Baja

Born to Run 

[bajaburning]

.

[puhrez]

Her eyes flicked to the safe that she remain perched in front of- its doors still holding the valuables she’d placed in there minutes before. “I’m working on my times— trying to get it down a bit.” She turned away from the project at hand, hitting a sharp turn in the swivel chair the girl sat in. She reached up to the tool around her neck, fingers continuing to stay active as they toyed with the ear pieces. 

She stood from the place she’d secluded herself to for the last hour— slow steps carrying her towards Baja. Curious eyes peered over the machine, gaze flicking to the colored wires being adjusted.

Questions threatened to pour out from her lips— whatcha workin’ on, whose car are you tinkering with? ——But this was not Teddy; Rori needed to keep her questions in check. Too much chatter tended to put people off— it didn’t stop her on most occasions. 

"Think it might be a sign that I have too much time on my hands?"

[bajaburning]

Baja shook her head and brushed a bit of dust off her thighs. "Nah, we all have too much time on our hands." She shrugged, "Or too much on our minds." The statement was entirely too accurate for her own liking. 

Baja ran a hand over the front bumper, wishing that the car would buzz to life with some force, some force that would demand she take it to the road. It might as well have done so, the pull was strong enough. 

Walking backwards to face Rori she paced across the garage and slid onto the hood of her own car. Sitting on it was a terrible habit, but she was small enough she had no fear of denting the hood. The cool metal snaked against her skin and she sighed. "At least you're productive." 

It was a mystery how Rori kept so upbeat, something she had yet to master. Although, not truly something she had any desire to master. 

[ealkan]

"Clearly we have different dictionaries." A roll of the eyes followed as he retreated from the sink. Since when was it her job to keep things copacetic? This was a house filled with self sufficient bodies —— there was  no need for a  mother figure. “Speak for yourself. I’m an atheist.” Teddy grinned, knowing full well what she had meant, but ignoring the point all the same. 

         What was she going on about?

"If you’re wanting to be alone, the garage isn’t the best place.

Brooks paused, slightly unsure of what exactly she was saying. Was Baja, the previously reclusive genius, fishing for something? “We appreciate your gift with computers, not your ability to read take out menus and bark out orders.” He tilted his head to emphasize the point, a kind (rather small) smile soon following. “Just a reminder.”

[bajaburning]

She sighed. Both hands gripped the counter and her fingers rapped a slightly impatient rhythm. "I don't want to be alone." She replied with a voice that was faintly tensed. "I don't want appriciation." Baja snagged a mug out of the cupboard and filled it with the last of the coffee in the pot. "I want cooperation." She lifted the mug to her lips and let the burning liquid scald her throat. 

"We don't work together these days. And if we keep that up our next job is going to be wreck." She noted the bitter grounds floating in her mug. Admittedly she was hardly the best example of teamwork, and in every respect the last thing she wanted was a better connection to her teammates.

"I don't want any kum-by-ya nonsense, but I refuse to act like a bum." The test in her tone rose a pitch as she spit the last word out. This wasn't what she had signed on for, and she had been in too close a quarter with the others for too long. And all of this was not to mention the mounting boredom that grew inside her like an infection in her mind. Racing was a release, but it wasn't intellectual the way her preferred outlets were. 

[jon-hayes-blog]

Semi alarmed, Jon glanced down at his outfit: a pair of simple jeans and a casual white shirt with some random band name blazoned on it — acquired from one of the diehard fans he’d made friends with in a small town with such a ridiculous name it sound made up (Wapakoneta, OH) — and a light jacket over it (it was slightly chilly outside). "What?" said Jon, his tone somewhat panicked, looking up. "Am I not Paris fashion week enough, yet?" With a raised eyebrow in curiosity, Jon took a few steps into the kitchen and glanced into the trashcan. Inside was a truly depressing pile of blackened dish (Jon assumed it was a dish; it was hard to tell around the curdled and burnt edges and discarded paper plates besides). "That is truly unfortunate," Jon said, his voice appropriately somber, before looking up at Baja. "Oh, I’m not sure — I think Rusty was yelling about some sort of Taiwanese place earlier. Or was it Vietnamese? Something either than the … what was it — ‘same old fuckin’ Chinese shit we order all the time’.”

