redjacketthief | 9th Turn [Semi-accidental Video/Action]

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9th Turn [Semi-accidental Video/Action]

[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.))

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"I am. I'm not far."

Luke was jogging now, already nearing the point where he'd felt the thief's arrival. As he neared, the connection grew stronger and stronger, the Jedi relaxing as he entered the treeline. It wasn't too far, so he slowed down a bit. He hadn't completely recovered himself, and dashing through the trees wasn't the easiest thing.

"Are you hurt?"

"No, not hurt--"

He cuts himself off, considering his options for clearly explaining his problem without saying too much over a feed with questionable security. The pause was brief, as just the act of talking was helpful.

The thief rambled on.

"Do you know the funny feeling you get in your head sometimes after you've taken an arrow for your amnesiac girlfriend in your efforts to defend her?"

"I do...not. I've never been shot with an arrow, or had an amnesiac girlfriend."

This perplexed the Jedi, was he really hurt? Or was he just saying things at random? Whatever it was, it wasn't good. Jumping over fallen branches, Luke hurtled onward until at last he burst through the treeline into the clearing where he'd found Lupin. Tossing him a shirt, Luke eyed the other man, wondering what the Malnosso had done.

"Lupin. Its...good to see you. You should cover up though."

Lupin grins at the sudden appearance of the Jedi, but doesn't have time to actually sit up before the shirt drops onto him. He yanks it off of him and sits upright--

too fast.

He manages to laugh despite the sudden shift in perception. "It's a good day to go shirtless, Luke. Have you noticed how hot it is?"

"Whoa, careful there. Is there something wrong with your inner ear?"

Luke moves closer and takes a seat on a nearby stump, holding up the thermos and offering Lupin some water.

"Drink, you don't want to get dehydrated. And for the stars sake, put on the shirt."

"Hell if I know!"

The world refused to stabilize despite his will, and he had to catch himself himself on that same stump before the haze caught him again. He takes a breath before he stubbornly takes his friend's advice and pulls the shirt on.

The water, still cold from the thermos, is a sweet reward.

Lupin took a deep draught before speaking again, and wipes the overflow away with the back of his hand. "Its what I meant by what I said earlier. Not hurt, but my head's not working right."

Though he was stable again. So long as he was still, he was stable.

"Lupin, relax. Lets get you back to the village, ok?"

Luke moves over, offering a shoulder to lean on. He probably should have brought a repulsor sled, but he had no idea the extent of the damage. They needed to get back to a doctor, so they could get him checked out.

"I am pretty relaxed."

It was just some vertigo--it would go away with time, like always. Right. Lupin chuckles again, trying to lessen Luke's concern even as he does accept the offered shoulder.

"Though...I wouldn't mind getting my actual clothes on. Walking around in pajamas was never my style."

"We'll get you home, don't worry."

Luke leads the way back to town, slowly, with frequent rests, particularly in the woods. Every time Lupin even so much as feels woozy, they take a breather.

"So, you died, didn't you."

A statement, not a question.

"Thanks. We're not stopping there for the day though."

Lupin is so stubborn that he just plows through the dizziness. There are things he has to do that day, no matter how uncomfortable he feels--they're more important. Law's assurance that the rest of the decoys was heartening, but he still wanted to check up on them, as well as others. Pops, Fujiko, Adele, and his other friends that he knew were stranded in the village during the storm.

He smiles ruefully at Luke's question. "Gunshot; I don't recommend it to anyone."

It wasn't a yes or a no, but his sober tone was an indication of the truth.

Edited 2012-07-01 15:41 (UTC)

"No, you are going to the clinic. And speaking as someone who has been shot, I agree," Luke said with a bit of a grim laugh.

"We'll get everyone together, and we can have a meeting later this afternoon. For now I'm going to tell you exactly what Adele and Ami would, you need to lie down for a bit."

"Clothes first."

He had his priorities, and chief among them were maintaining appearances. Lupin wasn't going to argue the clinic, or the necessity of rest, but he needed to prove to everyone that there was no problem. None.

"No. You are going to the battle dome clinic. Then, I'll get you some clothes," Luke states flatly, ignoring the thief's protest.

He mockingly glared at the Jedi for a second--

--and heaves a sigh. He'd go get it himself, but he would likely get tangled up in tree roots before he even made it five yards.

"Fine~ You don't need to bother with a jacket or tie, but at least get my pants, shoes, and a shirt. Oh, and I have a pair of glasses in my work room--they might help with the spins. Maybe."

"Of course."

And they continue on, taking an hour at least to catch site of the town. Luke doesn't say much, merely pondering the entire situation. He knew that death came at a price here, but it wasn't final. Could this strange dizziness be Lupin's penalty?

"So did you just wake up here?"

"I did."

Just like he did on that mucky day in November when he first dropped in, wondering if he had too much tequila the night before and if he really was still in Rio. This was wholly different, however; he was tacitly ignoring any and all complications from the recent mission, holding off judgements until a time when he could relax and thing. He knew of the price that came with death in this strange world, but hadn't quite made the connect between that and the vertigo.

A part of him still wondered if it was because he was shot. Trauma does wierd things to the mind...

"...I all ready know about the others who entered with me, Luke. What about everyone else?"

"That...is a complicated question. There are quite a few missing people, Helios and Donatello among them. The battle went well enough, there were injured residents but I'm not sure who entirely. I myself spent the majority of the week in the Clinic. I...over did it, and Ami wouldn't let me out of her sight"

"Of course she wouldn't!"

It was a joke, but Lupin chuckled all the same. Whatever kind of relationship Luke had with the young doctor, it was obviously good for him. '

"It's good to know that there weren't too many casualties then. That would really counterbalance any successes we made on this. Don and Helios...might have gotten caught up in the storm, but both are tough enough. They should turn up soon enough, and be fine."

"Whats that supposed to mean, Lupin?" Luke responds, a faint hint of embarrassment in his voice. She was a good friend, and a good doctor. Whatever had happened between them before had no bearing on their relationship in the present.

Lupin broke out into laughter at this, and leans more heavily on the Jedi as his focus is pulled away from the simple act of keeping his head straight and placing one foot in front of the other.

"You'll get it soon enough~"

And the unraveling of his meaning would be more interesting for Luke than just telling him.

Edited 2012-07-01 22:40 (UTC)

"..." Luke didn't respond. This...was like something Han would do.

"Lupin, if you're implying that there is something going on between Ami and I I'm afraid you're mistaken. She's my friend...."

"And I've had so many lady friends that it makes no difference anymore!"

The all-too-amused laughter doesn't subside.

"..." Luke just remains silent, blushing slightly. Why was it that people always teased him about romance? Silently he trudged along, letting the thief lean on him, until at last they reached the battle dome.

"Well, we're here"

"I see..."

The laughter had since subsided by the time they arrived, and Lupin had enough control to be calm about the situation. He smiled, quietly relieved to be back in Luceti's excuse for a civilization.

"You know, Mister Law wants to talk to me. Us. I can only imagine why."

The playful lilt to his tone stated otherwise.

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