No Yesterdays on the Road

Just a girl on the move. Destination unknown, origin irrelevent. Indie RP/Ask blog. 

[sheriffofthesecretpolice]

Howdy folks. 

So I’ve been here doing wtnv rp since about 2012, which is a long time! And it’s always been nothing but fun! But over the last year or two, activity’s been drying up. Almost no one remains of the once-large community I spent so many years writing with, and while I see there are many new people joining us, I’ve been repeatedly running into the problem of plotting with new people and starting threads only to be left hanging for months at a time. 

There are a handful of folk still around who I also write with elsewhere, but it’s because I write with them elsewhere that I’m considering archiving and deactivating all my rp blogs. I’m putting in more effort than I’m getting back, and it’s losing its fun. More and more I’m considering taking my OCs who I write here and giving them their own longform projects. I might set up a writeblr to keep y’all updated on what I’m working on, and if that’s the case, I’ll give you a chance to follow it before I disappear into the ether.  That said: I’m still willing to finish threads in progress, but I need to know you’re going to commit to doing that! Shoot me a message here, discord, anywhere we talk, and we’ll figure out what we want to wrap up and try to make that happen! 

[sheriffofthesecretpolice]

So RP Thread Tracker is shutting down. This is extremely sad.  First of all, if any of you use a different thread tracker, please please link me to it, I’m desperate. 

Secondly, I have over 40 active threads across all my blogs. There is no possible way for me to keep track of them all on my own, so this is what’s happening: any thread that hasn’t moved in a year or more will be archived and dropped at the end of this week. 

I know we’ve all been having a rough time of things and I’ve typically been happy to resurrect old threads, but there’s just too much y’all. If you want to keep such an old thread alive, either respond to it this week or send me a message about it! 

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

Let us envelop you in a blanket of our culture. Ikea. Let us stroke your luscious hair. Your brain is meatballs, our meatballs. Ikea. Give in to our hunger.

Uh. No. 

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

desert-bluffs-ikea​:

noyesterdaysontheroad​:

desert-bluffs-ikea​:

Yes.

Still no. 

We have cinnamon rolls~

I’m insulted you think I’d accept food from strangers who want to indoctrinate me into their weird little cult. 

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

Let us envelop you in a blanket of our culture. Ikea. Let us stroke your luscious hair. Your brain is meatballs, our meatballs. Ikea. Give in to our hunger.

Uh. No. 

[desert-bluffs-ikea]

Yes.

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

Still no. 

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

Let us envelop you in a blanket of our culture. Ikea. Let us stroke your luscious hair. Your brain is meatballs, our meatballs. Ikea. Give in to our hunger.

Uh. No. 

[paintinthebluffs]

A young black woman in a red jacket, her face framed by a massive cloud of tight curls, poked her head into the office. She rapped lightly on the door frame and said, "Professor Black, right?" [noyesterdaysontheroad]

“Oh!”

Oscar looked up from his desk in mild surprise.  “Yes, that’s me.  What can I do for you?”

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

paintinthebluffs​:

noyesterdaysontheroad​:

Shauna took the card and held it in both her hands. He’d never be able to write back, but… it could be nice, to have someone to keep updated. A bit of connection in a world that was often far too lonely and uncertain. 

Someone she could maybe ask for help if shit hit the fan in a big way again. 

“Yeah,” she said, tucking the card into a pocket. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“As will I.”

he gave her another smile and a nod. “Good luck.”

“You, too.” She wiped the tears from her eyes with her hands, then stood to sort her things. Jacket, pack, everything in the appropriate pocket, and that was that. It was time to go. 

She hefted her pack onto her shoulders, trying not to wince as she did so. “Get home safe,” she told Seamus. “I’ll be okay from here.”

[paintinthebluffs]

he nodded and stood. “Main part of town is that way,” he said, nodding in that direction. “I have a couple things to sort before I get going again.”

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

“Time to get my bearings, then.” Shauna put on a brave face, offered a little wave goodbye, and with only a little regret, turned and walked off towards the town.

[paintinthebluffs]

A young black woman in a red jacket, her face framed by a massive cloud of tight curls, poked her head into the office. She rapped lightly on the door frame and said, "Professor Black, right?" [noyesterdaysontheroad]

“Oh!”

