(no subject)

[buttongue]

(Do people read the flavor text?)

Stuff that can happen/you can encounter:

1. A sketchy rest stop!


2. Roadside (or equivalent thereof if you're in a spaceship or dirigible) restaurants!


3. Something in your vehicle is breaking down!


4. You're just lost!


5. A mass murderer/random encounter monster/velociraptor snuck into your backseat!


6. Hitchhiking!


7. You got out because [NAME] thought they saw something and now you regret this!


8. You're broke and need to buy something!


9. You're trapped at a tourist trap!


10. Other!

Comments

[rollin]

... Yeah. I know.

[ Even Mikoto could stumble and fall. Asuna, too. But that doesn't make Yata think of them any less. ]

Let's go back. They'll start getting ideas.

[fixdown]

[Man, this guy... He's got a real presence, and he doesn't wait to step up to the plate, either! It's not so much that it's surprising, though, even after the limited amount of time they've spent together, but Josuke still appreciates it nonetheless. Sure, he's about to look significantly less cool right now, but no one told him his great grandfather was this cool, either. He somehow feels a little more confident just having him by his side. It just kind of reinforces the fact that his awkwardness isn't due to Jonathan being a less-than-awesome person, but rather, just the fact that this is an incredibly bizarre situation—what's the etiquette for things like this? ...actually, maybe it's better if he doesn't know. Meeting one long-lost relative was more than enough!

But all these positive thoughts sure do fizzle away the moment they step inside the rest stop. This place doesn't just look unkempt—it looks straight up haunted. It's even worse than the Nijimura place was back in Morioh.]

It doesn't look like anybody's here...

[He hopes there's nobody here!]

[fistofthejoestar]

[man, was that an icy wind blowing in from somewhere or just his imagination? either way, Jonathan can practically hear the accompanying WRRRRRRRRY that should be leaking from one of the shadows by now. it's like some unseen force had read his optimism and fashioned a place in direct opposition to it.

well, whatever. gentlemen didn't run from gothic backdrops, especially not when they had family to protect. Jonathan may not be able to keep the exasperation off his face as he walks a few feet in past the door, but at least he's still moving forward.]

There weren't any other cars parked in the lot when we showed up. [which in retrospect was kind of a big red flag. shouldn't there be employees somewhere??] But at least the lights are still on.

[as if on cue, one of the fluorescents above them sputters out with a sharp pop. of course.]

[independant]

Hmph. [ He's right. There's something else there but if she knew what it was, the issue would have been resolved.

Pulling her legs back inside, she brings a bare foot towards her hands to massage it a little. ]

It can't be helped.

[gordianknots]

It can't be helped, or you've never tried?

[Waver grunts as the car begins to climb the hill, and he shifts to ensure that it'll keep going up hill.]

[independant]

What is there to try? [ She asks, pausing only to ensure he knows what he's doing. ]

It isn't as if I can stop being so angry.

[gordianknots]

To start? Anger management.

[up, up, up. Waver breathes a sigh of relief when they're atop the hill, then turns his blinker on to make a left.]

[independant]

I don't need counseling. [ Luvia needs therapy, not her. ]

It isn't as if I get too angry.

[gordianknots]

You damage buildings!

[independant]

Maybe they shouldn't irritate me to my breaking point.

[ Rubbing her feet more, she does what she can to remain calm and relaxed. The fresh country air helps as do the comfortable seats of his car.

What doesn't help is his scolding. ] I believe I've reached a point where I no longer care.

[gordianknots]

[Waver sighs as he pulls into the parking lot. There's a little pub on one side, and nothing but forest on the other.]

C'mon.

[independant]

[ Shaking her head. ] No, I...

[ It's difficult for her to say what she wants but the fact she fails to reach for her shoes gives it all away. She wants to remain in the car, possibly on the road. ]

[gordianknots]

[Waver climbs out of the car, and gestures at the wide open area between the parking lot and the pub, dotted liberally with picnic tables. If anyone's around, they're not using the tables.]

I'm going inside to get a drink. Then I'm going on a hike. The car keys are coming with me.

[independant]

[ She sighs, feeling stranded. That won't help her anxiety any but soon she's joining him by climbing out of the car with her heels hooked by a finger over her shoulder. ]

I can't hike in heels, Waver.

[gordianknots]

Then you're going to sit here and drink with me, and talk about why you keep exploding.

[independant]

I hate talking about my feelings. [ Aren't they old enough to respect one another in this regard?

