Memphis heard the engine of the motorcycle rumble from outside the
shop, and allowed himself a smile. He wondered how long it would take for
her to get here. With very little to keep her entertained on a Saturday,
she usually drove down to Otto's to see what was happening, and if she
could lend a hand herself.
He saw her walk through the door, slipping off her leather jacket, and removing her helmet, placing them carefully and surprisingly neatly on a workbench near the door, heading straight over to the old Ford they were working on.
She planted a kiss on him, and smiled. "What you working on?"
Memphis sighed, and rubbed his filthy hands on a rag, replying, "This old Ford. Remember I told you about it? It's quite a job though. Might take us a while."
Sway nodded, her blonde hair moving about her face and resting on her shoulders beautifully in controlled locks. Her blue eyes considered him. She was bored.
"You can give us a hand if you want," called Otto from underneath the hood, the sounds of tools clanking from within. There was a small curse, and the older man poked his head up from his work, shaking his hand.
Sway smiled, and glanced between the two. "Sure. I know when I'm needed." She giggled and went to grab herself some overalls, leaving Memphis to look on after her.
* * *
Kip knocked on the door three times and waited, leaning against the wall near the doorframe itself. He knocked again, louder this time, and rolled his eyes. Apparently, the beer had taken more of an affect than Kip had thought, and his friend probably wasn't even out of bed yet.
Kip sighed, and shoved the toe of his boot into the bottom of the door three times in succession, the loud knocking carrying down the quiet corridor. The cheap apartment building was dead, and no one was around, apart from the crazy woman who lived in the place down the hall. She always complained about the noise, and gave them hassle, shouting that she was going to call the police if they didn't keep it down.
There was the sound of something being knocked over from inside, followed by an abrupt quiet curse, before the familiar rattle of a chain being thrown aside was heard. Another lock was undone, and then the door opened, displaying a rather tousled looking young man.
Kip smiled. "Hung-over?"
Tumbler groaned, and pulled a somewhat comical expression, rubbing a hand over his hair and face. He was dressed in long shorts and sleeveless white vest, his hair a mess of blonde spikes atop his head. His blue eyes stared at Kip, and he no doubt had a headache.
Kip laughed, and Tumbler let him in. The latter walked away from the door, and climbed over the mess in his small apartment, collapsing on the couch where he had obviously fallen asleep the previous night... or rather, early morning. Kip had managed to drag Tumbler in at about three o'clock. Their drive home had taken an unexpected detour.
Kip stood amidst the dishevelled belongings, amongst which were clothes, a small number of empty bottles, a few car magazines and an old acoustic guitar that probably hadn't been played in a while.
Tumbler sat up on the couch, and stared up at Kip, eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here? It's early." He rubbed his eyes, and scratched the back of his head subconsciously, looking around at the mess; clearly amazed he had managed to get through it all when he'd got home.
Kip laughed once again, and pointed at the clock on the wall, which he soon realised had stopped, instead pocketing his hands, and saying, "Early? It's gone eleven." He was still smiling when Tumbler threw him a look of amazement. He obviously hadn't known it was that late. "We're gonna go check out some cars today, remember?"
Tumbler nodded, glancing about as if searching for something, and mumbled, "Yeah, yeah, I remember." He frowned. "Just give me a few minutes, and I'll be ready."
"You sure you can drive today?" Kip teased, earning himself a glare.
Tumbler moved off to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him, leaving Kip to grin about his friend's state and the mess in the apartment. He should have expected this.
Kip sat at one of the kitchen stools, and thumbed casually through a car magazine, admiring a few of the pictures there, and quickly moving on when he saw the prices attached. He had to remember to be reasonable about his purchase, if he ever found a car.
After about ten minutes, Tumbler emerged from the bathroom, somewhat tidier than before, and shuffled into the bedroom to change. Kip heard him open the closet, and pull something out.
His attention was soon back on the magazine, as he waited patiently.
Another five minutes passed, and Tumbler came out of the bedroom, fully dressed. He had slipped on a short-sleeved bowling shirt with the nickname 'Tumbler' stitched onto it in red, with a fresh sleeveless vest underneath. His baggy jeans had been replaced, and the trademark chain dangled halfway out of the pocket, his car keys reattached to the end after their night out. His hair had been redone, and stuck up in styled spikes of blonde, growing lighter towards the tips.
