2013.12.26:Traffic Accident
| Traffic Accident | |
|---|---|
| Darcy’s first meeting with Beckett is a doozy. | |
| IC Date | December 26, 2013 |
| IC Time | 3:00 P.M. |
| Players | Darcy and Beckett |
| Location | Prospect, CA |
| Prp/Tp | n/a |
| Spheres | Mortal Mortal+ |
Sunset and G street, late afternoon. It looked like the perfect time for Darcy to learn so Hannah made the offer. "You need to be able to drive, Darcy. It's just not natural paying for a cab all the time, and your parent's car is just gonna rust away if you don't run it." So the convincing continued until Darcy had no choice. "The roads aren't busy, and I've always heard learning in a automatic it best." The little Pastel Pink VW is indeed an automatic. Hannah pulls it over in a parking lot and changes up sides with Darcy. She goes over the controls, and imparts a little wisdom - be it from a 20 something blonde's head - but still. "Just go slow about the Mimi-mart lot until you feel like hitting G-street. We can drive down by the water."
Oh, how she tried to argue. And she won for a while. "But it's so much /easier/ to just let a cabbie drive so I can get things done!" Especially these days. But when Hannah starts in on how she would let her parent's car just rust, Darcy gives in. And so this afternoon, she finds herself in the parking lot, eventually behind the wheel, taking a deep breath before starting the engine back up again, "I don't think I'm going to b ready for the road today.." But, engine cranked, the gear is put into Drive, and the foot slooooowly lets off the brake to press the gas.
The VW is a small car, not unlike a bumper car at an amusement park, and despite herself, her nervousness, Darcy is a dexterous young woman. It doesn't take long an she's easily cruising the parking lot area. Hannah even teaches her to park and back out into her lane. "You see, Darcy? I told ya. I told ya it wasn't a big deal. Now you can be my DD after the Phi Theta frat thing next weekend. /If/ I don't stay the night," which wouldn't be abnormal for Hannah. "Come on, girl! Lets hit the road. We can drive by the boardwalk, a scope the studs on the beach."
It's a good question as to why exactly Darcy hadn't learned to drive before now. Too busy. And then with her parents being killed, bad memories. But it would seem Hannah has the magic touch, knowing just how to work her over and get her to do something she may have set herself up to never do. one last pulling out of a parking spot after doing a few parallel parking moves, she pauses to peer at her friend, "Wait.. what do /I/ get out of this Frat thing exactly, if I agree?" Oh, she's got Hannah there! Still, she puts the car in drive, and then slowly heads for the exit of the parking lot.
"The satisfaction of knowing your BFF had a great night, and didn't end up playing center attraction in a sex tape," Hannah says smiling and laying her seat back some, eyes closed. She's always been a loud party girl - more focused on guys and hedonism than college. She glances over at Darcy, winking, "Well, at least /another/ sex tape." The wild child bust out in a fit of giggling. She is however swayed in her resolve to see the beach from the passenger's seat, and so she urges Darcy to pull out. "Come on, Darcy. Pretty please?" Her gives her the puppy dog eyes that only a longtime fried can.
There's a sigh that escapes. Long, drawn out, and slightly dramatic. And yet Darcy laughs and shakes her head, "I think it's safer to say I'd rather not learn of you getting wrapped around a tree or something." That said about the time Hannah is speaking of a /second/ sex tape. "I swear.." She murmurs lightly, playfully before finally pulling out, "All right, all right.. I'm going!!" She's a little more tense on the street - far more could happen here than in the parking lot! And there might be cars to deal with!
Traffic is mild at this hour of day, and speeds slow. The VW can slides right out onto the road easily under Darcy's control. "You know, we could take your parent's car this weekend," Hannah notes. "More room. We could get Anna, Sybil, and Courtney to go with us. Walk in an own the place." She giggle again. A brow raised as she daydreams on what havoc they could reap. A truck passes, then a car. Ahead is a curve that Darcy eases into. It's actually a fairly good driving lesson. The only thing behind her is a bike, the driver masculine, identity hidden behind a helmet. Hannah flips on the radio, cranking it up and blasting Katy Perry's California girls.
Darcy checks the mirrors as she eases into the traffic, keeping an eye on those other vehicles around her. Nervous enough to have a slightly tight grip on the wheel as Hannah chatters at her side. "Hmm..s ure.. yeah.." She half murmurs to what Hannah says, though she doesn't /really/ click on the idea for the weekend. Nope, she's trying to be a good driver - how different it is when you are in the driver seat for the first time, and not the passenger! The bike rider behind, is seen, though she's soon looking away again to the front as she eases into the curve.
