Oh Oh Baby we've been a long long way

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

WHO: Jacob Taylor, prompts for catch-all threads, and OPEN
WHERE: Around the Porter cities!
WHEN: Late February (post orbital mission) into early March
WHAT: Jacob doing things with people
WARNINGS: Probably none!

A - Gina - Heropa bowling alley

[Well, this will be interesting. Not only is Gina a remarkable personality, but it's pretty clear that Jacob is an absolute beast at bowling. He rolls his ball fast and straight, his arm moving in a smooth arc, and scatters the pins in his third strike of the evening so far. He pumps his fist as the pins clatter in all directions.]

Yeah! That's how it's done. [He turns to Gina, grinning.] This was a great idea. I should do things like this more often.


B - Bela - De Chima science center

[This is probably the most 'traditional' date of Jacob's recent social plans. He's dressed up a little for it, wearing a nice deep red button shirt that's agreeably tight-fitting across his broad shoulders and sizable arms, along with dark slacks and shiny shoes.

He has to admit though, after his recent trips to the awesome sights of the moon base, the De Chima solar system exhibit is a lot less impressive to him. What was supposed to be a quiet moment looks like just a bunch of artificial lights and models to his eyes. As soft synthesizer music plays in the background, he folds his arms and turns to his date.]

What do you think?


C - Ashley - shooting range in Maurtia Falls

[Jacob doesn't usually go on dates in cargo pants and a tactical vest, but making plans with a fellow Marine is different from doing things with a civilian. If he's honest with himself, he's happier doing things here among the crash of guns and the clatter of spent cartridges than he would be at a fancy restaurant or at a theatre evening.]

Here, give this one a try. [He hands Ashley an unloaded sidearm in one hand, magazine in the other.] It's one of the standard pistols for the local military. I've gotten pretty used to it.

[Might as well help get her used to the weird limited-ammo guns of this century as long as they're stuck without heat sinks and mass drivers.]


D - Peter Parker, wherever Peter does science

[The challenging part- re-engineering Jacob's gear to bring it to the next level of herodom without compromising current performance- is finished. Now comes the enjoyable part: testing out the new toys, like the beefed-up glider with an extra footing for a passenger. Jacob is currently hovering above the floor on it, feeling its balance underneath his feet, doing a slow circle as the engine hums in response to his movements.]

Damn, Peter. I can really feel the new power in there. This will be a big improvement next time I'm doing rescue work.


E - Training (OPEN) - Dawn of the Delts gym

[The gym fills with the echoing impacts of fists and feet pummeling a training bag as Jacob trains. He can do this at Helix, but he has come to enjoy doing his workouts at Dawn of the Delts, an imPort-run gym where he can mingle with civilians. Stretches, a warm-up run, and a lengthy round of crunches, pull-ups, and push-ups are all just preludes to practicing his hand-to-hand drills against the bag.

He's lost in thought as he swings away, sweat glistening on his arms and face as he stares into the bag as though it was the source of all his problems, all the challenges he's about to confront. Maybe someone should ask what's eating him?]


F - Dog-walking (OPEN) - Heropa park

[Jacob has tried to resist becoming That ImPort Who Collects a Million Pets as his Friends All Port Out, but now here he is, with an extra dog frolicking alongside him in the park. The Dalmatian is named Matches, and she has quickly become best of friends with Champ, Jacob's golden lab. Jacob is letting them run off-leash a bit today to work out their high levels of energy, which quickly becomes a potential issue when both dogs smell a potential new friend nearby (that's you) and bolt off after them to say hello. Jacob runs after them, shouting for them to come back, but you're still probably about to get up close and personal with sniffing noses and wagging tails!]


G - Open space - anywhere

[Anything you want!]

Comments

[cleptes]

[It's certainly not a typical date for her, but she was willing to give it a try. As someone who spent three weeks up in space for a reality television show, Bela wasn't sure what to expect when she saw the exhibit in De Chima. Her date seemed to think that it was worth going to. She's wearing a simple, yet flattering wrap dress in a shade of green with nice shoes to match. Bela wasn't sure what to wear on a date like this, but she always made an effort to look good.

When they arrive at the exhibit she takes a quick glance around, trying to get a feel for the place. Bela doesn't want to judge too quickly.]

It's not bad. Maybe I can learn something from it.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob smiles slightly.]

If you've got an interest in astronomy, you came to the right place... and with the right person. I was born in space.

[Some girls are impressed by that!]

[cleptes]

You were? That makes you different from a lot of the space dwellers I know here. Most of them were born on a planet.

[ So now he's more interesting to her than before. ]

Tell me something about space then.

F

[restingstitchface]

[He carefully avoids showing emotion - avoids, not ignores. After being preyed on by birds, dogs were next down his list of dislikes; a weapon of his hometown tormentors. Back then, it had been a learning experience to learn they were treated with more affection than he'd ever felt. Though he had felt anger on the matter he had grown to live above it all.

