Would it be wrong to clamp down on your racing heart? [Shepherd's Haven][Open]

[witnessme]

Who: Luca "Nux" Dantonio and YOU!
Where: Around Shepherd's Haven to start, then maybe to Woodend or Christchurch!
When: Backdated to September 1
What: Nux got a car back as an echo in August. He's been working on it. Now it's finally ready for a proper drive!
Warnings: Language? Updated as and if needed!
Status: Open!



Nux's car, a 1934 Ford Coupe, wasn't much to write home about it when he'd first echoed it back. Hell, it barely ran, but after many tender loving afternoons in the garage just feet away from Shou's drool-worthy Lamborghini and Lazarus' ambulance, he's managed to get the engine purring. He's thrilled with it, even if it's pretty basic and unsouped for the time being. He's so excited to take her out for a test drive that he forgets, momentarily, that he invited a dangerous psychopath to Shepherd's Haven and painted a big red X on his door to ensure he knew who to go after.

He rolls down his windows, feeling the wind in his face as he pushes down on the gas and the old car lurches forward. He goes off the dirt road and into one of the grazing fields, taking a few giddy sharp turns and hollering as the adrenaline starts coursing through his veins. For all that Nux has something of an inferiority complex around the other Numbered sometimes, when he does this he is truly happy and can't get enough... even though he's wasting precious fuel and tearing up some of Factor's land just to get a rush.

If he sees you, he'll react just a bit like a child caught fingerpainting his mother's wallpaper with mud. "Oh!" he screeches to a stop, staring wide-eyed through his windshield at you, whether he almost ran you down or not. "Uh, sorry if that was... you know, uh, disturbing you. I got her running! You... you want a ride into town, maybe?"

Comments

[jasminebloominginshadow]

Jasmine had been out, drawing, when suddenly that horrible racket filled the air. And what's more, Nux had come close to nearly hitting her. Needless to say, Jasmine isn't exactly happy.

"Nux, do you have any idea how LOUD this thing is? And maybe it'd be a good idea to let other people know before you tear up the landscape...!"

... In that moment, Jasmine felt disturbingly as though she'd become Lily and her mother.

[witnessme]

It's an antique car for all intents and purposes, so it's making an enormous racket where even a modern car would do the same.

He screeches to a stop when he notices her, laughing breathlessly at first when he sees just how close the call was, but the look on her face is enough to melt it quickly away.

"Uh... well loud," he admits, "but I didn't mean to disturb anyone! Just, uh, taking her for a test drive after all she's been through. Seeing if she can handle a trip to, uh, Woodend or Christchurch. Need to go? I think I need to go!" he volunteers.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

Jasmine frowns, and... sighs, deflating a little bit. As annoyed as she was, she couldn't deny Nux wasn't really doing anything wrong. And she did need to get to Christcurch for something...

"Just promise me you'll drive like a sensible person," she said, heading for the passenger side.

[witnessme]

He's obnoxious and a little strange sometimes, but he's actually a fairly big stickler for rules. He's a innocent and clueless onlooker as she deflates and considers the situation, and his face breaks into a broad, elated grin when she heads around to get into the car.

"Really? Oh, that's really great!" he cheers, pumping his fists in victorious excitement. "Uh, yeah, of course, I'll drive careful. Where do you need to go?"

[jasminebloominginshadow]

"Christchurch," Jasmine responds, as she sits down inside. She reaches back to put her sketchpad in the back. "I need to pick up a few things for my studio, and I don't have enough american money to get it in Gateway."

[witnessme]

Nux sits a little straighter and gladder in his seat as he revs the engine, so thrilled to be sharing something he loves with another person.

"No problem! Got a full tank," he says, patting the fuel gauge fondly. "Christchurch it is! Should probably check around and see if anyone else needs anything..."

...unfortunately, that would take time and be a delay.

"...never mind! Off we go!"

The vehicle lurches as he kicks it abruptly into drive.

[jasminebloominginshadow]

Jasmine was just buckling herself in when the lurch happened, and unfortunately, invulnerability doesn't stop momentum. She groaned and pushed back, careful not to tear through the seatbelt.

"So... I'm guessing this is something you echoed back, then? I haven't seen it before..."

[witnessme]

"This car?" he asks, with just a hint of pride coloring his tone. "Yeah! Just the other day. Was talking to someone about weaponizing cars and the like and it just appeared right next to me. Good thing I was outside."

The uneven ground bumps and rumbles under them, but his hands are steady on the wheel. Despite the rougher start, he's comfortable behind the wheel, and it's obvious enough that this is the case.

"She's nice, right? I wonder if this was his car. Would have to be, wouldn't it, for me to get it back?"

