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Feb. 12th, 2023 at 9:15 PM
[An hour's drive outside of the flames of Virginia Beach finally returns them to solid pavement.]
Yes! Oh, fuck yes, finally.
[And Johnnie is sure glad to see it, as he cheers with a fist in the air. Now he can just sit back and let the bike carry them without having to dodge rocks and slide around in the occasional patch of mud. Those old roads are a fun challenge for a little while, no doubt, but they get old fast.
Relieved now, though, Johnnie leans back a little against Chrissy behind him, and looks around in the darkness at what he can make out of the countryside. Lights dot a lot more little plots of land now, the occasional car passes going north, and what was moments ago swamp and forest has definitely turned more toward farmland from what illumination he can get from the headlight of the bike. There's some song on the radio about a place called Margaritaville, which he sure doesn't recognize.]
You know this one?
[Might be more in her wheelhouse. He'll just keep watching for road signs or town names, anything to tell them if they're on a real highway or some shitty side road so he can work out how far they actually traveled in that last hour, and how much longer until they reach the coast.]
Yes! Oh, fuck yes, finally.
[And Johnnie is sure glad to see it, as he cheers with a fist in the air. Now he can just sit back and let the bike carry them without having to dodge rocks and slide around in the occasional patch of mud. Those old roads are a fun challenge for a little while, no doubt, but they get old fast.
Relieved now, though, Johnnie leans back a little against Chrissy behind him, and looks around in the darkness at what he can make out of the countryside. Lights dot a lot more little plots of land now, the occasional car passes going north, and what was moments ago swamp and forest has definitely turned more toward farmland from what illumination he can get from the headlight of the bike. There's some song on the radio about a place called Margaritaville, which he sure doesn't recognize.]
You know this one?
[Might be more in her wheelhouse. He'll just keep watching for road signs or town names, anything to tell them if they're on a real highway or some shitty side road so he can work out how far they actually traveled in that last hour, and how much longer until they reach the coast.]
Comments
It shows she hasn't given up and isn't broken, doesn't it?
She hopes so. Johnnie doesn't deserve to be stuck loving someone that's broken.
Her hand squeezes his as she situates herself, then drops away so she can touch at the pile of bubbles that's before her. The fluffiness of them makes her smile through the pain.]
Thank you, by the way. For taking care of me. You're doing a really good job.
[That's definitely a joke, he's very good for a lot of things. But she's special and important and deserves every ounce of special attention right now while she can't attend to it all herself. So despite his hand fucking hating this, he uses both, scrubbing fingers and soapy water all the way up to her roots. She can get clean hair and a nice scalp massage all at once.]
You've been taking such good care of me, too, with my leg all busted up. Not that I'm only doing this 'cause it's a fair trade, though, it's that we take care of each other. That's how it is back home, too, you know. When you got nobody else to rely on but the people you're with, everyone's gotta do their share to help each other out. 'Course... it's not like this either, exactly, I can't say I ever made a bubble bath for someone.
[But romance aside, the point is, even if he hates relying on people, he does. And they rely on him too, sometimes, or they did before he died. When someone gets thrashed by the cops or stabbed by one of their rivals or shot at by some angry motherfucker who deserves to burn, they get each other home and fix each other up. They're not just friends, not just a gang, they're family to each other. So he's used to helping someone who can't walk home, or making sure someone gets fed when they're out and don't have the cash for more. That's where a lot of this comes from, for him.
She just gets extra, because she's his.]
Edited 2023-02-18 05:44 am (UTC)
We do take really good care of each other, don't we.
[A fact that makes her almost beam with pride. He has his family back home, and eventually they'll be like her family too. Assuming they accept her. But even if they don't, she knows without a doubt that she and Johnnie will take care of each other.]
When we get back home, nobody's going to believe that you made bubble baths for me.
[That makes her laugh, even as she eases back against his hands in her hair.]
Not that I'll tell them! Your secret is safe with me. But I think they'll really be surprised when they see us together.
[Because let's be real, he's sweet on girls often enough, it's not like nobody's ever seen him with his hands in some girl's back pockets, taking her home after a party. And it's not like she's not his type, given his type covers a wide range of pretty little things with long legs and a need for attention from a boy with drugs and a guitar.
