Borrowed Strength (CA - Matthew & Zander)
Quote from Deleted user on January 22, 2021, 10:16 amMatthew stared at the ceiling as he laid on the dirty floor of the convenience store, his backpack being used as a pillow. He passed a near empty water bottle back and forth between his hands solely out of boredom.
" I think he got lost," he responded. " ...You think this place is too tiny, it doesn't show up on a map?"
As Zander expressed interest in forming a new plan to get out of their predicament, Matthew stopped tossing the bottle and turned his hazel eyes toward him as his brows furrowed slightly.
" ...What are you thinking? I couldn't shift this morning, I definitely don't think I could now. How are we getting out of here without a vehicle?"
Matthew stared at the ceiling as he laid on the dirty floor of the convenience store, his backpack being used as a pillow. He passed a near empty water bottle back and forth between his hands solely out of boredom.
" I think he got lost," he responded. " ...You think this place is too tiny, it doesn't show up on a map?"
As Zander expressed interest in forming a new plan to get out of their predicament, Matthew stopped tossing the bottle and turned his hazel eyes toward him as his brows furrowed slightly.
" ...What are you thinking? I couldn't shift this morning, I definitely don't think I could now. How are we getting out of here without a vehicle?"
Quote from Indy on March 11, 2021, 11:02 pm"Nah," Zander had re-entered the shop and was stuffing his bag full of water bottles, energy drinks, and granola bars. He left cash on the counter and hoisted the bag awkwardly to the side.
"It's cooled down. I'm going to see if the motorcycle has decided she'll behave for once..."
Zander motioned to the aforementioned bike, dead and lifeless as it sat on the asphalt. He went over to the bike and tried to turn the ignition. It made a few promising wheezes but spluttered to a halt with each one. He set the bag aside on the ground and started fussing with the saddlebag for tools and grease.
"Come on, you can do it," he murmured encouragingly, opening up to take a look at her innards. He squinted for any sigh of a leak.
Some more poking and prodding later, he managed to coax the beast to an unhappy wine - decidedly not the typical motorcycle sound, yet beggars could not be choosers.
"Alright - hop on. Plan is to see how far she'll get us, and hope the next place is a town that isn't already occupied".
"Nah," Zander had re-entered the shop and was stuffing his bag full of water bottles, energy drinks, and granola bars. He left cash on the counter and hoisted the bag awkwardly to the side.
"It's cooled down. I'm going to see if the motorcycle has decided she'll behave for once..."
Zander motioned to the aforementioned bike, dead and lifeless as it sat on the asphalt. He went over to the bike and tried to turn the ignition. It made a few promising wheezes but spluttered to a halt with each one. He set the bag aside on the ground and started fussing with the saddlebag for tools and grease.
"Come on, you can do it," he murmured encouragingly, opening up to take a look at her innards. He squinted for any sigh of a leak.
Some more poking and prodding later, he managed to coax the beast to an unhappy wine - decidedly not the typical motorcycle sound, yet beggars could not be choosers.
"Alright - hop on. Plan is to see how far she'll get us, and hope the next place is a town that isn't already occupied".
Quote from Deleted user on March 31, 2021, 9:48 pmMatthew watched Zander leave the store with disinterest.
After a while of continuing passing his empty water bottle in his hands, he heard the motorcycle engine come back to life- or more like still dead but pretending to be alive. The wine of the engine, even to an untrained ear, sounded awful like a dying animal.
" ...But what about Davey? He's gunna be worried if he doesn't find me here." Matthew replied to Zanders command.
Matthew watched Zander leave the store with disinterest.
After a while of continuing passing his empty water bottle in his hands, he heard the motorcycle engine come back to life- or more like still dead but pretending to be alive. The wine of the engine, even to an untrained ear, sounded awful like a dying animal.
" ...But what about Davey? He's gunna be worried if he doesn't find me here." Matthew replied to Zanders command.
Quote from Indy on April 2, 2021, 12:25 am"It'd be better if there was something left for Davey to find..." Zander grumbled darkly, peering out at the dark road.
"You could leave a note for him on the front door of the store. I doubt the shopkeeper would mind".
