a series of fortunate events [OPEN]

[siriusly]

WHO: Manabu, et al.
WHERE: assorted
WHEN: august
WHAT: ASSORTED PLEASANT ENCOUNTERS...
WARNINGS: ?? ? ? ?? ? I BROKE ONE OF THE PROMPTS DONT LOOK AT IT IN THE PAST



o1. ducks
(a park, any city)

[Manabu jogs a lot now. it's the cheapest, easiest exercise around, and it doubles as a means to get a lay of the land. especially important for the cities he frequents less often; he can't let that teleporter technology go to waste!

he's cutting through a city park doing just that--looking about, watching the goings-on in said park he passes by. doing so is keeping him from noticing the nice little line of ducks crossing the sidewalk to get to the pond until it's almost too late: he startles, staggers, and does a very graceless jump before his next footfall could squash any of them.

he yelps, ducks, and tumbles off the path and into the legs of whatever unsuspecting park-goer's currently seated on the bench he's flopped by.

congratulations, meetings like this don't happen every day outside of movies.]



o2. letters
(Nonah neighborhood; government housing)

[the mailperson's making their rounds through the cul de sac Manabu lives in, and little do they know he's been keeping tabs on their delivery times of late. he watches from the living room window the same way maybe a dog would, but this dog has thumbs and can open the door and head outside after delivery.

which he does.

he hastens over to the mailbox and rifles through its new contents. he's been pretty lucky with mail the past week; his driver's license came in days prior. and now he's hoping...]

Come on, come on... [no. nope. no. n--wait.] -!!

[coupon books and miscellaneous solicitations are carelessly thrust back into the box--some outright falling to the ground, forgotten, while Manabu frees up his hands to tear into the big, white, fancy-looking envelope he's got his sights on.

he stands still and silent while he pores over the contents, reading and rereading before suddenly both arms are thrust into the air triumphantly, letter flapping in the breeze.]

YES!!

[was that loud? it was a little loud. this neighborhood has good acoustics.]



o3. cabbages
(an open-air market, any city)

[Manabu's not familiar with grapefruit, but he has this weird feeling that they're not supposed to slosh inside when shaken. he gives it another cautionary shake just to convince himself, frowning as he listens. his concentration is broken by loud, angry barks.]

Eh-?

[he swivels his head and ducks just in time as a big dog leaps over the fruit stand he's browsing, getting only a few seconds to gawk before a smaller, burlier dog blows inches past him underneath the same stand.

chaos ensues. the dog chase zips through the small line of stands and the people scattered among them, and distantly Manabu hears a loud crunch and a dismayed cry from a vendor ("MY CABBAGES!").

he stands up, rubbing the back of his head and peers out toward the dogs racing off into the distance. he huffs, then freezes again, hearing another incoming sound. he glances over his shoulder, spotting the cyclist zooming in, broken leash flapping in the air.]

Look out-! [he grabs the arm of the stranger (or friend? he doesn't notice, he just reacts) near him and yanks them out of the path just as said cyclist buzzes by, yelling apologies loudly.

he blinks, holding his breath for a beat longer before deciding that's the end of that.] Jeez...



o4. cars
(a car dealership, any city)

[right. so. people don't get their vehicles with their license. that's a bummer. (Manabu's a little spoiled; all the certifications he got in the SDF also meant he was piloting and driving those very things all the time!)

anyway.

cars.

he wants one. but...]

Aa...what-? [he gives the data sheet pasted to the window a disgusted look.] Isn't this--? [he rifles through the tags he's collected in his hands, squinting between the ones in-hand and the ones on the car.]

...These are...the same car...but this one's red.

[mental math.

dismayed:] Three hundred extra dollars just because it's red?? No way...



o5. tchotckes
(a street fair in a suburb outside Nonah - LOCKED TO BRENDAN)

[Brendan and Manabu bus out some miles outside of Nonah. it's a bit too hot to walk the few miles it takes to get out to the street fair Manabu's been told about...er. well. told about and...lightly threatened to show up to...

see, there's some friends he's made at the shooting range, and apparently said friends have wives and kids selling things there, and apparently Manabu's going to have to pay extra next time he comes in to practice if he doesn't show up to meet them, so...he's really got no choice, considering those stakes! he assumes this is just another form of hazing for being a triple-threat of outsider there: new, younger, and an imPort.

(the reality is none of them believe he knows how to take a break -- which they'd be right to intuit -- and this is their pitch to get him to take a day off for once)

in any case, it's just fifteen-ish minutes and a few cents on a city bus before they're dumped off with a small smattering of old folks with eyes on the same prize; Manabu hops off the step and squints toward the bright orange and white barricades separating everyday traffic from the cluster of mobile vendors and tents that have been propped up along the street.

he sidesteps, feeling someone behind him, and glances over his shoulder to look for his friend. he smiles crookedly.]

