Quote from Adriana on September 22, 2020, 6:24 pm

"Sure can. You need me to buy some beer for you youngins while I'm out?" I chuckled. "Where are you at?"

....

The engine of my old Harley rumbled to a stop as I pulled up beside the Honda. It really was held up on strings. We'd need something more reliable, eventually.. not knowing the next time you needed to skip town made it real compromising not having something to skip in.

Trouble with cars is you generally need one to make money, and you need money to get a car, so it's one of those funny things about life that doesn't make a whole lot of sense in the grand scheme of things. It's one of those catch twenty-two's which is the reason hippies exist. I was starting to consider joining a coalition.. there was probably some group of vagrants out in the middle of the dessert, already howling at the moon, and they'd think having a real werewolf around is "totally groovy".

I shook my head and tossed my helmet to Val. "I'm going to stay and see if I can get her running, at least long enough to get to the shop." you didn't have a junk car your entire life without knowing how to do repairs on said junk car. I think I knew her insides better than my own by this point. I had the magic touch... Val couldn't get her to work, but he didn't talk nice like me.

Quote from Indy on September 22, 2020, 9:07 pm

By the time I heard the Harley’s motor, I’d already changed out of my nice button-down shirt and into something more casual as I poked and prodded at the steed’s innards.  I guess it had been a short thing while it lasted, that collared shirt and I – but I suppose it had been overdressing for the occasion anyways.

“Like I’d let you play Frankenstein’s monster with her without my supervision,” I sniffed indignantly, catching the helmet as it was tossed to me.

“I have 30 extra minutes,” I planted my feet and glanced vaguely off to the distance, letting the implication stand for itself

The implication being… well, there was a lot of green forest around us.  We were technically in neutral territory, but it’s not like either of us were in any position to enforce it if push came to shove.  I didn’t like leaving Robin effectively stranded at the mercy of my much-beloved but far-less-trustworthy steed. Maybe one day I’ll learn to think without looking over my shoulder, but I'm still waiting for the day when I don’t have to.

 

Quote from Adriana on September 22, 2020, 9:52 pm

“Val,” I had already thrown my jacket on the ground and I was in the drivers seat, trying to figure out what else needed tape.

”I’m not going into town with you. I’m not your babysitter anymore than you are mine.”

I bet it was the fuel pump, like I’d told that snivelly mechanic.

”Anyway, you drive like a gramma. It’ll take you another thirty to make up for that.”

I popped the trunk and took out some dirty rags, then climbed onto the gravel road and under the back end of the car.

“I mean it, Val. Scram.”

Quote from Indy on September 22, 2020, 10:23 pm

I held my ground, clutching the helmet as I starred aghast.  Robin had already made herself at home.  Moving her was just as well as moving a vicious wolverine.  My mouth dropped a moment to speak, but then thought better of it.  I'd known what I'd gotten into the moment I called her - setting Robin loose was an act of war.

Instead, I moved to the backseat retrieved two additional objects. The first was the bouquet I'd just picked up, and the second was a zip-lock bag with what appeared to be a sock.  My sock, actually. Not that anyone was paying mind to such details, with Robin presently deciding how best to dismantle my car.

"I've already called the tow," I pointed to a sticky on the dash board with a number jotted down, "And they're going to take the car, running or not, to the nearest mechanic.  My car, my rules, please just take the lift back so I don't have to worry".

I could always broker an armistice between her and the local shop later. In the meantime... I carefully took the bouquet in hand, contemplating how best it would shove in a saddlebag.  The result was "not well", but also "not terrible" either - taking the compromise, I slipped the little plastic baggie in as well.

"You sure you don't need anything else?"

Quote from Adriana on September 23, 2020, 1:32 am

“Mmhm,” I replied, unsure if he had heard me or not. Tows were expensive, and I wished he’d let me get the thing going or try before calling one in.

I waited to hear the Harley rumble away..

