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[Junk XIII] Stuck Outside (K 2-2, S 2-2)
It's a couple hours after the "altercation at Trench Gate". Rinso is up on the truck, finishing up the last load of the crates with the two of you. Svenja is sitting on top of Caroline. Both of them have smirks on their faces, Rinso is laughing.
"I still can't believe you decked him," Rinso says with a chuckle, "I mean, Stitch, you know Kiddo is supposed to be the wild one."
"Told ya, Rinnie. They're thick as thieves." Svenja says with a drek-eating grin.
Rinso finishes adjusting the straps to the crate, "Well, Kodak didn't put all his eggs in one basket. We should have enough petrol to make it to the next stop, no problem. Trench is full of a bunch of prickly folks anyways, I wouldn't worry about it."
"I dunno if it's all five by five, though," Svenja says. "Weren't you gonna re-up on your med supplies, Stitch?"
Rinso claps his hands together a dumb habit he picked up to show he's all done with something, "C'mon, y'all. I got an hour before Venger here is off watch and will want to head to the party tent. Let's go check on VB, yeah?" He hops off the truck with you, both, looking at your face, Kiddo, "Is your lip alright, Kiddo?"
What do you do?
"I still can't believe you decked him," Rinso says with a chuckle, "I mean, Stitch, you know Kiddo is supposed to be the wild one."
"Told ya, Rinnie. They're thick as thieves." Svenja says with a drek-eating grin.
Rinso finishes adjusting the straps to the crate, "Well, Kodak didn't put all his eggs in one basket. We should have enough petrol to make it to the next stop, no problem. Trench is full of a bunch of prickly folks anyways, I wouldn't worry about it."
"I dunno if it's all five by five, though," Svenja says. "Weren't you gonna re-up on your med supplies, Stitch?"
Rinso claps his hands together a dumb habit he picked up to show he's all done with something, "C'mon, y'all. I got an hour before Venger here is off watch and will want to head to the party tent. Let's go check on VB, yeah?" He hops off the truck with you, both, looking at your face, Kiddo, "Is your lip alright, Kiddo?"
What do you do?
Comments
"Yeah, I was." I reply. Not that I could afford refilling the whole thing. I... I'm kinda done with this place, anyway. It's weird and insular and might be safe, but I doubt whether that safety is worth the price. Also, I'm relieved I won't have to meet Spanx.
"You know what might help with the lip, Kiddo?" I ask, with a smile on my face. "Some more of that Sin drink. Doc's orders." I laugh.
Rinso says, "Venger, c'mon now. With us getting booted, we need to stay sharp. I'm not drinkin, ok? Just checkin on Chedd and Vee, that's all." Svenja crinkles her brows in disbelief, but then she shrugs, because it looks like Rinso is genuine. He puts a hand on your left shoulder, Stitch, and your right one, Kiddo, "C'mon ladies, let's go."
When you head back into Chedd's Party Tent, the noise has grown considerably louder, the crowd has grown a bit wilder, too. It seems that this might be the hopping place where citizens come to let their hair down. Its easy to pick them out against the grungy travelers here. There are a number of teens and young adults, all mixed together in a swirling mass of barely covered, mostly clean, but sweaty bodies, all moving and dancing to this song, an ancient song that still seems to get the crowd pumping.
Chedd and Twizzlers are still at their booth, surrounded by four well dressed men and a couple women. They're all doing lines and laughing. VB isn't with them, though. A scan of the crowd and you see her sitting at the bar, sort of half laying on it, with Trix chatting her up.
What do you do?
My thoughts all circle back to Metro. I laugh at myself for feeling like a lovesick teenager, but in truth it's very nice to feel something in the scarred wreckage of my heart- even if he's a robot and can't have feelings for me.
Trix comes over to lean forward and yell near your ear, "Whatcha want, green eyes?" She smiles prettily, but it feels like its for show.
Rinso is walking over to VB, Kiddo's somewhere behind you, yeah?
I sigh. I wonder who the well dressed folks are, but mostly out of curiosity. Is Kiddo dancing? Guess she got some more Sin. I laugh.