So, actually, on second thought, they won't bat an eye until after she's been around more than a week, since it's looking more and more likely they won't all be able to scare her off with the usual antics. It won't be the introduction that shocks them, it'll be the idea she's actually staying this time.
Well, good. He likes taking people by surprise.]
There you go, hair's back to lookin' your usual color. Actually, hold on.
[Good thing he brought her brush over. He helps her sit more upright, then reaches to pick it up, and starts working the remaining tangles out. It's trickier than he'd expected, but he tries to stay gentle. She might like hair-pulling while she's getting fucked, but this isn't that.]
When we get there, I wanna show you the whole city. Once we get settled, once I know what's goin' down at home an' if there's plans to raze Zazo's place to the ground, I guess. But when we get time, I gotta show you all the best places. An' all the worst ones too, I guess, so you don't drive yourself into trouble while lookin' for the beach.
But Johnnie isn't suggesting that the monsters will be there. He remembers how much she had wanted to see the ocean and go to the beach, and knows how excited she had been to see the beaches in LA.
As she remembers the good times they had back on the beach in Virginia, it's enough to calm her. His attention to getting out those tangles anchors her to the moment, and she's pulled from her thoughts with a soft gasp as he really works out a knot. One hand drops away from her ear, and then the other. All that exists in the world right now is the two of them in this little motel room, hidden away from the darkness and anything that might harm them.
She's safe, and is able to look forward to the future.]
I want to see the whole city, all of it.
[The good and the bad, and everything in between. It's going to be her home, and she wants to see it from every angle so she can really take it in and form a new life there. And she imagines at first she'll be with Johnnie a lot. But eventually she'll be brave enough to venture out alone and do her own thing. It's just going to take time.]
But first, I want to enjoy the rest of the time it takes to get there.
[They've still got a long way to go. And she's going to do whatever it takes to stay with him and ensure they go back to having a good time.]
Once her hair is tangle-free, he sets the brush aside and sinks lower in the nice warm water so they can both be extra-comfortable in it, and tangles the fingers of his left hand with hers.]
Oh, we will. I know, I keep lookin' forward to home, but you're right. We got a lot of good stuff to see on the way back still too, an' I'm glad I get to see it all with you. We'll cross the Mississippi down south here where it's real wide, I never got to see that up north. An' Texas, we're gonna be there a long time, that's a big state to drive through. Bet it's cool, though. Gotta be lots to see in Texas. An' the Grand Canyon, we'll go camping, have the stars all to ourselves.
[That last part he's definitely looking forward to. Some of these decades are a little bit of a pain to spend time in, but out in the open desert, it won't matter. Won't be anyone for miles, a lot of places, no matter when they are. As long as there's a paved road to drive on, they can just enjoy and not have to worry about anything.]
That's right! I wanted to go camping again. And see real cowboys! How could I forget?
[It's another little clue as to just how long it was for her, the fact that she seems to have forgotten those details at all. And really, it wasn't that she had forgotten as much as they had just been pushed to the back of her mind. She had more important things to focus on while she was waiting for him.
Remembering that long stretch of time and how it had felt like an endless void makes her recall how her tears had eventually burnt and became so dark. It's time to wash those away. She sits up a little and pulls her hand away from his, just long enough to scoop up bubbles and water and scrub her face. It hurts, but she can see the dark grime and blood wash away and that's pretty freeing for her. It's like washing off the last of the despair she had felt for so long.
Smiling as she feels clean enough, she leans back with him to relax in the water. Her fingers quickly tangle with his, and she's able to close her eyes and imagine what all their next stops will be like.]
Do you think my camera made it? I want to get a lot of pictures of the last few places we stop.
[He rubs his thumb across her fingers, then folds their joined arms over her belly and smiles against her hair. She forgot shit, that's something that might eat at him for a little while. Was it time that did it, or despair? Both, probably. Can't really separate them from each other, based on what he's been able to work out about what she went through.
His stomach grumbles, which makes him laugh. He can hold out, no need to rush to find food when he's happy here. Actually, it's a nice reminder that whatever this version of life is, it still carries on despite everything that just happened.]
Oh, man. Hey, I got some cash, by the way. Whichever idiot was supposed to be minding the front desk didn't lock up. We might get to treat ourselves to a restaurant when we're ready to walk around.
