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Post by Orca on Mar 4, 2007 8:55:53 GMT -5
((This is a one-on-one roleplay between EbonyViper and I, centered around our characters Rosa and Fabrizio. It is meant to explain their absence from Radiator Springs around the time of "A Radiator Springs Christmas". Feel free to follow along.))"Journey To Watersford, Iowa" Players/Characters:-OrcaFabrizio Lombardi (Vector M12) Archer (Nissan 240SX) Laverne (Toyota Celica) Castor (Acura RSX) [NPC] Dominic Lombardi (Lamborghini Diablo) Cesar Lombardi (Lamborghini Diablo) Isabella Lombardi (Lamborghini Espada) Emilio Lombardi (Lamborghini Countach) -EbonyViperRosa Swift (Ford Probe) StrikeZone (Eagle Talon) Bruno (Ford Bronco) Krystal (Eagle Talon) [NPC] list will be updated accordingly with the story
Early morning had seemed like the best time to leave. The better part of the previous night had been spent bidding farewell to various individuals around town. Fabrizio Lombardi yawned again, inhaling deeply in an attempt to use the chilly morning air to further wake himself up. What time was it, six-thirtyish? Seven? The Vector didn't bother checking the local radio station. The sun set and rose quicker at this time of year, regardless to what part of the country you were in. He waited at the eastern edge of town, and he had been parked near the "Welcome To Radiator Springs" billboard for almost an hour as it were. Though he had offered to accompany her, he respected Rosa's need for a little privacy as she bid her fellow DRHs farewell. Last night's announcement had been more the informational side of the situation: rather than continue putting it off, they had decided to take the month of December "off" from the little Arizona town, in order to head back to Fabrizio's hometown and settle a few of his familial issues. The ex-photographer felt a sense of pain, the same as he felt whenever he was forced to depart a place he had become fond of. For all its drama, Radiator Springs had that kind of appeal, especially to one born and raised in a town not too much larger than it. He had taken the time to thank a few of the local shopowners, notably Flo and the Miata twins at the diner, and Luigi and Guido once more for the Pirellis tires they had sold him, for their hospitality. He felt nervous about making the journey, too. Not financially; he had more than enough in his Seventh Second account to get them by. Safety was at the front of his mind. The last few months had taught him through experience that not everyone in the good ol' USA could be as friendly as to be comfortable with.
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Post by ebonyviper on Mar 4, 2007 10:07:00 GMT -5
Rosa had taken her time saying farewell to her fellow DRH. She was grateful that she had had them through all these years while she was growing up, but she now though it was time to head out on her own. She wanted to be independent.
The DRH were mostly gathered around Ebony's new home, which had been built up quite quickly with their help, as well as the construction workers that Zed had called in. She had even helped as well, wanting her agemate to have a proper home before she left.
She knew Ebony was incapable of travelling now that the Viper was three months along in her term, being heavily weighted down by the twins. Rosa wished Ebony the best and hoped to see the twins when they were born, if she returned at all. Ebony assured the Probe that she was well taken care of and that Rosa needn't worry about her.
"I'll be fine," Ebony smiled at her agemate, "You just go on with Fabrizio to Waterford. It'll do you some good to do some travelling, okay? But let me know when you get there, just so I know that you made it safely, okay?"
"I promise," Rosa nuzzled her agemate, "Bye, Ebony."
"Take care, Rosa," Ebony returned the nuzzle as best she could in her current condition, "Have a safe journey."
With that, Rosa left and made her way down the street, leaving the town that had been her temporary home for three months and toward the welcome sign where she met up with Fabrizio.
"I'm ready," she announced, "Ebony gave me the okay. She's fine with me leaving."
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Post by Orca on Mar 4, 2007 10:21:00 GMT -5
"I had the feeling she would," Fabrizio replied, taking a moment to stretch. He had become used to a random routine of sleeping in or waking up early. Today just wasn't one of those easy-to-wake-up mornings. "She's among plenty of friends and family here. I'm just hoping this doesn't take longer than you or her are content with."
Turning his attention to the trip at wheel, he voiced the first question that came to mind: "So, do you have a preference as far as routes go? I was thinking of just taking Route 66 all the way to Chicago, but if you prefer the expressway..." He let it hang there.