[bajaburning]

Baja gave him a proper look and shrugged. "Ah, it's reflexive. You'll pass today. Gesturing to his shirt she let one arched brow raise, "Is that a real band?" Her work on the dishes was put on pause as she noticed the cobwebs swinging in the top of the doorway above Jon. It wasn't that she was a clean freak, but without a project to work on she focused on strange details, and the latest to slide under her skin was dirt. 

"Well, if that's what Rusty was yelling about we'll order something else." She smirked and tossed a sly smile over her shoulder. "If we let him get his way he'll just be worse than ever." 

Jon was one of those folks she couldn't quite get a handle on. Perhaps it was his ability to shift like a chameleon, or maybe his charming mannerisms, but she felt that it was he who was distant from her, and not the other way around. An uncomfortable role reversal from her norm. 

"And what have you been up to this morning?" She tossed the question out haphazardly, not really expecting an answer. "Getting yourself in trouble, hmm?" 

[ealkan]

C O F F E E. The word left a bitter taste in his mouth —— perhaps it was all in his head…….or possibly due to the fact that he had yet  to brush his teeth 

                      Note to self: Keep your distance.

Brooks didn’t say anything in response to the blind assumption that he actually drank that liquid dirt. A man of his age, battling the notion of sleep with every waking breath, should (in all circumstances) be addicted: however, he was not. Instead, he fetched a glass from a nearby cabinet before filling it to the brink with tap water. 

He turned to face Baja, leaning against the counter in the process: nonchalance painted his features as he lifted the drink to his lips. “You know why all of my clothes are dirty?” He paused, eyes bored, tired, and distant. This wasn’t a trick question despite his rather suspicious introduction. “Because I don’t do laundry day.”

—— "Only when it’s necessary,"  Teddy  pointed  in her direction before lowering his cup into the sink. “Only when it’s necessary.”

[bajaburning]

Baja's eyes reached the top of her head and she lowered them slowly in a manner that transcended skeptical. "It's necessary." 

Returning to the sink Baja began sifting now semi-clean dishes out of the suds and rinsing them slowly. A bowl followed a plate which followed a large wooden spoon. Pointing the soggy spoon at her companion she narrowed her gaze and emphasized her words with a slight shake of the utensil. "We may be criminals, but we are not heathens." 

Rather violently aware of much she sounded like her mother, Baja tried once again to convince herself that she wasn't ashamed of this. Pulling the last of the dishes from the sink she yanked the drain from the bottom of the sink and let the gurgling of disappearing water fill the silence. Snatching a towel from the far right she began buffing a bit quicker than necessary. 

Keeping her back to Teddy she glared a hole into the offending dish. "Maybe I'll just head out to the garage." She muttered to herself. "Not like anyone appreciates what I'm trying to do anyway." 

[fightingcunt-deactivated2015110]

"You got shit under control Baj, just look at all this, they’re scared man, fuckin’ terrified." Lifting up a glass near her elbow it was held at the base and then shook. The strangest facsimile of a haunted cup Guz could produce at a moments notice; obligatory ‘WooOoo’ noises included. Using the dishware as an in he saddled up against the sink, the natural density of his frame pushing Baja over slightly to get clear view of the vestibule and all it’s frothy contents.

"You front the cash, I do the dishes, only fair." Taking over the duties by way of sponge and soap there was little hesitation over going elbow deep into the oily scum and pulling out the charred remains of what looked to be a soup pot. "Uhh, might wanna go for the cracker n’ cheese aisle or somthin’ cause I don’t think any of us got the title role of Master Chef around here down pat." Letting it crash back into the pool Guz maneuvered to the right, arrow of his pelvis compounding with the counter. "Between you an me Baj, if this job thing don’t get sorted out soon I’m gonna have to break out my solo gig for a while- jus’ so I don’t go total loco all up in this here swamp shack."

[bajaburning]

Baja broke out with a small giggle, her usually frozen face wrinkling a bit as she laughed. Letting herself slide over she searched the room for a paper and writing utensil. 

"Alright, but if I'm doing the shopping we're eating a bit healthier." She located her targets and scooped up the small notebook and pen. Scribbling at the top she carefully began scribbling out milk, coffee, and other staple foods. "Anybody around here eat peanut butter?" She mused aloud. 

