9th Turn [Semi-accidental Video/Action]

[redjacketthief]

[His head hurt.

It was the first problem that Lupin noticed when he awoke in the woods that afternoon, clad only in the pale New Feather garb that all Lucetian’s are granted upon arrival. The sun was too bright and his head hurt, but it was nothing like all of those jobs where he faced everything from bullets to nuclear materials in crystalline form. Simple pain like this was something to be dealt with at a later time, when there was a moment to think and breathe. He had something more important to check on.

Or a group of someones. The thief sat up with the limber energy of a gymnast—and regretted it. The world seemed to shift without his consent and refused to stabilize despite his willing it to do so. He gritted his teeth and pulled himself up; it was just vertigo, probably from being still for too long…

Dealing with a little light headedness was nothing like his stint Cagliostro, both the first and the second time. At least he didn’t need to worry about Fujiko laughing at him. He took one step, two, digging his fingers into the rough bark of the trees for support as he fought against his vision hazing in and out with the vertigo. It was just from being out for too long. A few more steps and he’d--

--

--collapse into the earth’s embrace.

Lupin stared dumbfounded at the canopy for a breath. He burst into laughter when everything clicked into place.]

That’s right. I died.

[In the facility, with the others. Pops and Fujiko and Adele all told him that this could happen. Hell, he knew it from the outset during that midnight meeting in what should have been the Alps. It was a risk he willingly took, along with the moral implications and responsibilities. No regrets.

It just made life a great deal more complicated.

Death was cheap, however. He didn’t have to spend thousands of dollars on a satin-lined hardwood casket with white lilies piled on top for posterity. A little dizziness was an excellent trade off. Still choking back childish giggles at the absurdity of the situation, Lupin forces himself to sit up again and fight the rolling haze long enough to locate his journal. He gratefully collapsed back into the dirt once he had it in hand, and was doubly grateful when the realization struck that he was fine if he just stayed still. Any little motion sent his mind spinning, but he could think straight if he just stayed and stared up at the canopy.] 

[The feed was thrown on without a glance, suddenly treating the residents of the enclosure to a blindingly bright view of the forest from below. The thief himself was not aware if the feed was audio or video—nor did he care. No filters were added, lest he risk another wave of vertigo with just the act of sitting up. It was too much of a bother, especially when the sky was so blue.

Let other people worry about that for now.]

Hey, Lu-ce-ti~ [His tone was oddly humorous and light, with his suppressed laughter hiding just behind his words.] I’m back. [And alive.]

Can anyone around here spare a smoke? Not menthol and filtered, that’s all I want. Oh, and a light.

…who wants to go fishing?

((ooc: Nothing on this post is filtered and nothing will be filtered unless other characters put them up. Work under the assumption that everything said in this post via the journals is fully readable to everyone unless it is filtered, and threadjack away if you wish.

The actual act of picking Lupin up from the woods is locked to Luke Skywalker, though further action may take place around Community House 5 or the Battle Dome. For those with the lie-detect ability or something similar, you are thus warned that most things Lupin will say on non-filtered conversations is a complete lie.

With that noted, have at.))

Comments

[Voice]

[kineticcajun]

[That. Is an oddly playful tone of voice. And it's making him suspicious. Very suspicious.]

I got a few I can spare, homme. [And he doesn't have a lighter, but who needs lighters?] T'ink I'll pass on the fishin', though.

[Voice]

[redjacketthief]

Why pass on the fishing? Hot day like this, it's a perfect excuse to smoke and get drunk!

[Video--Action]

[thefinaljedi]

The minute Lupin reentered the barrier, Luke knew. He'd been waiting anxiously for his friend to arrive, and had kept his Force Senses on edge, sweeping for any sign. He wasn't pleased with what had happened, and he'd known Lupin was dead. When he hears the broadcast, however, the Jedi can't help but smile. It was a very Lupin thing to do.