How about that. A drive that didn't end terribly. Ha...


o6. guns
(a shooting range 11 miles outside Nonah - LOCKED TO DUO)

[abovementioned street fair dues were paid, and so the regulars at the shooting range are appeased. Manabu is greeted with the gruff cheer typical for the sort of folks who frequent the place; it's an atmosphere he's growing to like. most everyone older than him and prone to griefing him for his age and looks (he has got to find a way to lose these "kiddo" and "babyface" nicknames), but his skills have been enough to satisfy most of the judgmental folks assuming he doesn't know what he's doing.

well, one more old person's going to be there today! he texted Duo and let him know he was on his way before he took to his bike and rode out. it was a pleasant ride on the way there if he kept moving -- the sun's a bit too much today.

he skids to a halt in the gravel parking lot, taking a second to slug some water and wipe sweat off his forehead. he fishes his communicator to check and see if he'd gotten any response during the long ride out.]


o7. miscellaney
(wildcard; drop a prompt or hmu @whyellewhy on plurk)

Comments

[hellrisen02]

[When Duo turns around, safety back on his gun, he lets it cool a moment and leans against the stall doorframe. He knows people are talking around him. He catches Manabu's expression- surprised, huh? Well, the kid had seen him at work before, but perhaps not quite in this way.]

Ahhh, well. You know, when you get to my age you start to worry less about your aiming instincts and more about your eyesight being able to pick out the targets, so I still like some practice now and then. You know? [He gives the kid a wink.] So, you need any help adjusting to the recoil? I think you just need a little bit more practice, is all. And maybe a bit more tension in the forearm when you're firing.

[siriusly]

[Manabu looks down at his own piece, turning it in hand.] Right, yeah... I keep expecting a lighter recoil. Not that I expect anyone to be firing multiple rounds off a thing like this, but I'm amazed anyone could and still hit where they're aiming. [he squints a little.] But...you make up for the lack of stamina with where you aim for that, right?

[otherwise, one would have to be built like those silly video game characters to keep firing properly. and a Contra guy Manabu sure is not...]

[hellrisen02]

Got it in one! [Duo clicks his tongue with a grin. He mimics the movement with his empty hand to demonstrate-] As you feel the recoil come through the elbow, you'll notice a consistent amount of jerk-- assuming you're using the same gun, of course. That's why you keep a favorite side-arm and get used to that recoil, then learn the exact correction you need to make for it.

...Oooor you can just learn the quirks of every gun, but, heh. Stretch goals, yanno? [Or intensive paramilitary training. His case had been mostly the latter- you wouldn't believe the kickback a shrimpy 12 year old gets on an Uzi.]

[siriusly]

[smiling slightly:] At least the ones an officer handles most, anyway. [he can't really imagine any unit deployed primarily in civilian locations having to carry anything heavier than an SMG in a real crisis; this isn't the Panzer Grenadiers...]

That's why this place has been so useful. I'm kind of glad you caught me here at this point in time, because I really wasn't all that accurate at the onset...

[hellrisen02]

You got it! [Duo winks, stepping out of the booth.] Well, with a bit of practice I'm sure you'll get it down in no time.

[Hm, Manabu was still academy, so they'd probably be teaching him, anyway. Not like he had to perfect his shot overnight.] How long since you started practice shooting here? Seems like people know you.

[siriusly]

Oh, ha-- [he shoots a glance over his shoulder, smiling a little self-consciously. then it's back down to the gun in his hands, taking the empty clip out.] Yeah, uh...they actually recommended this place to me. I work on an assembly line some nights and out on the weekends, just for a little extra pocket money. There's a handful of people here who work the same line, and when they found out I was planning to be a police officer... [he looks up, embarrassed.] Well, I got teased a lot, but also everyone was pretty encouraging all the same. So in exchange for teasing me, I guess that's why they invited me out here.

[hellrisen02]

--Coworkers? [Duo looks, genuinely, a little surprised for a moment, but it softens into a small smile. No wonder. Another way to spend time with your common fellows, native or not- this kid had the right thing goin'.] Heh, workplace hazing hits everyone I guess. This is an interesting way of doing it.

...That's good. Hopefully they can help you correct your shot, a little. And they'll know that the kid they're helping out will help protect their community, someday.

[siriusly]

Ahaha-- [he ducks his head to laugh a little. when he looks back up, he's still smiling.] You know, that's pretty much what they said. So you got something in common with the folks here, Shin.

