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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
[That was somewhere in rural Georgia. He remembers that part, if not the name of the town. He remembers a lot about what happened that day. He hopes Z'Oiseau and his associates, in that time and in that version of the universe, are suffering.
Back to eating for a while then, quietly but not contemplatively - he's not thinking back on that episode with the cosmic ash because he doesn't exactly care to. He's just enjoying his dinner, with the occasional pause for some fries or a slurp of his giant drink.]
Man, I'm barely gonna be able to finish this thing. Me! It's so much food! Mama always said I had a hollow leg to put it all in but this is gonna fuckin' fill me right up.
[She laughs through a mouthful of food, and shakes her head as she eats and enjoys as much as she can of her food. He's right though, it is a lot. She isn't sure she'll be able to finish all of hers. That's fine, she doesn't need to eat until she's sick or anything.]
I guess things are just bigger in the future. And we're two little people, babe. It's too much food for us to handle.
[Laughing again, she pushes her meal aside but pulls her coke in for more. Future coke is great. At the next table over, those women look at them before glancing back at the devices they're glued to.]
I wanna get one of those screens before we go.
[She's deciding if she wants to tell those ladies just to hand theirs over or not.]
After finishing what he can, Johnnie nudges his plate aside. There isn't enough left to be worth taking along. And he looks over his shoulder, then, at the people and screens again nearby.]
They must be somethin' real good. We'll get you one. Can't wait to see what they actually do.
[Bugging people in the restaurant is one option, but bugging people outside sounds better to him. Especially drunk people once the sun goes down. Easy targets.
Satisfied, he stands and eats one last fry just because they're there, and then he makes his way slowly toward the door just in case there's a device that looks unattended enough to walk off with without being noticed. But that kind of sleight of hand isn't typically his best talent. He's too loud to be a pickpocket. Better just get to the bike.]
Let's find a pawn shop and maybe they can tell us what those little screens are. Or they'll have some I can swipe while you sell to them.
[They did that before and it worked out okay. She's getting better and better at stealing every stop they make.]
Do you know what I just remembered though?
About to ask what she just remembered, he pauses, then a grin takes over. Oh yeah. He remembers too.]
Yeah. I do know. An' nobody's gonna look twice if we gotta use that bathroom since we were just in there.
[Or if they do, who gives a fuck? Not him. He pulls her in for one more kiss, then laughs as he steps away and heads back inside, heading for the back corner where the bathrooms are.]
I'm really glad you remembered.
[And that's all the sweetness he gets before she's moving forward, pushing him against the wall as she forcefully kisses him. There's a time and place for sweet and gentle, and this sure isn't it.]
And then he turns the tables, giving her a firm shove to press her back to the sink, then lifts her up onto it. Hopefully it supports her weight - she's small, she said it herself. He stands between her knees and kisses, mixing teeth and tongue against her lips and throat while his hands grope beneath her shirt.]
Whatcha in the mood for, baby girl?
[He doesn't need to ask, really. She's showing him. But he likes to hear her talk, likes to hear her tell him her fantasies.]
I want you to fuck my mouth, baby.
[The kiss she gives him is all teeth, sharp and ending with a nip to his lip.]
Then I want you to make me wait until later to get to come.
[There's just something about choosing to be used by him in a dirty bathroom that really gets her going. She'll potentially examine that later, but she likes to think it's because she's giving him power and control over her and knows he'll never abuse it. It's a safe form of loss of control, and that's really hot to her.
The only thing better than asking for it is begging, and so she leans in with her mouth to his ear to plead with him.]
You'll let me do that for you, won't you? Please?
Baby girl, you are too damn perfect, you know that?
[And she's going to have to get down from that sink where he put her or she'll never reach. Snickering, he gives her a tug, encouraging her to wrap her legs around his waist as he pulls her off and then sets her down with a laugh.]
Gonna have to be real damn quick about this though, 'cause if someone comes in here they're gonna chase us out.
[One more shove to push her down to the floor - gently, on the shoulder, but firm enough to assert some control, before he tugs his pants down and strokes himself a couple times just to make her watch before he cups her head in his hands and thrusts forward into her mouth.]
She can be quick. It's not exactly something they usually worry about, but she's pretty sure she can get him to come in no time. He seems just as excited and into this as she is. That little ride back down to her own feet makes her laugh though, and she's grinning as she gives him a kiss and nuzzles her nose against his.
It's just a little reminder that even though she can be a depraved sex addict, she's still cute and she loves him. His hand is on her shoulder right after and she readily obliges, letting him take that control that she's so eager to hand over. Being on her knees before him gives her a good view of him stroking his cock, and since she's the one that asked him to fuck her face she's good and doesn't try to make use of her hands to help him out.