Oscar looked up from his desk in mild surprise.  “Yes, that’s me.  What can I do for you?”

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

paintinthebluffs​:

noyesterdaysontheroad​:

Shauna took the card and held it in both her hands. He’d never be able to write back, but… it could be nice, to have someone to keep updated. A bit of connection in a world that was often far too lonely and uncertain. 

Someone she could maybe ask for help if shit hit the fan in a big way again. 

“Yeah,” she said, tucking the card into a pocket. “I’ll see what I can do.”

“As will I.”

he gave her another smile and a nod. “Good luck.”

“You, too.” She wiped the tears from her eyes with her hands, then stood to sort her things. Jacket, pack, everything in the appropriate pocket, and that was that. It was time to go. 

She hefted her pack onto her shoulders, trying not to wince as she did so. “Get home safe,” she told Seamus. “I’ll be okay from here.”

[paintinthebluffs]

A young black woman in a red jacket, her face framed by a massive cloud of tight curls, poked her head into the office. She rapped lightly on the door frame and said, "Professor Black, right?" [noyesterdaysontheroad]

“Oh!”

Oscar looked up from his desk in mild surprise.  “Yes, that’s me.  What can I do for you?”

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

paintinthebluffs​:

noyesterdaysontheroad​:

When she finally sat back, there were tears in her eyes. “You’ve done so much more than just help.” 

he smiled warmly. “I’m glad to oblige.”

he held up a finger before fishing his wallet out of one pocket and a pen from another, then pulled out a card and scratched at the back of it. “If it crosses your mind, I’d love to hear from you,” he said as he handed it to her—an address now marched across the back. “Just a postcard, and only if it crosses your mind.”

Shauna took the card and held it in both her hands. He’d never be able to write back, but. . . it could be nice, to have someone to keep updated. A bit of connection in a world that was often far too lonely and uncertain. 

Someone she could maybe ask for help if shit hit the fan in a big way again. 

“Yeah,” she said, tucking the card into a pocket. “I’ll see what I can do.”

[paintinthebluffs]

A young black woman in a red jacket, her face framed by a massive cloud of tight curls, poked her head into the office. She rapped lightly on the door frame and said, "Professor Black, right?" [noyesterdaysontheroad]

“Oh!”

Oscar looked up from his desk in mild surprise.  “Yes, that’s me.  What can I do for you?”

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

paintinthebluffs​:

noyesterdaysontheroad​:

Shauna twisted round right then and there to hug him, burying her face in his shoulder. “Thank you for everything,” she said, voice choked with emotion. 

he embraced her tightly, minding the soreness of her ribs. “Of course, I’m glad I could help.”

When she finally sat back, there were tears in her eyes. “You’ve done so much more than just help.” 

[paintinthebluffs]

A young black woman in a red jacket, her face framed by a massive cloud of tight curls, poked her head into the office. She rapped lightly on the door frame and said, "Professor Black, right?" [noyesterdaysontheroad]

“Oh!”

Oscar looked up from his desk in mild surprise.  “Yes, that’s me.  What can I do for you?”

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

paintinthebluffs​:

noyesterdaysontheroad​:

She turned back to him and simply looked at him for a long moment. Without speaking, she sat down beside him. For several breaths, she let silence stretch between them, and then… 

“Is that offer of a hug still on the table?”

“Of course it is.”

Shauna twisted round right then and there to hug him, burying her face in his shoulder. “Thank you for everything,” she said, voice choked with emotion. 

[paintinthebluffs]

A young black woman in a red jacket, her face framed by a massive cloud of tight curls, poked her head into the office. She rapped lightly on the door frame and said, "Professor Black, right?" [noyesterdaysontheroad]

“Oh!”

Oscar looked up from his desk in mild surprise.  “Yes, that’s me.  What can I do for you?”

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

paintinthebluffs​:

noyesterdaysontheroad​:

Shauna turned her focus to digging out her water bottle and swallowing a couple of painkillers. Then she turned slowly, taking in what she could see of the park. “Here’s fine,” she said quietly. “Might be a touch harder to find work than Columbus, but easier to find a place to sleep.” A wry smile took up residence on her face. “Won’t be able to work for a while anyway, so that’s not a big loss.”

