#mechanicalarjones

[kahli-ofatara]

Keep Calm, Anna’s Moving In! [Callie&Alar]

Calliope stood in the center of the empty room for a moment. Over the last two days, Anna had cleared everything out. Most of it was distributed between Calliope’s bedroom and her living room. Anna displayed her framed photos in the corner of the living room, quite nicely if Calliope were being honest. The book case and chair had been moved in as well and the living room slightly rearranged to accommodate the furniture. But, otherwise, it wasn’t very different, or too cluttered. And now she had an empty room that was about to be turned into a guest bedroom, though Anna would refer to it as the future nursery. And she was all ready to move in.

“Truck’s here,” Anna said, finding Calliope in the empty room. She joined her in the room, standing at her side. “I think I’ll put the bed here,” she said, indicating to a spot below the window that was facing the barn. She turned to the left wall. “The dresser can be here.” Then she turned to the front window. “And the crib there.”

Calliope rolled her eyes and turned around, leaving Anna in the room.

“Oh, come on,” Anna said, chasing after her. “You guys are getting serious, after all.”

“We’re just dating,” Calliope said.

“He’s your boyfriend,” Anna sang teasingly.

“Yes, he’s my boyfriend. Not my fiance. Not my husband. Not my baby daddy.” She stopped in the living room, picking her phone up off the couch to text Alar.

Anna laughed, her hands on her hips. “We’ll see about that.”

Calliope sent off the text, then let her phone drop back onto the couch. “Can you just ease off?”

Anna held her hands up in defense. “Fine, fine,” she said with a grin. “I’m just glad you guys finally made it official.”

Calliope turned away in an attempt to hide her smile from Anna, unwilling to give her that kind of power. She lead the way outside, meeting the truck in the driveway. The driver opened the back door, revealing it’s contents. A bed frame, a box-spring and a mattress, and a dresser with a mirror.

“That’s it?” Calliope said, sounding a bit surprised.

“Leslie’s coming up this afternoon with a few other things,” Anna said.

“Of course she is,” Calliope muttered.

“The house is going on the market tomorrow,” Anna said, crossing her arms as she looked over the furniture in the truck. “I need to get everything out.”

“And you think you’re putting it all in my house?” Calliope said.

“Of course not,” Anna said. “The important stuff will come here and the rest Leslie is putting into storage for me until I get settled into a new place.”

“Why couldn’t you just move your furniture here, then?” Calliope asked, narrowing her eyes.

“Because I want new furniture for myself,” Anna said with a grin.

“So, you’re taking it out of my room when you move?”

“Don’t worry,” Anna said. “I won’t leave you with an empty room. I’ve got plenty of stuff for you to put in there.”

“Your hand-me-down furniture?” Calliope muttered.

“It’s still good stuff,” Anna said. “Now we have enough stuff between us for you to have a spare room, and for me to have a spare room. You know, for when my grandkid comes to visit.”

They stepped back as two men began to unload the furniture from the truck. A third came to Anna with a clipboard and a sheet for her to sign.

“So, I’ll be going to Newcrest with Leslie tonight,” Anna said. “I’m staying with her until tomorrow. Need to sign some papers, hand over the keys, you know.” She handed the clipboard and pen back to the man before turning to Calliope. “And they got my car back from Jack for me. So now I won’t have to be stuck here all day long.”

[kahli-ofatara]

I'm Gonna Cover Myself in the Ashes of You [Callie&Alar]

After getting back to Clearwell, Calliope couldn’t wait for Anna to get settled so she could spend some time - alone - with Alar. Of course, the moment Alar left, Anna was all over her about their earlier kiss.

“You’re going to talk about this thing you’re in, right?” Anna had said to her.

“There’s nothing to talk about,” Calliope muttered.

“So, is he your boyfriend, then?”

Calliope hesitated. “No. I don’t know.”

“See? You need to talk about what you are.”

“Why does everything have to have a label?” Calliope said stubbornly. “Why can’t you just let us be what we are?”

“Because you’re nothing. You guys are avoiding things that need to be talked about. You need to stop running and hiding and face your feelings, Callie.”

Calliope rolled her eyes, but she knew that Anna wasn’t... totally wrong.

Once Anna settled in, (and after she shoved a condom in Calliope’s bag, because, Anna...) Calliope quickly fed the animals and made her way into town. But not without making a quick stop on her way. She needed to bring Alar something to thank him for what he did for her. And since he seemed set on her not drinking, booze was out of the question.

Calliope pulled up in front of Alar’s and looked at the little cactus on the seat beside her. It had a couple of little pretty flowers around the top, and Calliope made sure to (carefully) tie a little bow around the pot. On the tag, she wrote the name Fifi.

“Fef’s gonna love you,” she said with a grin. “He’s a real stand-up guy.” She cocked her head to the side, as if Fifi were talking to her. “What? No. That was one time. And I don’t think he was really looking at my ass. Trust me, he’s cool.”

Calliope laughed to herself and rolled her eyes. It was official; she was going crazy.

She picked up Fifi, carried her out of the car, and put her down carefully at Alar’s front door. She knocked quickly and stepped around the corner so he would only see the little cactus she bought for him.

