beyondtheline | Tornadoes and skeletons and nacho dogs, oh my

So there's plans to go after Zazo.

[It's hard not to smile when she says that, because she remembers talking about that back in Wilmington. It's good to know that Alex is really going for it, and that maybe they'll be back in time to be a part of things.]

I hope we get to help take him down.

[She makes a pretend gun with her hand and fires it, before laughing and leaning over to kiss him.]

We can try calling him again later. I bet Dale will tell him you called, and he'll freak out too. What all would he be wanting to stash that far out of town though? Just weapons?

Weapons, gasoline, I dunno. Whatever he an' the others find out there that they wanna bring in once they got it all ready. It's just safer to keep it there for now, I bet, not too many cops out that way who give a shit about the crazies, an' there's a lot of desert to hide in.

[But he shrugs. Stuff he can ask Alex about later, especially since he'll do anything he can to help and he's sure it's all well thought out.]

You know, we got stash houses in the city, I bet all that stuff will make its way in to one eventually. Just not great to have it all sittin' around until everything's ready 'cause the cops are always lookin' for our shit an' if they find it all before we get to use it, it's a lotta wasted effort.

[And some major prison time for anyone posted who might get caught. That's true enough anyway on a normal bust, but a house full of weapons? The cops are probably going to look at that differently than they would a house full of drugs and stolen things to flip.

Anyway, he gives Chrissy an easy smile and squeezes her close around the waist.]

I dunno what I expected, calling Dale. I guess part of me was afraid he wouldn't believe it was me on the phone. Glad I didn't get him while he was fuckin' high, that mighta been an even weirder conversation.

[She thinks all that he says over, slowly nodding as it makes sense. She had been imagining they were storing tanks or something out in the desert, but weapons and gas makes a lot more sense. Johnnie had to get his love of fire from somewhere, and it was probably Alex and Dale. She'll have to thank them for that once she meets them.

She hums a little, soft and sweet, and scratches her fingernails along his arm.]

Even if he was high, you calling like that probably shocked him into thinking clearly. You said something about a weird guy. Did he ever turn up at the clubhouse and tell them what happened?

[It sounded like maybe he did, and with the casual way Johnnie describes that he died, she can only imagine what Dale's thinking. And what he's going to go tell Alex.]

Yeah! He did, so that's why Alex an' everyone are on their rampage.

[He looks a little smug, like somehow that's his doing, like everyone is out to get Zazo at his request without the whole inconvenient step of having been fucking offed on some shitty back road to cause all that.]

I didn't get the full story, but I guess Loonie got word out once she heard, or somethin'. Anyway, Dale's holdin' down the fort for now. Guess I'm glad he an' the rest are the type to get pissed off and do something, when shit goes down, rather than sit and mope.

[And he's absolutely just wired full of energy to get out there and join them. A solid part of him wants to just get on the bike right now and go, no stops, no interruptions. But he looks at Chrissy and hell, he owes her a dance, and they might as well enjoy '67 while they have it, and with time being all fucked up as time is for him now, maybe rushing makes no real difference anyway.]

[She reclines so she's resting on her stomach, and rests her chin on her folded up arms. It's easier to peer up at him with affection that way, but also better to have a conversation.]

We could drive back now and not stop until we get there.

[A nervous, giddy energy fills her as she suggests it. They have other things they wanted to see and do, and time seems to not usually be on their side.]

It would give us a reason to go back out on the road sometime. To see the Grand Canyon and everything else we had planned, I mean.

[As much fun as they've had out on the road, she's grown a love for things like fire and chaos and wants to be in the middle of the action with his friends and family when it happens. She's pretty sure that he wants to be there too.]

Now that Dale's heard from you, they'll all be expecting you back. So we don't have to take a week to get there.

[His eyes widen a little, eager - and surprised, but pleased, that she's the one saying it.]

Well, if you're suggesting it...

