Dante "Inferno" Zaragoza - Death'll find you... (xolotl) wrote in repose, @ 2019-12-16 10:07:00 |
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Entry tags: | *log, chris fairchild, dante zaragoza |
[Log: Dante Z. & Chris F. - Complete.]
Who: Chris & Dante
What: Friends have drinks!
When: BACKDATED: November 23rd
Where: Casa de Chris
Ratings/Warnings: language. Always language.
They’d met some months ago in The Capital. Chris had brought her vehicle into Mike’s shop where Dante worked and they’d seemed to get along. However, it’d been business and as much as Dante may have flirted a little - people liked being gassed up, it was good for business - she’d been more professional than not. It wasn’t until the following weekend that the two had run across each other in a club and… They’d just gotten along. Which was sort of amazing in of itself with how fighty Dante could be at times. Yet, Dante’s willingness to tell people to go fuck themselves had seemed to work in her favor for her friendship with Chris. The fact that they both enjoyed partaking in light physical intimacy - cuddling on a couch, light touches in passing - without it having to mean anything and Chris never rebuffed her flirting - even if nothing ever seemed to come of it - sure as hell didn’t hurt either. The fact that the flirting never went anywhere was unfortunate though but likely for the best. The fact that they had some things in common had only added to how well they got along. Even if those things were dark and not so fun to chat about. When those conversations came up Dante proceeded with caution - much unlike the rest of her life - but ultimately they had turned out well, and resulted in cementing some of Dante’s loyalty to Chris and their continued friendship. That was why when Chris has extended the invitation for Dante to come to her place to drink and hang out Dante latched onto it like a drowning person would a flotation device. This small town was driving her out of her mind and perhaps getting out of her own mind was exactly what she’d need. Without hesitation the offer had been accepted and after work Dante had quickly dropped into Dart and headed in the direction Chris had told her to take. It was a beautiful drive with all the trees and things but the massive house - Mansion? Was this a mansion? - threw her. There had been things here and there that had clued Dante in that Chris had money but this fucking house? ¡Jesús! There was a little hesitation as she slowed the car, rolling it to a stop and trying to look around a little before turning off the engine. Getting out she’d slowly look around more - was she supposed to give her keys to a valet? Fuck. She had no idea what to do. With a sigh she’d fortify herself before locking the car and cautiously making her way up to the front door with a bottle of wine - concealed in a brown paper bag from recently being purchased - to knock. Fuck. She really hoped she had the right place right now, otherwise it was about to get real awkward up here and that was not the night she was about. Chris flung open the door almost immediately, grinning ear to ear. Her cheeks were flushed and her breath quick -- she'd clearly been pacing in the foyer, eager for Dante to get there. After all those weeks on the road, she couldn't wait to get in some quality time with one of her favorite people in the world. "Hi!" she squeaked, "I'm so glad you--" Chris's voice petered out as she caught the look on Dante's face. Oh, right. "Yeahhhhh. I'm sorry I forgot to warn you. It's kind of a lot." She paused for a moment, allowing Dante a moment to gather her thoughts. Barely a few seconds passed before Chris stepped forward, flinging her arms around her friend. "Sorry, sorry. I couldn't wait any longer." She gave Dante a squeeze. "I've missed you too much." Oh thank fuck. Seeing Chris’ smiling face and welcoming posture was an instant relief and it would reflect in her own stance immediately. “Girl, you gotta fucking warn a bitch that they’re gonna be rolling up on the pinche palace or some shit.” The words weren’t angry however, more a sort of shock, and Dante even offered a smile after the seriousness of the situation faded from her mind. One of the best things about Chris? Touching. Not to say that Chris didn’t have a list of positives a fucking mile long but that was why Dante had stuck around. The hug was returned with a squeeze and a soft content sounding sigh. “Missed you too. Tons.” The hug would be allowed to linger a moment longer before she’d step back and offer the bagged bottle of wine - a Port from Portugal - over to Chris. “Now I feel underprepared.” The comment was tossed out without much thought or emotions behind it, more