Her free hand wanders along the bubbles in the tub, and then over to his leg, where she soothingly works her fingers along his outer thigh.]
I want to go out as soon as we're able to. Like we did in Nashville, right? I really had a good time that night.
[Sighing as she says it, she knows they have plenty more great times to look forward to. And when they get back home, it'll be night after night of good times.]
I missed you so much. I'm really happy that you found me.
[Maybe the happiest she's ever been, especially since he's told her that he loves her too. She takes hold of his other hand in hers, and guides it up to her mouth so she can kiss at his knuckles.]
[Man, he wants a steak. Or ribs. This is the south, they should have barbecue all over the place, right? Fuck, that sounds good. Maybe even if tonight there's no chance they'll be up for going out, maybe he can find a place still open and bring some back to surprise her. Or there's always tomorrow, if it's too late by the time he gets out of the tub, which it may well be. Maybe tonight is whatever he can steal from a locked-for-the-night grocery store and turn into dinner, which honestly is plenty satisfying anyway.
She kisses his knuckles and he gives a content little sigh, though his mouth folds into a thin frown.]
I woulda kept looking for as long as it took. Can't believe that fuckin' octo-fish thing, comin' after us directly like that. I wanna know what those things really were, you know? Like, where did they come from? 'Cause that shit shouldn't fuckin' be here. I know the ocean's huge an' all but that shit?
[Ugh, well, if he never finds out then so be it, but more than that he wants to know if there's a chance they'll ever see them again so the know how to deal with them if they do. Or better, how to stay as far as they can away from areas with them, because the flying ones sure as hell didn't need water to come out of, they just showed up and that's awful.
He snorts, then traces fingers through her hair.]
No point in worrying about that right now. Just pisses me off, that's all.
Maybe they're like the storms.
[Which doesn't make much sense, but she's trying not to panic here. Exhaling slowly, her hold on his hand tightens. They're safe, she's fine. She can talk about those monsters without them actually showing up.]
Maybe they followed us here. Because we're...
[Wrong? No.
Different? Definitely, but that's not the word she's looking for.]
It's like we're only half-dead. And maybe we're not supposed to be here like that. Maybe that's why some of these things like the big storms and those monsters show up where we are.
[Her toes flex and she decides she's had enough talking about things that terrify her. She focuses on the feel of him pressed up against her, on the way they smell like strawberry. And she focuses on the fact she's starving, even if she's willing to ignore it in favor of lying here with him just like this.]
Hey, do you think we could get pizza tonight?
[Look, he might've made a really dumb choice out at the edge of all that black. He'll own up to that, though so far, so good, right? But he truly doesn't believe he's significant enough to bring entire storms or monsters just because he's here and shouldn't be. So they've seen some weird things on their travels, but they've seen a lot of normal things too. They've crossed through different times and realities, shouldn't that be enough to explain why they've seen the occasional storm, and run into a weird bunch of fish monsters?
Maybe that's not the reassurance she wanted, but he's not seeking to reassure exactly, it's just a statement. Yeah, yeah, trying to cheat death has consequences, he's heard that all his life, but the consequences are personal. You fuck up, you pay the cost. ... Well, or you become a thing set on causing a whole lot of death and destruction to other people, too, sure.
All right fine he doesn't know how it works, all he can do is guess. And Chrissy wants pizza and he's happy to settle on that instead.]
Sure, if I can find a place still open when we get outta the tub. Or I could go now. We're both pretty hungry, maybe I oughta just get up.
[But she'll have to let him up first, so, her call.]
He's also giving her a choice in the moment, to decide when he goes to get pizza. Again, it's more power than he gives other people. It's a tiny little detail, something insignificant. But it's enough to soothe her wounded feelings, and she shifts a little to scoot forward and give him some room.
It's killing her not to as how long he'll be gone, wanting reassurance that he'll be back. Instead of asking him about that, she nods over toward the joints he's rolled and put on the side of the tub.]
Do you want to have those before we get out and you go? Maybe I'll be able to sleep while you're out if we do.
[It'll make him even hungrier for that pizza, which makes him laugh a little. Worth it, though. He reaches past her to grab one, and places it in her mouth first, then gets the lighter next and flicks it to call forth that little flame so she can lean right into it. He takes the second one, twisting as he lights it so he doesn't catch her hair on fire, then sets the lighter aside and leans back to enjoy a hit.]
