Maria DeLuca (readyourpalm) wrote in valarlogs, @ 2020-09-14 16:43:00 |
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Entry tags: | !complete, maria deluca, michael guerin |
Who: Michael Guerin and Maria DeLuca
What: Maria enlists Michael's help at the farmer's market
Where: Local farmer's Market
When: Last Thursday
Rating: PG-13 for language
Status: Complete
Maria had been wanting to get to the farmer’s market for a couple weeks, but Alex was currently busy doing something and she didn’t want to bother Liz in case she had a date with Max. So she decided she would instead harass Guerin and at least with him around she could make him carry all her bags since she was sure he at least had some arm muscles from working on cars all day long.
And that was how Maria ended up in front of Michael’s airstream at 4 in the afternoon on a Thursday and pounded on his door.Her hair was up in braids and a scarf wrapped around her head and she was posed with a hand on her hip while dressed in a cute pair of tie dyed overalls. At least she knew she could probably convince him to come along because there was also a beer garden at this particular farmer’s market.
There weren’t too many cars in the shop so Michael closed up early heading back to his airstream. He was just getting settled when there was a knock on his door. He wasn’t expecting anyone. The only people that really stopped by were looking for sex and he was pretty sure they all thought he was still at the garage. So who the hell could it be?
It didn’t take long for Michael to answer the door. That’s what happened living in such a small space. Nothing was too far away. Maria was the last person he was expecting to see on the other side. “DeLuca?” he asked, not even trying to hide his surprise. “Alex isn’t here.”
The confusion and surprise was delightful and Maria gave him a quick roll of her eyes, “Oh I know. I’m here for you, Guerin. I need your arms to carry things at the Farmer’s Market for me.” She let her eyes fall to his arms after she spoke and judged him for if they would work or not. Her eyes flicked back up to him and there was an easy smile on her face, “And before you say no, there’s a beer garden and live music, so I’ll buy you at least one drink as a payment for helping me out.”
Michael ran his tongue over his lips as he noticed Maria looking over his muscles. “Using me for my brute strength?” he joked with a grin on his face. “But if you’re going to offer up free alcohol I don’t think I can turn down that offer.” Granted it wasn’t exactly free he would be carrying her bags for it, but close enough.
He took a few steps back to grab his wallet off the counter before walking outside. Locking his airstream up behind him. “This what actual friendship with you like, DeLuca?” Michael half joked, he really just liked reminding her that they were actually friends. Which hell was saying a lot for Michael. He didn’t consider many people a friend. Definitely not ones that gave him such a hard time. But there was just something about Maria that he was drawn to.
“Yep and I’m not ashamed. You seem like you’ve got some free time so why not come on down to the market with me? And I knew I would get you with the free beer. At least I’m not coming over at like 7am and trying to wake you up to go to a different market with me,” that was the upside of this one she wanted to go to - Thursday evening, beer, music, and good food. Way more fun than waking up early to hit up some of the other markets (but she still did if the urge hit her.)
“What? Me just showing up out of the blue? Yeah. Me coming up with good ideas to get you out of your airstream? Yep!” Maria grinned as she led the way to her car that wasn’t parked far away, clicking it to open it, and went around to the driver’s side. She sat down in the chair, started up the car, buckled up and looked over at him with a grin, “You know this is way more fun than just sitting at home.”
“Didn’t know you spent so much time thinking about me,” Michael grinned, climbing into her car. He kind of liked the idea of her thinking about him, even if it was just ways to get him out. “Who said I was planning on sitting at home all night?” he questioned with a raised brow before buckling up. “Sometimes I go to the bar.”
“I don’t, just thought of you when I realized Alex wasn’t around,” Maria quickly quipped back with a smirk on her face as she pulled out and back onto the road, following her phone’s gps, and rolled her eyes at him trying to fish for more compliments. She gave a small shrug at his next comment, “If you weren’t around then I would have just gone by myself, but you get a free beer out of this so I’m sure this is way more fun than going to a bar.” At least the beer garden was outside and could have some fresh air.
“It’s okay DeLuca,” Michael grinned. “You don’t have to justify wanting to spend time with me.” He winked at her even though she was focused on driving. It was kind of weird, not being the one in the driver’s seat. But he didn’t mind it.
Maria rolled her eyes again at him. Man, he was such a pain in the ass. The drive wasn’t super eventful thankfully but it was a little weird having Michael in her car instead of Alex. “so, do you not have friends that come to visit that often? You definitely seemed surprised to see me show up.” Maria was a little curious about what the hell he did in his spare time since she never saw him post about what he was up to.
