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Karma had the car all packed. A work outing that also doubled as a romantic getaway? You really couldn't beat that. There were perks about owning and running a bar. One of them was that sometimes, if you had a good enough name, local wineries would literally throw opportunities at you. One such opportunity was a wine tasting weekend trip to a little town who was known for watching "changing of the leaves". Sure, it was a load of hooey to Karma, who hailed from the damp and evergreen northwest of the country, but she did admit it could be enchanting. The colors sure were beautiful, but the need to drive to over priced tourist towns to watch it had always baffled her.
Though if they wanted to pay all of it themselves and let her reap the nice weekend, who was she to argue? The automatic fish-feeder was set, so De'feesh wouldn't starve while they were away, all of their luggage was packed, and they had sufficient supplies in a cooler that if they really didn't feel like it, they wouldn't have to stop had some diner that looked like it would serve your burger with a side of food poisoning.
She had no problem with roadside diners. She had a problem with roadside diners who took advantage of the situation to have sub par food and service because they were the only eating establishments around.
Regardless, ALL of it was packed.
So where was Destiny? " HEY! you ready to go? " Her cheerful voice broke through the quiet chill of early morning, completely regardless of the hour. One of the great things about living under a bar, was that she didn't have to deal with neighbors, and she could be just as loud as she pleased at 4am.
Though if they wanted to pay all of it themselves and let her reap the nice weekend, who was she to argue? The automatic fish-feeder was set, so De'feesh wouldn't starve while they were away, all of their luggage was packed, and they had sufficient supplies in a cooler that if they really didn't feel like it, they wouldn't have to stop had some diner that looked like it would serve your burger with a side of food poisoning.
She had no problem with roadside diners. She had a problem with roadside diners who took advantage of the situation to have sub par food and service because they were the only eating establishments around.
Regardless, ALL of it was packed.
So where was Destiny? " HEY! you ready to go? " Her cheerful voice broke through the quiet chill of early morning, completely regardless of the hour. One of the great things about living under a bar, was that she didn't have to deal with neighbors, and she could be just as loud as she pleased at 4am.
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"Keep your socks on, Lady! I'm coming!"
There was nothing about Destiny Kent that was a morning person. Waking up at 4am, to her, was like strapping her down to a chair and forcing her to watch all of the Twilight movies back to back and that would be enough to make her want to commit suicide. So, right now, she was not a happy camper; no matter that this little trip indulged her hobby more than Karma's. She did make her way onto the street with her purse and pillow in hand. She doubted she'd sleep but it was nice to pretend.
"I don't understand how you can be so chipper this early in the morning. It's unnatural, baby." She groused.
The car was loaded at least and without coffee she was nearly delirious with sleep. It didn't take long for her to get into the car and settled against the door with her chair leaned back and her pillow propped against the door. Road trips and no Starbucks did not a happy woman make.
"Let's get going. Maybe if I'm lucky I can snooze for a few hours. This winery will take most of the day to get to."
She, unlike her partner, was blissfully unaware of the problems in their relationship or that this trip had an ulterior motive. She just thought it was a nice invitational wine tasting for the new crop at a charming winery up north. It was good timing. She just wanted to kick back and relax, enjoy a good long weekend.
There was nothing about Destiny Kent that was a morning person. Waking up at 4am, to her, was like strapping her down to a chair and forcing her to watch all of the Twilight movies back to back and that would be enough to make her want to commit suicide. So, right now, she was not a happy camper; no matter that this little trip indulged her hobby more than Karma's. She did make her way onto the street with her purse and pillow in hand. She doubted she'd sleep but it was nice to pretend.
"I don't understand how you can be so chipper this early in the morning. It's unnatural, baby." She groused.
The car was loaded at least and without coffee she was nearly delirious with sleep. It didn't take long for her to get into the car and settled against the door with her chair leaned back and her pillow propped against the door. Road trips and no Starbucks did not a happy woman make.
"Let's get going. Maybe if I'm lucky I can snooze for a few hours. This winery will take most of the day to get to."
She, unlike her partner, was blissfully unaware of the problems in their relationship or that this trip had an ulterior motive. She just thought it was a nice invitational wine tasting for the new crop at a charming winery up north. It was good timing. She just wanted to kick back and relax, enjoy a good long weekend.