... Heh heh. Crazy bitch. I like her!
Anyway, I sidle up next to Rinso on the way over to Ched's. "It's not so bad, sweetie. Ivory punches like a girl. I'll get Vee to throw some lipstick on it when we get back to the trucks, and it'll be like nothing happened." Well... It might swell up a bit for a couple days — but hey, maybe Rinso's into the big puckery lips! And I wear brawl injuries like a badge of frakking honor!
Did I ever show you the scar I got fighting this bitch who thought I should "let Rinso make up his own mind" about who he should date? Heh. That's how I got the line on my eyebrow. Bitch split it open. She's missing more than her fair share of teeth though, so I'm not sure it was a fair trade on her end. She shoulda listened. She was dumber than a sack of shit, anyway. Rinso deserves better than a dumbass bitch like that.
I mean, he deserves better than me too — but better than her by a long shot.
I follow the group into Ched's, and grab some more Sin by the bar. Hey — doctor's orders, yeah? I find myself nodding along to the beat... Ok, may I was swaying to it... It's kinda hard not to, yeah? And this Sin stuff really gets you feeling it. I look over to Vee, and spot her blissed out. Frak... Looks like Rinny's carrying her home tonight. I walk over to him, and give him a kiss on the cheek. "Get her out of here, yeah sweetie? I don't want none of these assholes taking advantage of her..."
Then I grab his ass, and send him on his way. ... Y'know — for good measure.
Doc looks like she needs to get laid. A brawl will do that to you — wind you up, and leave you stressed if you can't get that pent up energy out. I walk up next to her, and smile. "That was bad ass back there, Doc! Where'd you learn to throw a punch like that?"
Oh and by the way, if getting laid is your thing, this does not look like it would be a challenge. For either of you, at judging from the looks you're getting from a few dancers, like the guy with the green rooster mohawk wearing tripps, or a couple of those folks dressed all fancy chatting with Chedd and Twizzlers.
Stitch, there's a guy over at a table, looks just like an old buddy of yours, someone from med school. Who does he look like?
Kiddo, you've left a few folks in your wake here before, right? Who, besides Medley, are you hoping might show up here tonight?
Anyway, I really hope Trojan's here. He's kind of a frak-up in his parent's eyes (hence the name); but he's clever as hell, and really down to earth.
It's odd but now that I know it's been a hundred years, it's not the sore spot it once was. Ethan is dead. Even if he manages to still be alive somehow he'd be light years away. It gives me a measure of peace, to think that.
I wave at Rinso as he leaves. "What's a sidewinder?" I ask Kiddo quietly.
The guy sitting at a table looks just like Liam- one of my friends from med school. We did our residency at the same hospital.
Sure enough, you spot Trojan. He's over by the dance floor with a few citizens, hard to miss him since he's a head taller than anyone else.
He sees you seeing him, and gives a smile and a wave, holds up a finger as if to say hey, I'll get to you in a few, yeah? Oh and by the way, he's dealing glass, you think. How hard is that drek?
Stitch,
That Liam-looking guy, he looks like a traveler. He's wearing a revolver and a loose cotton shirt that shows off a wicked scar across his shoulder. Actually looks like a surgery scar.
Both of you,
The music has switched to a bumpy grind with whispery lyrics, sounds like this. Seems like a local fave, people are whooping it up when it comes on, some folks singing along, a few extra hit the dance floor.
That looks frakking painful... Why would you wear pants that tight, then take glitter? That's just stupid! Glitter's not really my bag... I mean — y'know, folks experiment, and all that; but dad was really against that crap. He was big into the natural side of love.
Glass on the other hand... Well, I'd say that shit's pretty hard. I mean, if you take too much your lungs start bleeding — so I'd say that's pretty frakking hard, yeah? I'm kinda surprised they even let that shit anywhere near Trench! It's like the harder older brother of powder. It makes you see things, and hear things. If the atmosphere is right, it's a wicked trip — but in busy places like this, it'd be a nightmare... Like, hardcore. Folks get flashbacks on that shit... It scares the crap out of me.