Mm. Hey, whaddya want on your pizza?
Hmmm...
[Her voice is a thoughtful sing-song as she thinks over what she wants. Typically, she'd tell someone that she doesn't care what's on it as long as there's no anchovies. But she knows that he wants her to have opinions and use her voice. And she feels they're in a place where it's okay for her to be honest with what she wants and likes.]
I think I want one of those pizzas with everything on it. You know, the one with green peppers and onions and black olives? Oh! And mushrooms too. I've always wanted to try a pizza like that, especially if there's sausage and pepperoni on it too.
[He sighs dreamily, then laughs and exhales a slow plume of smoke.]
You got good taste in pizza. And guys. We'll see what I can dig up here, hopefully whoever's at the shop can see me. At least if they try to fuckin' ignore me I can shove their hand in the sausage grinder.
[Gross. It makes him snicker, though.]
And coke? I'll get us some coke. The soda pop kind.
[Goddamn if he can score the other kind too, though. Hell, gotta be a trade somewhere here right? Place is big enough to have an airport, so it's big enough to have someone buying and selling, surely.
Well, he can ask around. Shame he doesn't have a bunch more cash on hand but maybe he can solve that too.]
[Her nose scrunches up as she laughs, looking at him with amusement. She's not sure she's in the right physical shape to be hyped up on cocaine, but if nothing else it will at least take away her aches and pains for a while. The pot is doing a pretty good job of relaxing her now though, enough that she scoots forward a little more and turns in the water so she's facing him.
There's still some wincing and pained hisses as she does it, but she wants to see him. The sight of him sitting there, naked and looking content enough makes her smile.]
Back to the pizza though. I think you should also get onions on it. And on the inside of the box, you should write a poem about what great taste I have.
[Which is only a joke, obviously. That's completely ridiculous. But getting high makes her a little silly, which in turn makes her giggle and smile. It also makes her at least twice as affectionate as she normally is, so it's a couple hits later that she's trying to lean in to carefully kiss him. They're both injured enough that any physical affection has the potential to hurt.]
Hell, he's gonna have to write her a poem now. She's joking, but he'll do it.]
Onions, got it. Good call. An' extra cheese. Man I really hope there's a pizza place here. Gotta be, right? I know it's the south but they must have Italians here somewhere. All right, what if there's no pizza?
[Because he does in fact vaguely recall how pizza places started popping up more and more in his lifetime. It's easy to find in LA in '67, no problem, but here? He can't come back empty-handed if this place is behind the times.]
[She's in a pretty pizza-y mood and isn't sure she wants anything but that. Maybe the monsters destroyed all the pizza places though, a thought that makes her a little uneasy when it comes to letting him go out. She's worried he might not make it back safely, but she's trying really hard to not let her anxiety make her extra clingy.]
I'm good with burgers or anything you can find, baby. [Smiling, she claims one more gentle kiss. Her hand brushes wet hair out of his face as she pulls back, only wincing a little as she adjusts to try and get comfortable.]
I care more about making sure you're able to come back here and don't wind up in another time.
[Maybe it's speed. The faster you go, the greater the chances of slipping in time. Sounds plausible to him. So, no street racing with pizza, then. That's something they can test when they're both on the bike together.
He drapes an arm over her shoulder, the closest he'll get to an embrace with her busted ribs. Eventually, after one more hit and another few kisses, he convinces himself to wind his way free and slip out of the tub. He reaches for the towels and sets one for her on the edge of the tub and another on the floor, then stands and sets the remainder of his joint on the counter.]
I better get us food before everything closes. You want a hand out or do you wanna stay there a while longer an' relax?
The fact she's now mellow as she finishes up her joint helps that process. She's able to just enjoy those kisses and watches him move out of the tub with a serene smile on her face.]
Help me out?
[She requests, putting her joint out on the side of the tub so she can move it out of the way for now. Sitting in the water and relaxing is tempting, but she doesn't know if she can stand up and get out safely. And if he comes back and she's lying unconscious in the bathroom because she slipped and fell, that might freak him out.
It's better that she get out now and go back to bed.
Reaching for him with both hands, her fingers wiggle to rid themselves of bubbles. There's laughter as a clump of the bubbles go sailing into the air.]
