OOM: July 2012: Univille, South Dakota/ New York, New York

[damncompass]

It's been a rather boring week, if it comes down to it. Well, until this morning. He was awoken by Artie yelling up the stairs at Pete, followed by the requisite grumbling, stomping, and showering before they both left for parts unknown. Helena wandered off to do some inventory, and he went to his lab.

He'd tried to work on his latest Artifact lead, but all he got was a not exactly comforting hallucination of Napoleon and the battle of Waterloo in his lab. One goo bath and an actual shower later, he decided to go hang out in the office with Claudia.

Pulling up his latest internet obession: Who Wants to be a Cooking Star?, he curled up in a chair and lost himself in the absurdity of it all, until something that had been bothering him for a while finally sunk in.

"Hey, Claudia? Can you come look at this for a moment? I think I might've found an Artifact."

Comments

[damncompass]

"I didn't realize that was an option. I should go get the compass..." He's already halfway out the door.

[claudiometer]

"--Joshua Alan Donovan I will Tesla your ass if you do that!"
But she's laughing, a little, as she follows him and puts her stuff in the car.

[damncompass]

"You wouldn't." Joshua's laughing, though as he helps her with the stuff and drives off from the B&B.

[claudiometer]

"Oh yes I would."

The drive is uneventful, as is the security checkpoint (largely because there's a Warehouse consultant at the airport, thank god). When they're on the plane, Claudia digs into Joshua's bag and pulls out his Farnsworth. (Hey, one way to keep her from taking it apart is to have her looking at it in a confined space.)
"...huh. You've got an extra frequency, Kenneth."

[damncompass]

"Hey, little thief!" It's mostly without ire, though, as they are alone in their row. "I do? Oh, well. That one's my boss' frequency."

[claudiometer]

"Borrowing. Borrowing without permission." And with every intention of giving it back.
Claudia raises an eyebrow. "And why do I have a feeling not just anyone can call him whenever they damn well please?"

[damncompass]

"I don't know! I would assume that anyone who has the capability of contacting that frequency could call him." Joshua shrugs. "I haven't actually thought about it."

[claudiometer]

"And how many people have that frequency?"
She closes the Farnsworth and puts it back in Joshua's bag.

[damncompass]

"I don't know! I just know that I do." Joshua makes a face. "Why is this so interesting to you? It's just a Regent thing."

[claudiometer]

"Because it's a you thing. And a 'your Farnsworth has a color screen and an extra frequency' thing."
Seriously, Joshua. It's tech she wants to play with anyway and you expect her not to be fascinated?

[damncompass]

"Yeah, yeah. And you're the tech queen of the Warehouse, I know." He smirks at her then leans back, shaking his head. "Have I mentioned lately that I hate planes?

[claudiometer]

"Why do you hate planes?"
But at least it means he doesn't fight her for the window seat.

[damncompass]

"Too cramped." He closes his eyes. "I haven't actually said anything about this, but I've been having a bit of too many people-problems since I got out. It hasn't ever really been much of a thing except when I'm on planes." And crowds, but he's avoided crowds successfully.

[claudiometer]

"Aww, dude. You could've said something." Claudia frowns. "Did you bring headphones or something?"

[damncompass]

"What good would it have done if I'd said anything?" Joshua shrugs. "It's just... I guess anyone who spends time out of time has to have some kind of scars, right?" He pulls his phone and a pair of headphones out of his pocket. "Yeah, I downloaded a couple TV episodes I'd been meaning to watch on my phone."

[claudiometer]

"You bottle up too much crap as it is. I would've at least known it was there."
Seriously. No really seriously.
"Go ahead and watch stuff. I'll give you a prod when we're landing."

[damncompass]

"Alright. Thanks, Claud." He plugs his headphones in and gets lost in TV shows for a while. It's somehow comforting.

[claudiometer]

"No problem."
She pokes him through landings, and then they're at JFK.

[damncompass]

They get their things, and go through the airport, picking up their checked luggage.

Eventually, they get out in to the main part of the airport. "Ok, so I totally haven't made any sort of reservations. This could be a problem."

[claudiometer]

"Dude, it's New York. I'm sure we can find a hotel with a room somewhere around here."
It's just a question of whether it's one they'll want to stay in.

[damncompass]

"Wait, so you generally stay around the airport?" Joshua makes a face. "I really think we could probably go into Manhattan to find something." Or, well, have a nice something.

[claudiometer]

"No, dumbass. I was saying the city's overflowing with hotels. Where we stay usually depends on who's spearheading the case."
Artie gets the cheapest rooms, but even he doesn't stoop to Super 8s or anything.
"Well, if you can buy a Corvette outright I think you can handle Manhattan hotel prices."

[damncompass]

"Ah. Well, I think it's time to do this in style." He smirks. "The money's been building up for two thousand years anyway. Might as well use some of it. Let's go."

He grabs the suitcases and hails a cab. "Plaza Hotel, please."

[claudiometer]

"...Shit, son. I need to go on pings with you more often."

[damncompass]

"What?" Joshua shrugs. "I know I don't know that many hotels in New York, and I bet you that if my boss were here, he'd probably do something similar. Besides, there might be Ts involved in the bank account." He checked once.