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After finally visiting the nightclub -- she can take it or leave it -- and poking her head in the infirmary just to take a look, she'd kind of thought she'd have to go back upstairs for a beer or outside to climb a tree or wander the magically repeating forest.
But that's when she finds her way to the garage.
She doesn't know how all this got down here or what good it does anybody, but those thoughts take a back seat to actually checking things out, all the while smiling more than she has all day and humming almost under her breath.
There's a sleek motorcycle she has to run an appreciative hand over -- oh Lord, won't you buy me a night on the town? I'm counting on you Lord, please don't let me down -- and a car that looks suspiciously like an old-school Batmobile -- prove that you love me and buy the next round; Oh Lord, won't you buy me a night on the town? -- and a clunky-looking Volkswagon van she'd be reluctant to ride if you paid her.
But when she spots the Thunderbird convertible, top down, that looks like it's only missing Thelma and Louise? Well, she figures she can't be blamed for hopping in.
Grinning outright, she makes herself right at home, propping one wrist up on the steering wheel and draping her other arm over the car door.
The garage? It's actually pretty cool.
May 2 2009, 03:02:20 UTC 3 years ago
It sqawks loudly, the sound rough and apparently amused.
And then it peers at Kate out of two tiny bright black eyes.
"This, I think, is not so much like driving, yes?"
May 2 2009, 03:15:08 UTC 3 years ago
Until it talks.
She blinks, nose scrunching and mouth twisting in that reluctant yeah, I'm afraid I'm about to talk to a bird kind of way, and finally shakes her head.
More at the situation than as an answer. She's pretty sure she didn't wake up crazy this morning. Or at least no crazier than she was when she got here.
"No, it's not so much like driving."
May 2 2009, 03:20:17 UTC 3 years ago
He is a very sage bird.
Wise, too.
It is a thing.
The only question is -- where did that breeze come from?
May 2 2009, 03:29:36 UTC 3 years ago
"Pretty sure it's more than the lack of wind."
And as soon as she says it, she feels her hair move, just a little bit windblown. Like someone opened a window or two.
She turns back to the bird, mildly suspicious.
"There's a lack of road, too."
May 2 2009, 03:31:06 UTC 3 years ago
Nope.
"That, I think, is easily enough fixed, yes?"
Well, if you don't mind a spontaneously-appearing yellow brick road, that is.
May 2 2009, 03:54:07 UTC 3 years ago
Leaning forward in her seat to peer out at the yellow brick-paved road suddenly beneath the car, she's at a total loss for words for a second.
Eventually her hand comes up and passes over her eyes as though she's tired -- she's not really; just going nuts -- and this time she feels she's earned every right to turn suspicious eyes back on the bird on the passenger seat.
"This make you Toto?"
It's definitely not the kind of road she had in mind.
May 2 2009, 03:55:53 UTC 3 years ago
He is still ragged.
But at least there are fewer feathers.
"I am not so good at barking, I do not think."
He would be sad about it, but -- no.
May 2 2009, 04:01:46 UTC 3 years ago
Well.
Reluctantly she has to admit to herself that it really is a step up from talking to a bird.
"Then I guess I'm stuck calling you scarecrow." She eyes him sideways, a quick up and down. "You get your hands on some bad free food?"
She hears you've got to be careful of the free stuff.
May 2 2009, 04:03:16 UTC 3 years ago
There may even be echoes. Blame the high ceilings.
"I am not so easily changed as that, I do not think. So."
He wrinkles his nose, halfway to sticking out his tongue at Kate. At least it looks that way.
"They call me Raven, yes? It is descriptive."
May 2 2009, 04:13:32 UTC 3 years ago
"Raven?"
She can't say it's not appropriate.
"That's better than scarecrow," she goes on. "So you do this" -- she gestures vaguely with one hand -- "kind of thing because you can and not because you have to?"
May 2 2009, 04:19:45 UTC 3 years ago
Raven's grin is bright.
"But mostly it is whim."
Except when it isn't. These things happen.
May 2 2009, 04:34:01 UTC 3 years ago
Acting on whim. She leans against the back of the seat again, arms folding across her chest, and she tilts her head, considering.
"So if I'd have said a minute ago that it was a shame this car couldn't drive off to..." She shrugs her shoulders. "Tallahassee. What would've happened then?"
May 2 2009, 04:37:22 UTC 3 years ago
"Mostly there would have been butterflies, I think."
