Mainland Road Trip- Friday- 11/19/2021

[alwaysonguard]

  

Dwight stood, leaning against the side of his SUV, taking a moment to enjoy the cool breeze and the salty spray of the nearby waves. Having lived in Haven, on the coast of Maine for most of his life, there was something oddly comforting about ocean sounds and smells. And all the Fandom craziness had just gotten a bit too crazy at last, so he and Miguel had plotted and planned and decided there was only one solution - road trip!

So it was, he was now standing at the end of the causeway waiting for Miguel. He already had his duffle bag in the back along with a cooler. And as far he was concerned, Dwight was ready to leave the Fandom insanity behind him for a few days at least.

[NFB once they leave the causeway due to distance]

[ETA: Never mind, this is too long to do in a thread. Preplayed with what_the_shock!]

Comments

[alwaysonguard]

"Ah, so instead of 'head five miles East' it's more like 'head five miles straight up', then?" Dwight said, sounding quite impressed. "Guess that's the logical way to go if you have the ability to do it - up, up, up as far as you can go. And finally the flying cars!" he said, a little more excited than a 35-year-old man should have been. "At least there's hope for that... even if there's not likely to be many Hendricksons around still by that time."

[what_the_shock]

Miguel frowned. "Why wouldn't there be - oh. Right." He winced. "Still, you never know, right? It's less bullets, more energy weapons in my time. Anyway, not exactly five miles up, but a lot further than it seems to be these days. Downtown - the old city - fits under the current one. I won't pretend it's great in a lot of ways, but we do have flying transport. I'd offer to show you, but...uh...I can't exactly go there much."

[alwaysonguard]

"Well, partly the bullet issue but also that as far as I know, on my side of the family at least, I'm the last Hendrickson," Dwight stated simply. "Parents were only children, and they're both gone. My sister died before she ever had kids. And I've not had much luck with the 'starting a family' business either." Dwight glanced over at Miguel and gave a small laugh, shaking his head. "Eh, it is what it is. Though it sucks you can't go back home as you wish."

[what_the_shock]

Miguel shrugged. "Honestly, there's not much I miss. A couple people, my AI, not having to clean my own home. I miss the chance to research, but I find ways to keep myself busy. I've been back once or twice quickly, and Gabriel's been here, but we try to keep it quiet. The last thing my brother needs is Alchemax getting wind he's in touch with me; they'll find some way to use it, and it probably won't be pleasant."

[alwaysonguard]

"Kinda how I feel about Haven in a lot of ways," Dwight stated as he turned them onto another road to continue on their way. "It was home but just... isn't anymore, you know? And Haven's craziness was ramping up like never before right before I left. So, who knows how insane it has gotten there already."

He gave a soft sigh and then continued.

"I mean yeah I had a few friends, but no one close. I'd probably just cause more issues in Haven, and lord knows they have enough to deal with already. So, it just seemed like it was time for a change. And so far, I'm thinking this isn't too bad of one," Dwight said, giving Miguel a smirk before turning his attention back to the road.

[what_the_shock]

"Despite being trapped in a hole for a couple weeks, randomly teleporting around, and turning into a kid?" Miguel asked, laughing. "Shock, you've got low standards."

[alwaysonguard]

"Hey believe it or not, even with all the fandom craziness, this is still the safest I have felt in quite a while - as far as my Trouble goes and all," Dwight said, giving a one handed shrug. "Don't have to worry about being shot when there's no guns around. And compared to Haven - with Troubles going off at every turn and people actively trying to rid the town of the Troubled, Fandom is a bit of a nice change. Odd yes. Turning into a younger version of myself brought back a lot of memories I'm not quite sure what to do with right now. But at least most of the Fandom shenanigans seem to be the less-deadly kind... and a few new friends? Yeah, don't think my standards are too low."

[what_the_shock]

"Yeah, there's a lot to be said for people accepting weird," Miguel admitted. "Stupid as it can get, Fandom's still pretty safe if you're different." He paused. "Unless your name is Beaker. How that kid's still alive I have no idea."

[alwaysonguard]

"Yeah dumb luck really seems to play a part in it for some of them, doesn't it? Also helps when you have a sense of humor to go along with it. Cuz I think we have established that some of us tend to attract other sarcastic bastards," Dwight retorted with a laugh.

[what_the_shock]

Miguel snorted. "I mean, you've met Rosa, right? I still have no idea how we put up with each other, but it seems to click. My first real girlfriend, Xina, she was like that, too. Not afraid to tell me when I was being an ass, not afraid to be an ass herself if someone was asking for it. She's probably one of the people I miss."

