beyondtheline | I sure like the feeling of an endless road

I sure like the feeling of an endless road

[A few hours of open road makes for easygoing fun. It's great to be traveling again, and the feeling of Chrissy leaning up against his back, holding on tight while he whips ahead on a wide-open freeway through the pitch black of night is like nothing else. The last time they were racing up and down this freeway, they were on the way to go burn a bunch of people's lives down - but now that's hours back, back with the rest of the city. They've left the lights and have nothing to look at but the pavement in Johnnie's headlight, the glimpses of stars shining weakly through hazy clouds, and occasionally an oncoming car.

Johnnie hasn't exactly been trying to tune in to his senses or abilities or whatever it is he has - he's just been cruising, letting the night go by, enjoying their plunge northward without a care or a thought. So it is deeply irritating when the pavement quickly fades to a well-worn dirt track that almost tosses him and Chrissy to the ground, and it takes all of his skills to get the front wheel under control and to slow down before they hit a rock that really might launch them into the nearest alfalfa field. Or whatever it is that's here, whenever they've found themselves. Somewhere pre-freeway. Boo.

But there are a few lights ahead, and he did need a stop to pee, so, fuck it.]

Well, shit. Y'know, I dunno exactly where we are. Last sign said San Jose was still fuckin' hours off. You good? That was kinda shaky.

[As long as this dirt road stays packed, they can drive it, but it's going to be slow. Good thing they're almost to somewhere.]

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Mmm. Yeah. Sure, maybe they got somethin' here.

[Or they can go find some cafe. It'll be easy at this time of day in a city this size - plenty of late lunch, early dinner folks he has to figure.

He's not fully thinking about that right now anyway when half his brain is still on the image of her in his jacket. It really has been a while, and it sure does turn him on just considering it. With a stupid cocky grin on his face, he pulls open the door and trots on down toward the lobby to see if he can find coffee.

They do have a coffee pot by the front desk, it turns out, but when he goes to lift it, it's cold and feels light. Apparently late afternoon isn't a peak coffee time, or maybe it's just in need of a refill. The guy at the desk isn't there, though, either.]

The fuck's this about? Coffee's for all the time. Asshole got lazy or somethin'?

[He'd make it himself but by the time he's around the back side of the desk he gets distracted by thumbing through private files and hunting for stray cash inside the drawers rather than thinking about refilling the coffee machine. Who knows what good stuff lurks back here.]

[She covers her mouth with her fist as she watches him get so quickly distracted, and goes to retrieve the coffee pot so she can go to the small lobby bathroom and rinse it out and get fresh water inside to bring to the coffee maker. It's easy to get grounds in and a new filter, and soon enough a new pot is brewing. If the front desk doesn't like it, then they should've been here to take care of things.]

Find anything good?

[Whoever is supposed to be working must either be out back or in the men's room or something, because they've been out here a couple minutes and no one's come by. So she takes the liberty of going through cabinets, and does a little happy dance when she finds a food jackpot.]

There's little packaged donuts and muffins in here. Want some? We can eat this for now, and find something better later.

[As Johnnie turns to look toward her and the muffins, he hears footsteps coming from down the hallway and quickly nudges a drawer shut and sidesteps toward the bathroom to make it look like he's just come from there - and also to help block the view of whoever is coming so Chrissy has another second to look less suspicious herself.]

Oh, hey, sorry! Had to step away and deal with something for a minute. Can I help you two?

[It's not the same guy as before but a different, younger man wearing a nametag. "Brian", apparently. Johnnie grins as if he's grateful.]

Nahh, we're all good here! Hope you don't mind us refilling your coffee pot though. We were just on our way out the door and figured we could use the drink. Y'know, you gotta keep that thing filled, man!

[He says it like he's joking around, rather than annoyed - but while both are true, he definitely is slightly annoyed. He didn't manage to pocket much. Damn kid needs to either always be here or stay away a lot longer next time so they can help themselves.]

[While Johnnie is concerned with looking like he hasn't been doing anything, Chrissy continues to take her time piling up treats in her arms. Brian watches her for a few seconds before clearing his throat and awkwardly laughing.]

We only put those out on Sunday mornings, and it's actually only -

[Her head turns slowly to glance his way, disinterested in what he has to try and say.]

If you didn't want people to help themselves, you should've been here, Brian.

[But now that her arms are loaded up, she's content and shrugs as she heads toward the front doors. She stops at Johnnie's side and leans in for a quick kiss.]