Still, they left him with a not entirely unfamiliar feeling - a slight tic in body language as he expected to be attacked. Crossing his arms, he rubs his elbows as he feels them crowding around his legs, circling him around the back in small motions. Most of all, he feels that familiar chill running down his back as he carefully avoids looking Jacob anywhere in the face.

He just wants the man to call them back, honestly.]

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob is laughing when the dogs run off, but the mirth immediately vanishes from his face when he sees who they're trying to make friends with. He raises his voice, sterner than he usually is with his pets-]

Champ! Matches! Get back, now!

[He snaps his fingers and points at the ground in front of him. Blessedly, the dogs listen, a little chastened and confused- what did they do wrong?

Jacob isn't concerned for Crane's comfort. Even years later, part of him still expects the Scarecrow to throw poison gas at the dogs just for some experiment.]

[restingstitchface]

[The dogs slip past him, flattening their tails as they slink by, leaving him to tug and smooth his cuffs into the most speckless state they've existed in since being new. His body stiffens under its relaxed surface, the sensation of cold anger drawing up to his heart. He takes a very deep breath and sighs; the cool sensation of the air dry on his lips.]

You should have them on a lead.

f

[h2no]

[there's a loud scream when the dogs get far enough away in the park, but it's a scream of pure joy. hell, maybe jacob will recognise it as archie's, seeing as they cross paths in the dog park often enough and his reaction is the same every time.]

CHAAAMP!! [he yells, recognising the lab, but not the dalmation. not as matches.] My-- my son... [wheeze] you're here...

[he's dropped down to his knees, giving champ and matches ALL THE LOVE. as for archie's dogs... well, the two (two, this time) mightyenas are circling, barking and whooping in excitement. well trained enough to not dive in.]

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[One day. One day, Archie will encounter Jacob's dog- dogs, now- and have some semblance of chill. Today is clearly not that day however, and Jacob just leans back and lets it happen, recognizing that Archie needs to get this out of his system. The dogs jump over him and sniff and lick him and wag their tails.]

Hey, Archie. Did you get another mightyena?

[He holds his hand out to Archie's Pokemon in case they want to come say hi. He does not start crying, screaming, or calling them his children.]

[h2no]

[how dare you imply he'll ever be chill around dogs. archie spends a good five seconds with his face in champ's neck fur before looking up.]

Huh? Oh, no. That one, [he points to the mightyena that's staying a little further away from jacob while his own is trotting over.] is Maxie's. He has a Crobat as well. We, uh. We spent a lot of time with each other so our teams are pretty similar. They compliment each other.

F

[kanyounot]

[ Actually, when Jacob discovers the stranger, the dogs will not be bowling him over in excitement or anything. The guy sitting in the grass with his knees tucked under him is smiling faintly, scritching one of the (much calmer, better-behaved) dogs behind the ears.

He doesn't look up at Jacob's approach, he can't, really, given the mask covering the top half of his face. But he's obviously aware of the new presence. ]

I take it these two are friends of yours?

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Uh. Yeah, they're mine.

[Jacob's surprised to see the dogs being so cool with a new friend. Matches is fairly even-keeled, but no matter how much Jacob trains the lab, Champ's enthusiasm is usually irrepressible.]

You haven't... met them already, have you?

[kanyounot]

No, I don't believe so.

[ Kanan smiles faintly. ]

I'm, uh. Good with animals. I guess you could say I can speak their language. Right, buddy? Good boy.

E.

[fauxmarth]

[she's already vowed to not break any more gym property, but apparently this time she has to get it in writing. it's less about the damages, she's told, and more about the...liability of damage being explosive enough as to injure someone? or something. oh, well. she's sure it's a fair concern, and she' won't brook argument.

the sword Falchion is secured on belts about her waist and over her shoulder, but as she wanders further into the gym, Lucina gets the feeling it's going to stay sheathed today. not a whole lot of blades about today...nor her familiar sparring partner. Thor's still gone. she frowns faintly, missing that affable god...and has to look twice before she realizes the man beating the snot out of a punching bag is familiar.

it takes a bit longer for his name to come to her -- it's been quite some time, after all. but even though she brightens upon recognizing Jacob, she stops just shy of approaching to greet him outright to take a moment to observe him. the power and cadence at which he sends blow after blow upon the bag strikes her as something troubling...she recognizes the tensely knit type of expression he's wearing, one she's often had herself, one she's seen on many others before him.

but just noticing it means nothing. she sighs, then approaches, waiting for a gap between blows to speak up.]

...Greetings, Jacob. I'm glad to see you again.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Lucina. Hey.

[Jacob lets up on the bag for now, wiping sweat off his brow with a forearm. He's breathing hard as he turns to her, raising an eyebrow at the sword she's carrying into the gym.]

How's it going?

