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

[Gears]

Crystal felt bad for the sad eyes- she was causing them. How long would it take him to move on. She would try to return, but chances where she may die on the road to Cali or back. Crystal stifled a cry from surprise as he pulled her close, pulling close as she kissed him back- one last kiss before she left. "Just a short wait. Then I come back- then I have time to win your parents approval."

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

He just nodded, holding her so tight, until he thought he heard Tellion getting ready to come out.
"Message me, write to me. Okay? And when you get to San Francisco, tell me where to message you back and send you things. I'll be waiting."
Then he let her go and stepped back a foot. He didn't think he could touch her again and let go.

Ria opened the bathroom door, face still wet from washing it. Andrew put his mask back on. He'd already turned away, so it didn't look like he and Crystal had been talking.
"I'm done. Your turn," she waved at the restroom and stood near the couch to wait for Crystal's return.

 

[Gears]

Crystal's hands wrapped around Andrew, holding him for an extra moment before kissing him and sitting back down.
"I'll see if I can find anyone in major towns who can take messages this far- granite mentioned a town in this area has managed to bring Morse based communication, if I can get a connection there it should take a week."

Crystal did her best to put a neutral expression on as she leaned back on the couch, yawning before she walked to the bathroom.

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

Ria looked between Andrew and Crystal, trying to see signs they'd been together like she and Granite the night before. But Crystal left too quickly and Andrew was inscrutable. She wouldn't ask, though. She didn't know him well enough and she wouldn't want either of them prying into her romances. And asking Crystal was out of the question.

"Well, I guess this is probably the last time we'll see each other. I'm not coming back, even if San Francisco isn't what I hope it is." She held out her hand and he shook it, kind of warmly, she thought, and nodded.
"I'm sure it will be." He released her hand.
"Thanks. Tell your sisters and parents we said thank you for letting us stay here. And goodbye from me."
He nodded again. "That I will. You're welcome, and goodbye, Tellion."
She smiled and waited for Crystal to come back.

 

[Gears]

Crystal returned after a quick wash of her hair and application of some deodorant she had grabbed. She did her best to brush her hair with her limited time, not bothering with any makeup- maybe she wouldn't need it with Andrew preferring a more natural look. Maybe she could give it to Ria- Granite liked it. After a bit, she exited the bathroom and stretched, joining the others.

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

Crystal returned, and Ria noticed she'd washed her hair. That would have been a good idea. She had no idea when an easier time to accomplish that would be.
Ria smiled Andrew's way. "Thanks again for everything. Bye," she said, giving in little wave, and headed for the door, hoping Crystal didn't feel the need to rush out after her.

She climbed into the passenger seat of the wagon, and started looking over the sealed foods she'd dumped onto the middle of the front bench. "Take anything you want," she gestured at the small mound, "these are above and beyond the main food supply. Sorry, it's just jerky and granola bars and things. Tomorrow we'll get up earlier and eat some real breakfast." She opened a piece of jerky and took a harsh bite. It wasn't great, it was tough, but it was still meat. "This is deer jerky, made by an old man in Tennessee, who gave these to us after Doc and I set his grand-daughters leg from a bad break a month ago. The grand-daughter's the one who hunted the deer that made this meat. She's a wonderful shot. She and I shared a lot in common...including that that man wasn't her birth grandfather. Kind of like Doc and I." She chewed her hard meat in silence for a minute or two.

 

[Gears]

Crystal looked to Andrew, waiting a few beats while Ria walked away- before listening to the quiet house. She waited until her skills where confident that they weren't being watched or otherwise monitored before hugging Andrew, holding him closer before kissing him.

"The moment Ria is set up I will head back on the next car riding out of there- if no one is driving in your way I'll start walking."

Shit- that sounded like the annoying romance books Granite thought he hid from her- those ones that didn't even have good sex scenes.

After a moment, Crystal stepped back and shifted her jacket, rifling through a secret pocket until she found it- a small iron ring with a milky quartz stone set in it.

"I want you to give this back when we meet next. If you lose it I will pummel you- so be sure to have it on you when we meet."