"It'd be better if there was something left for Davey to find..." Zander grumbled darkly, peering out at the dark road.
"You could leave a note for him on the front door of the store. I doubt the shopkeeper would mind".
Quote from Deleted user on April 2, 2021, 5:47 pmMatthew groaned as he slowly pushed himself off the floor. With a small amount of shuffling, he got some paper out of his backpack and scribbled something on a sticky note. Getting up he left the yellow paper on the gas station door, just a few lines creating some weird symbol on it.
Slowly he made his way and hopped on the motorcycle Zander still was waiting on, but he didn't look too happy about it.
Matthew groaned as he slowly pushed himself off the floor. With a small amount of shuffling, he got some paper out of his backpack and scribbled something on a sticky note. Getting up he left the yellow paper on the gas station door, just a few lines creating some weird symbol on it.
Slowly he made his way and hopped on the motorcycle Zander still was waiting on, but he didn't look too happy about it.
Quote from Indy on April 8, 2021, 9:15 pmThe motorcycle was still running when Matthew came back out. Zander was fidgeting with the number of journals in his backpack, his expression narrowed in concern. Abruptly he shoved them back into the backpack once he heard Matthew. Nothing in his expression seemed concerned, yet the journals were completely packed away by the time the boy returned.
He tossed a helmet to Matthew to put on and likewise grabbed his own. He slipped on a heavy, leather jacket from the depths of his saddlebag.
"Okay, let's hold our breath, fingers crossed, but I won't jinx it. If you've never ridden a motorcycle, some safety tips. Wear your helmet. If you have a jacket, wear that. There's no seatbelts, don't be expecting that, just hold onto my waist and you'll be fine though".
Zander exhaled heavily, trying not to show the unease he felt.
"Okay... ready?"
The motorcycle was still running when Matthew came back out. Zander was fidgeting with the number of journals in his backpack, his expression narrowed in concern. Abruptly he shoved them back into the backpack once he heard Matthew. Nothing in his expression seemed concerned, yet the journals were completely packed away by the time the boy returned.
He tossed a helmet to Matthew to put on and likewise grabbed his own. He slipped on a heavy, leather jacket from the depths of his saddlebag.
"Okay, let's hold our breath, fingers crossed, but I won't jinx it. If you've never ridden a motorcycle, some safety tips. Wear your helmet. If you have a jacket, wear that. There's no seatbelts, don't be expecting that, just hold onto my waist and you'll be fine though".
Zander exhaled heavily, trying not to show the unease he felt.
"Okay... ready?"
Quote from Deleted user on April 8, 2021, 9:34 pmMatthew was putting the helmet on as Zander gave off instructions.
" I've ridden once," was all he said as he got out a jacket and put it on. Once his backpack was fastened onto his back, he grabbed a hold of Zander and braced himself for the ride ahead.
Matthew was putting the helmet on as Zander gave off instructions.
" I've ridden once," was all he said as he got out a jacket and put it on. Once his backpack was fastened onto his back, he grabbed a hold of Zander and braced himself for the ride ahead.
Quote from Indy on April 8, 2021, 9:48 pmOnce Matthew was secured, the motorcycle took off with a throaty splutter. It puttered it's way down the road. Now that night had fallen, the air was cool and pleasant. A thousand stars twinkled above in the ebony canopy, each a unique gem unto itself but altogether a masterpiece beyond mortal comprehension. As they neared the outskirts of the town, eyes flashed in the night: silver, gold, sapphire, and emerald. Yet other than turn to watch them go, they did not draw any nearer than the stars.
As they passed, Zander let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He felt something in his chest give way, and he let out a jubilant cackle. Maybe, for once in his life, it all didn't have to end in tears.
They road a long way along the darkened road. Sometimes they would pass another lonesome vehicle, but by and large they were alone out there. It was easy to think the road was and infinite ocean, and their vehicle as insignificant as a grain of sand. It was easy to imagine being lost in the darkness forever: perhaps the unreliable vehicle would give out, and they would have to surrender in the desert. Perhaps the road went nowhere.
Yet sure enough it began to change around them. The road swelled to three lanes. They passed by more vehicles. The town they'd just escaped seemed no more than a nightmare.