[jasminebloominginshadow]

"Well, either that, or you were behind the wheel long enough for it to be tied to you like this."

She grunts at some of the bumps, but in general, Jasmine is a lot calmer now.

"It does seem like it's built for rough rides, though."

[witnessme]

"Like something he used, but wasn't his?" Nux asks, seeming fascinated by the concept. "Yeah, maybe it was owned by his boss... guy named Immortan Joe. I saw his ghost-thing a little while ago. Got that echo off it. Did you see any of them?"

He laughs a little at Jasmine's observation.

"Well, maybe not, but she'll handle it! Shocks are in good shape."

[jasminebloominginshadow]

"... I saw ghosts and stuff," Jasmine replied. "But I never saw anyone like that."

She frowned. "What did this 'Immortan Joe' guy even look like? He sounds like... well, like an obvious supervillain."

[witnessme]

Nux bit his lip, looking mildly troubled, but also really excited.

"Uh, well... you know appearances can be deceiving. He had long hair and a mask and he was... well, godlike. I think he was pretty great, or else... at least he did. Nux."

[jasminebloominginshadow]

"... Long hair and a mask," Jasmine replied. "Sounds like my previous self's father. But I guess it's kind of a generic description..."

Jasmine... doesn't look or sound excited to be talking about Sabaaku.

[meteormercenary]

Jacob was walking home from a shop, groceries in hand. Not a lot of them, just enough to suffice for a few days. Walking through a field made for some relaxation and sometimes a shortcut or two. He hears an engine kick and looks up in time to see a car speeding through the grass. Menacing? Maybe. He takes a few steps back to make sure the car has the opportunity to see him as well as not be near the vehicle's path. As the car screeches to a stop, Jacob raises both of his eyebrows and takes a look at the man behind the steering wheel. He sighs and shakes his head.

"You might hurt someone doing that, y'know." He looks the car over at the mention of getting it running. "Nice job, at least. Sounds like you're happy with it."

A ride into town, huh? With how crazy this kid is with driving? Jacob would sooner jump off a cliff and assume he had a better chance at survival.

"Do you even have a license?" Silly question, maybe.

[witnessme]

Seeing an antique car barreling through a field and making a beeline for something before swerving giddily. He opens up the door and pops his head outside the vehicle when he spots Jacob, meeting that sigh and head-shake with a broad, friendly grin.

"Hurt someone? Nah, wouldn't hurt someone," he insists. "Just having a bit of fun with my echo-car. Got her back and now got her running sweet. Thrilled with it!" he confirms cheerily.

"Y-yeah! Got a license right here," he says, pulling out a driver's license hurriedly. The picture on it looks very different from the kid in front of Jacob, of course, but it states clearly enough that his name is Luca Dantonio, and that he is 20 years old and from New Jersey. "I also got my permit for New Zealand."

[meteormercenary]

An echo, huh? Maybe he shouldn't be so surprised that this kid is a Numbered, but it's pretty hard to wipe that expression off of his face for a moment. Maybe more directed that you can get things like cars from an echo. Still, the confirming cheer makes Jacob loosen up a little and give a soft smile.

"Well, good. Glad you got a project going for you. Are you going to keep working on it?"

And the kid just... pulls out his drivers license, as if Jacob might have been a cop. Or... maybe he just likes to brag about it? Or just has his duckies in a row. In any case, Jacob couldn't be mad at the display. Hell, it even seemed innocent enough. And, he does actually look at the information briefly.

"Uhm... Nice to meet you... Luca? I'm Jacob."

If he's going to talk to someone speeding through a field, he might as well not make them a stranger anymore.

[witnessme]

"Lots of projects! Uh, we have a few cars in the garage. Also there's an ambulance if you can believe that, and uh, some bikes and stuff. This is just the latest, I think that my guy drove her. Some version of her, anyway. I'll keep working on her until she's just where I want her!"

He pats the outside of the door fondly. And by the way he beams, he absolutely loves to brag about his driver's license.

"Actually, uh... it's Nux, Jacob, like my Other. My real name has some, uh, some bad memories associated. I want everyone to c-call me that instead. So you... run a flower shop, right? Lot of people buy what you're selling?"

[meteormercenary]

"Sounds like you have your hands full. Even an ambulance? I bet that takes a lot of work to keep running." Not that Jacob knows anything about cars, but he'll humour the guy. "You'll have to let me see when erm... she's finished." He feels himself cringe at personifying a car. It's an inanimate object. Err... right? Do these things have lives where Nux comes from? Jacob tries to drop that creepy thought as soon as it starts.

"Right, sorry. Nux, then."

He stops for a moment, rather shocked that he was recognized at all.

"Yea, I have a shop. I don't think I've ever seen you, though. How did you know that?" Word of mouth, maybe? But Jacob doesn't think his store would be played through popularity. "It sells well enough. Some days are slower than others."

