bakerstreet | ( road trip )

( road trip )

{The Road Trip Meme!!}

It's that time of the year again! You decided to take a road trip!
Either to your friends, relative, or perhaps an event,
but oh, my goodness, what will happen along the way?
• Post with your character name/fandom/options preferences.
• Use RNG to pick your possible scenario - or just go with what you'd like most.
• Reply to other people's tags. Use RNG, mix and match, or just wing it!
• Enjoy!

Situations:

1. BREAK DOWN

Oh, snap, your car decided to break down out in the middle of nowhere. WHAT DO? Is that Leatherface? Will this be "Children of the Corn"?2. TRUCK STOP

You've stopped at a gas station. They're out of gas, snacks and the bathrooms are out of order. Wat do. (Zombie attack optional.)3. HITCHHIKERS?

Is this even a good idea? Why is their backpack leaking suspicious substances? Go wild.4. WHAT THE FUCK DID I JUST HIT?

Dude, I hear deer mess up cars... or I think that was a deer.5. DON'T MAKE ME TURN THIS CAR AROUND!

Alas, you're the parent or the disgruntled friend who has had it up to here with all the fighting in the back.6. OMG, I WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE OF THIS LANDMARK!

No, no, and no. You tell that person that they're going to be driven around and they're going to like it.7. THE GREAT ESCAPE

Either dinosaurs or the mothman is chasing you. Don't stop now.8. MAKE OUT~

You're now parked in one of the make-out points in this town. Did you know? Well, that's up to you, as is what you do next.9. WE'RE SO LOST

The map blew away when you were stupid enough to open the windows earlier. You know that old stereotype about how men never ask for directions but women will? Time to see if you're going to prove it right or not. Try not to fight over it too much, driving partners.10. BUT OFFICER...

Those flashing lights in your rearview mirror? Definitely not just for decoration.
Relationship (optional):

1. BUSINESS PARTNERS: The jet was undergoing some heavy repairs, so you have to drive to that big meeting.

2. BFFS/ROOMIES: On your last hurrah before you join the 'real world.'

3. NEWLYWEDS: You're a young couple on your honeymoon! Hope this doesn't ruin your relationship.

4. SIBLINGS: Whether this is a trip to reconnect or to fix things or to just deepen your bond as epic sibs is up to you.

5. PARENT & CHILD: It's like a family vacation for the two of you. try not to get on each other's nerves too much?

(taken from memeonic & arspaulina @ lj)

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[It had been Wolfram's idea, really, the road trip had. And it's not the first time he's gotten so fed up with his home life that he's decided to run away for a few days. And he loves his mother, he really does, but she's a constant reminder in their huge house that she's the only family he has left available to him, since both his older brothers left home. And truth be told he does place some of the blame on her for his constant loneliness, having moved him around so much growing up that making friends was nearly impossible. Even now, he's not sure how to maintain a friendship very well, and every once in a while he gets so frustrated and so angry he doesn't even want to.

Terra has proved to be a pretty good friend though, as he's stuck around even though Wolfram occasionally pushes him away only to call him back a few days later when his loneliness becomes unbearable again, acting like he'd never pushed him away in the first place. So he's a good choice for this road trip, especially since Wolfram had been too angry with the world in general at the start of it to drive safely. He's been in enough minor accidents since obtaining his license to recognize when he's not in an emotional state to drive, thankfully. So he'd relegated that duty to Terra.

He hadn't had a destination in mind, either. He'd just told him to drive. So now that they're lost, it really, really isn't Terra's fault. At least not fully. If Wolfram hadn't been giving him random directions, it probably wouldn't have happened. That doesn't make Wolfram any less frustrated though. Especially since they've somehow wound up on a dirt road and he's pretty sure he'd heard a cow mooing in distress from somewhere nearby not that long ago.

