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Apr. 19th, 2025 at 7:28 PM
[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.]
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.]
Comments
How about something that takes you all the way to outer space? You can dance all night with the stars. It's totally radical.
[The woman drawls, and Chrissy gets a little tense because that description sounds an awful lot like -
Her eyes widen as the man unzips the purse and situates himself so no one can see the woman pull out a little vial with black liquid. Chrissy has to bite her tongue to keep from gasping in shock. That definitely looks like vide noir. But it can't be, they burned it all in 1967. Didn't they?
She doesn't say a word. She goes absolutely rigid in Johnnie's arms and waits to hear his reaction before speaking.]
[Wait, he hadn't meant to say that out loud, but there it is, along with his raised eyebrows. Yeah, he's pretty sure he knows exactly what that stuff is.
The woman takes his response as enthusiasm and gives the vial a little wiggle just to make the liquid inside shimmer ever so slightly as it catches the dim light - though it doesn't catch much. This stuff never does.]
Tried it before? It's good. This one's a new formulation, gets you out there on a real smooth ride.
[Is that bullshit? Seems like it could be bullshit but he doesn't actually know the first thing about how this stuff is made and bottled. Are there formulations or does vide noir just run raw through the earth in its secret, hidden places?
He's not going to take it. He's not. He wants it. He really is not going to take it though. Probably.
He nods at the bottle.]
That's what, an ounce? How much?
[She smiles, anticipating a sale.]
Forty. Best price you'll find out here tonight. Especially given those Jawbreaker kids sell it diluted with motor oil. This is the real deal.
That sounds like more of an adventure than I'm wanting to take. Do you have anything not so...
[She hesitates, unable to find the right word. It's not like she wants to offend a nice, honest couple out trying to earn money. She just isn't going to be the chump that buys black sludge she can get for free from the place the Ender sent them. Surely he'd kick them back there if they really wanted another dive into the darkness.
Wouldn't he?]
So what? Are you looking for something a little less dangerous?
[The woman tries again, smiling as she taps her purse.]
You looking for something you can breathe in? Or wanting something you can mainline right into your system?
[Mainline? That sounds new and potentially exciting. Chrissy glances over at Johnnie with a shrug.]
Whatever's cheapest.
Wait, hold the fuck up, I don't fuckin' want less dangerous, that's bullshit! I live for danger, you kidding me?
[And fuck cheapest too, cheapest is shit, cheapest is how you get the bad shit that gives you the runs and a bad hangover or whatever.
His insistence makes the man chuckle, though it sounds like there might be an edge of frustration there at these two not buying already.]
Maybe we'll do a deal then. A little of this, a little of that, right?
[As he says it, the woman sorts through her purse until she pulls out a vial of clear liquid. Heroin, or morphine, Johnnie recognizes that. And he snorts and shakes his head.]
No fuckin' downers, man, I ain't lookin' to have a nap here even if it's a real nice one. Look, you got coke?
[Not exactly as dazzling as something like vide noir but it'll keep him going while they race through the streets and explore on his bike, and maybe that's the best alternative here.]
It looks like you'll need it to get through tonight.
[A tiny clear bag is just barely pulled out of her purse so he can see, and her tone takes on a sharper edge. If this little shit doesn't buy something in the next ten seconds, she's walking.]
Six hundred, it's yours.
[Her partner insists, giving a chuckle with an edge that says if six hundred isn't handed over as quickly as possible they might have a problem. Chrissy recognizes the threat there and eyes him critically. He looks like she could take him in a fight if she needed to.]
So the laughter fades, and he takes in the seriousness of it all over the next two or so seconds before bristling, eyes narrowed.]
The fuck do you mean, six hundred? That shit ain't worth that much, it's just fucking cocaine! What, 's it made from fuckin' ground up angels or some shit? Diamonds? I fuckin' sell that shit at home, I'd get fuckin' stabbed if I tried to sell it for anywhere near that much! Fuck, I oughta gut you for even suggesting it!
[Booze keeps his chatter going long after he should have stopped, and allows his hand to slip toward the knife at his belt.
