[closed] jingle bells~

[flamberge]

Who: Danny, Karl
When: 12/15
Where: Robyn's apartment, around town possibly?
What: An early xmas gift comes a-rolling along.

[It was a small idea at first a while back. Nothing serious. Idle, almost laughable thoughts. Then after what happened, the idea ended up evolving into a reality. Karl still couldn't believe he'd done it. The disbelief holds firm as he pulls up in front of Danny's present residence. After all, not many cops would buy a teenager a car (might as well give a baby a bazooka and a bag of crack while he's at it).

But Danny, of all people, deserves this sort of a gift. No, the kid deserves far more. Something like this is just all that is in Karl's power to give. Shame none of his magical abilities involved being able to bring the dead back to life. The cop gives a light sigh as he steps outside the car and pulls out his phone. He leans against the vehicle while quickly typing out a message. Now here's hoping the recipient does what the message says.]

Come outside. I need to speak with you.

[...Okay, that may have been a bit too copish but whatever. Now to wait. No point exists in going inside. Sure, telling Danny there's a car waiting for him might get the kid to come out easier. That doesn't hold the same surprising effect, though. What's more surprising than old linefacer buying him this? How could he not, though? Danny, in some odd way, feels like family. Nothing odd about buying family a gift like this. Nope.]

Comments

[gogoghostpowers]

[Danny has no idea who could possibly be texting him or why, but he checks his phone anyway. His blood feels like it freezes solid in his veins when he reads the text from Karl, though.

The tone is so serious, it must be something important. Or worse, something cop-related--possibly to the murder of his family? He really doesn't want to deal with this. He really, really doesn't. But he can't just ignore it--he tried doing that for the past month or so and it didn't do anything other than make everyone really mad at him.

It takes him a few minutes to respond.]

Be right there.

[It takes him another few minutes to muster up the courage to pull on a jacket and venture outside.]

[flamberge]

[Waiting a few minutes only led Karl to playing some silly game on his phone. Candy Crash or Crack or whatever. Teenagers: you know they're healthy when they make adults wait. Should he be pleased or annoyed by the fact Danny is behaving like a normal kid after everything?

Contemplating that odd conundrum takes a backseat when approaching footsteps catch Karl's attention. A look up from his game reveals that the waiting has come to an end. Okay, kid's here. ...Now what? Karl keeps up a poker face while being woefully unsure how to actually give a gift like this. Here have a car? Guess who now needs car insurance? Car-en't you glad to see me? ...No, just no.]

Good. You're here.

[After a split second, the choice is made. Without warning, Karl tosses the car keys towards Danny.]

I need a ride home.

[Not half bad. Might require slight elaboration but doesn't scream 'midlife crisis guy can't give gifts to save his life'. 10/10, if he does say so himself.]

[gogoghostpowers]

[He jolts backwards in surprise at the toss and only just barely manages to catch whatever it is Karl threw at him. When he opens his hands, he realizes they're keys. Car keys.

He looks up at Karl with the most quizzical face possible.]

Why do you need me to drive you?

[He knows for a fact Karl can drive. Hell, the first time they ever met was when Karl drove him to the clinic.]

[flamberge]

[Good catch. Cue a small, approving gaze at those reflexes. Ah, there it is. Karl turns to make his way toward the passenger side door while replying.]

Because I wasn't able to drive my own car here while driving yours.

[Obviously. Splitting in two isn't one of his many talents, unfortunately. Joking aside, that straightforward answer ought to clear things up. Or possibly get more questions. It is Danny. One comes to expect a lot of questions. And property damage. Karl makes a mental note to add in insurance and how that goes up if you crash into things.]

[gogoghostpowers]

What? My what?

[He doesn't move.]

[flamberge]

Car, Danny. Your car.

[Karl motions towards the car in question. Sure, it's not a Ferrari, but not even he's a. rich enough nor b. dumb enough to buy one (teenager plus Ferrari equals bad idea of the year). What matters is that it's new with a decent safety rating.]

You needn't worry about monthly payments, but the insurance is still yours to cover.

[A small, thoughtful pause comes after that comment. Danny being able to cover much of anything right now sounds like a stretch. Sixteen year old orphans don't exactly have bulging wallets. Well, since he's come this far with it might as well go all the way.]

Once you acquire a job to pay for it.

[gogoghostpowers]

My...m-my...

[He slumps a little, as if he might dissolve into liquid right then and there, and puts a hand to his head in shock.]

You got me a car. You--you got me a car?

[Sorry, Karl, he's a little stuck on that part.]

[flamberge]

[Karl nearly chuckles at the reaction. Flattering to have someone nearly melt at a gift. It is also just such a Danny-esque reaction, too, and Danny behaving like Danny after everything? Well, it might be the best Christmas gift ever.]

I did. Consider it a belated birthday present or an early Christmas one.

[Only early by a couple days on that. Yeah, early Xmas gift has a nicer ring to it than 'hey missed your birthday. by a month. or 3'. ...Was it even 3? Please don't let his memory be going already.]

[gogoghostpowers]

[He'll call it a Christmas gift, since his birthday's in March.]

I--I don't...

