[Open] Mind the Gap

[likeits1999]

Who: Kevin & Anyone
What: Kevin lives his 90s skateboarder dreams
Where: LOVE Park
When: During the Philly camp period
Warnings/Notes: None

[ Kevin's never been to Philadelphia, but even under the ruin of the forest he knows where he is. Once he figured that out, he had to head for LOVE Park.

There are a number of important spots, but the ledges around the empty fountain are a sacred landmark of 90s skateboarding. Skating the gap from the sculpture into the dry bowl is a rite of passage that's been on Kevin's list for years, but back home? That's Sabbat country. You must never go there, Simba. It's not worth getting caught up in a vampire turf war.

Here, though? The only thing in his way is the rough shape the place is in and some plant roots that have luckily missed the all-important fountain gap. He'll take that over pissy vampires any... evening. He supposes it's evening? The sky hasn't changed the whole time they've been here, it's mad spooky.

Kevin wishes he could record himself as he makes the first attempt, and is immediately glad he can't when he misjudges the distance and spills on the landing. He pops back up, grabs the board, and tries again. It takes him to the third time to get his landing right. ]

Hell yeah!

[ Kevin whoops triumph, pumping a fist in the air as he loops back around.

He jumps again. And again. He starts getting fancy, spins and flips in the air. He laughs when he falls, catching himself or rolling through it with endurance the living only wish for. He makes a lot of celebratory noise whenever a daring experiment pans out for him.

He's probably lucky there's nothing in the ruined city that thinks teenaged vampire sounds like a good snack, really. ]

Comments

[likeits1999]

Well, yeah. I guess I am?

[ Upon reflection, he supposes there are a lot of things he can worry about. Kevin shifts, rolling the board forward and back under his lead foot a little. ]

But the way I see it is you can't just do that all the time, you know?

[unsealthecatbox]

.....and why not?

[Not thinking too much about how things can go badly? What's that strange concept Ange has never considered ever before?]

[likeits1999]

Cause it doesn't do any good?

Like... you just tear yourself up forever about a thing, but if you can't fix it right now anyway what's that do for you?

[unsealthecatbox]

........

[Turns out tearing herself up forever is something Ange excels at. It's almost a novel concept, the whole not thinking about stuff that can't be fixed right then and there]

I suppose I can give that a try. I won't expect any miracles, but you're right, this isn't something that will be solved in a few days. No use in losing any sleep over it.

[Heck, for all she knows maybe this whole alchemy thing will work better if she's not so stressed!]

[likeits1999]

[ It’s not always something that’s been good for Kevin. He’s too willing too idle, has learned too much helplessness, and has wasted months and even years this way.

But sometimes, it’s not the worst way to be. ]

Right? And I mean, sleep’s important. And not losing your mind. And not missing things that are good.

[ He gestures at the crumbling park. ]

This here’s like some kind of national treasure for skating. If I was too busy being all serious and shit, I would’ve missed this.

[unsealthecatbox]

A national treasure for skating? [Hm. Maybe when it was intact...it would have been such a nice park when it was intact] I'm not sure I see why, but that may be because I haven't ever tried skateboarding. I can't judge what is a 'natioral treasure' and what isn't.

[likeits1999]

Oh man, there's been so many legendary video parts done here.

[ He rattles off a couple names and years, evidently they're really important to him and all from the 90s. ]

This gap here's important. I know it's probably not a thing you get if you don't skate but like...

[ He gestures at it. ]

Trust me. This means something. I don't know why it's here, but I'm glad I got to see it cause I'm never gonna get the chance probably.

[ Kevin throws the word "never" around a lot without thinking about it, even though being a vampire means he's got theoretical forever to think about.

It helps that he's right. The end of the world is on its way down the pipe, according to what he was seeing before he came here. Even if he gets home, he's never going to have this opportunity again. ]

[unsealthecatbox]

[Being from 1998 and having lived through that decade, Ange can distinguish a name or two, but most of what he says flies right over her head. Life at a reclusive academy wasn't filled with chances to learn much about this kind of stuff, unfortunately]

...I still don't get it, but...you do seem to know what you're talking about. That's good enough.

[Passion is enough to make people think you're right!]

Of course. There's a chance we'll never return to our worlds. You're lucky there's such abnormality as the ruins of the city of Philadelphia in this otherwise medieval-looking world.

[...that wasn't what he meant, Ange]

[likeits1999]

[ Kevin's shoulders sink just a little at that thought. ]

Guess so.

[ What if he really will never go home? It's not like home's a great place, honestly. It has vampires in it and giant sewer monsters that want to kill everyone. But it's... home? And he was trying to help fix it. ]

I sure hope that isn't what goes down, though. I got stuff to do.