Feb 07 19:45:08 105 PA

From Chronicles

Today, Kid comes in a bit late and dispenses with the subtlety for once. Not only that, but she has an added bag when she comes striding in, pulling off her cold weather accessories with a will. Provided Cali isn't hiding somewhere, Kid makes a beeline and will plunk the bag down on the tailgate of her truck. "I'm sorry I didn't make the shopping date, it hit the fan and when that happens, you have to go with it," she states quite simply. Cause she didn't contact Cali the day after about shopping, it is true. She went missing, though given that Cali had no solid means of contact with her, that much might not be as obvious to her. "But I think I can make it up to you," she adds with a little grin. The bag she sets down is, quite obviously, a shopping bag that identifies itself as coming from 'Rugged Miss'.

Caliopa leans against the edge of the bonnet, balanced on the bumper precariously. "Your fan broke?" She asks, her forehead crinkling in genuine confusion. She picks up a cloth, and wipes her hands on it slowly, refocusing her attention from the truck's engine. "Uh, what?" She absently brushes her cheek with the oily hands, and leaves a large oil mark there. Despite this, her hair is shining and her skin seems to have gained a natural glow.

Kid returns from the back of the truck the moment she drops off the new bag, delaying her response to Cali's query to give her an on the spot examination. "Mmmn.. hmm.." she hums softly to herself. "Good.. very good." A pleased little smile rising as she snaps from that little moment to look at Cali more generally. "Fan? Oh, no that's an expression. Some trouble came down. Had to deal with it." Mentioned with an air, casual tone and a little dismissive wave of hand. "Better question, how do you like the soap and shampoo? You're looking better."

Caliopa shakes her head, dismissing all engine thoughts and worries about broken fan from her mind. "Uh." She slides down from the truck, moving forward, wiping her hands automatically. "Tis alright..." She starts, her tone cautious, "Kinda nice." Her fingers rise to her hair, fingering it. "Smells good, 'n' all, ..." She gives Kid a narrowed eyed look. "What was the bag?" The suspicion in her voice is clear.

Kid grins and glances back over her shoulder. "Well, since we didn't get to shop and the rest of the week is looking a bit full for me, I decided to bring the shopping to you." She returns her full attention to Cali and notes, "It isn't charity. I found some things I think you'll like and they aren't too expensive. If you like them, you can reimburse me. If you don't, I can take them back to the store," she states simply. One slender brow lifts then as she asks, "Wanna see?"

Caliopa narrows her eyes slightly, "So long as I ain't beholden..." She mumbles, carefully. "It ain't that I ain't grateful but I ain't being owing anyone, see." She walks forward slowly, "Lesse..." She gives a small smile.

"You won't be beholden, trust me," Kid assures her as she turns to lead the way around back. The bag has a good number of items inside, Kid deciding to get a good spread of things. "Can't get any oil on the ones that are being returned," she reminds Cali lightly as she pulls out a few items from the top. Three sets of jeans to be precise. "Now, I picked this place because it sells functional, but attractive clothing," she narrates as she lays all three of them out, half unfolded, on the tailgate. "Got three sorts here. This one is pretty common and should be about your size.." She pauses after indicating the first pair of jeans to glance at Cali's hips carefully. "..yeah, just about. If not, we can trade for a new size."

That first pair of jeans is your average set of denim pants with hip and buttock pockets. No frills, just comfort. "Now these are a bit more risqué. They're called hip-huggers. Cause they ride low on the hips. A bit less comfortable, but some boys like the look of them. Personally, I like to wear them on occasion." Other than that, they're about the same as the first pair. "This last set here is something I thought you'd enjoy. They're cargo pants. Probably called that cause of all the pockets. I have some of these too. Hope you don't mind the pattern." The third set is just that, a sturdy pair of cargo pants with roomy legs, extra pockets and loops, all done up with a black/grey/white urban camouflage pattern.

Caliopa 's forehead has knitted more and more, as the list of clothes go on. "When am I gonna wear that lot? I ain't wearing it around here.." She glances at the hanger, suddenly aware of the oil and grease around her. Her lips curve into a slight, shy smile that touches and warms her eyes. "I guess... I'd best get a top to wear if I'm gonna have this flash wardrobe. My vests ain't gonna be really...."

"I've got that covered, we're starting at the bottom," Kid replies with a grin. "As to where you wear it.. you wear them when you're not here if you want to keep em clean. But they're your clothes once you accept them, so you can wear them wherever you want," she states. "Though I'd keep these for a special occasion," she adds as she taps the hip-huggers.

