Road Trip Minus Road?

[sword_redemption]

Who: Drift, Barricade, Vandal, Wing and First Aid (anyone else want in on this poke me via PM?)
What: Exploring
When: Day or so after the dance (so there may be hangovers to start?)
Where: Wildernessy waste places.
Warnings: added as needed

((OOC: I'm going to create three placeholder sub-comments below--first night's camp, random encounters, and the ruined village. Feel free to start your own threads under each or add your own categories, and tag around--I think that'd be easier than doing a long rotation.))

Drift certainly hasn't felt like he's been doing his part. It felt good to fight again, good to do something to help defend. But the battle was over and he was feeling that old emptiness gnawing at him--in a world at peace, what good was a warrior?

A warrior could still explore. A warrior could protect himself, move without fear. And, maybe, notice things that could be useful.

He rolls the tension out of his shoulders as the little party all shows up. "Ready?"

Comments

[vandalization]

"So sneaky," She chuckles, stretching out against him and tossing her helmet down to the ground somewhere to his left.

"You know that means he's going to seek vengeance, so be prepared for that. I just can't promise my loyalties will lie in one place," She teases, winking at him.

[sword_redemption]

"I am a master of stealth." No he's not. Not even close.

Drift snorts. "Right. I live in fear of Wing's vengeance. He'll probably just....snuggle me to death." Oh teh noes.

[vandalization]

"Clearly," She huffs wryly, sapping some of Drift's warmth.

"I wouldn't underestimate him so easily," Though she knows it to be true, honestly, "Hmmm. Heh. You guys are so cute."

grah I am so sorry tags have been so slow

[sword_redemption]

"You know," Drift says, revving his engine to send a bit more heat out, "I can tell when you're patronizing me." Not that he's complaining. It's a friendly thing between them.

"Vandal, I would never, uh, be with Wing if it wasn't for you." Repeatedly slapping him into shape about it.

It's okay! Worth waiting for!

[vandalization]

She just laughs, the vibration tinging against her back.

"Well. I think you've repaid me plenty by all the sweetness and you know. Saving my life a couple times."

[sword_redemption]

"It's what I'm good at, Vandal." It's the only thing he's really good at. He's just glad to use it to protect rather than just to kill. It's a small difference, but an important one.

[vandalization]

"What? Sweetness? Yeah, I know." She teases him lightly, "Besides being good at all of those other things you're also good at. You know, ass-kicking, finding me peaches, saving my fucking life. All Of that stuff."

[sword_redemption]

"I, uh, I meant the other thing." The stabbing thing.

He shrugs, uncomfortable. "But you've saved me, too, you know."

[vandalization]

"Saved you how?" She's not exactly a life-saver. She fixes things, sure. But nothing life-threatening.

She pats a soothing hand over his plating.

[sword_redemption]

"In the Junk Pile, for one, when I was, uh, human." Honestly, that's probably more than once. "Okay, a lot of times, then."

"I'm sorry about the pants." THERE OKAY HE SAID IT.

"And not even counting smacking sense into me about a hundred times?"

[vandalization]

She smiles, shaking her head.

"It's okay about the pants, really," She assures him.

"Now okay I'll take credit for being a well of good sense, but I gotta say I'd never expected it. I'm usually fucking up all over the place, so I guess it's weird for me to give advice and actually have it help someone for a change."

It's kind of nice, she doesn't feel like such a fuckup around Drift. The way he treats her, accepts her. Yeah. That's really, really nice.

[sword_redemption]

"But I lost them. Your pants. I owe you some. Or something."'

Next up in Haven: the Quest for Pants.

"You know you've always given me good advice, Karrie." He'd rather not go through the list of things she's kicked him in the aft about. It's a long list.

[vandalization]

"I have plenty of pants, sweetheart. But you can sure make it up to me if you want to, in maybe some quality Drift and Karrie time."

Because really, she'll use anything as an excuse ti spend time with him.

"Well. I try. Don't think it needs to be said, how much I care for you." How much she worries about him, too. Because he's that self-sacrificing type. He's a fighter, yes, but the thought of him in any kind of pain still makes her want to keep him safe.

[sword_redemption]

"I do. I lost something of yours."

But he gained all that respect because she could wear pants without hating every second of them. Drift is like a cat in a harness.

"No. You don't need to say it. You show it. A lot." He gives a shy smile.

[vandalization]

"Well then I guess you better get to the kissing and hugging then," She teases, idly playing with a clip on her suit.

"Oh yeah. All those tickles and harassment? That is how I show my love."

It's actually true, but there's often a bit of truth in her humor.