Realistic or Modern "....Flowers In Your Hair." [Kaoru Asuna x Gears.]

[Gears]

Granite was split- return to ecstasy he hadn't felt in years or do as ordered; years of working jobs like these had drilled it into him- and that sense hated this. It was unprofessional- caring about anyone other than yourself was suicide- they could use her against you, she could betray you.

Granite tried to keep the sigh that escaped him as he recognized her breaking away, following her lead but trying to take in as much as he could from those last kisses before finally sitting down, rubbing his head as he adjusted his clothes to make their activities less apparent. "Hopefully we won't have to worry about her- she is pretty good at hiding her activates; usually I deal with the jealous exes instead of their wives or husbands." He said, grabbing the heater and blankets they had been using the night before.

---

"No one's really brave- they are just good actors. Some day everyone freezes up and gets offed." Her voice was solemn, remembering something. "I'm a decent actor so I can look brave for you- least I can do." She kissed him again, longing despite her words; begging for a reason to stay- but she had a job to do. Once that was done she would sneak back here. She would be faster and safer alone.

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

After he stood, Ria dragged the mattress back to its original position. When she straightened up, her hangover headache hit like a chisel into her skull, making her gasp and rub her temple. This was what she'd wanted, though. She was sure images of the Raider would return anytime now, and then this hangover would be a welcome distraction. She shook it off and started down the ladder, holding out her hand and taking the heater from Granite -- Collin. Was she allowed to call him that? She guessed it depended if he cared if Crystal knew they'd been together. She didn't. She stepped back up to the top rung.
"Hey, what should I call you now? And are we going to tell Crystal about...this?" she gestured gently between the two of them. "I don't mind either way. I just want to know what you want -- she's your friend, so I'll leave it up to you."

---

"Okay," he murmured, nodding against her mouth, really trying to steel himself for the loss of her, even if it would be temporary. Then he slowly pulled away, letting his hands slip over her arms until he was upright, lacing their fingers. "I guess we'll both have to put on brave faces, because I think I'd better go now. My parents will wake up anytime now, along with Tellion and your friend."

 

[Gears]

Granite winced at her pain, regretting his choice to let her drink last night- he would have to make sure she was okay, maybe look in her supplies for anything that could aid hangovers. He handed her the heater before following her down, listening to her words- even more unsure than her. He had thought of Collin as the simple boy who he had replaced out of necessity, but was he still alive? Granite still read the books he liked, sung like him- but was he truly dead- buried in a city fashioned from fallen giants?
"I don't know- I haven't really used that name since... A long time." He said, remembering things that where best forgotten. "If you want to tell her I'll be okay with that, but we'll never hear the end of her jokes about us. Worse she may try and give you advice."

---

Crystal wished she could spend forever in that kiss, but she did her best to remain calm, not to scream that she wanted to stay- that she wanted him. Shit I sound more lovey-dovey every minute. She smiled a bit at that thought- maybe she didn't mind that- her job in cons was plenty dangerous, and she would have only a few decades before her beauty would fade with her age, maybe it was good to stop her cons- even if it could cause issues later on. She heard something from the barn, the creaking of wood- eye glancing in the direction. "Probably a good idea, I don't think your folks would like this."

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

Since he seemed hesitant, she answered with, "Then, how about we don't tell Crystal -- I'd hate to even hear what she would 'advise' -- and I'll call you Granite. Except when we're alone?" She wanted to use his real name, but if that would tip off Crystal or if it made him uncomfortable, she'd let it go. "I love your name."

She smiled up at him, before turning to pick up the can of camp fuel and bringing it and the heater to the spool table where their chess game was still set. She collected the pieces, making sure they were all there and threw them into their box.

As she moved crates and shut off lanterns, she noticed a feminine soreness developing, along with some more general achiness she attributed to the oncoming hangover. There was nothing he could have done, and he'd made the whole experiance as pleasant as possible, but it still hurt. She was glad now that they hadn't went back to bed. Her body needed a rest to heal, at least for a few days.

