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[Junk XIII] Leaving Trench (K 2-4, S 2-4)
Stitch and Kiddo,
This fine morning, the pair of you are busy packing up your stuff to leave Trench. Sapphire is still asleep. The girl has barely even moved. She's still cut pretty bad, lost a good amount of blood. She should be blissed out for a week, really. Did you do that, Stitch?
The trucks are nearly done, Rinso is already sacked out on Betty, catching up on sleep. VB went out for a run around the walls of Trench this morning, she's feeling "super flash". Svenja as been helping with the cargo, so it's just the pair of you.
This fine morning, the pair of you are busy packing up your stuff to leave Trench. Sapphire is still asleep. The girl has barely even moved. She's still cut pretty bad, lost a good amount of blood. She should be blissed out for a week, really. Did you do that, Stitch?
The trucks are nearly done, Rinso is already sacked out on Betty, catching up on sleep. VB went out for a run around the walls of Trench this morning, she's feeling "super flash". Svenja as been helping with the cargo, so it's just the pair of you.
Comments
"Outside Chedd's tent, near the wall. She fell." I explain. "Do you know her?"
I hesitate, not sure how much I should share. "I saw Hump, when he was younger. Her mom and dad. I saw... she killed a man last night- Paxo."
Huh. I'd forgotten about that scuffle with Hump. Heh. Best I not bring that up with him again. He's still pretty sore about it all.
Shit... I look back down the hall of the tent and close the flap behind me. "A little birdie told me she killed Paxo for some VIP outside Trench... And I saw her coming in yesterday. Is she good to move around? Can she walk?" Frak... It sure doesn't look that way from here...
"Did you know she hurt someone before you helped her, Stitch?"
I'm not in the business of judgement. If this girl killed someone she's going to need to answer for that. I couldn't just sit by while a kid died, though.
So Stitch, you plan on healing Sapphire a few miles outside of town. How are you handling that? Just pulling the caravan over, slimbing back there and doing it? Kiddo, are you running interference?
Or are you fessing up?
Kodak nods, "Ah...from last night, huh. Alright. How long will she be, you think?"
Kodak chews the inside of his cheek, "We hit Armour later tonight, fuel up there. Then we meet up with the buyers of our main haul in the morning, do the trade and head back." He seems pretty nonchalant about it.
Then he shifts, scratches the back of his neck, "Kiddo, the whole Ivory thing, that's gonna cost dad maybe a jingle. I was thinking... would it piss you off too bad if you and Stitch drove straight on past Trench, then waited out of sight for me and the crew to head into Trench and trade? We wouldn't lose much time, really, and it would make sure we turn a profit on this trip."
Kodak shakes his head, "Unless there's twice the line as yesterday, it should be half a day tops. So, you, VB and Stitch go on, while Rinso, Svenja, Bank, Motel and I head into Trench. That works for you?"
Kodak nods. Then, he sort of makes this face like he's doing math. Then he cocks his head, glances up where Rinso was perched before you stopped, then back to you. "What's.... uh. What's the deal with you two now? Seems like. Well, things have changed."
"Rinny and I," I say looking around cautiously, before looking back to Kodak with confidence, "are trying something." That came out kind of "matter of factly" — but then I guess I'm subconsciously kind of proud that I get to rub this in Kodak's face.
... OK. I'm more than proud. This is pretty frakking funny.
"We talked back at Salt. I heard some bad news about my parents, and he was there for me... One thing led to another, and now here we are." I take a deep breath, a bit giddy just thinking about it, "I was hesitant to lead him on, but we agreed to try and make what we have work... He loves me the way I am." I'm kind of beaming at that.
It takes a moment for Kodak to get that this is aimed right at him. He sort of looks away, then says, "Well... I hope he makes you happy, Kiddo. I really do. I know you've been searching for someone special. And I, uh, I hope he's the one."
OOC: read incoming.