Just keeping her hands against her own legs feels weird though, so she reaches up to brace herself against his. That's a lot better, and gives her the advantage of being able to tap out if she needs to catch her breath. She doubts she'll need to, but it's good just having the option there. There's a shiver of excitement as he first presses into her mouth, and she's pretty sure he can feel it as he moves when it goes from her head to her toes then seems to refurb all the way back up.
There really is something about the illusion of loss of control and being used by specifically that does it for her. It's not degrading, it's not ever cruel. It's her choice, and him loving that she gives the opportunity to him, and she never ever can get enough.]
Warm, wet, and the feel of her tongue against him, her mouth enveloping him completely, all would be hot enough. But goddamn, the feeling of power and control and urgency all go right to his cock. He rides that feeling for as long as he can before he finally comes with a groan, and yet continues a few strokes longer just because the sensation of her tongue is too damn addictive to stop right away.
Finally though, he lets himself rest. He's panting, chuckling softly at his good luck, then gives her cheek a grateful little pat as he pulls out and gets himself zipped back up before they can get caught in here.]
Fuck, baby girl. You're gonna be so desperate for another round, I know it. Gonna be tryin' to grind yourself on the seat of my bike all day.
I'm already desperate. So you're probably right.
[She laughs about it though, as she grabs a couple of paper towels to dry off her hands and face.]
That's part of the fun though. Not being able to get what I want when I want it.
[Saying that out loud makes her pause, and her head tips to the side as she thinks something over. Those paper towels are dropped into the trash can by the door, and she unlocks it with a chuckle. There could be a line outside waiting for all she knows, but that's not going to stop her from asking what's on her mind.]
Is being into not being allowed to come a thing people are into? Like denying or delaying it? It has to be.
[And she is 100% super into it, until she gets all petulant and sulky and needs it so badly she's almost in tears.]
[And there are also definitely people waiting on them. One, an older woman, trying to pretend she didn't hear any of that; the second, a middle-aged guy who sort of sneers in disgust as they come out together. But Johnnie pays no attention to any of that and just cheerily swipes his fingers through his hair to make sure it's all still mostly in order before he strides on out toward the parking lot.
He's doubly content now, from the meal and the orgasm, and pulls Chrissy in sideways with an arm around her shoulders for a quick kiss to her ear, then snickers as he hops onto the bike.]
All right. Let's find us a pawn shop or two. Maybe better not to sell all this shit at once, that'll raise some eyebrows.
Yeah, we'll just sell a little at a few shops. No big deal.
[They'll have to guess whatever is the most valuable, but she can always just say the things belong to some grandparent and they need to sell things to afford some big bill. Pawn shops probably eat that kind of story up because they think they see a sucker that's desperate.
As he gets them on the road she glances back and notices that scowling guy coming out with his family. She hollers and winks with a wave, and laughs as they pull out of the parking lot and onto the street. It's fun to watch all of the modern looking buildings and cars as they drive by, and the people watching is still great at this hour too. So far, this version of the future isn't too bad.
It doesn't take them more than ten minutes to find their first pawn shop, and Johnnie parks before helping her figure out what to bring in to sell. Everything else is secured in the saddlebags, and she waits for him to help her off the bike just so she can have an excuse to lean in close to him for a few seconds so she can steal a kiss.]
You don't think they'll ask for IDs, do you?
[They don't even know what year this is. If they're asked for identification, they'll have to come up with more of a sob story or something.]
[It's not like they're buying alcohol. Though, come to think of it that could get annoying too. That is one real big downside to all this future business - neither of his IDs, real or fake, will do him any favors here, and hers won't either.
Anyway, he's not going to worry about it. They find a portion of their collection they're happy to bring in, and he holds the door for her as they head inside.
There's a guy at the counter, overweight and balding, who looks absolutely bored as he watches football on a tv mounted in the corner where he can see it. As soon as they walk in, though, he reaches for the remote and mutes it.]
Well, well. How can I help you two today?
[So yeah, Johnnie reflects for about a second that they could have come up with a story outside, but he didn't think that far ahead at the time and he's happy to just wing it and see what happens. So what if they get turned down? There's always another pawn shop somewhere.]
Hey, yeah, we're lookin' to sell. C'mere, babe.
[He has a possible story forming in his head already, but he's not about to just start oversharing details if he's not asked for them. Better not to try and sell it too hard.]
Oh, right. Coming!
[She heads over to join him at the counter, giving the man working a smile. The items she's carrying are held safe in her jacket pocket, and she doesn't take them out right away.]
We have a few things that belonged to my grandparents I need to sell.
[That feels like a safe enough way to get this rolling, because the man working just makes a sound of understanding that's something close to a dismissive grunt.]
