[003] → long and winding road (canon updated!)

[hasevolved]

The location is a long stretch of highway, one that if followed straight would lead to the heart of Los Angeles. The weather is warm, typical of the area, and a pleasant breeze dances through every so often to add to the appeal. Hundreds of cars, trucks, and motorcycles are stuck on the road, but they're not moving. In fact, there aren't any people inhabiting the vehicles. They're all empty, sitting on the highway, as if they've all been spontaneously abandoned.

Well, except for one. Atop one of the cars sits Violet, her expression somewhat wistful. Longing. As if there's something she's missing (or in this case, something she's just gotten back.) Though the scene is innocuous enough, occasional rumbles of thunder can be heard in the distance, as if signaling a warning.

Comments

because i had to. if this doesn't work, just PM me and we'll figure something out <3

[drinkandforget]

It's not a particularly flashy car, but it's one that's moving. Maybe that's all that's really needed right now. It slips through the abandoned vehicles like they don't matter in the least, threading its way between lanes, and comes to a stop just near Violet. The window rolls down, revealing Lethe's face clearly this time.

"Get in," she offers, "And I'll take you where you're going as my passenger." The smile is slightly cold as always, but it's better than nothing - perhaps.

This works! 8D <3

[hasevolved]

Violet doesn't notice Lethe approaching until she speaks, and even then, it takes her a minute to glance down. She looks distant, detached. But, she slips off the top of the car anyway, and nods.

"Alright," she consents, nodding. "... Where're you headed?"

XD she gets you from point a to point b, ok? :| always.

[drinkandforget]

Where are you going? [A question for a question. A click marks the unlocking of the passenger-side door.]

ALWAYS.

[hasevolved]

[Violet shrugs, pausing a moment before opening the car door.]

Not sure. Nowhere, I guess. Or anywhere.

[drinkandforget]

[Even better. Lethe smiles, and while it turns into a cold expression on her face, it isn't badly meant.]

Nowhere, then. [It's where she comes from, after all: the River of Oblivion. They'll go somewhere much more close by for now, though.]

[hasevolved]

[With a "well, all right, then," sort of look, Violet gets into the car. What does she have to lose? It's a dream, and she's dead, anyway. So...]

Cool. Thanks.

[drinkandforget]

[The dream has given her skills she doesn't have in waking life, because Lethe seems perfectly comfortable operating this vehicle which is nothing like what's used on her own planet. She eases the car carefully between the stopped ones.]

Why were you back there, alone?

[hasevolved]

[And what a skill it is, considering that there are a lot of parked cars around them.]

Who knows. It's just a dream, right? So it doesn't have to make sense.

... Maybe I just needed some time to think.

[drinkandforget]

Surrounded by this? [It's not the place most people would choose.]

[distorting]

[Tate didn't know when he showed up in her dream. In fact, he was feeling rather aloof -- like it wasn't really happening at all. Though, it wasn't, was it? This wasn't real at all. He's standing in between two cars, not far from Violet, but he's quiet, watching her. He doesn't want to speak up just yet. He's more intrigued by all the stopped cars. It was ... eerie, but cool, too.

He runs a hand along a window of the car beside him, seeing his fingerprints being left behind when he pulls his hand away. He's distracted by it, eyes focused on the inside of the car to see if there was something more than air inside of it.

Nothing.

So he looks up to Violet, his expression more neutral curiosity than anything else.]

What's all this?

[hasevolved]

[Violet had just begun wondering how long it would be before Tate showed up. When he speaks, she glances down at him for a minute, her expression a bit more enigmatic and unreadable than usual. Finally, she replies, turning back to look at the city.]

Dunno. This might've been the traffic from the day we came to look at the house. Pretty sure this is the road we took.

[She shrugs a shoulder.]

I guess this is the only time I'll be able to get out, now that I'm, you know, dead.

[Violet swallows. It's so incredibly pathetic that this is what her life--or death--has come to. Dreaming of backed-up highways in order to make up for everything she lacks during her waking hours.]

I'm surprised ghosts even can sleep.

[distorting]

[He looks a bit saddened at her tone. Swallowing, he looks down at the pavement before moving in a bit closer to her, raising a hand to fiddle with one of the mirrors on the side of the car she's on top of.]