I take a sip of my drink — taking it much slower this time, so I can keep my wits about me. "So you found anyone since you landed that gets you all tingly?" I nudge her, "I saw you chatting up that fella at the bar back in Salt."
"Yeah. Metro and I hit it off. He, ah... guessed my secret, so we got to talking about old times. It was nice." I answer. "What about you? Getting pretty friendly with Rinso tonight. What's going on there?" I nudge her right back.
I can't help looking over at not-Liam a few times- he catches me doing it, too. That scar looks good- neatly sewn up and everything. I wonder what happened to him.
Frakking hell, that man. I may be smiling again — contentedly — but remembering that night inevitably leads back to the Valley, and that frakked up Witch of a woman wandering the hell that was Sector10. "Y'know," I look back at her, "I got a few serious questions for you later on — medical stuff — after we relax a bit." I look over to Ched. I know he wants to chat later, and I'd imagine he wants to wrap up with those folks over there first.
I stand up and grab Stitch's hand, tugging at her to come out with me on the dance floor. "C'mon. Let's relax!"
I go out onto the dance floor- taking care to avoid the sidewinder- and move around in a reserved kinda way. I never was much of a dancer, so it's gonna take some of that Sin to get me really moving, but I have fun.
The music slides into a groove with this, followed by this. Then, a bit of this! The groove is heavily electronic, with deep bass hits and crunchy mixes. With repetitive lyrics and beats, it's the perfect music for losing yourself.
After a bit, Trojan joins the pair of you. He towers over you, one of the tallest guys in the room. He grooves up on you Kiddo, nothing pushy, but yeah, he likes to dance close. You don't mind that, right? He is harmless.
Why don't we try a cool custom move someone suggested.
When you dance with someone, roll +HX. On a 10+ choose 2. On a 7-9 choose 1.
• Take +1HX with them
• You learn something new about that person, that person decides what they spill to you
• You really relax and have a great time; take +1Forward
But of course, all good things come to an end at some point, right? You leave the dance floor, glowing a bit, a bit winded maybe. Trojan follows you off, invites you over to a table where he orders some drinks. He introduces himself to you, Stitch, "Hey there, I'm Trojan, like the warriors!" He smiles a goofy smile and adds, "Nice to meet you. You look so rad!"
Then he pats your thigh, Kiddo, "Gods, so good to see you! How have you been? I saw Vee and Rinnie, they look good. How's the family"
(Rolled: 2d6+1. Rolls: 4, 6. Total: 11)
As tense as Stitch was out there, I tried my best to help her relax, you know? She works hard, and I wanna see her chill like she did back at Salt. Even though she's been kinda quiet, we've kinda got this thing going on, yeah? I feel like I'm starting to get a feel for who that chick is that fell into our lives. OOC: Take +1Hx with Stitch.
Literally!
That, and I was completely shocked by what Stitch let slip... OOC: You learn something new about that person. Spill it Stitch!
Anyway, back to the moment. Sure Trojan — like the warriors. That's not what your younger brother said... I give him a kiss on the cheek, and walk over to the table with him. "I'm good. I've been busy looking after what's left of the family, so I haven't been around much... How about you? I see you've got a business set up for yourself..." There's no way he's making that Glass on his own — I'm being polite.
What? It happens!
Then finally, he throws his hands up, "Hey! Green eyes! Are you the one who decked out Ivory? Whoah, man! That's the talk o' the tent, yo! Wish I'd been there to see that!" He slap-pats your arm with the back of his hand, Kiddo, "Kiddo, were you there? What was it like?" He grins and starts pantomiming as he describes different ways to KO Ivory, "Was she all, HIYAH style, or did she like, make a kissy face, then BLAH-DOW, backhand or what? C'mon, y'all, gimmie the deets!"
(Rolled: 2d6+2. Rolls: 3, 6. Total: 11)
When I told her that, she told me something about herself... OOC: you learn something new about that person, spill it, Kiddo!
I really relax and have a great time. I take +1Forward.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Stitch." I say to Trojan as we sit down. "Thanks?" I let him and Kiddo catch up while I sit and relax, looking around the tent, kinda zoning out.
