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 Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:08 pm
Flight 847, Delta Airlines, Gate 13.
It put Liberty Marie Reever in Terminal #2 ordering the largest cup of chamomile tea she could get her hands on.
It was 2:30 in the afternoon. Weather conditions were warm, dry, with a southern breeze bringing in a high pressure system. No clouds in sight.
It was a big change from the thunderstorm the four hour flight had encountered. Liberty was still shaking from nerves. Landing had never been her strong suit, especially after that and she tipped the woman the cost of the drink for its expedient delivery.
At 2:45, she was in the baggage claim, eyes scanning for her cousin amongst the huge crowds. She hadn't seen her in. . . oh, it must have been quite a few years since the last family gathering. It didn't matter. They'd always gotten along like brain twins, at least when it came to their love for physical sports and wide smiles.
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:20 pm
"Hey, Country!" The friendly bellow came only seconds before she found herself pulled against a lanky, hard body, muscled arms squeezing tight and lifting her off the ground. The taller, blonder girl was all dimples when she finally let Liberty's feet touch the floor.
Kesslan Rae Reever was awful excited to see her favorite little cousin. It had been awhile, of course, and the redhead wasn't so little anymore. Six years! Kess had been a scandalous seventeen, and Libby, well... thirteen the summer before high school. Despite the age difference, they'd spend as much time together as possible during those week-long reunions, which may have had to do with the fact that Libby had long since been a "tomboy" and was starting to become a full-blown homo.
Birds of a feather, right? "You look good, cuz. You tired, hungry? Where are your bags, bromo, I'll get th--What the ******** is that?" Kess reached out to pluck the cup from her cousin's hands, sniffing it before making a face. "Hippie herbal s**t. We'll get you a beer."
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:33 pm
A chirrup sound escaped Liberty's throat as she was unexpectadly found skywards once again. "Tea, cuz! Tea," she laughed out, holding the white cup at arm's length and ignoring the hot liquid that had spilled over her hand. Her cousin was sure a whole heck of a lot taller!
"My goodness, Kessy. What have you been eating?"
When she'd been set onto her feet, she could return a greeting with her free arm. The tight squeeze at Kesslan's ripcage not enough to lift, but enough to show her mirrored enthusiasm.
"Your hair has gotten really long again. It's almost like no time passed." Liberty picked up a few loose blonde strands before letting them fall and then moved on to the next subject.
"Starving," she answered, giving Kesslan another firm squeeze before following the sound of the claim buzzer. "They wouldn't let me have a beer, cuz." She supposed she hardly needed the chamomile now. It already felt like home and her nerves were beginning to ease and fade.
"Know of any good brewhouses here? I reckon I could beat you in a hamburger eating contest right now. I can't wait to get my mouth on one."
She pulled off her only check-in bag which was encroaching on the 50 pound limit and passed it off to Kess.
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 8:57 pm
"Dunno, a girl did it after I got into town." The blonde ran a hand through her tousled hair, which had grown out quite a bit but remained quite a lot shorter than the beautiful long hair her cousin remembered.
"I reckon you couldn't, runt." Kess' jab was a friendly one as she took the bag, hefting it easily despite the weight. She may not have been working on a ranch these past few years, but Libby would know that whatever the blonde did to keep fit was working.
As they walked out of the airport and headed to the temporary parking, Kess pointed out her bike. "There. We'll get you some grub, get you settled in, then see about findin' you something else to get your mouth on."
Pulling out bungees from under the seat, she strapped the bag on the back rack, giving it an experimental push or two. A helmet, usually reserved for Daph, was shoved at the redhead, and she strapped on her own.
"Let's ride, kid."
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:09 pm
One look at Kesslan's transportation of choice and Liberty tossed the tea in a nearby trash can. Not before taking a long, final sip, however.
Nervousness settled into the pit of her stomach. While Liberty was an accomplished duster of cars, and could drive a quad without much of a second thought, a motorcycle did not have many points on her list of experiences. And the last time she'd known Kess, the girl was an expert teenager.
"This is new," was the only comment she made as she slipped the helmet over her head. She did not bother asking if Kesslan had a car.
Settled in the back, one arm securing herself to Kesslan at the waist, Liberty only had one more question. "So, how fast does it go?"
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:31 pm
Kess revved the engine.
Poor Liberty would need to hold her cousin tight as they flew out of the lot and onto the street, tearing their way onto the freeway. It wasn't until they hit DC proper that she slowed down, wary of the cops, and signalled with a gloved hand toward a sign up ahead. Brews of Destiny.
They pulled into the lot, and she cut the motor, removing her helmet and shaking her messy hair. "Hey, let's get it to go, yeah? I can swing you up to campus, help you break in your room with a six-pack."
She held the door open for Liberty, before smiling at the hostess. "Just a menu and a pack of the wheat, please."
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Posted: Sun Sep 23, 2012 9:51 pm
Liberty's heartbeat had finally slowed by the time the motorcycle engine was left ticking in the parking lot.
Liberty insisted on paying for two orders of sliders and two half pounders. "For the ride. And the beer," she explained. But mostly for the celebration of a new home and old company. The pair barely had time to chat before their order was brought out.
The southern dorms of Destiny City University were miraculously easy to locate. It was still bright at five in a summer afternoon as Liberty swung down from the bike.
"Let me stop by the front office and get my room key." Being at the University earlier than the standard wave had its perks. The line was absolutely nonexistent, and no one was feeling haughty enough to give a lecture on dorm behavior. There was a dorm meeting later in the week, after all, where they would harass the transfer students to their full extent.
Liberty was the first one in her dorm, which gave her and Kess all the room-space they'd ever need for their feast. She deposited her bag in her room, kicked off her shoes, and collapsed onto the couch without a moment's hesitation.
"Time for me to show you up, Kessy. Sliders first?"
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