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Karma grinned, fully used to and quite charmed by Destiny's ceremonial early morning grumps. A road-trip would not be complete without them. "Oooh, keep your head up. Just think in a few hours the coffee shops will be open and we’ll get you something steamy and delicious. " She said, with a big ol dollop of that unnatural cheer. It was an ugly truth. Karma was a morning person.
" And sure, just lean the seat back and get some rest. I even brought a CD of sleepy sounds for you. " she grinned, knowing full well Destiny couldn't sleep without some sort white noise. Even in the dead of winter they had a big box fan going constantly.
A nice romantic weekend, plenty of good wine, beautiful countryside. Maybe it would loosen her up enough to get her to actually talk... Karma didn't know what was wrong, only that something was. And if she could just get Destiny to talk to her, she knew deep down she could make it better. The secrets, the unexplained hours away, the bruises under her eyes from lack of sleep. If she could get her to talk... she could make it all better. She just knew she could.
But first things first. Getting to said romantic get away. Hours and hours of driving. Luckily Karma liked driving! So she pushed all relationship problems aside for the time being, giving Destiny one of those grins as she slid into the drivers seat. " This is going to be a great trip, I can already tell. I mean, I got you out the door in less then an hour. I think that's a record, love. "
" And sure, just lean the seat back and get some rest. I even brought a CD of sleepy sounds for you. " she grinned, knowing full well Destiny couldn't sleep without some sort white noise. Even in the dead of winter they had a big box fan going constantly.
A nice romantic weekend, plenty of good wine, beautiful countryside. Maybe it would loosen her up enough to get her to actually talk... Karma didn't know what was wrong, only that something was. And if she could just get Destiny to talk to her, she knew deep down she could make it better. The secrets, the unexplained hours away, the bruises under her eyes from lack of sleep. If she could get her to talk... she could make it all better. She just knew she could.
But first things first. Getting to said romantic get away. Hours and hours of driving. Luckily Karma liked driving! So she pushed all relationship problems aside for the time being, giving Destiny one of those grins as she slid into the drivers seat. " This is going to be a great trip, I can already tell. I mean, I got you out the door in less then an hour. I think that's a record, love. "
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Destiny grinned as the CD started to play. It was a little shocking, and sweet, how well her partner knew her and put up with her habits however inconvenient or odd. She knew she was not a person that was always easily gotten along with. At times she was cold, or insecure, or even downright negative and bitchy. It was a testament to the other woman's patience and virtue that she still stayed with her. Destiny loved Karma so much it hurt.
"You are a goddess." she murmured, balling up her pillow even as she started to doze. She meant it, too.
It was hard for her to keep secrets from her lover. The fighting with senshi and knights, the late nights and strange tasks. Explaining herself after the Carnival was a task in and of itself. She backpedaled so much she could have won the Tour De France in reverse. It was all necessary, or so Zac said. If Karma knew it was convert or die and she wasn't sure she wanted that for her. She wasn't sure if this new life was something to bring her into.
Though it was infinitely better than falling apart.
She thought she was doing a pretty good job of explaining things away in a perfectly legitimate fashion or of simply making light of what things she could not explain. The tap dance was hard to keep up with but she was trying and in her own mind Karma was none the wiser.
"Wake me when we get to Starbucks."
Destiny dozed for a while in her own little seat bed, cozier than a caterpillar with her white noise playing and the gentle bumps in the road soothing her to sleep.
"You are a goddess." she murmured, balling up her pillow even as she started to doze. She meant it, too.
It was hard for her to keep secrets from her lover. The fighting with senshi and knights, the late nights and strange tasks. Explaining herself after the Carnival was a task in and of itself. She backpedaled so much she could have won the Tour De France in reverse. It was all necessary, or so Zac said. If Karma knew it was convert or die and she wasn't sure she wanted that for her. She wasn't sure if this new life was something to bring her into.
Though it was infinitely better than falling apart.
She thought she was doing a pretty good job of explaining things away in a perfectly legitimate fashion or of simply making light of what things she could not explain. The tap dance was hard to keep up with but she was trying and in her own mind Karma was none the wiser.