(Rolled: 2d6+1. Rolls: 4, 2. Total: 7)
Right now, Kodak is annoyed. He's figured out that this Rinso thing is just something you're trying to throw in his face because he wanted you to be his and you slept around on him. Like now Rinso is the perfect man because he accepts you? Right. No, he's above this petty fight, he's said what he had to say, and who knows? Who the frak knows? In the one and a million chance you aren't full of drek, then go BE happy with Rinso.
And maybe, Kodak thinks, maybe he should hook up with VB. Would you like that? He could throw that in your face. Damnit. She hasn't frakked somebody at every single stop so far, and it isn't like he's even trying to pay attention to it. It's just so obvious.
But yeah, now Rinso is your big love. Good luck with that.
That's how he's feeling.
"He is special," I whisper through clenched teeth. He isn't a chauvinist pig who degrades women! He doesn't call me on things I don't do! And if Kodak hurts Vee, I swear to frak I will make him hurt in ways he couldn't possibly imagine. She had more than enough shit when that asshole Ziploc was in her life — and I was more than happy to send that frakker a message when I found out what he was doing to her. "And for the record — frakking someone to prove a point is a good way to get labeled a slut in these parts."
I would frakking know, after all! Asshole!
Kodak shrugs, "Listen, Kiddo. Let's leave the past in the past. Alright? We didn't work out. But now, we're working together." He glances past you, then back to you, "Let's not make it a thing, ok?"
OOC: Healing touch incoming.
(Rolled: 2d6+2. Rolls: 5, 2. Total: 9)
(Rolled: 2d6+2. Rolls: 4, 3. Total: 9)
You place your hands on Sapphire's tummy and begin to draw the wound together. This time, the pathways are easier to manage. You realize that the tag-a-long Sapphire is still here, still running the endless track of her own pained history. She didn't get the luxury of an escape, of Svenja pulling her out of it. She's been here, stuck like this, for torturous hours.
You heal her, you feel her body mend to perfect health. But you're going to need to lead her out of her own mental abyss, Stitch. They say you catch more flies with honey than vinegar.
Tell Sapphire one happy thing you've found about living here on Junk World. Something worth coming back to, even if she herself might not find it right away.
Kodak lets you go, then heads around the truck, to the other side, walking down to Caroline, to check on Motel and Bank. Rinso's been hovering around near the back of the truck for a bit, wanting to help Stitch, but really, what the hell can he do?
As you shut the truck door, Rinso comes up and leans against the window sill. Since there's no AC in Betty, you rolled out with the windows down, so he looks in at you, "Hey Kiddo," He's smiling. "I couldn't help but, you know, overhear you and Kodak... you alright?" He's still smiling, but the question, the check-in, it's sincere.
"I'm so sorry." I whisper to her. "This place is stone hard with sharp edges- but you know what? That means when you find people who care about you, they are easy to spot. Hey. It gets better- I'm actual living proof of that, ok?"
I show her some of my own scars- that day with the doctor, Ethan's face after I fractured his cheekbone and buried down deep- my own mother always pushing me, never satisfied with what I accomplished. It's not the same, but I hope it shows her that she is not alone.
Yes, in this dream-state, hidden away from the world, Sapphire does let you cradle her. The warmth suffuses her, and a piece of her opens up to you. Stitch, she says in your mind, Thank you for bringing me back. I have to keep earning. I want to find good people. I do. But Branny took my little brother, I have to buy him back. Then I'll look for good people. Like you.
Then you're looking at her in the meat-space. And she opens her eyes and looks at you. For a flicker of a moment, that same innocent truth of the moment in her mind, it holds. But you see it, the world darkens her look, around her eyes first, then it passes to her lips, which tighten, the her jaw, neck muscles, even her shoulders shift to a defensive posture. She says hoarsely, "We're outside?"
Kiddo,
Rinso returns the kiss, the smile still there. "I do love you the way you are, Kiddo. If you can't make this thing we're trying work, just tell me. I'm here for you." He brushes a hair out of your face and just smirks, like he could look at you all day.