When Trojan asks about Ivory, the scene flashes before my eyes. The dude was getting in Kiddo's face and before I knew it I was in between them, swinging my elbow into his temple. I'd done it before, to another man... Maybe those instincts never go away. I rub my elbow.
A bit later, we're dancing, and sharing these deep personal stories... "So I really hope things work out between Hump and Topps... My line of work tends to get folks killed, and he's just safer off the road, yeah?" I couldn't abandon him; but it wouldn't be abandonment if he started his own family, yeah? "We kinda got left behind by our folks a year ago, so splitting like this is hard — especially since I'm getting leads on where my parents headed a year ago. If folks weren't relying on me, I'd be gone for the north shore by now..."
But folks are relying on me, yeah? Anyway... Back to the moment.
"It was more like a sucker punch, if not for the fact that Stitch here warned the bastard. I think Ivy'll be missing a few teeth after that one!" I giggle a bit, and mimic the mean right-hook Stitch delivered, via FedEx you might say, to Ivory's ugly-ass face. "As if the folks in town don't just come down here and get loaded anyway, yeah? What's the deal with Ivory getting a position? Are the Zealots in charge up in Trench now?"
He pulls out a small sealed baggie of glass, tosses it on the table, "You two wanna hit?" Stitch, you see these little crystals, all blue and green like the rocks at the bottom of an aquarium. How do you imagine someone "does" glass?
Trix comes over, like in a rush, and plops into the seat you'd reserved for VB. "Heya! Kids! Greenie! Tro-Tro, whazzit goin?"
Reminder of Trix's look:
She pauses for a second, then adds in, " You chickie dees digz my Sin? Sin for the win, yesss?"
"Hey Trix. Where'd you learn to make this Sin stuff? It's frakking powerful!"
Kiddo, looks like Chedd might have freed himself up. There's a new guy tending bar, which is how Trix ended up here at your table. Chedd's at the bar, he looks over at you, gives you the nod.
It's getting pretty loud in here, I'm thinking about going back to the caravan. Trix is... odd.
At the bar, Chedd buys you a drink, then he sort of slides up to talk into your ear. He's playing drunk, like he's close-talking and his hand is around you, but this is Chedd. "Your dad and mom, they were here, like I said. Zero was all worried about your dad, he was coughing up blood, really sick. They went to see the doc in town, his name's Lever. He's Ivory's grandfather. Nice guy, for a Zealot. When they came out, Zee... well, she was crying, Kiddo. Never seen it before. Your dad was sick with cancer. They said they had to get something done up north before they came back to get you and Hump. I guess something happened, honey. They never came back down." He kisses your temple, and adds, "I'm sorry, honey. I'm so sorry."
It's been a frakking year. Three junkfalls! Three! What the frak could they possibly be doing that would take a frakking year to get done? I'm not going to cry... I can't cry! My parents would never do this to me! They would... They couldn't! They can't, gods damn it!
Dad told me about his home as a kid once — it was up north in the shell of an old spaceship. If they're going anywhere, it's gotta be there. After whatever family is left up there. What I don't get, is why he didn't ride down to get us! Or send a runner after us! We could have rode out after him! Cannibals of the Sulfur Flows be damned!
I suddenly don't feel very good... "Ched... I need to talk to that doctor, but I can't get into the city. I need to make that happen."
I slap the little bit of savings I have down on the bar — it's a sizable bag of aluminum scrap I've been saving for a rainy day... "I need to talk to him."
OOC: In case it's not clear: I'm dropping barter to speed something along, if you agree it's righteous. I think an audience with someone is something you could achieve that way. Should I roll?
Mark off the barter and make your roll.
(Rolled: 2d6+1. Rolls: 3, 5. Total: 9)
"I'll be by my trucks," I whisper shakily as I put a hand on his forearm, "don't you ever hesitate to call anybody but me if you need something done, Ched. You're like family to us."
OOC: I just noticed I have 2-barter, rather than just 1. Kiddo would spend the extra jingle to get the job done, so that's a 10.
