10th Turn [Voice/Action]

[redjacketthief]

[July 9: Voice]

Hey, Luceti.

[The thief speaks clearly over the public audio feeds very suddenly that night, with a level of calm that is surprising for some residents he spoke with over his most recent transmission. There's no laughter in his tone, nor any bitterness. He speaks as if he were holding a casual conversation.]

I just wanted to let you know, for those of you who knew him, that Detective Inspector Zenigata Koichi has returned home. Don't worry--he's just gone back to doing what he does best, even if he hasn't yet succeeded. Never let there be a doubt, he is the best damn officer that the ICPO has to offer. 

We're down another lawdog, guys, but we'll manage. Let's make the old bastard proud!

Also...he wasn't here for very long, so I don't know how many people he knew, but Jigen Daisuke has also returned home. Don't worry for him either, because its better for him to be out of here. He's quiet, but places like this never got on well with him.

If you want to honor them in some way, have a few drinks and a few smokes. If that's not your thing, then have a bowl of Miso Ramen for Pops. It's his favorite dish.

[Filtered to Smoker: Unhackable]

Captain? Pops left you something if you want to come get it.

[Considering recent weeks and the whirlwind of events, Lupin appeared to be taking the loss of two of his best friends rather well. Residents of Community House 5 would have noticed the sheer delay he took in actually investigating Zenigata's apartment on the third level. Whether out of physical necessity or his own misplaced lonliness, Lupin spends the night there.]

[July 10: Action]

[Residents of the village will be able to catch Lupin between several places the next day, largely in the area around Community House 5, the Barracks, and the Battle Dome. Although he's physically not fully adjusted to the current conditions left on him by the Malnosso, Lupin treks his way over to the Dome to make use of one of the simulation rooms for target practice. His aim went with his balance, and he intended to rectify that as soon as possible. Acquaintances could call him out on his poor coping skills once more, but that won't stop him from trying.

It's late afternoon by the time he's satisfied enough to leave, although he doesn't quite make it back to his room. Wandering villagers will find him napping anywhere around the Barracks or Community House 5, although a preference for sleeping under or in trees is noticeable. Just...don't ask him if he needs a hand.

If his refusal for aid is unaccepted, he will not be directing people to his apartment in the community building, but to House 46 on the other side of town.

His friends insisted on the change, and he was in no position to argue.]

Comments

[redjacketthief]

[He was aware of Grell being a Reaper, but only because she called him out on his death before he even knew that people other than the decoys knew about it. Smoker's rage is palpable even in the dim room, and Lupin feels his own heart pound in sympathy for the man. He was another person angered, and another who wouldn't have been able to stop the bullet from piercing his chest. Jaw set, Lupin tears his eyes away when he replies.]

It's my balance, Captain. I can stand and do things, but it's become a small piece of hell.

[One that was getting better, and one that he could deal with. Luke and Adele were both working with him on planning his movements better, and everyone from Shikamaru to Obi-Wan Kenobi has offered to assist him in any way that he needs.

He wanted to continue training with Smoker. Badly. But he had a feeling that he physically backslid in his progress as well alongside of his problems.]

[Voice]

[redjacketthief]

[Luffy...is a girl?]

Don't be in a bad mood, kid. It's better that he's home--he's gone back to fight the good fight. I liked him too, though, and I'm gonna miss him.

...your Smoker is a lot like him, so count your blessings. Most cops of my world are nothing like Pops either.

[Action]

[redjacketthief]

Oh....kay. I guess I understand...

[justicereigns]

[Grunts.] Well, I guess you won't be walking any catwalks soon. [Oh god, he's picking up theater speak from Grell. This can't be good. He doesn't seem to notice though, just nods.] I'll see what I can do about finding exercises to cater to that instead.

In your... former training -- [The words sound like ash on his tongue, and from his distaste it's obvious that he means as a thief.] Did you learn how to take a fall safely?

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Don retreats to the bench to pick up his water bottle. The fact that for the next several months it's going to be difficult to have a conversation with anybody is beginning to dawn on him.]

[redjacketthief]

[He giggles with too much force and catches it when it's too late to stifle it. Grinning, Lupin tries to keep his focus straight when he returns his gaze to the Marine--without much luck. Between the stress of finding out about Zenigata's return and his own lingering concerns over his recent actions, keeping his vision straight was too much work. The hand braced on the sofa grasps the solid cushioning so hard that his knuckles turn white as he clings to an anchor in his quiet distress.

There wasn't much else to say. What else could he say?]

...Thanks. [He found it in him to breathe.] That might be for the best...

[The laughter died down to a bitter chuckle.] I can take a fall, Captain. Off of skyscrapers, even. It's dangerous, but I think I can handle it.

[Action]

[redjacketthief]

[Lupin follows, his posture a little too stiff when compared to his normal careless air. The vertigo had subsided for the moment, but Lupin felt that he needed to maintain a semblence of normalcy with Don there.

He would crash and sleep later. He was tired.]

So, did I get it a little close?

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[Fairly close. Don nods and gestures to the empty end of the bench. Sit?]