I'll wait for you outside.

[He really does want his coffee, after all. She's perfectly happy hitting up the coke machine right outside and getting a soda to enjoy her sweets with.

Brian watches all of this happen and awkwardly laughs again. He really has no idea what to say, and isn't sure if he should be focusing on customer service or security here.]

She must be hungry. I'll just charge your room for those, don't worry about it.

Well sure, bub. Charge a girl for lookin' after herself when you shoulda? Do what you gotta do, I guess. I might mention it to the manager when we head out too, see what he says. But-! You do what you gotta.

[Johnnie waves a hand like it's no big deal, and then goes to get himself some of that coffee with a paper cup, leaving Brian to awkwardly watch him while he thinks about charging them for all the swiped treats.]

Sir, see, it's just -

[Johnnie shakes his head and waves a hand again, then pauses for a slurp of coffee.]

I gotta catch up to the lady before she walks off without me. You have a nice one.

[Johnnie gives an amused smirk as he ducks out the door with his coffee to join Chrissy just outside.]

Fuckin' idiot. Hey, nice score, though. We'll see how long it takes him meanwhile to see I swiped one a' his master keys. Might be able to rip off a couple guests while they're outta their rooms on our way out. Not now, but when we leave.

[She's eating powdered donuts like a little goblin, complete with a powdered sugar trail on her mouth and the tip of her nose. She glances up at him briefly before shoving a whole other donut in her mouth, and gives him a thumbs up in approval at his score. A master key will be great, but she can't comment on it until she chews and swallows.]

That's a great find, baby. You did better than I did. This is all junk food, not really a meal. But it tastes so good.

[She holds up the packet to offer him the remaining few, and wipes at her mouth with the back of her hand.]

What kind of places do you think will be the best to hit up tonight? If we find some electronics stores, they should have lots of money in the registers. And I can grab a camcorder and tapes.

[Damn, that junk food looks good though. She's acting like it's nothing, but it's actually pretty great in his eyes. The key is a mixed bag - they'll have to be careful not to tip anyone off, and they might not find anything anyway.

He spends a moment eating a little powdered donut, then another. Yeah, real good for sure.]

Electronics, yeah. Also liquor stores but only after it's real late. Those places have a ton a' cash. Shoe stores maybe, too? Shoes are kinda pricey. But all this only works if these people leave shit out where we can find it, not if they seal it away at night in a safe. Least, not if it's one I can't break into.

[And look, he's not a locksmith. That's Clicks' gig. He can only reliably deal with very simple locks of the kinds people don't normally use for valuables. Doors, cars, simpler shit.]

Could swing by a rich neighborhood too, see who looks home an' who don't.

Oh yeah! We haven't done that in a long time.

[That all sounds like fun to her, and like a good night out. There have to be at least ten Radio Shacks around they can hit up, and liquor stores, shoe stores, and people's homes. They're going to need a bigger meal to fuel them through all that, and she figures she's done with her junk food snack and dusts her hands off on her back pockets.]

We can bring everything back and stay one more night, then check out rooms tomorrow right before we "check out".

[She says it as she moves her fingers in air quotes, laughing a little as she does. Like they're actually going to pay for this place.]

Do you wanna see if we can find something better to eat? I bet there has to be good seafood somewhere around here, right?

Yeah! Yeah, there's gotta. Should be easy to find, ocean's kinda everywhere around us. Y'know, I bet our room's got a map.

[He downs the rest of the coffee in one gulp, then gets up and trots over toward their room and lets himself in. These places always have some little pamphlet with restaurants and phone numbers.

Sure enough there's information for a few. Esplanade looks like a fancy sit-down place that might be kind of fun to crash, but on the other hand there's always Captain Tony's for a more casual spot that advertises things like halibut fish and chips.

Something about the fancy one is appealing to him just because he'd find it really funny to ditch from an expensive dinner, but they probably wouldn't be let in the front door.]

Whatcha think about these? Or we just go down the road an' see what we see.

I'm in a tube top and shorts. They won't let me into a fancy place.

[She's grinning though, clearly intrigued by the idea of going. It takes only another couple seconds of thought before she taps at the guide he's holding.]

Actually? Let's try Esplanade. We deserve fancy things, don't we?

[It's worth a try to see if they can get in dressed how they are. There's no reason for them to get all fancy just to get to eat some fish. This place can accept them as they are, or be set on fire as they drive out of town. It's their choice.]

