Do You Know What It Is Yet? Tagged

[Deleted]

|| TAG: Jessica "Jess" Ranen || WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

Eyal was back to working his legitimate job, today he was photographing a few key pieces from the Art Institute of Chicago. It was holding an open day, one where donors mingled and people could just wonder in for a quick look. Art had never been his favourite thing in the world; if the picture made no sense then he struggled to find the wonder of it. A painting of something he could recognise now that was different, if he could tell what it was then he was more at peace with it.

Today however he wanted to strangle his boss for sending him on this assignment, he was staring at the white canvas with blue splodges on it. There were no other words for it but basic, a two year old child could likely to better and given the price tag attached. Every parent should have been millionaires given their children’s artwork. To Eyal it appeared to be a case of wherever the paint brush hits six times in a row I will give the painting a funny name and call it art. Then charge the earth for it to hang on a wall where everyone else could think the exact same thing.

Dutifully he snapped a few photos as he continued to make his way around the exhibition, more of the same abstract works until he came to the photography exhibit. Now this was what he enjoyed and could see the images of others. Those key moments where a picture was worth a thousand words, the pictures that told the stories of those whose eyes were captured in those crucial seconds. Eyal lingered in the exhibition looking upon each image, appreciating this far more than he did the vision in blue that hung on the wall a few feet away.

He looked through the lens of his camera as he took a few shots of the crowd before turning his attention back to the exhibit for further examination. It was far beyond his remit for the day but then this was what made his day a lot more interesting than splodges. He knew he stuck out a little as unlike some of the other guests he had on his work wear, the combat pants and boots with a casual t-shirt and over jacket with his camera bag slung over one shoulder. Practical but not stylish at all, then again if he had a call he might need practical over a suit at a moment’s notice.

Red☠Frost

[Jessica "Jess" Ranen]

don't apologize

Art was not exactly Jess’ favorite; but she was writing a report for one of her extra curricular classes. She stared at some crazy painting and made a face. “Totally not art” she rolled her eyes and started scribbling something on her paper. Jess was not artistically inclined but she loved to write and read. So this assignment was by far her least favorite of the year.

Jess was following behind some guy with a camera and when he was trying to take a picture of the next piece of artwork she was respectful and got out of the way. Jess had manners and she used them even in public. One of those things she couldn’t manage to shake. She took the opportunity to bend over and tie her shoes, while she was out of the crowd before she tripped into someone.

Grabbing her bag off the floor beside her once she was done she shifted it up on her back. Jess was one of those people aware of everything around her, and even while her bag was on the ground she was the type that had her leg through the strap. When she got up that’s when things got sticky.

Someone pushed her out of the way and thought it was funny. Jess dusted herself off and resisted causing a scene or snapping. Though when they tried again she grabbed their hand. “Touch me again. I will rip it off.” She released their hand and backed away. The guy backed away at her tone. Jess grabbed her bag that had dropped to the floor. Rolling her eyes she continued on down the hallway. Some people just had no tact at all.

♡ @eyal

♡

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[Deleted]

|| TAG: Jessica "Jess" Ranen || WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

Eyal was minding his own business when he heard a voice say, ‘totally not art’ he could hardly have agreed more with the woman though he simply smiled when he saw her scribbling on a piece of paper. He nodded respectfully when she moved out of the way; at least there were still some manners within the city he thought to himself silently. It was something he missed about his country, the respect and way of life though he had hopefully managed to adjust enough to American life to get by.

He moved on as he took a few photos seeing the woman tie her shoe lace, he would perhaps make an effort to talk to her later if he managed to find her again though he saw her trip into someone he almost went over to lend a hand though he watched from a distance as she grabbed her bag off the floor. It seemed an odd place for it though with her one leg through the strap he found it curious as to why she had done that. He might have placed it down to an American custom but he had never seen a person do that before.

Eyal was about to move one when he saw someone push the woman out of the way thinking it was funny. Had it been anywhere else less public the person would have soon found out what it was like to push anyone around as he let his camera hang off his shoulder. Eyal was about to say something and step in as he saw them try again though much to his surprise he saw the woman grab their hand. He was impressed as he watched the guy back away given her tone; Eyal might have gone after the person who pushed her though he was more concerned to see the woman was alright.

He picked up his stride a little to try and catch up with her as he tried to think of the correct approach to even say anything. “Miss... Ma’am, Mrs?” He asked not entirely sure of her title but then what did it matter though he was hardly going to shout ‘Oi, woman’. “Are you alright? I saw what happened; the person had no right to do what they did.” He said hoping that she was unharmed by it all, “I have to admit I’m impressed by how you handled it though.” He added not wanting to alarm the woman at all but then she had done well.