In his own way, Luke felt somewhat responsible for Lupin's demise, having put the man in the position as decoy in the first place. However, he quickly shut that out, knowing that the other man would just say that he was doing his job. Picking up a spare shirt and a thermos of water, he took off towards the south where he'd felt Lupin. The Force sped his steps, a feeling he was glad to have back. The four days he'd spent exhausted were hard enough. In route, he opened a video feed.

"Lupin, I'm on my way."

[Video--Action]

[redjacketthief]

"Oh, you are?"

He bit back his protest of not even knowing where he was to be able to direct him, remembering Luke's uncanny connection to his friends via the Force. It wasn't something he fully understood, but it was never to be taken for granted.

Though his tone was flippant, he was relieved to hear the Jedi's voice.

[Private | Unhackable]

[deathsdoctor]

[He's been waiting for this...

And so he addresses what should be the first thing on Lupin's mind.]

The rest of them are okay. Made it out injured, but they're all on the mend and will be fine.

[Private | Unhackable]

[redjacketthief]

...

That's good.

[He heaves a sigh of relief. That was one of his initial thoughts, after 'goddamn the sun' and 'I don't get paid enough for this'. Lupin smirks, rolls over and props himself up on his elbows, struggling against the subsequent wave of dizziness to take another stab at humor.]

I was worried for a second that you'd have too many cooked birds for the party. Even with a lot of people, you need to keep a varied menu. How are the preparations going anyway?

[No. He still hasn't noticed the filter.]

[Voice] Private to Lupin

[fleurdesel]

...Lupin?

[Back late. Later than even Helios and there is much she wants to ask, and little she wants to say over the network.]

[Voice] Private

[redjacketthief]

The one and only!

[He chuckles, but doesn't grab his journal.]

Did you miss me?

[Video]

[savedtheworld]

Hey, Red! You went somewhere?

[Video]

[redjacketthief]

[Nope, still not within shot of the camera, though he does recognize the voice. Lupin smirks, and the lies flow as easily as the wind.]

It was just a pick-up, Aang. Some of those droids got me during that storm. I'm back now, and I'm fine.

[Voice]

[daisy023]

[The voice of Lupin does come within her reach. She stays silent for a moment, knowing of his absense.

For now, she doesn't know that Lupin died in the Malnosso facility. But from the way the video function is set on the sky, she doesn't answer the questions. There is concern.]

Where are you?

[Voice]

[redjacketthief]

Daisy?

[That wasn't an unpleasant voice to hear. Lupin chuckles, mostly to himself.]

I'm in the woods--Luke's coming out here to meet me. Great day for a picnic, huh?

video; holds this place

[consultsdetective]

[ AH. Fellow decoy. Mister really bad turn in luck, fellow decoy, not that Lestrade has been at all worried. Of course. ]

Got a couple to spare if no one's offering. [ :I yeah okay. ] You alright?

video

[redjacketthief]

[Ah, the detective. Lupin actually rolls over on the first responce for this own, and grins despite the crashing wave of dizziness that followed.]

All right enough, detective, for a man who hasn't smoked in God only knows how long!

voice | private

[deadlyjuliet]

Well....Welcome back, Monsieur Lupin.

voice | private

[redjacketthief]

Thanks, Miss Suttcliffe. How's everything been on this front?

/slides in here all belated like...

[endgames]

[What a cheerful sounding return that is. Secrecy then? Certain private things he can't hack - it's not that he can see, it's the absence of what he'd expect - make him think yes.

...fine. Makes no sense to him, but he'll respect it.

Rather than bother with the journals, though, he decides to wait in a tree outside CH5.]

It's cool :3

[redjacketthief]

[He's been to the Battle Dome, changed, and managed to sneak away from the gazes of Luke, Law, and anyone else for at least a short time. The concerns and questions that lingered unspoken with every word bothered him...

and he really did want a smoke.