[there it is. the most goddang anime thing Manabu's said this entire conversation. i don't know why it's the most anime thing, but it sure does look like it.

anyway,

Manabu steps around him, back to take his place at the target.] And in any case, I can pick your brain for some pointers, too, huh. I, ah, [he's fidgeting with his gear, looking ahead.] missed out on whatever flashy gunplay you had that day, that's my fault. But now that I know to pay attention...

[hellrisen02]

[Duo gives a warm wink] Good. That means it's the right thing, yeah? [A clap on the shoulder, too.] If the people here believe in what you're doing, that's the most important thing. Take their belief in you as support if you ever start to doubt it yourself.

[Talk about anime huh, look at this veteran dadding here]

[Duo's warm smile falters into something a little reluctant as he's reminded of the battle during the clone disasters; he scratches the side of his nose, trying to pass it off as being a bit sheepish.] Ahaha, well... Don't worry about it. You know... I was workin', so.

[More what he usually considered his 'work', in any case. He still had lingering doubts about that day- about some of the things he'd witnessed.] --You're okay now, right? You got all healed up? ...I don't know how long the effects of that stuff stay with you.

[siriusly]

[while there seems to be a permanent little flinch from near-face touching, Manabu still responds well to the positive reinforcement. it's been rather lacking in the fatherly sense, naturally, and while getting praise from Jacob is great, that's more like peer-to-peer.

needless to say, it's nice to have that support. it makes Manabu's ears burn a little, though; his nose scrunches with the self-conscious grin he has to duck his head and turn away to hide.

his earmuffs are halfway on when he gets prompted about being okay; he looks over his shoulder, blinking. eh?]

...Oh, ah, mm. Yeah, I'm fine! [he nods, smiling again. Duo doesn't need to sweat those details; at the end of the day, he's standing here just fine, right?] I'm kind of hard to keep down, turns out. So no worries!

[hellrisen02]

[Duo notices the little flinch and has a little sting of guilt in response, but Manabu seemed otherwise fine about it. Still, he files it in the back of his head. He hadn't even thought of it, the movement an automatic reflex- if he hadn't had the limiter, this could end ...poorly.]

[Well, he seems happy, in any case.]

[Duo gives a little snort.] Jeez, you healer types must be masochists. You know, if you keep running blind into danger, you never think you could run the chance of getting unlucky someday?

[Sigh. He would just have to hope the powers would keep his usual luck off Manabu's shoulders.] Hey, go on and shoot some more. I'll help you adjust your aim.

[siriusly]

[Manabu shakes his head.] Mm-mn. It's not blind. Not anymore, at least.

[while he explains, his eyes are cast down at his work, putting in a fresh clip into the gun at a pace more for careful awareness than speedy efficiency.] At first, it was just that. Kind of knee-jerk, throwing myself at things like simply doing that solved them. But after getting my licks, learning the cost of even trying...

[click. loaded. he looks back up, nodding.] I know there's a lot more riding on what I choose to do, going out on a job. That there's a silent agreement I make with myself, and whoever else is out there. [he moves into position, readjusting his hold on the gun.] It comes with these by default. The rules of committing to hold one...

[he hesitates, suddenly more self-aware. even with his back turned, he dips his head with the weak little laugh in his breath:] Aa, but...other people have a better way of putting it than I do. But I just mean...I know there's a risk and a cost. And I'm not going to go out of my way to die without realizing it.

[that said, the earmuff is slid back into place, as much a close to the statement as it is a barrier to keep from being admonished or teased about saying it at all.

his arms are lifted, sights are set, and shots are taken, methodical and spaced out by quietly counted seconds, trying to find the same spot more than once.]

[hellrisen02]

[Duo listens quietly, and there's a shine of sympathy, and maybe even something recognizable as deep understanding in his hidden expression. Recklessness... it never helped anyone, did it? The responsibility in holding a weapon meant responsibility over lives. Not that it ever seemed to stop him, much, as often as he tried to mentor it out of others. Can't fix things in some people- an old dog, etc. But the Gundams had been a responsibility that no one else here would quite understand; that not many even at home ever did. He'd never wanted to build them again, and yet.]

[And yet... A world without weapons. Had it never really been more than a pipe dream? Could it even be called that, even if they were still wielding them?]

[He nods slowly, and relaxes against the booth to watch Manabu ready himself to shoot. He won't say anything to it; he recognizes the barrier for what it is, and this once, he'll let Manabu have his peace with it. It wasn't a bad thing to think about.]

[He'll just watch him shoot.]