“Okay.”

the weight he had been ignoring for the last hour or two finally insisted on settling on him—Shauna would have to go, which meant she would vanish. And on some level he was used to the idea, what with students moving on and graduating and such, never to look back. But Shauna had stood out, even before the whirlwind of the last few days.

And now she had to go.

“I’m grateful you called the other night, Shauna,” he said. “I’m really glad I could help.”

She turned back to him and simply looked at him for a long moment. Without speaking, she sat down beside him. For several breaths, she let silence stretch between them, and then. . . 

“Is that offer of a hug still on the table?”

[paintinthebluffs]

A young black woman in a red jacket, her face framed by a massive cloud of tight curls, poked her head into the office. She rapped lightly on the door frame and said, "Professor Black, right?" [noyesterdaysontheroad]

“Oh!”

Oscar looked up from his desk in mild surprise.  “Yes, that’s me.  What can I do for you?”

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

paintinthebluffs​:

noyesterdaysontheroad​:

“Good, because I really need to stretch out.” Shauna pushed the hatch cover back so she could sit up. A sharp hiss escaped her as she came upright, and her hand went immediately to her ribs. “Yeah, that didn’t like being in the trunk for so long.”

he winced sympathetically. “Have some of that acetaminophen if you haven’t lately.”

carefully he helped her out of the trunk area, and sat on the edge himself. “We’re in Marion, Ohio,” he said. “Columbus is another hour south of here.” he took off his glasses to fidget with them. “If you want to go further, I’m happy to take you further. Or…”

Shauna turned her focus to digging out her water bottle and swallowing a couple of painkillers. Then she turned slowly, taking in what she could see of the park. “Here’s fine,” she said quietly. “Might be a touch harder to find work than Columbus, but easier to find a place to sleep.” A wry smile took up residence on her face. “Won’t be able to work for a while anyway, so that’s not a big loss.”

[paintinthebluffs]

A young black woman in a red jacket, her face framed by a massive cloud of tight curls, poked her head into the office. She rapped lightly on the door frame and said, "Professor Black, right?" [noyesterdaysontheroad]

“Oh!”

Oscar looked up from his desk in mild surprise.  “Yes, that’s me.  What can I do for you?”

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

paintinthebluffs​:

noyesterdaysontheroad​:

It was his voice that woke her, even though she didn’t catch the words through the haze of sleep. Still, the tone wasn’t upset, and she was pretty sure she’d heard her name in there, so she stifled a yawn to say, “I’m good,” in return. 

he walked around the car twice to stretch his legs, then came around back to the trunk.

“Just me,” he announced as he opened the hatch. “We’re in the back corner of a parking lot—trees behind, and nobody around. Coast is pretty well clear.”

“Good, because I really need to stretch out.” Shauna pushed the hatch cover back so she could sit up. A sharp hiss escaped her as she came upright, and her hand went immediately to her ribs. “Yeah, that didn’t like being in the trunk for so long.”

[paintinthebluffs]

A young black woman in a red jacket, her face framed by a massive cloud of tight curls, poked her head into the office. She rapped lightly on the door frame and said, "Professor Black, right?" [noyesterdaysontheroad]

“Oh!”

Oscar looked up from his desk in mild surprise.  “Yes, that’s me.  What can I do for you?”

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

paintinthebluffs​:

noyesterdaysontheroad​:

Shauna was asleep not ten minutes into the drive. 

It was one of the skills she’d developed in her years on the move, the ability to simply drop off to sleep the moment she was crammed safely into whatever mode of transportation she’d managed to get. Freight trains, greyhound buses, the occasional commuter train: all of them were the perfect place to catch up on some much needed rest. 

She woke briefly every time the car stopped for more than a few seconds–traffic lights, she assumed, when forward momentum picked up again after not too long–until eventually her exhaustion took hold. And so it was that when Oscar finally stopped to check on her, she was still asleep, wrapped securely in the blankets he’d provided for her. 

he made sure to quietly announce himself as he opened the hatch, but he couldn’t help a smile as he closed it again as gently as he could—let her rest, she deserved it.

he drove another three hours to wind into the midst of Ohio, keeping a constant watch for anything that might complicate matters. fortunately, no such complication arose.

he found a lonely park towards the edge of this town, and parked in the lot to minimize the view of the trunk.