Why?

[After the shitty luck he's had lately, this is so nice, he might cry. He won't, but he feels (and sounds, a little) like he might.]

[flamberge]

[The near tears sober Karl up instantly. His stern expression holds an unusual gentleness to it, as does his voice.]

Because, Daniel, you of all people deserve a gift like this. No, you deserve far more but this is simply all I am able to give.

[An obvious answer, really. Not to mention, someone showing they care helps in dealing with tragedy.]

[gogoghostpowers]

[While Karl gives him the answer, he manages to pull himself back together. No sir, no falling apart for Danny Fenton today! Or ever, for that matter.

He looks down at the car keys in his hand, then up at the car.]

...You do realize I haven't driven since I got my permit like six months ago?

[flamberge]

[There we go. No more broken looking Danny. As for the lack of driving, well, that part is easily fixed. Hence why Karl doesn't seem the least bit bothered it.]

Now is as good a time as any to get some practice in.

[How can you beat practicing with a cop? No tickets, knows how to drive, can tell you which lights you can run without getting caught: all that good stuff.]

[gogoghostpowers]

Alright, well...here's hoping I don't total my birthday gift!

[He laughs nervously because, uh, who wouldn't after they've just been given a CAR for their birthday? But he still makes his way over to the driver's side and unlocks the car. He keeps his hand on the door handle, though, giving Karl one last chance to rethink the amount of power and responsibility he's just given to a reckless teenager.]

[flamberge]

[A small, if amused snort comes from Karl. How reassuring. Really. Though if nothing else, it does brighten Karl's spirits in knowing there's someone as bad at being comforting as he is.]

Should you then I'll be sure to have the steering wheel send to you as a memento.

[Nope, no rethinking on Karl's part. Without hesitating, the redhead sits his butt down in the passenger's seat. His life is in your hands, Danny.]

[gogoghostpowers]

[When Karl seats himself in the car, Danny sighs and follows suit. He gets everything ready in the driver's seat as though it's his driving test all over again--seat position, rear view mirror, side mirrors, and all. Then he buckles himself in and is about to start the car when...]

...Uh. Are you gonna buckle up?

[Honestly now, Karl. Just because you've accepted Danny might crash doesn't mean you have to be reckless about it.]

[flamberge]

[Doing anything other than sitting doesn't cross his mind till Danny speaks up. Seat belts? Cue a confused, if startled expression. OH right. That little safety thing that cops preach all the time to do. Great example, Karl, just great.]

Ah, yeah. Sorry, I'm unused to riding around on this side.

[Or maybe that's obviously an excuse because Mr. Cop forgot. Whoops. At any rate, seat belt gets buckled seconds after the reminder. Come at him with all the crashing potential you got, Danny. Just no trucks please.]

[gogoghostpowers]

Okay...

[Once that's done, Danny shifts the car into reverse and tries backing the car out of its parking spot and into the street.

Unfortunately, Danny's crap at parallel parking (both getting into it and getting out of it), so he has to go back and forth six times and piss off at least two cars before he manages to actually make it on the road and start driving proper.

His posture is ramrod straight and his arms are stiff and fully extended. He is getting performance anxiety so bad right now.]

[flamberge]

[Well, the parallel parking was... an experience. Award for most attempts to pull out of a parking space goes to one ghost-boy. No commentary gets made. Even Karl didn't get this down on the first few tries. No reason to be harsh on a kid for something most kids suck at.

But Jesus, Danny, any stiffer and you'd pass for a coat rack. A frown, a slightly uneasy one at that, comes from Danny's passenger. Yeah, being this nervous is going to land them right under that truck.]

Overconfidence while driving leads to negative consequences, however so does an extreme lack of it.

[Balancing those two is the way to go. Don't pull 100 in a school zone, but don't go 10, either.]

Relax yourself. You aren't in a classroom setting. There are no grades. Be aware of your surroundings and don't let yourself be intimidated.

[gogoghostpowers]

[He chuckles a little.]

Yeah, it might not be a test, but you sure make it sound like one.

[Still, he loosens up and relaxes a little, settling into a more comfortable driving position. And, hey, you know what? He seems to be doing a fine job of it.]

[flamberge]

[Ah. Whoops. Judging by the somewhat sheepish expression, Karl hadn't been aware he'd done that. Good job doing the opposite of what had been the goal.]

Sorry, force of habit.

[Once a teacher, always a teacher. Even if a fake teacher. On the brightside, the chance of death by car seems to be getting lower by the second.]

You are doing better now, at any rate. Keep at it and you'll have little difficulty passing the test.

[gogoghostpowers]

Oh, heh, right. The driving test.

[He'd honestly forgotten about that. Sure, his permit is only a stepping stone that leads directly to the test, but it...slipped his mind. He'd spent so long, so many months completely off-kilter in every way, that driving tests were the last thing on his mind. He didn't even expect to still be alive at this point, honestly--the fact that he's here right now talking to Karl is beyond anything he'd planned or thought about, much less a driving test he still has to wait over a year for.

Which is why he starts laughing--it erupts in a burst, abrupt and honestly a little terrifying, or at least rather uncomfortable.]