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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Wait, wait, wait!

[Both of her arms move like wings up and down as she insists he waits, and she laughs as she climbs over to sit on his lap. Sure, he could scoot over and she could drive. But it's more fun to sit on his lap and let him control the gas and brake while she steers. It's like teamwork, only better because they're cute.]

I wanna steer this ship. I think the ocean's...

[She pauses as she sticks her tongue out both in concentration and an attempt to taste the thick salt air. She doesn't get much of a taste of anything, but does spot the street rippling like waves beneath them. Gosh, they're really rolling. Are they on a hill? She can't figure it out, because her head swivels toward power lines that look like giant craggy arms sticking out of the earth. They're all connected by wiry lines that remind her too much of veins, and her eyes close for a second as she continues to steer.

They side swipe a few cars on the road in the process, and she gasps with a laugh as her eyes open and she rights the wheel so they get back on the road.]

This way! The ocean's this way!

[There's no real confidence there, just laughter and someone having a good time fooling around. Even if they don't find the water, they'll at least drive this thing until they crash it through a building or something. Then they can ditch it and move on to something else fun.]

[Oh hell yeah, team driving, why not. It's like team pinball only way more fun. Johnnie cheers her on as he helps erratically, pushing more for speed than sanity and really only tries to keep them from dying all over again. Otherwise, it's in her hands - and perhaps in the hands of fate, if fate were a real thing he believed in.

The sideswiping makes him laugh harder, but also makes him take the wheel back from her, or at least hold onto it to "help" by pulling a little harder and directing them toward wherever "this way" is. They squeal their way on down back to the east side, not too far from where they first arrived in the city, and there, finally, is - well, a bay, but to him right now it's the ocean. It's a lot of water.]

Yeah! Yeah, fuck yeah, we did it! Seagulls, so that's the ocean!

[There's a wooden boardwalk and a few shabby buildings. Johnnie swings the poor sputtering jeep toward the boardwalk, but hits a curb he'd been oblivious to and the car comes to a stop again.]

Hey, I remember that bridge. That's not the famous one, but it's real big! Huh.

[Before him, it seems to stretch on eternally - like elastic, it reaches even farther over the black water shimmering with lights, pulling farther and farther away as he watches it go.]

Shit, but we gotta get this into the ocean still!

[His enthusiasm for this is appreciated, but as they sit there against the curb something slowly dawns on her. She can't verbalize it at first, but does reach over to touch at his leg to signal there's something on her mind. Those words eventually find their way out, as she's opening the door to spill out of the Jeep and onto the street.]

We can't be in the car when it goes into the ocean! It's like...we'd be stuck and would drown or something, you know?

[Her dream of making the car belong to the ocean may not come to fruition, but that's probably okay. She's already distracted by watching the way nearby blades of grass make music visible as the breeze colorfully blows over them.]

Do you have your lighter? Maybe we could just light it on fire, and then go. Fire is better than the ocean anyway.

Yeah, we could do that.

[But he's not convinced. Jeep, ocean. They go together in his head now.

Except she's right that they can't be in it, and maybe if he was on some other drug he'd feel up to getting the car going real fast and then jumping out while it's moving, but he's pretty sure he's not capable of that right now, and he's extremely sure that he doesn't personally belong in the ocean. He's had enough drowning in black for - well. A lifetime.]

Okay, but what if I put it in neutral an' we push it in?

[That would work, right? They'd have to push pretty hard though. Maybe he can find a boat ramp. This place must have one of those somewhere.]

Huh?

[She blinks as his voice pulls her from admiring the grass, and she turns to try and process what he's just said. It eventually sinks in and she gasps as she nods.]

That's a pretty good idea. We probably only need to drive a little more, then we can just push it off a dock or something!

[He doesn't need to give her any more incentive, she's already going to hop back in the Jeep so they can get it to the edge of something. Putting it in neutral and shoving it into the water is going to be so easy, and the sound of it hitting the water will be payoff enough that she's sure she'll remember it...well, maybe not forever. But definitely at least until the high wears off.