Baja paused and allowed herself to search Guz's face for a fleeting moment. "Yeah, well, I'm sure Liv'll pick it all back up here any minute." She felt her lips purse into a slight grimace. It was funny how much she abhorred the idea of working alone these days. In fact she absolutely refused to admit it. If she didn't like working alone, that meant she actually enjoyed working with others, simply unacceptable. 

[bajaburning]

Moodboard 1.0 - Baja

[fightingcunt-deactivated2015110]

"I dunno you seem to be doin’ alright showin’ all these pot’s who’s boss by burnin’ them real good—"

”- but as for the rest of this shithole goin’ up I don’t think we got anything to worry about, I swear I could probably just press finger holes into these walls they’re so soggy.” I disturbed notion of smooshing a finger through the rotten plaster has a frost spike slip it’s way just below the rib, shake everything needlessly. Scratching at the nape of neck to throw off the evident shiver Guz leaned in to finger at the pile of flyers. “I dunno mano, I don’t think I can eat any more of this take-out shit, you might be on the right track with the whole groceries deal. Aft’a all people gatta eat between all the boom and swing eh?” 

Searching into his pocket for any semblance of change he was rewarded with pocket lint and the fuzzy remnants of a cigarette filter. “Uh, so who exactly we gatta bang to get the green anyway? Not like they gonna take cockroaches as currency ‘round here.”

[bajaburning]

"Aw hell, Guz. I'd like to see you do better." Baja pulled her mug towards herself, frowning at the stained yet empty interior. Pushing herself onto her feet she dropped it into the still soapy water of the sink with a splash. "At least these pots aren't gonna mess with me." She flexed her non-existent muscles. 

She poked her head into the empty refrigerator and winced at the stale smell. Put that on the list of things to clean next. Letting the door swing shut she shrugged at the much taller man. "I honestly don't know, haven't bugged Liv much about our funds these days. Didn't want to bother her." Baja's brow wrinkled a bit. 

"Look, I'll buy groceries this time, Liv'll pay me back later. Can't say we don't need another job soon though. At least for our sanity." 

[bajaburning]

He paused in the doorway, eyes wide as he had yet to register what was just said. Baja, who laughed lightly at her own comment, was staring at him —— clues point to him being the recipient of her previous dig. Brooks’ tired mind wandered curiously in hope of finding a clock………Ah —— 11:30. No wonder he was so groggy……..it was much too early for human interaction.

Teddy blinked a few times in an attempt to gain full consciousness.

"Chicken," he blurted out. His feet dragged across the ground as he moved to the fridge: the current situation only registering seconds after he opened the door. "Wait….no….no take out. 

                 —— Hey. What’s wrong with how I look?”

                                                                { P A U S E }

                                                                             ”Don’t answer that.”

Baja found it ridiculous the time the rest of them rose. But perhaps it was simply the fact that she was the only one who regularly went to bed at a decent hour. At least 

"Take out chicken. Got it." Baja sifted through the menu pile and pulled out a shockingly green handout. She didn't look up as she heard him approaching the fridge behind her. "Coffee's on the counter." She swung around and crossed her ankles, elbows resting on the laminate. 

"Alright, no comment. But today is officially laundry day...for everyone." She meant it in the kindest way possible, but couldn't help wrinkling her nose a smidgen. 

[fightingcunt-deactivated2015110]

Crud carved out from the duct of sleep deprived eye’s were casually smeared just below the hip, bodily fluid merged into the filament of Guz’s track pants before being stalled. One other person fully functional and hovering at this hour was no surprise, but being called out on his clothing certainly was. 

  "You weren’t talkin’ to me were you?" Back pedalling so there was less functional space between him and the shoddy humidity stained plaster, an accusatory look was thrown. Placed comfortably between mock hurt and indifference the play was rounded out with a minor splay of arms. "Cause really if you think I’m goin out in fuckin’ khakis we gonna haf’ta agree to disagree homie." Holding onto the iron casing for a few seconds before breaking at the powder, a huffed laugh migrated out, throwing out a rounded backhand of dismissal.

"I’m just playin’ though, I came out figurin’ maybe ther’d be a housefire on our hands considerin’ how much charcoal is wafting around here."    