They were another few hours yet from their destination. He decided to take a chance at a rest stop. They could afford a margin of comfort, to stretch their legs, maybe eat something or go to the restroom. There was no guarantee the motorcycle wouldn't splutter out again, but he didn't feel nearly as uneasy passing the night in the land of humans. He found a stall and parked the motorcycle, then killed the ignition with the hope he'd be able to turn it on again.
He turned to Matthew, as if remembering his passenger for the first time that night.
"You doing okay? I think we can take a little bit to rest before we get moving again to our destination".
Once Matthew was secured, the motorcycle took off with a throaty splutter. It puttered it's way down the road. Now that night had fallen, the air was cool and pleasant. A thousand stars twinkled above in the ebony canopy, each a unique gem unto itself but altogether a masterpiece beyond mortal comprehension. As they neared the outskirts of the town, eyes flashed in the night: silver, gold, sapphire, and emerald. Yet other than turn to watch them go, they did not draw any nearer than the stars.
As they passed, Zander let out a breath he hadn't realized he'd been holding. He felt something in his chest give way, and he let out a jubilant cackle. Maybe, for once in his life, it all didn't have to end in tears.
They road a long way along the darkened road. Sometimes they would pass another lonesome vehicle, but by and large they were alone out there. It was easy to think the road was and infinite ocean, and their vehicle as insignificant as a grain of sand. It was easy to imagine being lost in the darkness forever: perhaps the unreliable vehicle would give out, and they would have to surrender in the desert. Perhaps the road went nowhere.
Yet sure enough it began to change around them. The road swelled to three lanes. They passed by more vehicles. The town they'd just escaped seemed no more than a nightmare.
They were another few hours yet from their destination. He decided to take a chance at a rest stop. They could afford a margin of comfort, to stretch their legs, maybe eat something or go to the restroom. There was no guarantee the motorcycle wouldn't splutter out again, but he didn't feel nearly as uneasy passing the night in the land of humans. He found a stall and parked the motorcycle, then killed the ignition with the hope he'd be able to turn it on again.
He turned to Matthew, as if remembering his passenger for the first time that night.
"You doing okay? I think we can take a little bit to rest before we get moving again to our destination".
Quote from Deleted user on April 8, 2021, 10:19 pmAfter the ride Matthews face had fallen into something rather melancholy.
" Yeah," he responded quietly as he tried to get up.
" Ouch ouch ouch," he yelped as the pain that shot through his legs from trying to move them after sitting on the bike for so long caught him by surprise. He moaned as he finally managed to get off, but he didn't get far as he leaned against the bike for support as he tried to wait for the pain to fade. His face was in a grimace now.
" ..I've never riden that long before.." He said.
After the ride Matthews face had fallen into something rather melancholy.
" Yeah," he responded quietly as he tried to get up.
" Ouch ouch ouch," he yelped as the pain that shot through his legs from trying to move them after sitting on the bike for so long caught him by surprise. He moaned as he finally managed to get off, but he didn't get far as he leaned against the bike for support as he tried to wait for the pain to fade. His face was in a grimace now.
" ..I've never riden that long before.." He said.
Quote from Indy on April 8, 2021, 11:20 pmZander couldn't help but chuckle as he watched Matthew hop. He pulled off his helmet and tucked it underneath his arm.
"I'd say it gets easier, but no matter how many years I travel, I never get over how loud it is. And cold".
He turned towards the rest stop with a nod, "We can stay as long as you like. There's restrooms, a vending machine if you need anything, and some tables to sit at if you like. I'm sure there's a payphone somewhere too if you want to leave a message on Davey's answering machine letting him know you're okay".
Zander couldn't help but chuckle as he watched Matthew hop. He pulled off his helmet and tucked it underneath his arm.
"I'd say it gets easier, but no matter how many years I travel, I never get over how loud it is. And cold".
He turned towards the rest stop with a nod, "We can stay as long as you like. There's restrooms, a vending machine if you need anything, and some tables to sit at if you like. I'm sure there's a payphone somewhere too if you want to leave a message on Davey's answering machine letting him know you're okay".
