beyondtheline | I sure like the feeling of an endless road

[She's grinning ear to ear, and nods as she hops forward to give him a kiss.]

Uh-huh. I found a tape player and music I know and love! Now I can have it with me no matter where we are or what time we're in.

[And that's a really big deal to her. She misses so much of the things she adored back when she was just a cheerleader, a normal teenage girl who lived a pointless little life. There's a lot that she doesn't miss, but her favorite music and media are definitely among them.]

I can't wait for you to listen.

[Will he enjoy it? Maybe. He appreciates almost all music. But a lot of it is probably "girl stuff", so he might just listen briefly to humor her. All that matters to her is she's excited, and she skips her way to the bike to hop on the back. Now that they've taken care of business, they can go find something to eat.]

A tape player? Okay, you gotta show me once we get a little farther from that lady's front door.

[Grinning widely at their shared success, Johnnie gives Chrissy a hand onto the bike, then pulls away from his parking spot to go search the street for food.

Just like LA, this place has all kinds of options, but for breakfast things without searching too hard, he stops just a few blocks down at some Jewish deli and hops off. Bagels and sandwiches and all that sort of thing sounds like it'll hit the spot. He pushes the door open and holds it for her, then picks a booth to flop down into.]

I think you mentioned tapes before. They're smaller, right?

Yeah. Like small little rectangles. They have tape inside them that the music is recorded on I guess.

[She doesn't know how they work, she isn't a scientist. But she sure has spent many afternoons having to wind tape back into the cassette with a pencil after her player ate it all up. The memories make her smile as she initially slides into the booth across from him, then thinks better of it and goes to sit next to him instead.]

I hope we can stay somewhere close to a couple of clothes stores. I know I have stuff back home, but I really want to bring stuff from the time I'm from back with me. Just a few things.

[Of course, getting anything is dependent on her being able to swipe some cash. She's not going to ask him to get stuff for her.]

[A waitress drops by, smelling of cigarettes, and hands them a couple of menus, then starts pouring water.]

Just yell when you're ready.

[She says, before drifting off to go do something else. Johnnie watches her retreat, then chuckles. That's different, but hell, sounds practical. She must be busy.]

Uh, well yeah, I bet we can find you a clothes store while we're here. I mean, as long as we don't go too fast or too far, whichever it is, we'll stay in this time for a while, right? So stock up.

[He's not even worried about the cash for something like that. Shoplifting is easy. He pulls the water over to him, glances up at the clock on the wall in vague curiosity, then has a drink while he looks at the menu.]

Oh fuck, brisket sandwich? That sounds real good.

[His enthusiasm for brisket makes her laugh, and she gives his foot a nudge beneath the table. It's not as easy for her to find that kind of energy for a sandwich, but she does see a few things that look really good. One in particular stands out to her and she grins as she points to it on the menu.]

I think I'll try the classic Reuben. I'm not sure what makes it a classic but it sounds good.

[Honestly, she's really grateful for Johnnie bringing her to tons of places she's never gotten to experience before. It always enables her to try new things that she generally ends up enjoying.]

I bet we can get your pop tarts here too, by the way. So we better be careful not to drive too fast or go out too far. But we've always had a lot of luck when we were in other times and places. We should be okay here too.

Ohhhh, pop tarts. Fuck, I miss 'em. Yeah, I gotta stock up while we can. Hey, what else is good in this time that I've never tried? Gotta be some other kinda snacks, right?

[If pop tarts are that good, they must have tons of other good stuff, just waiting for him to taste it.

Waitress lady makes her way past to another table and Johnnie waves until she notices. She comes by after she's done at the other table so that they can order, and then she's off again. Johnnie chuckles and lights a cigarette to kick back with while they wait for their food.]

[Chrissy is absolutely overjoyed to be back in the land of Cherry Coke. She's so focused on getting to order one at a restaurant again that she immediately has only one answer for him.]

Cherry Coke!

[Which he already knows she loves, and she laughs as she shrugs off the fact her excitement embarrasses her.]

I mean, there's other stuff too. Lots of junk food. I guess I should take you to a grocery store so we can pick out good stuff. I bet you'd love Doritos. And fruit snacks.

[Her love of cherry coke is practically famous. He grins and taps her foot with his. Yeah, he's had it. It's fine.]

Yeah, okay, that's gonna be another mission while we're here, then. Plus, it's San Francisco, they're bound to have stuff you never had, too. Pretty different from the midwest, y'know.

[Considering how different LA was for her, and that's twenty years prior to the time she grew up in. Twenty more years of California making food from all the people who've come here from around the world? Yeah, gotta be something good.]

Other'n food, I dunno what there even is to find here. We'll have to look around. Give it a day or two before we keep goin' north. But I don't wanna stick around too long, 'cause we gotta get on forward in time eventually.

[Yeah, he's right. She's sure there's bound to be plenty of new food opportunities here. She's having one right now, isn't she? His statement about how long he wants to stick around pulls her out of her thoughts, and she nods in agreement.]