"Wake me when we get to Starbucks."
Destiny dozed for a while in her own little seat bed, cozier than a caterpillar with her white noise playing and the gentle bumps in the road soothing her to sleep.
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Karma grinned, leaning over and kissing Destiny on the side of the forehead “ Ah, well I try “ she shifted back into her seat and buckling herself in. “ Yes ma’am. No wakey till coffee time “ she said as she turned the key and let the engine come to life. She pulled onto the roads and started the many hour drive that would take them out of the city, into the country, and many many communities away from their home.
Karma, being the rare sub-species of human that was the “morning person” kept herself fairly entertained as the time ticked by. She got to watch a beautiful sunrise, and as it the time shifted from “the a** crack of dawn” to “the a** crack of dawn but coffee shops are open so maybe I won't have to kill people”
It was maybe 20 minutes after the time when the shops started opening before she actually saw signs for a small town that probably had an actual coffee shop, not just a restaurant that had black drip coffee ( Not that there was anything wrong with drip coffee, but it wasn't really what they wanted when that was all they were having for breakfast. ) So she pulled off the road… With a happy squeak, Karma announced “ Behold, the Buck of Stars! “ to the sleeping destiny.
Karma, being the rare sub-species of human that was the “morning person” kept herself fairly entertained as the time ticked by. She got to watch a beautiful sunrise, and as it the time shifted from “the a** crack of dawn” to “the a** crack of dawn but coffee shops are open so maybe I won't have to kill people”
It was maybe 20 minutes after the time when the shops started opening before she actually saw signs for a small town that probably had an actual coffee shop, not just a restaurant that had black drip coffee ( Not that there was anything wrong with drip coffee, but it wasn't really what they wanted when that was all they were having for breakfast. ) So she pulled off the road… With a happy squeak, Karma announced “ Behold, the Buck of Stars! “ to the sleeping destiny.
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“Starbucks?”
Destiny roused at that key word more than any of the other sights and sounds of the road. She was still slow to wake, even with the promise of coffee. The smell of it helped, and slowly she sat up and glanced around at the drive-through. She yawned and stretched, sitting up at last. When had the sun come up?
“Strong,” she begged.
Destiny snuggled against Karma as they entered the drive-through, feeling sleepy and snuggly.
She wouldn’t eat for several hours yet but the coffee they ordered would get her through that time until her tummy finally started to tell her that she was awake and, yes, she was hungry. But until then she had no appetite and trusted her lover to know what kind of coffee she needed. Her body perked and, to her surprise, she found a smile on her lips despite herself.
Destiny roused at that key word more than any of the other sights and sounds of the road. She was still slow to wake, even with the promise of coffee. The smell of it helped, and slowly she sat up and glanced around at the drive-through. She yawned and stretched, sitting up at last. When had the sun come up?
“Strong,” she begged.
Destiny snuggled against Karma as they entered the drive-through, feeling sleepy and snuggly.
She wouldn’t eat for several hours yet but the coffee they ordered would get her through that time until her tummy finally started to tell her that she was awake and, yes, she was hungry. But until then she had no appetite and trusted her lover to know what kind of coffee she needed. Her body perked and, to her surprise, she found a smile on her lips despite herself.
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The little intercom crackled to life, and Karma draped an arm around her sleep bundled up lady.
Good morning, welcome to Starbucks, what can I get you?
“ Good morning, coffee minion! “
Um… exuse me? You could almost hear the smile falter of the fact of the barista on the other side of the intercom
“ Your quest, should you chose to accept it, is to create a pair of elixirs of caffeination! Contained within this elixir must be the whitest of chocolates, frothed milk of the moo-moo dragon, and double the essence of Coffea. “
Oh… kaaaay… So Two white chocolate mochas with… an extra shot?
“ Brava, gentle coffee maiden! I shall deliver the treasure to the next window “ And without waiting for a response Karma drove up to the next window.
Good morning, welcome to Starbucks, what can I get you?
