|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 12:46 am
The salesman had been spoken to earlier, and when Kess had indicated her interest, he was quick to respond. They'd spoken at some length on the phone, and she had friends that had recommended the place. It looked like they'd been right about finding something she wanted, here.
By the time Daphne got up the gumption to swing a leg over the bike, it was already purring a welcome, the Kess's own eagerness to see how it felt on the road apparent. Gloves had been pulled from her jacket and tugged on, and after making eye contact with the salesman, 'Greg,' she thumbed back at Daphne.
"Can we get her a helmet, man?" As Greg left to fetch a second, Kess spoke to the bluenette over her shoulder, her gaze still examining the bike as she tested it's weight. "If this was my old girl, back home, it'd be a different story, but, I'm not taking you out on an unfamiliar bike without some protection." If Daphne wanted to feel the wind whipping in her hair, she'd have to schedule a second ride with the blonde.
While Kess was confident in her abilities, she liked to ride fast, and you never knew what was going to happen. She couldn't control other drivers, after all, and without knowing the finer details of the bike's responses... While some might take big risks to impress a pretty girl, Kess was more interested in keeping that playful brain of hers intact.
Before pulling on hers, she turned her upper body to do a brief check of Daphne's, before flashing her a thumbs up. "You look great." Her grin was quickly hidden by pulling on her own helmet, and within seconds they were slowly rolling out of the showroom floor and onto the street.
She took it easy on the surface streets, getting to know the Judge, the way its clutch responded, the ease of downshifting. It was a nice bike. Soon enough, she turned on to a freeway exit, and kicked the whole ride up a notch, until they were far beyond the speed limit of 65. It was a good time to let loose, the roads relatively deserted at this time of day, with most productive citizens at work or school.
It was almost too easy to push past 90 mph, and Kess idly reminded herself that they weren't on a relatively deserted California road, and that being pulled over would make this... Hangout, wasn't it...? A little awkward.
She drove for the next hour or so, before finding a pull-out with something nicer to look at than gravel and grass, and shut off the bike. Waiting for Daphne to step off, she swung her leg over and took off the helmet, wandering a short distance to collapse onto the bench of a picnic table. Crossing her legs at the ankles, she gave the view a good hard look.
It was still weird to Kess, coming from California, to have the sun be so bright, but the weather so cold. She frowned slightly at the view, to let it know that it wasn't quite as good as a winding trip through the hot mountains.
"I like it," she decided, then, glancing over to the bluenette with a smile, before lifting her chin toward the bike. "Do you have a motorcycle license?"
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 8:17 am
Oh, helmet. Why hadn't she thought of that? Probably, Daphne's mind told her, because you're used to do things in high-risk environments with no more protection than an inadequate layer of latex. It was sometimes hard to see a motorcycle as a danger when one of the people you cared for most was a half-monster queen of the underworld. She remembered then, as an afterthought, that Elzo'd always given her his to wear, refusing to ever risk her.
Boy, wasn't that just the case?
Pushing all of those thoughts away, not letting her bitter failures intrude on her finally trying to take something back from her life, Daphne beamed at Kess. "Let 'er rip!" She wasn't disappointed. Though there was no loose stream of blue curls flying behind her to get tangled there was still enough wind in her face, tugging at her jacket, to make her whoop delightedly with the speed of it. You could go as fast as you wanted in a car but it was always a safer sort of speed.
With only two wheels and purring metal beneath your body, there was no real substitute for the thrill. When she hopped off towards the table Kess had collapsed at pensively she was all color, bright pink cheeks from the cool wind, whiskey eyes glowing with delight, hair tousled from the wisps that had escaped the helmet and the body of it being mussed by the helmet itself.
"Hah. I barely have my driver's license, not that I have a car or anything myself. Never needed one with all the buses and if I needed to get somewhere I had a ride." A hand skimmed through her tri-toned hair for a moment to straighten it out, sitting firmly on the table next to Kess with a smile.
"Probably should look into something like it, huh? I had been considering a little scooter like Zac has, just to get me around town without having to brave the dangers of public transportation. Just haven't had the money, yanno?" Well. Maybe not. She didn't really know anything about Kess' situation and that was a nice bike. Money would've had to come from somewhere!
"I think you should definitely get it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:11 am
Kess tilted her head back until she could catch a glimpse of Daphne's face, raising her brows, "Bummer, I was hankerin' to let you drive us back." She laughed, raising one shoulder in a shrug. "Guess that'll have to wait 'til next time." Because there would definitely be a next time, with the crush that girl had on speed.