Quote from Indy on September 23, 2020, 8:23 am

I eyed Robin one final time.  The woman was hard at work, though I could hear the invisible 'tsk' in her response at the mention of a tow.  Good thing I wasn't asking for apologies. After our last run-in with the locals, I'd decided paranoia was warranted until further notice and I'd take the hit to the finances.

Besides, I doubted the issue was the fuel pump like she thought it was.

"Call me if you need me," I secured the helmet and swung a leg over the motorcycle.

I turned the ignition, then grabbed for the throttle.  The air rumbled and whisked away, plodding the Harley down the road.

Quote from Indy on September 23, 2020, 7:47 pm

Harley’s are like the big, mean kid on the block of the motorcycle world.  They look big and impressive, but call him a bad name and he might go to a corner and cry.  I used to drive one of those nicer Hondas way back when — I still think about that cycle — but, well, we’d sold it among others after we’d lost our last “sure thing”.

It still doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy it, “grandma driving” or not.  Riding a motorcycle is a lot like going on one of my monthly roams of the forest. Everything is crisp and fresh, the air glosses passed you, and the only thing plodding the way ahead is a keen eye.  You could forget about everything else for a moment, even and including if said motorcycle was probably crushing the delicate bouquet of flowers in the saddlebag.

I arrived to the meeting spot fifteen minutes early.  I almost thought to call Robin and boast about my grandma driving, but her bad mood probably hadn’t improved enough for the jibe.  So I sat and waited by the bike, decent company an otherwise scarcity.

***

She came five minutes before the meeting time.  I wasn’t sure whether to be relieved or concerned she arrived early to places.  I guess I couldn’t be the only nut out there — and I suppose the company was nice at least.

Like a soldier properly drilled before his first battle, I came prepared.  Plastic baggie in one hand, bouquet in the other.  Lyra took a step out of her Crown Victoria and frowned.

I tried to look as casual about the endeavor: Yes, I often turn up to places like this, with girls like you, with bouquets and plastic baggies in hand.  Then I messed it all up when I caught sight of her dressed in all-black jeans, tank, and jacket and had to look away hard.

“You okay?” she said, tying back her long, dark hair into a messy ponytail, “You look, sick or something”.

“I’m fine,” I said in a quick nod and a slight grimace, “Probably my usual expression”.

Her gaze narrowed and I chased back the agitation with a not-so-sauve lean-back on the motorcycle.  Anytime I tried to act natural, I looked anything but. So I abandoned the effort midway through and just thrust her the semi-crushed flowers.  A few of the asters looked like they’d just survived cruel and unusual punishment.

“Here, I know it’s not really… necessary… just seemed…. proper….” I managed in a short breath.

That caught a laugh, and even if it was a little at my expense it felt better, “I think you’re the first one that’s ever offered me flowers for this kind of thing”

“Yeah well… gotta stand out,” I replied briskly, at least pleased she’d taken a quick admiring look.  Maybe Val had been worth her money.

“Well, to business?” she said with a cheeky grin.

I nodded, “May as well. I’m not getting any more lost standing here”.

I handed her the article, and she nodded at the baggy with a sock in it pleased, “Not laundered, right?”

“Wouldn’t dream of it”.

“Great,” she fished out a leash from her pocket and suddenly went over to the other door.  When Lyra returned with prize in-hand, it were as though I was looking into a mirror.

“Hello Tyranny,” I glanced at the big, black dog.  The dog twitched his nose, the warm brown of his eyes narrowing on mine as he no doubt came to many opinions on what his nose was telling him, “Ready…. for a hunt?”

A date had been a horrible overstatement of fact.

Quote from Adriana on September 24, 2020, 10:46 am

Launch was the cars name. After some character in a cartoon I didn't know the first thing about. Personally, I wished  I could launch the old tin can into space. But it was almost all we had. If I hadn't used everything to buy the Harley, we'd be dead on the water more often than not.

Val had a fairly steady job. He could probably lease a car, something cheap. He might have to pick up a few more hours to do it.

Mentally, he was getting to a decent place. After what we'd been through, he'd never be the same-I couldn't blame him. I stared up at the innards of the beast but I didn't really see anything worth looking at.. all I could think about was how it was time to move on.

