Wally's got on a backpack with a change of clothes (since running in his KF outfit is a lot easier than trying to run in his civvies) when he screeches to a halt in front of Artemis's house. He searches on the ground, picks up a pebble and chucks it at her window.]
[To be honest, she's almost as uncomfortable in civvies as he is, but by all means, please tell her there's something wrong with her outfit. She would love an excuse to go off at him.]
[Wally sighs explosively and flaps his arms.] I'm not gonna drop you. [He ate a huge feast just for this!] Look, you can't be on my back when we're going as fast as we're gonna go, the wind'll tear you right off. [The wind might smack into her first, but it'll also press her back down into his arms and essentially lock her in there. Much safer.]
[Wally grumbles a little but scoops her right up. If he finds her heavy at all, he doesn't show it in the least; he just hikes her up until he's comfortable and starts off a jog down the street.
It takes longer than usual for him to build up a good speed, but by the time he's got a decent pace going the scenery is tearing by, blurring and the wind is whistling past them and they're shooting past cars on the highway like they're crawling along. It's fast, and it's only a quarter of his top speed.
He takes a break halfway to give her a minute because he remembers running with a couple people like this -most notably Robin- and remembers how he'd wobble around after Wally ran with him for almost an hour. It takes a lot out of people sometimes, but Artemis is bigger and stronger than Robin was then so maybe she's fine.]
[Artemis at least has some practice being toted around by a speedster and it didn't do her any harm, but that was before the military started messing with her eyesight. Things which should be a harmless blur are in stark relief and the effect is... unsettling. She has never felt carsick before in her life, but she's starting to get an idea of what it might be like. She closes her eyes, determined not do to anything as pathetic as cling. Or puke.
... Definitely not going to puke.
She's grateful for the break and manages not to be too wobbly. Also, her ears kind of burn--particularly the one that was facing forward. Not that she is going to admit any of this. She might be a little green around the gills, though.]
We're about halfway, [KF pants as he heads over to a faucet. He was smart and stopped at a rest area, so there's snack machines inside and a faucet here people use to clean their camping gear. Right now he's crouching in front of it and pulling his cowl and goggles back to stick his head beneath the stream. Ahhh that feels good.
He shakes water and sweat from his hair and glances over at Artemis, frowning.] You look like you're gonna puke. Are you?
Without pausing to explain further, she beelines for the rest stop's bathroom. A few minutes later, she re-emerges looking pale but decidedly steadier. Her breath is minty fresh, thanks to some very recently purchased breath mints from the very convenient snack machine.]
You better not throw up on me. [Seriously, high-speed yakking is the grossest.
...not that he has any experience with that.]
Look, if you just- [Wally stops before turning a little red. He sighs, slips off his backpack, searching through it for a light-weight hoodie he'd packed for himself. He tosses it at her.] The less you see and feel and hear, the better. Just try it. [She'd probably feel better if she hid her face, but the only place to really hide it when they're running is against Wally and like hell he's going to suggest that.]
[But she takes the hoodie and pulls it over her head, because if there's one thing they can agree on, it's that highspeed yakking is gross. The hoodie smells like Kid Flash and she wrinkles her nose unhappily. The hoodie may not be as helpful as she'd hoped.]
My brain kicks up. [Wally sticks his head back under the faucet and wonders idly if this is the longest conversation he's had with Artemis where they weren't actively insulting one another.
He shakes the water from his hair again and straightens up, pulling his cowl back into its rightful place and adjusting his goggles.] Process stuff super fast so it's not overwhelming. [He's not sure he wants to tell her the next part, because he's pretty sure she'll make fun of him for it but eh. She looks miserable. He probably should've just not brought her at all.] I got sick a lot at first, though.
[So, they messed with her eyes, but not her brain. Oh, that's just perfect. She's mad enough about that for the moment that it doesn't even occur to her to make fun of Kid Flash. For once.]
So, I'll get used to it. [She's trying to convince herself more than him, but convincing herself happens to be something she's rather good at. She squares her shoulders, ready for round two.]
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voice;
[An hour and a half of hanging on to Wally like a spider-monkey it is!