---

"No, they wouldn't," but he lamented to say it. He stood her up and hugged her for a long moment. Then he slowly let her go. "I'm going to walk around the back of the barn so I'm not seen. I'm going to miss you." He began retreating backwards so he could watch her until she was around the corner. "I'll see you soon. And I'll follow the car down the driveway and wave."

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

(Sorry, but I'll have to respond later.)

 

[Gears]

"It may be a bit difficult but if you want to do that I'll do my best." Granite grabbed the empty bottle, leaving it on a table until he could find a proper place to dispose of it. In some places, glass was valuable, one of the many commodities that couldn't be mass produced like in the good days- and you could sometimes trade some of those items for food rations. He thought more of the name- he hadn't heard it in so long, he hadn't even told Grace. He put on a smile and got to work, packing the blankets into his bag- grabbing Crystal's as well.
"Hopefully we can finish that game sober- though I don't mind the other game you where playing after I took the bottle."

---

"Hopefully I can change their minds- already avoiding one nasty habit- I can try a few others." But it's a pretty long list. She held him close for as long as she could, head buried in his chest before he released her, slowly leaving her. "I'll see you then- good last look at you... Before I come back I mean."

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

(Sorry, I couldnt post last night.)

Ria noticed the empty bottle, surprised they'd finished it all. "I wouldn't be surprised if she can tell anyway, so there might be nothing left to hide," she answered, gathering her bag and the tents they hadn't used, ptuing everything in a pile near the barn door.

She chuckled at his comment. "That would be your only chance to win. I'm good, and when I'm sloshed, I'm unbeatable. And...I liked it, too, that other game. We'll have to play it again sometime." She blushed, smiling and biting her lip. She wasnt normally the confident type. She was bashful, hence the flushing.

---

"You will change their minds, I'm sure of it. They just don't know you yet."

He was almost to the back corner and paused, thinking he should shut his mouth before he said something he shouldn't. Then said, "I love you." Quietly, so the two in the barn wouldn't hear.

He didn't know he did, but saying it made him more sure. He could barely stand to wait for a response, wanting to bolt, hand clutching the edge of the barn in a death grip. Truthfully, he'd never been rejected before, and this seemed like a really shitty time for it to happen. And he had no idea what her answer would be, so the anticipation was excruciating.

 

[Gears]

Granite tucked the rest of his discarded items in the bags, doing a once over to make sure all of the weapons he had hidden- first for emergencies, then from Ria at her request- reloading them before spreading them throughout bags- a few tucked in his coat- a pea-shooter in his boot. "I wouldn't be sure- surveillance and information gathering is a job she often does. If you want to try and hide it I'll try but it wouldn't be easy."

---

"Hmm, maybe- I'm a good actor- but it's not like there are many tattoo removers; luckily most are out of sight." She raised one sleeve, looking at ace of hearts card. She had been drunk that night, trying to get Brass to understand her advancements- moron had no idea.

She stiffened, face going as red as a good vintage as she nodded, wincing at the quick movement- almost giving herself whiplash. "I uh- Love you too."

Shit I'm bad at this- Never got past casual flirting on occasion, and that had always been a con or a trick.

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

"No, it's okay. If she's going to know anyway, why try to hide it. I'm not embarrassed. But what kind of 'advice' might she offer me, do you think?"

Ria started taking her bags and a lantern to the hatch of the wagon, moving to the driver's door, unlocking the car and beginning to load. No noticable sigh of Crystal yet. She wasn't sure how nervous to be about that, but things seemed quiet.

When she returned to the barn, she asked Granite for her sidearm back, and fit it into it's leather home under her arm. "Thanks for keeping this for me."

