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Dawn Buchanan: Monday nights, there's a book club at the William Way Community Center. Usually it's a pretty small group of folks, and they don't usually stay on topic super well, so there're plenty of opportunities to discuss pretty much whatever you might've been reading that week despite whatever the topic actually was.
Buck's pretty new in town -- and she's not exactly what you'd call great at people -- so even though the group was discussing Stumptown (which she definitely read after watching a couple episodes of the TV series) she mostly stayed quiet, only really chiming in to comment on the realism of certain aspects of the graphic novel's portrayal of PTSD.
When the club ended, she'd click her tongue against her teeth to signal to Buddy -- a waist-height, grey-furred Akita Inu in a harness -- that it was time to leave before putting on her heavily tinted sunglasses, and stepping out into the early evening where she'd be waiting for her ride...
Asbolus: While not new in town Asbolus was new to this particular book club, having not ventured into the local queer spaces outside of Vertigo too much just in case he ran into someone who knew his 'brother' well enough to recognize him. On the search for tales to tell as he was, however, he had decided to risk it, and the evening's discussion had been a surprisingly enlightening one indeed. He'd remained quiet as well for the most part, chiming in here and there but overall listening to what the others there had to add on this first proper foray into the group.
Spotting the service dog Asbolus smiled a touch, moving to head out a step or two behind Buck and her companion. "Quite the handsome fellow you have there, if I may say so." He said with a small easy-going smile, the British accent showing no signs of fading despite years in the States and elsewhere. "Have you been working together long?"
Dawn Buchanan: "Yeah, I've had Buddy for... a little over five years, now?" Buck quirks an eyebrow at Asbolus as he approaches, a little smirk tugging at the corner of her mouth. "He is quite handsome, and incredibly skilled, too... but don't tell him that when he's working, or it'll all go to his head." She offers the dog a smile -- and Buddy turns his head to the side inquisitively -- as she continues. "Fortunately, I'm having a good day today, so he's just on-call tonight." A beat. "So what'd you think of the book club? I'm pretty new to Philly, so I wasn't sure if reading Graphic Novels was usual faire."
Asbolus: "Ah...noted." He nodded, giving the pup a glance and a small smirk before looking back to Buck. "It's my first time at this particular group as well so I couldn't say, but with Philadelphia being as ecletic as it is at times I'm not too surpised."
Dawn Buchanan: "I was really hoping to talk about this book I read called The Lost Fleet: Dauntless 'cause it's mostly just Master & Commander, but it's in space. I rarely like military Sci-fi, because writers usually aren't able to find a creative way to translate modern tactics into a future setting, but the dude writing this really nails, like..." She gestures with her free hand. "How interesting a naval-style fleet can maneuver in 3D space." A beat. "Stumptown's cool and all, but. Just not super close to my current tastes."
Asbolus: "Nor mine, admittedly. The one you mentioned does sound like an interesting read, though...always liked O'Brian's work, and historical fiction in general."
Dawn Buchanan: "Yeah, I'm a big fan of all the relentless homosexual tension between Aubrey and Maturin. Also the fact that there were a goddamned ton of them, and nearly everyone I knew had read at least one of them." Buck offers a little shrug. "If you like that, you might like Dauntless. The captain is kinda Aubrey-ish -- hell, his name's even Jack -- and he's an old veteran that was stuck in hypersleep and woke up in a nightmarish world with all of his Classic Honorable Sensibilities in-tact." A beat. "It's a bit romanticised, but honestly there's enough depressing shit in the real world. I'll take a classic hero over shades of gray any day."
Asbolus: "Indeed. I read most of them in university courtesy of a roomate of mine, mainly for that reason." Asbolus offered a nod, although the 'hypersleep' mention did make him pause briefly. "...interesting. I am inclined to agree, though. That sort of thing can be refreshing in this day and age."
Dawn Buchanan: "Lots of bad people who think they're good. Lots of people who think it's okay to do bad for good reasons." There's a little shrug. "Obviously it is, but, like. I like my fiction to be aspirational." Her eyebrow pokes upward from behind the rim of her sunglasses. "You, uhh. Find that bit about the hypersleep particularly relatable?"