The light reflected through the window off of his two silver rings and chunky bracelet as he turned to Kip.
Kip hopped off the stool, and shut the magazine, having not found anything in his price range. They started for the door, before Kip stifled a laugh. "Um... Tumbler?"
His friend turned back to him, and waited.
"Might need some shoes, pal." Kip pointed.
Tumbler looked down, donned a confused expression that seemed to show he had thought he'd already had footwear on, and quickly grabbed his thick boots off the floor, shoving them on and tying them securely.
Kip was still smiling as they went out the door, hearing Tumbler slam it behind him. There came the familiar whining voice from down the hallway, shortly before a head poked out of the door from the other end. They were walking away as she shouted, "Keep the noise down! What have I told you about the noise!"
Tumbler rolled his eyes with a sigh, and called back, "Alright, Miss Fletcher, whatever you say."
They had started descending the stairs as the woman shouted something in response, but they were too far away to hear... or care. It was a marvel the woman hadn't heard Kip bringing Tumbler up in the morning. The noise his friend was making had been somewhat amazing for someone who had barely been able to climb the stairs without falling backwards every few seconds.
They emerged into the sun of the Long Beach day, and Tumbler fished his keys out of his pocket, saying as he did so, "You gotta get me some coffee or something."
"You've got coffee inside!" Kip told him as he unlocked the '69 Nova.
"Not anymore I don't," Tumbler replied, climbing in, pulling down his shade to keep the sun out of his eyes as he located the ignition. "Haven't had coffee for a week. Mirror Man used it all."
Kip sighed loudly, and got in the car, closing the door after him, and hearing the engine roar into life. "Fine. We get some coffee, and then we look for my new car."
"If you can ever decide what kind of car you want," Tumbler commented, pulling out of the parking lot, and onto the road, his eyes looking out for other cars and pedestrians as he did so. He drove with one hand on the wheel, the other rested on the rolled down window edge as they moved.
Kip slouched back in the seat and shrugged. "It takes time. I'll figure it out, just you wait."
"You can pick a car for your brother," Tumbler began, furrowing his brow as they stopped at a red light, "but you can't decide what you want for yourself."
Kip let the conversation drop for the time being, and directed Tumbler to a place where they could get some breakfast.
* * *
The Ford had decided to start behaving at around midday, when Memphis was on the verge of smacking it with a spanner. The engine had spluttered into life after Sway's third attempt, and cheers had sounded through the shop. It was far from complete, but at least the girl started now.
"Whadda you say we go out for drinks tonight?" Sway offered Memphis, standing rather seductively by the hood of the vehicle, holding a screwdriver in her hand, and turning it end over end repeatedly.
Memphis turned to her, and smiled. "What brought this on?"
"I dunno," she replied, shrugging loosely beneath her unzipped overalls, revealing a grubby T-shirt she had found in the back room. "I guess the success here has fuelled it my need to celebrate... with alcohol."
Memphis chuckled to himself, and nodded. "Okay, sure. Drinks tonight."
"Great," Sway muttered happily, and ambled away to talk with Junie, who was watching from the office with mild interest. The two soon got to conversing, and it wasn't long before the sounds of their laughter were heard. They got along as if they had known each other their whole lives.
Memphis got back to work under the hood, hearing Otto speak to him from around the car somewhere. He was out of sight, but in audible range, as he said, "So, how are things with your brother? I haven't seen him around for a couple of weeks."
"Wouldn't really know," Memphis replied casually, frowning to himself. "I haven't spoken to him myself in a week. Last I heard, he was looking for a car."
"As in 'to buy', right?" Otto queried, poking his head under to regard his old friend seriously. The look in his eyes was unmistakable as concern.
Memphis nodded. "That's what he said to me. Told me Tumbler was gonna give him a hand."
"Why wouldn't he ask you for help?" Otto asked, taking a rag out of his pocket, and wiping it over the car's exterior slowly.
Memphis came out from under the raised hood, and sighed, arms rested on the front of the car, as his eyes found Otto. "I'm not sure. Maybe he's getting more independent. I don't know. I just hope he and Tumbler keep outta trouble... and by getting a car, Kip means with money and keys."
Otto nodded wordlessly in agreement, and shuffled off to finish up some neglected paperwork.