---

He started grinning like a 14 year-old. Even if neither of them really were in love, or even understood what was happening between them, he was sure she'd come back to him now. And God in heaven, he wanted to run back over there and hug her. But he decided against it, only waving a few seconds before turning and walking around the back of the house and entering by the rear porch. It took every ounce of his self control to do it.

 

[Gears]

Granite's face erupted in a blush, thinking about the words Crystal would have to Ria. "Uh, I should continue packing."

Granite finished his sweep of the room for anything left behind, cleaning up some trash that had been there when they arrived. Might as well make it nicer for the people who gave us a free stay.

Granite thought he heard Crystal, but decided to finish packing- storing guns in reach but concealed, camping supplies close to the doors in case they had to bolt with them, food away from anything that could get wet. Granite nodded when she thanked him for holding on to the gun, trying to shift his box of books- it was a bit heavy, maybe he could toss some.

---

Crystal felt every step as she walked away- wanting to run to him, stay some annoying shit like what she had read in a Romance Novel she had seen in Granites books, reading it to better mock him- no other reason, not like she would want to read trash like that She wanted to hold him and kiss him- then do unsavory things; but that was immature, she could wait a few months to see him; maybe I should find some kind of gift for him- but what would he like? She continued this train of thought as she adopted a drunken walk, taking a few gulps from the flask at her side before barging into the barn, stumbling and giggling.

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

"Ugh, I though you'd say that," she answered, dreading the probable future encounter. She'd been starting to feel bad about her general dislike for the girl she didn't know, but if she started blurting out sexual advice, she wasn't sure how she could tell her there were no explosives in the station wagon.

"What's in there?" Ria asked, pointing to the weighty box Granite was shoving. She threw her medical bag up behind the rear seat within reach, then tucked another lantern in a protected area where the glass wouldn't be broken. The mantles were so delicate that without the glass, they'd be almost impossible to transport, and she had very few replacements.

Just as they were finishing loading the car, Crystal showed up, and by her wobbling gait, apparently drunk. Ria sighed a bit internally in relief. She might not realize they'd been together the night before if she really was intoxicated -- at least not until she sobered up. And with her current headache, she wasn't really up for an impromptu sex-ed class.

 

[Gears]

Granite hoped if Crystal found out she wouldn't be as unsavory as he imagined, but then again- he knew her pretty well, and she generally had no idea how to interact with people outside of her cons and flirting, tending to use the excuse of him as muscle to scare people when others could get information by conversation.

"Just some books- might as well get rid of some for extra space." He said, placing them in the back and looking through the titles- he could get rid of them later.

Crystal immediately went for a door, failing to hold on to the handle for a second before opening it and collapsing in the backseat, grabbing a blanket as she murmured something about the drinks before relaxing- at least most of the work was done, and it had mostly been Granite and Ria's stuff. He threw Crystal's makeup bag at her sleeping form, ducking at the surprisingly accurate thrown bottle, putting it near other glasses the farmer must hold onto before continuing packing.

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

"You mind if I look through whatever you're going to discard? I haven't read anything in a long time, and I can just get rid of it when I'm finished," she asked, reading over a few of the titles while he did.

Ria threw her bag of clothes in and grabbed some pre-packaged food -- deer jerky, granola bars, etc. -- and once Granite was finished packing, shut the tailgate.
Then she held up the keys. "Do you want me to drive? Or do you want to?" she asked him. "I barely drove yesterday, so I'm fine if you don't feel like it."

She was glad Crystal didn't feel like talking, even though she was sure she would later. Hopefully she'd fall asleep and just stay that way for a while. The longer the better.

 

[Gears]

Granite just shrugged, though he wanted to reread a few of them before he got rid of them, he mostly would keep the practical ones like guides on cleaning weapons and the like- maybe one or two books, plus that one he always kept in his breast pocket- the one with faded ink, hand drawn illustrations copied with every copy made from a medieval printing press the author had found in an old museum.

"I can... Fine, I should spend a bit of time looking through our supplies, make sure we are organized."

