beyondtheline | Tornadoes and skeletons and nacho dogs, oh my

[She laughs at that nickname, grinning ear to ear as she watches him flip that hammer. She wants to say a little more, but the others making their way into the barn ruins the moment. So she's glad when he has the idea to get back to work, and nods as she hops out of the wagon to go retrieve a couple pieces of wood for him to use.

It's Guillermo that joins them first, followed by Diego and Oliver. The others keep their distance for the time being, keeping to the other side of the barn working on something for the horses. Chrissy helps where she's able, holding wood in place for Johnnie and grabbing things as the skeletons call them out.

Eventually though, she's left studying the front of the wagon. The bench seat will look empty to everyone but them, and she's pretty sure that will scare them. But what if they were able to create something to really scare people and keep them from wanting to apprehend the wagon?]

Hey, Cruz? [She calls out his name as she jogs over toward him.] Do you have any spare tarps or blankets? We should create a really tall cloaked figure that will scare the heck out of anyone that sees the wagon going by. They'll think it's a demon driving away!

[There's enough spare wood to build some kind of quick frame. And they could make lanterns for eyes to really give it a cool look. It would be so cool, and the cloth could help provide shelter and warmth for everyone in the wagon after they make their big escape.

Cruz seems less convinced it's a great idea, but isn't about to argue with her. Instead, he nods over toward a stall in the barn that's filled with blankets and thick linen tarps.]

Take what you need. You might want to lay a bunch of them down in the wagon too, to make the ride easier on whoever's back there.

[Smiling, she nods and hurries off to grab as many as her arms will carry. They get brought back to the wagon and tossed up inside the back before she climbs up to start laying things out.]

Does anyone want to help me build a demon?

[She's more than willing to move past what's happened between them in favor of building a real cool demon to drive this thing.]

[Johnnie smiles to himself as he hammers wood onto the wagon's tongue and listens to everything going on around him. Hugo and Oliver are both quick to volunteer in building a demon, and it's Hugo who comes forward with a pair of sickles to use as horns, while Oliver takes a broken plow to make a large triangular head to hang the tarps on.

There's thunder outside from somewhere far off, and rain strikes the dust where it slips between slats in the decaying roof. Johnnie gives his repair a thunk with the hammer, decides it's sturdy enough, then backs away to look at the overall effect Chrissy and the other two are busy creating.]

Oh yeah, that's fuckin' terrifying. Looks like a giant goat in a shawl, sure, but at night? Fuck, we gotta give it a torch it can hold too.

Oh, good idea, baby. I bet we can find something perfect to use.

[The tarps are ready to be hung, and she holds them and stares up at the head all the way up high.]

Can you lift me up high enough to hang this though?

[She could ask anyone, but she directly asks Johnnie to do it. There's no one else she wants to lift her up high, and maybe it's an excuse to get his hands on her. And maybe it's to also have him get part of the satisfaction of creating a really amazing demon. That's sure to put him in a really good mood.]

Uh huh. C'mere.

[There are probably better ways to do this, but whatever, she wants a lift, he's more than happy to give her one. He kneels down to get her to sit on his shoulders, then carefully stands up while holding on to her thighs.]

See? Who needs a horse, you got me.

[Man, she wasn't heavy at first but the weight of a whole human does add up over time. Worth it, though; he'll stay put as long as she needs to do her decorating. And he'll try not to do anything distracting like kiss her thighs, even though it's very tempting right now just to make her squirm.]

[She's happy as can be as he lifts her up, and rests a hand on his head while he gets her into place. It takes some time for her to get the tarp into place, and somehow they wind up tented inside the tarp and everything goes dark. That makes her laugh, and she leans down so she can kiss at his forehead and temple.]

I'd rather ride you than a horse, anyday.

[It's whispered so only he can hear, though her laughter is probably evident to everyone nearby. She realizes that she's probably getting pretty heavy though, so she has him help her back down on her own two feet. They're still standing inside the tarp she's hung up at that point, the two of them all tangled up in the fabric.]

Hey. [She grabs him by the hand before he has a chance to step out.] Are you still angry?

[Of course she would rather, that's why he said it, and he laughs right along with her until she gets back down onto her feet again. That tarp really wants to wrap around his leg for some reason, and he kicks it free, then stops and raises an eyebrow at her question.]

Yeah? Kinda. I'll work with these guys to get this done but Cruz fucked up, man, that was some real dumb shit from him. Why d'you ask?

Just making sure you're okay.

[Really, that's all there is to it. She doesn't want him to be uncomfortable, but he really does seem okay. Cruz messed up big time in his books, and she gets that. But he doesn't seem pressed to want to go after a fight anymore, and so she smiles as she leans in to kiss his cheek.]

I don't want to have to throw anymore rocks.

[Yeah, she knows that was ridiculous and stupid and didn't help at all. But looking back now that the situation is diffused? It was pretty funny.]