[fauxmarth]

[she smiles a little, her shoulders shrugged up.]

Back from the strange adventure that is...television. Among other things. [she shakes her head a little before pausing, tilting her head.]

May I ask the same for you? That is...I recognize what it looks like when one vents frustrations out in training. I do it a lot, myself.

[yaaas_queen]

[Gina is lounging on the bowling alley seats, looking like the winner even though her steady 3-8 pin hit score would say otherwise. But the real winner is new friendship, wait, maybe it's getting to look at Jacob's flexing as he throws the ball.]

All my ideas start at great and move their way into epic or visionary. But you have been making it look too easy.

[She stands, snapping her fingers like she just came up with a revolutionary concept before picking up a ball from the rack, inspecting it for it's level of glitter then cradling it as it has passed her judgement.

Maybe we should make it harder, like putting a blindfold on. Ooh, maybe your shirt could be a blindfold.

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob chuckles good-naturedly, then stretches his neck from side-to-side as he warms himself up for a challenge. He sees her glittery ball selection and nods; the two match one another.]

Don't think the alley owners take kindly to shirtless customers. But I'm up for trying a blindfold. Got anything we could use?

[yaaas_queen]

While I do have at least seven scarves in my purse, they're all sheer, so they wouldn't work as a blindfold.

[Then she gets up, because it's so mundane to have seven scarves and whatever else in the mysterious feminine contents of a purse] Give me a minute.

[Gina proceeds to wander over to where some other people are playing a few lanes down. She interrupts them like they were waiting for her, and they somehow do pay attention. After a while of Gina gesticulating, including pointing at Jacob, pointing at herself, nodding, making the universal gestures of "trust me, would I lie to you?", and showing them something on her phone, they seem to agree to her terms. One of the group hands her a small towel, the kind you use to buff a bowling ball, and she returns triumphant.]

For the record, I could have gotten you a used one but the overwhelming scent of cheese fries and B.O. is an unfairly cruel kind of handicap.

E is for exercise!

[lightinside]

[This gym was Laurel's go-to place for training, and she aimed to go at least three times a week to keep herself in peak condition. Laurel spends a good amount of time warming up and stretching before she moves to a punching bag, remembering what Ted had taught her over two years ago.

About twenty minutes into her workout Laurel notices Jacob looking a little lost. Concerned, she comes over to him.]

Hey, you okay?

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

[Jacob doesn't respond for a second, lost in a flurry of blows. When he pauses and steps back from the bag, he's surprised to see Laurel there.]

Laurel? Yeah, I'm good.

[He breathes deeply, sweating, and reaches for his water bottle.]

I didn't know you worked out here.

[lightinside]

Guess we must keep missing each other.

[A quick smile before she leans against the wall, folding her arms.]

You're not looking for a sparring partner, are you?

[cannotrest]

[Ashley loves shooting ranges - the private one in the Spectre office is her favorite privilege of her Spectre status - but without her own gear, something similar to her usual tactical belt and holster back home feels like overkill, so she's dressed casually but with an eye for protecting herself from the hot brass. Her hair, with a few intricate braids going into her bun, is her one visible concession to this being a date. Raising her safety glasses before accepting the pistol and magazine, she takes a moment to weigh both of them in her hands, then holds the magazine up for further inspection.]

I was reading up on this place's guns on the extranet [around Jacob, it's easy to fall back into their world's terminology], so I knew their projectiles are measured in millimetres, or inches - but I don't think I really knew it.

[Not until this chunky magazine, bigger than the ammo block of one of her guns back home but with far fewer bullets, was in her hand. Loading it into the hand grip, another lesson from the Internet, feels only slightly less surreal.]

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

It's crazy, right? All that extra weight slows you down in a firefight, believe me. And you always need the right ammo for the right gun- it's not all interchangeable, like thermal clips are.

[Jacob carefully loads his own weapon as he talks, an identical one to the pistol Ashley's holding.]

I've seen energy weapons used here and there, but they're still rare.

D; I'm just rolling with it, let me know if you want anything tweaked

[shutterbugged]

I'm not going to say I told you so -- hah, that's a lie. I told you I could do it.

[ Peter beams at Jacob from the floor below, neck craned so he can watch the glider's progress. It's flying smoother than before -- smoother than the Goblin Glider, too. Take that, Norman. ]

I tweaked the gyroscope for better stability, boosted the engine power 175%, brought its weight down 27%, and added compartments under the passenger footrests. Right side holds a clip-on safety line, left side is empty but can definitely fit at least one fun-sized bag of Cheetos. Maybe two if you don't mind some breakage.

Want to see how it flies with a passenger?

[darkpants_warmfeeling]

Safety line sounds like a great idea. I can think of a few better things to stash in the other one than a snack, though.

[Jacob brings the glider around to a hovering halt in front of Peter, and motions for him to climb on.]

Let's give it a test. Hop on, and hold tight.