Asbolus: "Somewhat, yes. Moving here from London was a bit of a culture shock, as you can imagine, so I can relate to feeling out of place."
Dawn Buchanan: "Yeah, me too." She nods along, pursing her lips. "Rejoining civilian life was pretty hard after having spent almost my whole adulthood away from it." She offers a wry little smirk. "How long have you been in the States? That's what you Brits call it, right?"
Asbolus: "It is, and about a decade at this point. The place has grown on me, I will say, but little things still surprise me now and again. Not a bad thing, mind." Usually, anyway, but that was a topic not for this sort of conversation... "How recently arrived are you, if I can ask?"
Dawn Buchanan: "Oh, I've been here for nearly ten years, too. Got out towards the end of 2013. Took a few years to readjust, and go to school. Got a job with the Marshal Service." Then she grimaces. "... unless you mean Philadelphia in particular. I did some work here back in the day, but I just finished getting settled in my apartment about a week ago." A beat. "I am not fond of Philadelphia, but this is where work has me situated for the moment."
Asbolus: "Marshalls...not as familiar with that group as I probably should be, I'll admit." He nodded quietly as she continued, giving a curious look at the last comment. "What about it do you take issue with, out of curiosity?"
Nevermore Usher: A plump, rosy face peeks in the doorway, topped with what looks like a musketeer hat. "Did I miss it?"
Dawn Buchanan: "They're just- it's a complicated gig. We're law enforcement, but I mostly work with Witness Protection, and Internal Affairs." Buck turns her head toward the sound of the approaching Medium. "Unfortunately it just ended," she tilts her head to the side, and beckons Nevy over. "We're still chatting for the moment, though, if you want to join us." A beat passes. "How you can live in this city and deal with this terrible weather and still need to ask me why I hate it is beyond me."
There's a dry little chuckle, and she smirks at Asbolus.
Asbolus: "I grew up in London. Poor weather is rather standard fare." Asbolus replied with a smirk, which shifted to a proper smile as he spotted Nevy coming in. "Good seeing you nonetheless."
He paused as something dawned on him, shaking his head with a quiet chuckle before looking back to Buck. "Apologies...just realized I never introduced myself. Whittaker Sharpe, or just Sharpe if you prefer."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy grins. "Hey, Whit." They step inside, revealing their hockey-mask T-shirt and sugar-skull coat, as well as the gender pin. "And hi to you, too, o mysterious stranger." They chuckle. "Call me Nevermore. I'm always glad for a good chat."
Dawn Buchanan: "It was nice to meet you, Whittaker Sharpe. Dawn Buchanan, but most people just call me Buck." She offers a little wave when Whit exits the scene before turning to Nevy properly. "Since you missed the introduction earlier," she hooks a thumb at her dog. "This is Buddy. He's very handsome."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy likewise waves, then takes a moment to consider Buddy. "A heartbreaker, I'm sure." They smile, but don't offer him the cuddle-scritch-patpet he so richly deserves. Instead, they say "Truly, a snoot that could launch a thousand boops."
Dawn Buchanan: "... and I'm sure he'd love that, but he's unable to partake at the moment. Even if he's only on-call just in case." Buck pushes her sunglasses up the bridge of her nose. "So, did you read Stumptown, or were you also hoping to talk about a different book?"
Nevermore Usher: Nevy looks chagrined. "Honestly, this was my first week. I was mostly going to come to see what it was like and see if I could read the one for next time. My shift at work went long."
Dawn Buchanan: "Apparently that's what everyone was here for." Buck offers a little laugh. "Both me, and the guy who just left." A beat passes. "It seems like a pretty decent group, though? Lots of nice folks who seem legitimately interested and passionate. I might even speak up next time..."
Nevermore Usher: They chuckle. "Yeah, I hope Mr. Book lets me out in time for the next one. So what were you hoping for?"