Beckett is used to driving in places like Tokyo, Moscow, Paris. Narrow streets with very little in the way of traffic laws. Now, he finds himself in sunny Southern California. Home of the overindulgent, the lazy, the opinionated. He weaves in his lane behind a particularly slow moving VW. Em would like the color - she going through that pink phase little girls go through. The tinted visor hide sad expression on his face. It's been a couple months since he's seen her. Better that way. She's safer with her aunt. He veers left, then right. No room to pass. The blondes up ahead seems dead set on going ten under the posted limit.
This blond is learning how to drive! Perhaps Darcy should have had one of those 'Student Driver' stickers put on the back end of the VW? Hannah would have snerked a bit. So as her friend continues to lay out plans, the blond in the driver's seat frowns a little as she notices the bike behind her trying to pass, but unable to do so. "Well, you can get off my ass, I'm not going to go any faster!" She says to the mirror. "Asshole."
It becomes clear - crystal clear that the VW up ahead isn't going to speed up. Hannah drives the point home, after hearing Darcy mutter a curse. She raises up (maybe causing a little survey to happen) and pops out her sunroof, flipping the biker the bird. "Hey, eat me asshole!" Yeah, that's Hannah screaming. That just happened. Beckett wrinkles his nose beneath the helmet. He leans left then right, gunning the powerful Ducati motorcycle. The front tire lifts about a foot off the ground as he rockets past the VW on the passenger's side. If Darcy didn't cause a survey, that certainly does. All the sudden there is a *crack* and mirror, mixed to black and pink plastic goes flying. Darcy's mirror has connected with that of a passing car on the driver's side. She can hear the other car's breaks lockup.
Darcy is not having a good day. at least, not now. As Hannah screams out the window and flips the man off behind them, she mutters to her friend, "DARCY!" She happens to glance to the right, and then too much happens - the bike passes them on the right, she swerves just a little in surprise, and the crack comes as the car on the other lane takes off her window. That makes her swerve /back to the right. Let's hope he's gotten fully out of the way! "SHIT!"
Past, and beyond. Beckett swerves back into his lane of travel and glance behind only once. Visor hiding the 'serves you right' expression on his face. Then he's a tail light that gets smaller and smaller. That isn't the says it's all over. No by a long shot. Darcy manages to get control back, and Hannah wiggles her ass back into the car, but something it wrong. Hannah gives Darcy this 'look' like she's sorry. That's when the sirens go off behind the VW. Ni side mirror to check, by the rearview clearly shows a California State Highway Patrolman flashing his lights at her. Worse still, his cruiser is missing a driver's side side-view mirror. What are the odds? Hannah gives Darcy a pathetic look, "Sorry babe. My bad." Isn't it always?
Darcy is still muttering as she looks forwards to see the bike turn into a distant blink of a red light. By then, there's more lights coming on. From behind her. "WTF?" Words are muttered before she groans as she realizes it's a cop. "Crap." Hannah's apology just gets her a glare, "You are going to owe me... big time.." So, a blinker is thrown on, and she eases off the side of the road where she can do so. Then comes the waiting for the trooper to approach the car, the window rolled down.
It doesn't take long before the Patrolman is looming at Darcy's window, looking none too pleased. "I'll be needing your license, registration and proof of insurance ma'am," he says in a crisp tone. "It's my car Officer," Darcy pipes up opening the glove box up and starting to look through her papers. "That's fine ma'am. I'll need your license too." He glances through his State issued, aviator sunglasses at Darcy, the toothpick in his mouth changing from one side to the other. "Now please."
Gulp. While Hannah pipes up that the car belongs to her and goes digging for the paperwork, Darcy turns to the trooper, "Hmm.. sir.. I do not have a driver's license. My friend was giving me a lesson. I am.. so very sorry?" She was doing soo good till the bike passed her like that! "There was this motorcycle who zoomed around me on the emergency lane, and sort of surprised me and..."
Beckett accepts Hanna's license and paperwork, looking it over. "I'm sure it did ma'am. It had nothing to do with Ms. Reed hanging out of the sunroof." He flips out his notepad, and presses his pen to the blank sheet of paper. "Name and date of birth please." It's all downhill from there. Darcy and Hannah both get several citations, and a court date. He lets them change seats since Hannah does have a valid license. Then he heads back to collect what's left of his mirror. The several hundred dollars worth of fine he wrote the girls should cover repairs for the state. Hannah pulls off headed back towards the beach again. "Can you believe that guy? Like OMG."