Red☠Frost

[Jessica "Jess" Ranen]

don't apologize

Jessica tried to be respectful to everyone. She was of course part Shepard and part Gibbs so she had her rebellious moments but it wasn’t usually over anything like manners. No she had been raised in a military family. Respect was something afforded to everyone, even those who crossed the line. Though in this case she was just minding her own business.

Jess liked to keep track of things. She was very particular about her things and had a purse stolen by someone once when she had bent down to tie her shoe, so now she was simply cautious. To her there was nothing awkward about it.

Jess didn’t have time to deal with people messing with her. She was here for a paper, not because she wanted to be. It would be nice to be out of school soon with her degree. She pushed some of her red hair back behind her shoulder and tried not to let people bug her. If she let people get to her then what good would that be? Jessica wasn’t about to give anyone that satisfaction.

She heard someone trying to talk to her. Jess looked around confused for a moment until she caught sight of the man fumbling for a greeting. “Sorry… I um.. It’s Miss but Jess works too…” She preferred names to titles, but that was just her. “I’m alright. Thanks for asking.” Jess’ gratitude was genuine despite being a little caught off guard by being called all the titles while he was looking for a name, but at least he was polite. .

Her dad had taught her to hold her own, Jess didn’t take kindly to rude advances. When he mentioned he was impressed she quirked a brow. “Let me guess, you teach Krav Maga or something” she could tell by his accent he was Israeli. Jess also knew not to call an Israeli martial art by something it wasn’t. Jessica was book smart and had sense. She bit on her bottom lip a little bit.

♡ @eyal

♡

[googlefont="Pinyon Script"]

[Deleted]

|| TAG: Jessica "Jess" Ranen || WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

To Eyal respect was something that took a long time to earn, usually he gave people the respect and the minute they blew it which inevitably they did it was lost. He had made sure to do what his superiors told him and that had ended badly so there were certain times when being respectful had gotten him nowhere. It was tough to explain and yet he knew how to interact with others despite his short comings with human interactions.

It was as a strange move though Eyal knew how easy it could be to lift an item from a person, too easy at times and worse still when in a crowd. Only the paranoid might think that way but then given the crowd already he could imagine it was a paradise for a pick pocket, petty thief or simply a person out to gain information like himself. He knew he would look at a room differently to those in it but he hardly expected to see what he saw. These events were in his mind supposed to be civilised and not filled with people he would gladly dangle off the building’s roof until they apologised.

Eyal smiled when she spoke, his head was already telling to try and appear approachable or at the least friendly if he could even pull that one off. “I’m happy you’re alright Miss Jess.” He said, he had little reason to hide his accent it was unlike there would be a full background check and even if there was his backstop went far enough to cover him for his day job. “Glad to ask.” He said before he found himself a little more intrigued by the girl.

It was rare that anyone could relate an accent and fighting style though there it was. “I look like a teacher to you?” He asked not sure if he needed to be offended by that as he shook his head, “No I do not teach it but if it is required I think I could hold my own.” More like completely annihilate another person however as much fun as it would be to teach the person some manners he felt it a little too conspicuous for the venue.

“Also impressive you know your accents and martial arts.” He said not sure how to take that from Jess though she obviously knew her stuff or else she would never have made that connection. “What do you think of the exhibit so far?” He asked her finding her more and more interesting as he glanced her way before looking to one of the other photographs for a moment.

Red☠Frost

[Jessica "Jess" Ranen]

don't apologize

Jess knew that to gain respect you needed to be able to give it, it was a cycle. Politeness was a good start. Shaking her head to toss some hair out of her eyes after she got up from tying her shoe. Pushing one of the strands behind her ear, she slung her bag over one shoulder.

Jess was the daughter of two retired federal agents, caution was something that had been drilled into her at a young age. Though it didn’t need to be at the extinction of her manners. “I apologize. I just meant you come off as well educated.” Okay maybe she should stop talking now, before she found herself in a world of trouble. She didn’t know what else to say so she didn’t say anything else until she was spoken too. “Well cultured I guess” she shrugged some. Truth have it that she’d met Ziva David back when her dad was with NCIS and she’d taught her a few things just to scratch the surface. Nothing to make her seem like she knew her stuff; but enough she wouldn’t sound ignorant.

“You know my name but you haven’t told me yours.” She called him out on it not really sure how to take that. Jess was whirling things in her mind trying to connect the dots. She was being civil and polite but also trying to avoid making anymore waves and calling him ‘Hey you’ was poor manners.