Memphis watched him go, furrowing his brow at the possibility of his brother getting himself back into trouble, and ducked back under the hood of the Ford to work.
He saw her walk through the door, slipping off her leather jacket, and removing her helmet, placing them carefully and surprisingly neatly on a workbench near the door, heading straight over to the old Ford they were working on.
She planted a kiss on him, and smiled. "What you working on?"
Memphis sighed, and rubbed his filthy hands on a rag, replying, "This old Ford. Remember I told you about it? It's quite a job though. Might take us a while."
Sway nodded, her blonde hair moving about her face and resting on her shoulders beautifully in controlled locks. Her blue eyes considered him. She was bored.
"You can give us a hand if you want," called Otto from underneath the hood, the sounds of tools clanking from within. There was a small curse, and the older man poked his head up from his work, shaking his hand.
Sway smiled, and glanced between the two. "Sure. I know when I'm needed." She giggled and went to grab herself some overalls, leaving Memphis to look on after her.
* * *
Kip knocked on the door three times and waited, leaning against the wall near the doorframe itself. He knocked again, louder this time, and rolled his eyes. Apparently, the beer had taken more of an affect than Kip had thought, and his friend probably wasn't even out of bed yet.
Kip sighed, and shoved the toe of his boot into the bottom of the door three times in succession, the loud knocking carrying down the quiet corridor. The cheap apartment building was dead, and no one was around, apart from the crazy woman who lived in the place down the hall. She always complained about the noise, and gave them hassle, shouting that she was going to call the police if they didn't keep it down.
There was the sound of something being knocked over from inside, followed by an abrupt quiet curse, before the familiar rattle of a chain being thrown aside was heard. Another lock was undone, and then the door opened, displaying a rather tousled looking young man.
Kip smiled. "Hung-over?"
Tumbler groaned, and pulled a somewhat comical expression, rubbing a hand over his hair and face. He was dressed in long shorts and sleeveless white vest, his hair a mess of blonde spikes atop his head. His blue eyes stared at Kip, and he no doubt had a headache.
Kip laughed, and Tumbler let him in. The latter walked away from the door, and climbed over the mess in his small apartment, collapsing on the couch where he had obviously fallen asleep the previous night... or rather, early morning. Kip had managed to drag Tumbler in at about three o'clock. Their drive home had taken an unexpected detour.
Kip stood amidst the dishevelled belongings, amongst which were clothes, a small number of empty bottles, a few car magazines and an old acoustic guitar that probably hadn't been played in a while.
Tumbler sat up on the couch, and stared up at Kip, eyes narrowed. "What are you doing here? It's early." He rubbed his eyes, and scratched the back of his head subconsciously, looking around at the mess; clearly amazed he had managed to get through it all when he'd got home.
Kip laughed once again, and pointed at the clock on the wall, which he soon realised had stopped, instead pocketing his hands, and saying, "Early? It's gone eleven." He was still smiling when Tumbler threw him a look of amazement. He obviously hadn't known it was that late. "We're gonna go check out some cars today, remember?"
Tumbler nodded, glancing about as if searching for something, and mumbled, "Yeah, yeah, I remember." He frowned. "Just give me a few minutes, and I'll be ready."
"You sure you can drive today?" Kip teased, earning himself a glare.
Tumbler moved off to the bathroom, shutting the door behind him, leaving Kip to grin about his friend's state and the mess in the apartment. He should have expected this.
Kip sat at one of the kitchen stools, and thumbed casually through a car magazine, admiring a few of the pictures there, and quickly moving on when he saw the prices attached. He had to remember to be reasonable about his purchase, if he ever found a car.
After about ten minutes, Tumbler emerged from the bathroom, somewhat tidier than before, and shuffled into the bedroom to change. Kip heard him open the closet, and pull something out.
His attention was soon back on the magazine, as he waited patiently.
Another five minutes passed, and Tumbler came out of the bedroom, fully dressed. He had slipped on a short-sleeved bowling shirt with the nickname 'Tumbler' stitched onto it in red, with a fresh sleeveless vest underneath. His baggy jeans had been replaced, and the trademark chain dangled halfway out of the pocket, his car keys reattached to the end after their night out. His hair had been redone, and stuck up in styled spikes of blonde, growing lighter towards the tips.
The light reflected through the window off of his two silver rings and chunky bracelet as he turned to Kip.