They somehow manage to get the thing back onto the road, and she helps direct him using road signs until they end up stopped dockside at a Yacht Harbor. The place just reeks of rich people, and Chrissy's eyes light up as she looks from all the yachts over to Johnnie.]

If we can't set the Jeep on fire, can we set some of the boats on fire instead?

Hell yeah, we can!

[There's movement here, though. Must be getting on toward morning now - are there rich people up this early? No, it must be their boat servants, because that's probably a thing. People hired to make sure the yacht is ready to go for a morning cruise.

Johnnie eyes the figures in the shadows, but they're ignoring the car, so he chooses to ignore them. Maybe a jeep at this hour isn't that weird to them anyway. People drive. It's cool.]

Okay. I mean, we could do both, right? Set this fucker on fire an' give it a shove once it's blazing? Long as those guys aren't too bothered by it. Or if they are, I dunno. Fuck 'em.

[He positions the jeep at what looks like a good angle for running it off into the water, then hops out and slams the door shut, and wobbles for a moment once he's on his feet. Whoops, wasn't ready for that.]

[There's definitely some people out here, but she's of the opinion they can go fuck themselves because they're setting things on fire and shoving this car in the water.]

Did you get it in neutral?

[She checks as she hops out after him, and peeks back in to see that it is indeed set to the big N. That looks right. There's a big grin on her face as she laughs and dances her way around to the back.]

You get it lit up, I'll push.

[Which is a little comical, since he's the muscles between the two of them. But surely he'll come back and help her push this thing off the edge of the dock once he's got it on fire.]

You got it! Uhhh, let's see if they got kindling.

[Shit, what is he doing, he didn't even check for hidden goodies yet anyway! So while he digs through the glove box and the dash and under the seats for loose scraps of paper, he's also rooting around for fun hidden things. But the owners of the jeep are fucking boring - all he finds are some receipts, a pack of gum, a pack of cigarettes (those are his now at least), and a couple of pens with most of the ink gone.]

Goddamn, who keeps a car this clean? Okay, fuck it, you ready?

[It's lighter time. The receipts will have to do, once he wads them up, takes out his knife and cuts a seat open to reveal the shitty foam stuffing, then lights the paper on fire and snuggles it right into the gash in the upholstery.

It's a slow fire. Sort of a smolder. Fucking disappointing. He needs gasoline for this really, but what's a guy gonna do.

With a sigh of mild disappointment, he gets back there next to Chrissy to help push.]

[So it's not a big blaze but that's okay. Just knowing it's on fire even a little makes her giggle as they start to push the car. Even with as high as she is, she's surprisingly motivated to get this thing in the water. So she pushes and sings one of the Phantom Riders songs, because Until the Night Turns just feels like a fun one for the next few minutes.

As it turns out though, stopping to howl in the moonlight is a little difficult as they reach the edge of the dock and she starts getting winded. It's hard to shove the car off that final stretch, so she puts her all into it. The effort has her very nearly toppling over the edge with the Jeep, but either Johnnie grabs her and pulls her back or some invisible force out there does. Someone must be looking out for her. Maybe it's the moon.

She leans back against Johnnie and looks up at the sky to give the moon a wink. It doesn't mind what all they're doing here. It seems to be cheering them on by sprinkling the sky with stars like confetti. A few seconds later the sound of the Jeep hitting the water makes her laugh, but she slaps a hand over her mouth so it'll be quiet enough they can hear the stupid think sink like the rock it is.]

Do you think any of those people called the police?

[Maybe they should...go. But she feels compelled to stay there at least for a little while longer. What fun is it to push the car in and then leave right away?]

I dunno. Maybe? Prob'ly shouldn't let 'em see our faces too good though.

[Luckily it's dark. His jacket stands out more than his face. His jacket stands out a lot here, really, but that's kind of the point. Maybe in this version of the world, where people seem to think the World Enders are done for, maybe they'll realize how fucking wrong they are once word gets around about the kid with a lightning bolt on his back and several on the sleeve.