“Art isn’t really my thing, I would much rather stay behind a book, lost in some mythical world”

♡ @eyal

♡

[googlefont="Pinyon Script"]

[Deleted]

|| TAG: Jessica "Jess" Ranen || WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

Eyal had been a give and take sort of person up until he realised that he was dispensable and now his give and take involved people he knew where never going to be on the up and up. At least with criminals you knew who you were talking to, there were no faces because the faces were just the differing degrees of criminal. Manners had come from his parents and still his upbringing was tough to shake however it seemed to work either for or against him when it came to America.

“Its okay and thank you for the compliment, I try to educate myself where I am however I will have to lose this teacher look I may have picked up.” He said trying to be funny but then he was hardly known for his hilarious ways. If he had them at all. Eyal nodded when she said she was well cultured, that was a certainty given that she knew the form of martial arts he would know alongside his country too. Most people had no idea where he was from and well everything that came with the ignorance of an entire culture so it was a refreshing change to know that there were people out there who knew things.

“Oh, apologies Miss Jess.” He said as he smiled and held out his hand as he held the camera in his other hand. “My name’s Eyal, it is nice to meet you.” Eyal had always been a little off or wooden with his commentary when it came to trying to act normal, another language he might have fared a little better but English there were so many pitfalls it was a bit of a nightmare to negotiate at times. He however tried and he might have sounded stuck up or robot like but then that was him in most elements of his life at times.

Eyal furrowed his brow when Jess explained that art was not her first choice, unless he had been taken through a worm hole of sorts he was sure they were stood in a gallery. “I agree. Books are fantastic ways to transport yourself to another place, take it from the almost teacher.” He said attempting humour again though it was awkward for him to do as he decided to lose that. Eyal took a look at one of the images on the wall as he pointed it out before motioning toward the sculptures.

“Art in that form I have little idea about, art in photography form I know a thing or two about. You see the image of the vase of flowers; now to me the focus is on the colours of the flowers, the shape of the vase but the background of the kitchen that is faded out slightly. That is the rest of the story that goes along with those flowers. It’s the how the flowers got there, the place the flowers are sitting in the kitchen, the fact that the kitchen has a country style oven so you can venture the guess it’s a country setting. There is an entire story within one image there.” He said looking at the image before he turned back to Jess to ask his question he was confused about.

“So if art isn’t really your thing then why this place?” He asked her, “Me I’m assigned to this showing but you?” Eyal knew his boss wanted the images but beyond that he stuck to his photography section simply because it was what he could understand. The twisted hunks of metal that were supposed to be shaped in meaningful positions he was at a loss at.

Red☠Frost

[Jessica "Jess" Ranen]

don't apologize

Jessica was glad that Eyal hadn’t taken things the wrong way. “The teacher look does you justice.” Before she realized what was happening her eyes looked over him. Stop it Jess, that’s rude. She politely averted her eyes as she smiled and giggled a little bit at his attempt at humor. Socially awkward maybe but it was endearing to her.

Jess didn’t like to be ignorant and she prided herself on knowing things. Though if ever put to the test she wouldn’t know how to handle Krav Maga in the slightest. She caught the nod. He seemed a bit of the silent type but that was okay with her, she was too at time. The silence wasn’t really awkward for her.

Jess took his hand and shook it. She was one of those people who let their handshake show their confidence. “A strong name.” Well perhaps that was a pun there since Eyal meant Strength but she wasn’t intending to go there. She was merely trying to be nice. “Likewise, it’s nice to meet you too” she replied cordially.

“I ended up here for a school project.” She pointed out. “Some art appreciation course or something.” She shrugged. Though when he pointed out the art she was intrigued that he seemed to enjoy it. “But you seem to enjoy the arts?” It was a question but there was a smile complete behind her expression. Just because she wasn’t it’s biggest fan didn’t mean that others were the same. Variety was the spice of life.

♡ @eyal

♡

[googlefont="Pinyon Script"]

[Deleted]

|| TAG: Jessica "Jess" Ranen || WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

Eyal noticed the way her eyes looked over him as he smiled trying not to do the same to her. At least he was funny to a person he gathered hearing her giggle, it was nice to think that all had not been lost to a world that seemed miles away from the one he lived in now. “Thank you, I’m glad you think so. I might have to invest more in this ‘teacher look’.” He stated not entirely sure what it would entail but if it did him justice who could argue.

He had a tendency to be silent, easier to listen and learn than to do the talking as too much of that led to people knowing a lot more than they should. It was generally why bars and clubs were such great places to gather information, people were loose lipped and chatty after they had drunk a few. It was however dangerous when drinking was required however there were ways around that, water the bar plant, pay off the bar tender in advance.

