(no subject)

[adifferentpath]

A lot of the time, Lee doesn't know how he feels about the coffee shops in Darrow. Truthfully, they're not a whole lot different from the ones in Caprica, but even after all this time, Lee finds that he still sometimes has trouble with the currency. He's used to cubits, to cornered coins, and the money here feels weird in his palm. It's something the people behind him always seem to notice as they yell at him to hurry up with his order.

Today, the lady behind him is about as obnoxious as they come, sighing loudly and making broad statements about the time.

"Just give me a regular coffee," Lee says to the guy behind the counter, and the woman behind him nearly pushes him out of the way to get the counter after him.

"Soy cappuccino," she demands, only for the server to evenly tell her that they don't have anymore. She huffs an "unbelievable" under her breath before storming out, and Lee looks down at the counter to see that she's left a folder on the counter.

"Hey, wait!" he calls behind her, and grabs the folder, though by the time he makes it outside, she's long gone, off to ruin someone else's day.

Hoping that maybe there's something in it that'll give Lee an idea of who she is and how he can find her, Lee opens the folder, only to see something he didn't plan on.

PASSENGER MANIFEST: OLYMPIC CARRIER

He nearly drops it then and there, his head starting to swim as he pours over the list of names. Pages and pages of names of the people who left on what was supposed to be a short voyage only to either get taken over by the cylons and killed, or killed because he pulled that trigger.

He hadn't been able to look at himself in the mirror for a long time after that, and just now, remembering that day, he doesn't think he can move from his spot on the sidewalk.

Comments

[adifferentpath]

He frowns, considering for a moment whether or not he should elaborate and decides that it's better than just leaving her completely in the dark.

"This shouldn't be here," he says, and he tilts the folder a little so that she can see it, the corners cut on the pages in a way that they don't seem to in Darrow, "This is from where I come from and I definitely didn't bring it with me."

[losttheright]

"Oh," Molly says, a soft exhale, and one of clear understanding. She doesn't have to know what it is or what it means to be well aware of how jarring that can be, how it can feel like everything's been turned upside down just for having a few pieces of paper from home show up here. Though she tries, most of the time, not to think about it, for just a moment, it leaves her words caught in her throat before she can speak again, trying to focus on Lee and the folder in his hands and not the harsh reminder she got of the life she had before this place. "Shit. One of those things." After pausing a beat, she asks, "You haven't had anything show up before, have you?"

[adifferentpath]

"Don't tell me. This is normal," Lee says, sounding exhausted at the idea of it. Life has been strange ever since that first day he arrived in Darrow, and he really shouldn't be surprised. But something that no one in Darrow would know about, much less have access to even if they were from the Colonies isn't something Lee thought that even this place was capable of.

"No, no I haven't."

[losttheright]

"I wouldn't say normal, but it happens," Molly says, rueful, her nose wrinkling slightly. "It did to me... God, almost a year ago now." That much, she couldn't forget if she wanted to, though she's determined not to dwell on it. Nothing good would come of that. "I know some others who've found things, too, and it's usually all the same. Something that would upset them. That they'd rather not see again."

[adifferentpath]

"Well, they definitely hit the nail on the head," he replies, tone edging on bitter.

He hasn't forgotten or tried to forget the Olympic Carrier. He's reminded of something President Roslin told him about it being imperative to learn from your mistakes even if you can't admit to them. But that doesn't mean he's ever wanted the names laid in front of him, all thirteen-hundred forty-four of them.

[losttheright]

"Is it the kind of thing you want to talk about, or that you'd rather ignore at all costs?" Molly asks, brow raising slightly. She knows that, for her, the farther behind her she can leave things, the better, even when faced with reminders of them, but the same doesn't go for everyone. While she might not know Lee all that well, listening would be the least she could do, if he thought it would help. Then again, there are always other options. "'Cause I don't mind, if you do want to. Or we can just go get a drink or something. That worked pretty well for me."

[adifferentpath]

To be honest, it's a little early for Lee. He's never really been one to tie one on early, even in Darrow. There's more of a chance to do so now, without the threat of the cylons hanging over him. There aren't any more rotations, no more CAP, no briefings. Gods, there's not even the trial anymore. Still, he's committed to what he's doing in Darrow, and that doesn't leave him as much time as it should for frakking around.

Today, however, given what he's holding in his hand, is the exception.

"A drink sounds like a good idea," Lee replies, though he's not sure if he wants to talk about it. If Kara were still around, he'd be able to go to her and mention it— she pulled the trigger that day too— but now he's not sure there's anyone in the city who'll really understand.

[losttheright]

"Alright," Molly says with a nod, offering him a slight smile. The situation might not really call for it, given whatever's in the folder that he's found, but trying to offer some kind of distraction or counterbalance might not be a bad idea, and if nothing else, maybe it'll be reassuring. He seems like maybe he could use it. "Come on, there should be somewhere close."