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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
[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.
[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?
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.
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.
[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.
[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.]
[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!
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.]
[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.]
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!
[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.]
[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.]
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.]
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.
[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.
[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.
[Or her shoes money? Record collection money? But there's some sort of desperation about working a shift like this one, and she's so damn cheery about it too. Gotta be drug money. Doing coke in the back room with the Mexican line cooks all trying to get through the day.
He snorts a laugh at the idea and leans back with an arm over Chrissy's shoulders. Bacon-shaped moths dart around one of the lights on the ceiling.]
Speakin' of, we still got a little of this shit left ourselves. Next time we find ourselves in a real nice place we can enjoy it one more time. I wish I'd got more.
[It's been a nice high, that's for sure. It's too bad the guy that sold it to them was all weird about Johnnie's jacket. Her eyes glance up at his face to admire it and she notices his eyes looking upward. She directs her gaze to the same direction and she doesn't see anything there.]
What're you looking at?
[Her eyes narrow, squinting like that will open the mysteries of the universe to her. All she sees are flying spiders swarming around a light near the ceiling, and that's absolutely not what she wants to see. Her eyes drop back down to the table, and she drums her fingers against the edge.
The waitress drops their drinks off and Chrissy gladly takes the opportunity to ignore those spiders Johnnie's admiring by diving into her cherry coke.]
[He gestures upward with a pointing finger, then lets his hand slowly drift back down to the table - just in time to grab his coffee and have a slow sip.
But oh fuck it's hot, and thankfully the girl dropped off a couple little creamer things to go with it, maybe those will cool it down. He pops those open and drops the cream in, then leans over to steal a sip of Chrissy's coke while she's holding it.]
Oh, ow. Mine's hot, yours is cold, now my teeth fuckin' hurt!
[But not badly. He laughs it off and goes back to sipping carefully at his coffee. Maybe it'll clear the bacon moths from his brain.]
[She tips her head upward in the direction that he's pointing, and glances over at him just in time to catch him stealing a drink of her coke. That makes her laugh and she gently grabs at his chin to turn his head just right for a kiss.]
That's what you get for stealing my drink.
[There's a playful wink as she pulls away, and her hand drops to idly rub at his thigh. Obviously she doesn't mind him drinking her coke.]
I'm pretty sure those are flying spiders, babe. I've never even heard of bacon moths.
[Flying spiders? Sure, he'll believe it. Neat.
A few minutes of trying to get his coffee to cool down passes quickly enough, and then their server is out with the food. Pancakes, a plate full of bacon, a basket of fries. She gives a chipper "enjoy!" and then she's off, leaving the two of them to their odd assemblage of breakfast choices.
Johnnie goes for the bacon right off the plate immediately before even trying to actually serve himself onto one of his own. That delicious crunch of salty grease is an absolute essential - and once that need is satisfied, he sets about actually portioning some out with a pancake and syrup.]
Oh, fuck yeah. This was the best choice ever.
A minute later she's taken a pancake and folded up bacon and french fries inside it, and is happily drizzling syrup on top of everything.]
It's like a breakfast taco, see? A midwestern breakfast taco!
[Because no one from the midwest could ever hope to make actual breakfast tacos as good as the people in LA. Her creation is raised in a salute to Johnnie and his delicious breakfast tacos he makes at home all the time, and she digs in like a ravenous monster that hasn't eaten in a week.]
He eyes that with jealousy before quickly making one of his own, and it's gone in seconds with how quickly he devours it.]
Oh shit.
[He laughs a little with his mouth still full of food before he manages to finish chewing and swallowing it.]
That's fuckin' good. Fucking midwestern breakfast taco, shit, you could sell those.
[But she shouldn't. He's keeping them all for himself, and so he quickly makes another, packing it with extra bacon.
Before long he's feeling pretty stuffed, but they've honestly made their way through just about everything that was put in front of them. Maybe it was all the walking they just did. He slumps lower in his seat as he works on a slice of bacon, one nibble at a time.]
Think they'll let us sleep here? Wait - nah shit, I don't want them to tow my bike.
[But he'd be tempted otherwise. He could go for a nap.]
[It's a good room and they've barely used it. Maybe they can get one more day out of this place since they didn't really focus on stealing anything, and that's the whole point of this trip. Then again, getting high and messing around all night is the whole point of being a World Ender, when they're not focused on chaos and destruction.]
I can try driving us back. We just gotta find the bike, then I can carry you all the way to bed.
[And honestly, the prospect of him being all tired enough to lay there for lots of cuddling and sleep cuddling is so enticing, she eyes the nearby side door with a grin.]
Wanna ditch before she comes back with the check?
As for ditching? Yeah, of course. He's comfortable here slumped in the booth, but he picks himself up a little, sweeps a hand through his hair with a smirk, then slides out and onto his feet.]
Yeah, let's get goin'.
[He's not exactly quiet or subtle about that, those aren't things he does well, and when he hears the waitress shout at them to wait, he breaks into a run, laughing as he does so.]
Race ya to the bike!
[Wherever it is!]