“ Good morning, coffee minion! “
Um… exuse me? You could almost hear the smile falter of the fact of the barista on the other side of the intercom
“ Your quest, should you chose to accept it, is to create a pair of elixirs of caffeination! Contained within this elixir must be the whitest of chocolates, frothed milk of the moo-moo dragon, and double the essence of Coffea. “
Oh… kaaaay… So Two white chocolate mochas with… an extra shot?
“ Brava, gentle coffee maiden! I shall deliver the treasure to the next window “ And without waiting for a response Karma drove up to the next window.
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Destiny just started laughing immediately, unable to help herself. Of the many reasons she loved her wife, and there were many, her sense of humor was probably the best one. Where she could sometimes be entirely too serious for her own good her partner never seemed to have that problem. She could always cheer her up no matter the storm clouds gathering above her head.
Sometimes, there were a lot of clouds.
The add shot sounded like heaven to her. Double the caffeine, all the taste.
She waited eagerly for the cup, silently apologizing with her eyes for the strangeness but not really embarrassed by it. Not everyone was used to Karma’s humor but in the six years they’d been together she was well used to it.
“You are a goddess,” she repeated once the cup hit her hands and warmed them through with blessed heat. “How long until we get there, baby?”
Especially since she was up to the count by now.
Sometimes, there were a lot of clouds.
The add shot sounded like heaven to her. Double the caffeine, all the taste.
She waited eagerly for the cup, silently apologizing with her eyes for the strangeness but not really embarrassed by it. Not everyone was used to Karma’s humor but in the six years they’d been together she was well used to it.
“You are a goddess,” she repeated once the cup hit her hands and warmed them through with blessed heat. “How long until we get there, baby?”
Especially since she was up to the count by now.
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Karma smiled at the barista who was apparently stuck between being extremely wary of the weirdo who’s debit card had a pot on it from the legend of zelda, or being amused by the strange pair snuggled up in the front of the vehicle. After they paid and retrieved their coffee and pulled off into the parking lot to adjust and switch CD’s from sleepy sounds to one of their normal driving CD’s ( This one in particular the Best of Classic Disney. )
She sipped her coffee, still technically to hot to drink but Karma was willing to risk internal burns if it meant she got her coffee a little sooner. Karma turned her eyes to the GPS set on the console of the car
“ Hmm… It looks like we still are a good five hour away. We will probably get there between noon and one depending on the traffic and if we want to stop for food or not.I don't expect a lot of traffic though. “
“ You slept a good few hours, but its still pretty early “ She turned a grin to Destiny “ Like, on a good night at the bar this would still be last night instead of this morning “ The light was still golden with early morning, and the birds were now awake, but they had indeed had evenings when they would just now be going to bed.
She sipped her coffee, still technically to hot to drink but Karma was willing to risk internal burns if it meant she got her coffee a little sooner. Karma turned her eyes to the GPS set on the console of the car
“ Hmm… It looks like we still are a good five hour away. We will probably get there between noon and one depending on the traffic and if we want to stop for food or not.I don't expect a lot of traffic though. “
“ You slept a good few hours, but its still pretty early “ She turned a grin to Destiny “ Like, on a good night at the bar this would still be last night instead of this morning “ The light was still golden with early morning, and the birds were now awake, but they had indeed had evenings when they would just now be going to bed.
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Obediently she started singing along with one of the Disney songs now playing through the radio.
She was still not entirely alert but there were a few things she could count on with her lover and Disney was one of them. It was one of their guilty pleasures, cuddled on the couch watching Disney movies they both knew by heart and talking about the merit of them within the Disney umbrella. They were quite the scholars, at least in their own living room.
“Sounds good. This will be just the trip we need. It’ll be nice to get away from the city for a few days. We’ve been spending too long in the bar, I think.”
A red flag, of course, because usually to Destiny there was no such thing as too long at the bar. She practically lived there by choice, usually only taking a few Sundays off by choice.
She was still not entirely alert but there were a few things she could count on with her lover and Disney was one of them. It was one of their guilty pleasures, cuddled on the couch watching Disney movies they both knew by heart and talking about the merit of them within the Disney umbrella. They were quite the scholars, at least in their own living room.
“Sounds good. This will be just the trip we need. It’ll be nice to get away from the city for a few days. We’ve been spending too long in the bar, I think.”
