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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
[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.]