He groans, kicking lightly at the car's console in front of him. It's okay, the car's his, something speedy and expensive his mother had bought for him out of pity. Unfortunately the GPS on it was broken after Wolfram had gotten in a brief fight with it a few weeks ago and had been too ashamed and embarrassed that he'd lost his temper with it to tell his mother it needed to be fixed. He's deeply regretting that now.]

I don't think we're even in civilization anymore!

[It really isn't Terra's fault because even though Wolfram hadn't known where they were going, Terra had something of a plan. Except he made an extremely critical error in not immediately and firmly stating that an hour into driving. By the time Wolfram started spouting directions they were pretty much doomed and the one benefit was that Terra was prepared for this sort of reaction. Getting lost was inevitable but arguing with his friend wasn't always the best idea, either. He'd have more luck riding it out. ... Probably.]

We're not that far out.

[Of all things, he spoke with a faint amusement. They'd passed a farm or two but Terra mostly remembered how they'd gotten here. And, really, if they kept going, they would eventually hit a gas station. Maybe a very backwoods one that had never seen anything more advanced than an ATM machine from the late nineties, but all the same, it would be better than nothing.]

Not kicking the vehicle might be a good idea, too.

[Wolfram was emotional, and that was likely putting it in very polite terms, but Terra was no mechanic. They were screwed fifteen ways east of last Sunday if his friend managed to seriously damage something. In the meantime he was going to keep driving through something that suspiciously resembled an orchard. There was a half a tank left and that had to be enough to lead them somewhere meaningful. Was this ideal? No. But it was still better than letting him run off on his own, pissed and verbally caustic to the world around him. One of these days his luck was going to run out, he'd piss off someone who didn't care about money or influence, and Terra did his best to make sure that he would be around for the inevitable need to beat the crap out of someone. Difficult as the kid was - an ironic term of endearment, Terra was just barely three years older - he couldn't let anything happen to Wolfram.

Which was exactly why he was in the middle of nowhere, near cows. Friendship could, in fact, be an extremely trying thing.]

There are cows.

[So obviously that means civilization is nowhere to be found, clearly. And he says it, deadpan, as if Terra hadn't noticed already. Despite all of the places he's been in his life, a rural area was not included in that long list. His mother stayed away from such places. Therefor so did Wolfram.

Grumpily, even though he didn't even kick it very hard, geez, he takes his feet away from the console and leans his elbow on the door, chin in hand so he can stare out the window. Though why he wants to he doesn't know, because it's not as if there's even much to see.]

Do you have any clue where we actually are?

[But there are cows everywhere! Alright, not everywhere but it wasn't as if they were a sign of impending doom, as if they might fall off the curve of the Earth. Terra wisely kept that little thought to himself. He couldn't say he had much experience with the country either, the lack of cell phone reception and miles and miles of nothing-in-sight was eerie, though. He'd avoided anything outside of major highways as a result.]

No idea. You wouldn't have a map in here, right?

[He was already edging on 'no', since the car had a GPS at one point or another. Not much need for a map with one of those. But if they could at least figure out where they were going to appear at the end of this maze of vegetation, they could possibly get back on track.]

[Actually...

He brightens up, briefly, mostly because the question had just given him something to do other than sulk. He leans forward in his seat to open up the glove compartment and rifle through it. Tiny first aid kit, package of facial tissues, a random comb, car information, insurance information, a cassette tape of the Best of Queen. Nope, no map. Back to sulking. He closes the glove compartment with a huff and sits back in the seat again.

Wait...]

I've got some stuff in the trunk... There could be one in there. [But was it really worth getting out and checking? He's not even sure how likely it is that there'll be one in there...]

Would we even be able to tell where we currently are on a map? Last time I checked they don't usually have "cows here" on them. [~~WOLFRAM FORGET ABOUT THE COWS ALREADY.~~]

[Wait, there's a tape of Queen? Why weren't they listening to that? More importantly, the reappearance of the pout wasn't a good sign, and before Terra could suggest just stopping and looking in the trunk, Wolfram's newly developed fear of cows reappeared.]