Oh hell, you know that gets you a warm hug from Chedd. He's even misted up, he's not used to trusting folks, but he does you. He most certainly does you. As you leave the bar, he's already making his way out the back. He's going to try like hell to make this work right the frak now. Tonight.
As you're heading for the door... or more like tent flap out, a dark-skinned female with a hoodie steps in your way. She's near the dance floor, maybe someone coming off it? Anyways, I imagine you just sidestep, but she sidesteps in your way again. Then she reaches to take your arm, and looks up to meet your eyes.
It's Medley.
She gives you a smirk, takes your arm, and tries to pull you into a spot where the tent flaps have created a small closet-sized shadow.
What do you do?
I'm half way out the door, not paying much attention to what's going on when Medley grabs me, and pulls me off to the side. If it were anyone else, I wouldn't even consider stopping, but I'm completely shocked to see her staring me in the face. "Wha ... Medley?" I whisper, following her into the shadow, "What the frak are you doing here?"
Medley pulls you into a fierce hug, you end up asking your question in her ear. She smells like jasmine. She speaks in her breathy, bouncy tone, "Gods, Kiddo! I thought it was a lie, but it was not! I'm so joyous you are here!" She pulls back, hovering right in your face, her eyes bright. She stares into your eyes, but then she notes your dismay, "Kiddo, what is wrong? Why are you sad?"
"The whole night, huh?" Holy frak that's a tempting offer! "See, the thing is, I'm kinda with somebody..." I look her over, all but drooling at the mouth... She's been keeping herself in good frakking shape. And that perfume... Frak. I love jasmine! "Come with me."
Where's Rinso?
Rinso's been gone, he took VB off to the trucks. He didn't come back, he's got watch after Svenja.
Medley giggles nervously and nods, pulling her hood back over her head, "Anywhere you want, Kiddo. Anything. Gods, I've missed you!"
Medley practically spoons with you as you walk, she's trying to walk almost on you, turning her head in the hood to hide it, but talking into your ear, "Oh Kiddo, it has been so long. I've dreamed of you, honest dreams. Very intense, very wonderful. The things... the things you did to me. He does not. Will not. Ever. I miss your touch, I miss every part of you. Where are we going?"
Rinso is up on Caroline, sitting up top where it's damn cold, but he has vantage over the camp, the tents and the other two trucks. You can walk right up to him if you want. It's chilly tonight. See your breath cold.
What do you do?
Then I slowly climb up onto Caroline, and sidle up next to Rinso. I'm smiling up at him with my best feminine whiles. "Hey Rinny," Frak it's cold up here! "so... I ran into an old friend of mine, and she's really missed me... And I was just wondering if you could find it in your heart to let me show her a good time?" I'm running my fingers down his cheek, and batting my eyelashes. This would be a frakton easier if it weren't so frakking cold! "I'd invite you along if you weren't on duty... But I swear I'll make it up to you!"
Medley pours herself into the kiss, doubling your passion. You actually end up pushing her away slightly, and she gives you a pouty lip.
When you climb up to see him, Rinso looked happy to see you. Well, until the kiss. He saw the girl, but then you laid one on her, and now you're up here, but you want to go with her, and...
So yeah, he sighs a little when you come up. He listens, even closes his eyes for a second when you touch his cheek.
Alright, give me a manipulate on that. I mean, it could technically be a seduce, but well, hrm... same die roll. You tell me what it is.
OOC: Seduce Rinso. Roll+hot. +1XP rolling highlighted!
(Rolled: 2d6+1. Rolls: 6, 2. Total: 9)
He huffs an exasperated sigh, and says, "Fine, Kiddo. Go have your fun. But you know... maybe I have urges, too. Just keep that in mind."
I really don't get why folks are so hung up about this sex thing... I mean, it's just sex! It's not like I love Medley or anything! I give Rinso a peck on the cheek and cheerily hop down to rejoin Medley.
"C'mon sweetie! Let's go find somewhere private!" Y'know, I've had jasmine tea before... A girl's gotta wonder...
"Where are we going, Kiddo?" she asks while rubbing your back.