[He grins as she comes around to it, and tosses the pamphlet aside.]

Fuck yeah! We just gotta talk like we're rich, right? They just want our money, who cares what we look like!

[Him with his fucked up face and gang colors and her a teenage girl in a tiny top - look, they could be rich, right? If they pretend they're going to buy the nicest wine off the list then who's going to tell them no?

So with that decided, Johnnie pulls her in for a quick kiss, then tugs her along to the bike. The restaurant isn't far, and they're there in minutes - clearly, clearly underdressed. The couple who walks in the door while they're parking are in a sport jacket and elegant cream dress. But fuck them. Johnnie walks on forward with confidence toward the doorman who looks responsible for letting people in.

The man, balding with a waxed moustache, looks him and Chrissy up and down.]

Do you have a reservation, sir?

[Johnnie blinks. Right, reservations, that's a shitty thing these snobs do.]

Yeah. Yeah, under Miller. Sam Miller? For two.

[Common names - hell, they might get lucky. But Johnnie's not counting on that name being on the list, he just doesn't want to give his own. Maybe they can convince the dude their reservation is lost. Otherwise, fuck it. They'll figure something else out.]

[The man looks down the list and glances back up at them.]

Samantha Mueller?

[He sounds incredibly doubtful that Johnnie would answer to that name, but Chrissy is quick to laugh like a cheerleader and sound incredibly ditzy as she tips her head to the side and extends her hand.]

That's me, actually? Like, I go by Sam. But my real name is Samantha. Obviously.

[The host's expression softens a fraction, but he still seems skeptical.]

Do you have ID on you, miss?

[Chrissy heaves a big sigh and rolls her eyes. If there's one thing she's well trained on, it's how bitchy cheerleaders can act when they feel entitled to something.]

No? I don't need to drive, I have my dad. And my boyfriend. Duh.

[The host glances back down at the list, then back at them, then over to the line that's forming behind them. He locks eyes with Chrissy, who doesn't blink or back down. Instead she crosses her arms over her chest and pouts like a spoiled brat.]

Look, you can go get the manager. Daddy said that if we had any trouble to ask for Mr. -

[That makes his eyes go wide and he shakes his head.]

No reason to ask for Mr. Ziegler, Miss. Right this way, your table is ready.

[Well, at least now they know the manager's name so she can pretend her daddy told her to ask for him. That could come in useful if their waiter is stuffy too. She glances back at Johnnie with a smirk and takes hold of his hand as they follow the host inside. Hell yeah, they're about to get some top notch seafood.]

[Oh fuck, she's really turning it up now. Turning what up exactly, he's not sure - that creepy fucking white girl thing they do when they feel so fucking entitled to everything. But he's so damn glad she knows how, because she gets them a table and he giddily follows along while playing it very cool, because obviously they eat in places like this all the time and it's very normal and not at all a scam.

They're seated promptly, and he gives Chrissy a look that would come with a snicker of success but all too quickly some waitstaff dude with white fucking gloves on comes to bring them ice water and glasses that look like wine glasses but apparently they're for the water.]

The drinks menu, sir and madam.

[He presents it in a little booklet bound in red leather, and then is off again. To get something else? To go deal with another table? Johnnie watches him curiously, and when he doesn't instantly resurface to give them something new he taps Chrissy's shin with his toe.]

Goddamn these people ate up your bullshit, that was fuckin' good!

[Oh shit but that dude is coming back already, he can see him from the direction of what must be the kitchen, with something else? What the fuck does he need to bring now? Better be snacks and not some kind of warm towelette situation.]

[Oh shit, that guy is wearing gloves. This is like going to the country club fancy. She briefly bites at her lip and glances down as the water is poured, and she promptly grabs her glass to take a sip. Suddenly her mouth is incredibly dry. The tap to her shin makes her smile and look up, and she's laughing at his compliment.]

Well, I wasn't going to let him turn us away.

[If she can do even one thing to treat him to something nice, she'll do whatever it takes. He's given her so many experiences, she wants to at least be able to give him a couple.

The waiter returns and stands at the table side expectantly, and Chrissy sighs like he's an inconvenience as she grabs the drink menu to look it over.]

We'll choose a bottle in a minute. Can we have menus now? Like food ones?

[It's physically painful to fake the tone she's using, and guilt is starting to creep in because she's sure the people here hate having to work for people that act like this. But the place is filled with them, a sea of white faces all acting entitled and like they're the only people around that matter. It's disgusting.

