Companion?

Issac and Quin head into town in search of food.

"Wow there's stores and food stalls everywhere." Said Quin feeling more hungry than before.

Issac responded in an indifferent tone. "It's the runway up to the amusement park. It's bound to have lots of stalls."

Quin ignored his oozing negative feedback. "And plenty of restaurants as well. We're completely set for breakfast, lunch, and dessert."

Issac: "What happened to dinner?"

Quin: "I was talking about the morning meals and dinner is part of the afternoon set."

Issac rolled his eyes: "Right."

Quin: "Oh waffles. Score."

The two sat at a table and ordered. Issac asked for a simple special whereas Quin ordered about four. When it all arrived their table became a delicious and colourful cluster of dishes.

Issac: "You're not actually planning on eating all of that are you?"

Quin: "Wasting all of this would be blasphemy."

"Yeah I'm pretty sure just saying that is blasphemous."

"Try saying back in the day. Big freaking mistake."

With that short exchange they both dug into their food. It really was as delicious as it smelled. It looked and tasted a lot more like a pile of desserts than breakfast.

Quin wanted to focus on his amazing meal but he couldn't help noticing the constant irritation in Isaac's eyes. And by eyes it really was just the eyes. For some reason Issac had refused to show his full face towards him. At first Quin thought of it as a precaution to patch him up like a doctor's mask. But even after they left and now as they eat Issac would turn away from him to eat. He obviously wasn't planning on sharing his appearance. This only made him curious again. He finished a few more bites and said. "So petty huh."

"Get used to it." Issacs tone was as mean as ever. But Quin didn't back down: "Is that why you won't give me details?

Issac, seemingly annoyed by the comments, took a break from eating: "You're the mystery time traveller here. Isn't it better to be cautious against the unknown? For all I know you'll try to change what happened and wipe my current self out or something."

Quin was shocked by his theories: "Wow, that's dark. I'm not some travelling psycho you know. I don't go around killing off those who might oppose me one day."

Issac: "I don't know that."

Quin: "But I do. Anyway I told you before it just doesn't work like that."

Issac shook his head: "You also said that the situation was impossible yet here we are."

"True but I'm not wrong about this."

"Then explain it properly."

Quin stuffed a final bite down his throat and went on to explain what he could: "That gadget thing you saw. It creates openings I can enter that send me to random points in the past. Once there I can open a new portal back to the present. Present being my present and nothing beyond what I know. Meaning no jumping to the future. I like to think that's because the future is too vast and uncontrollable to be seen. Whatever the case it's simply not in my power.

Everything up to the present is already set in stone therefore nothing I do in the past matters. Thus the 'past event sight seer' title. This isn't based on science or something, it's just what I've experienced and tested. I've done all sorts of crazy things in the past and been to many important moments in history and yet I've never once been recorded in anything.

I don't know if I'm just participating in some fake rerun of moments in history or if it just always works out to exclude my presence. I don't know if it's good luck or bad luck but I've never been able to reunite with a single person from the past I jump to.

Anyway it's also a random portal jump. I have no control over where or when I show up. And that's pretty much it."

Quin once again continued to scarf down his meals. Issac took this time to think about it all. He really had no way to prove anything yet. All he could do was consider if all the information was true.

Issac: "Wait, does that mean you don't know where you are now?"

Quin answered with a muffled voice: "Yehuh."

"Right." Issac turned on a very clear voice and explained, "This is Esterfield. It's known for its wide range of food and park attractions. It's an above average size town with most traveller needs. Anyone to stop by is bound to have a decent stay. For years they held the record for most participants in small town events as people would come in from towns all over to join in the festivities."

Quin gave a soft applaud: "Wow. Someone knows their town facts."

Issac: "Shut up. Anyone who visits this place should know at least that much. It's more strange for someone to not know. Especially during their open park seasons."

Quin nodded in understanding and drank the rest of his drink. Looking towards the towering rides in the distance he mumbled, "Sounds like fun."

________

The two finished up their meals and headed towards the shopping district. This was Quins idea: "Let's stop by the bank first."

Issac kept his tone uninterested: "Do what you want."

When Quin came back out he had a fresh card and a full coin pouch. Issac gave a suspicious look: "So are you rich or something? I can't see how you could keep a job."

Quin defended himself: "Maybe not permanent positions but I can do small things here and there depending on where I am. But in the present I have an emergency fund and savings. You know so I don't starve. As long as there's a bank I can restock. Now we can properly shop!"

