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[verbal_vomit_1]

You know, they say hypothermia's not a bad way to go. Sure it's cold for a while but then you get really warm and drift off to "sleep". The Hudson is way too disgusting to find out the truth though. Who wants to freeze to death in what's basically a giant toilet bowl?
Now I feel sort of bad for all the fishies I've flushed down an actual toilet. I

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[deadwhitemale]

The rented bike, a buzzy little Yamaha that reminded Ellis in multiple ways of a bumblebee, hummed along the streets towards the Hudson. Ellis had insisted Val wear the bike helmet, since it was after dark which meant he didn't need it.

He'd also insisted Val hold on tight, which instruction Val was obeying. Val was also wearing a backpack which was stuffed with a coat and a thermos.

Ellis turned off on 105th and slowed the bike to a putter, scanning about with his excellent night vision for a far-too-tiny-to-be-out-here-on-her-own kinda girl.

"She say exactly whereabouts here she'd be?" he said loudly to Val.

[vavarner]

"Riverside Park, around 105th," Val called back, louder than he probably needed to with Ellis's hearing, but it was hard to hear himself think over the sound of the bike. Not that he minded in the slightest - riding in the 'biker bitch' position with his arms around Ellis holding on tight was just fine by him. Exciting! He'd enjoyed buzzing around the city like this.

Right now though, his mind was on other things- like finding Chuck. He was really worried about her being out in the cold, and being out alone in the city at night. Heck, he didn't want to be alone in the city at night ever himself.

"It's hard to see anything with the helmet!"

[verbal_vomit_1]

She was there, in the park as she said she would be, leaning against the cold iron railing and staring towards the water. Dark as it was, Chuck didn't see much more than the reflection of the city's multitude of lights--they looked like living flecks and dots of energy as the water rolled in gentle, wind-stirred waves. She wasn't thinking of lights though, just fish. Happy, carefree little creatures allowed to be who they were and just swim, dance through the water without anyone bothering them or making them feel like misfit freaks.

Of course, they also had little to no memory retention. Chuck probably envied that even more at the moment. Life would be easier if you could forget all of those mortifying moments than made you cringe and shudder.

[deadwhitemale]

There was a small figure standing near the water's edge, leaning on the railing. Ellis steered the bike thataway, even his vision not letting him see whether it was the young woman from the open mic or not, at least not until they were closer.

He drove as close as possible-- yes, that looked like the girl-- and parked the bike, gesturing over at Chuck for Val's benefit if he hadn't seen her yet.

He'd let Val do the hailing, or going over and greeting her, or whatever-- seeing as she was his friend.

[vavarner]

"There she is," Val said, stating the obvious as he got down off of the bike, and took off his helmet. He handed it off to Ellis so he could fish in the backpack for the thermos and coat.

"Hey, Nancy!" he called from the distance they were at, so he didn't startle her in case she didn't recognize him in the darkness. "Got a coat and a thermos of cocoa here with your name on them..."

He started approaching with both in hand.

[verbal_vomit_1]

Nancy. Chuck snorted at hearing the name but dismissed it just as she had the sound of a motorcycle tooling around in the area. New York was a big city, there were bound to be plenty of Nancys running around--she frowned. Wait, that was a familiar voice and it was coming closer.

Val. Nancy. The tiny blonde turned around and took a few steps towards the young man, "Edith, that you?"

When in the world had he gotten a bike? She'd assumed he would be taking the subway, not that it mattered. He'd actually shown up. And he'd brought her things. A coat, hot cocoa...she smiled.

[vavarner]

"Tis I, Edith, bearing warmth..."

Val grinned wide, and headed the rest of the way over, settling the parka around her shoulders before handing the thermos over.

"This is a very special coat," he announced. "This is the coat my mister bought me when we were snowed in at an airport over the Christmas Holidays. This is the one and only Christmas Road Trip coat, and I am entrusting it into your care."

He nodded like this was a very solemn trust, then inclined his head towards the bike and the figure by it. "Mister Ellis come too, figured we'd get here faster on the bike...."

[verbal_vomit_1]

Chuck threaded her arms through the sleeves of the coat then took the thermos between both hands. Just holding it was nice. Warmth seeped through the insulated container and her thin fingers began to feel again. "I promise I'll only borrow it until I thaw out."

She was swimming in the winter jacket, Val wasn't a large person but he was still quite a bit taller than she. Oh, Mr. Ellis was there and it was his bike. Made more sense. Hugging the thermos to her chest, Chuck freed an arm and waved at the southern gentleman. "Hi, Edith's Mr. Ellis!"

Greetings dealt with, sheepishness set in and Charlene ducked her head and muttered, "You didn't have to drag him out here. I was okay."