“Shauna, I think we’re in a good spot,” he said as he turned off the car. “I’m going to stretch, then come around back when the coast looks clear.”

It was his voice that woke her, even though she didn’t catch the words through the haze of sleep. Still, the tone wasn’t upset, and she was pretty sure she’d heard her name in there, so she stifled a yawn to say, “I’m good,” in return. 

[paintinthebluffs]

A young black woman in a red jacket, her face framed by a massive cloud of tight curls, poked her head into the office. She rapped lightly on the door frame and said, "Professor Black, right?" [noyesterdaysontheroad]

“Oh!”

Oscar looked up from his desk in mild surprise.  “Yes, that’s me.  What can I do for you?”

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

paintinthebluffs​:

noyesterdaysontheroad​:

“Thank you.” The words came out less steady than she wanted, but that was okay. Seamus would handle this. She just had to let him do his thing–whatever that was. 

Taking a deep breath, she climbed into the trunk and got comfortable. “Please drive safely. I don’t fancy getting rear-ended while I’m back here.”

“Nor do I,” he replied with a nod, and offered her a small smile. “I’ll check in with you when we’re in Indiana.”

he pulled the cover over the trunk area, closed the hatch as gently as he could, and pressed the button to open the garage door. he took a deep breath as he got into the driver’s seat to steady himself, and started the car

it was only just starting to get light as he started out, and the morning mist was slow to burn off, diffusing the light slowly and strangely. it wasn’t far to the state line, but Oscar wanted to be careful and keep a low profile, so it took a little longer to get there. his nerves made it feel a lot longer—he could only imagine how long it felt for Shauna.

Shauna was asleep not ten minutes into the drive. 

It was one of the skills she’d developed in her years on the move, the ability to simply drop off to sleep the moment she was crammed safely into whatever mode of transportation she’d managed to get. Freight trains, greyhound buses, the occasional commuter train: all of them were the perfect place to catch up on some much needed rest. 

She woke briefly every time the car stopped for more than a few seconds--traffic lights, she assumed, when forward momentum picked up again after not too long--until eventually her exhaustion took hold. And so it was that when Oscar finally stopped to check on her, she was still asleep, wrapped securely in the blankets he’d provided for her. 

[paintinthebluffs]

A young black woman in a red jacket, her face framed by a massive cloud of tight curls, poked her head into the office. She rapped lightly on the door frame and said, "Professor Black, right?" [noyesterdaysontheroad]

“Oh!”

Oscar looked up from his desk in mild surprise.  “Yes, that’s me.  What can I do for you?”

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

paintinthebluffs​:

noyesterdaysontheroad​:

“Thanks.” Shauna swallowed back her fear, and met Seamus’s eyes. “Are you sure you want to do this?”

Oscar was generally an unimposing figure, but in his eyes was a quiet, steely confidence. “More sure than I’ve been in quite some time.”

“Thank you.” The words came out less steady than she wanted, but that was okay. Seamus would handle this. She just had to let him do his thing--whatever that was. 

Taking a deep breath, she climbed into the trunk and got comfortable. “Please drive safely. I don’t fancy getting rear-ended while I’m back here.”

[paintinthebluffs]

A young black woman in a red jacket, her face framed by a massive cloud of tight curls, poked her head into the office. She rapped lightly on the door frame and said, "Professor Black, right?" [noyesterdaysontheroad]

“Oh!”

Oscar looked up from his desk in mild surprise.  “Yes, that’s me.  What can I do for you?”

[noyesterdaysontheroad]

paintinthebluffs​:

noyesterdaysontheroad​:

Shauna set her pack carefully in the trunk, then peeled off her jacket to toss in after it—with all those blankets, she’d be able to keep plenty warm without it. But before she climbed in herself, she pulled from her pocket a folded note with ‘Ming’ and an address scrawled across it.

“In case I have to bolt when we stop,” she said, offering it to Seamus.

Oscar nodded, and tucked the note into his jacket.

“It’s a little under an hour and a half to Shipshewana in Indiana by smaller roads,” he explained, checking his watch. “I didn’t know if your watch could be read in the dark, so there’s a watch that can be in that bag as well.”

“Thanks.” Shauna swallowed back her fear, and met Seamus’s eyes. “Are you sure you want to do this?”