InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Look at me!"

Joanie Wicker | The Wicked Witch of the West (wickedwicker) wrote in bellumlogs,
@ 2010-06-06 18:40:00

Entry tags:

jim hawkins, wicked witch

Who: Russell and Joanie
What: Christening a new vessel
Where: Seventh floor down to the garage
When: Two o'clock the day after this
Warnings: Dorkiness and tomfoolery

As she zipped up her canvas jacket, Joanie couldn't help feeling a bit giddy. It had been two days since she had finally gone out and bought her bike, and she was still excited about it. She'd been planning on this for a while, ever since she had decided that New York City would be her way to change the scenery of her life. Granted, she had always sort of known that she'd end up with one someday. Some of her favorite memories had come from the seat of a motorcycle, either at the handlebars or riding in the back seat behind her uncle. Her summers with Aunt and Uncle Zuckerman were probably the most consistently happy of her young life, and the two-wheeled contraptions that her uncle loved were her firmest connection to those memories.

After bringing it back from the dealer, she had left it in the garage untouched. That was partially because she was still trying to figure out where best she could stake out a place to park it behind Hot Wire, and partially because of habit. She didn't have anywhere to go, really, and she was so used to getting everywhere by foot that it was almost easy to forget that she now had motorized transportation.

It was almost fitting, then, that she wait for a "christening" to take it out on its maiden voyage. Things in this building were so strange that she imagined this sort of nonsense actually made her and Russell two of the sanest people there. After all, he technically was a real pirate, one day out of the month. But then again, Joanie was technically a witch for only the same amount of time, and yet she could use magic outside of those periods, making her a witch at all times. So wouldn't that make Russell a pirate at all times, even if his speech wasn't always affected? So what did that say about people like the wolf, or the Beast, or Dracula?

She stopped herself there before her brain threw up on itself. That road lead only to madness.

After picking up her two new helmets - a gift from her uncle - she opened the door and slipped out into the hall. She locked her apartment's door and slipped the keys into the pocket of her jeans, leaning back against a wall and waiting.

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themegazord
2010-06-07 05:25 am UTC (link)

Russell was a pirate captain. As such, his supposed responsibilities consisted of manning the ship, ordering around his crew, and regularly pwning them online to keep them in their place. However, christening a ship, one that wasn't even his own was something he was quire unfamiliar with. but, he promised Joanie he would and if there was one thing he was never quite capable of, it was saying no to pretty woman.

Especially ones he might have had a crush on.

While he was waiting for 2pm the next day to roll around, he spent a good deal of time researching exactly what it meant to christen something. After much time, all he could conclude was that it was either an elaborate, hoity toity or extremely bloody. Though the most common was breaking a bottle of champagne on a ship. Given that he wasn't old enough to buy any booze, nor did he think Joanie would like it if he beat glass against something she just bought, he settled himself for a bottle of Martinelli's sparkling cider and bounced over to to the lobby where his First Mate was waiting. "Hey!" he cheerfully greeted her, waving the little bottle at her. "Ready to bless a ship?"

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wickedwicker
2010-06-07 07:43 pm UTC (link)

The bottle made her laugh. Honestly, Joanie hadn't been sure what to expect with this. It was more an excuse to be happy about something than anything else. Though she had always been one to look on the doom and gloom side of life, Joanie was learning that if you did that when there was real doom and gloom staring you in the face, you'd go insane. Or die of alcohol poisoning. Either way, it was good to find some reason to be happy. And if she could do so with a friend like a normal little girl, then all the better!

"Aye, Captain!" she replied with a bright grin, shifting both helmets to her left hand so that she could bring her right up in a mock salute. "It's in the garage," she said, leading the way out of the building and around the block towards the garage designated for Bellum vehicles. The weather was pleasant, making the walk equally so. "So it looks like you're really ready for this, huh?" she asked, gesturing to the bottle. "Good. She deserves a proper send-off."

They entered the garage, staying on the first floor. Like most garages, this one had a specific area for motorcycle parking. Joanie's steps grew antsy and bouncy, like those of a kid, as they approached the area. Finally, she stopped just beside a mid-sized bike, resting her palm on the seat and glancing over at him with an electric smile.