“I don’t really have friends,” Michael replied. Which why was it actually was a big deal that he called Maria one. Even if it took her awhile to admit it. “Most people that show up are just trying to get laid,” he added the smirk back on his face. No need to get all serious. “Except Max and Isobel.” They definitely weren’t looking for sex from him.
“TMI, Guerin, you need to learn to make actual friends. Not just acquaintances that want something from you,” Maria pointed out to him with yet another roll of her eyes. Friends were your support system when you needed help and Maria wasn’t dumb enough to think that there were people out there that didn’t need any help at all. Michael could pretend that he was a stoic cowboy that needed no one, but it wasn’t true. Max and Isobel couldn’t be his whole support system.
“I made you my friend, didn’t I?” Michael countered. That was progress. At least as far as Michael was concerned. “Although I’m pretty sure you did just show up at my trailer wanting something.” He was joking of course. He knew that wasn’t what Maria had meant. But then he got serious. “Besides,” he said, beginning to open up a bit. Maria had that effect on him. “I’ve been alone my entire life. Why change that now?”
“My eyes are getting very tired of being rolled at you, Guerin,” Maria replied with a small smirk, “And why wouldn’t you change that now? You didn’t have a choice really in the matter growing up but once you hit eighteen you’re able to make the world your own. Being lonely isn’t something I wish upon anyone.” Maria knew that if she hadn’t had her more gregarious personality she probably would have been lonelier than she was. She made the turn to get off the highway to head into the town for the farmer’s market.
“No one said I was lonely,” Michael countered. He was just fine on his own. Preferred it that way, “Do you usually drag Alex with you to the farmer’s market?” Michael asked, changing the subject. He didn’t want the focus to be on him anymore. Besides it seemed like they were almost there anyway. Other than the fact that there was beer there, Michael wasn’t entirely sure what to expect.
Maria was going to let that drop because while he was definitely a lone wolf type she didn’t believe for a second that he didn’t get at least a little lonely. “And sometimes. Depends on my mood and if I want to buy a bunch of stuff. Sometimes I just go to look around and just get a few small things,” she answered him as they approached a stop light. The market was just up the road and she had a secret spot that she liked to park in, “Have you ever gone to one of these?”
“Anything particular today?” he questioned. Not that he really cared. He wouldn’t mind wandering around with Maria for a bit. “You know,” Michael began with a grin on his face as they got closer to the market. “I have a feeling you already know the answer to that question.” Michael definitely wasn’t the farmer’s market type. “Looks like you’ll be popping my cherry, Deluca.”
“I definitely need a couple spaghetti squash and maybe some watermelon for the heavy stuff. Otherwise I just kind of browse around to see what people have. There’s someone that makes really great pickles that I hope is here,” Maria knew she sounded kind of crazy but fresh food was so much better than the grocery store produce. Her nose wrinkled at his comment as she pulled into the parking lot, “Ugh. Guerin, did you have to say it like that? I might just leave you here now.” She parked the car, reached in the back and grabbed her tote bags, and then moved to get out.
“Geeze, DeLuca. Didn’t realize you were such a prude,” he teased before following her out of the car. He looked around at the market, all the stands. What the hell did he get himself into? “Where’s the beer?”
“Only when it comes to you,” Maria wrinkled her nose again and stuck her tongue out at Michael. Maria tucked her tote bags over her shoulder and smiled at all the activity going on. It was definitely a great night for something like this and she hoped Guerin wasn’t such a pain in the ass, “Over on the other side of the market. There’s a stage set up and that sort of thing. You planning on ditching me immediately?”
Michael just shrugged his shoulder at Maria’s tongue, a grin on his face. “I did say I would help you.” Michael replied. After all that was the whole reason he was here. He could have a bar back at his airstreams if he wanted. He didn’t need to go to a farmer’s market. “So where to first?”
“Such a martyr,” Maria teased as she nodded her head, “I start at the top and just do a quick walk through each aisle. There’s only like 4 aisles so it’ll go pretty quick. And again, thanks for coming with me.” At least Maria would have the muscles to help carry some of the bigger items she needed and she would pay him back for his help with a couple of beers because he didn’t have to try home tonight. It was kind of nice to just spend some time with her friend in a more relaxed setting without everyone else. She knew they didn’t know each other that well, so this was a good bonding experience.
Michael wasn’t exactly used to just spending time with people like this. But he liked it. Helping out a friend. Being useful. Someone wanting to spend time with him for reasons other than just sex. “I don’t think you gave me much choice,” Michael replied, grinning. “But alright. Let’s do this.” He even offered his arm as they made their way through the aisles. The sooner they did this part the sooner he got beer.