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cuddletalk2017-12-02 08:30 pm
004. Video; un: driver
[ When the video starts, nothing shows but a Cadelle street. It's the middle of the night and the streetlamps are all the light around. There's music playing, obviously coming from the phone's speakers, tinny. But it's half covered by Baby's humming. ]
Hellooooo everyone! I thought I'd sing you a lullaby.
[ It's obvious that Baby is drunk when he starts speaking, even without being on the screen, and it's even more obvious when he moves the camera a little, half his face appearing, shadowed by the streetlights he's walking under. He's wearing sunglasses.
Eyes half closed, the unsteadiness of the video shows how much Baby has had earlier. He stumbles for a step, then stops, laughing to himself as he runs a hand over his face.
Then, he starts singing, along with the song playing: ]
So take a look at me now
Since I told you it's over
You got a hole in your heart
I'll find a four leaf clover
You can't tell me this now
This far down the line
That you're never, ever gonna get over me
[ He might be drunk, but at least he's not a bad singer. It's a bit wobbly, and there are tears in his voice as he sings, the words feeling like they're stabbing him, over and over.
Isabelle's gone.
He stops singing, looking ahead at the mostly empty street. He stumbles again, closes his eyes while he takes a deep breath, head tilted up to the sky. When he opens them again, and then turns to the camera, he's grinning. ]
Feels like a perfect night for a joyride, right?
[ The words are slurred, and Baby's smile is already wavering, but then he turns the camera to his car, parked a few feet away. ]
no subject
That makes sense. But it's better if it's not what I want to call you; it's better if it's what you want to be called. Do you want me to? Call you Miles in private, so you can decide how you like the sound of it...?
( It's just an offer she figures is worth putting on the table. There's nothing that says he has to stick with it or even let her to begin with, after all, and she has no real horse in that race. She's just trying to help. )
Let me ask you this: is is the driving or is it the reason behind the driving that you love? Because if it's just the driving itself, there's plenty of easy fixes for that.
( Legal ones that won't make him feel so bad about himself. At least, she's getting the idea that he feels pretty bad about himself, in any case. )
no subject
Yeah. Yeah, I think I'd like that.
[ Most of the time, he doesn't feel like a Miles. He doesn't feel like a Baby, either, so maybe he should try the name on for size. He's got nothing to lose. ]
I love driving. I love the control, I love being in charge of a fast car. I love the freedom, too, knowing I can go anywhere, see anything. Just hop in and never stop. Leave everything behind. I love all of that. I love being good at something. And I'm really, really good at driving.
no subject
Then Miles it is. I like that name.
( Leaning back against the wall, Jo stretches her legs out and looks over at him. )
Be an Uber driver. I heard that's a thing where you can kind of be like your own taxi cab company, sort of. Or...be a race car driver. Then you can drive fast and get paid for it. Or...just drive when you want to drive, you know? You can do any or all of those things and still get to embrace the driving, but not necessarily have to be Baby, you know?
no subject
I think that, Baby is the driving side of me, you know? The fast and furious thing, with the money and the beautiful cars. And the Miles side is more about the music, and the creating, and trying to - to be good.
[ Maybe he has to let go of one to be the other. Maybe they can work hand in hand. He isn't sure, but he guesses that's where he's got to work to... find himself, or something. ]
Gotta sort out if I can be both.
no subject
Reaching over to take his hand, Jo gives it a quick little squeeze of reassurance before letting go again. )
I'm sure you can be both, it just might be a delicate balancing act at first. I believe in you.
( She pauses for a moment. )
Do you want someone to walk home with? Not that I'm saying you should or have to leave right now, but just...generally speaking?
no subject
When Jo mentions going home, though, Baby sighs, and nods, slowly. He can't keep hiding in here. ]
I do need to get some sleep. You'd walk with me?
[ He stands, unsteady, holding on to the shelves as he looks down at Jo. ]
Thanks, for - for this. You've been so nice.
no subject
( It seems like such a small gesture to Jo, anyway, especially if he lives in the welcome district like she does. Why wouldn't she want to make sure he got home safe after coming out here to make sure he didn't do something unsafe to begin with?
She gets to her feet after he stands, and she waits, wanting to make sure that he's steady and, if he isn't, she's still standing within reach if he needs something sturdy to grab onto when he lets go of the shelves. )
You're welcome, Miles. I have my moments.
( The smirk on her face suggests that she's kidding. She's nice more often than she isn't, honestly. )
Let's go.