And, seeing this, the woman stuffs the bag back in her purse and quickly turns to leave. Her partner backs off a step as well, but keeps his eyes on Johnnie just in case.]
Fine. We've wasted enough time on this. Good luck, kiddos.
Did you really want to buy the vide noir?
[It's impossible for her to hide the worry in her voice, but she does them both a favor by not looking directly at him. Staring straight ahead at the darkness that couple disappeared into is just fine by her. The distress in her eyes probably is showing and that will ruin their good night.]
Come on, let's go find somewhere else to buy something. We'll get high and keep having a good time. We don't need to sniff six hundred dollar junk. I bet we can find vide noir just about anywhere if we really wanted to.
[But if he's doing it, she's doing it too. And she knows he doesn't want her to touch it.]
[Did he really want to buy it? Maybe, for a moment, when presented with the opportunity. The shit is good.
But he shudders at the memory of it, too.]
When it's good, it's perfect, that's the thing. An' there's no fuckin' way I'm payin' six hundred for coke! Shit, they better not have only expensive drugs here. San Francisco's bullshit.
[And he's just mad about it. With a sigh, he gives her a nudge to get up as he stands too. At least he's less wobbly now after sitting a while and letting the alcohol boil off in his anger.]
What'd she say, Jawbreakers? Must be one a' the local gangs. They'll know better than those two assholes.
[This area is pretty nice. There's probably only one gang around here, right? There must be. She's wearing a hint of a smile as she stands up and stretches, but turns it into a smooth move where she takes hold of his hand and leans in for a quick kiss at the same time. He doesn't seem like he's really in a bad mood, which means they'll have fun no matter what.]
If we did find vide noir, would you still tell me not to take it? You used to tell me to stay away from that shit.
[She pauses, head tipping to the side as she laughs at some memories of their early conversations.]
I think you used to tell me to stay off the hard stuff too. Like cocaine.
[And now he wants to buy it for a fun and romantic night out stealing.]
[Look, he knows he's not being fair or logical here and he doesn't care. Nobody should take that shit. He wants it, but he shouldn't take it. It's just that he does a lot of things he shouldn't do, and following shoulds and should nots is fucking boring, while going against them is way more interesting.]
I mighta warned you off coke at first too just so you don't get hooked on it, but it seems like you're doin' good there. It's not as addictive anyway y'know, that shit's just an easy good time.
[Tags, tags. Well, they probably have a long way to walk. At least this way the cool night air and all the city lights will give them some taste of what he was after - and especially now it actually does seem like it's helping him sober up. Or at least helping him walk a little straighter.]
We never need to take anything to have a good time.
[That feels important to point out, but she knows whatever they take always amplifies their enjoyment. She doesn't mind it, and he knows that. She's just giving him a hard time to try and make him smile too.
They head out of the park and she leads the way further down the street. Things go from nice to run down within a couple of blocks. Her eyes are peeled for signs of tags, and she thinks she spots one on a trash bin at the side of a gas station.]
Hey, what about that? Do you think that means we're getting closer?
[He looks it over a second, hands in his pockets, then shrugs and withdraws his hands really just to light up a cigarette.]
Maybe. Might have to see some more to figure out if it's a one off, they don't have the same style here as what I'm used to. Or maybe it's your time, things changed, I bet.
[Graffiti is still fairly new in his neighborhood in general, and who knows how the styles of turf marking have evolved over the years.
But it does get him looking more, as they walk - not just at walls and sidewalks, but at the people who might be watching and lurking, just in case some of them decide to become trouble.
There's a more obvious example as they make it down to the corner of the next block. There's a roll call sprayed on a lowered garage door facing the street, some ten names in blue, but two are crossed off in red with a large JB sprayed over the top of the rest.
And so just in case, Johnnie brushes the pistol in his jeans with his thumb to make sure it's still there. Just in case.]
We prob'ly wanna keep walking. Keep your eyes open.
[These people have no reason to know or think about him whatsoever but it's only smart to be a little careful in a contested area. Every shape could be trouble.]
[A soft sound of understanding is his only response, as she pauses in walking long enough to try and figure out what's going on with that garage door. She doesn't realize he's walked on ahead until she can't sense his presence next to her anymore. It's only then that she jogs to catch up to him.]