The water is awfully quiet. It accepted that car like a gift, and bubbles rise from where it drifts downward, but other than that there's no indication that anything happened. Johnnie decides to chance it and sits at the edge of the dock, legs crossed, and lights a smoke.]

I guess if the cops turn up we can leave, what are they gonna do anyway? We're good at gettin' outta the way of those assholes.

If they show up, I'll just get rid of them.

[She smiles as she sits down beside him, yawning a little as she gets comfortable. Her head rests on his shoulder, and her legs dangle down over the edge of the dock. It's a nice quiet moment after some physical labor that was fun but a little tiring.]

We really need to get a camcorder while we're in this time. We can grab lots of tapes too, that way we can have enough to record all the great things we do.

[Is it stupid to film their antics and have hard evidence? She doesn't think so. She's pretty convinced the World Enders deserve to have movie nights once a month where she can display everyone's big accomplishments and feats. Everyone would have a turn to be a star.]

I'll have to get one tonight. Or this morning, I guess. It's getting kinda bright out, don't you think?

[He looks up from the water, out toward the eastern horizon.]

Huh. Yeah, kinda. Summer's such bullshit, hardly any night at all. Least the days are gettin' shorter now.

[Summer's fine, actually, anyway. It's nice when it's a comfortable temperature out, and tourists love to come and spend their money in the summers. Lots of potential for casual theft and drug pushing.

But, well, here they are far from home and dawn is approaching, dragging the corners of the world up into the sky with it. He swears he can see the fabric of the night being pulled aside like the curtain on a stage.

So at least the mushrooms were the real deal. Dante was an asshole but he sold them good shit.

There's more movement. More people arriving in cars and several of them give him and Chrissy long, confused looks as they walk past. He offers her his cigarette and stands.]

Oughta go, I guess. Man, I dunno where we even are from here, though, where'd I even leave the bike? Feels like fuckin' forever ago.

[The cigarette is taken and she enjoys it a little before holding a hand out for him to help her to her feet. Once they're both up and going she takes her last drag from the cigarette and tosses the remains onto the dock to put out with the toe of her shoe.]

It feels like it was years ago we left it...somewhere. Come on, let's just head back the way we came. We'll have to find it sooner or later.

[The only issue with her optimism is the fact she can't exactly remember the way they came. Everything's a colorful and fun blur. Which is great, only she's pretty sure that they could easily walk around for a day or two and never find his bike. It's a good thing the sky at this hour is so pretty, like a dark watercolor painting growing in vibrancy. Otherwise she might really be freaking out.]

Did we leave it parked near the club? We were definitely at a deviant club earlier.

Were we? Shit, yeah, that's right. Somewhere... That way?

[Mostly the direction they're going? Because yeah he has the same problem. "Back the way we came!" makes great sense until you fucking forgot which way you came from.

But there's only so many streets. They took a few turns and there were a lot of hills, but they'll figure it out. Worst comes to worst, they can ask where the club is. Normal morning people might even know, might be used to seeing people drunk off booze and sex stagger out of there.

Shit, that's right, it's coming back to him now. He fucked her against the wall right where everyone could see if they wanted. He snickers and reaches to tug her close until their hips briefly bump.]

We came down a hill... Maybe we gotta go up this one. We'll get there. Man, though, if those Jawbreaker motherfuckers fucked with my bike, I'm gonna blow 'em up.

A whole hill?

[That's not really a problem, but the thought of it taking longer to get back to their bike because of a hill is really upsetting in the moment. What if it takes them just long enough that people mess with his bike? Then she'll have to make people explode or tear their skin from their body or something, and then she'll have a bloody nose and maybe even pass out. She'll never get a camcorder if that happens.]

Come on. I'll race you up to the top.

[They might as well turn it into a competitive game if they're going to make their way up the hill. It's the only way to motivate them to get a move on.]