[This is how he knows too well that he really cares about her. Anyone else, he'd just make up his mind and go, and say if they don't like it they can find their own way. It's not that he's prone to ditching people or being callous, mind - he likes his friends, he cares about them a lot, he'd hate to have to make a choice like that. But he'd still do it, for his brothers and for the gang. But for Chrissy? He was willing to hold back for her sake.

Guess there's no need for that, though.]

Yeah, we'll have plenty of time some day to go do shit. An' some of that we can still do on the way back, too, 'cause I've gotta get gas here an' there, we've gotta eat, maybe even sleep. We'll see a few sights. But I don't wanna spend several days in a city just dicking around, I gotta get back there an' help out! I wanna see that motherfucker's face as his whole goddam world goes up in fire!

[She's laying down, but he hops up. Time to grab his jacket, get his gun and knife back where they belong.]

I know we were wanting to go dancing, but we can do that back in LA.

[She explains as he hops up, and laughs as she moves to hop up to stand on the bed. Her hands clap as she gives a few bounces, and winds up jumping bunny hops to the edge of the bed so she can leap off. His energy fills her with her own, but the excitement of stretching into the final leg of their journey has her perfectly upbeat and hyper all on its own.

She hurries to finish getting dressed finally, and goes to pack their folded clothes away. That leaves her with needing to find her pistol and knife after she dropped them somewhere the night before, and she finds them both on the bathroom floor. The pistol is put away in their back, but she holds onto the knife. She feels a lot more in control with that than she does the pistol.]

This is a really great city, but we don't have to stick around. Let's find something to eat and then we can get out of here.

You sure? Don't wanna ransack a store on the way out, too?

[He grins over at her as he digs the map out to have a look at the route ahead. And with satisfaction, he traces a finger along the road out of San Antonio.]

Here, we can just take the 10 all the way in to LA, as long as it sticks around. That'll make it easy. We'll miss the Grand Canyon, but we can come back, like you said. That'll be a great camping trip. Maybe for your birthday, huh?

[Actually that sounds neat. Maybe Vegas and the Grand Canyon in one trip, why not. Take her gambling, go enjoy their winnings - or laugh at their losses. He folds up the map, and slings an arm around her.]

Yeah! [She sounds like a silly cheerleader as she almost shouts that, so excited about the idea of a birthday trip. That somehow feels both so far in the future it's hard to imagine it happening soon, but also so close that it's worth anticipating and being excited for.

Grinning, she leans up against him and wraps an arm around him as best as she can. Her head turns so she can kiss him, eager and a little distracted. There's so much on her mind that she's happy about, she can't just stand around and focus on kissing.]

Would you mind if we stopped at a store before we left though? I just want to get enough that I don't have to wash clothes every couple of days.

[A "shopping" spree sounds nice, but she can do that once they're back in LA. She's sure he'll take her out for an entire night of all she can grab antics once they're settled in and his revenge fight is over.]

I'll be really fast. I promise!

Sure, an' let's grab food too so when we wind up in a spot where we can't stop for a diner we can still have something in the bags.

[There's a little bit of jerky left and whatever else she had, sure, but it wouldn't hurt to have a lot more than that on hand. They can hurry home but that's different from rushing, unprepared, poorly-equipped to be of much use when they get there.

She gets a kiss back as a promise that yes, it's fine, but then pulls away with a swat to the butt so he can grab one of the bags and take one last glance around the room for anything missing.]

[The swat to her butt makes her laugh as she bounds forward to crouch down and peek beneath the bed. Nothing there. She hurries through the bathroom and gathers up her strawberry shampoo, and gets it in the other bag before scooping it up.

One more kiss later and they're heading out, and she slips her hand into his]

It's too bad we're not sticking around. It would've been really funny to see their faces when they realized we scammed them.

[She chuckles as they make their way out of the building and toward the bike. It's a good thing they're hurrying out of town but doing a little preparing beforehand. The road ahead is only one highway, it looks like. But it's still long, and anything could happen.]