[deadwhitemale]

"'Lo, Miz Chuck," Ellis called back from near the motorcycle, raising a hand in answer. He might have blinked at hearing Val referred to as 'Edith', but at this distance who could tell?

He crossed his arms again and returned to waiting. And, for that matter, eying the bike. He had a strong sneaking suspicion that Val was going to make some suggestion, bless his heart, that would involve trying to cram three people onto the sporty little rental motorcycle.

Well. At least ain't none of them exactly big.

[vavarner]

"Aw, he didn't mind any," Val said, and supposed it mostly to be true because Ellis hadn't really protested the idea, just put up with it in that patient sort of way he had when it came to Val's ideas.

"And I was worried about you being out here in the cold. What kind of best frand would I be if I didn't come?"

He reached out and touched her shoulder. "Why did you come on out here, anyhow? Everything okay? If you want to talk, I am all about the listening... though if you want to go somewhere warmer do it, wouldn't object. Dinner, or over my place..."

[verbal_vomit_1]

What kind? The Marcus MacEibhir kind, that's what. Chuck didn't say this, of course. She didn't really even want to think about her redheaded supposed frand of the best variety.

She looked up at Val, dark brown eyes wide as she tried to make out distinct features in the growing darkness of the park. Didn't really help. "After school I didn't want to go home and...I'm sort of not talking to Marcus right now. Again." Seemed to be the norm with the pair lately.

"Everything's kinda a mess, if you must know." She didn't really want to dump on him after knowing that he'd had a rotten day yesterday. Her problems probably seemed stupid to him in comparison. Then there was the question of how to get elsewhere, together. Motorcycles were made for two people, weren't they?

Chuck bit her lip and hesitated, tilted her head and studied Val's hand on her shoulder before finally asking, "Can...can I just have a hug instead?"

[vavarner]

Val sighed inwardly, wondering what sort of jerky thing Marcus had done now. He seemed to hurt Chuck's feelings on a regular basis as far as Val could tell - which was really quite irritating.

When she asked for a hug, he nodded wordlessly and put both his arms around her, big coat and all, to give her a warm best-frand hug. It pleased him that she'd asked first, that he'd had time to prepare himself for it and therefore he didn't have that moment of panic. In fact, hugging her felt kind of nice. She was small and non-threatening, and wearing his favorite coat, after all.

"Course you can have a hug," he said, resting his head on top of her head in an affectionate manner. "Best friends give hugs, right? That's part of the whole frandship package. Edith-and-Nancy hugs."

Over the top of 'Nancy's' head, he looked over towards Ellis, making sure that his boyfriend wasn't getting jealous or anything silly like that. After all, it was just a frand-hug... but still, the momentary worry was there.

[deadwhitemale]

Ellis watched the hug with some mild amusement, digging out his cigarettes as he did so. Lord knew how long they'd be standin' out here in the cold. He might as well get in a smoke while he waitin'.

He gave Val a small nod in acknowledgment when he saw Val looking at him, although he wasn't sure what exactly he was acknowledging, and busied himself with his cigarettes.

[verbal_vomit_1]

She nodded against Val's shoulder, her voice somewhat muffled as she was caught in layers of coats and person and wind, "Edith hugs sort of rock. People everywhere can be jealous nao."

Chuck greedily hugged him back for another moment, friendly embraces did feel good and the lack of them was possibly the worst thing about fighting with Marcus. He hugged everyone, impulsively, and that meant Chuck too. Of course, he also hugged her intentionally and never seemed to mind letting her curl up with him just because. Why'd he have to be such a total shithead about everything else?

Val was definitely better at this, there were hugs and none of the thoughtless hurts. And cocoa. Which she was crushing against her chest while hugging her new best frand. Chuck stepped back and gave him a small smile, feeling a bit better. "Can you even drink hot chocolate?"

She held the thermos up and shook it.

[vavarner]

"I can no longer," Val said, shaking his head sadly. "Not a sip. There's this substitute Ellis found for me, almost nearly sort of like the real thing only without all the chocolate. But that's all real cocoa, little marshmallows and all. Made it for you real quick before we left

[verbal_vomit_1]

"Is that legal?" She had to ask, even though she was willing to bet they could all three fit. The idea of going back to Val's appealed to her more than going home. One, she wanted to drink the hot cocoa he made for her but didn't want to do it unless he also had a drink or a snack or something to consume while they talked and two, she really had been out here far longer than she intended. Time gets away from you when you are having a sulk.

"It's not bad when it's light out, you know. The river's always gross but the park's not bad." Chuck felt the need to defend her actions, at least in part. She didn't want Val to think she was a complete moron.