Who: Devlin & Greer What: Traveling Where: An hour away from Bangor When: Sometime in the AM of Thursday, 9/21 Status: Complete
Papa Morrow's journal didn't make a whole lot of sense. It hadn't the first time Devlin leafed through it and it didn't now. Still, it provided him with something to do, racking his brain as he went over his grandfather's scribbles, questions and vague map-doodles. The greyhound was slowly making its way those last few hours to Bangor and Greer had been sleeping on his shoulder for the last hour or so.
He had never expected to actually go. They'd had it good in California and the last thing he wanted to do was travel to Maine at the start of winter. Devlin liked the sun and the heat. Winter? Not so much. Yet he hadn't felt like he had much of a choice. He'd read the journal - or the parts of it that hadn't been torn out or scratched over to the point of being unreadable - and now that damn thing haunted his dreams. Not for the first time he slipped his gloves off and gave the little book a squeeze but just like before he got nothing from it. But of course. Usually visions were unwanted, that seemed to be the most annoying cosmic rule of all.
Glancing down at Greer he wished he could sleep again. It would help pass the time faster and he was getting more than a little sick of this bus. They'd gotten on at arse o'clock in the morning at what seemed like forever ago, like this bus had become their whole life now, some kind of purgatory they were stuck in. Standing up to stretch his feet was out of the question while Greer was sleeping on him. She looked peaceful and he wasn't about to rob her off her own little time travel so he focused on the journal for now, as if it might hold clues he had missed before.
Greer had been thrilled for this trip. As much as she loved California, she would never say no to traveling, even if it was to a tiny town on the opposite side of the country where the weather was starting to turn. Greer was used to the sun and warm temperatures, but she wasn't opposed to chilly weather and snow. Honestly, she had no idea if they would even be there that long, but Greer was willing to take things day to day. While Dev considered the bus to be his own personal version of hell, Greer was enjoying every second of the trip. She didn't have a license, nor did she have a car, so it was either a bus, or a train, and trains tended to cost a bit more than either of them could afford. So, a Greyhound it was.
She had spent most of her free time chatting with those around her. Greer loved hearing about where they were going, who they might be meeting. Some people weren't very receptive to her enthusiasm, but more than a few were willing to humor her. She even managed to convince a couple to let her read their palms, free of charge. Dev didn't seem to mind when Greer would lean over his lap or disappear to another section of the bus to chat with people. She knew he was a bit preoccupied with Papa Morrow's journal, and what might be waiting for them in Point Pleasant, Maine. It was such a cute name for a town. Point Pleasant. Happiness was already built into the name. Greer was picturing Mayberry in her mind, a small town with a no nonsense but kind Sheriff, a few inept, but lovable deputies and residents who never locked their doors at night and traded recipes for pie. It was an ideal town, of course, and not likely to be anywhere near reality. If anything, the name Point Pleasant was probably hiding deep, dark secrets and sinister motivations. Or perhaps they would find that the nature of the town met somewhere in the middle of the two. Either way, Greer was eager to get to their destination, despite how much she was enjoying the journey.
At some point she had fallen asleep against Dev. Greer was someone who could sleep anywhere, under any circumstance, and the jolt and swaying of the bus didn't bother her in the least. She had no idea how long she had been asleep, but when she woke, she felt mildly groggy, so it must have been awhile. It took her a few moments to get oriented to her surroundings before she moved. Greer lifted her head and checked for drool on his arm. When she found none, she pushed her hair from her eyes and stretched with a low moan. Settling back in her seat, Greer looked over at Dev with a small smile. "Where are we?" They had to be close by now.
Dev tilted his head back and smiled at her, relieved to see her awake. It had been getting boring sitting there alone with so many sleeping people around him. "Hey love bug," he said softly, reaching up to brush an eyelash off her cheek with his thumb. "We're about an hour away from Bangor, I think. You sleep okay?" He closed the journal and now that she was awake he could feel the lack of sleep catching up to him. He could safely sleep while she was awake and hearing her chatter to other people just made his sleep sweeter.