---

Granite had been looking through a few of his books while the girls where cleaning up- he wished he could have thanked the farmer and used the amenities, but he was used to squalid conditions on the road. He would likely toss this book unless Ria wanted it- though she might have opinions on the cover- a scantily clad woman was pictured against a cottage. The story itself wasn't as explicit, telling the story of a wounded soldier nursed to health by a widow- and the ending was good, with the woman learning that the knight she had slowly fell in love with had killed her husband- and the language the author had used made it hard to discern if she had forgiven him, Forced him out of the home, or Cut off a certain organ before strangling him to death with his own flag.

Granite reached for some nuts and another jerky, eating as he listened. He kept an eye out for Crystal as they sat- still nervous about their secret.

"Wish we could take a detour to pass them. The route Crystal looked at should avoid cutting through too much thief territory, though some information takes months to arrive."

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

(No offence, but Tennessee is East of Missouri. They'd never go that way, lol. I'm going to start writing my post now.)

 

[Gears]

(No offence, but Tennessee is East of Missouri. They'd never go that way, lol. I'm going to start writing my post now.)

(I am a moron)

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

(it's okay. I'll allow it. And then ignore it, lol.)


He hugged her back and kissed her deeply, until she let him go.

Andrew smiled, still holding one of her hands down by his side so she couldn't stand too far away.
"Good. I'll be waiting right here. And missing you the whole time."

He took it from her carefully, brushing her fingers, turning it in the light. Then he closed his fist around it and looked at her, smiling happily. "I'll keep it on my person always, until you come back to me. It's safe, don't you worry." He leaned down to kiss her forehead, cupping her cheek. "Thank you."

---

"Me, too. They were good people. I miss them a lot." She took an oat bar and opened it, thinking about what he said. They'd planned a safer route, but that didn't mean it was safe. Raiders moved their camps often, were constantly sending out patrols, and were always expanding their territory, branching out into places you would never expect to find them -- she knew that first hand.
"I know. When Doc, Owen and I were traveling together, we constantly came across blocked roads -- which were usually traps, where men with guns were hiding in the brush, waiting for you to get out -- passes washed out by landslides, random Raider caravans..." she paused, feeling the emotions welling up, sadness and blinding anger. But she pressed them back down, trying to smile. "But that's why I hired you two. You're good at this type of thing, even when you can't exactly predict what will come in the future. We'll trust your route until we can't. It's the best we have anyway."

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

(I won't be able to post again right now.)

 

[Gears]

(Sorry I have to go- will post later)

 

[Gears]

Crystal let him bury her in his chest- taking in his warmth, his love- his scent.

Crystal squeezed those calloused hands- hers carefully manicured though there where a few scrapes she hadn't covered with makeup like usual. "Good- a lot easier to find you."

Crystal smiled, hand brushing his arm- it was hard to get rid of the necklace. She never wore it, but it had always stayed on her person- ever since... Ever since she had started down that spiral of insanity.
"Just please keep it safe- and stay safe. This place is nice, but raiders will destroy anything they find with an ounce of value."

---

Granite took another bite before putting the food aside, stretching as he looked again for Crystal. They appeared alone- maybe he could steal a kiss?

"Worst ones are the ones not on the roads- those who get enough supplies and power to command a few thugs. Those are a lot easier to track, but we should be out of their way. Nearest we come to is Gore, but according to reports he usually focuses on mining towns and the like. We would be small pickings."

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

He nodded, and looking into her eyes, unhooked the clasp and put it on, tucking the pendant into his shirt. "It's closer to my heart this way," he explained. "And safer. I'll be fine. Raiders don't come this far North here. Most are in the Southern tip of the state, and the groups nearest here don't move around much. You just worry about yourself. You stay safe, too." He was really worried something would happen to her -- and Tellion and her friend -- on the road. There were so many blatant dangers, and more shrouded ones than he could conceive of.

