InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Transcendental numbers, yay!"

Mircea Nicolau (caulfieldish) wrote in genome_project,
@ 2013-01-10 21:20:00

Entry tags:

aaron lavigne, january 2013, rielle mckenzie

Who: Rielle and Aaron
What: An actual ride on the subway. Burglary free
When: Tonight (But you know, in the fuuuutuuuurreeee)
Where: The closest stop to Shear Madness

Cynthia had let Aaron go a little early in order to run "an errand". That was how he'd explained his sudden need to leave and get Rielle on a subway once and for all. The truthful answer would have raised too many questions, and once the other hairdressers got into it, he'd never hear the end of it. Never mind that he wasn't actually interested in Rielle. Seriously, the girl had to ask if wearing heels on the subway was a good idea. If you were a seasoned pro, sure. If you worked on Wall Street, or were going to see a play, yeah, good idea. But even then you probably weren't going to run around in those crazy monster heels fashionista types always had on. It was ridiculous really. It was almost as if they were asking to be pushed over and have their purse snatched. Duh. Common sense, ladies.

He was waiting just outside the shop. Out of view of any windows, so that his "errand" wouldn't become fodder for salon gossip after all, but where Rielle would see him when she got out of her "cab". As if. The girl had a driver and she was probably going to use it. Whatever, she'd agreed to try the subway again, which was actually pretty impressive. The fact that she'd even consented to go again was pretty brave, considering. He leaned against the cold brick wall and zipped up his jacket, wishing she'd hurry up. Brave or not, he'd rather be inside.

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justlikeflying
2013-01-11 03:48 am UTC (link)

Okay. So he was right. She did, in fact, have a driver. And, well, he was being paid so it was a waste not to use him. Right? Anyways, her father would have never let her leave the house without Cedric-- not after all the subway business in the first place. Under the rouse of an emergency hair treatment, Rielle managed to get Cedric to drive her to Shear Madness and then leave to wait for her phone call to come get her. She rolled her eyes as the car pulled up out front, with Aaron already standing outside. She had no excuse. She was caught. Whatever.

"Thanks," she said, stepping out of the car when Cedric opened the door for her. She nodded goodbye to him, annoyed when his eyes lingered too long on Aaron, suspiciously. Finally he left, and the two were alone.

It was sort of awkward. At least she hadn't gone and worn heels, right? He wouldn't have anything to criticize her about, anyways. "Hi."

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caulfieldish
2013-01-11 04:01 am UTC (link)

Surprise, surprise. Or, you know. Not surprise. Whatever. He didn't expect that she'd slum it twice in one night. It was no use to be picky tonight. Not if he was actually going to get her to take the subway.

Aaron wasn't sure why it was so important. Yeah, he'd made a big deal out of the fact that she'd never been on the subway before. It had been a joke. Mostly. Not a funny-ha-ha joke. It had been his way of pushing her buttons because she'd been such a brat at the salon. But now she'd attempted it on her own, gotten mugged, and he might have felt a little responsible but... Well, he hadn't put a gun to her head and made her go. He wasn't really sure what his interest in this whole thing was, to be honest.

"No heels. Good choice." It wasn't exactly hi, but it was close enough, "Are you ready for this?"

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justlikeflying
2013-01-11 04:21 am UTC (link)

She wiped a loose strand of hair from her face before shaking her head. "No, I'm not. But I don't think I ever will be so let's just do it." She crossed her arms over her chest and looked into the windows of his mother's salon. Someone sitting at the front desk was peering out at her. She smiled awkwardly and then turned back toward Aaron.

"Should we go in or something? They're looking out here like we should..?"

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caulfieldish
2013-01-11 04:28 am UTC (link)

No, she probably wouldn't be. But all the more reason to just do it and get it over with, right? Anyway, he hoped so.