Your tent is big, but well, it's Ivory's tent. Very dicey if you don't wanna get caught. Chedd might know of a place... but oh no, he went off to run an errand for you. Maybe Trojan can help?
Or you can just sneak her into the small area where VB is sleeping and have your fun there.
We'll be quick! I swear! She'll be gone before sunrise, and everyone will be sated. I guide Medley into my tent, and pull her into a warm embrace — immediately tearing her clothes off, and going for the prize. Mmmm... This is going to be so good!
What do you do?
That frakking asshole. Mark my words: I'm gunna kill him. I really, and truly am. How could he treat Medley like some piece of meat? She's not something to mark as unclean because of what she loves! My eyes narrow, and I bite my lip... I stand there a minute after she reveals herself, looking her in the eyes while I slowly take my clothes off, setting my gun and pack to the side. Once we're both naked, I walk over to her slowly and pull her into an embrace.
I play with her exquisitely clean hair, and look longingly into her eyes. "I'll worry about that tomorrow — but for now," I run my fingers gently down her neck, "let's enjoy the time we have."
Afterwards, and I assume you make sure both of you are sated, which takes quite a while, she pushes you farther than she ever has before, like she knows this might be the last time in a long while, maybe ever.
Covered in a warm afterglow in the wee hours, she's lying on your chest, murmuring, "I am so delighted by you, Kiddo. I wish that you could gobble me up, eat me whole, and carry me away in your adorably trim belly." Then she laughs a tired laugh and slowly drifts into sleep.
Go head and fire your Sex Move.
I can't help but wonder...
• Who handled this last before me?
• What was said nearby this most recently?
• What is wrong with this, and how can I fix this?
Most recently, Ivory was complaining about you to her. She dressed his wound, put ice on his bruise and slipped some of her sedatives that she uses to sleep into his tea before she snuck out here to see you.
What's wrong with Medley? She lets her father push her around, tell her what to do, and she'll do it, she does it. Sure, she came out here for you, but that's one night. Tomorrow, she's right back in his clutches. And if he figures out what she did, he'll punish her worse this time. She knows it. But she'll go through it, even though she can't imagine what it will be. And the thing is... if you kill him, she's perfectly okay with that. Because then, she's yours. All yours, and she will follow you to the end of the earth. And she cannot care for herself, not a bit. And by killing him, you're telling her she doesn't have to. Like a young child, which she still is in some ways, she'll be convinced you love her and will take care of her and she just has to beg and whine until you give her what she needs. Oh, she's good in the sack, but you've never dealt with the whole package.
How do you fix it? Hell... how do you make her grow up? Definitely do not whisk her away, do not solve her problems for her, do not kill her father in the rage he may or may not deserve. If you want her to speak up for herself, you're going to have to tell her to stand up to him, tell her that you don't respect her as she is. You need to sell her on the value of the freedom you enjoy.
And yeah, it's not gonna be easy.
I'm gunna let her sleep a while – an hour maybe, not long – then wake her up. At that point, I've already gotten dressed. "Wake up sweetie," I whisper without tenderness, "your free ride's done. Either go tell your old man to frak off, or go home... Your choice."
Oh look, standing right outside the trucks, looking for you, it's Chedd and Medley's great grandfather, Lever. The guy is ancient. He is wrinkled and bent, but there's a clarity in his eyes. He looks at you, then his great grand-daughter.
She lets out a squeak of surprise, and you think a tiny whimper, but he says in a still strong baritone, "Little flower, what a surprise to see you here! I am happy to walk with you outside... but first I must speak with this young lady. Will you entertain my good friend Chedd while I speak with Kid-do?" Medley nods, stunned, walks over to Chedd obediently.
What do you do?
I reach into my pack and pull out my old mp3 player. It's got a picture of my parents a few months before they left for the Valley on it. "Ched tells me you diagnosed my father with cancer... Do you have any idea where he went? Or how long he had to live?" I show him the picture.
He reaches up a hand to your shoulder. You can tell he's spent a lifetime comforting others, giving them bad news as gently as possible, and it never got easy for him. "Kid-do, your father had cancer in his left lung. He smoked for how long? It was too much. You understand? The whole lung needed to be removed. More than I'm equipped to handle. When he arrived, he had some tears in his throat from coughing. I gave him some medicine for that. Eased up the cough, but that was just a symptom. He needed an operation, or he was terminal."