Then we'll be so high maybe we'll be able to see the club and we'll know exactly where to go!

[Actually? She's so hopeful that will be the case that she doesn't wait for him to say okay. She just takes off at a light jog as the moon and stars overhead cheer her on.]

Yeah, I bet we will!

[And even if they don't, the optimism is fun. It gives him extra energy to bound up the street - for a little while anyway before he has to slow down. Damn. He's good on his feet for a long time in a lot of situations, but he can't say he regularly goes running uphill and it shows.

Especially not while high on mushrooms, where his feet feel like lead and the ground turns to molasses. It's a hell of a slog - and, just because he feels compelled to check with a finger swiping against the sidewalk before he presses it to his tongue, it doesn't even taste like molasses, so what the fuck is the point of that?

Eventually he makes it up to the crest of the hill with a groan, and stops to catch his breath. She's beat him this time for sure, especially since he had to stop and make sure the street wasn't actually tasty.]

D'you see my bike down there? Wait, that club was downtown, right? Those buildings look taller that way. That's gotta be it!

[She stands at the top of the hill with both hands on her hips like she's surveying her kingdom down below. In a way, that feels true, and it's not the influence of drugs causing that delusion of grandeur. She's not even sure it's really a delusion anymore. The entire world is not only their playground but their kingdom in a way. With the power they both have, they decide the fate of everyone around them. And gosh, isn't that exhilarating enough to shiver a little as a fresh burst of energy fills her.

Her head turns just in time to witness Johnnie approaching, and she smiles as she nods in agreement. The tall buildings are definitely the right direction. It's just that they're so far away.]

Do you think that if we tried really hard, we could run and leap off this hill and fly? I mean, we can do so many other really cool things we should be able to fly too! Or at least glide all the way over there.

[Of course, she could always try to focus enough to open a little tear right at those tall buildings. She can see them clearly, it should be easy enough.]

... Huh. ... You wanna try?

[He turns to her with a smirk. After that uphill slog, his feet could use a break, and the mushrooms definitely have him feeling light as air. Somewhere in the back of his mind he vaguely remembers flight attempts while high not going well, but also, he doesn't remember well enough to know why. It's all in good fun, what's the harm?

She's going to have to catch up to join him, because with a whoop and a leap, he's off, mostly sort of run-hopping down the hill toward downtown with his arms spread. He's clearly having trouble getting any height, but he's having fun trying.]

[She's laughing at first as she watches him go, arms outstretched. He looks like a giant baby bird learning to fly. So she squawks and flaps both her arms, because if he can have wings so can she. She takes off at a run after him, whooping and laughing as she run-hops as fast as she can. She tries her best to take to the sky but it always seems just out of her reach.

So when she catches up to him she puts all her efforts into creating a tear large enough for the both of them, making sure it's far enough ahead he won't run right past it. It takes a lot of effort to keep it open, but she's still able to run. Her hand grabs his as they edge in closer, and she uses her free hand to claw at the air and tear open the hole large enough that they can see tall buildings on the other side.]

Geronimo!

[She hollers, keeping her hold on him as she takes a leap toward that shredded opening. Her eyes close as she feels momentarily like she's being pulled at every edge, but when she feels her feet hit pavement on the other side she opens her eyes and stares at a tall building. Fuck, she can do this even when she's high. She's amazing.]

We did it! We made it downtown!

Oh shit-!

[Whatever just happened, he's high enough that he can't really process it. Did they jump through space and time for real? Sure feels like it. Could totally be the drugs though. Either way, it's awesome even if a little disorienting at first until he lands and staggers and catches himself, held up partly by that hand holding hers.

He's grinning ear to ear once he gets his bearings back.]

What a flight! Hey, that's some kinda record, right? Farthest people ever flew with their own fuckin' power an' a real big fuckin' hill. Hey, you want breakfast?

[He can smell coffee, it's somewhere. Some shop set up to make sure those first businessmen off to work get their caffeine and bacon and eggs if they don't have a wife at home to provide it. Shit, he's hungry now.]