The next time something goes 'moo', I'm going to find it and put you on top of it until we conquer this weird phobia of yours.

[This was, in fact, the worst possible thing to do for someone with an actual phobia but Terra was pretty sure Wolfram was just being difficult. Head patting wouldn't solve the problem so riding cows obviously would.] We either get a hold of a map or drive until we run out of gas, and I don't know about you but I'd like to actually see a McDonald's sign again. A map would be a good start.

[He stopped the car pointedly, failing to repress a little smirk.] You want to check, or do I keep an ear out for your bovine friends?

[There is a tape of Queen. Whether it had started out as one in the beginning is up for debate, as everyone knows any music you leave in a car for over a fortnight automatically becomes the Best of Queen. The car may or may not even have a tape player in it. ~~/end of Good Omens references~~

Wolfram's not concerned about that though, he's more irritated that Terra's pretty much teasing him. Not that it's an unusual occurrence. In fact, he finds he likes that better than people simply ignoring him, which is what happens most often. With others, anyway. Still, he's not allowing the teasing to slip by without at least a glare.]

It's not a phobia, I've just never been near a cow and I'd prefer to keep it that way.

[Actually... food sounded good. Even McDonald's. Okay, especially McDonald's, but having a weakness for McDonald's fries is not something he's going to openly admit to. Terra probably already knows by now, anyway.

Sighing, he pulls the door handle to open it, kicking it open wider with his feet before getting out. He doesn't bother to close it as he heads toward the back of the car.]

Fine! I'll check! Pop the stupid trunk! [Because obviously insulting the trunk is a good way to vent frustration. So is muttering:] If I do see a cow, I'm going to feed you to it. [He knows that's not how cows work, but it feels like a good threat anyway.]

[Teasing was part of friendship, and Terra hardly ever meant any of it seriously, though he might actually make due on the cow promise at this rate.]

I'm sorry to break this to you, Wolfram, but you've probably always been within at least a hundred miles of one.

[That was ridiculously untrue but Terra would only let it go when Wolfram did! Which might not be anytime soon. But he did get out, and so Terra obediently pulled the small lever, the trunk opened itself with a dull noise. Outside smelled like wood and Summer, leaning his elbow against the door, resting his head on his knuckles ... It could have felt nice, if he hadn't caught hints of the muttering, and he ended up chuckling, the sound carried itself when he called towards the back:]

Anything?

[If they could manage to get back onto a road they could fill up the car and Terra would get the biggest order of fries possible.]

[He sifts through the contents of the trunk, and there's considerably less here than he thought there would be. There is, however, a map. He's not sure if it's the right map. But it's a map. He picks it up, along with a flashlight that had been rolling around back here because, well, you never know. The sun's still out at the moment, but Wolfram's not optimistic about how long it may take them to make it back to civilization. Where there aren't cows. A flashlight may be needed to navigate by.

Returning with the items, he plops himself back down in the car seat and tosses the unopened map to Terra. The folds are still quite crisp, like it's never been opened, and it probably hasn't. It hadn't been needed when the GPS was still working, but his mother had given it to him anyway. If there was one thing he could be thankful for, it was that she did try her hardest to keep him safe. Which in truth makes him feel a little guilty about having run away. But it was only for a day or two, so she probably wouldn't even miss him. Right?

...He'll send her a text when his cell phone has a signal again.

He looks over at Terra as he slams the door shut, and starts tossing the small flashlight back and forth between his hands.]

There. I found you a map. What's my prize?

[Not that he deserves one, he's the reason the GPS is broken and also why they're lost in the first place.]

[There was a map! The sight of it was enough to inspire some amount of hope, even if it ended up being the wrong one. Terra worked it open and spread it out over the wheel, looking over the major routes that ran through their state.]

I won't put you on top of a cow.