For a moment, Lever just looks at you, like he's unsure if he should tell you something. He sees the pain, the desperation in your eyes. "Kid-do, I told your mother there was a doctor up north named Caress. She's amazing. I know, because I trained her. And, she's working out of the Ascendant hold, that ship that crash a few Junkfalls ago. She'd sent word back that the infirmary ws nearly intact. Your father didn't want to go, Kid-do, but she was not listening to him."
Kiddo, what have you heard about the madman who took over that place? Why would Lever warn your parents about going to the only place that could save Oliver's life?
The Ascendant is run by a guy named Branigans. Nobody really figured him for much back when he was living in Sector — just some drugged up frakker who had a tendency to get what he wanted way too often. He ran with this biker gang run by a girl named Nesbitts — we call her Nezzy for short — or at least we thought she ran it...
Branigans is a mindfrakker. I've heard that he holds court frakked up on whatever cocktail of drugs he's invented, and sits there in a stupor — completely motionless — speaking directly into his people's minds. I've heard other rumors that he's had women strung up on his shit for days, to the point where they'd starve themselves to death, because they wouldn't sleep with him. Dad would never go there, because he knows what Branigans did to Nezzy... He would never let Ma' risk dealing with that sick frakker.
In spite of all this, I feel tears stream down my cheeks, and my lips curl upwards into a smile. I wrap my arms around Lever, and sob quietly into his shoulder. "Thank you! Oh thank you!"
There's still hope... After all this time, there's still hope.
You wrap your arms around Levers thin frame and he chuckles a raspy laugh. "Well... that was worth waking up for, Chedd." He puts a hand on your back and pats your gently, you can feel how his skin sags on his bones.
Then you release him, and he says, "Good night, Kid-do. And good luck." He turns to Medley, leads her off into the night.
Chedd waits around, "Kiddo, you should head in. There's been some trouble, I guess, uhhh, I guess maybe you and Medley missed it? But Sapphire gave someone in town a necktie."
"Who was it?" I ask quietly.
I smile and give him a hug. While in the embrace, I peck his cheek and whisper, "are you in trouble, Ched?"
Chedd pauses, for dramatic effect, then looks up on top of Caroline at Rinso, "Of course, if you ever want to lend him to me... that would be just fine." He chuckles a bit, then heads back to his party tent.
You know, I feel really bad putting Rinso on the spot like that... I climb up onto the truck, and take a seat next to Rinso — leaving the choice of whether to cuddle or not up to him. "Hey, hot stuff."
"I'm not here to defend myself, Rinny. Or rub anything in." I mean... Unless he wants me to rub something in. I wait a while, trying to think of the right way to disarm the situation. I mean — I feel really shitty that I hurt him like that, so quickly. I'm also a little confused about how I feel ... I just learned my parents may very well be alive up North, and my first instinct was to come here and try to make Rinso better because I frakked an old fling. "So... I'm sorry..."
There... See? I'm not frakking heartless... Frakking Medley, messing with me...
Then his eyes are open, looking at you, "And frak, Medley is hot. So, you know, I get it... its just..." He frowns with trying to express himself, "Watching you flirt and sleep around was easy when I hadn't been one of them. Like I could just sit back and wish, and say, 'You know, Rinso, she doesn't know what she's missin. Why, one night with you and you'd be all she needs. You're just what she's lookin for!'"
He breathes out of his nose, shakes his head, "But that was a lie I told myself. And I've been sitting up here pissed off for a couple hours. And it isn't you. It's me. I'm pissed at myself, for that stupid frakkin lie."
"Rinny," I put my hand on his arm, brushing it with care, "what makes you think I could live without you?"
He turns his head to look at you for a long moment. Then, "Truth is hard."
I hang my head, a bit disappointed that I'd make Rinso hurt so quickly... I didn't know it would bother him this much. I love women — that's not an itch Rinny can scratch for me. — but Rinny scratches an itch no other person can scratch for me, and it sure as shit is an itch that goes beyond carrying half my shit...