Caliopa tilts her head, reaching out for the clothes, her face lighting up with almost wonder. "Tis soft.." She murmurs, her fingers stroking it, before she looks up, "My stuff ain't ever this soft but it ain't designed to be." She shrugs it off, flushing and speaking gruffly. "How much do I owe you? Tis nice of you." She hesitates, "Thank you."

Kid shakes her head a little and says, "We'll count money at the end, when you've seen it all," she replies, casually stacking the varied jeans into a pile to be moved a bit to the side. More room for when she starts pulling out tops. There's a bit more variety here, the first one being a spaghetti strapped tank top that is obviously for warmer weather. "Not the best season for this, but you'll need something come summer, eh?" She lays it out on the tailgate so the royal blue coloring can be seen, a good enough match for any of the pants. Next she pulls out a long sleeved companion to the tank top, with a similar shade. Though the cuffs for the sleeves end in a little bit of black lace that would cover a bit of the hand. "I don't know what you think about lace, but I think it looks good in tasteful amounts on casual clothes," Kid narrates as she settles that one out for display as well. Lastly, she draws out a light pullover sweater that is done up in vertical blue and black stripes. "And a little warmer, this one, which should go well with a proper jacket to keep you warm on days like today."

Caliopa tilts her head, chewing her lower lip. "I ain't never seen the point of it, it don't do anything useful see." She reaches out a finger, touching the lace cautiously. "Mebbe there is a place for things that ain't got a purpose, ..." She murmurs softly, her face looking younger than ever. "Tis pretty... guess if I'm putting a jacket over that, it ain't gotta be the one I use working.." She offers a shy smile.

Kid chuckles lowly and gives her head a nod. "Yeah, I'd probably agree with that," she replies lightly. "And you'll find life is full of things that don't really have a purpose but to look pretty. Things like that are fun to collect, though. As you might guess, I have quite a few of them myself." A little smirk rising at that obvious conclusion. She then goes about stacking the three tops and setting them on top of the pants. ""I didn't think to get a jacket for you, but I bet I could find you a good one. With pockets and such?" Glancing at Cali for a response to the leading question. "Or anything else you can think of that you might like in that sort of thing."

Reaching out and gently stroking the clothes, Cali's expression is thoughtful, a logical person reassessing information. "Kid." She speaks abruptly, uncomfortably, "Reckon if maintenance is the sorta thing I oughta think about, reckon I ought to get the ..." She hesitates, frowning, "Split ends, did you call 'em? ain't something I know much about but ain't they to be cut off?" She jerks her head towards the other side of the bunker, "Them girls talk stuff like this."

Kid doesn't even glance the direction Cali indicates, keeping her focus on the other woman. The hesitant question gets a slow growing, sly little smile in return as Kid nods. "You're right, though I was going to wait a bit on that. But.. hold on." She turns from the bag on the tailgate to hoist up her own bag beside it. Poking into one of the side pockets, she gets out a little scrap of paper and a pen, jotting down a name and an address quickly. She then hands the paper over to Cali, after putting the pen back into the pocket. "This is where I go when I want to get some professional work done on my hair. It's a small place in the Dregs, but the girls there know their way around hair. Won't cost you much, but they'll do it right. You let 'em know I sent you, yeah? They can be a bit skittish with new customers."

Caliopa takes the scrap slowly, shoving it into a pocket quickly, as if the paper might burn her fingers. "Uh, thanks." She speaks gruffly, shifting slightly. "How much do I owe you?" The question is abrupt again, her comfort level reached. She reaches for the clothes, hesitating and turning to walk to the sink. She starts to lather her hands, using the new soap, scrubbing off oil.

"Not quite done, but there's just a few more things," Kid says as Cali goes to cleanse her hands. While she's at that, Kid goes about pulling out a few more items. A pair of belts, one common black faux leather, the second a grayish faux snakeskin pattern. "I didn't remember if you pierced your ears or not, but when I saw these I had to get them for you," she adds as she pulls out a bit of cardboard backing that has a pair of stud earrings, each one looking like a small silver gear. She waits for Cali to return to she can show them off with a grin. "A bit obvious maybe, but well.."

Caliopa turns, drying her hands on a seemingly new towel before putting it neatly on a hook. She walks over slowly, giving the earrings a look as if Kid had bought out an instrument of torture. "What'd a sensible folk get holes put in their body that weren't meant to be there, for no rhyme nor reason?" She asks, abruptly. The girl gives the belts a considering look, narrowing her eyes slightly. "I ain't so sure I got it in me to wear nothing shed by some snake.."