[kahli-ofatara]

(Hallelujah) It’s Raining, Man {Callie/Alar}

Calliope took her time that morning. She slept in a little later than normal and put a little extra effort into the chores. She was up before eight, had coffee and breakfast, and was showered and dressed in jeans and a light flannel over her tank top by about half past. She spent the next half hour feeding the animals, then took another half hour to muck out the goat and chicken pen. Another few minutes to bed down a stall for Storm brought her to just a bit before ten o’clock. She checked her watching and glanced down the driveway. Alar had warned her that he may be late, but she wasn’t quite sure how late late was. And, technically, it wasn’t ten just yet.

She shrugged to herself and decided to take whatever time was granted to her to work with Jazz a bit. There was plenty of time in the day, for sure, so she gathered the filly and brought her into the barn where she brushed and tacked her. In fifteen minutes, she was bringing the filly back out in front of the barn to lunge her for a few minutes. After a few minutes of trotting circles, Calliope decided to bite the bullet and put Jazz through the real test.

They had spent a lot of spring getting used to weight on her back and cues Calliope would be giving to the horse with her heels. A nudge on her left rib cage meant to step right, and vice versa. A cue with a lose rein to turn her left or ride. A poke to the chest or a tug on the bit to back up. Jazz had picked up the cues quickly, but being a typical young mare, she was full of herself, which meant it could be an exciting time for Calliope in the saddle.

She put her foot in the stirrup, testing her weight against Jazz. The horse’s ears moved towards her and she shifted slightly, but otherwise, she remained still, just as she was taught. Calliope sucked in a breath, then pulled herself up, swung her leg over, and landed lightly in the saddle. Jazz stepped to the side briefly, her tail swishing, but did not move any further.

Calliope sat still in the saddle for a moment, holding her breath, waiting for Jazz to react. When she didn’t, Calliope relaxed some, and Jazz sighed through her nose; a good sign. She patted the mare on her neck, then straightened and nudged her lightly with both heels, clucking with her tongue to encourage the horse to move forward. Jazz hesitated, then stepped forward, walking across the property.

Calliope beamed proudly at her little mare, circling her around in front of the barn... until Bear decided to warn them of an approaching visitor. He bolted from his spot on the grass, laying in the sun, and ran down the driveway barking. His sudden movement excited Jazz and she started to prance and snort under Calliope.

“Easy,” Calliope muttered to her, sitting deep in the saddle as Jazz let out a small buck. The mare turned her ears and eyes towards the truck that came up the driveway. She whinnied loudly at the visitor, her whole body shaking. Calliope took advantage of her distraction to slide off of her back. She circled Jazz around as the truck came to a stop, stopping only when Jazz settled and sighed.

[bumbling-fawn]

Sitting on the bakery counter would be two small baskets, one addressed for Lenna and one addressed for Fawn. Upon pulling the wrapping aside, Fawn would find a mug carefully wrapped in tissue paper with her name across the bottom. Inside are small daisies, both orange and white in color, and a handwritten note thanking Fawn for her time and companionship, as well as well wishes for the rest of the year.

Unwrapping the gift as soon as she spotted it, a smile light up Fawn’s face. She was so lucky to have friends that cared this much about her. Turning over the mug in her hands she wanted to use it as soon as possible! 

Fawn was however not looking forward to the end of this upcoming festival. Having flowers mysteriously appear for you every so often was quite nice… She’d have to send thanks you’s before it was too late.

[kahli-ofatara]

Time for a Tune Up [Calliope and Alar]

Calliope’s little green truck puttered down the road towards town. She let her arm hang lazily out the window as the warm air tossed her dark hair around her face. She didn’t drive it often, on account of how old the vehicle was, but it proved to be a trust worthy partner for around the farm when hay and manure needed to be hauled away. The heat died halfway through last winter, and she wasn’t sure how much longer it would last her, but she was determined to get as much out of it as she could. Which meant it was due for a tune up if she wanted to get another year out of it. Her fingers crossed on the steering wheel, hoping it wouldn’t cost too much. Her expenses were almost maxed out as it was. And she was fond of the truck, anyway. They had both been through tough times. She hated to think of not having its rusted frame sitting beside the farm house, waiting for her every morning.

The old engine mixed with the up-beat country music put her into a calm trance as she drove, a relaxed smile on her face. This was why she moved to Clearwell. And so far, she had no regrets.

She navigated the town easily. It was much less stressful than the busy streets in the city she grew up in. She was familiar with the layout and knew just where to find the town’s mechanic. Her heart raced as she neared. She wasn’t quite sure why she felt nervous; she never knew why she was nervous, really. Nervous with the most basic, every day interactions. On some days, she even felt anxious leaving her little farm and driving into the city, often to the point where she would avoid it all together. She bit her lip as she parked the truck just outside the repair shop. This was a silly thing to be nervous about.

She sat in the truck listening to the engine run for a moment before she finally cut the ignition. She sucked in a breath and pushed open the door, hopping down onto the ground. The door creaked as she slammed it shut, almost wincing at the loud sound. She fingered the keys in her hand as she forced herself towards the door, preparing her speech in her head. What was it that she needed to say? I just need a tune up for the truck. Can you take a look and give me an estimate? The heater’s gone... how much will it be to get that fixed? Of course, the heater could wait until fall. But it could serve as an ice breaker. Yes, anything like that would work.

She opened the door and peered inside, catching the mechanic’s attention.

“Uh,” she said, hesitant. “I need a tune up.” Her cheeks were much to warm and it caused her to blush even more. Dammit, Calliope, you rehearsed this! “I mean, my truck. Can you, uh, take a look?”