We don't have to stay longer than tonight. Let's do what we can here and leave tomorrow. But we gotta find a hotel to stay in, I need a shower. And we need a real bed so we can...well, you know.

[She trails off there as the waitress brings them their drinks, and Chrissy winds up blushing as she averts her eyes until the lady leaves. A quiet giggle escapes her right after, and for a second she leans her head over to rest against his shoulder until the embarrassment leaves her.]

Oh, yeah. I know.

[He mutters, snickering quietly, as their drinks arrive. He pulls his coke closer and has a long drink, then sneaks a hand under the table as the waitress walks off and squeezes Chrissy's thigh.]

Well, soon as we get outta here we'll go look around. Bet there's someplace we can find that'll let us check in early an' relax.

[It's not all that long before their sandwiches arrive, with sides - fries for him, because salad is bullshit. He eagerly chows down, hungry after the previous day's awfully light dinner.]

[Chrissy, on the other hand, seems excited to have a salad as her side. It's been a long time since she's had anything green, and it's pretty refreshing to eat something that feels healthy even when it probably is drowning in dressing. They're both so hungry they eat without talking, and it's surprisingly Chrissy that finishes first.]

Wow, I was so hungry I ate everything.

[She rubs at her stomach as she chuckles, and slouches down in the booth to relax a little.]

Do you wanna see if they have dessert?

Mmph. Yeah, gimme a second.

[Shit, he is full, but in the best way. That was a huge sandwich and he's so satisfied - but there's always room for dessert, he just needs to wash it down first with the last of his soda.

And then he grabs the waitress again for a dessert menu, and slides it between the two of them.]

Fuck, cheesecake? We could split a slice. Sounds like a lot, but it also sounds perfect. Better 'n pound cake.

Cheesecake.

[That's an easy decision, and she gives a firm nod as she gives the waitress their order. It's not like they deprive themselves of anything back home, but meals on the road are special because they get to have things like cheesecake.]

Oh! Can we add cherries on top?

[The question was meant more for Johnnie than the waitress, but she nods and heads off to grab them their cheesecake. That leaves Chrissy to lean over and give him a quick kiss because he's so sweet to go along with dessert just because she wants it.

It doesn't take more than a few minutes for the waitress to come by and drop off a plate and two forks, and Chrissy hands him one before she digs in. She's always starving after using those weird void powers, and it feels like she could probably eat a few pieces all by herself. She'll be good and make sure he gets his fair share though.]

This is really good. I wish we could bring some home, Rigo would love it.

[Man, that's good. The cherries are the right thing to add for sure, they add extra sweet-tart moisture that makes it all so much better. He's a little slower to eat than she is, once again, but hell, she can eat all the cheesecake she wants.]

Mmm. Yeah? Dude still needs to eat more. You shoulda seen him before he got all scrawny. He'll get there, though.

[One more bite, and then he's done. Time to lean back in the booth and give a content sigh.]

Well, that makes all the crazy drive worth it, huh? Ghost trains an' face first in the dirt an' all that bullshit with Papa, to this?

[Okay yeah no it doesn't make up for that last part entirely, but it sure helps.]

[She wasn't ever going to bring up his dad again, but since he's done it she guesses it's okay that she asks some questions. But she still hesitates a little, and takes to pushing cherries around the plate before she gets brave enough to ask.]

Do you know what I like about you? I mean, I like a lot of things about you. But I like that you still call him Papa even though he hasn't earned it and doesn't deserve it.

[What she wants to ask is why he does that. It's hard for her to think of calling her dad something that sounds affectionate, and her dad was only blind and indifferent to her at his worst.]

I wish things had gone differently with him.

[But their visit had been a disaster, and she's not sure it could've possibly gone any other way.]

[That first comment, he's not sure how to answer, so he doesn't. The guy was always Papa when he was growing up and then the guy got kicked out and it's not like it changes what Johnnie has always called him and continues to. Maybe it sounds affectionate to her, but it's just - "father" sounds too fucking weird, "dad" is really... weird too in a way he can't put his finger on. The guy's his Papa, for better or worse.

But, whatever. Johnnie just shrugs.]

If anything was gonna go differently it woulda had to go differently fuckin' ages ago. Ten years ago woulda been a good time. Nothin' was gonna go okay yesterday. Coulda been a lot worse, at least we didn't get arrested. Coulda gone worse for him too, 'cause I was about to break that fucker's nose in.

[That's not a particularly funny statement, but she nervously laughs because it feels awkward that she's said anything and she isn't sure how to fix it. There isn't any putting a bandaid on the way your parents mess you up. So she quietly finishes the cheesecake, and doesn't say anything for a minute or so.]

For a while I wanted to go back and see my parents. But I'm not so sure I do anymore. It's not like I can confront them in my own time, they buried me. It would be too messed up. And I can't go back in the past and warn them not to be awful, because if I do, that would probably mean I wouldn't ever meet you.

[And there's not a chance of that happening. She won't let it.]

But you know what? I think maybe I'd probably hit my dad right in the nose too. And my mom in her mouth.

[He chuckles, he can't help it, then takes one last lick of his fork before setting it back down on the plate with a clatter. Mm, sugar.]