He wanted to give her something, too, but not anything she needed to return. He knew she'd come back.
"Stay here," he whispered, and quietly went to his bedroom. He grabbed his Bible off of the dresser, flipping over the marked and noted pages, most of the corners dog-eared, the cover marred with age and use. She needed this more than he did, and even if she never took to it, he wanted her to have it.
He snatched up a pen and wrote a cursive message in the back, before heading downstairs again. When he reached her, he placed it gently in her hands. "This is yours now. Don't even think of giving it back. I don't think you're religious, but maybe, someday, this might come in handy," he said, smiling softly. "It's been a great comfort to me, especially when hard times come around. Try reading it sometime." He held her by the shoulders, leaned down and kissed her one more time, slowly, because he didn't think he could handle another.

(I don't think she should find it until later, but the note says: "To the woman who wants to be so much more than she is, and nothing she isn't.
Love: Andrew.

Andrew Garner, 2391 Valley Glade Lane, Mossberg, Mo, 63051 (573)-xxx-xxxx)
(So she wouldn't lose track of where he was. This is a made-up address, but that area code is probably right, lol.)

---

"I know," Ria murmured, thinking of her first Raider encounter again. "They're the ones who send out caravans. We've already met." She meant the caravan who'd found her back in Michigan at the age of 15, suddenly filled again with rage and shame, absently fingering a scar near the hem of her shirt by her hip.
"But that was a long time ago," she added, trying not to sound upset. She gently tossed her wrapper on the floor and since granite seemed to be finished, tossed the rest of the food into the back seat for Crystal when she got back.
With how long she was taking to follow her out to the car, Ria was pretty sure Crystal and Andrew had some kind of physical relations the night before. Showing up drunk after dawn was another good indication, and was possibly the only way she got Andrew to sleep with her, if that's what happened. She might not know him well, but she didn't think he'd have sex with a woman who suddenly showed up on is parent's farm and was only staying the night -- not unless he was drunk.

Ria hadn't even been drunk the night before, but she still slept with a man who suddenly showed up a few days ago. But she wasn't having a one night stand, either. She took a glance at the farmhouse door and slipped her hand into his.

 

[Gears]

Crystal smiled, ignoring the slight tugging she felt losing the item she had held for years. She wanted to grab it back, but she knew Andrew could keep it safe- and if he lost it or scratched it she would pummel him, before making out with him until he couldn't breath.
When he left, Crystal sat there, rubbed her head and tried to put the thoughts of despair as he returned, holding a bible.
She could remember one like that- something her mother held on to until she... Died

Thinking about that always shook Crystal, she had always imagined finding her in her early teens, before she wizened up.
This was no fairy tail- her mother had been raped and murdered, something Crystal would have preferred over her years of darkness before escaping with Granite.
She had given up hope on finding her before she had escaped herself- in a way her mother had escaped too.
Crystal winced a bit as she looked through the book, knowing how much it would mean to Andrew- something she would have to take care of for him.
And she couldn't read half the words in it. It was easy to pretend she could read in this place, when it wasn't required to have a reading skill over elementary school, and Crystal had never learned more than that.
"Not much of a reader- would ask Granite some of the longer words if I don't already mock him for reading all of the time."

---

Granite looked at her closely at the confession- Gore was less brutal than most, maybe killing any working men who wouldn't join him, but he didn't deal with slaves unless you owed him or had committed a crime in his eyes. It was hard to weigh the evil of each warlord- Virgil of the north acted the part of a gentleman and proffered the dramatic over chaos, while Moses was downright friendly- unless you where a sinner. Her unconscious movement to touch a scar at her hip left Granite curious, and he absentmindedly considered offering his hand to distract her from what he guessed involved raiders and those scars. He accepted her hand with a smile before kissing her on the cheek.

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

(The Virgil you described sounds about right for the guy I imagined being the leader of the Raiders she met, except the guy I created was very polite, but strict, and didn't like rudeness. Plus, he's in the North, so that fits.)

"Well, if your friend won't, I bet Tellion will," he assured her, knowing Ria probably would, and that after she came back, he'd teach her to read himself. "Ask her to read it out loud to you."

Andrew thought he heard stirring upstairs, and quickly turned to Crystal, rubbing his hands over her shoulders.