"Yes.. hmm.. sorry.. he was riding my ass and.." Darcy glares at her friend, "Doesn't excuse it. Again, I am very sorry, office. Truly." She seems rather apologetic, that’s for certain. But she changes seat, and wishes the trooper a happy holidays and then slips into the passenger side. "Hey.. if you hadn't gone hanging out the window and all..." Yep, blame the friend! "And the asshole hadn't passed us.. gods.. I need caffeine now."
Beckett laughs, "Yeah, sorry about that boo! Just got lost in the moment." He heads on down the strand, relaying the name of a couple lawyers she's used in the past. Shocker: Hannah's had a few tickets. Eventually they hit the circle, where all the cool people are and turn back. That's when Hannah locks up the breaks. It's right near one of those beach side diners with the picnic table on the sand. She levels a finger at a familiar sight. That same black motorcycle from before. "Darcy, is that...?"
"Yeah, I know.." Names will certainly be grateful to have, for she's already wincing at the cost of the ticket in her head. Glancing out as they make the circle, she's jerked against the seat belt when Hannah puts on the breaks, "Whaat?" It's then, she follows the point of one nicely manicured finger towards the sight of the motorcycle. "I think.. it is.." And now, Darcy seems to get a little angry, and before Hannah can say or do anything, she's released the belt, and opened the door to get out and begins walking towards the diner, already looking for the person who might have been riding it. Sure, she won't recognize a face but the clothes.. that will be enough, right?
American food. Okay, Beckett did miss that. As a little boy he can remember how much he loved cheeseburgers and chicken nuggets. While Surfside beach diner isn't McDonalds, it'll do. He sits at a picnic table, helmet beside a basket of fries and a bottle of ketchup. He's eating a burger and looking out at the waves rolling in. There are a few people around, but no one else dressed for riding, and no other helmets. Best guess is he'd be the biker. The scruffy bears and leathers seem to suggest it above all others.
Some would argue the place is better than McD's food hands down. Better made. As blue eyes sweep over those few customers seated at the tables. When she finally spies Beckett, her gaze narrows, and she begins to weave her way through towards his table. Poor Hannah, left to find a parking place quickly as to head off her friend - well she knows when Darcy's anger is prickled, she can blow quite royally. Unless you know how to diffuse her. "You." She begins, a hand lifted to point towards Beckett.
Beckett turns, mid-bite into a thick cheeseburger, to lock eyes on Darcy. He lifts a brow, attempting to chew fast so he can reply. He manages to masticate the food partially, but swallowing isn't easy. He literally chokes it down. He fixes her with his hazel eyes, watery now, and completely oblivious to who she is or what she means. His only reply is, "Me?" He even glances around himself just to be sure even though Haragei - his innate 'sixth sense' tells his he's alone.
Darcy seems almost to stalk forwards then as he turns to look at her. Never mind that she might ordinarily find him quite attractive. She's pissed, "Yeah, you.. asshole.. passing me like that! Thanks you go, I got a ticket! And don't worry, I got your license plate number, and will be /sure/ to tell the judge when I go to court.." Hands come to her hips now, and she stands there, glaring at him, "What the fuck was the matter with you? Couldn't wait just a few minutes more? In such a damn hurry to get here and get a burger?"
Beckett places his burger back in the basket beside his fries, before cleaning his fingers an lips with a napkin. Hazel eyes rest on her and he is acutely aware of her Wa, her harmony - it was very powerful. Completely out of sync currently, but still quite powerful. Haragei whispers as much in his ear. Even tempered, he places his hands on the table before him, linked together. "I see no reason to argue with you. I needed to be somewhere," because the only way he can talk with Emma is a payphone down the street - course Darcy can't know that. "So I passed you." He pauses a beat, unable to deny how attractive a California girl is, or how much spirit she has. "If you got a citation because of that then I'm sincerely sorry. However, I'm not responsible for it. You were going under the speed limit." Hannah finally finds a parking place.
Darcy is riled up, in fine form this afternoon. The fact that he denies it was his fault, has her staring at him, her eyes to widen a little, "Not your fault? You passed me on the /wrong/ side, sir." Even angry, she's still somewhat polite. Such an odd mix. "You scared me enough to make me swerve to the other side and tap a police car. I wouldn't have done that if /you/ hadn't done such a stupid ass trick by passing me on a wheelie and crap. Yeah... I was going slow.. it was my /first time to drive/... asshole!"