Lupin only just makes it outside after painstakingly traversing the six levels downward with as much stealth as he could muster, leaning on walls and any other stable object for support as he made his way. The tree was a welcome sight.

He flopped onto the ground amidst the roots, giving up on standing and pretenses for the moment, and leans back against the trunk. The cigarette dangling from his lips is lit with a content smile--

God he needed that!]

[Voice]

[lostinmyway]

[Grune, of course, has no idea that anything is amiss. She isn't aware that Lupin was one of the numerous casualties lately; probably, things are going to stay that way.

And so her response is just as cheerful as always.]

Oh, I'd like to go fishing! It sounds like fun!

[Voice]

[redjacketthief]

It is fun, Grune-chan.

[He smiled, and actually felt a little guilty for having to lie to her. She was such a nice woman...but frighteningly strong too. He didn't know how she would react.]

It's especially fun when you have some really good friends around and you have a hot gril on shore. There's nothing quite like eating a fish you caught that afternoon when you're watching the sunset.

BACKTAGGING~

[averybadfeeling]

[It does not take long after Lupin's returned to his apartment before a knock comes at the door.]

We can do it FOREVER~~

[redjacketthief]

[Even hours after his return, Lupin is still having problems maintaining proper posture and motion without triggering another wave of vertigo. He knew he had to wait it out and keep going, but he was tired by that point. Who would have thought that dying would take so much out of a guy?

He's gotten dressed, however, and is sprawled out on his sofa in his usual clothes sans jacket, tie, and shoes. The only noticeable differences were his carelessly touseled hair and the presence of rectangular framed glasses perched on the bridge of his nose. Though he could see fine, he was hoping that the lenses would help him stave off the worst of the haze when he was unbalanced.

Hope. He wasn't certain.

Lupin barely glanced up at the knocking at his door, though he quickly ran through the possibilities in his mind. Jedi, or perhaps Pops, Fujiko, or Smoker. Any one of them was a probable visitor, and all of them were welcome company at that point.]

It's open. Come on in.

Voice, filtered. HI AM I TOO LATE?

[avenger]

[ Fishing. That... is a thing. He's not really sure what he's responding to this. ] Do you plan on smoking while fishing?

Voice, filtered. It's never too late!

[redjacketthief]

[Oh, that's a new voice.] The two aren't mutual exclusive, are they? We can drink too.

[Voice]

[withnofear]

[...]

Maybe I'll take you up on that fishing.

[Voice]

[redjacketthief]

You will?

[That was unexpected.]

...am I going to have to teach you too?

[doubleppk]

[She wants to see him in person. To punch him for scaring her, to hug him for being back and to yell at him and insist he never do anything like that again; even though they both know, of course he will. God she hates him sometimes. Or loves him. Or some insane convoluted mixture of both.]

[And because of all those emotions she can't choose from, because she doesn't know what to do about him, about how she feels, about Luceti, the Malnosso, death, the jedi and everything in between, she leaves him stewing a bit and then speaks up on journal, not trusting herself to do it in person first. She should see him in person but oh well. Betraying him was nothing new.]

I saved some Gitanes for you and I have a fishing pole... if you're up to it. I could work on my tan. [She spent days wanting to cry, but like hell she'll show it now. Business and play as usual.]

[redjacketthief]

Fujiko...

[She was the exact woman that he wanted to see, and the one he hesitated the most about. Once they dropped the fronts, sparks as deadly as any bullet would fly, and he wasn't sure that he had the stamina for that under the circumstances. He reached for the book and held it above him, hoping that they could get a good solid look at each other--playing, gauging the opponent.

It was the same dangerous game they always played. Lupin just wanted to pull her into his arms and forget the world.

Instead, he tries to offer a smile. Even half naked and in the dirt, he could play.]

Can't believe that you actually found some, Fujiko. I was starting to lose hope of ever seeing them here. We can go fishing any time...but not now.

...

How open is the floor?