Aaron peered around the corner he'd been successfully hiding behind until Rielle showed up and shook his head. He was not going to hear the end of this. Stupid colorist looking for gossip. "No, let's go. She's just being nosy." He gave the woman an ugly face through the window and nudged Rielle toward the subway entrance. "It's really not that bad. You just had a shitty experience, I promise."

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justlikeflying
2013-01-11 04:41 am UTC (link)

With a last look at the nosy colorist, Rielle let herself get pushed toward the subway entrance. Okay. Here goes. Swallowing, she began walking down the stairs slowly. It wasn't that hard yet. Going into the subway wasn't the part that got her mugged. It was the waiting for the train part. That was the part she was nervous for. And, well, obviously riding the train. The thief got onto one after he robbed her, after all.

"How often do these shitty experiences happen?"

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caulfieldish
2013-01-11 04:44 am UTC (link)

Aaron made it a point to walk behind her. If he'd gone ahead, she could have easily changed her mind and ran back up the stairs to the salon. But what fun would that be. Besides walking next to her would have been a tight fit and a little too intimate for his tastes.

"Honestly, you're probably like the second person I've known to get mugged in the subway. And the only one to come out of it with a black eye." He shrugged even though she was in front of him and couldn't actually see it. "Just unlucky, I guess."

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justlikeflying
2013-01-11 04:48 am UTC (link)

So at least the odds of it happening again were low. Though, if he was right, and she was just unlucky, then maybe she could get unlucky again. Rielle shuddered at the thought. The first black eye hurt. She never wanted to get punched again.

"So, like, if I start to get mugged again, are you going to stick up and defend me or something?" She eyed him. She knew he said he'd fought before, but for some reason, he didn't look all that strong or tough.

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caulfieldish
2013-01-11 04:52 am UTC (link)

Pft. He could be pretty scrappy when he wanted to be. Wes liked to think he did all the work, but Aaron was quick and nimble and could pack a pretty decent punch if need be. Having a slightly more athletic friend didn't hurt, of course, but he could hold his own when necessary.

"You won't. But if it means keeping you from getting punched in the face again, I'll do my best." Guys really shouldn't go around punching girls in the face, on principle.

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justlikeflying
2013-01-11 05:02 am UTC (link)

Scrappy was one thing. Strength, or even mass, was a completely other thing. When it came to being overpowered, if the right man challenged him, Rielle had to admit that she figured Aaron would lose. She wasn't going to say that though. That would be mean when he was so..eagerly(?) offering to defend her face.

"Well, that's all I can ask, I suppose," she laughed. At least they were joking. Her body was full of nervous twitches that she was bent on keeping him too distracted to notice. And maybe keeping herself a little distracted too.

Her feet touched the bottom of the stairwell, and Rielle froze, doing a quick once over of the station. It was empty. Thank fucking Merlin.

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caulfieldish
2013-01-11 05:12 am UTC (link)

Well okay. He didn't drink protein shakes for lunch, or sit around lifting weights in his spare time. She had him there. But he liked to think that guys who were really big and strong had other things to do than mug people on the subway. If they were really keen on beating people up they'd do so for a real profit, not a stolen iPhone and a credit card that'd only be cancelled once the victim reached a telephone. Or picking on guys their own size at least. They had to have some dignity, right?

"Well I'm not going to try my worst, if that's what you're getting at." He wasn't totally oblivious to her nervousness, but it wasn't as if he was going to go and point it out. It would probably only make her more nervous, anyway. "So, you've made it to the bottom. Now you just have to pay to get in and onto the train. You have small change, right?" As in, something smaller than a $20. Preferably a $5. Or a single ride ticket.

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justlikeflying
2013-01-11 05:27 am UTC (link)

"I still have my ticket from last time. Since I didn't go anywhere with it, you know." That, at least, she'd had in her pocket. Sexy bum did not get it. "I can pay for yours, though. Since you came for me and all." She pulled a $10 out of her pocket. She had a $20 in there, too. And maybe a $50, just in case of an emergency. But the $10 seemed the most appropriate, given the situation.