All the venom in her tone, the harshness of her language. For a moment, Beckett regrets returning to the West. He shrugs the though off quickly. His options were limited. Still, he comes from a very polite and controlled culture - which this isn't. He's really out of place. "I apologize if I scared you. that wasn't my," Hannah cuts him off. "Yeah asshole! You owe me a mirror!" He comes staggering up, her heels fighting with the beach sand on every step. Beck lefts a brow, Hazel eyes taking in this other woman. And then there were two. "Ladies, please. I believe you may be," oh my god he actually says it, "overreacting a little." He an Akemi were married twelve years, and he still hasn't gotten any better with women.
Truly, this is not the way Darcy usually acts to things, but it's been a long morning. And little things have stressed her out, from Hannah's nudging to the phone call from her brother asking for more money, to the whole incident with the cop. That was embarrassing as well, which she doesn't take too kindly. "Over-reacting? Wasn't your intention? Do you think that little move wouldn't have freaked out most people? You just don't do that around here! You were the one at fault, and I got the freaking ticket!" When Hannah joins in, he's faced with two women glaring at him. "I got his license plate number. I'll be turning it in to the judge.. and our lawyer."
"Ladies," because you should always address angry women at the same time, like a pack of wolves. "I didn't intend to cause an accident. I don't believe I did what you're saying, the way you're saying it. I'm not a local though, so I don't know all your driving laws here in California. It is possible I may have contributed a 'little' to whatever happened to you. But I'm not at fault." The sign did say 'bike lane' after all. How was Beckett supposed to know that mean bicycles? He glances from Darcy, to Hannah, and then back. "But then you did say it was your first time driving, right? I'm willing to bet that was probably more to blame than being passed by me." He shrugs his shoulders at them, making a passive gesture with his hands. He's solved everything just looking at it logically. American women in their 20s. Their logical right? Oh boy.. is he ever out of his league.
Ut-oh. He really should learn how to deal with women better, for he does EVERYTHING wrong. Darcy might well have growled at him, one hand to fist as if trying to remind herself that calling down a bolt of fire wouldn't be /good/ right now. To public. Ahem. "You should learn our laws then. You passed me in the emergency and bicycle lane. Emergency lane meaning if you are having car trouble, a flat tire, or an accident, you move the vehicle there out of the flow of traffic. The Bike Lane is for bicycles to use instead of taking up space in the road or on the sidewalk." Darcy starts in on how he was to fault, "You don't normally pass a person on that side, on either of those. So yeah, you freaked me out. Woulda freaked anyone out pulling that shit." A deep breath is taken, "And don't go blaming me and my first time driving. I was doing /fine/ until you started riding my ass, and then blew around me on the wrong side."
Hannah seconds all that, adding a "Yeah," at the end to further drive the point home. Beck glances between the women, considering what Darcy says for several seconds. "So you're telling me that a sign that says 'bike lane' actually means bicycle lane, and it's my fault for not knowing that?" He's just trying to get it straight. Honestly, further antagonizing either of the two ladies isn't his intent. It's just an amusing side affect. By now more than one patron is pointing, and smiling. "And it's also my fault for trying to be on time for a call, rather than just letting you go slowly and be late. And, let me make sure I understand everything. If I wouldn't have passed you, this would all have been avoided? Does that sum it up?" He should just carry a shovel around with him so digging the holes wouldn't be so hard.
Shovel. Check. Might want to pick one up at his local hardware store or the like! "Yes, it is a /bicycle/ lane. It's why there's a picture of a bicycle, and not a motorcycle on it?" Well, duh. He should have seen and understand that, right? "One bad choice cascaded." So yes, she's agreeing with him there. "If you had simply waited, I wouldn't have freaked out and swerved when you blew past me. And so I wouldn't have clipped the police car that was coming the other direction, thus leaving the cop pissed at me, pulling me over, and giving me and my friend here, both tickets. Surely a phone call is not so important when things could have ended up worse? What if I had swerved more and hit the cop head on because of you? "
Beckett bristles, his Wa - his inner harmony flaring brightly for a brief moment, but then he has it back under control. "You have no concept of how important getting to that phone was" He's already said it before he can stop himself. Even Hannah can sense it, and she tightens her grip on Darcy's arm. Beck closes his eyes, centering himself. Haragei again, a different aspect. His blood pressure lowers, his breathing becomes deeper and more relaxed. Then he begins slowly, "Where I'm from two wheeled vehicles, like motorcycles and bicycles follow the same laws. I did not know that wasn't the same here. You people," meaning Americans of course, but it sounds weird coming from what looks like a middle class white guy, "have some very unusual laws. That said, I suppose it would be frightening to a novice driver." There is a pause, and he fixes Darcy with his hazel gaze. Beyond the scruffy beard and unkempt hair, he could be attractive for an old man. He's at least in his later 30s. "Didn't you say that was your first shot at driving? Meaning you have no license. Which means /you/ were breaking the law, yes?" He echoes her, which is never a good idea with any woman. "One bad choice cascaded."
