` deja vu , (open)

[ALAN BRADLEY]

God, he was getting too old for this. Alan Bradley sighed as he stepped into the crowded arcade, listening to the sounds of the machines beeping, crashing, and any other noise you would think to hear in an arcade. It brought him back to a time when the very sound irritated his ears. To a time when he was so unbelievably ignorant to the other world that laid in wait on the other side. He readjusted his glasses as he sidestepped a patron and went on his way up the stairs to Kevin's old office. He looked around carefully, his tired eyes staring at some of Kevin's posters were rolled up with rubber bands and were resting in a pile on the floor. It was obvious that Sam had done some cleaning up here, but hadn't been able to bring himself to throw anything out. He pulled his glasses off his face, bouncing them gently between his fingers as he moved toward the sofa, one that he had once sat on.

He plopped down on it with a slow and almost agonized groan as he leaned back a bit. Old memories. Memories he wished he had savored when he had them. He licked his lips, the sounds of the music playing pulsating through the walls, slightly deafened by the walls and doors that protected him. It was a new time, and he had to embrace it or be left behind it seemed. His daughter Allison was always trying to teach him new things, he was always trying to keep up. He sometimes wondered why Sam kept him around after all of these years. He was getting old, and pretty soon a computer company wasn't going to need an old man working for them. A dated person. He sighed to himself, forcing himself off the sofa in order to get himself back into order. Even after all of these years, Alan still found himself wishing Kevin had made it. That he had survived whatever the hell had happened in there. The Grid. He hadn't been able to bring himself to enter himself. Fear, perhaps, was what was holding him back from it. Or the sheer uncertainty of it all. He placed the glasses back on his face after wiping them clean.

He was getting too old for this.

[CLAUDIA MALLOY]

There was something completely wrong with Claudia. She was getting a little out of hand with his whole looking up to Alan Bradley thing. She was even going out of her way to follow him on the way home from work. She saw him going out to his car after a full day at ENCOM and before she knew it, she was trailing after his tail lights, keeping a close eye on his car. She had no idea why she was being this way now of all times. There was a spark in her mind that envoked confidence to do something she would normally be too afraid and defensive to do. The thrill of following a car like in the movies got the blood flowing through he at the speed of light. It excited her to the point that even if she talked herself out of following this man, her body would not comply with her mind and keep on chugging along until some sort of criteria was met with the man whether that be simply introducing herself or throwing him on her bed back at home. Oh, Claudia, you naughty girl. Why think such things? Well for ten years she had been completely infatuated with the man. Even for an older gentlemen, he carried a sort of demeanor about him that she found oddly intoxicating and magnetic. There was no escaping it now.

His car drove through an almost deserted town where she knew to be a city years ago that was thriving with bustling amounts of gamers that loved to go to Flynn's arcade. Businesses circled around it just to see if they could get a few of the arcade's customers when they were done on their quest to destroy some evil emporer from space. She really didn't know much about video games and she was curious to know why Alan was interested as well. In all the years she was...well, stalking him, she never thought him to be the gamer type. Especially at his fine like wine age. She pulled up a block away from his now parked car, watching him enter the place like it was an old friend and he knew it like the back of his hand. Claudia wondered how just simply entering a building would envoke so much assumed history behind it. Behind his walk was a story that she yurned to know. She wanted him to tell it to her in that calming, yet strong voice of his. God, she had it bad. It was embarrassing even to her own mind how infatuated she was with someone she barely knew.

After he had entered the arcade, she exited her own car and walked down the street. She looked arond at the curious town in front of her. Most places were for rent and it seemed that the only buisness around here that got the most amount of buisness was this arcade. It must have been good, she really had no idea. Didn't people have Playstations and Xbox's now or something? Didn't arcades go out of style with the nineties? Ask her who wore who at the last academy awards and she'd know, but this was far beyond her comprehension. She didn't even try to understand. Her only focus was following Alan Bradley. She really didn't know what she would do when she finally exchanged words with the man. Squeak? Act like a total bitch like with most people? She was afraid of her own actions. Finally, she reached the doors of the arcade. Heels were a bad idea to stalk someone in. It took a while to get to your destination when your shoes weren't meant to trek long amounts of space. The place was scattered with a few people, but they seemed preoccupied by a room in back that they kept stealing glances from. This was something that didn't peak her interest at the moment. It was creepy, of course, but nothing exciting for her narrow mind for the mission at hand.