"You know you're more than that to me Rinny," I look up at him, concerned, "you remember back at my Dad's first commune, after that big ass fight in Sector happened, where you snuck in to get away from the fighting? Do you remember what you said after my Dad told me you'd look after me?" I sure frakking hope so. "'Cause I do... I remember the scared little boy, who was just as shaky as I was, telling me everything was going to be alright — because you were gunna protect me."
I put my hand on his cheek, "you were there for me, when my Ma' couldn't be. You were there for me when my Ma' got sick, and when Vicky died, and when Kodak was a complete ass to me, and when my Parents left, and through all this shit." I stop and take a breath, "You're with me. Supporting me. Carrying half of my shit." I smirk, "if loving me is hard, then don't do it... I want you to be happy, sweetie, and I want it to come easy to you."
He moves his hand from your shoulder up to the side of your head, and very gently pushes your head towards his and kisses your cheek, then says low in your ear, "Funny thing is... when I was little, workin at Firestone, scrubbin all that trash, every day. Those chems would burn my whole hands, fingertips to wrists, make them itch for hours after shift. And I cried myself to sleep some nights with no food in my belly. And now... now the worst thing I have to bitch about is the hottest girl I know, that I just happen to be frakkin, asking me if its ok if she goes off to frak the maybe second or third hottest girl I've ever seen. And all the while, she's telling me that if I weren't stuck up here guarding someone else's drek, that I'd be down there with them.... well, that's not really so bad now. Is it?"
I give him a sympathetic look before kissing him gently. "Well, it probably won't be happening with her ever again... But the good news is, you top the charts on the male side of the spectrum, sweetie." I grin widely, and slide my hand up the inside of his leg, "I don't mind sharing... So long as you remember who needs you most." I tease him with a short kiss, and giggle playfully, then tease him with another kiss.
That's enough for now though... He is on duty after all. I giggle a bit longer, and get comfy under his arm — wrapping my right arm around the small of his back. "Gods, I can't wait for this damn job to be over... Lever and Ched both told me they saw Ma' and Dad come through here! Lever said he sent them up towards the Ascendant for medical help... Rinny, when this job's over, we gotta go get Hump and b-line it for that rusty bucket of bolts!"
When you tell him about the Ascendant and your parents, he listens close, intently, nodding. But his eyes show some worry. "The Ascendant? Frak, Kiddo, that's no bueno. Branigans runs that joint, and he's a serious mindfrakker, as bad as Pallor ever was, worse than Ziploc even."
"But we're totally going." He agrees.
He works his way back to the relationship eventually, though. Sort of like he just thought of it, "So, uhm, I'm top of the charts on the male spectrum? Can we make that, you know, official? Is that okay? No more boys for Kiddo kind of thing? And well, sure, I'll give in, too. No boys for Rinso, either. That cool?" He adds a hopeful smile.
Exclusivity... I don't mind doing it with men, for Rinso, but it makes things a little complicated when it comes to business... I like messing with folks, and the flirting really helps me get leverage sometimes... I purse my lips, and squint hard at him. "You don't have to give up boys sweetie, so long as I get to watch. You don't even have to give up girls!" I sigh, "but... well... If it means that much to you, I guess I could."
This is going to bite me in the ass...
He squeezes you one good last time, then says, "Get some sleep, Kiddo."
I assume you don't fight him on that? He adds with a smile, "And maybe next town up, I'll get Svenja to take a night shift, so we can have some time? What's the next town, anyways?"
Oh and by the way, you hear some muffled screaming below you. Rinso hears it, too. "Sounds like Stitch's section. She had that girl."
If you want to join that scene, go here.
I sniffle a few times and compose myself... It is late. I should hit the hay. "Yeah, alright sweetie! Next up is Armour — that town built out of old shipping containers? It's not that far away. Maybe a day... Two at the most."
I hear the screaming coming from the tent, and look back to Rinso when he comments on "that girl" ... What girl? I hop down off the truck, and run for the tent.