Let's take a look at them then, sweetheart.
[She takes out the few pieces they decided to start with, and carefully sets the items down on the counter like they're important to her and valuable. They went ahead and started with one of the men's watches, and some of the nicer looking women's rings and earrings. It's just five items total, not a suspicious amount.
The guy looks at them before glancing up at her, with a sympathetic look on his face.]
Are you cleaning out their house?
[She remembers they had to do that when her dad's parents passed away. It was a pain in the ass. She nods, and presses her hands around the edge of the counter.]
Yeah. I guess I just thought it'd be better if I didn't hold onto them.
[He nods in return and takes the pieces to bring them over to the side to examine them. She turns to lean her back up against it, and glances over at Johnnie with a smile. This is going really well. It'll be easy to sell things here.]
[While he hums to himself and appraises things, Johnnie takes the opportunity to look around. This place is like a museum - or what a museum should be like, he thinks, because he's never actually been in one labeled as such. But there are so many cool things in here, all available to take home if you name the right price. Jewelry and watches don't hold a candle in his eyes to the strange future-shaped plastic electronics. The fuck's an XBOX? Must be something cool.
He gets caught up watching the muted TV, too. The sports aren't the most interesting thing, football is fine, but the ads are a look into another world. He gives Chrissy a sort of absent-minded squeeze while eyeing the bright colors of the crisp screen as a car glides majestically along a mountain road.]
All right, you two. I'll take the whole lot for $200. I just need some ID.
[As he says it, he pulls up one of those funny little boxy screens - they're phones, Johnnie can tell based on the labeled ones for sale, but he can't figure out how they are phones and why he would be using a phone right now - and starts tapping something on it.
Johnnie internally groans and does an eyeroll. Maybe Chrissy can talk her way out of this one - she's the one he's probably more likely to be sympathetic to here. Otherwise, they're going to have to go find a new site to sell at and maybe pay someone to do the selling for them.]
Well, I never got my ID. And we can't use his because I don't want my family finding out he brought me here. They don't really like him. Do we really need ID to do this?
[The man working eyes Johnnie more than her, but does give her a concerned look.]
You don't have anything to prove you're who you say you are? Not even a school ID?
[Her face brightens at that, as she remembers something Osvaldo made for her.]
Oh! Yeah, I have my student ID. It's from my community college back home.
[She pulls her wallet out and finds that ID, from back when she was trying to take some summer Spanish classes before. Maybe this is a sign she needs to keep this ID and try taking the classes again in the fall.
The good thing about using it is there's no dates. Just her picture, the name of the school and her actual name and birthday. She pulls it out and sets it on the counter. He barely glances at it before pushing it back her way.]
Looks good to me. Is $200 good for you then, honey?
[Oh, she wasn't expecting to be asked that. She thinks it over, tapping at her lips with her finger before shrugging.]
I was kinda hoping to get a little more than that. But you're the expert so if you think that's what's fair, I trust you.
[Her smile is so sweet and genuine that she can see the guy question himself.]
I guess I can go up to $300. $200 cash, and $100 store credit.
[$100 to find what they want seems like a better deal. She glances at Johnnie to see what he thinks. If they push for $300 cash, she thinks he might send them walking.]
Sure, works for me.
[Chrissy looked like she wanted permission, but good on her for knowing to barter. Store credit here seems cool, there's plenty of cool shit in here and he's trying to act all nonchalant but he's not-so secretly excited to poke around with their hundred bucks. Good deal for them, good deal for the shopkeeper.
Said shopkeeper grunts and nods at the apparent agreement, taps a few more things into his phone, then unlocks a drawer and counts out the cash, which he sets on the countertop for Chrissy. Another tap on his phone and a receipt prints out of a little device on his counter - Johnnie meanwhile tries not to show how surprised he is by something so evidently mundane.]
There you are. Take your time, let me know if you have questions.
[Grinning, Johnnie gives the guy his thanks, then gets eagerly to peering at shelves. What do they even get? One of the phone things maybe?]
Lemme know what you see, baby girl, all kindsa cool shit here.
What's an Xbox, anyway? That sounds a little silly.
[But there's remotes, and it clicks what it is. Her face lights up as she laughs and goes over to pick up one of the controllers.]
Oh, it's a video game. Like a Nintendo. My brother got one of those for Christmas last year.
[That's oddly nostalgic in a way that makes her uncomfortable, and she sets the controller down in favor of moving on. There's more of those little music players like she grabbed before. There's not a big desire to get another. Some of the things on this aisle are larger, stuff she can't carry around.