an observational announcement than an issue. “Should I have come in a ball gown or some shit? Cause clubwear doesn’t seem like it’d cut it here.” Joking, because what the fuck else was she supposed to do? Chris raised a single brow in response. "And miss this amazing, once-in-my-lifetime look on your face? Never." She shrugged with a sardonic grin. "This is just the old summer house, Dante. Does it help to put this visual up to all those stories I've told you?" Over the course of their friendship, Chris had opened up to Dante to an unexpected degree about her childhood and the various homes she had grown up in. While her inclination with most of her friends was to hold the line and maintain the careful composure she had been raised with, it was easier with Dante to let her guard down and be honest about the not-so-great things. Because Dante wouldn't judge. Even better, Dante was perfectly willing to get angry on Chris's behalf when she couldn't do it for herself. There had only been one other person like that in Chris's life, and they barely counted anymore. Everyone needed a friend like Dante. It was an objective truth. "You're fine. It's just me in this giant old place. Heath is out." She paused. "Or in some room so far away that I literally have no idea whether he's in the building." "Don't say the b-word too loud! If anyone other than me hears you they'll try to dump you into a frilly debutante dress." Chris's eyes widened with mock horror. "Trust me, you'll never make it out of the taffeta layers alive." “Yeah, yeah, yeah.” While her tone of voice wasn’t particularly impressed the look across Dante’s face was good natured, clearly seeing the humor in the situation in hindsight. Though at the next question - this one was serious and she’d take it as such - was given a nod. “It does. Yeah.” Which someone telling you they came from money was one thing but actually seeing it? The magnitude of it? The obvious gluttonous sin of excess and wealth sitting in front of her like a goddamn eyesore? A pretty eyesore… but fucking still. This place could easily house a bunch of people and everyone could still love comfortably but it wasn’t and…. She had to let it go. This wasn’t Chris’ fault. “Killed by a dress?” There was a thoughtful hum in her tone. “Worse ways to die.” A soft laugh escaped and a nod was given inside. “We partying out here tonight or?” “You say that now, but one of those dresses was so big it had to have its own dedicated closet.” Chris was perfectly aware of the absurdity of what she was saying, but that was precisely why she said it. She needed to feel like she wasn’t alone in feeling it was all too much. “Yes! The fridge is stocked, but more importantly, so is the liquor cabinet.” She held up the bottle Dante had brought. “Thanks to this, we have extra dessert options too!” She paused, looking at her friend. “After all those weeks on the road, I’d really just love to hang out and chill, if that’s okay with you.” She looped her arm around Dante’s and escorted her into one of the lounge rooms. “Since I’m being a bore and making you stay in, you get to decide what we do. But only if you tell me everything you’ve been up to.” There were images from the dark web that flashed across her mind. When you ran out of things to punch, you found new things. And fucking hell was there plenty to punch on the dark web… The only problem? Those sorts of images? That sort of information? That would never leave her mind. “An entire closest for a fucking dress?” There was an open gaping look that mixed with a sort of morbid fascination and at the same time complete horror. “You gotta be fucking with me.” Dante knew that Chris likely wasn’t but at the same time… fucking hell. What the fuck rich people? “This is some white people shit, isn’t it?” Not that her family couldn’t be extra as fuck but… This reeked of white people shit. A grin was offered at the notion that there was food and booze a plenty. Which? Honestly she was starving. There had been so much work to do lately that she’d easily lost track of time and even some self-care practices. Though her favorite practices were still hard to accomplish with staying in the motel. She needed to fix that soon. There was a mock long suffering sigh as she hooked arms with the other woman and kept walking but her face broke into a grin shortly after. “I gueeessssssssss.” A mock whine was in her tone, playful really. “But you owe me clubbing.” A finger pointed at Chris as if to cement the point. “Plus I’m sure all the boys and girls miss your pretty face there anyway.” A grin was offered as she intentionally - carefully - bumped against Chris. “Everything?” Teasing incredulousness. “Pues…” The single word