[witnessme]

"Huh? No, not a lot of work, for the ambulance," he reassures Jacob. "Was echoed back in perfect condition by, uh, Lazarus. You musta met him, he's everywhere. Gotta be, he's sort of, uh, in charge. Fully outfitted and everything, I think we gutted it for some medical supplies but uh, she runs really well. Next to no maintenance required." Maybe he sounds a little disappointed about that much, thinking that it would be much cooler to do what he wants with the vehicle.

But that's OK. He's got what's basically a blank slate, one that's all his to work with, and he's having a ball.

"Of course you can see! Everyone'll see. And no worries, uh, it's recent. The Nux thing. Just like it better."

He looks a little sheepish at the question. "Well, didn't think it was a secret or anything! You running a shop and all. It's a small village, I guess word gets around. Misa's new flowers looked nice and uh, guess you're the only person it could be unless there's someone else I haven't seen."

[meteormercenary]

Ah, the scraggly player boy. That makes sense. And more cars by echo. Jacob starts to worry if he might get one. He's got enough on his plate, he doesn't need something that requires maintenance. He might give it to this kid if that happens. Nux seems to like the things more than anyone he knows.

"No, not really a secret. Just surprising to be known before I'm met." Reasons why he doesn't post on the Network. "I'm glad that you got to see the flowers. I hope Misa liked them." Since, y'know, Lazarus said he wouldn't return them if she didn't like them. He'd still like the feedback on his work for the one who actually got the gift.

Jacob remembers the weight of the groceries on his arm and the items within, some of the perishable if they aren't introduced to the cold, soon. As much as he is actually enjoying talking with Nux, he realises money needs to be well spent.

"Sorry, I've got to hurry home." He holds up the groceries as an indication. "But, feel free to swing by the shop sometime. I'm not so stern that I can't welcome a good conversation in my store."

[witnessme]

Nux really likes them, and he hasn't even fully echoed back his other's love for cars yet. That really says something about how much he likes to be hands-on useful, making up for a near-nonexistent education and reactions that are sometimes far more emotional than rational or well thought-out.

"Heh! That's living in a small town for you. Small village, more like. She seemed to like them, but uh, sometimes it's hard to tell with her. She's a really polite person and... she might say she loves something when she doesn't. Like that, you know?"

He leans his head out the window as Jacob starts to go. "H-hey! Uh, you know those look kind of heavy. Let me give you a ride home!"

[meteormercenary]

"Ah, maybe I'll ask her myself if I ever meet her then."

At Nux's offer, Jacob stares for a good solid minute. Remembering Nux's driving in the field was not something he looked forward to experiencing for himself. He lives a generally quiet life without too much risk of committing some form of suicide. But he does contemplate the groceries again. Faster might be better... And he gives it a solid moment of contemplation.

How to put this politely and discreetly...?

"Only if you can take it easy. I have eggs in here, and you know how easily those break."

There, subtlety. Perfectly laid without being condescending.

[witnessme]

"You will! She's nice. Really pretty. Like..." he fumbles for a second. "She could have any guy. Too pretty, almost."

He blinks for a second at the tactful request, then he's dipping his head in a series of adamant nods.

"Of course! I wouldn't be anything but careful, knowing there's precious c-cargo! Climb in!"

[meteormercenary]

Jacob tries to imagine a girl that pretty. Unfortunately, the best thoughts he gets are those of his dead sister. Jacob isn't exactly what you call worldly, nor has he really experienced anything he's attracted to. First love's arrow actually has yet to hit him, so... imagining something overly beautiful is not something he can do with ease. And his ponderings probably cross his face in all sorts of ways in lines of confusion.

And then Nux nods his head vigourously. Jacob can't help but smile for a minute. Nux has this contagious innocence about him. He must be liked by all people. Jacob nods back as he opens the passenger door.

"Well, thank you very much, then. I live in Woodend." He gives general directions, and more specific ones if and as needed, to his apartment. He sets the groceries near his feet on the floor and buckles in.

[witnessme]

Nux picks up on Jacob's clear lack of experience in this area. If it makes him feel any better, Nux himself is pretty inexperienced, he just likes to build up in his mind what it must be like to have a pretty girlfriend.

Then he smiles, and Nux's own just gets bigger until it looks like it'll split his pale face in half. He's not liked by all people, but he tries so hard that it's difficult not to give him credit at least for being likable in spite of his past deeds.

"Yeah, sure! You're welcome!" he says, nodding as the instructions are given and Jacob buckles in. He starts off with a slight lurch, but to his credit, he drives much more slowly and carefully this time. "So, uh, hey, where are you from originally? None of us always lived here."