Bangor. Not too far then. Greer smiled a bit sleepily before nodding. "As much as I've enjoyed this, I'm looking forward to a real bed again." She stretched her arms in front of her and looked down at the journal in his lap. "Reading it again?" The journal remained something of a mystery to the both of them, but it was the main reason why they were on this bus in the first place. Greer loved a good mystery, to be honest, and she held a deep seated belief that they would find something in Point Pleasant. Whether or not it would benefit them remained to be seen.
Devlin couldn't help but laugh. Of course she enjoyed this. He'd never met anyone who enjoyed things as much as Greer did and it was a big part of why he loved her as much as he did. He probably would have hated every minute of this bus ride if he'd been alone but her enthusiasm for life was contagious. "Eh, just leafing through," he murmured and that journal was a source of mystery - and a little guilt. His grandfather had asked him to come visit him long before he died and he'd mentioned he could use Devlin's help with something. This journal had been hidden away inside a haphazardly built plaster wall which Devlin had to take down before he could rent out the apartment. It was all about Point Pleasant and mentions of how Papa Morrow was waiting until 'things cooled down' and 'Devlin came to help him'. Devlin didn't much know what to do with that other than follow the leads and maybe finish whatever it was that the old man had started. He could at least try. At the moment he didn't think it would lead anywhere but going to Point Pleasant and poking around might ease his guilt somewhat.
Devlin had been through that journal multiple times and Greer was positive that he would find something eventually. The answers would come. Maybe they just had to be in the right place for it to happen. She reached out to brush her fingers along the nape of his neck, massaging him there for a moment. "Don't stress about it," Greer said. "We'll be there in a few hours and then maybe things will begin to fall into place." She rested her head back against the seat and then lifted a brow. "You know, maybe you should start your own journal when we get there. Start recording your own thoughts, and what you might see when we're there. It might help piece things together to have a log of our own."
He leaned into the touch like a cat, all but rubbing himself against her hand. Pettings were the best. "Dear diary," he said jokingly but it wasn't a bad idea, keeping a track of things and trying to connect the pieces later. "I haven't kept a journal since I was a pretentious teenage twat," he chuckled. "Good idea though, just smack me around a bit if I start writing poetry." He turned his head to grin at her and snuck another kiss in her hair.
Greer laughed. “Oh, come on, you know I don’t mean it like that. Although if you want to write down your innermost thoughts and feelings, I won’t judge you,” she said. “I bet your poetry was eloquent and heartfelt. But this could be more of a… things we find, people we meet, how it might tie into your grandpa’s journal… it could be helpful.” Greer reached for his hand and brought it up to her lips to kiss his knuckles. “If you do feel the overwhelming need to write a few sonnets, I will encourage it, of course.”
Dev laughed at that, nodding along. "Dear diary. You ought to have seen my love's bosom this lovely evening. I watched them gently bobbing as we rode along the countryside... How's that for poetry?" Cheeky? Of course. Dev made no secret of how much he loved Greer's breasts, especially when she didn't wear a bra - or anything at all, of course. He wasn't sure that counted as poetry but it was waxing poetic at least. She was right though, writing down notes was going to be very helpful as they did their little investigative tour.
"Eloquent and heartfelt," Greer said, amused as she leaned in to press a kiss to his jaw. Being on the bus didn't really stifle her desire for Dev, although she made sure to keep their displays of affection PG rated. Maybe PG-13, depending on who was on the bus at the time. She was looking forward to getting him alone again. "You should try to get some sleep before we get there. You look exhausted." The bus wasn't the most comfortable place to rest, but he looked like he needed it. Greer didn't mind staying awake alone. A quick glance behind her showed new faces, and new palms to read. Greer wouldn't get bored. But she wouldn't leave Dev's side until he was asleep.
He gave her a cheshire grin at the grin and wiggled happily as he slipped his glove back on and settled down in the seat. "I might get a shut-eye if you promise to protect me, love." Of course she'd wander off and keep herself busy and that was fine, she wouldn't be far away. Dev never slept too tightly so if she needed him he'd be awake possibly even before she realized she needed him.
"Until my last breath," Greer promised. She might get up and talk to a few people, but she was always aware of Dev, and where he was. It wasn't that he had very far to go on a bus, but she would make sure no one disturbed him if he was sleeping. With any luck they would be in, or near, Point Pleasant by the time he woke up.