Taylor
Taylor had taken his motorcycle and gone for a ride.
He'd sensed somehow that he wouldn't be himself for a while, and needed to get out of the house.
He found his way to a nearby park, and noticed a small deli nearby. Feeling a pit peckish, he made his way over and parked his bike, before heading inside. He went up to the counter, made his order, waited for his food, then returned to his bike to eat it.
Blakesley.
Blakesley had been roaming restlessly, less for seeing Taylor then merely acquaniting himself with the general area. So often he just fell down in planning...he'd walked by the house Jane was living in and seen the children in passing.
And then by the Hanson household.
So, seeing Taylor was an unexpected bonus.
"Hello, Jordan," Blakesley said as he stopped by Taylor's bike.
Taylor
Taylor continued eating for a moment, before looking up at him and realizing.
"Oh, you're talking to me."
He chuckled.
"Sorry, hardly anyone calls me that anymore. Actually... no one does," he frowned thoughtfully.
Blakesley.
"No, quite true..."
Blakesley tilted his head to the side slightly. Why was he not afraid?
"So, Taylor...how are Jane and the children?"
Taylor
"You'd probably know better than me," Taylor raised his eyebrows between mouthfuls.
"I mean... no doubt you've been checking up on her. And I haven't seen her since mid last month."
Blakesley.
"Well, Jane is looking a little rundown but the children seem fine," Blakesley said.
"Were you responsible for that lovely bruise she was sporting after the bloodrain?"
Taylor
Taylor chuckled.
"Yes, yes I was," he looked down for a split second as he sat against his bike.
"Backhanded her across the face actually."
Blakesley.
"Rather coarse methods, but a good beginning," Blakesley said.
"So, what have you been doing with yourself lately, after physically abusing your fiancee then moving out and leaving her?"
Taylor
"Moping," Taylor almost snorted.
"F#!+ing pathetic case that holds this body, doesn't hold it well. These cold winter nights aren't cold outdoors," he smiled.
Blakesley.
"I see..." Blakesley said cautiously.
Well, it wasn't any use practicing the Art on someone who was already mad. They didn't appreciate the finer nuances.
Taylor
"You have eyes."
Taylor placed his pointer and middle fingers in front of Blakesley's eyes, and slowing moved them to his own.
"Both in proper working order. Of course you see. And so does every other biped in the same situation. Of which there is only one."
Blakesley.
The scientist regarded him silently for a few moments.
"What is the game you're trying to play?"
Taylor
"Baseball," Taylor replied, in all seriousness.
"But I like soccer. I'm ok at soccer. No, I suck at soccer. I probably suck at baseball too."
Blakesley.
Blakesley frowned slightly.
"That was not what I was referring to."
Taylor
"Really?" Taylor looked confused.
He hesitated thoughtfully.
"Well, you said games..." he began again, taking another bite of his roll, "oh, unless you meant board games. Chess. Backgammon. Otherwise. Or card games. Klondike. Grandfather's clock. Double Solitaire. Pyramid. Prisoners. Computer games. Taipei. Tetris..."
Blakesley.
"You either are trying to convince me you're mad, in which case I will give up in disgust and go away, leaving you to get on with your life," Blakesley said slowly.
"Or you are mad."
Taylor
"Mad?" Taylor frowned.
"I'm not mad. Mad is angry, violent, hurting, hatred."
He shuddered.
"Bad thoughts. Makes me hurt Mouse. I'm not mad."
Blakesley.
"Insane then," Blakesley said impatiently.
Taylor
"Insane?" Taylor raised his eyebrows.
"Well... I don't know. Everyone gets a little crazy sometimes, right?"
He shrugged.
"And I've been through a lot of $#it, so kinda makes up for it. It is weird though. I faint, wake up. Faint... am normal. See. Have. Am."
He frowned.
"I just confused myself."
Blakesley.
Blakesley raised an eyebrow slightly.
"Indeed."
He studied Taylor coolly.
"You're doing a very good job of pretending to be insane, if you aren't."
Taylor
"Thank you... I think..." Taylor smiled, then frowned, trying to figure out if that was a compliment or not.
"I don't pretend anything. I be real. I be dizzy..."
He put a hand to his head.
Blakesley.
The scientist studied him dispassionately, trying to figure out if this was a trick. Irrelevant, really. He wasn't set up to contain Taylor at the moment. Deciding suddenly, he strode away, hands in his pockets.
Taylor
Taylor suddenly collapsed beside the bike.
A couple of people nearby gasped and rushed over to help him, just in time for him to wake up.
"Uh... what happened?" he murmured.
"You fainted sir, are you alright?" a woman asked.
Taylor squinted up at the light, and rubbed his head.
"I'm fine. I'll be fine," he insisted.
He soon convinced them to leave him be, before managing to get back on his back.
He looked up at the deli, realizing he must have come here for lunch. At least he didn't feel hungry anymore.
Shrugging to himself, he replaced his helmet, and began to head back home.