Her cheeks actually turn pink as the waiter stammers an apology and rushes off to go grab a couple of menus, which she promptly sets down and promises to give them some time to look things over. She waits until he's completely gone before letting her shoulders slump a little.]

We better pick out something fast. I might cry if I have to talk to him like that again. He seems so nice.

[So the drink menu is passed over to Johnnie, so he can pick what he thinks sounds best. She doesn't know the first thing about wine.]

Aw, babe, c'mon. You got us our spot, what's he gonna do now, kick us out? Nah.

[Drinks. Drinks.... Fuck, all these wines sound like total bullshit, but then again most wine does. They do offer beer but it's stuff that's really unfamiliar to him, but, well, it's beer, it can't go too wrong. Or they can order fancy liquor, and that's what catches his interest.]

What goes with fancy seafood? Rum? Or... No, yeah, light rum. Right? Fuck it, we could get rum an' more coffee. I bet their coffee's good.

[Or they get a bottle of wine just to make it feel right but - no, not worth it. It would only be worth it if they could walk out of here with it and trade it for something else later.

Okay, well, he didn't really convince himself of his drink choices but he's way more interested in this menu anyway.]

No prices on anything. Think that means it's free?

No. It means that everyone else that eats here thinks if you have to ask how much something is, you can't afford it. It's probably a prix fixe menu, so they just charge the same amount per person and you order off the menu. Like we'd each pick one appetizer, one entree, and one dessert. But I bet the drinks are extra.

[She takes the drink menu and notes there are absolutely no prices there either. Huh. This place is expensive expensive. There's no time to lament over that though, because the waiter timidly comes back.]

I'm so sorry to interrupt, sir, but did you and the madam decide on drinks?

[Drinks are so extra. They don't have the money for this.

It's not like they were intending on paying anyway.]

We'll have a bottle of the red.

[As if there's only one on there. She'll let him figure out which one she means.]

We also need two waters, and I believe he was hoping for a mixed drink. Weren't you?

[If Johnnie wants something specific, she figures he can just say it now and they can take their time enjoying everything.]

[Look, he very much understands the concept that no price on the menu does not mean it's free, but he lets her explain anyway with a little smirk on his face because she so clearly wants to inform him how the well-off world works. Anyway, that shit about some kind of fix menu is news to him. Weird as fuck.

"Bottle of the red" cool, whatever, maybe it'll be good. He eyes the waiter like it's some kind of power move to do so, asserting dominance by leaning back in his seat with his elbows over the back.]

Actually, I'm gonna do your light rum. No ice or whatever, just gimme a glass.

[And as the waiter nods and trots off, Johnnie snorts and looks over the food menu again.]

Okay, what the hell are capers? But those smoked clams sound good. Or "oysters diablo"? Spicy, I guess.

[Honestly, the appetizers sound the most fun. Just give him some straight seafood, none of this extra vegetable bullshit.]

[She just about crumples when the waiter leaves that time, and buries her face in her hands for a second to try and compose herself. They drop down into her lap and she holds them there, thankful for the way he's able to make her smile a little when he talks about oysters diablo. She sits up a little straighter and tugs her jacket more fully around her like it's a shield, able to keep her own feelings from hurting herself too badly. Really though, she's proud of who she is and their makeshift family back home. And she wants people here to know she isn't one of them.

Maybe she also wants to reassure herself she isn't one of them, but she chooses not to think about that as her eyes scan over the menu.]

Let's order them.

[She suggests, trying to sound lighthearted.]

The devil oysters and smoked clams. Oh! They have fried shrimp!

[That feels a little more down to earth and it brightens her up considerably. It makes her feel enough like herself that she's able to genuinely smile, and she reaches across the table to take his hand because they're supposed to be here for a romantic fun dinner. Not an episode of her white girl guilt.]

Do you think if I asked for a whole basket of them, they'd actually bring it out?

Yeah! Fuck it, they better, ain't that their job?

[Just like how who cares if they're supposed to pick one appetizer, one main and one side and whatever bullshit. They should order what they want. It's a fucking restaurant, not a religious code.]

Hell, I'd make a meal out of all these appetizers only, I dunno what to do with these main courses. Dungeness crab with butter and garlic is probably pretty good though, right? Anything's good with butter.

[But like, it's that or something teriyaki salmon or seared cod with some French words involved and maybe they're all great, he's just a little lost here.]