I think that's as good a reason to go back there as any. They fuckin' deserve a punch or two. But, maybe what they don't deserve is us spendin' all the time an' energy to drive out there an' back just for that. At this point? They're a fuckin' footnote at best. 'Course, if we happen to find ourselves in the area...

[He smirks. Does he really want to do another cross-country road trip out that way just so she can give them a good thump or two? Not really, not when there's stuff to do that's way more fun. But, well, he can understand the desire real easily. If she decided she definitely wanted it, of course he'd go.]

[She leans over to give him a quick kiss, and grins when it tastes like sugar. The waitress heads over a minute later with the check, and while he's paying she excuses herself to the bathroom. By the time she comes out, he's lingering right near the door and she thinks it's sweet that he's waiting for her. Her hand takes hold of his and they walk out to the bike together.

Now that they're out of the deli she can pull him in close for a lingering kiss. There's no reason for it, other than she wants to. He helps her on the bike before hopping on himself, and they head back onto the road to explore the area and look for a place to stay.]

Do you think we'll find a hotel with a pool? I brought my bikini with me just in case we swim.

[It sounds like a lot of fun to swim for a little while then crash and burn in the hotel room until after dark. They can get all kinds of thieving done then.]

Sure! Just look for a pool sign!

[Won't be too hard, though he intentionally doesn't veer deeper in toward downtown. Affording a motel nice enough to have a pool on their modest pawn shop earnings is probably doable, yeah, but might not leave them with much. The prices in this time period are still sort of shocking even after experiencing them plenty of times.

He picks the first one they see after five minutes of heading south, a motel advertising good rates and a pool, and pulls in.]

I guess if they charge somethin' stupid we just bail without payin' it.

[Always works in his time, why shouldn't it still work now? Check in, get a key, leave without ever approaching the front desk again.]

Of course!

[She laughs as he parks and she hops off the bike, but can't resist hopping forward to hug him as soon as he follows. He didn't have to agree to a place with a pool, but he did. It's going to be a good time.

A smile is still on her face as they head into the tiny lobby to check in, and she leans up against the counter to ask the guy if there's any rooms with a view of the pool.]

None of the rooms have a view, sweetheart, but we'll put you close to the pool if that's what you want.

[Chrissy eagerly nods and he smiles a little as he glances over to Johnnie as if he's asking permission. There's not an extra charge, but maybe he doesn't want to be close to the noisiest part of the motel.]

Yeah yeah, let's do it.

[He easily agrees with a wave of a hand, and the guy flips through a ledger to the page he wants, then thumbs through a box of keys.]

All right, room 104 it is. It's just two doors down to the right when you head back outside. Can I get your names and ID?

[Johnnie blinks as he reaches for his wallet, then fumbles through it. The dates are not going to match up whatsoever. Will he notice or care? Fuck it. He slides over the fake Benny Garcia card anyway. If they get kicked out there's sure to be another motel down the street.

The guy at the desk takes it, writes down his name and license number, and passes it back without so much as glancing at the birth date, and Johnnie breathes a soft chuckle as he tucks that away.]

That's twenty for the night, and any room service is extra, the number's by the phone in your room. Here's your key. Come on by when you check out and we'll square up. Call me if you need anything at all, there's someone here at the desk at all hours.

[Johnnie nods as he pockets the key, and heads back out with a smile on his face.]

There you go, baby girl, you got your pool an' more. Hell, we could order room service, live like kings, then fuck off 'cause he's never gonna find no Benny Garcia anyway.

[She puts her hand up to her mouth to muffle her giggles, and they make their way back to the bike to get their things and get inside. As soon as the door is shut and they set everything down in front of the a/c unit at the window she's running to leap into the big bed. Her arms and legs sprawl out and she lays there like the most comfortable starfish ever.]

I love our bed because it's ours, but it's gonna be so nice to have this much room!

[Her arms and legs move like she's making a blanket angel, and she laughs as she messes up the blankets a little.]

Maybe we'll get one almost this big someday.

[He laughs as he gets his own handful set down, eyes on her as she does that running leap.]

Yeah, maybe. Prob'ly should, lookin' at how happy you are.

[Bigger bed. Bigger room? Shit, she really is going to make him move eventually. He probably should. Fuck.

Well, those thoughts are too big for right now. He brushes them off easily as he kicks his shoes off and flops down onto the bed with her, then grunts at the irritating lump at his hip and sits up to remove the gun from the waistband of his jeans and toss it onto the side table before flopping back again.]

That's better.

[And what's even better is to then roll on top of her with a smirk and give her a nice long kiss.]

[Her fingers curl around his left wrist and she arches up ever so slightly into that kiss, making a soft sound that catches in the back of her throat.]

I really want to go swimming before we stay in bed for a while.

[They've only slept a few hours and need at least three or four more if they're going to make it through the night. Which they probably won't get if they do spend time in the pool. But he went through the trouble of making sure she gets a pool room so they need to take advantage of it.

Even still, she's the one that initiates a second kiss, this one lingering.]

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