was thoughtful. “One night stands, clubs, fast cars, work at the shop, fruity drinks, co-buying the mechanics shop and gas station in Repose with a guy named Diego, playing with electronics, lots of flirting.” A beat as she shrugged. “You know, the norm.” Because dropping that bomb right in the middle of things just made sense, right? Chris just shrugged in response to Dante’s question. They both knew exactly what it was. “We did also technically learn all about volunteering and leadership, so it could have been worse.” Chris pulled a basket out of one of the hidden cabinets along the wall, piled high with snacks. “Fine, I owe you clubbing,” she conceded, before making a face as she regained her footing post-bump, “but I’m not sure anyone missed me other than you.” Chris nodded along to the laundry list of happenings, her eyebrow quirking once again at the bomb Dante casually dropped. “Second of all, how can you stand fruity drinks, but first of all, you BOUGHT A SHOP?” Chris slapped Dante playfully on the shoulder. “Way to bury the lede there, you jerk!” “Not how to serve tea or recite some Robert Frost shit so I guess it works.” There was some lingering judgment there though about the dresses. Either way? It wasn’t something she really needed to concern herself with. Unless Chris was going to ask her to dress up in some sort of ridiculousness like that someday… It was better not to potentially give Chris ideas. Dante made sure not to speak a word of the thought that had just occurred. “Ooo!” The sight of food was obviously well received but the self-doubt there? Oh yeah. That needed to be squashed. “You wouldn’t believe it. I’d get the whole ‘Chica! Where is your friend?’ at least once a weekend.” Maybe that was an exaggeration but it wasn’t entirely a lie either as there had been a comment or two. People remembered pretty faces. “They’re sweet! I like sweets!” Was the immediate rebuttal and a hand flew dramatically into the air. The smack was deserved and even earned a laugh from Dante. “Bought half a shop. Kinda.” The smile waned with a hint of unease before picking back up with a shrug. “Mike’s been saying how I should get my own since my second week at his and this place.” A hand waved absently off to the side as her eyes fell away for a moment before rising again with another shrug. “Was for sale.” That was a lie. That wasn’t why she was here at all. Hopefully, Chris would never have to find that out. “And we were able to cut a deal so, I got a shop.” Chris shot Dante a skeptical look. “Oh yes, I’m sure with all your…” she waved her hand at Dante, searching for the right word, “youness, what you were approached about is me.” Dante was a tour de force when they went out, and half of why Chris went was to watch her friend hold court. “I like a good cupcake too but sugar and alcohol together end up giving me the worst hangovers ever.” Chris caught Dante’s momentary unease as she went over her circumstances, and enveloped her friend in a hug. “I am so incredibly happy for you. You deserve this and are going to be absolutely amazing at this.” She pulled away, looking Dante straight in the eyes. “Like you are with everything you do. I’m so so proud of you.” “Besides, this means you’ll be even closer now so it’s a win-win for me!” There was a grin in response to Chris’ attempt at explaining. Admittedly, Dante knew exactly what the other woman was referencing. The mechanic knew what she wanted, easily made up her mind who she wanted it from, and then pursued doggedly - but respectfully - until either she got it or was given a clear signal that it wasn’t happening. It still didn’t change the fact that Chris had been asked about. “Damn right I was, which means you’ve got an admirer~.” The last bit was slightly sing-song and - while honest - completely teasing all at once. Chris’ next bit earned a smirk. “More strawberry daiquiris, cupcakes and vodka for me.” Because Dante sure as hell wasn’t passing all that up… Even if she wasn’t sure cupcakes and vodka would go well together. The hug was more than welcomed though - how desperately she’d been missing touch - and tightly returned. A semi-awkward laugh couldn’t be helped as Chris sung her praises and when the hug broke a hand rose to rub at the back of her neck. “I’ve never kept books for a full shop before.” A beat. “And especially not for a gas station.” The gas station was good, it would mean more business and likely be a hold over cash point when the appointments for automotive repairs got slow. Logically it was a sound investment for a town like this but…. it was still foreign territory for her. Chris’ new statement earned a laugh however. “You better be ready for way too much of me being