[He grins and gives her a little squeeze around the waist at that comment.]

Love that you did, though. Aside from me sayin' one on one, but that was just so all the other guys didn't try an' dogpile me, 'cause I don't think I can take seven skeleton dudes all at once without somethin' more than a knife.

[Seriously though, he does love that she tried. He knows she likes Cruz, or did, but she was right there to help take him on if she had to, and that's loyalty he can't forget.]

How the hell did I get so lucky comin' across you, huh?

[Her mouth opens, and she almost counters that she's the lucky one. But she shrugs first instead, and brings a hand up so she can press her thumb against his chin and nudge his head to turn for a perfect kiss.]

We're both just that lucky, I guess. Sometimes I'm grateful for that monster that got me. Because even if it was scary, he gave me you.

[which is one way of putting it, a nice positive spin. She smiles, and kisses him one more time, right before a shadow looms over them and Cruz clears his throat.]

I'm sorry to interrupt, but...well, the boys were wondering what ideas you had for that fire, Redmayne.

[Blushing, Chrissy pulls out of the kiss but sticks close to Johnnie. The tension is diffused a little but isn't gone completely. And she's still hurt that he'd lock her in a barn because she got into a little trouble. She's guessing that he's so protective because he couldn't save Elizabeth, and he probably sees the woman he loved in her somehow. But she's got Johnnie to keep her safe, and hopes he realizes that now.]

We were just about to figure that out, actually. Do you think we'll need their help for the fire, Johnnie?

[He remains close to Chrissy as Cruz makes himself known, and although he sounds easygoing enough as he talks, there's tension in his frame, still some residual urge to fight that ripples through him at the sight of the other man.]

Wouldn't hurt, since we got so many extra hands. I'm thinkin' we better get a big fuel source goin' in that field, but maybe two or three would be even better. Get some of the scrap wood an' old straw around here, set up a few piles all around. So if you have a couple people who wanna get that stuff together, we can pick who goes where an' make sure they all get started up at the same time.

[See? He can plan. He does know what he's doing, and there's a smirk on his face like he's proving it.

Cruz seems to take a moment to take this in, but then nods. Sure, he'll go along with it - better for all of them if they do the fire right, after all.]

I'll see who's in on that. I know I have a few who've been longing for a little more mischief in their lives.

Sounds like a good plan. Thanks, Cruz.

[She uses the same pleasant tone as always, but there's an edge of ice to it, like she's dismissing him from needing to speak to them any further. Her smile is sharp to go along with it, but for someone that doesn't know her very well, it will just seem like she's being formal and polite. Being a head cheerleader comes in useful in situations where she needs to pull rank and kill someone with cold kindness.

It's impossible to miss how tense Johnnie is, and she just wants Cruz to go away so they can get back to having a good time. So when he just nods and turns to go lay out the plan with the others to see who's willing to lay out piles of wood and straw, she breathes out a sigh of relief.]

While they're getting that together, do you want to go in and get our things and get them on the bike?

Yeah, let's get that done.

[Best be ready to leave at a moment's notice, regardless of the changing weather, or maybe because of it. If the roads get soaked enough, they could get the bike stuck - hell, it's a good bike but it's not meant for thick mud.

He gives her a teasing little swat on the butt once Cruz's back is turned, then heads back toward the house so they can get their things together. And outside, that changing weather is even more obvious. The clouds are thick and dark, with a hint of strange green that makes him pause.]

Guess we'll have good cover tonight if this keeps up. Should be easy to stay hidden.

[As long as it doesn't turn really dire, anyway. A gust of wind hits, and it really rattles those shaky barn timbers. Might even be hard to get a real fire going if it rains, but the wind will push the embers.]

[Chrissy's laughing after that swat to her backside, but as soon as they step outside and she notices the change in the weather she grows more serious. It stormed in Indiana, all the time. But whatever's brewing up above them right now is definitely different than what she's seen before. ]

Hopefully it won't be anything like Nashville. That kind of storm would make it impossible for everyone to get away.

[But it's probably just a normal thunderstorm, nothing to worry about. She spares the sky another glance or two before heading toward the house. He doesn't follow her right away, and she has to turn back and grab his hand to pull him along with her.

Of course, as soon as they're in that secondary room, she gets both hands on his hips and presses him against the wall. While he's there, she might as well kiss him like she wanted to earlier. Defending her honor definitely earns one hell of a kiss, which she draws out as one hand presses firm against his shoulder to keep him in place.]

We should also make a plan about what to do in case we end up separated.

[Is she expecting him to be able to think and come up with a plan after kissing him like that? Not really. But she can't let them get entirely distracted.]

[Oh, he is so here for that sudden change of mood. Her kiss leaves his head spinning, and he's definitely not that focused on her plan suggestion.]