"My parents will probably be down any minute now. I guess this is really it now," he murmured. "I'll follow you guys down the drive and help you pull out. It's a mess trying to get out of here, even with little traffic." And then he smiled, kind of sadly. "And I'll wave. Until I can't see you anymore."

---

She loved that little kiss -- it helped her feel that this was real, and maybe helped her pretend that yesterday morning, and Doc's death, and her family's murder were all some kind of dream.

It wasn't a good way to go through her life, but she wasn't sure what to do about it right then. Not unless she wanted to be drunk constantly, or start taking the morphine she had easy access to in the back of the wagon.

Before yesterday, those things were consistent temptations, if not needs. But whatever she was developing with Granite was helping. She wasn't as upset. She didn't start balling when she thought of the idea that Doc was gone. Even the loss of her family was somehow put on a back burner of her mind, where the flames of her despair didn't burn as badly.

So, she leaned over and kissed him deeply. Not caring who might see them.

 

[Gears]

(What I imagined- just thought it would be funny for a raider in a top hat.)
"I'm not sure she could keep the secret- and she hated how I mocked him for reading."

Crystal jolted a bit at the noise, surprised that what she assumed would last forever had been stopped.

"Glad they get to see this me- not the one slathered in makeup." She said as she tucked the bible in her pocket, adjusting the hem of her shirt- she should have realized she had no conservative shirts. This one was better than most but the amount of lower chest showing might not impress the parents. "I'll wave back- hopefully Granite and Tellion don't think much of it."

---

Granite smiled and put a hand on her arm as he sat next to her, still watching for movement.

Granite thought she glanced in the direction of the morphine for a moment and went cold. What she had done- that kind of thing could destroy her. He had seen it plenty of the time.

He had seen people spend entire paychecks on vices like that, dying in alleyways- usually not alone as several had tried to chase that high together. His dread was stopped by the sudden kiss.

Although initially he tried to look for anyone, he eventually gave in- pulling her closer.

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

(I don't think the guy I imagined would wear a hat, but he would wear a vest, button-down, and slacks.)

"Tellion's a nice girl, and she cares a lot about people. I think if you told her you had trouble reading, she'd gladly help -- and kept it a secret," he said, brushing his fingers over her cheek.

"You want to stay to meet them? You're welcome to -- I just thought you'd want to light out before they knew you were in here," he murmured quietly, in case his parents were listening. "And aren't Tellion and your friend waiting for you? You've been in here a bit since she left. Not that one part of me wants to see you go." He smiled, but it was remorseful again. He glanced toward the stairs again after more stirring.

---

Ria scooted right over to him when he pulled her to him, quickly realizing how much she needed this right then. She wrapped her arms around his chest under his coat, gluing her mouth to his, wanting his tongue and his hands, still not caring who saw them, though Crystal was the only one who really mattered. She wouldn't see the Garners again after this morning.

 

[Gears]

"She doesn't much like me mocking Granite." She thought about mentioning that they had slept together last night- but it was probably a good idea to keep quiet about that.

Crystal froze at the idea of meeting them- this shirt, the traces of makeup, her hair; all things they might not like. She had never really liked makeup, only using it for this job- and now that she had a plan to end it she didn't want to use it. "No, that's fine- I can just head out. I promise I'll find my way back to meet them. " She quickly kissed Andrew and smiled, slipping out the door and making her way to the car. After a moment she saw them and ducked, quickly getting out of sight. She peeked her head from her hiding place to double check, and sighed. More waiting for them to finish this.

---

Granite had been craving it- her, and this was plenty invitation to partake in a little of the fun they had last night. He was a bit careful in case someone was outside- but it was hard feeling her touch. His hands wrapped around her as his lips (Admittingly clumsy) joined hers, arms holding her tight- as if he needed to make sure this was real.

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

"Well, ask anyway. I think she'll surprise you."

"Okay. See you. Soon," he murmured after her kiss, and watched her walk out his front door, wishing he didn't have to. After his parents were up, he'd tell them Tellion and her group were leaving and that he'd help them pull out of the driveway.

