13.) [video.]

[illgrowoutofit]

[Neil is hunkered down in an alleyway, tamping explosive putty into threaded plumber's pipe. Scattered behind him are gardening shears, several more lengths of pipe, spools of wire and thread, tin cans, and a few boxes of nails. He is wearing a plain black t-shirt with the sleeves torn off, and his signature wristbands are missing when he wipes

Comments

[greedful_cheat]

Congratulations! You've been intercepted. Please wait 5 minutes for your immediate doom!

[illgrowoutofit]

Come and get me, if you dare.

[greedful_cheat]

Oh? Is that a challenge? You really don't know what you're asking there. Especially of me. Not that I don't mind playing a little cat and mouse...

[illgrowoutofit]

You don't know who you're dealing with, pal.

[ a u d i o ]

[pyromatique]

Oh, boy. [ Another one of them stupid curses. The poor kid.

Might as well play along. ]

Who's the enemy?

[ a u d i o ]

[illgrowoutofit]

Er-- [Long pause. How can anyone not know?]

The others. The machines.

[ a u d i o ]

[pyromatique]

Oh. Right. [ Play along now. ] Of course. The machines. Big, scary shit.

You sure you know what you're doing there?

[ a u d i o ]

[illgrowoutofit]

Not my specialty, but I'll manage.

video;

[waitedforyears]

Not that this doesn't look kind of cool, but just what exactly are you doing?

video;

[illgrowoutofit]

[He continues to pack putty into the pipes.]

Stocking up. Where are you right now? Are you safe?

video;

[waitedforyears]

Why? And yeah, 'course I'm safe. Why wouldn't I be?

video;

[illgrowoutofit]

Won't have time to go back for more supplies later, so I'm preparing myself best I can now. [He easily misinterprets the confusion as confidence.] 'Course. You're smart, should've known you would be.

[immortaltwat]

Moses! You're actually looking somewhat masculine today. Did you finally manage to get that sex change you've been after?

[illgrowoutofit]

Funny. Hope you're exercising due caution, wise guy. An attitude like yours's what gets a soldier killed.

[immortaltwat]

Well, it's a good thing I'm not a soldier.

[illgrowoutofit]

In this day and age? We're all soldiers.

Action

[mghtbconcussed]

[Lucy has been out most of the morning working on her store so when she runs into Neil, she's wearing a pinstripe suit with a pencil skirt, high heels and a pair of horn rimmed glasses. Her hair is pulled up in a tight bun. She comes to an abrupt stop.]

I'm trying to decide whether I go with sexy or scary.

Action

[illgrowoutofit]

[Oh, it's The Girl. Curse or no curse, Neil knows who Lucy is. She's important. He gets up and wraps an arm around her shoulders and guides her quickly but carefully into the alley. Nym sniffs her, but apparently whatever test that was checks out, so she goes back to watching out like a good guard dog. At that confirmation, Neil crouches, and motions for Lucy to do the same.]

Get down.

Re: Action

[mghtbconcussed]

[She's a little taken aback at first. Clearly this is a curse. It's comforting that he knows who she is.]

Neil, pencil skirt and four inch heels. 'Getting down' is only possible if we're going to have sex and then the skirt is going to end up ruined but I'll consider it an acceptable loss.

[But she does do a very awkward crouch/duck walk thing.]

Action

[illgrowoutofit]

[...Okay, compromising then.] Nym, stay.

[And then his attention is back on Lucy. He straightens up and takes her hand, leading her further back into the alley. In the semi-darkness, he stares at her for a long time, like he's trying to make up his mind about what to say.]

Are you okay?