Kip hopped off the stool, and shut the magazine, having not found anything in his price range. They started for the door, before Kip stifled a laugh. "Um... Tumbler?"
His friend turned back to him, and waited.
"Might need some shoes, pal." Kip pointed.
Tumbler looked down, donned a confused expression that seemed to show he had thought he'd already had footwear on, and quickly grabbed his thick boots off the floor, shoving them on and tying them securely.
Kip was still smiling as they went out the door, hearing Tumbler slam it behind him. There came the familiar whining voice from down the hallway, shortly before a head poked out of the door from the other end. They were walking away as she shouted, "Keep the noise down! What have I told you about the noise!"
Tumbler rolled his eyes with a sigh, and called back, "Alright, Miss Fletcher, whatever you say."
They had started descending the stairs as the woman shouted something in response, but they were too far away to hear... or care. It was a marvel the woman hadn't heard Kip bringing Tumbler up in the morning. The noise his friend was making had been somewhat amazing for someone who had barely been able to climb the stairs without falling backwards every few seconds.
They emerged into the sun of the Long Beach day, and Tumbler fished his keys out of his pocket, saying as he did so, "You gotta get me some coffee or something."
"You've got coffee inside!" Kip told him as he unlocked the '69 Nova.
"Not anymore I don't," Tumbler replied, climbing in, pulling down his shade to keep the sun out of his eyes as he located the ignition. "Haven't had coffee for a week. Mirror Man used it all."
Kip sighed loudly, and got in the car, closing the door after him, and hearing the engine roar into life. "Fine. We get some coffee, and then we look for my new car."
"If you can ever decide what kind of car you want," Tumbler commented, pulling out of the parking lot, and onto the road, his eyes looking out for other cars and pedestrians as he did so. He drove with one hand on the wheel, the other rested on the rolled down window edge as they moved.
Kip slouched back in the seat and shrugged. "It takes time. I'll figure it out, just you wait."
"You can pick a car for your brother," Tumbler began, furrowing his brow as they stopped at a red light, "but you can't decide what you want for yourself."
Kip let the conversation drop for the time being, and directed Tumbler to a place where they could get some breakfast.
* * *
The Ford had decided to start behaving at around midday, when Memphis was on the verge of smacking it with a spanner. The engine had spluttered into life after Sway's third attempt, and cheers had sounded through the shop. It was far from complete, but at least the girl started now.
"Whadda you say we go out for drinks tonight?" Sway offered Memphis, standing rather seductively by the hood of the vehicle, holding a screwdriver in her hand, and turning it end over end repeatedly.
Memphis turned to her, and smiled. "What brought this on?"
"I dunno," she replied, shrugging loosely beneath her unzipped overalls, revealing a grubby T-shirt she had found in the back room. "I guess the success here has fuelled it my need to celebrate... with alcohol."
Memphis chuckled to himself, and nodded. "Okay, sure. Drinks tonight."
"Great," Sway muttered happily, and ambled away to talk with Junie, who was watching from the office with mild interest. The two soon got to conversing, and it wasn't long before the sounds of their laughter were heard. They got along as if they had known each other their whole lives.
Memphis got back to work under the hood, hearing Otto speak to him from around the car somewhere. He was out of sight, but in audible range, as he said, "So, how are things with your brother? I haven't seen him around for a couple of weeks."
"Wouldn't really know," Memphis replied casually, frowning to himself. "I haven't spoken to him myself in a week. Last I heard, he was looking for a car."
"As in 'to buy', right?" Otto queried, poking his head under to regard his old friend seriously. The look in his eyes was unmistakable as concern.
Memphis nodded. "That's what he said to me. Told me Tumbler was gonna give him a hand."
"Why wouldn't he ask you for help?" Otto asked, taking a rag out of his pocket, and wiping it over the car's exterior slowly.
Memphis came out from under the raised hood, and sighed, arms rested on the front of the car, as his eyes found Otto. "I'm not sure. Maybe he's getting more independent. I don't know. I just hope he and Tumbler keep outta trouble... and by getting a car, Kip means with money and keys."
Otto nodded wordlessly in agreement, and shuffled off to finish up some neglected paperwork.
Memphis watched him go, furrowing his brow at the possibility of his brother getting himself back into trouble, and ducked back under the hood of the Ford to work.