---

She couldn't get enough of him for the next ten minutes. She wished they could go back to the barn, but she was fairly sure the Garners wouldn't appreciate them sleeping together in their building a second time, let alone the first. Plus, Crystal would be coming back anytime now, and they really did need to get moving, if just because she told the Garners she'd be gone. She slowed her kisses to a crawl over the span of a minute before pulling back enough to see his eyes. "I hate to say it, but maybe we should stop now," she whispered, brushing her fingers over his cheek.

 

[Gears]

Crystal wished she could linger- wait a bit for the parents to wake up- but the idea of meeting them terrified her. She stared down thugs and death all of the time, but those two judging her or their relationship was terrifying. Maybe she could ask Ria for help- maybe she knew more about good relationships, and could help her figure out the books words, She held it against her chest as she waited for them, flipping through the pages- there where even more words she didn't recognize.

---

Granite was filled with euphoria, loving every second as he remembered a few descriptions of taking some of the mood enhancing drugs popular among the unit he had left long ago- and found this was far better. He had never taken the stuff, but felt it would have been nothing compared to this- to her. When she broke off the kiss, he let out a disappointed sigh before nodding. "Maybe that is for the best." He said quietly, awkwardly shifting in his seat so she could move back.

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

"Uhhh...don't make that noise," she murmured, immediately leaning in to kiss him again, "I can't say no to myself when you sound so disappointed."
They made out for another few minutes.
"We'll do this again, a lot, I promise," she whispered, "I need to. It's really helping me...to deal with everything going on. Can you understand what I'm trying to say?" She hoped he did -- that he was standing between her and all of the worse things she felt like doing.

 

[Gears]

"Sorry- just hard to stop with you." Granite said awkwardly, eagerly accepting the kiss, though to try and keep himself from devolving into another period of thoughtless passion he did his best to keep it too a passionate but careful kiss.
Granite didn't want Ria to only rely on this- on him- too help with trying to forget that day. It would be nice too spend every waking moment kissing her, but if he ever died not only would she suffer the loss, but would lose this relief from that memory. It made sense, something seemingly easy to push away the nightmares- but deep down he knew he would need to help her in other ways. It was his fault she had been put in that situation- the least he could do was help her get past it. He kissed her again before looking out the window, trying to watch for any sign of movement.
"I want to do everything I can to help you deal with that. I failed to protect us yesterday- maybe I can do better the rest of this trip, the rest of our lives."

 

[Kaoru Asuna]

She started to shake her head when he said it was his fault. But when he said he wanted to protect her for the rest of there lives...she wanted to cry. She hadn't heard anything like that from anyone in so long. He was dedicating his life to her, not just on this trip...but forever.

Forever. She had never contemplated it. It almost scared her, his sudden devotion. What if they didn't make it through the rest of the trip before they had a falling out? What if they were attacked again and this time things didn't go in their favor?

What if he just stopped caring? Or worse, realized he never really did? She didn't think she could bare it.

But she didn't believe any of those things would happen, and she needed to keep them out of her mind. So she focused on the beautiful things he said and suddenly hugged him tight, starting to cry a bit.

"Thank you," she whispered. "And...I'm going to be okay. I'm just having a bad time right now, but I'll get better, and keep getting better until you don't have to worry about me anymore, I promise. I'm not as bad as I seem to be. And you've already done so much for me already." She slowly sat back, shifting back into her own seat, brushing the tears from her cheeks, and tried on a reassuring smile. "See? I'm doing better already."

 

[Gears]

Granite hoped their destination would be as safe as the rumors said- maybe he wouldn't need to protect her, protect Crystal if she stayed with them. Still, his mind searched for any strategy- thinking of prewar pictures. He did his best to think of places that could be safer, ways he could prepare his own traps and protections. He would need specific books once he arrived, maybe all of the equipment Brass had left them.

He froze when he saw sorrow in her eyes- did she see the comment as a confession of something else? He held her tight, warm tears rolling down his jacket.

"I don't want to not worry about you. " He whispered. "Your not bad- just hurt. I don't know much about the physical healing, but I can try my best with this." He said, before kissing her again- a short kiss, but one meant to comfort.