It felt like he was sneaking out — he wasn’t, really, it just seemed like it. It always did, though, when he was in unfamiliar territory. Certainly, that was something of a benefit, too. He could go more or less undetected, at least for a while, before someone saw and recognized him. He didn’t have quite the following some others did, that he knew, but it was enough. Still, a late night walk was really what he needed.
It was a little cooler than in Los Angeles, which was, he had to admit, rather nice. And thankfully, he was good with directions. Getting lost wasn’t really going to be too much of an issue, but even so, he didn’t really notice anything that he went by. Things were there, and he made mental notes to various landmarks he would remember, but he didn’t do so consciously.
The unfortunate thing about traveling was that it sometimes took a few days (or more) to get used to a bed in a new place. This was likely to be one of those “or more” times. That frustrated and irritated him more than anything, but only because it meant less sleep than normal. And he already didn’t get enough as it was. A walk was a good way to clear the head. Besides, he could get more used to the city where they’d be filming off and on. After a few wary glances around to ensure no one was following or watching him, he took his leave.
If nothing else, it could be said that it was a city. Like any other city, it had its oddities and quirks, the things gone unnoticed by most anyone that wasn’t local. But there were certainly constants, too; traffic, lights along the road at night, and generally the waning of people out and about as it got to the wee hours of the morning. To that end, he could generally put on a ball cap and jacket, and avoid people for the most part, so long as he didn’t find himself amid the bar crowds.
That night in particular, he had a number of things on his mind. He was excited, of course, and ready to be filming. He was thrilled to work with his various costars and get to know everyone. But the one other thing he was that he had gotten very good at hiding, was that he was also feeling down. It was a strange mix of emotions, and the turmoil often led to tossing and turning in bed. Sleeplessness came of it, and in turn, didn’t help his general mood any. But he could put on a happy face, and there were but a few that were the wiser.
One of those people was often on his mind anyway, but in some respects, they had gotten a little distant, at least relative to normal standards. They were both busy with their respective projects, and of course, friends and everything else that came up. Truthfully, he missed the company more than anything.
His flight had been spent on the nostalgic side, wistful for the times when they would travel together. Even now, there were questions and sometimes rumors about them. But that hadn’t been an official thing in nearly a decade. As often as he tried to put it out of his mind, he sometimes just couldn’t. He hoped that giving himself this time to think would let him focus more. He knew, though, that he would still want to talk about it, eventually.
Before long, Aaron had managed to find himself a good way from his starting point. He had noncommittally greeted a few people he had come across while he ruminated, clearly distracted. At least they weren’t the type to press the issue. Maybe the next day he would be more into the idea of talking to people. Regardless, it had done him some good at least. He was finding a way to compartmentalize everything. To put away feelings about people and things that weren’t his project at hand. Or at least, that process had commenced. It wasn’t easy to do fully, but it would probably be some days that he was quieter than normal, at least socially.
Feeling a little bit better, he continued on his way. He wasn’t ready to head back yet; he wouldn’t be able to sleep even if he did. Not for long anyway. He sort of bathed himself in the cool air, and the light of the street lamps, and then in the shadow that came between them. The traffic, lighter than the daytime, was still enough to where he wanted to stick to the side of the sidewalk toward the buildings he passed. At least something had clicked that let him not be so withdrawn. For that night, anyway.
He’d still talk to at least one person, though. That much was guaranteed. That wouldn’t change, couldn’t change, short of things he didn’t wish to think about. There were other questions, other what-ifs, to ask another time. Things he had asked himself a hundred times over. Things he’d ask himself a hundred times again. Things that he would not let consume him that night. It was as good a time as any to try to just enjoy where he was and what he did have and what he was doing.
It was a little cooler than in Los Angeles, which was, he had to admit, rather nice. And thankfully, he was good with directions. Getting lost wasn’t really going to be too much of an issue, but even so, he didn’t really notice anything that he went by. Things were there, and he made mental notes to various landmarks he would remember, but he didn’t do so consciously.
The unfortunate thing about traveling was that it sometimes took a few days (or more) to get used to a bed in a new place. This was likely to be one of those “or more” times. That frustrated and irritated him more than anything, but only because it meant less sleep than normal. And he already didn’t get enough as it was. A walk was a good way to clear the head. Besides, he could get more used to the city where they’d be filming off and on. After a few wary glances around to ensure no one was following or watching him, he took his leave.
If nothing else, it could be said that it was a city. Like any other city, it had its oddities and quirks, the things gone unnoticed by most anyone that wasn’t local. But there were certainly constants, too; traffic, lights along the road at night, and generally the waning of people out and about as it got to the wee hours of the morning. To that end, he could generally put on a ball cap and jacket, and avoid people for the most part, so long as he didn’t find himself amid the bar crowds.
That night in particular, he had a number of things on his mind. He was excited, of course, and ready to be filming. He was thrilled to work with his various costars and get to know everyone. But the one other thing he was that he had gotten very good at hiding, was that he was also feeling down. It was a strange mix of emotions, and the turmoil often led to tossing and turning in bed. Sleeplessness came of it, and in turn, didn’t help his general mood any. But he could put on a happy face, and there were but a few that were the wiser.
One of those people was often on his mind anyway, but in some respects, they had gotten a little distant, at least relative to normal standards. They were both busy with their respective projects, and of course, friends and everything else that came up. Truthfully, he missed the company more than anything.
His flight had been spent on the nostalgic side, wistful for the times when they would travel together. Even now, there were questions and sometimes rumors about them. But that hadn’t been an official thing in nearly a decade. As often as he tried to put it out of his mind, he sometimes just couldn’t. He hoped that giving himself this time to think would let him focus more. He knew, though, that he would still want to talk about it, eventually.
Before long, Aaron had managed to find himself a good way from his starting point. He had noncommittally greeted a few people he had come across while he ruminated, clearly distracted. At least they weren’t the type to press the issue. Maybe the next day he would be more into the idea of talking to people. Regardless, it had done him some good at least. He was finding a way to compartmentalize everything. To put away feelings about people and things that weren’t his project at hand. Or at least, that process had commenced. It wasn’t easy to do fully, but it would probably be some days that he was quieter than normal, at least socially.
Feeling a little bit better, he continued on his way. He wasn’t ready to head back yet; he wouldn’t be able to sleep even if he did. Not for long anyway. He sort of bathed himself in the cool air, and the light of the street lamps, and then in the shadow that came between them. The traffic, lighter than the daytime, was still enough to where he wanted to stick to the side of the sidewalk toward the buildings he passed. At least something had clicked that let him not be so withdrawn. For that night, anyway.
He’d still talk to at least one person, though. That much was guaranteed. That wouldn’t change, couldn’t change, short of things he didn’t wish to think about. There were other questions, other what-ifs, to ask another time. Things he had asked himself a hundred times over. Things he’d ask himself a hundred times again. Things that he would not let consume him that night. It was as good a time as any to try to just enjoy where he was and what he did have and what he was doing.