Dawn Buchanan: "Oh, uhh." Buck reaches into her duffel, and tugs out a battered paperback copy of The Lost Fleet, and passes it to Nevermore. "I picked this up in an airport a few years back and just got around to reading it. It's about a Naval captain who wakes up from hypersleep and has to help win a desperate war that's been going for a hundred years." A beat passes. "It's Master and Commander, but in space."
Nevermore Usher: "Yeah?" They look over the cover, read the blurb on the back, then hand it back. "Sounds fun. Guessing they took it in a different direction from Star Trek?"
Dawn Buchanan: "Yeah, it's much more... about the space battles and politics, but Blackjack -- that's the Captain of the Dauntless -- has a Kirk-esque sense of morality and adventure." A beat. "I don't normally like Military Sci-fi, because it's usually up it's own ass, but this keeps itself interesting."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy snorts. "I can't really comment too much. I love horror, and if most horror were any further up its own ass, it would be looking out its own mouth."
Dawn Buchanan: Buck snorts, and she shifts her weight onto her other leg as she tucks the book back away and zips the bag. "That's good. I like that. Can't say I'm big on Horror, usually, but I like Alien just fine." She cocks her head. "You have any recommendations for stuff that's like that?"
Nevermore Usher: They consider. "How are you with deeply unsettling atmosphere, corruption, and things turning Evil that shouldn't have the capacity to be Evil?"
Dawn Buchanan: "Depends," Buck offers a shrug. "Most of what bothers me tends to be medical in nature, but as a general rule, I'm usually fine with that stuff."
Nevermore Usher: They frown thoughtfully. "Hrm. A lot of sci-fi horror touches on the medical. It's... been a little while since I watched Event Horizon, but... Here, just a sec." They pull out their phone and tap for a second.
Dawn Buchanan: "Yeah, that tracks. Between that and body horror, it's a rough genre for me to navigate most of the time." She pulls out her own phone to fire off a text. It's a wonder she can see anything with those sunglasses on at night. "Take your time, I'm not going anywhere."
Nevermore Usher: They hesitate, and put the phone back. "Yeah, if body horror's a trigger, Event Horizon won't be for you." They shrug. "Let me think about it. I'm sure there's other monster features like Alien that you might like."
Dawn Buchanan: "Yeah," there's a little laugh from Buck. Perhaps a touch embarrassed. "Like I was telling Sharpe just before you showed up: I usually like when stuff is Bright and Sunny." A beat. "Sorry about that." There's a wink, but it's hard to see from behind a pair of shades.
Nevermore Usher: They chuckle. "Honestly, far be it from me to yuck your yum or vice versa. I love how ridiculous horror gets, and the catharsis of experiencing that stuff in a safe way, but if it hits your triggers, that means it's not safe for you. Nothing to be sorry for."
Dawn Buchanan: "Yeah, that's a fair point. I can deal with gore and monsters all day, though - and as long as the stuff that bugs me doesn't go on for too long, I can just look away or fast forward." There's a little shrug. "You been out to William Way before? Or was this book club gonna be your first time?"
Nevermore Usher: "It's been on my list for a while, but this was my first time around this way. How about you?"
Dawn Buchanan: "Same, actually. I pretty much just moved to Philly a couple weeks ago, and the only people I really know in the city are an old boss, my ex-girlfriend, and a student I used to teach." There's an acidic little chuckle. "Which I figured meant I should meet some new people."
Nevermore Usher: Nevermore makes an elaborate, florid bow. "Consider me met. Nevermore Usher - poet, author, artist, aficionado of the odd and maven of the macabre."
Dawn Buchanan: There's a little chuckle, and she offers a nod. "Buck. Just Buck." Beat. "... and Buddy, too, but I already introduced us. That's pretty awesome, though. Have you written or art...ed? Anything I might've seen or read?"
Nevermore Usher: They shrug and pull out a business card with their instagram and other pro contact info, which they hand over. "If you don't walk in goth culture much, it's... less likely? I have a couple pieces hanging in the Green Room, if you've eaten there yet."
Dawn Buchanan: "I haven't, but I'm pretty much always looking for new places to eat." The card is peered at, and then pocketed. "Do they display artist's work there often?"
