Chapter Text
DAY 1
CLAIRE
“What are you doing…?” Claire thought to herself as she hiked up towards the lookout tower. “A two day hike…for what? A job you don't even want?” She thought. “I mean…who the fuck even wants to be a firewatch?” Her thoughts grew more pessimistic as she walked.
Soon enough, Claire approached the tower. It looked…okay? It was definitely old, but sturdy. She slowly walked up the stairs of the tower and steped into the upper cabin. It was also okay. Not good, not bad, but okay.
Claire quickly pressed the flashing power button and the lights came on. Before she could sit down and relax, someone's voice rang out into the cabin. “Hello, Two-Forks Tower?” She turned around and saw a radio on the desk. Claire walked over to the desk and picked up the radio, looking at it for a second.
“Hello, Two-Forks Tower? This is Thorofare Tower. Come in.” The voice sounded slightly more…Agitated? Concerned? Claire couldn't tell as she pressed the side button and spoke into the radio.
"Hello? Are you the other firewatch?”
The voice quickly responded, “I am; and you're Claire, right? Claire Greene?”
“Yup…” She mumbled, trying keep her responses as short as possible to end this conversation
“I’m Ranger.” “Ranger? Who on earth is named Ranger?” She thought about the name that "Ranger" had told her.
“Ranger? Your name is Ranger?” She said sarcastically.
“Well...no. Not really. I used to be a forest ranger. I got the nickname after I switched to being a firewatch and it stuck. You already know what my name is, but you can call me whatever you want. I don't care.” Ranger explained.
“Okay, Ranger.” There was a short pause as Claire looked around the barin cabin.
“So what’s wrong with you?” Ranger asked. She felt slightly offended at the question.
“Excuse me?” She questioned them.
“People always take this job to get away from something. So what's with you?” Ranger pushed to know the answer.
“What's wrong with you?” She shot back.
“That's a great idea. Go ahead.” Ranger replied condescendingly.
“Look, I just hiked for two days straight, so I'm not really getting whatever you're trying to get at.” She sighed.
“You take a stab at what's wrong with me, and I'll do the same.” Ranger spoke.
“Fine, then will you leave me alone?” She grumbled.
“Sure, wolfie. Now go on, guess.” Her face scrunched in annoyance at the nickname.
“Okay, you're probably out here because no one back home can stand you. Which, after this introduction, would not be surprising.” She said.
“Ouch, I'll chalk that up to being tired and grumpy.” Ranger responded.
“Well, then I'm sure some sleep would do me wonders.” Claire tried to end the it there, but Ranger spoke up again.
“Hold your horses. It's my turn now.”
“Okay, goodnight. Bye.” She put my radio in the charger before setting her bag on the floor and sitting down on the edge of the bed.
“Let's see…” Ranger kept talking. “I really don't know anything about you, but I do know that nine times out of ten, folks that come out here are trying to get away from their problems. Like a bad breakup or a death in the family. I'm thinking...your dad died? Was I close?”
There was a long pause as Ranger waited for a response but I didn't give them one. “Ah, giving me the silent treatment, huh? That's fine I won't push. For now.” The room fell silent. Nothing but her own breathing and the crickets outside.
“What am I doing?”
RANGER
“Another summer, another new person. How the hell did she even get this job, her resume was increadbly suspicious.” Ranger thought as they sat at their desk, bottle in hand. They were only a little tipsy, for now. Ranger kept their eyes on Two-Forks Tower. Waiting to see the lights come on so they can radio in and check on…Claire. Was that even her real name?
They kept a careful eye on the tower and eventually the lights came on. Ranger reached for the radio on the side of their desk, pressing the button on the side before speaking. “Hello, Two-Forks Tower?” They waited for a response before speaking again. “Hello, Two Forks Tower. This is Thorofare Tower, come in.” They spoke more curtly this time.
Finally, a voice other than their own rang out into the room. “Hello, are you the other firewatch?” The voice was…nice. She sounded absolutely exhausted, but she had a good voice to listen to.
“I am; and you're Claire, right? Claire Greene?” Ranger asked.
“Yup…” Was all Claire said. “Wow, so poetic.” They thought to themselves.
“I'm Ranger.” There was a short pause before Claire spoke up.
“Ranger? Your name is Ranger?” She said sarcastically.
“Well, no. Not really. I used to be a forest ranger. It became a nickname after I switched to be a firewatch and it stuck. You already know what my name is, but you can call me whatever you want.” They explained to her.
“Okay, Ranger.” Claire responded, putting emphasis on their name.
There was another pause before they spoke up again. “So what's wrong with you?” Ranger asked her the same question they asked everyone before her.
“Excuse me?” She sounded offended as she answered. Most people did.
“People always take this job to get away from something. So what's with you?” I They asked again wanting to know the backstory to why this random woman with no experience in this field wanted this job.
“What’s wrong with you?” They should've expected that response.
“That's a great idea! Go ahead.” Ranger responded.
“Look, I just hiked for two days straight, so I’m not really getting whatever you're trying to do.” She sighed. Clearly exhausted from the long treacherous hike she had to do.
“You take a stab at what's wrong with me and I'll do the same.” they said to her, trying to get her to loosen up a little.
“Fine,” She agreed. “Then can I sleep?” She grumbled clearly annoyed at the small talk.
“Sure wolfie. Now go on, guess.”
“Okay, you're probably out here because no one back home can stand you. Which, after this introduction, would not be surprising.”
“Jeez, that hit a little close to home.” They thought. “Ouch, I'll chalk that comment up to you being tired and grumpy.” Ranger replied. She wasn't wrong though.
“Well, then I'm sure some sleep would do me wonders.” It was really just one sarcastic comment after another with her. “Hold your horses. It's my turn now.”
“Let's see…” They wondered before stating the obvious. “I really don't know anything about you,” Ranger continued. “But I do know that nine times out of ten, folks that come out here are trying to get away from their problems. Like a bad breakup or a death in the family. I'm thinking...your dad died? Was I close?” They asked and waited for a response that didn't come. “Ah, giving me the silent treatment, huh? That's fine I won't push. For now.”
Ranger let their finger off the button and put the radio back on the charger. Looking back out the window in front of me at Claire’s tower. The lights stayed on for a couple minutes before going. They were left in the calm quiet dark as they took another swig from the bottle of God knows what that was still in my hand.
“I'll get her to loosen up.” I thought. “I have too, or else it's gonna be a really boring three months.”