__________

It was a crowded street but that didn't stop Quin from going from storefront to storefront. After window shopping for a while he eventually entered a clothing store. As he strolled through all the options he picked out many outfits to try on. He talked while eyeing the options: "You never answered."

Issac: "What?"

Quin: "Now that I've explained, you should too."

Issac walked through the isles picking some stuff out for himself: "I've already told you the important stuff."

"What about your name?"

"You know my name."

"But you said that you want to keep your identity to yourself just in case I try something."

"So?"

"If I could recognize you when I meet you wouldn't I know to be careful?"

Issac shook his head: "Wouldn't matter if everything is set in stone."

Quin was taken aback: "Hmm?"

Issac explained: "Back then you didn't recognize me. We seemed to have met for the very first time. Which means that you either faked our first meeting or you couldn't tell it was me."

Quin: "Well I probably couldn't tell because you're hiding your face."

Issac: "And what if by that point you already saw my face?"

"Hmm." Quin felt that there were too many unanswered questions to start jumping at possibilities this early on: "I feel like we're bound to start contradicting ourselves. There's simply too many ways it could have gone. Since we are in the present we should both act on what we each think is more likely."

Issac nodded: "The fact is I know you betrayed someone. My opinion of you is already tainted. I have no trust in you and I don't want to be acquainted with you."

Quin nodded back: "Well that's fine.

Having someone to stop me from making any bad decisions doesn't sound all that bad. Although…"

"What now?"

"If you're meant to follow me until that point, where was the current you to stop me?"

"Who knows, maybe you betrayed me as well."

"Damn you're pessimistic."

"You should understand something. I'm following you now not to stop you. It already happened so there's nothing I can do."

"So why bother?"

Issac met his eyes and explained in a clear voice: "I'm assuming that by following you I'll be somewhere nearby when it finally happens. Then once you've betrayed that poor kid I'll find you and probably pummel you to death."

Quin was speechless in the face of his most likely genuine threat. Eventually he got some words out: " Not really looking forward to that"

Issacs glare relaxed again: "Well then I recommend having a really good reason to defend yourself by then."

Quin tried to laugh: "Yeah. Right. Anyway I gotta get these sized."

"Mhmm."

Quin went to talk with a store attendant and tried on the clothes. Issac already bought his items and waited nearby. After fifteen minutes Quin used his card to check out. Before leaving he got some paper and a pen from his bag. He leaned on a counter and carefully wrote a letter. Sealing it he handed it over to the attendant who called the store manager. The manager took the letter and left.

The store attendant then happily sent the two off: "Thank you for shopping with LyreCal."

Issac had watched the whole interaction and couldn't help but ask: "The hell was that?"

"Just a letter."

Issac gave a skeptical gaze: "You're sending a letter through a clothing store?"

Quin met his questions with an easygoing smile: "Yup. And my old clothes as well."

"I was wondering why you changed. And I still don't have an answer. Lyrical?"

Quin nodded:"Same sounds with different spellings."

Issac: "Okay?"

"I always send things this way. It's like a VIP member perk." Quin decided to stop being vague and explained: "It's a worldwide brand so I can usually find one every few portal jumps. I can't take everything I pick up with me. It's just easier to have this connection."

Issac seemed unconvinced: "Don't tell me you have some house somewhere. How would you ever see it if you're constantly somewhere else?"

Quin smiled and clarified: "I don't see it. It's just a place to keep my things. If one day I pack it all in and stay in the present I'll have things to look back on. That's all."

"Right. Whatever you say."

Quin: "Now then more shopping. And more importantly more food!"

Issac: "Whatever man."

Quin once again continued to move from store to store. Everything he found seemed exciting to him.

Clothes.

Trinkets.

Snacks.

Drinks.

Especially the restaurants. At every new kind he found he said they should make plans to eat there. He only planned to eat at the restaurants. It was the food stalls that actually took his money. And there were a lot. He just had to buy at least one of everything. Nothing could be left untasted.

His energy was simply unmatched. At some point Issac wondered if following him for even an hour was even worth it. Despite his internal complaints he still kept up at every turn. After a while it was Quins' turn to be shocked.

He knew of his habits. Many had told him that his focus was all over the place. Especially when he was excited. He wasn't trying to tire Issac out and was actually impressed by his efforts. Thus he did his best to stay in sight.

Quin efforts however were not enough as he would constantly find himself distracted and running to something new. Only when he stopped for a moment would he remember his new 'company'. More than once Quin was relieved to find Issac somewhere nearby. Never truly out of sight.