I want to tell her that I brought her out her so the guards wouldn't get her, but it doesn't matter- she's going to believe what she wants. I take my hands off her and give her space, trying to be as non-threatening as I can.
I want to ask what her brother's name is. Ask her to tell me about him. Ask her what I can do to help, but I stay quiet.
Sapphire looks around while sitting up. "I recognize these trucks. You're with Kiddo?" She's looking down at the now tiny white scar on her tummy, checking her once-broken arm.
OOC: Read a person incoming.
(Rolled: 2d6+2. Rolls: 2, 3. Total: 7)
OOC: What does your character intend to do?
"Get you your jingle," she says while rubbing her healed arm like it's tingly, "I buried it out here in the scrub." She stands up, walks to the edge of the truck, past you to look across the road and the area outside, trying to gauge where she is.
She looks over her little shoulder back at you, Stitch, "Wanna walk with me? It won't take long, really." She looks back at Caroline, up top at Svenja, then back to you, "I won't hurt you, Stitch. Pinky swear."
I give him another quick kiss, and look back into the bed of the truck. "Are they done back there? We should get going..."
Rinso looks back, mumbles quiet, "Looks like spitfire is up." He huffs a little sigh, "This won't be fun. She's more prickly than Venger."
I mean, what woman isn't? I slip a hand in Rinso's back pocket and walk over to the back of the truck, to see what's up.
"Ok, but I'm only gonna take one." I tell her. I frakked her up right good last night, it wouldn't be right of me to take two. If I could get away with taking nothing, I'd try, but I'm certain she'd take that the wrong way.
Sapphire walks two steps closer, looks down at your pinky, glances up to see if anyone's around, then does a little half smirk and reaches up to take it in her own pinky. "Didn't know that was a real thing. Just something my..." she trails off, breaks the contact, turns and hops down to the bumper, then the ground.
Kiddo,
Sapphire walks around to the edge of the truck, looks down to see you and Rinso. "Hey there." Then she looks back for Stitch.
What do you do?
She walks towards you, still lagging behind for Stitch, and looks along the trucks, like she's working a puzzle quietly. She asks, "Why didn't you guys trade? You have the same drek as yesterday. Just fueling up?"
I follow Sapphire. "I.. uh. I sort of took a swing at Ivory." I admit sheepishly.
She's a sharp one, yeah? "Where you headed Saff? If you're heading our way, we could give you a lift!"
When you ask about where she's headed, she says, "I got my own bike, Kiddo." She huffs a laugh, "You think I walked out here?"
Then, Sapphire starts walking off the road, sort of a stroll, really. Heading out into the scrub, sort of towards Trench.
What do you do?
As for safe... If someone paid her enough she'd go after anyone, I know that, but safe enough, I guess.
Rinso gives you a look, Kiddo. Says low, "I'll keep a scope on you, kay?"
Kodak yells from Caroline, "Don't take long, alright?"
Then Sapphire looks to you, "Hey Stitch, that IV you stuck me with, that was a clean stick. My veins are hard to find sometimes."
Which, now that she said it, that plant does resemble an erect penis. A little.
Then she reaches the plants and drops down to her knees in that un-self-conscious way kids do, need to hit the ground, just hit the ground. She reaches into the dirt and pulls up a blanket that she covered with brush, and starts lifting it up and over the stuff underneath.
There's a long bag, you see the barrel of a sweet sniper rifle peeking out the top, plus there are saddle bags on her bike.
She reveals a well maintained red dirt bike, looks like this:
Kiddo, where have you seen this bike before?
She reaches down to pick up the bike by its handlebars, and grins up at you, Stitch. "Pretty flash, huh? Got it for a twofer."
What do you do?
"She's not kidding." I say to Sapphire. "She hangs with Rinso, who is plenty nice to look at."
What? I'm not saying anything anybody doesn't already know...
A... twofer? Like two jingle? Or killing two people... I don't think I wanna know. "Nice." I say
I remember that bike! Ma' and I found it with a stash of four others during a junkfall! Those things are frakking rare! I tried using one for a while, following Ma' around, but it's just not the same as a bike, yeah? I need that big, powerful rumble between my legs, or it just ain't worth it.