Yeah, well, we could always swing by the front desk and say bye if you're real determined.

[He glances back toward the lobby as they leave, but despite his joking around, has no real desire to do that. It'd be fun, like she says, but his mind is fully on moving forward now. He gets the bag he's carrying loaded up onto the bike, then gives her a hand once hers is loaded up as well so they can both get seated and comfortable.]

All right! Back on the road. Well, for a minute. You see a clothes shop you like, lemme know.

[A kiss to the back of his neck is the signal that she'll do just that. As he drives, she keeps her eyes peeled. The city looks nice and a part of her wishes they could stay and explore it, but that's what a future trip is for.

They don't drive for too long before she spots a storefront with a few cute dresses on mannequins in the window. That makes her gasp and tug on his sleeve before pointing off toward the store.]

Over there! Please, Johnnie?

[He has to turn around and head back and park, and as soon as he does she's scoping things out to try and figure out the best way to do this. The lights don't look on and there isn't a single sign of life in that store.]

It's afternoon, but it looks like they're closed.

[Sighing, she hops off the bike so she can go over to look at the store hours. What she sees makes her face light up with a smile.]

They're closed an hour for lunch every day. They just left about ten minutes ago, so we have fifty minutes all to ourselves to browse. If we can get in around the back.

Perfect timing!

[Funny, actually. There's some irony in that, maybe, that they of anyone at all could have perfect timing for anything. But maybe all it has been is perfect timing, in one way or another.

He hops off the bike and dusts off his hands like he's about to do some hard job, then inspects the door at the back. Pretty standard lock, something he still doesn't really have a set of picks to deal with, but what he does have is the hammer he nabbed from Cruz. At a glance, nobody is really around to notice, so, fuck it, he just brings the hammer down hard on the knob a few times until the wood and metal splinter and separate, and the door swings free of the deadbolt.]

Fifty minutes, let's go!

[He announces with a wide grin.]

[Her grin is toothy and delighted as he gets the door open, and before she steps foot inside she has to thank him. Both of her hands cup his cheeks, and she pulls him down and in for a kiss. As much as she tries to behave herself, she can't resist adding a little tongue action. She's just that grateful, there's no funny business here.

But she does pull away, because they don't have time to waste fooling around in the doorway.]

Wait here, and I'll be right back.

[Someone has to stand watch, after all.

She hurries into the little store and starts quickly looking around. Anything she finds is just draped over her arm, and she pockets any little odds and ends she may grab. It takes her about ten minutes, but she makes her way out with a satisfied smile on her face. And as bold as she's become, she just walks her way to the bike with all of her stolen goods right out in the open.

What are people here going to do, stop her? Not with Johnnie there. He'd kill them for trying to touch her. So of course she walks like she owns the place, and doesn't hesitate to pile in all her finds into one of the bags so they can get back on the road.]

[Fine with him. He hangs out by the broken door, tossing his hammer idly in the air and catching it again as he keeps an eye on things. But the few people who walk by either don't take notice, or when one does, they can't quite seem to understand what they're looking at exactly and just carry on.

Works for him.

Chrissy is back quickly, and he grins at her haul and hops back onto the bike.]

You better do a little fashion show for me later so I can see everything you got. All right, food next. Shit, an' I should get gas again just in case. You good if we just stop at a gas station? Grab some chips an' whatever?

[He asks as he revvs the engine, all cheer at everything she got and everything that lies ahead of them, then takes off down the street.]

Sounds good to me. We can stock up on things that will keep okay in the bags.

[Her arms wrap around him and he drives, and she enjoys watching the city and taking in everything as they go. It isn't too long before they're able to pull into a gas station, and she lets him pump the gas while she goes in to use the bathroom. She's able to scout out what the inside of the gas station is like, and it looks like he's making his way up toward her as she heads outside.]

There's only one guy in there. Want me to talk to him so you can grab some things?

Sounds good to me.

[He gives her a quick kiss as he puts the hose back, then gestures for her to go on ahead and do the distracting.