"Your manager, Zac?" She turned it over in her mind, easily making connections. A girl like Kess had to be able to keep track of complicated social circles of who-knew-who-knew-who, and this one was simple enough. She knew Zinkenite was also Zac, and that he worked at a candy shop. That was a close enough match to warrant her follow up, "Pretty sure I know him." She laughed, "I didn't know he rocked a scooter, though." She'd have to bring that one up later.
"I've got a beat up old chevy, but that's not good for much besides moving things. I usually hoof it or blade." She did love her street skates, but the weather had made that a seasonal thing, unlike back home. "Two jobs and pinching pennies, for a nice bike, though? Totally worth it."
There was pause, before Kess shifted her upper body. "Hey," it was quiet, to get the bluenette's attention. It was easy, then, to reach and grab a handful of Daphne's jacket, tugging her down as the blonde leaned up, and into their first kiss.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:34 am
Unlike Kess, Daphne loved the serene chill of this part of the country. The summers came too fast, were too hot, and they seemed to last longer and longer. Time was one of the few places in her life that she didn't enjoy speed. Her friendships, her relationships, everything seemed to just breeze past the bluenette until she wasn't entirely sure what was going on some days.
Pulling herself into the here and now she grinned, winking exaggeratedly about the scooter. "I think he's a bit ashamed of it. I got him to give me a ride home one day when I had him over for pasta and poor kid turned red as a beet. He does that if you say something scandalous or like...hit on him in that horribly silly fake manner. It's how I met his boyfriend that one time....hm?" Kess was more still than she had been previously, dark eyes focused on...on her. Very focused in fact.
Her first reaction to the fact that Kess was kissing her was a quick burst of shock; thankfully she was not the kind of person to jerk away when surprised. Instead her body just jumped once beneath the jacket held in freckled hands as Daphne started to think about what was happening in a whirl. It wasn't at all unpleasant, not demanding, almost...fun. It was also the first time she'd been kissed by a girl and that was a whole new set of textures; no matter how much a bro Kess was, she still wasn't hard like Daphne's other two experiences.
And there was one she was deliberately not thinking about.
So instead of breaking it and probably upsetting what she had started to think of as an awesome friend to have, Daphne just eased away after what she felt was a respectable period of time. Her cheeks were flaming red now with the blush she'd never learned to control, eyes flicking at Kess, then down into her lap, then away, again and again as she tried to find words.
"That was...yeah." Nervous laughter but not negative. There was a smile flirting around the teen's lips even as she couldn't look into Kess' enigmatic black eyes for more than a second before blushing again. "I did mention I like speed, huh?"
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 10:51 am
"You did," Kess allowed, her tone a low, musing sound as she continued to watch the red-faced girl, amused by the way she avoided eye contact. She let her suffer for only a few long seconds before it was too much of an effort to hold back her laughter.
Once it was free, she couldn't keep the reckless grin from her face, that said all too clearly how damn pleased she was with herself. The blonde's gloved hand lightly smacked the wooden table next to Daphne's thigh, before she shoved to her feet and gave the poor girl a bit of space.
"You've been killing me," she informed her, before winking, "But don't worry, I'll let you handle the next kiss." It wasn't as if Daphne hadn't been trying her hand at flirting with Kess via text for at least weeks, now.
Stooping to snag her helmet from the table, she glanced up to catch Daphne's expression again, and couldn't help a second, short burst of laughter.
"C'mon, we'd better get back before they think we stole it."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:16 am
Daphne's first response was to go flying off the picnic table and punch Kess in the arm for laughing. Not for the first laugh because it was clear that it was one of those relief things; she wasn't angry for ending the kiss or not knowing what to do about it. Kess was just pleased it had all worked out okay and now it was Daphne acting like a complete and utter moron.
The second laugh though, that one was the killer.
Snagging her own helmet a hand reached out to punch, not roughly but with enough force to make her chagrin known, at her shoulder. Then, figuring why the hell not, she snagged Kess by the sleeve and pulled her in closer as if she meant to do it all again with her in control this time. "Kess...." She paused, looked up through her eyelashes, and then grinned. "I'll let you know when I'm ready to play." Releasing, the bluenette all but skipped over to stand next to the back of the bike.