... Man, I miss riding with my Ma'...
Then Stitch comments about Rinso being nice to look at, and I stare at her blankly. That's twice today I've turned to Stitch and looked at her like she has two heads... Did Stitch just compliment Rinny? ... Whatever.
I sniffle, and watch as Sapphire sets up her bike. "We head to Armour tonight, deal a bit in the morning, then turn around and start the trip south. I've got some shit to take care of down in Boomtown, but then I'll be riding back north here a few days later... I've got some business of my own to take care of at the Ascendant."
Stitch, she looks over to you, "Want a ride back? It's a lil bike, can only carry one."
I know I should probably stop them, but it's not my battle. "Catch you around, Sapph. Kiddo- I'm putting my foot on the gas five minutes after I get in that truck."
Its obvious that she isn't completely healed because that drop hurt. She's got a strap from her bag and she doesn't have anything on her, but she's probably got a handgun in there. Of course, you've got the drop on her with your boomstick, Kiddo.
Stitch, you're not sure if Sapphire heard you, she's totally focused on Kiddo.
"Frak you, Kiddo!" Sapphire spits, "You've been down south, you don't EVEN know what that brain frakker does to people! You ask me, they're probably better off dead! Better than being Branny's little dolls! You think Ziploc was bad? He isn't drek!"
I get down on my haunches, the sun at my back, and coldly whisper,"The frakker who kills my parents is gunna learn a whole new lesson in pain, Saff. If Branigans did anything to them — anything at all — other than get them back on their feet, I'm gunna trap him in that frakked up brain of his, and watch the crows eat him piece by piece." I stand there quiet a while, sizing her up. This bitch is lucky I don't kill kids.
Stitch is walking? Good. "Best you ride off then," I whisper as I rise to my feet, brushing the dirt off my shins, "When I come back up here, I'm bringing hell with me for anyone gets in my way." Then I'll turn and start the walk back to the trucks.
Frakking mouthy bitch.
You're walking away, and Sapphire doesn't say anything for a few steps. She's heaving breaths, furious and scared all at the same time. Then she says just loud enough for you to hear, "He has Sunkist, Kiddo. I never saw your parents when I was there."
I wait until Saff looks at me and I wave her goodbye, sticking my tongue out at her.
"... I hadn't heard that," I answer, just above a whisper. That's not good... I dunno what it is Branny has on Sunkist — maybe he's trying to get to Fox — but Sunkist is way too young to be in his hands...
"I need time to sort some things out," I turn to face her, "when I'm done down south, I'm gunna ride back north with my crew. If you help me find my folks, I'll help you get your brother back."
That's the deal. A flat, one time offer.
She pulls her goggles back down and before she starts up her bike, says, "If I haven't already paid Branny his frakking blood money to get Sunkist myself, then we got a deal.... you know, Kiddo. I used to think you were flash."
The bike whines to life, having that shrill high sound that little dirt bikes have. She rides off past you, Kiddo.
Stitch, Sapphire rides up close to you, slows down and she leaves the engine running but sort of walks the bike with her feet. She says loud, "Stitch! You ninny, you didn't take your jingle!" She tries to smile, but she isn't so good at smiling. She reaches into her saddle bag, pulls out a grocery bag, hands it to you, then nods, like she's marking it off her list.
As Sapphire kicks her bike up and zips across the scrub, you look int the bag, right? It's a Rainbow bag, a couple of them, actually, one inside the other. Ratty, one part scotch taped over a hole. Inside is a six pack of Hershey bars with almonds, still in their wrappers, a pack of Black Cat M-80 firecrackers, a pack of matches from some bowling alley, three pink ribbons, a set of little plasticy butterfly hair-bows. four AAA batteries, a stick of slightly used red lipstick and a girl Lego with fairy wings.
What do you do?
Let's get the frak out of here.