Help me get into bed and I promise I'll wait there until you get back.
[No panicking (hopefully), no getting up to try and move around. Just rest and relaxation. Maybe she can watch TV, if there's one in the room.]
[Something about that makes him laugh, which means it's probably the weed. He carefully takes her hands and helps her balance so she can climb on up out of the tub, then holds her towel out for her to take before getting on to drying himself off.
Once dry, he drapes his towel over a shoulder and loops an arm around her to guide her to bed.]
I won't take too long, promise. Just gotta wait on them to make our pizza. I might pick up a few other things while I wait, an' come back with some treats for you.
[Her genuine surprise is definitely because of the weed, as is the laughter that follows. That laughter continues as she carefully lowers herself into bed and feels how soft everything is. She whispers something about it feeling like laying on a cloud.
And when he works to tuck her in so she's nice and warm, she gently tangles her fingers in his wet hair and guides him in for a kiss. It's still too slow and gentle, but neither of them are in the right place for anything much more than that right now.
It leaves her perfectly content though, enough that she feels safe enough to let him go without worrying. She had been thinking of asking him to write down the phone number on the phone in the room, so he could call if he'd be out longer. Instead, she lets her eyes drift closed as she relaxes against the pillows.]
I'll see you soon, okay? Just be careful.
Oh well, one problem at a time.]
I will, babe. Get some sleep.
[Dressed, and with his hair mostly stuck back into place with just water alone for now, he bends down to kiss her once more, then gives a little wave with his not-so-burned fingers and heads for the door.
His poor bike is so beat up, but until he has time later, he'll have to trust it can still get him a few miles further down the road. First step is to locate pizza, which he does purely by mistake, because when he initially spots that drive-in named Whispering Pines it slaps him in the face with weird travel surreality. Ultimately, it's not a totally unique name though, right? There's more pines out here than in LA, actually. Now, it being a drive-in means they've probably already got pizza ready that doesn't take much waiting, so he takes note of the hours and cruises on past. He'll come back after a few extra stops first.
Step two, then, is to scope out the town and see what he can easily get for free, and scope out the town for later anyway. Downtown Wilmington is a surprisingly busy place in the evening, full of little shops and taverns and a few big ones, too. He slips unnoticed in and out of a men's department store, wearing one set of clothes and emerging with clean ones, which makes him feel better. He'll have to paint his new jacket, but that can be a project for tomorrow. A bag strapped to the back of the bike holds a good few additional finds now, too. And then he makes a stop at a grocery store for a few necessities, and a few things that definitely aren't necessities - and manages to only need to pay for about half of it, with a few more expensive items tucked into his pockets, all to then be stuffed into the bag on the back of the bike once he's out.
Pizza, then. Or pizza-pie, as it's apparently called in this place and time, which rings some weird childhood nostalgia bells. Anyway, this in particular was why the grocery store had to come first, given he spends a few minutes having to negotiate with the skeptical cooks on adding some custom toppings. Ultimately victorious, though, he brings his prize back in a box cradled between his knees, and parks outside the motel door for an extra few minutes with the box balanced on top of the bike seat so he can write a poem that nearly winds in the pizza being spilled on the parking lot since it keeps making him laugh too hard.
He slings the bag of remaining goodies over his shoulder, balances the box with one hand, and grimaces at the feeling of the key on his acid-burned skin as he turns it in the lock and makes his way inside.]
Dinner time, babe.
[Just so she knows it's him and not someone breaking in. She's so jumpy right now, though he thinks that's pretty reasonable. With the door closed behind him, he pokes his head into the room to see if she's awake.]
The tiny TV in the corner of the room serves as a decent distraction, and she's in bed watching a western in black and white when the door opening makes her jump in alarm. It's just Johnnie though, of course it is. And she looks absolutely relieved to see him walking back into the room.
Ignoring her injuries, she practically leaps out of bed and hurries over to him. The effort it takes to do that makes her huff and make a pained sound, and she sure slows down after that. ]
You found pizza! [Pleased about that, she attempts to take it from him so she can set it on the small table in the room. She quickly discovers that hurts like hell, and is thankful his hands are on it so he can carry it there instead.]
And... [Pausing, her head tips to the side as she looks at the bag over his shoulder.] What else did you find out there?