He can fit plenty in his pockets and under his jacket, but while chips sound good, they're bulky and loud, so he leaves that for the time being. Candy, chocolate, jerky, nuts, those all get stuffed into pockets. High-energy stuff that's easy to carry and eat. Fuck it, he grabs a few more packs of his smokes too when he sees them, because the stuff he's been subsisting on since New Orleans is fine but it's not his brand.

He tucks a whole box of M&Ms under his jacket, and then quickly settles an internal debate and grabs a bag of Fritos for under the other arm before he sees himself out, all in just a few short minutes. He'd like to think he's efficient. And if someone sees him unloading pockets into the bags, especially that lone attendant, well, fuck it. They're free and have everything they need to just get the fuck on out of here - so long as Chrissy didn't have any trouble with that guy, anyway. He glances over his shoulder toward the shop in the station building, then opens a packet of M&Ms and dumps a whole lot of them into his mouth. Breakfast.]

[Chrissy comes out a couple of minutes later, a smile on her face.]

I was telling him about getting home to California.

[Like it's her home too, and not just his. Not just a place that she's put so much hope and faith into. Things have to be good once they get there. And she's excited about that.

She sees that he's eating some candy, and her eyebrows arch.]

Candy for breakfast? [Rather than scolding him, she holds out her hand. She'll be hungry for something else eventually. But right now, it's just fine.]

[He grins around his mouthful of chocolate and pours her a handful into her palm, then swallows and shrugs.]

Sure, why not? We ate great last night. They always say have a balanced breakfast, I figure this evens things out.

[That is and has never been the intent of that at all, but it makes him laugh. The rest of the M&Ms go quickly down the hatch and he chews as he helps her up with a hand onto the bike and then hops on himself.]

You want more? 'Cause there's a lot more, help yourself.

[He'll wait as long as he needs if she wants to eat something, because something about eating while at speed sounds hard. But once she's ready, he gets them on out before anyone can notice what happened, and soon he's weaving his way through city streets and up the interstate ramp at speeds well beyond what anyone else is doing.]

Must suck to be in a car, stuck behind all the other fuckin' cars! California, here we come!

[Both of her arms raise up in the air, and she gives out a holler of pure excitement. They're so close to California, and it's hard not to give in to that eagerness they're both feeling. The radio is what she focuses on as they drive, and she sings along as she's able as they move in and out of time and towns. All they have to do is stay on 10, but it turns out that's a pretty long road.

It feels like they drive for hours and hours, stopping once for more gas and a refill on snacks. Her stomach gets to growling and wanting real food after what feels like hours more, and it's only then that she runs the risk of distracting Johnnie by giving him a squeeze. He's so determined to make progress that she almost feels bad speaking up.]

I know you're really focused on driving through, but you think we can stop and get something to eat and stretch our legs for a while?

[She's starting to get crampy sitting down for this long.]

[Texas is a big damn state, but they're making good time, he thinks. The road mostly has held up, and that's the important part. With few stops and little to slow them down, it hasn't quite even hit eight pm when Chrissy asks to stop.]

Yeah, that's fine. I wouldn't mind a pit stop anyway. Get some real food in. Let's see, where the hell are we, anyway? Feels like it's been desert for years.

[Their path turned hypnotic and monotonous at some point in the last few hours, that's for sure, and now they're in some really desolate stretch of Texas where there's little more living here than cows and all kinds of strange, spiky desert plants that aren't cool like cacti are. As he slows down, he tries to take stock of the town that lies just ahead now that they're approaching something vaguely like civilization. There's some dinky airport or factory or something with big lights, and a whole lot of shuttered buildings and dated hotels as they roll through on in to town. Even the border patrol building up ahead looks like it's closed down for the night, as if that's the kind of thing that should operate on regular business hours.]

Slow night for la migra, I guess. Hey, there's a light on over there, though.