... That sounds terrible. Why is she even entertaining this idea? Oh yeah, because she's also bored and lonely.]
Ugh. This had better be worth it, pony boy.
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Re: voice;
[she's not even exactly sure what she's protesting here--maybe just the fact that he is, indeed, Wally. She feels like doing that a lot.]
Fine, whatever. It wasn't even my idea in the first place.
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voice;
[Artemis is getting her shoes on!]
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Wally's got on a backpack with a change of clothes (since running in his KF outfit is a lot easier than trying to run in his civvies) when he screeches to a halt in front of Artemis's house. He searches on the ground, picks up a pebble and chucks it at her window.]
Hey, come down already! Let's go!
action;
You're paying if you break my window, Romeo!!!
[She slings a somewhat reduced utility belt over her civvie jeans and goes down, taking the steps two at a time]
Alright, I'm here already, quit yelling.
action;
...You're gonna wear that?
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What's wrong with it?
[To be honest, she's almost as uncomfortable in civvies as he is, but by all means, please tell her there's something wrong with her outfit. She would love an excuse to go off at him.]
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I'm not wearing a jacket in Florida in the summer. What about this?
[She pulls her usual cowl out of her pocket (always prepared!) and pulls it over her head--though it takes a second to adjust with her ponytail.]
Is that it? Can we go now?
action;
He steps forward and reaches out like he's going to scoop her up. Not piggyback, then.]
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When he steps forward, she automatically takes a step back. It was natural enough in Bialya, but this... is kind of weird.]
If you drop me, you're a dead Flash.
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[She stands there with her arms crossed, waiting for him to pick her up and feeling extremely stupid.]
action;
It takes longer than usual for him to build up a good speed, but by the time he's got a decent pace going the scenery is tearing by, blurring and the wind is whistling past them and they're shooting past cars on the highway like they're crawling along. It's fast, and it's only a quarter of his top speed.
He takes a break halfway to give her a minute because he remembers running with a couple people like this -most notably Robin- and remembers how he'd wobble around after Wally ran with him for almost an hour. It takes a lot out of people sometimes, but Artemis is bigger and stronger than Robin was then so maybe she's fine.]
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... Definitely not going to puke.
She's grateful for the break and manages not to be too wobbly. Also, her ears kind of burn--particularly the one that was facing forward. Not that she is going to admit any of this. She might be a little green around the gills, though.]
So, how much further?
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He shakes water and sweat from his hair and glances over at Artemis, frowning.] You look like you're gonna puke. Are you?
action;
[Urk...
Without pausing to explain further, she beelines for the rest stop's bathroom. A few minutes later, she re-emerges looking pale but decidedly steadier. Her breath is minty fresh, thanks to some very recently purchased breath mints from the very convenient snack machine.]
Are you ready?
action;
...not that he has any experience with that.]
Look, if you just- [Wally stops before turning a little red. He sighs, slips off his backpack, searching through it for a light-weight hoodie he'd packed for himself. He tosses it at her.] The less you see and feel and hear, the better. Just try it. [She'd probably feel better if she hid her face, but the only place to really hide it when they're running is against Wally and like hell he's going to suggest that.]
action;
[But she takes the hoodie and pulls it over her head, because if there's one thing they can agree on, it's that highspeed yakking is gross. The hoodie smells like Kid Flash and she wrinkles her nose unhappily. The hoodie may not be as helpful as she'd hoped.]
How do you even deal with it, anyway?
action;
He shakes the water from his hair again and straightens up, pulling his cowl back into its rightful place and adjusting his goggles.] Process stuff super fast so it's not overwhelming. [He's not sure he wants to tell her the next part, because he's pretty sure she'll make fun of him for it but eh. She looks miserable. He probably should've just not brought her at all.] I got sick a lot at first, though.
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So, I'll get used to it. [She's trying to convince herself more than him, but convincing herself happens to be something she's rather good at. She squares her shoulders, ready for round two.]
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...or is she-] Hold on, is this about powers? Did they give you something weird?
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[She pauses, seeming to realize exactly who she's talking to, and immediately closes down.]
Forget it.
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