Mm, okay.

[Is all he manages to get out before he tugs her tight to him and kisses her again, and slips a hand up under her top to slide his fingers across her skin.

This isn't the time for anything other than a moment of making out, unfortunately, and so eventually he lets up again, and lifts a hand to brush hair out of his eyes.]

Dunno how to plan for that. Stay put an' I'll find you again.

[She is all in on the making out, but gets that this isn't the time or place for it or anything more. But she's all too happy to help him brush his hair out of his eyes, the humidity in the air is doing nothing for him keeping it neat and styled today.]

I can do that.

[It's a promise, one that's sealed with a smile as she pulls back and away so they can each grab one of their bags.]

I'll make sure to have my knife on me, so if something goes wrong, I can at least try to defend myself.

[She's been bad about not carrying it on her day to day here recently, since he's always armed. He doesn't mind protecting her and keeping them both safe, but she realizes that in a situation like this she needs to be ready to pull her own weight and fend for herself if necessary.

All that means is she signals for him to set the bag back down so she can look through it and find her knife. It's put in the pocket of her skirt, which weighs down the fabric and makes it start sliding down off her hips. She has to tug it up, only for it to fall right back down again under the weight of the knife. She can only laugh and shrug, and grab a bag so they can head back outside before Cruz or one of the others start looking for them.]

Your gun, too.

[Probably in one of these bags, but he can help her look through them for that later, given she has enough trouble just wearing the knife. They'll need to find her a holster, or maybe something for her thigh so she can keep it under a skirt if she has to.]

Hey, before you get too far - much as I love that skirt on you, babe, I wonder if there's somethin' more practical for stuff like this tonight where you really probably do wanna have a weapon.

[Just an idea, though, as he's just about to grab the other bag.]

[He's right, and she knows it. But she still hesitates, face contorting into something close to deep thought as she thinks it over. Eventually she nods in agreement, and puts down her bag so she can go through it.]

I should have a pair of shorts in here somewhere. Can you find my gun in the other bag while I find something else to wear?

[She really needs to find a pair of jeans that she can tuck away and bring with her. If it comes down to it, she probably could wear a pair of his. He has some tucked into the bag, and she pulls those out first and eyes them.]

Do you have another belt in here somewhere? Maybe I can wear your jeans and one of your shirts.

[He gets it, he loves seeing her in all her cute things, and loves taking them off her even more. But all that can wait for another time. He bends down to sort through the stuff in the bag nearest to hand, searching for that pistol.]

Another belt? Uh, yeah I grabbed one for that fancy outfit for the party. Might look a little extra snazzy.

[But not excessively. Men's belts haven't changed all that much in the middle of the 20th century. He finds that first, actually, and tosses it her way, before his fingers come into contact with cold metal. There, pistol, which he sets aside on the floor for the moment.]

[After a glance spared at the door to make sure it's closed, she gets undressed and puts on his things. The pistol is picked up, and the knife taken out of her skirt. The knife at least, can go into the pocket on these jeans and it's fine. But she holds the pistol and tries tucking it into the waistband of the jeans.]

Are you supposed to tuck these things into your underwear or something? It doesn't stay when I put it in the back of my pants.

[he makes it look so easy! She's a little frustrated when she takes those first few steps and feels the pistol shift and move in her pants. But she figures things will sort themselves out in time, so she sighs and zips up the bag.]

It'll be dark soon. I think I'm just nervous about everything going right.

Aw, babe. Well you got different shaped hips. Probably changes how that fits. Here.

[He'll come over and sort this out, because no, it shouldn't have to go into her underwear. He stands behind her and threads the barrel of the pistol between the belt and jeans to see if that's more snug, then reaches around and tightens her borrowed belt one more notch.]

That too tight?

[He settles his hands on her hips, tapping his fingers against her to the rhythm of a tune in his head. He doesn't blame her for being nervous either, but whatever happens, happens. It won't go perfect, almost by definition, but it won't be a total disaster either, because they're both too tenacious to allow that.]

No, it's not too tight. It's just different than wearing a skirt.

[Laughter follows that statement, because it's obvious that it's different. Even he'd know that, and he's probably never even worn a skirt before. She flashes him a lopsided grin that's almost a little embarrassed, before she turns her head enough to clip his jawline with a quick kiss.]

Thank you for making it fit better.

[Just then, Cruz's voice rings out from outside, calling Johnnie's name. A look of amusement briefly crosses her face before she opens the door, and hauls her bag on out.]

We're in here! [She shouts, hoping she's able to be heard. If not, he'll see them a minute later, as they make their way over to the motorcycle to load their bags on.]

There you two are. I was wondering where you got off to. [Chrissy wonders if he means he was worried they ran off to cause trouble again, but she doesn't ask him to elaborate. She just focuses on their bags.]

