Back on the Doghouse Again...

[velesdonnersen]

 [The doghouse in the backyard of 1126 Taylor Road is turning into Tarvek's personal little corner.  He sits on the roof, with just enough shade from a shade tree, and just enough sun, and the doghouse has a flat peak, so he can sit comfortably cross-legged. He's there, today, far more sober than he's been in awhile, in more senses than one.]

[The

Comments

[ooeeooahah]

[ She notices him on the doghouse from the street, and enters by the gate. ]

[ When he pauses in his drawing, she speaks. ]

Please tell me you haven't moved out here.

[ooeeooahah]

[ Ilsa looks at him evenly for a moment. ]

Give me the keys and get the door.

[velesdonnersen]

[He has to run inside to get the keys from the drawer where The Betty kept them. It makes him sad, but glad: there's some sign of her existence, after all. He hurries back to the garage, with its open door. He's learned enough here already to very graciously open the driver's side and hand her in, before seating himself in the passenger side. He notes she's chosen the fortress-like sedan.]

I'm ready. What first?

[ooeeooahah]

[ She adjusts the rear-view mirror while automatically reaching over her left shoulder, before commenting. ]

Pfft, right - Nader hasn't gotten to that yet. Okay.

First, was the once over I gave the car.

Things you want to look for - make sure all the tires are still inflated and such, or the kids haven't left something behind the car.

Activate the driving brake, key in the ignition, and start the engine.

[ She takes a moment to listen to the engine, with a small smile. ]

As much as these guzzle gas, there's still something about the sound. Anyway!

[ Twisting around in the seat, she looks behind, then puts the car in reverse. ]

Actually look in the direction you're driving, as much as you can. The mirrors are for quick reference.

[ She stops at the end of the driveway. ]

The only reason to not stop at the end of the driveway is if someone is shooting at you, or a similar emergency. Check both directions, because the traffic in the street has right of way.

[ Yes, she's babbling, but in a lecture tone. ]

[velesdonnersen]

[He's the cautious, systematic son of a meticulous spark. He's watching and nodding to himself, translating it to his own precautionary rituals.]

"Measure twice, cut once?" "Confirm all data?" "Always make sure the Bunsen burner is off before lighting a spark nearby?"

[He's of the opinion he'll probably be a good driver -- so long as he's not driving in his Madness Place. If he ever gets his Madness Place back, though, all bets are off.]

The key starts the car, the wheel steers it, the mirrors help you see what's around you without always having to turn your head away from what you're driving toward, and you treat the entire environment as potentially hostile.

Hmmmph. That last sounds like home.

[ooeeooahah]

That's a good bit of it.

[ She steers carefully out of the neighborhood. ]

A quick trip downtown, then the gas station.

[ She doesn't take her eyes from the road, but smiles. ]

Then we see what this sucker can do on the highway.

[velesdonnersen]

[He's amused. She sounds like a Spark when she talks about this car... a nice, edgy lust. He hopes driving will make him feel the same way.]

"Gas." I assume you don't mean of the sort that fuels my Bunsen burners. Refined fluid petroleum, then? Something like kerosene?

[ooeeooahah]

Petroleum, yes - I don't know the chemical composition of it. All I know is it's hideously expensive in my time, and not so much here.

[ She giggles, ] Don't worry, you'll get a turn.

[velesdonnersen]

[He's fascinated by how the car changes her. She's never been meek, or mild, but the spark-ish element of her personality has never been so clear. She's a Gentlewoman Adventurer behind the wheel: excited, energized, high-spirited.]

I probably could tell you about the chemistry, if I weren't spark-impaired. But at least I can think about it enough to have some idea what makes it work. It's better than just having to think, "the key is magic."

Though here I have seen that "magic" works, too.

[Movement zooms past him, and he gives a sudden, reflexive "GNEEP!" and flinch, before he realizes it's all under control.]

Sorry-sorry. Going to take me awhile to get used to things moving past like that.

Do you know how far we can drive before we meet things, or get looped back into Mayfield? I'd as soon not get any bears in here. [Wicked grin] They'd scratch the pain and rip up the nice leather upholstery.

[ooeeooahah]

Why d'ye think I chose the sedan? Bears would rip right through the ragtop.

[ Not so far to loop through downtown, past the law office, and pulling into the gas station. She starts to get out, and is startled by the drone service attendants swarming the car. ]

Oof. Forgot about that, too.

[ Her smile turns ironic when the attendant goes to the passenger side of the car with the receipt. ]

And that changed as well.

[velesdonnersen]

[He's got a wallet, now, and it's got all sorts of things in it. But he's still not entirely familiar with Mayfield currency. He pulls out a paper bill with a 20 on it, and is told it's too big to change. It takes awhile to work down to a five, and he still gets money back.]

It's my car, it's only right I pay.

Isn't it?

Oh, right. They wouldn't know it was my car... and should assume normally that the owner is the driver.

So...

Why didn't they?

[He understand the prejudices of his world, including its patriarchal aspects, but he's also a spark, and would himself assume that whoever was driving a Fine Machine like the Cadillac must be the Spark, and therefor the owner.]

[ooeeooahah]

[ Her smile is fixed, until they pull away. Her voice is even, but not as happy as before. ]

It is generally assumed in this town that women are not capable of things that require intelligence, such as making sure the car is properly maintained, or even making change properly.

Stupid, silly little things we are.

[velesdonnersen]

[He does hear her issue. He gets it. But... he comes at it with a slightly different priority stack.]

It's useful when they underestimate you, you know. Much easier to get away with things if they think you're stupid, weak, and inattentive.

[ooeeooahah]

[ She huffs, and turns the car towards the highway. ]

I can survive an city emergency room shift, I can re-wire a sub-woofer and I am a good enough shot to make the skeet team in my undergraduate days.

I am capable of being an independent adult.

It's hard to let go of that.

I'm still not used to thinking of this as a covert mission.

[velesdonnersen]

Ah.

Pride. I do understand. It's wonderful to be able to expect to be treated as a gentleman and a capable adult. But... it's a luxury. Sometimes if you want to survive it's actually best to accept the role of buffoon, idiot, simpleton. You learn more, fight less, and people underestimate you when they make their plans.

[Soft]

I lived for most of my life playing that role. Weak, pretentious, naive, misinformed. Unable to fight. I'd thought...

I'd thought I had found people who'd recognize the man of reason and ability under the role.

Unfortunately apparently my disguises have been too effective.

[Fierce reversion to chipper.]

Now, why don't we go where you can run around a bit. I can tell you won't let me behind the wheel here until you've gotten to play, some, first.

[ooeeooahah]

[ She chuckles. ]

I did want to test out something I heard about the highway looping back on itself.

Maybe test the high end handling as well.