[bajaburning]

Baja couldn't help but laugh. Raising her hands in surrender she shook her head. "No, no, accusation withdrawn. I don't want any trouble." Baja picked a random menu off the ever accumulating stack they kept nearby. 

"No, no, nothing so exciting," Baja snorted lightly, "I've repressed my tendencies towards pyromania for the moment. She replied with a voice laden with sarcasm. 

"Although I honestly wouldn't be surprised if that's the eventual demise of this place." She glanced around the kitchen, noting for the thousandth time the placement of the electrical outlets above the sink, of all places. 

"You hungry?" She flipped the coffee stained menu upside down and wrinkled her nose at the options. "We've got to go grocery shopping. We've either burnt or eaten everything edible around here." 

[puhrez]

She’s stowed away in the garage. The majority of the team, herself included  can normally be found engrossed underneath a hood.  It’s typical; the norm.

                                                                                 ——But today was different. 

The sun shone just as bright, the coffee tasted the same. No, there were no cliched differences in the air. Simply the brunette’s activities-  they needed to change a few times a week, right?   She was bent at the knees, a stethoscope dangling from her ears. Busy hands continued to work, not seizing in immediate reaction to the heavy foot treading in. 

—»She was practicing on a safe;spending time with the sole voice between her ears. Eyes finally flicked away, trailing up to the face that lingered a safe distance from her. 

Her smile came pouring out- so simplistic in its common ways.  Always there, whether it  was accompanied with an insult or a giggle,  those  ruby  lips had a way of consistently staying outstretched. It was close to being ———————————» e f f o r t l e s s.

{{—“Thought I’d get some practice in.”—}}  

[bajaburning]

Baja hardly went anywhere without a walk like she was on a runway, but when she entered the garage she had a tendency to bounce like a child on Christmas morning. Her soft smile blossomed as Rori's eyes met hers. Her good mood gave her patience for the softness of the young woman, and she joined her at the hood, her eyes glancing carefully over the exposed heart of the beast. 

"Practice what exactly?" She reached in to carefully straighten a twisting wire. She straightened slowly, taking pleasure in the scent of oil that tickled her nose. 

Placing her hands on her hips she surveyed the room with a hawk like gaze. Not a ratchet out of place, and she preferred it that way. Although the phrase, "not your janitor" often frequented her lips, she couldn't help picking up after the mess a few of the others had a tendency to leave. 

[bajaburning]

The petite woman was bent over the sink, scrubbing a pan furiously. It wasn't often that they were settled down enough to own such things, and she wasn't about to take them for granted. The water was scalding hot and left her hands pink down to their almond shaped tips. Every so often she paused to ensure that she hadn't scraped the pale pink paint from the tips. Not unsurprisingly the color was an exact match to the track jacket she wore. 

Baja spun on her heel and grimaced at the face in the doorway. A quick glance up and down and she resisted the urge to roll her eyes. "Are you planning on leaving the house that way?" She half laughed. There were days when she wished she could dress the entire team herself. They would look better for it. 

'If you're hoping for lunch, I burned it." She gestured to the trashcan where a blackened pot pie sat atop beer bottles and napkins.  Truly rolling her eyes this time she took a seat at the counter and placed her chin in her hands. 

"So, where are we ordering takeout from this time?" 

[bajaburning]

"She ran with steel in her soul, and fire in her eyes."

Track List: -Superboy and the Invisible Girl - N2N - Born to Run - Emmylou Harris - Wayfaring Stranger - Ed Sheeran - Jolene is Mine - JayZ and Dolly Parton - No Church In the Wild - JayZ - 500 Miles - Peter Paul and Mary - Slave to the Rhythm - Michael Jackson - Lilac Wine - Miley Cyrus - Kill and Run - Sia

[bajaburning]

ooc My skype is EccentricEllen and due to a lovely glitch with my super-duper-old account, I almost ALWAYS appear offline no matter my true status. Just a heads up. 

[ealkan]

outofbrooks;

hello ladies and gents. i’m emma, the second half of the admin team. this post is in regards to ooc text. if you’d prefer a separate blog, speak now or forever use the dash. we are currently taking votes. also, my ask box is always open if you’d like to stop by. 

[bajaburning]

OOC: Hi! I'm Elle! My vote would be for a Skype group in which we could hang out/plot, but I'm also fine with using the dash, or a separate blog. I've used all of these forms before.