Kid laughs lightly and shrugs her shoulders a little. "Another pretty ornament to wear," she replies. "I don't wear them too often during the winter, but my ears are pierced.. in a few places." Her grin grows a bit at that. "They didn't cost much, so you can hang on to them, in case you ever decide to." She goes over to put them with the rest, then indicates the snake pattern belt. "That's not real, by the way. Real snakeskin is expensive. Doesn't make much sense to get the real thing when the fakes are pretty good in the looks department. Unless you like to show off and waste money."

Caliopa reaches for the pile, her fingers stroking the materials unconsciously. "I still ain't sure 'bout them but we'll see." The words are begrudging, cautiousness written all over the girl. "Ain't like I go anywhere to pretty up much anyhow." She rests them on the tailgate of the truck whilst she jumps up, moving them towards a chest in the truck. "It ain't that I'm ungrateful, mind. I just ain't wanting to be owing nothing, nor owed..."

Kid bobs her head in understanding, transferring all of the items back to the bag once Cali hops onto the tailgate. "I understand it. Can't say its my own personal philosophy, but I can respect it," she assures as she carefully packs the clothing away. "There's a receipt in there too so you can do any returns or exchanges you want," she notes. "Stuff didn't cost too much, the place is pretty cheap, like I said. Only 300 credits for the lot of it. Since it was sorta like spending your money, I went thrifty." She gives a little wink at that.

Caliopa nods slowly, talking towards the edge of the tailgate and pulling a bunch of scrumpled notes from her pocket. "Here." She holds out a handful, slightly over the figure owed. "I ain't ungrateful." She speaks softly, her cheeks flushing. "It just ain't something I thought to do..." She reaches for the bag, her eyes cast downwards, avoiding.

Kid takes the money casually and gives her head a little shake. "I don't think you're ungrateful. Believe me, I've known a lot of bastards in my time and you're not one of them." She casually stuffs the money into her jacket and moves over to hop up on the tailgate herself. "And that's why I'm here, to help you do things you might not have thought of." A curious little tint comes to her expression as she asks, "What do you do when you're not around here, anyway? Besides getting food and the like?"

Caliopa carefully puts the clothing away, every item finding a home in the truck. "Mostly I jus' work on Bertha here..." She pats the truck gently, affectionately, before moving to join Kid. She sits down, swinging her legs over the side of the tailgate, her palms resting on the edge. "I ..." There is hesitation, caution in her face, and she looks down at the oil stained floor as she speaks, carefully emotionless, "I ain't so hot on mixing with folk. I tried it once and it blew up like a bad motor. Scalded me good and proper. Most folks, you can't trust them."

Kid chuckles lightly and shrugs. "True, I don't trust most people as far as I can throw em, but that's no reason to keep away from them. Nor is some jerk blowing up at you a reason either." She leans over to nudge Cali lightly, shoulder to shoulder. "Sometimes its fun just to people watch too, which doesn't include mixing with them, you know? Especially in a place like this where you can see some pretty odd things if you sit in one place long enough."

Caliopa 's forehead creases into a frown and she continues to look at the floor. "I don't see it. It ain't like machines where you can look and see the problem, make it work like a dream. Folks, they ain't got rhyme nor reason for stuff they do, and they don't tell you all the stuff that makes 'em what they are." She shakes her head slowly, "See, Bertha here, she ain't got a secret in her that I don't know, couldn't keep one from me if she wanted to. Folks ain't like that. They have a running river of dirty hidden stuff in them that hurts you when you reckon you are safe with them.

Kid bobs her head a bit. "That's what makes them interesting," Kid replies. "But it is a bit like your truck here. Just takes a more practiced eye than you've got, I think. Me, I'm used to dealing with people, so sometimes I can see the signs that something might be taboo. Every river's got a current to follow, even with all the hidden stuff." She leans forward then, tilting her head as she dips down to mix into Cali's downward field of view. "I could help you get a bit better with people if you want. Won't be easy, of course, but what good thing in life is?"

Caliopa lifts one shoulder slightly, the movement a denial in itself. "I ain't sure I want anything to do with folks. This place ain't half sociable like but I ain't sure I want to be sticking my face out there for some folk to blow up in it." The words are blunt, the emotion behind them made obvious by the bitter edge to them. "Even folks you think are doing something for the goodness of their hearts ain't most times."

Kid leans back then, in part to veil the momentary twitch of her lips that comes of that last statement. Oh, that wouldn't mix well at all, that smug little flicker. But it is quickly suppressed and her amiable expression is reasserted gracefully. "Well, far be it from an anarchist like myself telling someone else what to do with their life, but I honestly don't want to see you hide away here forever. Not going to act like there won't be rough elements out there, but there are those that do nice and don't explode. And not all of them will come to find you here." A playful little grin coming up then.