waaayyyyy too antsy. I can already tell this small town stuff is gonna drive me nuts.” A hand waved absently off to one side. “I can’t even find a good anise in this place!” Because that was the real travesty here, clearly, Chris smirked, brows raised. “Well you know what they say — there’s no accounting for taste. And I’m talking about both things.” Chris’s tone made clear that she wasn’t really down on herself. She had spent her younger life drawing more attention than she’d wanted simply by existing, and had subsequently spent her years since moving out trying desperately to shirk it to varying levels of success. It was one of the things that made her and Dante so different from each other, and also one of the things that made them perfect friends for each other. Chris nodded as Dante described the upcoming challenges of owning her own business. “It’s going to be different, but you’ve got this. And if you need help, you’ve got me.” Dante was incredibly smart and Chris knew she’d have no need for help once she sunk her teeth into the books, but it was always good to have a financial professional on-call just in case. “You’re not going to need it though. Not with that genius brain of yours.” “Oh, you’re going to go stark raving mad out here. I spent a lot of time at the lake and at the bookstore over the summers, and you’re always welcome out here.” The lake wouldn’t be of much use at this time of year, but the offer still stood. Chris shrugged. “Let’s just say there’s a reason I spend my days in the Capital.” It was obvious from their surroundings that Chris certainly didn’t need her job at Albin, but picked it for a different, specific reason. “Sometimes all a girl wants is good Chinese take-out!” “Plenty accounting for taste, I’d totally hit on you if we were strangers in a club.” And Dante had hit on Chris. They’re just ... wound up like this instead of doing the horizontal tango between some silken sheets. Though that thought? Well ... maybe that would go into a mental box for later. Chris backing her up though and supporting her about her business concerns? BIG HUG TIME. Arms wrapped tightly around Chris - not too tight, don’t hurt her - and Dante squeezed before rocking them back and forth for a moment. “You. Are. The. Best!” Only after the exclamation was out did Dante let the hug be escaped. “But don’t you dare try to help without me paying you.” A finger pointed squarely at Chris. “You deserve to have your expertise compensated.” And it was true, Chris did and Dante wasn’t about to take no for an answer on that. Though the other news about going mad out here? That earned an annoyed look and a heavy huff of air. “Weekends in The Capital it is.” Because every time someone talked to her that fact was cemented more and more. “Guess you’ll just have to suffer my insanity until I can release it on some poor schmuck at the club.” And that brought with it a grin, because why the hell not? Chris laughed and gave one of her terrible winks. “I stand by what I said, even when it comes to your taste.” Chris still has fond memories of their first meeting outside Dante’s job, and how flattered she had been by Dante’s attention. She had been awed then by Dante’s ability to say anything that she wanted and continued to be awed by it today. Chris wanted to believe that a teeny tiny part of Dante’s frankness was starting to rub off on her. She needed it. Returning Dante’s hug, Chris allowed herself to melt a little into her friend’s squeeze. “What if I want to help as a gift to you? I’ll need to get you a ‘Congratulations on opening your own shop, you marvelous creature’ present anyway.” She waved a hand. “We can worry about that later. We have some drinks to pour first.” “We can always drink here, or go out in the Capitol and spend the night at my condo. Now that we’re together we can make it work.” Chris scrunched her nose playfully. “Oh no, that will be so different from every other time we go out. However will I survive?” “You can keep getting your services at the shop as a thank you.” Really, keeping work at the shop was going to be half the battle here after buying the damn thing. Dante knew she did good work and she hoped that the guy she’d be working with was just as dedicated to his work and helping people as she was. As Chris moved on to drinks though? Dante would easily follow. “A drink sounds ah-maze-zing!” It was unlikely she’d get drunk tonight - that generally took a bottle or two to herself - and eyes followed along with where Chris went. “Here’s fine for tonight. I’m going to have my work cut out for me with refitting the shop, getting the new sign commissioned and up and then also getting a place sorted out here and all my stuff moved