taxonomites | 002 ━ [ visual ] / [ location: crashdown café ].

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002 ━ [ visual ] / [ location: crashdown café ].

The temporary population influx hadn't gone unnoticed by Liz Parker. It had kept her busy with customers, natives and captives alike, coming and and out of the Crashdown. It was like a Crash Festival week with tourists coming and going as they pleased, crowds of people filling the streets. Though the streets of Taxon were still foreign to her, the sight had given her a sense of nostalgia that almost made her feel comfortable in Taxon. Almost. There was no presence of her parents, trying to manage the crowds, nor was there Michael and the rest of the kitchen staff complaining about the rush, and all the other familiar faces of Roswell.

She missed home.

Now, however, the café was virtually empty. Liz sat at the bar, silver alien antenna headband discarded off to the side as she refilled sugar containers. It didn't really need to be done, but it kept her busy.

"That was actually kind of nice, don't you think? Not that I'm saying those people being brought here, even for a short time, was a good thing at all, but it was different. Made this place feel livelier, for a little while."

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I-It was kinda weird, though... [ she kinda just sounds thoughtful. she's not really trying to disagree or anything. she's just... thinking... ]

Was it? I haven't been here long enough to be able to tell. To me, this whole situation is weird.

I-I guess it is. The whole thing. It's just... Sunnydale levels of weird for me, so it's not as weird as it could be, but it's definitely still weird.

[ ...willow, that makes no sense. ]

Sunnydale?

[ that actually kind of made sense to liz, minus the sunnydale part. she's from roswell, she knows town-specific levels of weird. ]

Uh, yeah, Sunnydale, California?

Oh! Okay. I'm from New Mexico - Roswell, specifically.

Oh, well... they're not that far away, then.

The temporary spike in population had given Alexis the one thing she really wanted, which was to see her dad again. And it had taken it away just as quickly. Alexis wasn't certain whether she should have felt crushed or glad. So mostly, on screen, she just looks... conflicted. "It was nice," she agreed. "I just wish it had gone on for longer."

Liz can't help but nod in agreement - slowly, taking careful notice of the girl's conflicted expression. "If only it had given us some sort of clue as to how we're supposed to leave. There's a way in, there's got to be a way out."

Oh, but she knows it's not that simple. While her taste of alien technology prior to being brought to Taxon was limited to what had still been functioning in the pod chamber, Liz isn't about to allow knowing how beyond humans people from other planets are capable of getting. There very well might be a constant door in with a door out that only appears when their captors make it so, but she's been trying to remain optimistic.

"Well, it let us know that people can leave," Alexis points out. She's glad about that. "Dad isn't here anymore, which means they sent him home, right?" She'd been told by some of the adults that people sometimes left, had seen a few announcements herself over the network, but there was something about having it happen to someone she knew that made it real for Alexis.

"Maybe we can figure out how to get out now that we're pretty sure people can go."

"People have left before, from what I hear," Liz adds. "We just don't have any control over it. The aliens are the ones with the keys to the exit, not us. They've got it somewhere on a hook out of reach - and I don't know where I'm going with that."

At that, Alexis can't help but giggle, just a little. She smiles though. "We just need to find the hook. And maybe a ladder. And a better metaphor." She likes this other girl, especially since she seemed to think this wasn't set in stone, like so many of the others. "I'm Alexis. I should probably have mentioned that earlier."

Liz laughs, herself. "I'm going to place my vote for a better metaphor. I'm Liz. It's nice to meet you, Alexis."

Spock can't exactly say that it was nice, but different he could agree with. He never did seem to have the popular emotional opinion--and for good reason.

"The incident may also provide a certain insight into the arrival and departure of individuals to and from this city."

Liz was taken aback for a moment by the man's appearance, taking note of the ears and the subtle, not quite human features. So much that she didn't realize she was pouring sugar onto the counter until the crystals of the growing pile touched the hand that was resting upon it. She jumped, realizing her mistake and moved temporarily off screen to fetch a bowl to sweep the spilled sugar into.

"I am so sorry about that," she said upon returning, making quick work of cleaning the counter off. "I didn't mean to stare, I've just, uh, never seen someone who doesn't look like they're from Earth before." A lie, but Spock doesn't need to know that. "And you're right. I had some people show up in the Crashdown itself, which was weird. I thought the only way to get into Taxon was through that room in the Sanctuary."

It was a reaction that he was used to after so long on Earth, the odd one out among the humans at the Academy. Always that strange one that could never really hide it. He'd learned to ignore the stares, the unease--all of it was illogical and unneccesarily emotional anyway, and he would not become as human as the beings around him.

"That particular stipulation seems to have been foregone. Which seems to present a certain rebuttal of preciously believed facts."

Edited 2011-04-24 20:20 (UTC)

"Do you know why that is?" A valid question. Liz hasn't been here long enough to know that when something was set in stone in Taxon, it was highly unlikely it would ever change.

