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Let me get this straight. You got into a stranger’s car because what? I told you to?
( gearing up to lecture her like a disappointed father, voice chesty and stern. no escape. )
Word of advice, kid: make this the last time you do something that stupid.
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( she’s not joking. she blinks at his question, )
… i’m not good with car stuff. i don’t have a license.
( she assumes he’s just being a shitty stuck up man about it. damn ok gatekeeper keep ur gate then, )
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( he shoots her a look, brief and indecipherable, before he returns to staring holes through the windshield, incredulity growing as he chews over what she just said. a beat of silence passes, deliberate. )
You’re joking, right?
( didn’t sound like she was joking. )
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it looks like some high tech for a hobby.
are you a storm chaser?
( what would a storm chaser be doing in the city….. HM. that can’t be it. )
or an electrician?
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What do *you think?
( teasing, not hostile, although it isn’t always easy to tell with mark. the question raises a flag, but maybe pointing out the obvious is new age smalltalk. )
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( whoa. kinda intense… she tucks her purse close to herself after buckling in, as if she could make herself even smaller than usual, )
kay. is this your work car…?
( she takes out her phone, calmly tapping a message to armani, nails clicking on the screen, )
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( the interior is slightly less nondescript, looking more like a cockpit than a car. all blinking lights and buttons. )
Yeah? Well, don’t touch anything, Lamaude.
( eyes back on the road, he resumes driving. maybe he’ll earn some good karma from this. )
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( there’s approximately twelve voices that immediately shut that offer down, both in her head and in the immediate vicinity. not only do you not get in cars with strangers, but a man? )
… okay.
( and yet! a thirteenth voice, this one close to her shoulder but not one of
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( tsk. after a brief moment of consideration, he goes against his better judgement and tips his head towards the passenger seat. )
Get in. I’m heading that way.
( limited time offer. red light turning amber. tick, tock. )
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( fuck her LIFE. this is why you get an uber. she groans, loosely balled fists press against her eyes as she has A Moment— she exhales, as if pushing the stress off, )
… okay. good. amazing.
thank you.