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Post by ebonyviper on Mar 4, 2007 10:36:50 GMT -5
Rosa thought for a moment. The Expressway seemed the fastest way to get there, if they obeyed the speed limit, but with her spikes, some cop would mistake her as a threat if she was seen in another state. The cop would think that she would be a danger to other travellers. She didn't want that to happen.
"Well, the Expressway seems alright, but with my spikes, I don't look like a normal traveller," said Rosa, "I could be mistaken as a threat. I think taking Route 66 is a better idea."
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Post by Orca on Mar 4, 2007 10:47:36 GMT -5
Thinking that scenario over, it made sense to the Vector. Rosa was probably a familiar figure to the authorities on this side of the country. The other was to the opposite effect.
"Route 66 it is, then," he relented.
In a way, Fabrizio was glad they were taking their time in getting to Iowa. As much as he wanted this done and over with, he also wanted it done correctly and surely, without margin for error. Besides, a trip down the Mother Road would give him ample time to think his strategies over.
"At least there's a lesser chance of us getting lost for most of the trip," he mused, recalling all the times he had taken wrong exits while traveling the Interstates, "At most, it will probably take one to three days of constant travel to get to Chicago. And four to backtrack west from there to the Iowa/Illinois border."
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Post by ebonyviper on Mar 4, 2007 11:08:18 GMT -5
"The journey's just a satisfying as the destination, or so I've heard," said Rosa, "I don't mind the constant travel, but at least we get to see the sights along the way. And with my keen sense of smell, we won't be getting lost."
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Post by Orca on Mar 4, 2007 11:32:22 GMT -5
Somehow, I get the impression the journey in this case will be more tolerable than the destination, Fabrizio thought to himself, looking to the east. Estimating by seeing the position of the sun, he supposed his seven AM wasn't too far off.
"We might as well get started while the sun's up," he said, tipping his visor down to protect his eyes from the sunlight they would be facing. He paused, taking a long glance back at Radiator Springs. "Odd if it may sound that way, but I'm gonna miss this place."
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Post by ebonyviper on Mar 4, 2007 11:47:22 GMT -5
Rosa lowered her own visor as her eyes were very sensitive to the sunlight. She preferred some places that are much darker to be able to see better. Looking back at Radiator Springs, she sighed, "I'm going to miss this place too. Felt like I really belonged here without the ridicule and put-downs that my kind usually gets. Maybe I'll return someday, but for now I just want to feel the wind in my face and the freedom this journey is going to give me." She turned to Fabrizio, smiling lightly, "Let's go." (((((OOC: Route 66 on Wikipedia: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Route_66 )))))
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Post by Orca on Mar 5, 2007 16:16:56 GMT -5
((That page will prove to be very useful. Anyways, what next? More starting-off conversation, or shall we leap ahead a few hours?))
Fabrizio couldn't have expressed his own thoughts in better words. For all the drama and the not-so-favorable memories, Radiator Springs was really a decent place. Places like this seemed in short supply.
He gave a half smile in return, giving the Arizona town one last look as if in an unspoken goodbye, before pulling forward, back onto the road. He put the west to his back, accelerating smoothly away to the east.
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Post by ebonyviper on Mar 5, 2007 17:19:32 GMT -5
(((((OOC: Maybe jump ahead a couple of hours... )))))
Rosa clicked her spikes firmly in place for the long journey, revved her engine, and gave chase.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Meanwhile, a quartet of unidentified tuner vehicles stood atop a ledge and watched the two cars below.
"They look like they're havin' fun," said a navy blue tuned Ford Bronco.
"Yeah, too bad we're gonna ruin it for 'em," laughed a hunter green tuned Eagle Talon, "C'mon, guys. Let's follow 'em and see where they go. I wanna be well away from this podunk town so that their friends won't be able to come rescue 'em."
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Post by Orca on Mar 6, 2007 16:06:53 GMT -5
The Nissan 240SX was the quietest of the group, only speaking when he thought it necessary he speak. Ergo, he was the most observant.
He said nothing as his eyes, behind the deep sage visor, followed the two departing cars in the distance. The early morning sun glinted off the tuner's matte black paint, alighting the green and gray tribal stripes that traced patterns along his body.