She follows after him, eyes warily looking around the place. How did he ever discover this place? ]

[gordianknots]

[Waver grins. Elsted is far out of the way, and the Three Horseshoes is even more so. The whole point is that it's out of the way, in the middle of nature, and best for sitting and doing not much.]

Too bad.

[Waver holds the door for her though. Inside, there's the main bar right across from the entrance, and two sitting areas for dining on either side. A few heads nod at Waver as he walks in - why is he a regular is the real question here - and he's quick to request the usual at the bar before turning to Rin.]

What would you like?

[fixdown]

[When Jonathan moves forward, Josuke follows after (not too far after, though, because there's no way he'd just leave Jonathan hanging). But then the light goes out, and Josuke totally doesn't jump or anything!]

H-hey, you jinxed it, man. [Let's be real, though, it's just his luck, too.] Guess if we're the only ones here, no one's gonna mind if we just take what we need and be on our way.

[Though... He kind of doubts that they're going to find much of anything here. The place looks abandoned (the floors sure creak like it is). When was the last time there were any actual people here?

...he probably doesn't want to know that, either.]

[fistofthejoestar]

There's no need to disturb it like that.

[and that's not his discomfort with the place speaking. it was common courtesy to leave things as they were, especially in a place that hasn't seen any sort of respect in quite a long time. it's not like they were hurting for anything anyway.

that said...]

I'll just use the lavatory and we can go.

[he squints up at the now-defunct light and hazards a chuckle, turning back to give Josuke a wry smile.]

That's assuming I don't curse anything else, of course.

[independant]

Are you sure someone with a temper should be drinking? [ Rin teases him about the purpose of this drive before giving her own order. She'll settle down at whatever spot he chooses for himself, her gaze taking in the scenery. ]

They seem to recognize you.

[ Maybe she can make this about him instead of her. ]

Right - Ressha Sentai ToQger - OTA

[lunchleader]

((His entire canon was one big road trip.))

[drafthorse]

Now you're starting to sound like Varric.

[The teasing is light-hearted, but hey, the day is still young and bright and beautiful out. Fennics and nugs chase each other through the fields largely abandoned by any owners they previously had as the two walk, weeds and gardens overgrowing. The war might technically be over, but farmers are still slow to return to their former homes, especially this far into the wilderness where safety is less assured.

Of course, some might have never left, and the fields are left abandoned because the owners choose to stay instead of run and lost their lives for it. Depressing thought best left filed away for now.]

If we ever find that lake surely that'll do just fine for a bath. That serves well enough for those that use it. Really, Dorian, listen to the beautiful song of the birds in the air and tell me this isn't at least a little better than what the city offers in some way!

[dramaquing]

[Max just nods at his answer, he didn't name a city or a state, but before she could ask, she already got distracted by the prospective of relaxing at a beach later.]

I like being in the water too. Although I think I'll take a few pictures if the light is right...

[Does Max believes in magic? Interesting question. She does believe in incredible powers, but she doesn't know what to make of them. Is magic just science yet beyond human comprehension or is it something else entirely?]

True, I actually expect my parents to start calling every hour until I get there... I never traveled like this on my own. Actually I didn't even tell them about you..

[She already knows they would have offered to pay for a plane ticket or something. But she didn't want to ask them for more money, and besides, her friend would need her car in Seattle anyway.]

Definitely, when I was a kid I couldn't wait to go to college, I thought it would mean staying up as late as I want and never having to do homework... I don't know how I got it so wrong. [She snorts and shakes her head.] Sometimes I swear my books have eyes in them that stares at me whenever I get too distracted or avoid them.

[gordianknots]

I come here when I need to think.

[Waver waits till the glasses are handed to him, then moves right back to the door. He's keen on drinking outside, apparently.]

This way.

[melodiouspacifist]

A good swim, there's really nothing like it. Do you really think we'll get to stop at a beach? [It sounds all too fun honestly and if he's late he can deal with that later. He has time to come up with a good excuse.]

Don't take any pictures of me. [He laughs.] I'm not really photogenic!

[Not being in pictures was a thing wasn't it? Wouldn't that get his boss' pants in a twist if he was being photographed of all things? He's only willing to compromise the rules so far. This is a far better alternative than getting lost on the way and he can argue that.]

Will the be bothered by you traveling with a stranger? You can tell them I'm not going to hurt you. [He smiles lightly. He'd promise he wasn't a killer but that's not entirely true. He's not interested in harming Max at any rate.]

Anything to get away from homework. I used to feel like that too, I really hated it. But, uh, music doesn't really feel like homework so I really enjoy it. I just used to really be bad at that academic stuff. Like math. Don't get me started on that.