Nevermore Usher: They nod. "The owner likes to find local artists and display their work for sale. Plus, the food's pretty great, too."
Dawn Buchanan: "That's pretty cool. I always like when local businesses are interested in creating a place for local culture to thrive - and if there's one positive thing I can day about Philadelphia, it's that the local culture has certainly thrived." A beat. "I'll have to keep an eye out for your work when I'm there..." Her eyes track down to the necklace Nevermore is wearing. "Is that, like, fan-made merchandise? From Leopold's dumb ghost-hunter show?"
Nevermore Usher: Nevy nods at the comments about local culture, then recoils at the mention of Leopold almost as though they were a vampire presented with garlic bread twisted into a crucifix. "Leopold Caldwell?!" They look disgusted. "Ugh. No. I made this myself." Then they catch themself, considering the woman. "Why do you ask about that pack of falsehoods and foolishness?"
Dawn Buchanan: "Uhh," Buck blinks a few times. "Yeah, I guess that's the guy. You sound like my ex-girlfriend. She's always complaining about the "realism." Which is wild, considering the whole concept is pretty much bullshit anyway, right?"
She offers a little shrug. "That amulet's just similar enough to one I saw on the show that I figured it must've been related."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy rolls their eyes. "It's a long story. The short version is that his show is not what I needed when I was a young spooky goth making my way in the world, and I think his show's more dangerous than he gives it credit for."
Dawn Buchanan: "Why's it so dangerous?" She quirks an eyebrow.
Nevermore Usher: They frown, looking for words. "Did I hear right that you're with the police?"
Dawn Buchanan: "Technically, but no. I'm a Deupty Marshal -- and a desk jockey at that -- but my ex works with the Special Investigations Unit at the FBI. Which is like the real life X-Files, but with more hoaxes." A beat passes. "Why?"
Nevermore Usher: They pause, considering that snippet, before continuing. “Well... how much good do you think the war on drugs has actually done? And how much harm has it done?”
Dawn Buchanan: "That's a very loaded question, Nevermore Usher, but let's just go with my simple answer for the sake of not derailing the conversation. I don't think it's done much good at all, but the degree of harm it's done depends on where -- and which groups of people -- you're looking to."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy nods. "That's fair - I probably should have chosen a better example. How about Jaws? Have you heard anything about what the movie did to shark populations?"
Dawn Buchanan: "Of course. It stirred up extreme paranoia, and people have been hunting them - nearly to extinction - ever since... but that's different. For one, sharks are less likely to kill humans than cattle." She doesn't say it, but her tone implies: 'they're also real.' Y'know, because she's the Scully in her relationship.
Nevermore Usher: "My point is, if you rile people up with stories about how dangerous something is, you're going to have people who decide the best thing to do is kill it. And that's a bad idea whether those things are real or not."
Dawn Buchanan: "That's... a fair point." Buck tilts her head to the side, and then she offers a little puff of air. "Well. You certainly seem like a true believer, and Cass'd probably kick my fucking ass if I let you slip away without sending you her way."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy snorts. "I'm a Goth. We're required to believe in 20 implausible and improbable things before Breakfast. It's in the handbook."
Then they side-eye. "And I'm not sure if I like the idea of being sent to the FBI."
Dawn Buchanan: "That's fair," Buck pauses with her wallet half-way out. "It probably wouldn't be on the record, if that helps." There's a beat. "I think it'd mostly be for her peace of mind."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy frowns thoughtfully. “What does she believe?”
Dawn Buchanan: "I'm not sure. This is a new development for her." Buck shrugs, producing a card from her wallet and passing it over to Nevermore. "... but I don't think she'd spend so much time correcting Leopold's show if she didn't at least believe something."
Nevermore Usher: Nevy snorts at that, looking over the card, then nods. “All right. I might look her up.”
Dawn Buchanan: Buck's phone buzzes at her belt. "I appreciate it," she reaches down to touch the phone. Perhaps silencing it? "Anyway, that's my ride. Hopefully I'll see you at the next book club. We're reading Fire Logic, if you want to get a head start."
There's a wink, then she clicks her tongue, and Buddy follows.
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