For some reason, her eyes were pulled upward toward a room that must have been a private office for the owner. The blinds were open slightly and she could see a familiar figure walking around, sitting, and standing up again. He seemed uneased and she had the motherly instict to go and comfort the poor man, even though she really had no idea if she was correct in his low mood. She walked up the stairs toward the room above and didn't bother knocking. Instead she thought herself to be a sad excuse for a spy and opened the door slowly and steadily. There was Alan Bradley, looking downward toward his glasses. If she had been thinking clearly, she would just assume that he was simply getting his specticles clean, but in her strange mind, there was something more than to rubbing an object with his coat. Something sad. Purposefully, she shut the door behind her with a rather loud click. And if he turned around? She didn't think this one through... Now what?

"Uh...hello? Sir?" She said quietly in her light and flowing english accent as though he were meditating and she was scared to break his concentration. She had no idea what she was to say after those weak words. Did he know who she was? Or was he going to become uneasy at the sight of a stranger invading this space that he seemed to know? Her body became rigid. He was going to actually look at her. He was going to know her face. She didn't care that he might know her face as a woman invading this private area. God, she thought of him like the lead singer of Journey or something. A celebrity. She felt childish, but oh so curious as to the events that would progress from here, dark or light as they may be...

[ALAN BRADLEY]

How he longed for things to be different. As he sat in the office area, remember fondly of the times that had gone on. He missed Kevin, that was perfectly clear. He thought of the times where Kevin would camp out up here and Alan would stay with him while they worked on things for Encom together, laughing, and telling each other stories of they're children. A time when things had been simpler, kinder, youthful time. Now, all Alan had was his job and prayed that he could hold onto what little he had left of the company, of his friendship with his now deceased friend, and the relationship with his daughter. She was so grown up now, it was almost like she didn't need him at all anymore. After a while she often asked him why he never remarried, why he never dated, and he could never really give her a straight answer. Disinterest? Fear of tainting Lora's memory? Whatever the case, Alan was content in his loneliness, or that's what he forced himself to believe.

After wiping his glasses clean, he heard the click of the door close and everything within him froze. Who had followed him up here? Had the patrons seen him go upstairs? As he slowly placed his glasses back on his worn face, he slowly turned to see a familiar face before him. He relaxed a bit, a small smile forming across his face for a moment before he stopped again. What would Miss Malloy be doing in the arcade? He laughed a bit, trying to get his heart rate down. Gotta keep that blood pressure normal.

"Claudia."

[/color] He said, his tone raspy and almost a little unsteady as he moved away from the sofa to address her properly. It was safe to say the older gentleman hadn't been expecting her arrival. Then again, he didn't mind in the slightest. He knew of her, it wasn't as if they had a standing relationship, but Alan knew most of the staff at Encom. His memory was still good despite his age. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his trench coat as he slowly approached her, keeping a safe distance from her in order to not invade her personal space. And despite it all, he took the few moments to take her in. Of course he new that she was a gorgeous woman, but while at work, he never really took too long to look at his employees. He didn't really have the time. When he finally took her in, it was almost like a ton of bricks hitting him at once. She was stunning, and he suddenly felt his throat dry up a bit. "What, uh, what are you here? Not that I mind, I just...I never pegged you for a video game player...unless--"[/color] He paused, looking out down the window and toward the room that lead toward the portal. Unfortunately for him, he had not yet worked up the courage to travel to the Grid. [/blockquote][/blockquote][/justify][/size]

[CLAUDIA MALLOY]