Well, here we are. We're just getting ready for tonight. Did you need Johnnie for something?

[Cruz nods, and motions over back toward the barn with a nod.]

The boys are ready for you to lay out the plan for the fire. And they wanted you to meet the horses you'll be using. Unless you're planning on riding that contraption instead?

Nah, horses will be quieter. Think they'll handle the weather better, too.

[It's raining steadily now, though not enough to really drench, it's just a constant drip. Hell, it'll keep the dust down for a while and that's useful too.

If somehow he and Chrissy really need to make a fast, sudden escape, they'll have to circle back here and hop on the bike, and then from there he'll figure it out. But that's the kind of thing best left as a backup plan.

He waves for Cruz to follow along with them as they head toward the bike to load their stuff on it.]

We're just gettin' everything outta your house early so we can get outta your hair after we pull this off. Appreciate you givin' us a place to sleep, though.

[Mostly. Look, it really was helpful at first. Better than being picked on by asshole folks in town who were ready to treat him like a criminal before he'd done anything wrong. And okay, they were right without knowing it, but at least now he'll earn that reputation for a legitimate reason and not just because he doesn't look white enough for them.

Cruz seems briefly pensive, but nods as he accepts this explanation.]

Come with me, then. Over here.

[Elsewhere in the barn, a space has been cleared in the earthen floor for drawing, and Diego is standing over a diagram of the farm drawn in the ground with the stick in his hand. The farmhouse is marked at the far end of the plot, and Johnnie helps to point out where they should aim to put down the burn piles and start the fires - all with the purpose of getting that field to burn completely, and fast, so that even if one of the piles gets put out by the owners, it won't be enough to stop the flames from the rest.]

There usually aren't nighttime patrols over this side of the farm here, to the south and west. The patrols are just there to keep the slaves in order, normally, so at night they watch over the quarters and make sure nobody gets out. We'll need to draw them off to make sure everyone has time to run for the wagon when the fires start.

[Guillermo explains as he outlines the small bunkhouse next to the farmhouse where everyone is normally penned in at night, and Johnnie nods.]

Fine. We get the fires goin' first, give them time to grow. I'll hang out in the field on the horse, keep an eye on those fires an' make sure nobody comes to put 'em out too soon. I want two people with me, an' if the guards come our way we'll deal with 'em. We need someone else to go rally the folks in that bunkhouse an' make sure everyone's out before the fire gets there. An' someone else better watch the house, that family's gonna be a problem too when they all wake up.

[Chrissy's so proud of Johnnie as he takes the lead. She's always known he was smart and amazing, but she loves other people getting to see this side of him too. He's not always a troublemaker. He has really good ideas, and great ways of executing them. She's left smiling and trying to hide it as he goes through the plan, up until he starts naming different things he'll need done.

She already knows she's vicious when she needs to be, but she isn't much of a fighter yet. And if she gets in the middle of a fight, she'll only distract Johnnie because he'll want to keep her safe. Splitting up is the most efficient plan for this, even if it leaves her a little nervous.]

I can go to the bunkhouse and try to get everyone up and moving. Unless you needed me somewhere else?

[Her head turns and she glances back over toward their demon in the wagon.]

Maybe we could make demon disguises for us too, Johnnie? Since they can see us half of the time.

Sure, you take the bunkhouse.

[He smiles and settles a hand on her shoulder. She's worried about those people, she'll do it right. And if something goes wrong, she'll have a whole bunch of folks around, too, they can all help each other out. Bobby offers to go with her just then, too, and gets a nod, while Diego and Guillermo both say they'll accompany Johnnie to keep the fires burning.

At her second suggestion, he too glances over at the wagon and grins wider.]

Hell yeah, you got any extra linen?

[Cruz shakes his head but then gestures in the direction of the house.]

No, but I have those blankets you were using, why don't you take those?

[Her hand presses over his, pleased that he'll let her take the risk of getting to the bunkhouse. He really trusts her to be able to handle herself. She doesn't mind Bobby coming along, as long as he doesn't try bossing her around.]

I'll go back and grab them, okay?

[Figuring he and Cruz will be civil to one another, she glances back at Johnnie with a smile before backing her way out of the barn. With the rain coming down, it's a little bit of a muddy run to the house. She tracks mud all inside without much of any care, and by the time she makes her way out it's really downpouring outside. She's soaking wet as she barges back into the barn, and shakes off like a wet dog before wrapping one of the blankets around herself in an effort to get warm.]

These should do the trick. [She's shivering a little by the time she reaches Johnnie, but she's got a smile on her face as she drapes one of the blankets over his head.

Everyone's back to being busy doing whatever they decided they'd all do, and her presence goes mostly unnoticed which suits her just fine. The less eyes she has on her antics, the more at ease she feels.]

It's really starting to come down. I'm worried we won't be able to get the fires started if it keeps going like this.

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