this way.” It was a long laundry list of things to do and none of them were small but the tone of voice was unbothered by any of it. In fact, her tone was more akin to listening off items on a grocery list than seeming bothered by any of it at all. The sass from Chris though earned a bark of laughter and a playful wave of hands. “Hey, you like it.” Was cheerfully tacked on with a grin. “Now that’s an offer I can’t refuse, and you know it. Especially since I’m doing so much more driving these days.” As insistent on self-reliance as Chris had been since moving out, relying on Dante to keep her safe on the road had been as easy as breathing. For some reason she hadn’t figured out yet, Chris had no qualms letting go of the tight control she maintained on every other aspect of her life as long as Dante was the one behind the wheel. There was really only one other person who could boast that. Chris pulled three bottles out of a cabinet and set them on the table — one a clear liquor for mixed drinks, one a darker, sipping liquor, and one a red wine. “Pick your poison. If you want beer, I have some in the kitchen too.” Dante’s unperturbed tone as she made her list was amusing, but not surprising. Her friend got things done. “Looks like you have quite the laundry list of things ahead of you, but it also sounds fun.” Chris had never opened her own business but she remembered a similar sort of excitement when she had bought and furnished her condo. “If you need an extra set of hands or an opinion, I’ll be there.” Chris sighed, infusing a dose of theater into the exhalation. “I know, I do. I wish I knew how to quit you. I suppose for now I have these,” she swept her hands across the bottles. “That will have to do.” “When was your last oil change?” The question was immediately pensive and clearly her own way of making sure Chris was being taken care of. It was serious but not pressing or demanding in its own way. They’d get it taken care of and they’d both be that much better off for it too. Though at the bottles produced? “Oooooo.” Fingers wiggled near the first bottle but didn’t touch before being pulled back to rest her chin against her knuckles. “You tell me, what type of night are we having?” A curious look was turned on her friend. Though the next statement about all the shit she had to do being fun? Her head bobbed in half agreement to the commentary. “More fun once it’s all done because then I won’t have it blocking out all my schedule and can get back to partying with you.” There would be a light, carefully measured, playful bump of shoulders. “I’ve got a lot of art to hang so you bet your ass I’m gonna need an extra set of hands, or eyes. More So eyes. Hard to make sure everything’s hung right while you’re doing the hanging.” There was a shrug of shoulders. Dante’s love of art had never been something she’d hidden even if talking art history with a mechanic weirded some people out. At the last statement? Oh that earned a giggle and a wickedly devious grin. “I’m pretty hard to quit, you might need more than those.” Her chin raised towards the bottles and a cheeky grin was offered to Chris. Chris shrugged. "Umm, not sure. You're the only one I go to, so I think a few months ago? I've probably hit the limit miles-wise, with the road trip and all." She smiled at Dante. "I can be your first customer at the new place whenever you're ready for me." "Let's start with some wine and then see where the night takes us." She uncorked the bottle, and distributed a heavy pour into two glasses. "I'd love to take it easy tonight -- it's been a really long week." Her face split into what could best be described as a halfway mischievous grin (Chris could probably not accomplish anything beyond that). "Besides, I need you to tell me everything you've seen and done in repose, and we can't really do that if we're five shots in." Chris nodded, unfazed by Dante's mention of artwork. Though Dante's penchant for fine art might have surprised those who didn't know the mechanic well, Chris had long since accepted the fact that Dante was capable of unknown and unlimited breadth and depth when it came to her interests. It was one of the things that had drawn Chris to her so quickly. "Well, I'll be there. Just let me know when you want to hang stuff and I'll bring the supplies I have leftover back at the condo. Hanging art alone is both hard and also boring. Much more fun with good company and some drinks." Sighing, Chris shook her head. "Let's be honest, there isn't enough alcohol in the world that could convince me to quit you." The fake seriousness dropped and Chris grinned again, clinking her glass with Dante's. "Good thing for both of us I have absolutely no desire to." |