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It had been a bit of work, getting her mother to agree to something like this. There had been no shortage of reference to her work with Dr Tolbert. This was going to be a positive thing. This was going to begin confrontation with her phobias about road travel, her worries about trips to the Outposts.

And, less concerning, would just be fun.

"As I'll ever be, I imagine."

"I have a helmet for you, don't despair." He pulled it off the far handlebar and unbuckled the chin strap, handing it over. It was child-sized, going to be a snug fit, but that was the point, really.

Ethan sat back on the bike, patiently waiting. He really had to wonder what sort of persuasion she'd pulled on the former Club Queen to have this work out. But one thing he'd always given Eileen; the girl was resourceful.

Relief was only a brief flicker. She had, of course, genuine trust for the fact that Ethan wanted to keep her alive. It didn't matter the reason.

The helmet had to be tugged sharply to make it fit proper, snug, safe. Deep breath in and sharp breath out meant she could get herself taking the last few steps toward the motorcycle.

Nothing bad would happen.

Ethan double checked her chin strap fastening, just to be on the safe side, then, giving her helmet a tick with one finger and a grin, slid up on the bike and instructed her how to swing a leg over and clamber up behind him, where to put her feet and how to lean forward against his back.

"And hang on, carina," he said matter-of-factly. "Arms...there we go, arms around my waist and scoot forward...there." He gave her hands a fond pat. "And relax, we're not going to haul off and set the pavement on fire, promise."

It's a little unwieldy, getting up onto the bike behind him. Her grip is just a little nervously tight holding onto him. He can't see the tension in her smile, but he can certainly feel it in her arms.

"And it'll be...fun?"

Looking at her over his shoulder, Ethan gave her another reassuring smile. "I'm hoping so, mia cara. Ready?"

He started the bike, gunning the throttle a bit, still reveling in the sweet sound of many horses running in the engine. But due to his passenger, Ethan was deliberate and careful about heeling up the kickstand and slowly pulling away from the curb, smiling behind his own helmet to feel the littlest Ace grip him just a bit tighter.

She can't help jumping slightly at the sound, at the beginning of movement. Oddly, it's less terrifying than getting in a car still is for her.

"Not-- too fast, right?"

Just while she's getting used to things?

He could hear her because she was behind him, but she'd probably not be able to hear him, so Ethan just shook his head, silently reassuring. They weren't going fast at all, rolling down the middle of the road, gently leaning during the curves to accustom the little Club to the sensation of leaning, as it would become more sharp later on, when they picked up speed out of town.

Edited 2013-01-15 03:15 (UTC)

It's not so bad, once she's got the hang of the feeling. Ethan's clearly comfortable, after all, and that's what matters more than anything, as he's the one keeping them upright.

She's just trying not to un-upright them.

Still, after a moment, she'll shift her chin a little higher, peek her eyes open more properly. The little sound of excitement will likely be lost in the wind.

It'd probably take more than her slight weight to tip them over; Ethan's ridden motorcycles for several years and has steady hands on the bars, so. He knew she'd relax after a bit; riding for the first time was a bit nerve wracking, after all.

Out of Town, however, the road flattened and straightened, allowing him to pick up a bit more speed, but still not too fast as to give his small passenger undue alarm.

The problem, of course, is that a bit of speed, while terrifying, is also... fun.

Or maybe it's not a problem. Maybe it's an absolutely wonderful thing. She doesn't shift overly much, but does get slightly more upright.

He won't see the smile, but maybe he'll feel the energy of her clinging tension changing from nervous toward just a bit excited.

Ethan drove on for half an hour or so before slowing and pulling over at one of the turn-outs, purring the bike to a halt and finally stopping. He put the kickstand down and pulled off his helmet, shaking out damp hair.

Turning to look over his shoulder, he advised her to do the same, saying, "Not so bad, is it?"

How could he think of getting helmets off at a moment like this? How could he even bother?

"It's brilliant, Ethan!"

No 'Mister.' No worry on her face. Just the sort of quiet spark of joy she gets sometimes when the far-too-many cares they tend to level on her shoulders are actually taken away.

He laughed outright, pleased to see such delight on her face. Ethan swung off the bike, saying, "I'm glad, carina. But come, hop off and walk about a while. No need to get stiff and sore." Just like riding horseback, not too long all at once.

"Eileen, look," he called, stepping over to the turnout's railing and gesturing to the view. "See how far we've come?"

It took a moment to get the helmet off once she'd actually dismounted, fingers fumbling with excited pleasure. How lovely, after all, to be away from things.

And how actually breathtaking to move up to the rail with him. It was the sort of thing that could actually stun a person briefly into silence--even the ridiculously loquacious like certain little Aces.

Leaning was acceptable, right?

Absolutely, and hopefully putting an ungloved hand on a small shoulder and absently smoothing out clean little-girl hair was, also. It was nice to be Away from Things, one reason Ethan loved Outside so very much. There weren't any pressures, no expectations, no judging occurring in every breath.

Possibly more than anyone just then, Ethan understood. And was content to let her drink in the glorious sight below them.

Edited 2013-01-19 03:42 (UTC)

It was a shame to break the lovely silence, but necessary to turn up and look at him properly while the words started to burst.

"...thank you."

Ethan touched the tip of her nose with one finger, smiling down at her. "Prego, mi dolce bambina, prego." He squeezed her shoulders with a grin and added, "Well? Shall we be off yet again, m'lady?"

"Can't-- we stay one more minute?"

This, after all, was the sort of thing that a girl didn't get every day. Getting out so quickly to be away from things, getting there without a purpose in the world except to enjoy a few minutes of time?

She couldn't let go just yet.

"Sure." Ethan shrugged and moseyed closer to the rail, even swinging one leg over, then the other, to sit on it for a minute. There was plenty of ground left on the opposite side, so no danger of falling off, unless one were really energetic.

"We can stay as long as you like, carina, but we do need to be back to Town before dark." They still had plenty of time, and probably wouldn't need to stop on the way back from the Outpost.

"Not so long." She didn't need to stay for hours. She didn't need hide completely from her life.

Just a little longer.

"Just... getting the mental image properly arranged. So I'll remember it."

Ethan nodded understanding, also turning back to look out over the landscape. Reminded him of the Tuscan hills, or perhaps the Spanish plain from high in the mountains. All places he'd seen and been enraptured. There with Eileen, his heart hurt just a bit, to realize the burdens such young shoulders had to bear. But then, all of them had been shoved into adulthood so early; what might they have learned otherwise?

But he was working on it; working to provide a better future for those younger, to apply what he'd learned from his own experiences. And, just sitting here with a child whose delight he could see just by the smile on her face, well, that made everything worth it.

Edited 2013-01-20 02:17 (UTC)

It will all work out in the end. So long as Ethan keeps making time to make the actual children make time to be actually children, to actually enjoy themselves?

It'll work out in the end.

Only a few minutes are needed before she sighs, stands properly again. "Whenever you're ready, I suppose."

"As m'lady commands."

He settled them back on the bike, making sure she was ready, then started the engine and headed back on the highway, headed for the Outpost just a few miles away.

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Pretend there's a castle somewhere in this image. XP

Imagining 1 to 4 castles. o7

\o/

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