"I still think you should buy this one."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 11:36 am
Kess leaned back, lifting her hands [one holding aloft her helmet] in a a comical expression of non-combatance. She didn't back away however, as that fist found her shoulder, taking the 'attack' goodnaturedly. The blonde didn't resist the pull at her sleeve, leaning in just enough to be amused and disappointed when that minx of a girl hustled away.
Buy what? Ah, the bike.
"I plan on it..." The lanky girl's grin lingered as her dark eyes trailed Daphne, letting the bluenette complete her escape, before piping up as she strolled after her. "Daphne," perhaps that pleased smile had become a smirk, as her gaze flicked over the younger woman.
"You said when, not if...!" It was practically a sing-song, more than a little victorious and the blonde did a bit of a dance to dodge the chance of a second, vicious attack as she tugged on her helmet. Her more private laughter was muffled by both the helmet and the roar of the engine. The ride back was faster, more daring, a somewhat reckless playfulness clearly inspired by their shared, excited mood. New things could do that to a person, whether they were motorcycles, or kisses.
When they got back, and parked the bike out front, it didn't take long for Kess to re-emerge from Greg's office with title in hand.
"Let me drive you home?" No good reason to take the subway, right, Daphne?
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 2:33 pm
No reason to take the subway at all. There was something about the underground that didn't sit entirely well with the teen; she avoided taking the rail if she could possibly help it, preferring to run, walk, take the bus, or shift forms and use the rooftops. Kess' last words had Daphne laughing all the way back to the store, waiting outside in the chill winter day while papers were signed, deals were finalized, twirling the helmet in her hands before tossing it up again to catch.
Daphne didn't even bother to answer the question, just tossing one leg over the bike and sliding back into place. This time instead of just her hands resting lightly at the sides of Kess' jacket, she let her arms come to lightly circle the other girl, a quiet laugh sounding near the blonde's ear. She had indeed said when, not if, and the word choice hadn't really been an error. Perhaps giving a bit too much away but why should she not be having at least a little bit of fun?
If things got serious, she would fix them, and that would be that. Otherwise what was a little bit of dangerous fun?
Satisfied with her mental reckoning, she spoke finally. "Do you remember where I live? No reason to take all the shortcuts, believe me."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 4:19 pm
There it was, that familiar thrill that shot through her body as Daphne's arms tightened slightly at her waist. It was a good feeling. Daphne was turning out to be just as much fun as Kess had thought she might be.
"I remember." There was a smile in her voice as she turned her focus from the girl to the road, pushing her distracted thoughts to the back of her mind in favor of attentive driving.
The sun was almost gone, now, and the pink sky as a backdrop against the streets, dark and wet with winter, made the almost leisurely ride pleasant. When they approached the area Kess had met Daphne in the afternoon, she slowed further, eventually rolling to a stop.
The blonde didn't get off the bike, this time, though she did remove her helmet to get a better view of the other girl. Leaning over the handlebars after Daphne had dismounted, she raised her brows.
"My bike wants to know when she gets to see you again."
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 4:32 pm
Pulling off her own helmet with an almost dog-like shake of her head to get all her hair falling into place, the bluenette dutifully strapped the helmet to the back of the bike. Letting it fall off wouldn't be a good idea because then future rides would be dependent on her having her own -- and how did you explain why you had a motorcycle helmet hanging out in your foyer, but no bike?
Leaning forward herself Daphne stood with one leg on either side of the motorcycle's front wheel, using hands to balance herself on either side of Kess' arms. "Well lets see. You have my number, you know where I live, and my store closes nightly around eight. I'm rarely up before ten." Reaching out, arms came around both girl and bike to give them both a hug; she wasn't quite brave enough to take that same step the blonde had earlier in the day.
"Just tell your bike that if she wants to see me, she'll look me up. Thanks for the awesome afternoon, and I mean it. I needed all of that." With a slightly shy smile, she disentangled herself. "Maybe next time can be a when." The laugh was what sounded as Daphne let herself into the house, waving out the front window before disappearing.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: Sat Jan 21, 2012 4:39 pm
There was a moment there, when part of Kess was sure that Daphne was going to go for it, even though she knew, beyond a doubt, that she absolutely was not. It didn't change the fact that it'd been a relatively perfect day.
"Yeah," came the stupid, grinning response, the one that said that the blonde was a little too caught up for some sort of witty parting line. It wasn't until Daphne had reached her front door that Kess had caught enough mentally to cup gloved hands around her mouth to holler a "Good night!" at the girl.
She flashed her another goonish grin through the window, before slapping her helmet on her dorky, freckled face, and getting the hell out of dodge.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Reply