Her body became completely rigid as she stood in the doorway, time seeming to move so slowly. It was like the finale too a good drama on TV. It took so long to get to the end and you held your breath the entire time. But this wasn't some hour long form of entertainment. This was a split second in her life that made her mouth dry up. She was deeply entranced at the back of his head in this moment and desperately wished that it stay a back of a head instead of an irritated man she was trying to woo. What a childish move. This wasn't the guy across the classroom that you've thought was cute since the third grade. This was your boss. Albiet, an attractive boss that carried himself in such a way that she found completely appealing. Sheepish and smart: like he didn't know that he was a powerful man and just thought he got good grades and a creepy girl across the classroom stared at him constantly. A cheek was now in view of her tunnel vision view of him. Things were moving faster than she had hoped. Still would have been good right now. She didn't really mind spending eternity staring at the back of his head. It was better than the scenarios floating through her bird brain.

Finally his eyes hit hers and he did something unexpected and far from her mind at one of the instances that could have happened. He smiled. It was small, but knowable. It was as though a massive planet was lifted off of her back, but she didn't dare return the smile just yet. Other awful moments could occur and she wasn't about to look cocky with a curve of her lips. The smile slowly vanished and the questioning look she knew was coming appeared on his distinguished face. He opened his mouth and out spilled... wait. What? Was that her name? Claudia. What the hell? It was like she was in some barney romance novel. Should she run to him and become swept up in his arms just to completely the cliche? Well... now that she thought about it, that did sound quite appealing. No. No. Enough. Her knee cocked to the other in a twitch as she repeated her own name through and through her mind, but with his voice saying it. Claudia became worried that her eyes were glazed over and it would be completely apparent that she was not present in this world. Blinking, she smiled and took a confident step forward as though she were just simply delivering a memo to him. When did she ever do that anyway? Maybe she passed him a file because someone was too lazy to get off their own arse and hand it to him? Either way, right now was just about the closest she had been to him. And he was looking right at her. They never seemed to make eye contact in the office. The poor man was always busy at work and barely was acknowledged for it until recently. She could admit that she did attempt to stare at him and achieve some sort of eye sex with the man, but that whole 'sensing when someone was looking at you' thing didn't seem to apply to him. Or her gaze was some sort of a ghost. Either way, this simple standing in a room thing was a huge step in the direction she wanted this to go and he just kept walking closer...

Alan spoke again and for a moment, she forgot where the hell she was. Oh, a story? Yeah, she never thought this through. Thank heaven she was somewhat quick on her feet, but it did take a moment to read through her brain. "Video games?" She started with an inquisitive voice before the snap in her mind kicked in and she looked down through the blinds to the arcade. "Oh! Goodness, I seemed to have been lost there for a moment. Of course! I can never get enough of..." She desperately racked through her brain to think of a video game she heard of in the past. "-Tron!" She breathed a sigh of relief now that her lie was over. Claudia bit her lip, hoping he would buy it. He was so close to her and she stared up at him in awe. He was like some sort of teen beat hunk that girls had pictures of on their walls. Well, to her anyway. His simple and sophisticated fashion sense caught her fashionista's attention and of course his dapper looks caught her eye. Though they had before, he was so much more becoming this close up.

[ALAN BRADLEY]

It's been so many years, Alan was certain that if a beautiful woman had ever been forward with him, showing they're interest to him, he probably wouldn't know it. So desensitized to pick up lines and vibes, it seemed that the aging man didn't even know how to flirt anymore. Ever since Lora, he never really needed to know how to date. He had met her, fell for her, and married her. It was pretty simple, straight to the point. However, it didn't last forever like they promised to each other. She was ripped away from him, as was his son. A tragedy that he'd never forget, for as long as he lived, but he did everything he could to carry on. There were days where he wished they could just go back, go back to a time when everything was simple and easy. Now, things were more complex than ever. Sometimes Alan wondered if he should just let it all go. Retire and just live the rest of his life doing nothing. Maybe he'd be more productive that way.