He knew what was up, and what his friends had planned. While he did not approve in totality of their petty motives, he would accompany them in their course. At any rate, it would alleviate his boredom for a while.
*
For many miles and several hours, the scenery did not change. They passed through the occasional little town. Whenever something - AKA any intriguing roadside attraction - caught their eye, they did not stop long.
And for many miles, there was quiet that seemed to follow the silver Vector and the scarlet Probe. By the time noon arrived, Fabrizio couldn't stand it, or his growling gas tank, any more.
He waited until they came upon the next MILES-TO-GO sign. Slowing so he could read it, he finally spoke up. "It's getting to be around time for lunch," he called back, "You interested in making a pit stop at the next town?"
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Post by ebonyviper on Mar 9, 2007 11:41:13 GMT -5
Rosa did feel hungry. Long trips always did that to her and she thought it was a good idea to make the stop now than wait until the next available exit to get some nourishment, which would be a couple of miles away and she didn't like that.
"Yeah," she answered, "Could use a good break now."
~~~~~
The group of tuners had been following the Vector and the Probe for some time now, and it also getting to lunch time as well for them. By the leader's decision, they would stop at the same town that Fabrizio and Rosa were going to stop in. There, he thought, was the perfect place to take them by surprise.
(((((OOC: Sorry for not posting here lately. I was having a rough week. Anyway, I was thinking of having the tuners ambush Rosa and Fabrizio while they were distracted.)))))
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Post by Orca on Mar 9, 2007 12:00:24 GMT -5
((It's okay. I understand things haven't been that easy for you lately. And yes, that sounds like a good plan to me.))
Fabrizio slowed as they came to the upcoming exit. The town it led to was, typical of most, small and localized. Among the directional signs lining the offramp were arrows, pointing whichever way there was to the nearest gas station. The Vector paused at the end of the turnoff, unsure whether to go to the left or right, leaving room for Rosa to pull up alongside him.
"You have a preference as far as station chains go?" he asked. "I know none of those on the sign were the same as Flo's, but... does it matter where we stop?"
((Station chains - as in restaurant chains, y'know.))
*
The 240SX, who went by the street alias of "Archer", was content to stay to the back of the pack. They had been following their targets at a distance for many dozens miles. If he had to guess, they were somewhere in eastern Arizona by now, if not westernmost New Mexico. Who knew? He hadn't been watching the signs passing by.
The four tuners had come to a stop on the shoulder, seeing their quarry take an exit to another route-side town.
"So, boss," he spoke up finally, "What are you thinkin'? Should we should nail them here?"
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Post by ebonyviper on Mar 9, 2007 16:40:42 GMT -5
Rosa pulled up next to Fabrizio, looking at the sign that stated which station diner was where and how far it was from where they were at. She really didn't have a preference, but there was one thing on her mind at the moment.
"If any one of these places serves raspberry-peach, that's good enough for me," she replied, not really feeling in the mood to be choosy right now.
~~~~~
"Yeah," StrikeZone, the leader of the tuners replied, "We ambush them when they're distracted enough. When they finally notice us, it'll be too late."
He laughed and the others laughed along with him.
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Post by Orca on Mar 9, 2007 17:18:26 GMT -5
Archer chuckled softly, smirking to himself. He was amused at the prospect of having a little fun with the two innocent travellers. That Probe's spikes were probably just for show. This sort of thing was what passed as entertainment for the 240SX nowadays. He would have prefered a street race, or a drift challenge. But this would do.
So long as they didn't get caught. Who knew if the local officers in this county were aware of him and his three companions, and their reputation?
In the same sense, he wasn't especially worried. As far as hot pursuit went, he was fairly successful in giving cherry-tops the slip.
*
"I'd think some of them would," Fabrizio replied, smiling slightly as he recalled Rosa's affinity for that particular flavor.
He regarded the sign once more. One name, Carlos' Diner & Boarding, seemed promising. It was only a half mile south from their present location, the closest. The town didn't have much in the way of a network of smaller streets, so finding the place couldn't be that hard.
"I guess we go thisaway." He took a right, downshifting as he made the turn onto the road.
*
Archer watched from afar as the two vehicles left the exit.
"Looks like they're taking their sweet time," he observed smugly, "Shall we intercept before they reach their destination, Strike?"
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