[His tone was a little distracted, but only because he may or may not have been getting a sense of where they ended up.]

Or having to see one at all.

[He folded the map to the most relevant section, pointing everything out to Wolfram.]

We were on this highway, so if we just keep going straight there's a back road we'll hit, follow it for a few miles and we'll at least get phone reception. There's no telling how far away it is exactly, though.

[Thank everything that Eraqus had taught him basic navigation. But the point was: No, they were not stuck. They'd be fine. And maybe if Wolfram had the map duties, it would keep him a little focused.]

Goodie.

[And that's all he has to say about not having to see or be on top of a cow. For now, anyway.

He leans over to look at the map as Terra points all this out, frowning a little before he settles back into the car seat comfortably and, after a moment's thought, buckles his seat-belt. He takes the folded map from him to look it over. He thinks he understands what Terra was talking about. Still, a "here are cows" symbol on the map would have been more helpful to him in telling their position. Maybe once he figures it out he'll add one himself. For future reference.]

A back road. For some reason that phrase doesn't inspire optimism. Didn't you say in the beginning that you wanted to stick to major highways?

[Terra replaced his seatbelt as well before easing the car back into movement, guiding them down the slightly bumpy path. By coincidence or blessing, the end of the field they'd gotten lost in was in sight, and thankfully there was cement in the immediate future. It was a hell of a good sign.]

I did, and I was, until you tried to take us to Bangladesh.

[Terra had absolutely no fight in him, he wasn't upset about it but ... Still Wolfram's fault, he wasn't going to hide or sugarcoat it. No matter the cause they were on their way back and everything was good. There wasn't much sense in worrying about past details.]

When we do get back to the highway, I know where we're going.

[Oh, right. He had been giving directions.]

I wasn't trying to take us anywhere, I was just getting bored looking at the same thing all the time. [Mostly the back of trucks.] I didn't expect a road trip to be so boring.

[He sinks back in the seat again, idly looking at the map in his hands. Did it even point out any landmarks? Or anything interesting besides just roads? He continues staring at it for a few minutes, searching it with his eyes and scrutinizing, until his phone beeps in his pocket. He takes it out quickly to check it, letting the map fall onto the floor.]

Reception! Finally!

[Glancing at Terra to make sure his eyes are on the road instead of on him, he quickly types out a text to his mother. A simple "Okay. With Terra. Back sometime." But it would be enough to keep her from worrying about his safety, at least.]

I'm not even going to ask what you thought they would be.

[It wasn't exactly a bundle of joy for Terra, either. The destination would be worth it, it was just all the driving, being cramped in a car ... Those parts weren't fun, and Wolfram wasn't getting anywhere near the wheel, so here he was. Before anything else, he recognized the sudden ring. At least they were edging out of The Hills Have Eyes territory. His phone was quiet but that was no big surprise. Terra wouldn't say as much but there really wasn't anyone to worry about him in the first place.

He was perfectly focused, but that didn't mean he was suddenly blind. He could take an educated guess at what his friend was doing, but touching the subject wasn't a good idea. Not right now.

Something else a little closer to it? That might be doable.]

Are you ever going to tell me what started all this?

[It was entirely possible that he wouldn't, but it was worth a shot.]

[He huffs a little, putting his phone back into his pocket before crossing his arms over his chest, turning to look out the window.]

It's not a big deal, I just wanted to get out of the house for a while.

[He feels like kicking at the dashboard again but he knows that will only annoy Terra. And it wouldn't make him feel any better, either. So there was no point. Instead, he leans the seat back some so he can stare at the ceiling of the car.

In truth, he feels sort of embarrassed that he'd gotten mad at what he'd gotten mad at. Which was his mother. Which is not unusual. And that she'd skipped out on their plans. Which also was not unusual. And that's why it's embarrassing. Because it's not as if it's the first time it's happened. And they'd just planned on watching a movie, it wasn't a huge deal. But...]