"Perhaps not, but not so important to endanger people on the road with the way you acted?" Darcy is quick to say before she tilts her head, "Again, if you are not familiar with our laws then you should pick up a book from the DMV and read through it. Bicycles and motorcycles do /not/ share the same laws. Motorcycles are considered a motored vehicle here. Not a bike." That said, as he goes pointing out things, she steps forwards, a gesture that actually has Hannah placing her hand on her arm, "Yes, I do not have one. I am learning, which we can do here, as long as I am with a licensed driver." Which her hand is jerked towards Hannah. "I wouldn't have had a problem if you hadn't gone flying by me like that. Hell, I wouldn't have had a problem if you'd passed me /legally/..."
"Darcy," Hannah says with a little caution in her voice. She know her friend's temper. Beckett notes the name, but says nothing. He just listens to her tirade, peripherally watching how many people are gathering to watch the argument. That makes him edgy. He's trying to keep a low profile for as long as possible. He slides his legs out from the bench-seat, and stands up across from them. He's an easy six four, with a well built frame. Probably athletics of some kind. "I appreciate the driving lesson ladies. I'll keep it in mind." He grabs his helmet and starts past them both on Hannah's side. Turning your back on a pissed off woman is always a great way to deescalate a volatile situation.
"No, Hannah. He was /wrong/ and because of him, I got a ticket. So did you. And it could have been worse. You know what I kept seeing? The car my parents was in. Head on collision." There's tears in her eyes and voice. "That's what could have happened. All because he was in too much a hurry to get to a phone call, and to a burger then..." And as he makes the mistake of rising and then trying to walk away, Darcy turns and grabs his arm to glare up at him. Maybe she should have been a redhead, but she /does/ have that Irish in her. "Mister..."
Hannah seconds all that, adding a "Yeah," at the end to further drive the point home. Beck glances between the women, considering what Darcy says for several seconds. "So you're telling me that a sign that says 'bike lane' actually means bicycle lane, and it's my fault for not knowing that?" He's just trying to get it straight. Honestly, further antagonizing either of the two ladies isn't his intent. It's just an amusing side affect. By now more than one patron is pointing, and smiling. "And it's also my fault for trying to be on time for a call, rather than just letting you go slowly and be late. And, let me make sure I understand everything. If I wouldn't have passed you, this would all have been avoided? Does that sum it up?" He should just carry a shovel around with him so digging the holes wouldn't be so hard. He really should not piss off an Irish girl. Even if she doesn’t have red hair! Stupid out of country drivers!!!
Beckett's strong, Darcy can feel the corded muscle in his arms when she grabs him. He immediately pulls free, casting a rather surprised look at the woman. Surprising him isn't easy either. "Hey," he begins, but stops short seeing the tears. His demeanor changes slightly, and he looks from Darcy to Hannah. And then back. "I'm sorry. Truly I am, but this was an accident." Hannah starts pulling Darcy by the arm now, back towards the car. "Come girl, before someone calls the cops."
"Be careful, hmm? Next time, you could cause an accident. Get a freaking book. Learn the laws here." Darcy says with a catch in her voice. Letting Hannah pull her away, she turns and heads off with her friend, letting Hannah lead her to wherever she parked the car.
Hannah does just that, opening the passenger side door and pointing Darcy inside. She's serious too, which is rare - and might even worry Darcy some if she wasn't so damn angry it doesn't click. Once the blonde is in, Hannah storms around to the driver's side and hops in herself. A moment later she leaning across the car and flipping Beckett off out Darcy's window. "Die asshole!" She shouts before dropping her VW in reverse and backing into his bike. The Ducati topples on its side, plastic and glass shattering. Beckett just stands there with his head cocked to the side, completely dumbfounded. Like - did that shit just happen? Tries screech, and the little pastel pink VW rockets out into traffic. "Asshole," Hannah mummers.
Darcy is pissed still, upset. And so she doesn't immediately pick up on how Hannah shares her anger now as well. As they back up, and Hannah leans forwards, she glances out the window in time to see his bike go crashing. Hey, they didn't touch it! A snort comes and she shakes her head, turning away as Hannah pulls out and heads off towards her place.