[The corner of her mouth curls upward in amusement, because he's right. Everything is good with butter. Butter and grease. Which is exactly why when the waiter comes back she lets Johnnie order all the appetizers they want to try, and she adds on that she'd like an entire basket of fried shrimp, extra crispy. Do they come extra crispy? She has no idea, but she's got a feeling the cook will probably at least try. It's one of the perks of places like this.

A minute later, and he's back with all of their drinks, and she's pretty sure after that they'll be left alone for at least a little while. Which is good, she actually wants to talk instead of just make small commentary on the menu.]

I wish we had brought a map. We need to pick out what direction we're heading in next. I mean, I know it'll be north. But I don't have any idea what's all the way up there.

[Johnnie watches that whole array of drinks approach, then waves the guy off from pouring their wine, letting him do no more than uncork the bottle. Seriously, he can pour his own wine. He pours some for Chrissy too though, with a little smile of amusement at their slightly ridiculous situation. Fucking. Wine. Sure.]

Yeah! Well, we can look at the one I got that's back at the bike, but it woulda been fun to look now. I guess... Well, north of here's a buncha small farm towns mostly. I don't really know what's up here. I remember seein' we got a choice, we can either go up the coast the slow way or we can go straight north the fast way, or we can go over the mountains an'... I dunno what else is out that way. Kinda thinking the coast would be the most fun though.

[It's a classic drive, one he can't actually say he's done much of - route 1 all the way up. He's done portions north of Los Angeles, but they skipped those to get here in the interest of actually trying to make it to San Francisco without waiting way too long since they badly needed a cash refill.

But now that they've done that? Or, really, that they will do that tonight - now they can do whatever they please.

He takes a drink of the wine and tries to decide if he likes it or not. It tastes like wine to him though. Which is to say, sure, it's alcoholic grape juice and he doesn't hate it, but he'd take a beer over this most days.]

[She watches him drink the wine before trying any herself. He doesn't seem disgusted by it, so that's her cue to take a sip. It's...alright. Not really what she's wanting, but she'll drink a glass just to feel fancy and say she had wine at a fancy seafood place. Her glass is raised as an attempt to toast to the idea of fun, and it makes her feel so ridiculously fancy that she grins.]

Let's take the coast up north. Then we can go over the mountains on the way back.

[That way they can say they've done both in one trip. It sounds like a perfect idea to her.]

Is there anything you really want to make sure we do while we're making our way up the coastline?

[He thinks about it a moment, then shrugs.]

Kinda depends on what time we end up in when we get to these places. But mostly, not really? I dunno much about anything north of here. Kinda lookin' forward to seein' what it's all like. I heard Seattle's cool.

[As in, the nightlife is cool. He really doesn't know anything else about it. Probably also cold and rainy, so literally cool and he doesn't really love that idea.]

You got anything you really wanna see?

I always love the beach, but I'm not sure the beaches there will be the kind where I want to put on a bikini and have a beach day. But you know what? It would be fun to camp out a few times.

[After one more sip of the wine, she's setting that glass aside and is reaching for her coke. It's just not really her thing, even though she does appreciate anything that will get her drunk. She's not looking to get tipsy at dinner though, so there's no real enjoyment or point to drinking it.]

Like we did when we first met, when it was so chilly at the lakes? We found a blanket to sleep on and had to cuddle close to stay warm and I got to wear your sweater and jacket and it was perfect.

[It's not exactly nostalgia. All of that was only a handful of months ago. But it definitely feels like it was another lifetime ago in some ways. And it would just be nice to sleep under the stars and appreciate how far they've both come since they first did when they met.]

Oh yeah! Well I guarantee we're prob'ly gonna do some a' that whether we want to or not, you know how time likes to fuck around. But campin' out on the beach sounds nice. Farther north we go, I think the less people there are too, so it might be our only choice sometimes unless we wanna huddle in some weird fuckin' shack of a motel.

[Or maybe it's not that bad. It's just that north of San Francisco, until they reach Seattle, looks like a whole lot of nothing to him. Any cities in between those hardly ever get mentioned and must not be worth much.

But maybe they'll find otherwise - he sure as hell hopes so or he's going to get real damn bored.

The wine is okay, but the rum is good, not that he has any real expertise in that either. He gives a sigh of satisfaction anyway.]

I just hope we get ourselves to a version of things that sucks less than this one. Don't get me wrong, your time is fine, but Dante an' those freaks saying they thought the Enders were done for? It don't sit real well with me.

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