Gwendal's birthday is next week.

[He says it quietly, his head turned toward the car window again. On special occasions like birthdays and holidays, the absence of family always hits him the hardest. And he'd been stressing about whether or not to call his older brother, or send him an e-mail, or something. Because what if he was too busy with work? He always got back to him if he did try to contact him, but it was usually a few days later, and he'd apologize for that. But it still hurt that he wasn't top priority. For... anyone, really.]

[It's not true, and Terra knew it, but the important thing here was that Wolfram was talking, and once he got started there was a chance the real issue would come out by itself. The car jostled a little as they finally made it onto cement, he didn't need to check the map to know which way to go, and even if he did Terra wouldn't risk interrupting him. The moment his brother's name came out, it all suddenly made sense.

He'd never met any of the siblings but Terra didn't need that to realize how much family meant to Wolfram. He wanted them around and, in a way, Terra was quite sure that Wolfram needed people more than he realized. There was nothing wrong with that, and even if there was he'd hardly be able to say anything. They might not have had five million different things in common but the need to be important, the desire to have a sense of connection? Terra felt that just as strongly, but he handled his lack of it very differently.]

Hey.

[He could drive with one hand for a moment, especially since it meant tugging Wolfram closer with the suddenly free arm, it was quick but firm. There was nothing to be done about their family politics, that would take a lot of communication, patience, and understanding to fix. But he could try to give Wolfram a little comfort, even if it was momentary.]

Can I offer a suggestion?

[The pull is a little unexpected, and his eyes widen momentarily before he settles in to the new position, leaning lightly against Terra's side. He doesn't look at him though, instead focusing on the gas meter on the dashboard. Yeah, they're going to need to hit a gas station at some point. Wolfram silently hopes it's next to a McDonald's.

He sighs quietly, not in frustration or annoyance, but it almost sounds more like relief. And finally glances over at Terra.]

...What?

Call your brother. A week is long enough to let him know you want to do something. Maybe include your mother if you feel up to it, but just you the two of you might not be a bad idea.

[No more indecisiveness, no letting the fear of being left behind get in the way. It just needed to happen, and wouldn't unless Wolfram shoved himself out there. From what he could see it was probably the best shot he had.]

Come up with something fun, I'll drive you there. [Somewhere along the way Terra became a chauffeur.] If he insists on working or otherwise ditching you, first I'm going to kick his ass and probably end up on mine as a result. If it does work then I'll be there to take you home when you're finished, if all else fails, we'll figure out something to do on our own, and you can just have a second birthday this year.

[Plan A and B all in one go. Maybe Wolfram thought he wasn't a top priority but that was so far from the truth that it was insane. After all, who was driving around with him randomly, and who had avoided even asking for an explanation up until a few minutes ago? Wolfram was a priority, just not of the people that he so desperately craved.]

[A laugh, short and bitter, escapes his lips before he frowns.]

Something fun. I don't think Gwendal knows the meaning of the word. I can't remember him ever having fun.

[That was probably because he'd always been the most serious and responsible of all of them. He'd looked after both he and Conrad when their mother hadn't been around, after all. Until Conrad had hit college age, then they'd both fled in opposite directions. He's sure it was only because Gwendal thought him old enough to not need him anymore, and he knew Gwendal had always had the desire to make it in the world on his own, so he can't fully blame him for leaving, but...]

Hell, he probably finds work fun.

[He feels a bit bad, knowing that Terra was only trying to help. It just feels like a lost cause to him, though.]

Just forget about it... It doesn't matter.

[He's lying. And they both know it. And he knows they both know it. He's just hoping that Terra won't call him on it.]

Maybe.

[Of course it was a little upsetting that Wolfram wouldn't even give it a chance, not even just Terra's idea but something. In that way he could be stubborn and maybe a little too easily discouraged in Terra's opinion, but he hadn't been worn down emotionally, either.]

