Picking Pockets

[tesseract]

Tesser didn't really pay attention to where she was going, she was just happy to slurp her slushie and listen to Dave. His answers were intreaguing, and she couldn't hlep but seriously wonder if they might make a difference. However, the things he listed that he did were so bizarre to Tesser she really didn't have an answer. Things like Meditation, and Yoga, and Martial Arts.

"Martial Arts?" She asked, "you mean, like, karate? Hey, that would be kinda useful, you know? She playfully swung her free hand in a mock karate chop, crying "Hiyaa!" Then finding her way back to Dave's side she turned serious again, looking up at him.

"Well" she said in answer to his comment on being an absolutist, "I'm a survivalist. I hold you heroes in the highest regard, you're good people, and you do good things, but - I can't even get food on a regular basis. Helping people doesn't get you a roof over your head if you can't say it's you whos doing it."

Tesser slowed down and looked down at the sidewalk. Her flip-flops had little heart-shaped rhinstones in them and they twinkled dully in the fading sunlight. "Maybe when I'm older, but I'm just a kid."

[Dave]

"All I can ask is that you consider it. Like I said, no one should make up anyone's mind but their own." He smiled. At least she was considering it. He looked down the street, there were a few restaurants around. "You're probably hungry, right? Want to eat something? It's on me, I always pay for visiting guests to the city. Though this isn't really my city." He looked around.

"I know a great steak place a few blocks away, but I do like good old tex-mex." He said, looking at the "Mexican" cuisine places that littered the streets. He was a man who enjoyed food, he always worked it off in the end.

[tesseract]

When Dave smiled at her, Tesser returned the gesture. *maybe,* she thought *it wouldn't be such a bad idea to try out what he says.* With this decision in mind, she followed him, immedeitly perking up when he mentioned food.

"There's a really great mexican place just a couple blocks from her. C'mon!" Tesser took of down the street, gesturing for Dave to follow. She finally stopped before the door of 'El Tapateo' and waited for Dave.

"So what brought you here in the first place, this isn't your city is it?"

[Dave]

"No," He said, holding the door for her to walk through, then grabbing two menus behind the counter and snagging a booth without waiting to be served. "My town's Gateway City. I always make a round of California before I get home from trips. Start at San Diego, go to all the important places. San Francisco, L.A., Napa Valley. Cool off for a day or two in Santa Barbara or Modesto, I like it there best. Then back to Gateway, that's where my job usually is. I get sent out a lot. I spend a lot of time in Los Angeles though." A waitress walked by indicating she would be with them in a moment. "Checking out the local scenery." He said, admiring the attributes of the waitress. He would have to see to her later. There were kids around now, that would be inappropriate, he could come back any time.

"What about you? I get the feeling that you don't belong..." He paused. "Anywhere, or at least that's what you think. I don't know you well enough to make the judgement."

[tesseract]

Tesser slid into the booth, listening all the while to Dave as he told her about his travels. Then, watching his eyes travel away from their table, she followed his gaze to a young and rather pretty waitress. Snickering behind her fingers, young though she was, the girl had a pretty good idea what was going through the adults head.

What about you? I get the feeling that you don't belong... anywhere. Or at least, that's what you think. I dont' know you well enough to make the judgement."

Lifting her chin up proudly, Tesser said confidentally, "Pha, I don't need to belong. I like to move around, see new places, meet new people, do new things. You know. Besides." She leaned in with a falsly conspiratorial tone. "You stay in one place too long the local coppers get used to you, and that's just asking for trouble. No, I'm happy that way things are, ja?"

The waitress came by and asked for their orders, a second later, and Tesser was just a normal little girl again.

[Dave]

Dave smiled and listened absently. The kid was acting a lot tougher than she was, and knew it, so she acted tougher. Like a vicious cycle, the more life messed her up, the more determined she became to be messed up which in turn led to her being messed up. It wasn't Dave's way, but he respected the symmetry of it all.

"Yeah, I'll have the shredded beef enchilada, and a glass of water." He said, smiling at the waitress. He looked back to Tesser. "Well, far be it from me to get in the way of your vagrant wanderings, I'm just saying, you need to be aware of your full potential."

[tesseract]

"A plate of frenchfries and a chocolate milkshake please." She told the waitress, sweet as a button. As soon as the waitresses shapely back was turned she turned back to Dave with a serious face.

"I think-" She said hesitantly, "I think that you are a very trustworthy person. And I think you are telling me the truth when you say I'm special. And so, I believe I will do what you say, and try to become something more, though heaven knows what 'more' may be."

the redhead paused, scratching the bridge of her nose absently. Then, flashing a grin up at Dave, said with laughter backing her words, "I think someday I will stop by your city and see you. Maybe I'll be wearing a mask too!"

Though she acted as if it were a joke, there was some seriousness in Tesser's mind. When the food arrived she munched absently, not taking much time for else but the food. Well... she would have to start somewhere.

[Dave]

Dave smiled. The kid would do well, given the right circumstances, sometimes people just get beaten while they're down until they don't want to get up again. Hopefully, this little girl would find a way to rise above it all. Dave wished he could help her more, but he knew that he couldn't. He was a wanderer, and never in any place for more than a couple days at a time.

"Well, for the record I think you'll do well in this kind of business. Something tells me you've seen what kind of horrible things people can do, and you don't want to see it happen to others." Dave shook his head quickly, throwing his hair about. Then he stood up. "Actually I'm not in the mood for Mexican. Here," He tossed three twenties on the table. "Keep the change, but tip well. I'm off." He said, and walked out the front door.