A red flag, of course, because usually to Destiny there was no such thing as too long at the bar. She practically lived there by choice, usually only taking a few Sundays off by choice.
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Karma flinched internally, because that comment was so out of character for destiny that if she was more of a conspiracy theorist she would start wondering about pod people. Unfortunately for Karma, she wasn't a conspiracy theorist… she was a reader. So what she had done was read a lot of girl magazine… and her worry was leading her to believe something she really didn't want to, but wanting to get away from home and things they usually loved to do together ( The bar was their baby ) was another sign… that she was being cheated on.
Karma would ask her directly, she just had to gather her strength. They had been together since she was a teenager, and she knew Destiny better than anyone, If she was asked directly.. she would answer.
Karma just wasn't sure if she was ready for the answer.
So karma whipped out one of her super-powers, DEFLECTION!
Karma got the car in car in gear and pulled onto the rod in accordance to direction on the little GPS. As she navigated back to the highway, they passed a little cluster of restaurants, including a little gem of a vietnamese restaurant.
“You know… if they wanted to release instant noodles, kind of like instant ramen, vietnamese restaurants could totally release instant pho and call it a “PHO-kit “ SMOOTH. Karma was the master of transitions, “ Think about it, they could have the slogan; Dont want to cook? Pho-kit! “
Karma would ask her directly, she just had to gather her strength. They had been together since she was a teenager, and she knew Destiny better than anyone, If she was asked directly.. she would answer.
Karma just wasn't sure if she was ready for the answer.
So karma whipped out one of her super-powers, DEFLECTION!
Karma got the car in car in gear and pulled onto the rod in accordance to direction on the little GPS. As she navigated back to the highway, they passed a little cluster of restaurants, including a little gem of a vietnamese restaurant.
“You know… if they wanted to release instant noodles, kind of like instant ramen, vietnamese restaurants could totally release instant pho and call it a “PHO-kit “ SMOOTH. Karma was the master of transitions, “ Think about it, they could have the slogan; Dont want to cook? Pho-kit! “
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“Oh my God…”
Destiny rolled her eyes but was laughing all the same. Her mind was already churning with thoughts on this new introduced topic. She was not thinking about deflection but all the same it had worked. She wasn’t thinking about anything but their trip and how content she was feeling.
Cheating on Karma was an unthinkable thought. They’d been together for a long time and Destiny was positive that Karma was the one for her all the days of her life. Someday she’d make it official but for now she wasn’t in a hurry to get to that altar. It wasn’t going to stop them from being together, anyway.
“If you had a restaurant you could combine it with Mongolian Barbeque and call it Pho Que. Add a king as a mascot and the be Pho King of Pho Que.”
Once the door was open she could keep up.
Destiny grinned.
Destiny rolled her eyes but was laughing all the same. Her mind was already churning with thoughts on this new introduced topic. She was not thinking about deflection but all the same it had worked. She wasn’t thinking about anything but their trip and how content she was feeling.
Cheating on Karma was an unthinkable thought. They’d been together for a long time and Destiny was positive that Karma was the one for her all the days of her life. Someday she’d make it official but for now she wasn’t in a hurry to get to that altar. It wasn’t going to stop them from being together, anyway.
“If you had a restaurant you could combine it with Mongolian Barbeque and call it Pho Que. Add a king as a mascot and the be Pho King of Pho Que.”
Once the door was open she could keep up.
Destiny grinned.
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Karma was startled into giggles “ All hail the Pho King may he reign Pho Evah! “ and all she could picture was the burger-king mascot and the “WHERE IS YOUR GOD NOW” meme. With that she relaxed a little bit, forgetting for the moment what was troubling her, relaxing as they really got into vacation mode. They cruised down the freeway towards their destination, devouring their coffee and snacking on the food that was fished out of the cooler, and spend the remainder of the way singing along with their disney CD’s until they switched to their weirdo musical cd. Because who didn't want to sing along with Captain Hammer and Dr Horrible?
Watching the forest give way to farm lands, and then give way to orchards and vineyards, eventually pulling off of the main highway to a little winding country road.
Watching the forest give way to farm lands, and then give way to orchards and vineyards, eventually pulling off of the main highway to a little winding country road.
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