All I'm saying is that if I had a little brother that I wasn't around all the time, maybe it'd just be easy to lose perspective, I'd probably just need some help remembering what was important.

[Reach around call out. Or something like that. His arm relaxed, he wasn't forcing Wolfram to stay so close if he didn't want to, especially since it seemed as if he'd calmed down a little.]

[He does lean back in his seat again with another sigh, a bit of frustration evident in the sound this time. He's not annoyed with Terra, though. He does appreciate his help, even if he doesn't often say so. It's more that he doesn't want to have to remind Gwendal, though. Or anyone, for that matter. And he knows that's probably selfish and stubborn and not really logical, but...

Well, it also has to do with not wanting to look like he was still a child in the eyes of his older brother. And having to ask for his attention, even when it was completely reasonable, like it being his birthday or a holiday, still made him feel like a child.]

...It's complicated.

[That was putting it mildly. All of Wolfram's familial relationships were complicated. And oddly enough, out of all of them, Gwendal's was actually probably the least complicated. So that was saying something.]

I'll leave him a message, okay? But I really doubt it's going to do any good.

At least you'll be able to say that you tried.

[If it didn't go well then Terra would inevitably hear about it one way or another, because that was how things went. In any case, he was hesitant to say too much on the matter. His personal life was pathetically simple. Some would probably call it rather depressing but he'd lived it for years now and there wasn't any sense in crying. It wouldn't change anything, but Wolfram's situation was a little different. His brothers were likely even more stubborn and difficult in their own ways, but there was still time to knock some sense into everyone.]

Well, would you look at that.

[Maybe as a cosmic reward, the nearest gas station happened to be in the middle of nowhere, but it was situation next to a McDonald's. And no cows to be seen, huzzah?

His smile felt oddly permanent, though Terra couldn't exactly say why.]

[He is, Terra, he is looking. In fact he's practically staring in awe, because he'd seriously started to wonder if they were ever going to see another building that wasn't some sort of barn.

The seatbelt is already being unbuckled. Once he's done that though, his phone beeps again, and he hesitates before taking it out of his pocket to check it.

It's his mother, of course, returning his text. "OK sweetie stay safe xoxo" is pretty much along the lines of what he'd expected. Shaking his head slightly, he returns the phone to his pocket.]

Good, I'm starving. McDonald's will have to do.

[He's fooling no one with that and he's well aware of that fact.]

[If he didn't know better, he'd swear they just survived a legitimately terrifying horror movie, Wolfram acted as if they'd been deprived instead of thrown off course for a few hours. Then again, the constant and unyielding cow threat had been prevalent. Maybe that was it.

It really went without saying that his words were absolute bullshit, and he wasn't going to miss the opportunity.]

Right, it's not like the french fries are calling your name, right? Extra large, covered in salt ...

[It would be impossible to take him seriously, Terra was grinning through the purposefully dramatic description as he stopped at a gas pump.]

It's almost like you want me to hit you.

[It's an empty threat, as is the glare he shoots Terra's way. It really is ridiculous that he insists on denying his french fry weakness, he knows it. But he's in private school and wears expensive clothes and has a fancy car, he's supposed to be classier than McDonald's. It's not his fault that the deliciousness of their fries smashes through the barriers of his pride, okay? It really isn't.

Once they're stopped, he opens the door and steps out, pausing a moment once he's there before leaning down and speaking to Terra through the open door.]

Pump the gas, loser, I'll meet you inside for food.

[He pulls his wallet out of his back pocket and tosses it to him. If there's one good thing about being Wolfram's chauffeur, it's that he willingly pays for everything.]

And remember to wash your hands when you're through! [He points to the gas pump as he says this last thing before he heads inside, indicating that this wasn't a personal insult so much as a warning because that thing looks filthy, everyone's been touching it.]

9+2 modern au / starter for earthbeneathyou

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wow terra tone down that sass