He smiled as her handshake spoke of confidence, a strong woman indeed he thought as he nodded and chuckled lightly taking her world as literal. “Thank you, yours is too. I assume Jess is short for Jessica as in The Merchant of Venice, Shylocks daughter. A strong name also for sighing...” He said as his brow furrowed, no that was different as he attempted to find the correct word. “Name for a future sight.” He attempted though the awkwardness of the sentence felt wrong as he smiled and tried to appear as if he had gotten that last one right.

“School projects are good things, they can teach you a lot.” He explained, “Art appreciation depends entirely on the view point. One person see’s chaos and monstrosity while another see beauty and calm.” Eyal had never managed to find his way around the art world when it came to modern day art. He preferred the old masters where as in more recent years three blue blobs of paint on a white canvas signalled a boat scene or a stripe of pink across it meant it was entirely changed.

Her smile behind her express had him smiling too as he nodded taken in by her smile and understanding. It was a rare thing for anyone he felt. “I enjoy them, not all but some forms more than others.” He held up his camera slightly, “Art through a lens I understand, paintings occasionally if done before 1960 yet the new schools of ‘art’... my mind refuses to enjoy. Then again I suppose not all life is to be understood however I believe your school is a good one to send you here.” He said knowing that everyone had different tastes in life. “So what is it you enjoy more than books?” He asked her curiously not sure if he was overstepping the mark.

Red☠Frost

[Jessica "Jess" Ranen]

don't apologize

Jess was trained to read people, he was schooling himself around her too. Well, it was not exactly proper manners to look people over like in the public eyes. Though Jess wanted to get to know him better for some strange reason. He was… captivating was a good word to fit there. She couldn’t help but notice how he filled out what he was wearing. Jess seriously, stop it. “Educated doesn’t necessarily mean teacher.” Her reminder had a hint of a smile in it. Though she was pretty sure she had already mentioned exactly that, maybe he had missed the message she had been trying to portray.

Jess smiled a moment. “I don’t think my mother thought about the Merchant of Venice when she chose Jessica.” She made a face. “I have never much cared for my full name. One of those things that usually means I found myself in trouble.” Jess was legally an adult at twenty-one but that didn’t prevent her dad from overprotecting her like she was a child. Though she understood in a way, Jess was his only child. After the loss of Kelly, she knew that there was no trying to keep him off her back.

Jess knew he was trying to fumble for a word but she didn’t want to embarrass him by asking him what he had meant. She wasn’t sure herself. So she more or less just turned the conversation to what she was understanding. Which now had somehow turned into her school project?

“I’m more a hands on type person.” She did like to draw though, then again that was usually designs for submarines that she would never get to step foot on. Women on submarines just weren’t a thing. Whoever told her that swinging police academy with the military was easy was nuts.

“I draw for work, it’s not exactly art at that point anymore.” She shrugged with a small smile. “More than books?” She looked at him like he was insane. “Unless you count the trees I like to climb to sit in while I read?” She mused back with a small smirk.

♡ @eyal

♡

[googlefont="Pinyon Script"]

[Deleted]

|| TAG: Jessica "Jess" Ranen || WORDS: 0 ||
|| NOTES: ... ||

Eyal smiled, she was beautiful, smart, educated really the sort of person he found interesting to him. He knew looking at someone like her in public was a big deal, what was he even doing thinking along that line. Carmel had been the one woman who had hurt him more than any other and he was in no rush to repeat that at all. “Educated doesn’t mean teacher? Unless my English is really bad... I am not following.” He said not sure if he had mess it up though the hint of a smile sat well with her.

“Jessica is a beautiful name, very befitting of a beautiful woman.” He said as he smiled nodding to her. “For me it was the tone of Eyal, sharp and snappy it was safer to run for the hills.” Generally he had been a good kid, a little off and odd at times but then what kid managed to be entirely normal though he knew there was a difference in culture. He could still hear his mother’s voice, the varied tones for different degrees of trouble though his father simply had a look. The looks could kill could never have been more accurate than for that man.

He knew the minute the conversation changed that he had messed up what he was trying to say. He had grateful that she chose not to call him out on it as it was embarrassing enough not to be able to get what he wanted to say out right. “Hands on is a good way to be, it is the only way to make things work if you are present to make it so.” A lot of his job was hands on, both jobs if he was honest about it though explaining the complexities of being a contract killer to a stranger was likely to have the police breathing down his neck.

“Drawing that is not art anymore. It is interesting to you though?” He said seeing her smile before he caught the insane look she gave him. He was about to back track on what he said when he furrowed his brow. “You read in a tree...” He said as he gave her an equally crazy look. “So you like trees and books, I think they go well together considering you need one to make the other. Do you climb a lot of trees?” He asked her not sure what to think about that.

Red☠Frost