Hey, why were all those names crossed off like that? I haven't seen anything like that back home.
[It's not like she's an expert on graffiti or anything but at least she's not staring at it asking is this tagging? all over again.]
[And that's why he's watching the shadows and tugs her along with him, at least until the tags become more consistent. JB on every wall - so these guys are sure of themselves, and prolific enough that even here in San Francisco, their tags last long enough before anyone bothers to paint over them.
There's a trio of boys laughing across the street, sitting on the sidewalk with their backs to a wall. They have paper bags in their hands - hard to see, but easy to hear with the crinkle of the paper. Their voices don't sound like they've even dropped in pitch yet. Kids huffing, Johnnie has to figure. Not all that threatening, but confident enough to hang out in the open here. They belong.
He walks on up and knocks on the building wall like it's a door, though he's obviously been seen. The giggling only pauses slightly.]
You boys know where I can go if I'm lookin' to buy somethin' to spice up my night a little?
Maybe.
[One of the boys responds, and giggles as he nudges his friend next to him. That boy is a little taller than the others, and eyes Johnnie and the jacket he's wearing critically.]
You gotta go through the guys at the Roundhouse.
[What the heck is a roundhouse?
Chrissy shifts to stand behind Johnnie as all the boys look over to her.]
You might wanna leave her here with us. It'd be safer.
[It's hard to tell if they're being honest or if they're joking around at flirting with her right in front of her boyfriend, because they're all giggling and nudging each other again. She bites at her lip to try and ignore the impulse to tell them all to fuck off.]
It's a few blocks that way.
[The smallest of the boys speaks up, pointing back over his shoulder.]
You gotta talk to Dante over at the Roundhouse. But you really don't wanna bring a girl down there.
[Somehow the giggling increases at that response, and one of them tries to respond but he's in so deep the babbling is nearly incoherent. Something about Dante and the guys and eating her up, but it's the ramblings of a very high child and easy enough to dismiss as meaningless.
The others are nodding along, and Johnnie can't help but chuckle at their stupid high asses. At least he got a lead on where to go.]
Don't have too much fun, kids. Your mamas want you home in the morning.
[That is certainly not a "don't get high sniffing fumes", not really even a caution, just a casual farewell as he continues on down the sidewalk in the direction of this supposed Roundhouse. And out of some sense of needing to protect her, even though he knows he certainly doesn't, Johnnie tucks an arm around Chrissy's waist regardless.]
Dumbass kids. We can feel this place out before goin' in but I can't imagine any bar or clubhouse or whatever's gonna be that bad unless it's a buncha real fuckin' animals.
What, like lions or something? Oh! Or bears!
[What he really means settles in a second later, and she laughs as she shakes her head.]
Anyway, you were really good with those kids. They were so high I'm surprised they could even remember Dante's name.
[He snickers. Brain damage is funny. Mostly because he's pretty sure he came off easy in that regard. Right? Probably.]
Anyway, I guess if these assholes really are trouble we can fuckin' bail. I just wanna get high, I don't wanna have a shitty night fulla shitty people. This is turning into a fuckin' journey.
[Sigh.
Some blocks down, he gets a sign they must be headed in the right direction. Music, muffled out here as it drifts past buildings, seeps out onto the street somewhere not too distant. Music that's unusual to his ears and sort of reminds him of what they heard in New York, all those thumping beats that carry down the block.
And there outside a building with golden light pouring out of a small cracked window are a handful of guys smoking and laughing. Must be the Roadhouse. As they draw close, he calls out,]
Evening, boys. Don't suppose one 'a you can point me to Dante?
[He's wary, despite his usual cheery tone. If he's not welcome here, if he needs to draw a weapon, he'll be on that so damn fast. Hopefully Chrissy is also helping out by keeping an eye out behind them.]
As Johnnie speaks up, all of the laughter and chatter stop as heads swivel to look their way. They must run a really organized operation here, because they all seem to know exactly what they're here for. One of the guys waves them closer as another pops inside.
