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

[tellmejohn]

[Oh Scorpius is having "target practice" too. ...But no, actually, he's testing out his new pulse pistol. He had to make it from salvage and frankly, it hasn't been up to snuff yet. Mostly, the pulse's range has been limited so far and it feels like it's firing short.

He's not testing it at the dome though, he's testing it int he woods behind his den, so relatively near the boomshack. Shooting in the direction of trees for now. The pulses usually shoot out as a burst of orange light... but most of them are falling short after barely four meters. Bah.

They do leave nice holes in the ground though]

[redjacketthief]

[First shuriken.

Now...blaster fire???

Lupin picks himself up out of the dirt with a groan and closes his eyes against the sudden vertigo, wondering briefly why the hell there were blasters going off at the Jedi Praxeum--wait. Luceti.

Another shot goes off and leaves a crater in its wake that was uncomfortably close for the theif's comfort, but the reality was further cemented. Someone was shooting off a blaster in these woods, and there were few in the village who would even have access to that kind of tech.

He hauls himself to his feet too quickly, but he doesnt' wait for the vertigo to subside before setting forth. The woods were dense enough that he could hold out a hand as a bracer while he moved, but he wasn't going to let this slide without investigation.]

[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]

[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.

[tellmejohn]

Your hearing is surprisingly sensitive for a human, Mr. Lupin.

[He doesn't turn to look at him. He heard the guy coming]

[redjacketthief]

It helps me with my job.

[No, he's not playing.]

Care to tell the audience why you're shooting at nothing?

[tellmejohn]

Calibrating this pulse pistol. [In fact, let's push this part back in before shooting in Lupin's direction. Not at him, but it'll hit a nearby tree]

1/2

[redjacketthief]

[Wait--what?]

2/2

[redjacketthief]

[Yea, that last shot was too much Scorpius.]

You don't need to fire at people to calibrate a gun!!

[tellmejohn]

Consider yourself fortunate! The gun's aim is true at this short of range.

[redjacketthief]

[...]

That's uncool, you know that?

[tellmejohn]

Quite. The impact would have burned out part of your intestines had it been off... decided not cool, but actually quite hot.

[...Is that a joke? It might be?]

[redjacketthief]

[It's an absolutely terrible joke.]

Look. [See how much he's not smiling?] Could you just stop waving that gun around in my general direction? Getting shot isn't on my to-do list for the day.

[His tone is firm, but everything else reveals the truth that he is vainly trying to hide. Tired as he was because of the anti-vertigo medication that Law prescribed, he was keeping himself upright by willpower and the aid of the tree he leaned against. As he was in that moment, he didn't know how far he would be able to make it if this encounter turned ugly.

At least he had his trusty Walther--and, if that failed, the Bryar that Luke gave him. He hoped that neither one would be needed.]

[tellmejohn]

[He watches that, non-pulsed. But his thermal read and several other cues are showing something else. He's medicated. His brain has far too much heat in it - he's under stress. His muscles aren't showing it, ut he's leaning against the tree. His heart rate is up.

...Hah. Scorpius lowers the weapon, but now takes several steps forward, intending to get right in front of Lupin]

[redjacketthief]

[Lupin keeps his jaw set and his eyes firm as he watches the strange man make his way closer, shoving his internal anxieties away even as his intuition screamed warnings.]

...What did we talk about before about getting all up in people's space, Scorpy? [He kept his tone mild, cool, even as he stared up at him.] It's also a very uncool thing to do.

[tellmejohn]

Fortunately, cool is something I strive to be. [And then he goes to grab Lupin's wrist. His intention is to lift the hand up, and then hand him the pulse pistol. He needs to test something, after all. As he does this, he explains in an almost bored sounding tone]

I require another important test, Lupin. Namely... I require you to fire the weapon at me from a decent range so I can test it's penetrative power. [Of note: the tree it hit probably has a huge hole in it and the ground is littered with them, after all, pulse pistols can blow up jeeps and helicopters in the Terra Firma episode with a decent shot] And I believe... you would be rather comforted to shoot me. [Inhale] I also believe, I would like this to happen on my terms.

[redjacketthief]

[It's a conscious effort to steady his breathing even as his hand is grabbed and the pistol is placed in his grip. The weight and feel of it is curious...but there were terms.]

State them clearly and concisely then, and I'll give you a hand.

[Despite the fact that his balance was thrown off, despite the lethargy that was a side-effect of those medications, and completely ignoring the fact that his aim was as thrown off as his balance, Lupin decides to just play along.

Scorpius spoke truly. Lupin would very much like to shoot him.]

[tellmejohn]

Very simple ones, actually. [With a smile, as he lets go of the pistol, smiling at Lupin. he takes one step backwards, the smile still there] You will shoot me anywhere except my face on my mark, and you will return the weapon afterwards.

[Another step back.]

[redjacketthief]

All right--that sounds reasonable.

[Given the craters, and the fact that the man probably didn't have a death wish, he didn't blame him for those terms. Lupin pushes lightly off of the tree and plants his feet firmly in the dirt at shoulder's width. A martial artist would recognize it as a modified version of the classic horse stance, courtesy of his years watching Goemon and his training with Smoker over the last several months. With both hands on the grip he levels his aim with the sight...dead center for Scorpius' chest.

A small part of him prayed that his aim was true this time. While in the Battle Dome he figured that he could aim all right if he made like a sniper and used a prop to keep the barrel level, shooting with the finesse of James Bond was still a little beyond him. He had to, however. A deal was a deal, and he couldn't show weakness before this man.]

Give me the go whenever you're ready.

[tellmejohn]

[Given his training with Katoya, Scorpius does recognize it... albeit by a different name. He growls something under his breath and once he's several meters away from Lupin he turns and spreads his arms]

And my mark.

As determined by d20 roll...

[redjacketthief]

[Lupin didn't need telling twice. It takes only a second to readjust his aim, but he's not at all satisfied. His arms waver slightly, just enough to ruin any possibility of a clean shot.

A finger twitched on the trigger and the pistol fired an inhumanly bright blaze--]

HE FAILS SPECTACULARLY!

[redjacketthief]

[--And sails into the woods to the right of Scorpius.

Lupin grit his teeth, keeping his frustration and disappointment in check. He couldn't reveal too much--couldn't!]

[tellmejohn]

Oh! [with a mock gasp. He keeps watching Lupin's thermal read, and even turns his head lightly to see where that shot strayed too. Nice]

[redjacketthief]

[The man was clearly playing with him. Lupin grins, all confidence and attitude. It was a show--it was always a show.]

Yea, sure. Laugh it up, Scorpy. I'm just getting started.

[tellmejohn]

Then by all means, continue.