Breakfast?

[Not that she already isn't in a good mood, but she definitely perks up at the mention of food. Both hands press against her stomach as she nods.]

Yeah, I could go for some food. We need fuel to finish finding the bike.

[Her hand is still holding his, and she brings his up toward her mouth so she can kiss at his fingertips. It's silly and makes her laugh a little, so she shares her joy by leaning in for a real kiss instead.]

I can smell something good nearby. Let's see if we can sniff it out, okay?

[They've pretended to be birds. They might as well pretend to be wolves or bloodhounds or something. She gently untangles her fingers from his and pulls away to take the lead, sniffing at the air like she's on the hunt. She doesn't particularly pride herself on her ability to use scent to her advantage, but she's positive she can find whatever smells good out there.]

[He snickers and lets her go off sniffing all she likes. He's going to follow visions of bacon. He can see it waving around in the air, all salty and greasy, beckoning him forward. Seems like it's going mostly the same direction she is, though - so that's helpful.]

Thanks, bacon. Bein' a real good dude.

[Yes, he said that out loud. Eventually the nearest cafe catches his eye with a neon OPEN sign and he's not totally sure if it's what Chrissy is sniffing out, but he can see bacon in there for sure. Like, mountains of it. Banners of it waving from the ceiling. Also the door says "coffee" so it can't be the wrong place.]

Hey babe, over here!

[Bacon door. Bacon handle which turns into regular metal as soon as he opens it. Yeah okay wow the bacon hallucination is strong, so he's just going to have to order some as soon as they sit down.]

[She lets the smell of bacon and coffee guide her over to Johnnie, and it feels like she floats her way inside and right past the hostess stand, all the way into a booth in the corner. There's definitely a worry she might be drooling as she grabs a menu from behind the napkin holder and starts looking it over. She didn't realize how hungry she was until just now.]

Oh gosh, we need lots of bacon. And pancakes. I really want pancakes.

[That's probably a good breakfast, right? Bacon, pancakes, and all the cherry coke she can drink. That'll keep her going for hours, or at least until she crashes and burns from exhaustion.

The waitress approaches with a smile, but Chrissy doesn't have time for pleasantries. She's a girl on a mission.]

We need all the bacon a plate can hold. And pancakes!

[The girl waiting on them can't be older than twenty, and her eyes go wide as she laughs a little in shock. These two are definitely on something.]

Are you sure you want that much bacon? You have to pay by the slice.

By the - what the fuck? Who pays by the slice? Wait, how much is a slice?

[The waitress is amused, thankfully, not annoyed by his irritation.]

Twenty cents? You know what, I'll ask. Maybe we can get you a bulk price if you pay for a pound of it.

[Is she laughing at him?]

You laughing at me?

[Okay yeah he had to ask out loud. He must just look really confused or something. Which he is. Confused and annoyed because a plate full of bacon at twenty cents a slice, well, that's gotta be at least ten bucks' worth of bacon, right?

Fuck it, worth it.

She's shaking her head, and covering her mouth with a hand, and he shrugs it off with a snicker.]

Don't worry about it. But a bulk price'd be real good! Pancakes an' bacon it is. Oh, an' a coffee for me.

A cherry coke for me, please.

[This waitress is nice, so Chrissy has no issue using her best manners. The girl smiles and nods and turns to leave, but Chrissy gasps as she thinks of something else.]

Oh! Can we get an order of french fries too?

[The waitress turns around, biting at her lip to keep from laughing.]

Are you sure you don't want hashbrowns instead?

[Upon seeing Chrissy's whole face scrunch up in distaste she laughs and shrugs.]

Okay, no hash. Fries it is. I'll be right back with your drinks.

[She turns to head off for real this time, and that leaves Chrissy slouching back in the booth with a content sigh. This breakfast is going to be so so good.]

You know, she doesn't look much older than I am. I wonder how she got stuck working the super early morning shift in a place like this.

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