"Unfortunately, no. As of yet, no explanation has either been presented or discovered." But it did serve to underscore just who was in charge and what they could do with their own city. "I do not doubt that an analysis will be long in coming." Though what, precisely, they were going to analyze remained a mystery.

"...oh."

Liz really didn't like the sound of that and it took her a moment to get herself under control so she didn't give in to the urge to break down in fear over what would become of her here. Sure, nothing bad had happened to her so far - aside from the initial abduction, of course - but people talked and Glitch had (somewhat ironically after she misunderstood and mistook him for one) explained the glitches to her. She didn't want that to happen to her.

"I'm-- I mean, are there people here working on trying to figure that out at all?"

Her response seemed unfortunately emotional. He hadn't said anything particularly charged, as far as he was aware--only the truth as he knew it. And the whole thing earned her a raised eyebrow until she had gotten a little better control of herself.

"As the incident may hold some hint as to the methods used to bring individuals to the city, it is doubtful that none will take advantage of the opportunity."

"Why won't they?"

Liz didn't understand that. There were so many people here who had simply accepted their fate and resigned to just live out their lives here. Why didn't they want to leave, why weren't they trying to get out? They'd broken Max out of a high security FBI facility, them, a bunch of teenagers from Roswell, New Mexico. Yet, the people here who seemed to have many one-ups on their merry band of outcasts weren't lifting a finger? She refused to accept that.

"They will. I apologize if my statement was less than clear." He wasn't planning on staying here any longer than he had to--and it had already been far too long, even if it was barely a quarter of the time that the captain had been in the city. Sooner or later, they were going to leave. He had to keep believing it, or else that human half of him that he liked to pretend didn't exist would be subject to the despair of the rest of the city.

Liz dropped her head into her hands for a moment, lightly massaging her temples with her fingertips. She could really use some of that calming oil Maria keeps in her locker. Idly, she wonders if it's still in the back.

"I hate this."

That was a statement that Spock had heard so many times that he'd lost track. Humans were so ready to throw that word around and, most times, they didn't really mean it. It had taken a lot of practice before he could distinguish between when it was actual and when it was just another strange idiosyncracy of human speech.

In this case, it was fairly obvious which it was.

"I would imagine that you are not alone in that opinion."

"I would hope not," came tumbling out of her mouth, despite the girl knowing how rude and must have sounded. She meant what she said and saw no point in retracting a statement that wasn't false. "I don't see how someone could just accept that they're stuck here and start to like it."

"After a certain amount of time, the probability of rescue becomes so low as to be nonexistant, and with it goes the hope that one will be forthcoming." Coldly, emotionlessly logical. That was simply what would happen, though it took far longer in stubborn, too-resiliant humans. It was far too unlikley that in a place where they could not even transmit some proof of their continued existence that they would ever be found, and yet each and every one of them had some dream that some day someone would find them.

The scientific outlook was something she understood more than she wanted to in this moment. As mature and ahead of her years as Liz was, she was still a teenage girl who was used to being surrounded by family and friends, even during the worst of situations. Being completely alone, especially not by her own choice as was the case with her fleeing to Florida after sophomore year came to a close, was unsettling and extremely upsetting. She hated it.

"Problem is, people don't think logically. Feeling things and wanting things have nothing to do with logic."

"I am very much aware of the human tendency to think irrationally and emotionally. That does not preclude the validity of any logical conclusion that they may choose to ignore." How long had he been dealing with humans? There wasn't any changing they way they were inclined to think. The entire idea of emotional thinking was...strange, when he considered it. He wasn't sure that he even could.

Being uprooted was a weird thing. It had already happened twice in Lex's life and after the initial resistance had fallen into a rhythm. While he wasn't exactly pleased with his captivity, moping did no one any good. This place was much like Smallville - weird, small, and filled with plenty of people who weren't impressed by a name. He would treat it in much the same way.

With tablet in hand Lex wanders through the city, doing his best to become acquainted with the layout through muscle memory. When he sees the cafe he stops at the door, giving it a knock before cracking it open and addressing the young woman inside.

"I would come in but I don't want to be one of those rude customers who insist on being served during non-business hours." As dry as his tone can be, it's conversational and easygoing as he is more interested in meeting someone new rather than being an annoyance to her. "Are you open?"

Edited 2011-04-23 21:52 (UTC)

Liz immediately hops off the bar stool she'd been perched on, quickly screwing on the top to the last sugar container and setting it aside.

"Oh, we are!" She answers, cheerful as ever even if it's largely a screen for other, conflicted emotions. Good waitressing was rooted in a positive exterior, regardless of whether or not your interior matched it. While that may not be needed here, it's what feels natural to Liz and helps her to cope with the situation better. "It's just a slow day. Please, take a seat. I'll get you a menu."

At the confirmation Lex walks into the cafe, closing the door behind him ensuring that it doesn't slam. Not wanting to isolate himself, he sits at the bar beside the seat where Liz had just occupied.