Her attention ends up down the aisle at shelves of cameras. She's very excited to see so many different ones. There's some so tiny they're smaller than the palm of her hand. There's a bright pink one that she picks up. It's $10. That would leave them with a lot of money. Only she would have to ask him how it works and that might seem weird. So she puts it back and keeps looking at the cameras, motioning for Johnnie to come over and join her.]
Do you think he'd be suspicious if I asked him how that pink camera works? I kinda want to get it.
[Having to ask shouldn't be a deterrent, surely. It's just one of those things that must come with getting a new thing. Maybe it's not that hard even, maybe they can just fumble their way through it - that's what he would do. It sure shouldn't mean they can't get it.
What's catching his eye, as he pokes around the corners, is one gorgeous little electric guitar. It looks so unusual to his eyes, but so familiar at the same time. It's more than the $100 they have though, and he already decided he can't tote a guitar around. Damn.]
While he's admiring that guitar she creeps down the aisle, taking in little things that might be fun to play around with. She ends up walking around the store and winds up in the toy section. It's not very big but something else that's neon pink stands out and she gasps. ]
Oh my gosh, a skip it. I used to have one of these!
[This is the kind of nostalgia that puts a grin on her face, and she picks it up and holds it close to her chest. It's a little bulky but they can roll it up and tuck it somewhere. The ring that's meant to go around her ankle is a good handle, and she carries it around the store, swinging it a little as she casually looks around.
There's an outdoor section and she finds a little camping stove, and grabs that too. It's small enough they can easily bring that along. There's even a little pot to use with it. By the time she finds Johnnie again, her arms are full with little goodies.]
I think I found some stuff! None if it's a camera, but we can use almost all of this. Oh, maybe even this. It's a little guitar, see?
[She has to set the camping stove and little pot aside to hold up what she thinks is a guitar. But it's actually a ukulele. It's cute enough that she grins as she strums the strings.]
And then Chrissy comes up with a ton of stuff, practical and boring but useful stuff mostly - he did want a way to make coffee after all.]
A ukulele? You wanna play some Hawaiian shit?
[He's grinning as he says it, though. Ukuleles are fun. He takes it from her and gives it a strum, then takes a second to adjust the tuning and tries it again. He doesn't know any Hawaiian music, really, but he can definitely do a ukulele rendition of Hurricane with a wide toothy smile.
The store attendant looks up in surprise.]
You a Phantom Riders fan? I haven't heard that stuff in ages.
[A fan? Johnnie laughs, not sure how to respond at first.]
You like 'em? Hey, you got any of their records?
[What is he doing? Maybe he'll get to find out how many they ever made. Maybe he and Dale and their friends keep until they get old and he'll learn some tunes before Dale even writes them. He sure hopes so.]
Oh, I used to go to their shows all the time back when I lived in LA. I was probably about sixteen or seventeen back then. I know I don't look it, but -
[He pauses for dramatic impact, hand pressed against his chest like it might fall out with the weight of all these memories of his youth. It makes Chrissy laugh, and she ditches everything but her skip it in favor of going over to join Johnnie near the counter.]
That was about fifty years ago. I keep some of their records in stock.
[A hand is held up, and he vanishes off to a back room. He comes out a minute later with a wooden crate of records. The Phantom Riders aren't the only band represented in there, but there's plenty of albums, including a couple Chrissy's never seen before. The guy working pushes the crate toward Johnnie to let him flip through it, and eyes him a little more closely.]
Y'know, you look a little like one of them. Who knows, you could be related to him somehow. Guys like that probably have kids at every town they played in.
[He responds before he thinks it through, then laughs, and the man laughs along with him as if it makes sense. It's fine. It's clearly funny to both of them somehow.
But damn, there are records here. Ones he knows they haven't recorded, though he recognizes some of the song titles as things they've played recently with the intent of taking them on the upcoming tour, and others as songs Dale is working on or had discarded and evidently revived later. But there's at least one whole album from the late 70s that is so completely new to him that he just holds it for a moment in surprise and takes in every detail of the cover and tracklist.]
I never heard this one. You mind if we put it on? Just for now? I'd buy it but I don't got a record player.
[Not here, anyway.
The guy reaches for it with a grin, though, and takes it to a turntable in the corner.]
Good thing for you I have one in stock. Just give me a moment, I'll get it playing.
[Unbelievable. Johnnie grins, feeling the strangest mix of giddy anticipation and some kind of nervousness. Is there a world where he didn't die, where they played as a band in a normal way, all four of them? Or does he always die and come back, carried by the love of the music?
He browses the shop absently through the first track, acting like he's looking at items while being fully absorbed in the music instead. It's so strange - the sound is uncanny, in that it sounds like them but doesn't sound like the them he knows at all. Louder, more experimental, using new instruments and sounds. Dale's voice sounds rougher, but no less energetic.
It's weirdly emotional. He might need a minute.]