As he watched Claudia's reaction, he couldn't help a small laugh escaping his lips as he looked away from her. She was obviously trying to catch herself, but she wasn't doing a very good job. It was rather endearing of her to tell the truth, but he wouldn't ever say that out loud. He could see her now, for who she really was as she stood before him. The look of shock and almost fear in her eyes as she searched for an excuse to be here. He saw the way her hair moved and how soft her skin looked even from this distance away. How brown her eyes were as she stared at him with that deer in the headlights look on her face. When she spoke of Tron, he felt a sudden jolt in his chest. Yes, he knew that she was referring to the game that Flynn had invented, the game that he had named after Alan's program, but the thing is, he still drew the connection. And after everything that's happened, after everything Sam has told him. It was almost like Tron was a real person.

"Ah, yes. Tron..." Alan said with a small smile before he moved toward her. He looked down toward the gaming machines that were currently in use, some that were sitting abandoned, then toward the room where a throng of people lingered, just hoping to get tapped in. To see the wonders of the Grid. He wanted to know, he wanted to see the beauty that Kevin created, everything his best friend had ever dreamed. He just couldn't get over his own anxiety and fear. "So, uh, have you had your trip to The Grid yet, Claudia? I'm sure half the office has been down here a few times." He joked, wishing he could just jump right in. Fearless like Flynn. But he wasn't. He was the stick in the mud. The one who weighed all the options. Never the one to dive into anything. Sometimes he wondered how he had been so close to a man without fear like that. He envied that about Kevin, and now he was the only left.

Pity.

[CLAUDIA MALLOY]

Unlike most of the people around this arcade, both Alan and Claudia remembered when Kevin Flynn had disappeared. Though she wasn't working for the company at that time and still going through college, it still hit her pretty hard that one of her heroes was missing. It never really left her mind as the years passed. Every once and a while they would do specials about him on news channels and she'd go out of her way to watch them. He was like an Elvis to her. Well that was how big nerds thought anyway. Instead of posters of The Breakfast Club or John Cusack, well maybe John Cusack, but mostly she had posters of ads for Tron and speeches Kevin Flynn made about a Digital Frontier. She never played any of the video games, but she felt like she was apart of something if she at least had a few pictures scattered across her room. She remembered him mostly for the work he did with computers and reshaping that area of the world. And Alan had known him, been friends with him. She didn't know that until a few years ago. She just thought he was another employee at ENCOM. She didn't deny that when she found out about his and Flynn's friendship, she was even more drawn to him, but more of in a intellectual sense at wanting to know more about the man and some ideas they could have shared that she knew nothing about.

Alan laughed before her and she felt a huge lump in her throat. She looked awkward, pale, barmy, and unattractive. In her head, anyway. Paranoia crept into her mind as he smiled at her. Then the fact that he was grinning simply pushed that away and she was swooning again. How bipolar of her. She couldn't control her mind around him. It was switching between emotions and body temperature like a clock's pendulum. Attempting to look more at ease, she gently jutted a hip out and placed her foot slightly away from the other. Well now she just looked like a valley girl trying to get the attention of a man in a muscle car. Moving would seem even more off because of how fast she was shifting her body so she left it there and tried to look a little more at ease instead of like a slut.

Glancing toward the machines and parting her lips slightly, she nodded her head at his acknowledging of her choice of game. It was honestly the only one she really knew of because of the poster in her room. She turned her head back toward him and took back the breath she had just released. He was closer now, but still far away enough to not be in her space. It seemed they were in normal conversation distance. Her shoulders froze as she looked slightly upward at him. If he was an inch from her nose, her neck would have been broken and she really wouldn't have minded that. She could see the blue kindness of his eyes and the soft smile he always seemed to carry with him. A soft sigh escaped her lips as she relaxed her shoulders. She took a moment to enjoy the way he spoke to her, so calming and kind. Smiling like an idiot she linked her big brown eyes and shook her head slowly, her hair sweeping into her face a bit. "No, I uh... I must say, I'm quite afraid to go alone. Is it fun there, Alan?" She asked, now fidgeting with the strap of her purse with both hands. Claudia really enjoyed saying his name. She didn't know he hadn't been there and when he said half the office, she assumed he was part of that. There was another reason why she did not want to go and especially alone. She didn't want to be around a place that Flynn created without him there, but she needed to tell herself that he had been there and the way it was now was apparently his dream. She wanted to experience that, she really did.