Living in Middlecrest left my suspended precariously on the edge of hope and demise. We'd found Jodecai, what we set out years ago to do. But he was unreachable- we were two pawns of different colors on a chess board, and to meet would be our undoing. I would have to join the mafia just to be with him, and they would sooner have me dead. Jodecai would sooner die than let me compromise myself. And to be so near to him only put him in as much danger as it did me.

I had to let him ago. And Val, too. He wasn't my son, and yet he often felt responsible for looking after me.. he needed to focus on other things. What was once a comfort was now only a drawn out goodbye. Nothing was ever written in stone.

"Sir? Hey, you listening?"

I shimmied out from underneath Launch, standing and staring down at the tow driver. I watched as he swallowed and cleared his throat.

"Sorry, ma'am-I'm here to tow this car. Are you the owner?" he asked, his face still red from his prior mistake.

"No, I'm his roommate. Don't worry, it never happened, just give me a ride into town. I promise I won't bite you." with that, I walked around to the passenger side of the tow truck and waited while the driver loaded the Honda.

Quote from Indy on September 24, 2020, 7:08 pm

"You're not uncomfortable around dogs, right? I forgot to ask," Lyra pried a piece of hair from her eyes and tucked it behind her ears, her attention then otherwise occupied on the big, black dog's posture.

We were kneeling by the side of the road.  It was a lonely road, to be sure, but still we were sitting at the outcropping between the road and the forest.  On one end civilization, the other just stretches of wilderness.  Lyra had a hand on Tyranny's neck.  Since making eye-contact with me, I'd seen how the dog had squared up and moved protectively between myself and her.  I guess I couldn't blame him - but even so, Lyra had tensed a little as a result.  A mistake, if it came down to it.  I'd hate for Tyranny to start getting on edge.

"Nope, I grew up with them," I managed a short smile at the half-lie.  Half-true, half-not; but I'd gotten used to the halves of things a long time ago.

"Great," she nodded, although she still seemed nervous, "We'll just start with a warm-up.  Go ahead and walk a few paces, maybe behind a tree, and let's just see if he's thinking about ground-tracking".

I did as she said.  From behind the nearest tree, I saw her offer the cue-word to Tyranny.  The dog seemed disinterested. Bored. But after some coaxing he followed the tracks, locating me behind the tree.  His big, brown eyes were peering into mine, sizing me up.  Even if I was pretty sure I could take him, it was still not a comfortable feeling to have yourself categorized and assessed like that.

Lyra swallowed hard, nodding to herself.

"Everything okay?" I glanced upwards, "Looks like he did what you asked".

"Yeah I just..." she sighed, rolling her palms together, "It's just... been a while since I've been in the field.  I really hope it goes well, today".

"It will," I said quietly, "He has a good trainer".

She nodded, not quite believing it but not quite disbelieving it either.  She rubbed her palm together, silencing the sound of her sigh but not the gesture.  I watched the motion, finding it familiar - and then looked away, as if I'd just seen something private.  She stood up suddenly, nodded to herself, and conveyed an air of self-control.  I watched the barrier raise, uncertain what it was I saw; but certain I'd seen it before.

"You're sure about this?" she replied dubiously, glancing me over.

"Sure. I don't have anything better to do"

And it wasn't exactly my first man-hunt.  Although it wasn't often I'd been on this end of it.

"Well then.... I'll give you 20 minutes to get as lost as you possibly can - do everything you can think to loose him.  And we'll see if Tyranny is able to find you.  If he doesn't find you in an hour, then meet back here, okay?"

I nodded voicelessly.  At the same time, I glanced to my watch, wondering if the tow-truck had come and if Robin was okay.  My phone hadn't rang, which probably didn't mean anything.  My car could also be in very small pieces by now, and that wasn't a comforting thought either.

"Great," she fumbled to her stop-watch, entering the time in, "On your mark.... get set..... go!"

I almost missed the cue.  But in another moment all thoughts of Robin fled as I focussed on loosing that dog.