knowthyexits | [For Bryce] - Timeloop Aftermath

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bryce

[For Bryce] - Timeloop Aftermath

No fate but what we make.

For all that Sarah spends her time espousing that, she finds herself stuck. She's just finished another shift at the Winchester, but she had suffered through every moment. She couldn't stand the thought of Cromartie just out in the open and so she's moved him, but it's more than that weighing on her mind.

All she can think about is how the endless day refused to send her back home until she let John kill Sarkissian.

As if that's the only conclusion there's ever going to be in that story. No fate but what we make, but that seems like it's a joke now, spat in her face. She nurses a drink and sits at a table, ready to resume cleaning in a minute, but all she can do for the moment is stare into space and think about inevitability.

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After a long enough time spent keeping tabs on her, Bryce was familiar enough with Sarah's schedule. It was for that reason that he couldn't claim not to have known he would encounter her here today, at this time specifically, even if it had seemed as though his feet had carried him here of their own accord. Deep down, he knew he would have to confront her eventually, and the longer he put that off, the worse matters would be. They both knew more about one another now than either cared to share, and like it or not, the island had a mind of its' own and a propensity for shoving them together at inopportune moments. Fortunately, he wasn't unfamiliar with the notion of making the most out of sticky situations.

"Afternoon," he greeted her with a tentative nod, resisting the urge to raise his hands in the air; that he came in peace was obvious, or so he hoped. "Busy day?"

"The usual," is what she says, but she avoids looking at Bruce. Her hands are bandaged still from George's medical treatments after she tore them apart with Cromartie. Reflexively, she flexes them and curls her hands around her water a little tighter. "Kitchen's closed."

That he isn't here for the food should be quite obvious. It is, in fact, he thinks they're both aware of the fact. An expert in artful deflection, her attempt is anything but, not that she can be blamed for it. Truth be told, he has so many mixed expectations, it's difficult to tell where Sarah ends and his suspicions begin. He can no longer trust what he sees, if he ever could. (That's a negative.)

"It's been a while," Bryce points out, although it hasn't been that long at all. Just long enough to take the edge off, long enough to brave that bridge once more. Not, however, long enough for his questions to die down. That much is more than evident.

Sarah goes tense. It shows in her shoulders and in the line of her jaw, but her eyes stay steady and forward and her hands remain loose. "I had nothing to talk to you about," she lies. She's had plenty, but she hasn't been able to convince herself to face him.

"I've got enough to talk about for the both of us," he responded, unfazed in every way that counted, every way that was immediately noticeable. It certainly helped that he was used to this, and what's more, that he was now certain none of his suspicions were unfounded. He might not know the full story, but he knew enough to permanently deem Sarah Baum (if that was her name) a person of interest.

He continued: "Starting with the elephant in the room: what happened last month. I have questions, and I think you have answers."

"I also reserve the right to answer them and ignore them if I think they're worth ignoring." She's mostly saying these things to be stubborn for the sake of being stubborn, but just giving in feels like too much of a give for this kind of situation.

Rather than address that stubbornness, Bryce gestured around the room, acutely aware that they were still in the open, regardless of whether or not anyone was around.

"I'd suggest we move this conversation somewhere less public. Unless, of course, you're comfortable having it within earshot of your coworkers." He knew for a fact she wasn't (nor was he).

Sarah's jaw goes tight and she glares at him, as if daring him to give her another comment like that. She's had a lot of pent-up frustration lately, and she would love the excuse to let some of it loose. "Fine," she agrees with a nod. "We'll go somewhere private. Yours?"

Her place has weapons, but it also has Cromartie. She can defend herself if she has to.

"That won't work," Bryce shook his head. Inviting Sarah into his hut wouldn't be a threat to his identity — he had Lucy over often, anything that might inspire suspicion had been expertly hidden throughout — but it tipped the scales in his favor. His territory. He was adamant that they meet on neutral ground, more like compatriots than enemies. At least until he was given reason to believe otherwise. "It shouldn't be difficult to find a deserted expanse of beach. Wide, open space; we can keep an on any incomers from either side."

She studies him for a long minute, glancing over her shoulder to make sure that no one from work sees her leaving, and especially who with. She gives a sharp nod, just the one. "Do you have a place in mind?" She's going nowhere but home at this point. She can afford a small detour.

With purpose, Bryce nodded and circled back around to hold the door open for Sarah. In truth, he didn't have anywhere specific in mind, but on an island with such a small population, it shouldn't be difficult to find a single vacant stretch of beach. And even without anyone around, talking in broad daylight significantly lessened chances of their conversation getting out of hand.

Sarah watches him warily, following along. Her spine is straight as anything, like she's on-guard and ready to strike if it comes to that. She walks until they reach the beach, constantly checking on Bruce. When she arrives, she crosses her arms over her torso and settles back.

"Well?"

Hands shoved in deep in his back pockets, Bryce balanced back and forth on the balls of his feet, which was admittedly harder to do in the sand, and for the most part left him standing still and in place. "Who are you?" He asked outright, because if she was in such a hurry to get to the point, he might as well.

"No," she says, shaking her head. "I will explain whatever you want, but I will not answer that question and it's for your safety," she says, insistent. "I'm Sarah Baum, that's all you need to know. That's what will protect you."

For his safety. Were he any less controlled a man, Bryce might have laughed at the irony, that it was his safety being protected, and not the other way around. But he still needed answers, and hopefully in explaining, she would unwittingly reveal them to him. "Fine," he said, nodding sharply. "Then explain what happened. I know I was there, but I think I need to hear it in your words."

Sarah knows that he deserves an explanation. If she were in his shoes, she would demand the same and she doubts that she'd be as kind as he is. "Where I come from, the world is going to end." She says it with sureness because she's been living with the reality for so long that it weighs on her shoulders with constant weight. "And the only way to stop it is to protect people. And that's what I do."

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[For Bryce] - Timeloop Aftermath

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