"This's it," she said, her voice full of barely contained excitement. The bike was clean, used but still in great shape. It was largely black with a few patches of deep green, and a black box strapped atop the very back for storage. She hanged one helmet from one handlebar, the other from the other, before stepping back beside Russell and glancing up at him. "Me hearty vessel," she said, voice full of laughter. "So whenever you're ready, Captain, you may do the honors as you see fit."

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themegazord
2010-06-08 02:42 am UTC (link)

He was definitely surprised when he saw her carrying not one but two helmets, but kept the smile on his face. He could only guess what they were for, and if was what he was thinking, then he probably didn't have to worry. He's clocked in enough hours on SBK X: Superbike World Championship that it should be just like the same thing...right? "I'm as ready as I'll ever be, First Mate!" It was likely a funny sight, a tall athletic looking guy toddling behind a smaller girl, but Russell had to let Joanie lead the way somehow!

"Dude..." he breathed, staring at the bike in all its awesome glory. Deep inside him was a ten year old Russell yelling 'VROOM VROOM' in just as much excitement, though he was quashing that down, if only to keep from embarrassing himself. Also, it was kinda, well, cute how ecstatic Joanie was over it. Quiet, minions.

Holding onto the bottle upside down by the neck, he stood for a moment and debated whether she really wanted him to bash glass and sticky cider all over her new bike, or if she would bash him over the head if he tried. Turning, he spotted a nearby empty parking spot with a concrete wall, only a few spots away. Ah, that'll do. Marching over, he waved the Martinelli's and proudly declared, "ARRR MATEY! I be christening this vessel on her maiden voyage!" before throwing the bottle, which upon impact with the wall shattered in glorious pieces. "Woo hoo!" he cheered, bouncing back to Joanie. "Up top!" he smiled, holding his hand out for the high five of victory.

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wickedwicker
2010-06-08 03:02 am UTC (link)

Though he didn't react boisterously, he had that look. The look of somebody seeing something incredibly awesome and imagining all the super badass stuff it could do. It made Joanie grin like a kid showing off her science fair project - yes, she officially owned something cool, and she was damn proud of that fact.

She stepped back, giving him space as he began the ceremony. As he waved the bottle, she snickered, thoroughly amused by his impressive showmanship. She expected something full of cheese and goofiness, nothing actually abrupt. When he let go of the bottle and sent it hurtling into the concrete wall, she jumped in surprise. She let out a shriek of shock that bubbled into an all-consuming laughter as she applauded, cheering along with him.

The grin hurt her face as she happily high-fived him, her palm smarting afterwards. "That was awesome!" she gasped. "Maybe pirates should christen more things. You could make a living doing that." Ignoring the possibly dangerous shards of glass that had now consumed part of a parking space, she walked over to her bike, removing one of the helmets and pushing it into his hands.

"Ready for the maiden voyage, Captain?" With a grin, she turned back to the bike and put her own helmet on, strapping it around her chin. She then pushed back the kickstand and slowly backed the bike out of its parking space, turning it until it faced the garage's exit. Swinging a leg over the front seat, she settled in it as she fished out her keys. "Come on, then. She won't bite, I promise."

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themegazord
2010-06-08 03:30 am UTC (link)

Russell cheekily grinned, pleased at his performance. "Yeah you think? Bet I would get tons of cash just throwing things wherever," he laughed. Then he found a helmet quickly thrust into his hands, and his smile turned nervous. Cmon man, you can do it, you can be a man and get on that bike and it will be all kosher. The pep talk only marginally working, he replied "Sure," with as much false bravado as he could muster.

Shoving the helmet on (bumping his nose in the process) and clicking everything in place, Russell zipped up his hoodie and walked over, swinging a leg over the bike so he was now right behind her...oh this was going to be great. A few curses rang out in his head as he realized he would have to put his arms around her waist if he wanted to avoid getting thrown off. Which he wondered if it was really such a bad idea. He settled for two awkward arms clasped around her, making sure his pelvis stayed clear, just in case. "I'm ready," he stated.

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wickedwicker
2010-06-08 03:58 am UTC (link)

Though she'd be lying if she said that she was one hundred percent awkward free - she had never been a touchy-feely person - Joanie wasn't too put out as Russell settled on the seat behind her. After all, her uncle had taught her how to drive his motorcycle, and you didn't do that by standing on the side of the road and waving. At least Russell was more considerate than her uncle, who didn't seem to understand that she wasn't built to withstand a prolonged crushing embrace from a man with arms the size of small trees. Granted, her uncle wasn't a weird-but-cute friend.