As he waits for the menu he folds his hands against the countertop. "Is it too much to ask if you sell anything alcoholic?"

She grabs one from behind the counter and brings it over to him, patting the apron of her uniform down to make sure her order pad and pen were still in there. "We do and I don't really think this place is big on liquor licenses or age limits, considering the hatch in the back keeps spitting out margaritas. Along with lots and lots of confetti, for some reason."

Lex is not at all the fruity drink type, not even when they some with a rim of salt and plenty of tequila. The drink feels completely foreign in his hands, but that only goes to match the rest of his experience in Taxon so far.

"It's less of a hassle showing my ID at any rate." Despite his celebrity status back home, he was still occasionally carded, a fact that Lex didn't mind but always found a bit strange. "Though I appreciate you sparing me the confetti. He gives the girl a slight smile and raises the glass in her direction before taking a sip. "Cheers."

Liz bites back a friendly giggle. As quiet as she is at school where she tends to keep to herself and her select group (something she did even before all the alien drama with Max, Michael, and Isabel), she's quite the social butterfly when she's waiting tables at the Crashdown. It's something she finds essential to maintaining the enjoyable atmosphere of her parents' restaurant, as well as earn good tips.

"You haven't spent much time in any of the border states, have you?" She raises her pen to that cheers since she doesn't have a drink herself. "Cheers!"

"What gave it away?" he asks before taking a sip. The drink is far more sour than what he is used to and Lex keeps his sip short, setting the drink back on the counter and suppressing a cough to save at least some semblance of dignity.

"Besides that," he adds. "Could I bother you for some water instead?"

"You're holding that like it's a martini, not a margarita," she points out, motioning to the drink with her pen.

Liz nods at the water request and disappears for a moment, returning with a tall glass of ice water that she sets in front of him.

"Thank you," he replies before taking a long drink and dulling the lingering taste of lime.

"Considering that I wouldn't want to make as big of a fool of myself in the future, I'd appreciate a demonstration from the resident margarita expert." He nudges the glass with his fingertips at the base.

"Here," Liz picks it up and holds it in her hand appropriately. She doesn't drink and has never tasted one of these things before, but has observed plenty of people in café hold these glasses to have the right idea. "Like this." She holds it back out to him. "You try."

"Much obliged," he says with a nod before taking the glass in hand again. After an initial fumble he emulates Liz and to commemorate the occasion takes another drink - which is quickly set back down again. It's safe to say that Lex Luthor is not a fan of margaritas.

He then speaks at Liz through the menu that he now holds at both hands. "Is there something you'd recommend?"

"The cooks make a mean burger," she says, gesturing behind her with pen-in-hand at the kitchen. "Not as good as the ones we had back home, but the natives are good at what they do, surprisingly." The way she says that indicates she still finds the Extras off-putting, if not a little creepy, but she's learning to cope. Slowly.

"The cooks are Extras?" Lex lifts an eyebrow and makes a "hm" sound. Cooking was something that seemed innately human. Measuring spices to taste took an instinct that couldn't even be replicated exactly from chef to recipe.

He sets down the menu. "Then I'll take the burger and fries. No onions."

"At the moment. I was going to put out an add or something, but then we had that influx of visitors and I got sidetracked. It's on my to-do list."

She writes down his order on the pad. He's her first customer all day, but she's appreciative of the business. It helps to make things feel normal, even if they're far from being anything close to normal in this place.

"Coming right up."

"It definitely could have been worse, all things considered," Angela agreed. There are a few faces from home she'd been happy not to see, but a few that she'd definitely missed. "Although I could have done without the shoulder-to-shoulder crowding."

"Yeah, that was a little suffocating," Liz admits. "Though, I'm kind of used to it. Roswell gets really crowded during the Crash Festivals between those running the convention, the celebrities, and the tourists. It can get pretty intense."

"I'm from LA, I know all about tourists," Angela replies a bit wryly, a little smile on her face. "Although I don't visit Hollywood all that often, unless something bad's gone down there."

"You've got me beat there," she concedes. "I've never been to LA, but I hear it's pretty crowded. I haven't really left New Mexico all that much, let alone Roswell."

There was spending the summer with her aunt in Florida to get away from Max and that time they ended up in Marathon, Texas, but of course, she won't be getting into the latter. The former could easily be brushed off as a girl trying to get over a boy. It was that, but also much more. Liz had needed distance and time to separate herself from the drama she'd gotten so caught up in.

"Hi, I'm Liz."

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[Visual] Have another alien, Liz

[Visual] she'll have to start a new alien collection here, lol.

[Visual] Awwww~ Also, I don't know why Corwin's tag is on this post :|

[Visual] huh. well, i shall use my modly powers to remove it. <3

[Visual] Thank you bb ;~;

[Visual] not a problem! <3

[Visual] <333~

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