"Here," she held it out toward him. "Take it, and buy yours."

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caulfieldish
2013-01-11 05:32 am UTC (link)

Aaron snorted and pushed the $10 back at her, "I don't need a ticket. I have a pass." Silly girl. It took him a moment, but he added, "Thanks though. Put your ticket in so we can get past the turnstile."

Once they were both through he pointed her to a subway map, "Alright chief, where are we going." Because, obviously, you needed a destination if you were going to go anywhere. You didn't want to just hop on a subway and go. Who knows where you could end up!

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justlikeflying
2013-01-11 05:41 am UTC (link)

Oh. Well, at least he thanked her? Better late than never. She repocketed the $10, and frowned. The turnstile had been her least favorite part about the subway the last time. Apart from that whole other thing, obviously. It was just so dirty, and overused, and god only knew how many people touched it on a daily basis. It was a struggle but she managed to get through it, and without looking very uncomfortable, too. Which was a big win for her, considering her company and all. She didn't even have her sanitizer on her.

"I don't care. You pick. You know the subway better than me." She just wanted to get the ride over with.

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caulfieldish
2013-01-11 05:46 am UTC (link)

Good enough anyway. He'd always thought being afraid of dirt and germs was a funny way to live. Very limiting. Besides, what was she going to catch? Most of the really nasty diseases had vaccines nowadays. It wasn't as if the turnstile would give her cancer.

Aaron's lip curled up a little, "Well you're no fun." He hadn't actually planned to have to come up with a destination. That would have been work. This was her phobia, not his.

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justlikeflying
2013-01-11 06:07 am UTC (link)

She sighed. "Fine." She closed her eyes and jabbed at a spot on the map. "We'll go here." She opened her eyes and glanced over at Aaron to see if her decision was okay with him or not. She really didn't care where they went. Weren't they just going to turn around and come right back anyways? Or was this going to turn into something else, because she was almost positive he had said he wasn't interested in dating her. And planning a place to go to sounded sort of like a date.

In all honestly, she figured they'd just ride it for a few stops until she felt like she could breathe normally, and then they'd get off and back on to go back. She didn't realize they actually needed a destination.

"What are we going to do when we get there? Am I required to pay for your services in food or something, since I couldn't pay for your ticket?"

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caulfieldish
2013-01-11 06:13 am UTC (link)

"Yeah, okay, I guess." It wasn't a bad part of town or anything. That stop in particular wasn't interesting, but it was far enough away for a decent subway experience. It wasn't much for an adventure or anything, but apparently she just wasn't the adventurous type. Whatever.

"We don't have to do anything. And I can afford my own food." He rolled his eyes, now she was being annoying again. "But generally if you're riding the subway you should actually know where you're going in the first place. Hence the need for a destination." Duh. "You don't just hop on random trains."

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justlikeflying
2013-01-11 06:22 am UTC (link)

And he was being annoying, too. "Obviously, if I'm going to ride the subway for any reason, it will be to go somewhere. Don't worry. Apart from tonight, I'm not going to be riding it for the joy of it." But thanks for the advice, Aaron. Rielle made a sarcastic mental note to make sure she had a destination the next time she traveled. She rolled her eyes.

"I wasn't implying that you couldn't afford your own food," she added. "Relax. Don't be so defensive." If he didn't want people to think he was poor, then he probably shouldn't snap at someone offering to buy him something as a gesture. Sure, she didn't say it all happily and grateful or whatever, but still. A gesture was a gesture.

She took a few steps away from the map, towards the middle of the station.

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caulfieldish
2013-01-11 06:28 am UTC (link)

In Aaron's opinion a gesture wasn't much of a gesture unless it was meaningful, so her 'gesture' sounded more like a slight than anything else. Besides, he wasn't even hungry. And didn't buying him dinner or something make it seem like a date? People bought each other meals on dates, didn't they?

