beat; a blink of surprise. He supposes he shouldn't be, really. Not with his daughter's gifts, not with the whole hivemind here. ] Yeah, I got you.
[He thinks she means like he can hear her, but - he's never heard a thing from any of the Rubeans. Never tried to hear, either. He nods, slow. ] Are they - are they okay?
[He doesn't think Wanda would hurt these people on purpose. At least, that was the impression Stephen gave; good intentions gone awry. Help Wanda. He follows Mavis' gaze up, thinks, what does a red sky in the morning mean again? Nothing good. ]
[ she nods her assent, a little stony. they wander together towards the wall, and all there is to do is listen, to wait for the twitch of thoughts as mavis reaches for them beyond the haze of red mist.
it doesn't take much focus, though. mavis has always been unnaturally sensitive. ]
[Or to focus better. He doesn't know, not really. He's just glad it wasn't Danny. ] Or I'm easily distracted. [like a bad child. That's the impression he's been getting.
Mavis is - different. Different from El, that is, in how she uses her abilities. There's a confidence in her that El hasn't grown into yet, but he can see what El might be, one day. Sure of herself; capable. Stronger.
He feels a little sentimental about it, really. That'll be why he has such a dopey smile on his face.]
[ he thinks of his daughter. dark-haired, stony-faced. mavis doesn't see the resemblance, except for the power that he attributes to her. mavis has to shy away from his thoughts, looking quickly away, because it introduces unpleasant considerations of her own to the equation.
how she might have turned out, for instance, if her parents had been there to raise her. ]
[ she doesn't look at him. addresses the town wall instead as they wander along it. ]
But it makes other people more comfortable. [ the talking, instead of just listening. she has learned by now that she is off-putting, strange, and altogether makes people uncomfortable. if she can distract him from that, it'll probably be for the best.
which was made easier by her genuine curiosity. she's always wanted to understand other people, even if she struggles to. ]
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Whatever happened to 'hello'? Or 'are you awake, Hop?'
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obviously you are awake
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Now?
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you will help me search for the townspeople
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[alicent.] Give me a minute to find a shirt.
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Everything else is standard issue, a little-too-snug linen and riding boots he managed to, well, steal while it's just them in the town. One pair among hundreds; he doubts anyone will miss them. The jacket someone might miss, but he's seen a hundred just like it, too. It's fine, and it's cold. Finders keepers, etc. ]
Okay, I'm just coming out. [Which is mostly true. He only stops briefly to lift a slice of bread to eat. It's a little stale, a little salty. Has him grimacing a little as he steps into the cold air, moving towards Mavis. ]
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Jim Hopper.
[ she identifies him smoothly. ]
I am Mavis.
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How far out we going? [not that he's avoiding the woods or anything. he's a grown man. he can face his fears. ]
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[ an automatic response to his thoughts. mavis looks up at the sky briefly, which has a strange red-gray tinge to it. ]
I don't think we can. I have not been able to get out of the gate. But to the edge of town. If we follow the wall, we may not get lost.
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[And the Rubeans must be locked out. Neither are particularly appealing or comforting notions. ]
Have you been able to look over the wall?
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[ a beat. she looks at him. narrows her gaze as she decides if she wants to admit, then — ]
Not ... hear. [ she touches her ear. ]
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[He thinks she means like he can hear her, but - he's never heard a thing from any of the Rubeans. Never tried to hear, either. He nods, slow. ] Are they - are they okay?
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[ she looks up at the sky, which is obscured by red mist. no sign of the moon. ]
Have to be closer to tell.
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[He doesn't think Wanda would hurt these people on purpose. At least, that was the impression Stephen gave; good intentions gone awry. Help Wanda. He follows Mavis' gaze up, thinks, what does a red sky in the morning mean again? Nothing good. ]
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it doesn't take much focus, though. mavis has always been unnaturally sensitive. ]
Why did Alicent send me to you?
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[Or to focus better. He doesn't know, not really. He's just glad it wasn't Danny. ] Or I'm easily distracted. [like a bad child. That's the impression he's been getting.
Mavis is - different. Different from El, that is, in how she uses her abilities. There's a confidence in her that El hasn't grown into yet, but he can see what El might be, one day. Sure of herself; capable. Stronger.
He feels a little sentimental about it, really. That'll be why he has such a dopey smile on his face.]
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[ he thinks of his daughter. dark-haired, stony-faced. mavis doesn't see the resemblance, except for the power that he attributes to her. mavis has to shy away from his thoughts, looking quickly away, because it introduces unpleasant considerations of her own to the equation.
how she might have turned out, for instance, if her parents had been there to raise her. ]
Do you need a good influence?
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[Alicent's only aware of a few, and he does say it like he's joking. ]
I think she thinks I'm easily distracted. You don't seem like the type to get distracted at all - err, present conversation aside.
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[ she doesn't look at him. addresses the town wall instead as they wander along it. ]
But it makes other people more comfortable. [ the talking, instead of just listening. she has learned by now that she is off-putting, strange, and altogether makes people uncomfortable. if she can distract him from that, it'll probably be for the best.
which was made easier by her genuine curiosity. she's always wanted to understand other people, even if she struggles to. ]