And then he laughs again.
He's probably kidding.
Probably.
"Or possibly not. It is a question of timing, that."
May 2 2009, 04:48:33 UTC 3 years ago
When he laughs, she wants to think he's just joking. The breeze and road -- even though it's yellow brick -- were kind of promising.
But under the circumstances, she's guessing he's not.
"Okay, that would've been a little disappointing," she admits. "How would timing figure in?"
She'll concede that she may have a one-track mind at the moment.
May 2 2009, 04:53:09 UTC 3 years ago
He wrinkles his nose, slouching down in the seat. He takes up a lot of space for such a skinny guy.
Maybe it's the height.
"Also I am hungry. So."
Give him a second to fish some cookies out of his pocket.
They have icing motorcycles on them. Maybe it is a sign.
May 2 2009, 05:06:03 UTC 3 years ago
At first she's halfway willing to go along with the idea that better things can happen when he's not hungry. It makes as much sense as anything. Eyebrows arched, she watches him reach into his pocket and take out cookies.
She has to lean closer to be sure of what the icing decorations are, and she laughs because it's easier than acknowledging just how crazy this is.
"You work better when you have cookies in you?"
May 2 2009, 05:10:39 UTC 3 years ago
He proves this by attempting to shove one cookie in her mouth.
And then they aren't in Kansas anymore.
Or Milliways.
At least it looks that way.
Maybe it is all the dik-dik. And the vast expanse of sky.
May 2 2009, 05:27:52 UTC 3 years ago
It's the sky above her that stops her short. Brilliant blue and almost cloudless, it stretches above them in all directions.
There's a barely audible hum from the general area of the dashboard, and suddenly Patsy's voice starts crooning.
Crazy, I'm crazy for feelin' so lonely.
"What are those?" And more importantly: "Where are we?"
If that cookie counted as free food, she's filing a complaint.
May 2 2009, 05:31:08 UTC 3 years ago
His eyes are very bright.
"Somewhere that does not have walls, yes? So."
He slouches down even more, bracing his booted feet against the dashboard.
"Possibly it is time for driving."
This time his grin has teeth.
"If you are for not hitting the dik-dik."
May 2 2009, 05:48:37 UTC 3 years ago
Frowning, she stares at Raven.
But he's right. There are no walls, and she remembers what she told Sun back in that little island orchard. She'd wanted to get to Bali and ended up on the island.
She wanted to leave the bar, so she gets a cookie crammed in her mouth by a guy who moonlights as a bird and winds up in some dusty place with a herd of these tiny little... dik-dik? Maybe next time she'll be more careful what she wishes for.
Her hand automatically goes to the ignition, but she's surprised when her fingers meet keys hanging there.
"I don't guess you've got a map handy."
I knew you'd love me as long as you wanted
The car purrs to life as she turns the keys, and the dik-dik scatter in protest. She's not even sure what they're on can be considered a road, but she starts driving, keeping an eye on the dik-dik even though she's not sure she really needs to.
If she's doing this whether she likes it or not, she might as well enjoy herself as much as possible. Reaching for the radio, she turns up the volume.
Overhead, a shadow looms, cawing.
May 2 2009, 05:54:23 UTC 3 years ago
Raven is a smug bird. Vain and smug.
Both of these traits are very much in evidence. Never mind the dust that's being kicked up by the car's tires.
"You are for having a direction you want to go?"
At least he didn't say 'follow that bird'.
Though they could. The three ravens flying above them all seem to be heading in the same direction. For now, at least.
It's a start.
May 2 2009, 08:09:23 UTC 3 years ago
And then someday you'd leave me for somebody new.
Glancing over, she raises one eyebrow. "You're pretty confident for a guy who can't guarantee fish or falcons or butterflies."
She lefts her eyes again, and whether it's a cosmic hint or not she'll take them in the direction the ravens are going.
There's no visible skyline to aim for, and those three have to be going somewhere, right?
Worry, why do I let myself worry?
Once they're a safe distance from any dik-diks she can see, she guns it. Chances are they won't be running into anyone who has it out for her.
May 2 2009, 23:52:22 UTC 3 years ago
Raven laughs again. The sound is picked up by the birds flying overhead.
There are six of them now.
And ahead, there seem to be mountains.
Very, very tall mountains. But no people.
"It is not so bad a thing."
Hopefully the fact that he reaches over to ruffle her hair does not interrupt her driving too much.
Hopefully.