[Some tiny little restaurant that has a closed sign hung in the window - but a light in the back. Someone probably lives there and cooks out of it during the day. Fuck it, they've gotta have food they can raid if nothing else.]

Miss Toni's. Guess we could knock on the door, see if Miss Toni here is the type to take pity on travelers. Otherwise I'm breakin' in to the McDonald's up there an' we can take over their kitchen.

[There's something so charming about the idea of breaking into a McDonald's to cook food for themselves that she almost insists they do that. But there's a smell hanging heavy in the air of food. Good food, and it has to be coming from Miss Toni's up ahead.]

Let's go visit Miss Toni. It smells too good to pass up.

[Once they find somewhere on the street to stash the bike, she lets him help her off and takes hold of his hand as they head up to the door. While he knocks, she puts her hands on either side of her eyes and leans in close to look inside. She can see that light, and can see movement happening. But there's no sign of actual life for a minute or so, until the tiniest old woman she's ever seen comes hobbling toward the door.]

You better put on your best charming act, baby. Because here she -

[The door unlocks and opens then, and Chrissy hurries over to stand at Johnnie's side, smiling as sweetly as ever.]

Hi! We're on the road and were hoping you were still open?

[The woman, most likely Miss Toni herself, looks up at the two of them, a large spoon in one hand, and frowns.]

No. Come back tomorrow.

[Which Johnnie disregards completely as he pokes his head in over hers and just about cries at that smell. Good, home cooked food, full of garlic and chilies and oh, shit he's probably drooling.

Well, he takes stock of his current small and elderly audience and makes one quick decision.]

Si pero mañana la migra estará abierto y necesito ponerme en movimiento, me entiendes? Podemos pagar bien, y el olor de la comida esta bíen como el de mi mamá.

[He puts on his best puppy dog eyes, and he can see the mental calculus going on, meanwhile. His plea, her grandmotherly eyes, soft despite her insistence that they're closed, and meanwhile she's probably wondering why he is traveling with a white girl who clearly is from this side of the border judging by how she talks.

But enough of it seems to click where she shakes her head and gives a huff of a sigh as she waves them inside, then shuts the door again and goes back to stirring the large pot of simmering sauce in the back of the kitchen. Probably prepping for tomorrow's service, he can only figure.

But the kitchen is fully visible from the dining room here, separated only by a long tile-covered counter, so he goes to lean on that rather than sit at a table, and rests his elbows on the surface as he watches.]

Esperarán allí y obtendrán lo que obtengan. No tengo tiempo para hacer nada especial para ustedes. Uno de ustedes, venga remover esto.

[She looks over at the both of them and Johnnie laughs, then gives Chrissy a nudge.]

You wanna go help stir that so she can get somethin' together for us?

Why, because I'm a girl?

[She teases, laughing as she sticks out her tongue. But she gives him a quick kiss to show she's not actually bothered, and pulls away so she can head over to help stir. It's while she's in motion that something makes the hair on the back of her neck stand on end.

She's filled with a sense of apprehension that she doesn't understand, and pauses as she glances back in the direction that they came from. It's hard to make out anything outside while they're in here, but it feels like someone's eyes are on her. And she isn't sure why, because it doesn't look like anyone's peeking in. Chrissy has to force herself to ignore that sense of unease and makes her way into the kitchen to take over stirring.

Miss Toni gives her a long look, like she's trying to determine if she can be trusted for such an important task. She must pass inspection, because the wooden spoon is passed to her and she guides Chrissy in close to work.]

I'm Chrissy. Thanks for feeding us. It's really kind of you to help us out!

[But Miss Toni has eyes for Johnnie, and approaches him like a grandmother might a rambunctious grandson they adore but have to be stern with. She seems much more inclined to want to talk to him, which Chrissy shrugs off. It's better for her to focus on having the willpower to resist tasting from the spoon she's stirring with.]

Are you going to make him help too?

[She does speak up, smirking back at Johnnie in amusement. It's hard to completely ignore that unsettled feeling, but she's trying her best to block it out.]

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