Those eyes focus on her more than him, and they do a few catcall whistles that she just smiles off as they approach. Avert her eyes, flutter the eyelashes. Yeah, they'll never realize she can kill them all. Her feet start slowing as they get in close enough she can see the details of all their faces, but she doesn't drag her heels and slow him down any. She's just a little anxious is all.
It isn't long before a guy comes out and looks their way.]
You looking for Dante?
[He eyes them up and down before grinning and beckoning them in closer. He doesn't see them as a threat, but just a young couple out looking for a good time.]
[No big deal. And evidently, it isn't that big a deal to the guy waving for them to follow him - a sale is a sale. And more and more, Johnnie is convinced that these people don't know the World Enders, and while normally that would be a little annoying, here it's just helpful, probably.
He leads them to a private room toward the back, lets himself in with some kind of fancy patterned knock before pushing open the door.]
There you go. Dante's the one at the back.
[Though it's easy enough to figure out without even that. Dante has intricate braids wound around his scalp bound with glittering costume jewelry - or hell, maybe it's the real shit, Johnnie can't tell from this distance. But it looks like gold and silver and the occasional sparkling stud and it makes him look like the king of whatever kingdom he's carved out for himself here in San Francisco.
Well, or he's just a guy who likes a fancy look. Seems odd they'd lead him to the head of the crew just to buy some shit. Maybe he's just a dude. Either way, Johnnie waves off their escort and strolls on ahead.]
Dante, yeah? Everyone tells me you're the guy to buy somethin' good from tonight. Met a couple a' people earlier down by a park who were tryin' to run some kinda scam an' I'm a little tired of that bullshit, I gotta say. You'll give me some straight business, yeah?
[Dante glances over from the kid to his girl, who is definitely curiously eyeing his hair. He gives her a wink and chuckles as she blushes and glances away, turning her head to hide it against her boyfriend's shoulder.]
I ain't looking to rip nobody off. You walked your asses all the way out here, so I might as well give you a good deal so it's not a fucking waste of time.
[He's not about coming right out with prices and a complete list of everything he has in stock to offer. They'll tell him what they want and he'll name the price, or they can get the hell outta here and go back to whatever part of town the girl's from.]
Heard your shrooms up here in the north are the real deal, you got those?
[Dante laughs.]
Trotted all the way out here for that shit, huh? Yeah, good call. My boys grow some real fine strains like you've never heard of. What kinda trip are you after?
[Phew. Johnnie breathes a sigh of relief - now, hopefully the price isn't absolutely insane.]
Don't need to be real crazy, just a nice smooth waking dream while we check out the city lights, yeah?
[Dante taps his chin as if he's thinking, but then quickly turns toward a duffel bag tucked away in the corner and withdraws two smaller baggies, one with pale white long stalks and the other with little yellow caps.]
Blend's what you want. One part Penis Envy, one part Moctezuma, you'll have all night to enjoy those lights. $30 for an eighth, custom blend. You in?
[Her nose scrunches up at the name, and it makes Dante laugh with a shrug. She's not against mushrooms, but those names sure are weird. Her head turns so she can whisper just to Johnnie, as her fingers curl against the bottom of his jacket.]
Thirty isn't too much, is it? Let's get them so we can go have fun.
[An eighth is a measurement she can't really visualize, but that has to be enough for the both of them to enjoy lights or whatever Johnnie has in mind. She must not be as quiet as she thinks she is, because Dante laughs again.]
She ever done this kinda shit before?
[It's not like he actually cares, he's just making conversation until they hand over money.]
Yeah, man. Couplea times. Here -
[Good thing he's been avoiding actually paying for things as much as possible since getting this cash. Thirty comes out of his wallet, and he trades it off. Dante tucks the bills into a pocket, pours a mix of the little mushrooms onto a scale and weighs out the eighth of an ounce, then sweeps them up into their own baggie and passes that back.]
You'll like 'em, you'll want more. Come on back any time, you know where to find me.
Where'd you two say you're from again?
[He's eyeing the back of Johnnie's jacket and Chrissy shrugs with an innocent smile. She's still surprisingly good at pulling those off.]
Like we told your guys out front, we're just in town on vacation. He's finally bringing me out on a romantic getaway.