And really the trick wasn't to keep people from thinking he was poor, it was keeping them from thinking he had money. You didn't get mugged on the subway platform if people thought you had nothing on you in the first place. Even if you rather dangerously kept a pocket full of cash on you most of the time. But that was neither here nor there.

"Whatever, I'm just saying, you don't want to do this half assed." He ignored the rest of what she said on purpose. He wasn't being defensive. Really.

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justlikeflying
2013-01-11 06:34 am UTC (link)

A hot dog from a street vendor didn't necessarily constitute as a dinner date. That $50 in her pocket was just for emergencies. And if they were going to sit down for dinner, they'd need more than that anyways at any of the places she liked to eat. But that was neither here, nor there. If he didn't want her to buy him anything, then she wouldn't. If he was going to take some odd offense to her being nice, then she wasn't going to offer anything anymore. It was that simple. She had a problem with being generous anyways. It didn't come naturally to her.

"Alright. Fine. I'll keep it in mind." Her hands were starting to get clammy now, and her heart was starting to race. This was about the time that she got raped. Not necessarily this time of the night, but rather, she'd been down in the station about the same amount of time as before. Quickly, she glanced over her shoulder. Her and Aaron were still alone. She rocked back and forth on her heels slightly.

"How much longer until the train comes?" She tried to ask casually.

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caulfieldish
2013-01-11 06:40 am UTC (link)

Which would explain why she was so very good at it. Being generous that is. Just saying. Could have fooled him.

Aaron glanced at his watch. "Couple minutes. They're usually on time." He looked back over at her. The whole pretending not to be nervous thing wasn't really working anymore. She seemed pretty obviously uncomfortable rocking back and forth on her heels like that. Good thing she wasn't wearing anything high heeled or she'd fall over.

"Did you... Literally need me to hold you hand?" It was sort of a joke, but he was serious.

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	Meant mugged, not raped!!!!! Whoops. justlikeflying 2013-01-11 06:47 am UTC (link)
	Couple minutes? Geeze Louise that was a long time. Or, it sure felt like it anyways. She glanced over her shoulder again, then directed her attention on Aaron. "They're all sweaty," she said, embarrassed, before shoving them in her coat pockets. "I don't need any sass about how gross they feel or whatever." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	I gotchoo caulfieldish 2013-01-11 06:52 am UTC (link)
	Aaron gave her a huge exaggerated eye roll, "I wash hair for a living, sweaty hands are nothing compared to gross, greasy hair." He stuck his hand out in case she needed to take it after all, "I'll keep the sass to a minimum. About clammy hands anyway." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

justlikeflying
2013-01-11 06:58 am UTC (link)

After hopping on her toes a few more times and eying his hand, she finally succumbed. Sighing loudly, so he might get the impression that she was doing it more for his benefit than hers, though that clearly and obviously wasn't the case, she took a step toward him and grabbed a tight hold of his hand. She did wipe most of the sweatiness off on her pant leg first, though. Just to lessen his potential snark.

"Thanks," she said after a moment, looking down at the ground. "I appreciate it."

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	caulfieldish 2013-01-11 04:42 pm UTC (link)
	Her sigh and pause to wipe off her hand received an exaggerated eye roll from Aaron, but once her hand was in his, he gave it a little squeeze. Or tried, anyway. She had a pretty tight hold. Tighter than he expected from her, truthfully, but he was trying to be reassuring. "No problem." He shrugged, looking straight ahead. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

justlikeflying
2013-01-11 07:43 pm UTC (link)

She could only look behind her so many more times before she lost her mind. A couple people, two guys, were on their way down the stairs. Subconsciously, she moved closer to Aaron, her free hand clenched tightly around the cell phone in her pocket. She listened as they talked to each other, laughing about something as they put their tickets in the turnstile, and then they were standing close but not to close to them.

She looked at Aaron for a distraction. "So, um. You mentioned before that you've been hit in the face? Do you get into a lot of fights?"