It was probably bad he missed Xina more than Dana, right? And Lyla more than either of them? He was such an ass sometimes.

"You, on the other hand," he said, pointing at Dwight accusingly, are barely sarcastic enough. You need to let it out more."

Yeah, take advice from the self-admitted ass.

[alwaysonguard]

"Thousand apologies," Dwight snarked back. "Will be sure to work on it. After all, I wouldn't want to lose the approval of the king of sass," he said, giving Miguel a smirk. "Be careful what you wish for, cuz we still have a few days to go... might regret making that statement by the end of this trip. And it will be 100% your fault. I take no responsibility," Dwight added, raising one hand in mock innocence.

[what_the_shock]

"I'll remember that," Miguel promised, rolling his eyes. "Trust me, I grew up with the crazy lady, I'll survive. So which direction are we going now? City seems pretty spread out, but I'm guessing it ends in a bit?"

[alwaysonguard]

"Yeah we still got some pretty spread out cities during this time," Dwight said, glancing at one of the signs they were just passing." We're actually coming up on the outskirts of the city now. The airport, with its 'lovely' antiquated planes, is just a few miles that way," he said, pointing out the window. "From here on out for a bit things are going to be even more spread out. So, since we are kinda driving with no clear destination or purpose, if you want or need to stop for any reason just let me know."

[what_the_shock]

"Will do," Miguel said, settling back a little as he watched the city fly by. "Planes aren't all that different, actually. Different fuel, faster, but there's only so much you can change and still have it fly." He was quiet for a moment, then glanced over at Dwight.

"So are there traditions for road trips? I usually just argue with my brother, but that's not really an option here."

[alwaysonguard]

"Well, aside from the traditional options of fighting over the radio channel, telling stories, and spamming social media with photos, there's always classic car ride games. Things like "Fortunately/Unfortunately" or our family's favorite back when we still took road trips, "Two Lies and a Truth." Dwight looked over at Miguel as he continued. "The best thing about a road trip is it can be anything you want it to be. "

[what_the_shock]

"Two lies and a truth I know," Miguel said. "Not familiar with the other one. I'm kind of afraid either of our stories would turn nasty pretty fast. I've never fought over radio channels; that could be fun. Or sending the weirdest or most boring pictures back home. Rosa'd kill me," he said cheerfully. Especially since she might not see them until she got back, and she'd have to wade through a ton.

[alwaysonguard]

"Photos are always fun," Dwight offered. "Both here and now to annoy someone by blowing up their phone or social media page with all the photos... and for later on when there's no shortage of photos to look back on months and years later." Dwight looked over at Miguel and smirked. "And she can't kill you if she's not here now, can she?"

[what_the_shock]

"Oh, she'd wait until I got back. She can hold a grudge plenty long," Miguel assured him. "Actually, I should send things to Gabriel, too." He took out his phone, opened up the camera, looked around, and took a picture of the radio. He sent it to Gabriel, captioned Peak early 21st tech!

Then he snapped a picture of Dwight and sent it, too. Late 20th c. giant!

[alwaysonguard]

"Watch it Spider-boy" Dwight said with a mock glare. "You can get photos taken of you as well ya know... soon as I'm like, you know not driving" he added with a chuckle. "Make sure you get my good side though next time... And make sure you only say flattering things about me..." Dwight couldn't keep a straight face any longer and started to laugh.

[what_the_shock]

"Oh yeah, of course," Miguel assured him solemnly. "Which is your good side?"

[alwaysonguard]

"Any side, so long as the photo never sees the light of day" Dwight quipped as he took a playful bat at the phone as it looked like Miguel was trying to snap another picture of him.

[what_the_shock]

"Don't worry, it's not getting sent anywhere for another century," Miguel assured him breezily. "Okay, so tell me two lies and a truth. Or two truths and a lie? Whatever. Or pick a radio channel and I'll fight you over it."

[alwaysonguard]

Dwight considered the options for a moment and smirked. "Okay so here we go, two truths and a lie. I played football and did wrestling before I joined the military. I married the girl I went to the prom with. I have never been to a big city like New York or Chicago."

[what_the_shock]

"Those all sound like something you'd do. Hm. Never being to a big city is the lie?" he guessed.

[alwaysonguard]

"Dang I'm going to have to pick harder ones next round," Dwight said giving Miguel a nod of approval. "Yeah, obviously contact sports were kinda my thing," he said with a chuckle. "Took about four years after we graduated but I did eventually marry my prom date. And I have actually been to a few big cities though they actually were all overseas during my training and deployment."