They can here, I think. [Then again, he didn't remember the last time he really slept 'well'.]

[He sounds weaker than usual -- he knows this is a sensitive subject for the both of them, but mostly her.]

Do you hate it here?

[hasevolved]

[No, she thinks, I wish I could. I don't feel anything right now. She doesn't say it, though, because... really, that's how she got into this situation in the first place. Though she's subject to them, Violet recognizes depressive thoughts when they occur. The teenager just stares off at the city, chewing on her lip.]

Why would I hate the highway? That'd be stupid.

[She knows what you're really asking, Tate, don't worry.]

... I don't, though. It's not all our fault, but my family dug our own graves, pretty much.

[Violet glances down at her arms, where the marks of a razor are still visible. Maybe they'll be there forever.]

I hate myself.

[distorting]

[Tate's gaze looks down at the cement once more. He knew Violet was going through a lot, but sometimes he didn't know how to comfort her. It was just something the both of them would have to deal with, even if it was hard.]

You shouldn't.

[So he decides to climb up on the car to sit beside her.]

You should love yourself.

[hasevolved]

[She doesn't react when he gets closer, just shaking her head, sending strands into her face.]

Why should I? I fucked up, Tate.

[What'll happen when she wakes up? Violet knows for a fact that her dad is going to want to take her to visit Viviene. And what will he say when his daughter can't leave the house? Her head pounds.]

[distorting]

Hey, Violet -- I know it's hard. It's going to be hard at first, but you have me, don't you? You don't have to think about home just yet. Here, you can be anything, right?

[He's visibly upset about this, and he wishes he could do something in order to convince her otherwise, but he couldn't. He had to be patient.]

[hasevolved]

[Her mouth a thin line, Violet eventually nods, though slowly.]

... Guess so.

[Because it's a dream. But, when she wakes up...]

I just have to get used to it.

[helpmeguideit]

Charles weaved through the cars slowly. He kept his eyes on a few different interesting pieces. This place was certainly not a figment of his thoughts or dreams, it was far too unfamiliar to him. He hadn't any cars like the ones here right now. He looked ahead, noticing a girl on a car. He keeps a slow, steady pace as he approaches her. His eyes were fixed on her.

It seemed peaceful, aside from the thunder. He's not too shy about saying anything, once he's near enough to her for her to hear his voice. "This must belong to you."

[hasevolved]

Violet glances down at the stranger, not quite surprised that someone she hasn't seen before has entered her dream. She only nods at the statement, glancing down at the car.

"Technically, it's my dad's," she says, crossing her ankles. "Haven't gotten my license yet."

[helpmeguideit]

It was clear that this dream belonged to her, then. "Haven't you?" he asked. To him, that meant she was probably quite young, at least compared to him. Her dream was pleasant enough, though. He didn't feel in danger here.

"What year is it here?"

[hasevolved]

Violet shook her head. "Not yet. I'm not too worried about it... I don't really have anywhere to go."

Now that she was dead, she meant that literally.

"2011," she replied. "... I guess you're from somewhere else, then?"

[helpmeguideit]

"1962's about over." He moved his hand to rest near the front window of the car, looking in for just a moment. "I figured since I've not once seen a car that looks like this." He looked it over for a few moments, before taking a step, and starting to circle the car. "There's always somewhere to go." There was a hint of a smile on his face.

[hasevolved]

"The sixties?" Violet raised her eyebrows, oddly impressed. "That's sweet. So much good music came from you guys. And the seventies, too, but I'll give you your deserved credit."

The ghost of a smile, no pun intended, appeared on her face.

"... I'm Violet," she said suddenly, as if this brief conversation had confirmed that he was a decent conversationalist.

[helpmeguideit]

"I'm glad I have something to look forward to when it comes to music." Not that Charles was someone that was particularly interested in music, as he still listened to music that he had listened to as a child. He preferred the calming, purely instrumental songs.

"Charles Xavier," he offered. She seemed nice enough, at least. He watched her face, noticed the slight smile. "This must be your dream."

[hasevolved]

Violet nodded, turning back to look up the deserted highway.

"My parents drove up this road with me months ago, when we moved here," she explained. "Not sure why I'm dreaming about it, but I don't really mind. It's good for thinking, I guess."

Which was true. There was a lot to mull over when you had just recently realized that you were dead.