[Action]

[redjacketthief]

[There was no questioning that gesture. Curious, Lupin follows the 'suggestion'.]

What's up?

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[You looked like you needed to sit down. No ulterior motive here.]

[Action]

[redjacketthief]

[They were going to need to learn to communicate through pheromones and light signals, weren't they? Lupin sighs and sits, feeling a little awkward.]

Uh...thanks?

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

[He knows Morse code. Too bad he can't spell right now.]

What you do down there?

[Action]

[redjacketthief]

[More's the pity. They'll need to learn flag-waving code.]

I was practicing my aim. It's...been a little while, and I haven't had many chances to shoot things here.

[It was also nostalgia--he was using a program that Jigen liked.]

[Action]

[i_speak_softly]

You're a good shoot.

[Action]

[redjacketthief]

Thanks, but it could be a lot better.

[It was only because he was shooting like a sniper and not James Bond--snipers used physical means of keeping their barrels stationary, whether by prop or natural feature. He couldn't very well stand, nonetheless fire his Walther P-38 with the same precise grace that Bond wielded his Walther-PPK with.]

[justicereigns]

[Arches an eyebrow. He has no idea what Lupin's world calls skyscrapers but that can't be healthy. Still that's a good start at least. At least he knows Lupin won't be too bruised from just practicing.]

You don't have to try so hard thief. [Let it be noted...... That is crazy rare for Smoker to actually say. His solution to everything is "get stronger." In this case though, he thinks Lupin needs to chill though, since the guy is more wound up than Smoker.] All right, I think I know where to start if you still have the time and inclination anyway.

[redjacketthief]

[He leads an unhealthy lifestyle in any world, and Luceti is no exception. Lupin stares at Smoker for a beat longer as his words sink in, fully comprehending the deeper meaning of the phrase. He's never seen Smoker actually tell someone to hold off for a while, not like this, in all of his six months training with a man. Little more than a week had passed since he returned to the enclosure, and the concern that everyone was showing had him worried that he was slacking in his own skills. Had he really become that readable and well known to the general population?

It was too much to think about that night. Sighing, Lupin flops back into Zenigata's old couch. It was a comfort, even if it was only temporary.]

Everyone's telling me that, and I don't do sitting still very well. Even though Luke's been helping me with meditation and Adele's been helping me rethink how I walk, it's not going to be quite enough.

...I promised Keimi-chan that I'd work on learning magic from the spirits here with her. It will give us both something, but we'll have to see where that goes. There isn't much else that I have going right now either, Smoker.

I can start any time.

[justicereigns]

[A shrug.] Suit yourself. [If Lupin got antsy enough to join in on Tony Stark's fight club sessions, of course he was going to be antsy while healing. That's how he was. Still, Smoker didn't just mean physically in this instance. But he had a feeling Lupin got even more fidgety without extreme mental or emotional distractions. It explained a lot about the man.]

But right now I still want a drink and ramen if you're up to it.

[redjacketthief]

Drinks and ramen...right.

[It was his intent anyway, and part of the reason he called Smoker over. Pops deserved a toast and a good send off--but. He was rattled by the current state of affairs, and he had a suspicion that he would have trouble along the way to the restaurant. Lupin pulls himself up regardless, and pauses momentarily to fight back an impending wave of vertigo.

It had been getting better; clearly he needed to calm down.]

We can go...just don't go too fast, okay?

[justicereigns]

Are you sure you don't want me to carry you? Or better yet, bring it back as take out?

voice;

[consultsdetective]

It's no problem at all. [ We're all in this together, or something sappy like that. ]

[tellmejohn]

[Mind you, a farscape pulse pistol is a bit different than a blaster. A blaster is a laser, mostly, where this pulse is more railgun in nature and firing self-contained energy ball burst things. As for Scorpius though, he's now inspecting one of the sides. The barrel is... damn, the barrel's distorting in this thing already. He needs either a stronger metal, or some alloy which is not reactive to Chakan oil]

[redjacketthief]

[The suggestions earned a bitter chuff from the thief.]

I don't want to be here all night wondering if he's really just hiding in a closet and waiting for the right moment to surprise us. I'll probably come back later...but it's better to get out for a while.

Besides, this is my last night in this building. My neighbors below are moving to House 46 on the other side of town, and they want me to come along. It's single level, and one of them is a really good friend. It's a better situation overall for me right now.

[There were too many ghosts in Community House 5 for his tastes anyway. Between Jigen and Pops, it didn't feel right to stay. His only qualm was leaving Fujiko behind.]

[redjacketthief]

[It was close enough to a blaster if it wasn't lead slugs, but no matter. Lupin picks his way through the foliage carefully and tenses when he spots the strange man inspecting his gun. Bracing himself against a nearby tree, he decides that he's not going to stall on this.]

Oi. There's people sleeping back there, you know.

[justicereigns]

[A small laugh himself at that.] That would kind of be his style, huh.

[Rubs his chin and nods.] All right, your call. It's pretty nice out now, we could grab foot and hang around the fountain. [And then he will escort you home like a gentleman. This is not a date at all...]