Best not to bother with those thoughts. At his ready, she glanced at him briefly over her shoulder, giving him a nod. "Okay!" she said, voice muffled by the helmet. "Hang on tight, Captain." Grinning, she settled forward, twisting the key in the ignition and sending the engine roaring to life. She steadied them for a moment, letting the engine just putter for a moment before she lifted one foot and then the other, expertly balancing the bike and taking off.

The force was surprising at first, as it always was. They lurched forward and rolled towards the exit. After looking both ways, she turned left, taking them out on the street. At two o'clock, the traffic wasn't horrible. They still shared the road, but it was casual traffic. She was able to speed up, darting around a car and weaving in front of it. Laughing with glee, she turned around the next block, speeding up significantly for a three-block stretch.

She took a sharp turn, circling back to Bellum, and reached the garage again. Slowing to a crawl, she coasted towards the motorcycle spaces, finally stopping the bike cold and dropping her feet to the ground. She unsnapped her helmet, pulling it off and turning around to look at him with a broad grin. "So? Whatcha think?" Her face was still lit up from the drive, and she couldn't help feeling electrified. She'd have to take pointless rides more often. "Awesome, right? She is so smooth, I can't get over how well she accelerates and decelerates."

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themegazord
2010-06-08 11:40 pm UTC (link)

At no point did Russell scream like a little girl, which he considered to be a good sign. However at the first lurch he scrunched his eyes shut and kept them that way for a little bit until he could reassure himself that no he wasn't going to fly off the back and become asphalt mulch.

He managed to relax right up until she swerved around a car which caused Russell's eyes to widen to the size of dinner plates and screaming "HOLY--" The rest was lost in the wind as Joanie swerved back, his heart beating about as fast as when he had too much caffeine which he still maintained there was no such thing. After that incident, he managed to relax enough to find he was actually enjoying the feeling of speed and the way the world whipped around him, blurring into a psychedelic mix of colors. He quite liked it.

When they arrived back in the garage, Russell waited for Joanie to stop and turn off the bike before getting off, unclicking the borrowed helmet and grinning like a maniac. "That was amazing!" he laughed. "Man you gotta take as many rides as possible cause all the colors were whooshing around and stuff. It's no pirate ship, but I approve," he declared, crossing his arms and pretending to be serious, though there was a hint of a smile.

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wickedwicker
2010-06-09 04:10 am UTC (link)

The look on Russell's face was hilarious. Laughing despite herself, Joanie slid off the bike and slowly walked it into the space, leaning it on the kickstand and stuffing the keys in her pocket. She turned to him, pulling off her helmet and tucking it under her arm, against her hip. "Oh, yeah?" she asked, raising a brow as she walked towards him. Her expression was calculating, unreadable. She paused just before him, glancing up and noting the thin ghost of a smile on his otherwise faux-serious face. "Well. I'm glad that you were impressed."

Her face split into a grin as she turned towards the exit, leading them out of the garage. "Was that your first time on a motorcycle, or do you always tense up and yell around them?" She had also been able to feel his heart pounding, but she imagined that was a little too creepy to mention.

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themegazord
2010-06-10 01:51 am UTC (link)

Russell's cheeks flared a little when she stood so close in front of him and his faux serious face became a bit more real. But only for a moment, thankfully as she stepped back and began walking away, himself needing a second before he started walking behind her. At Joanie's teasing however, Russell forgot about being embarrassed and he chased after her until he was side by side. "I didn't yell! That was...enthusiasm at being on a bike for the first time," he finished lamely, but he couldn't stop from grinning anyways.

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wickedwicker
2010-06-10 02:43 am UTC (link)

She could hear his footsteps behind her, and kept a leisurely pace. As he caught up to her, she glanced over at him with a smirk. "Oh, that was enthusiasm?" She grinned, clasping her hands behind her back and looking up at the sky innocently as they walked along the sidewalk. Her voice dropped to a fake whisper. "It sounded like you were a little scared." Wrinkling her nose, she glanced over at him cheekily. "Don't worry, Captain. I wouldn't let you get swallowed by all those flying colors."

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