Crystal remained still, mumbling a bit under her breath- listening to their movements and speech, slowly sitting up so she wouldn't miss Andrew.

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

"Thank you," she said, smiling.

"Okay, I'll let you drive then. And yeah, you should know what we have and where it is. I'll help show you." She started pointing out bags and boxes, detailing what was in each one, and helping him move or look in any one he thought he needed to.

"Before we leave, I'll go inside and talk with the Garners, tell them we're going, say goodbye. They may just send Andrew out, which would be okay, too. Maybe better," she said, thinking of standing in their living room, knowing that their son had snuck Crystal off into the woods the night before, and unsure of how transparent that would present on her face.

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

(You forgot again, didn't you, lol.)

 

[Gears]

(Sorry)

 

[Gears]

(I did half the post then had to leave)

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

(It's okay. Just wondering. )

 

[Gears]

"Thank you," she said, smiling.

"Okay, I'll let you drive then. And yeah, you should know what we have and where it is. I'll help show you." She started pointing out bags and boxes, detailing what was in each one, and helping him move or look in any one he thought he needed to.

"Before we leave, I'll go inside and talk with the Garners, tell them we're going, say goodbye. They may just send Andrew out, which would be okay, too. Maybe better," she said, thinking of standing in their living room, knowing that their son had snuck Crystal off into the woods the night before, and unsure of how transparent that would present on her face.

Granite shrugged- not like he needed them; but maybe if she held onto them he wouldn't have to deal with Crystal play-mocking him over reading so much- plus it would be nice to be able to read it with someone else.

He looked at and memorized each box, moving his own gear to compliment Ria's order, though he still kept most of the firearms under his seat, dissasembled to fit in a small mat, while a few smaller guns where kept around the car- under Ria and Crystal's seats, the glovebox, under the books, and under the blankets.

"I would thank them- but I don't think they want me getting too close. Even with us leaving."

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

"Maybe. If they come out to us at the car, I don't think they'd begrudge a thank you. They won't want you near their daughters, though."

"And speaking of, Crystal and I should probably use the restroom before we leave. I'll be back." She glanced at Crystal before quickly stealing a kiss from him, then walking around to the rear passenger door. She opened it and leaned in. "Hey, do you need to use the restroom? I'm heading up there now." She wasn't sure she was awake. She'd heard her mumbling earlier.

 

[Gears]

Granite simply grunted, adjusting the mirrors and seat so he could drive comfortably before pulling a book from the pile, looking through the contents while he waited for the drive.

Crystal just muttered under her blanket, shifting away from the sun as Granite melted into the kiss, trying his best to keep quiet. When Ria broke off too ask Crystal if she wanted to accompany her, she sighed and got up, yawning before rubbing her forehead and following.

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

Ria lead the way to the farmhouse, kind of hoping the rest of the Garner's beside Andrew weren't up yet. She knocked softly on the door after opening the one made of screen, trying not to wake anyone sleeping.

Andrew soon opened it, disinterested face pasted back on, but it softened a little when he saw Crystal behind Tellion.
"Bathroom?" he asked.
"Yeah, please," Ria nodded. "We're leaving soon, too, so this is goodbye also. Is your family awake yet?"
He shook his head. "They won't be for a while yet." But he waved them inside, waiting near the entryway as Ria made her way down the hall. His resting jerk expression melted away when she closed the door.

 

[Gears]

Crystal smiled a bit, relaxing the act she had been putting on for Ria and Granite while she was behind her boss, taking in his features for one of the last times they could meet.

Crystal muttered something about waiting for Ria, waiting for the other woman to leave before looking to Andrew.

"Everyone else is asleep?"

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

He swallowed, glad she was there and sad all over again, nodding. "Yeah. Probably. No one gets up as early as I do."
He quickly scooped her up into a tight hug, brushing his lips over her cheek and his hand over her hair. "I fucking hate this."