seventeen | but when we start making fires we can't have a soul

[strike_you_out]

[ phone | filtered from: drones ]

Are there any flamethrowers in Mayfield? How do I get one?

Unrelated, someone who has killed their target and is willing to talk, I have a question...


[ filtered to: Pokey ]

Pokey.

...

Pokey?


[ action | Slugger never thought he'd see the day when he would have to use the gift Susan had given him at Christmastime. The surface of the wooden bat was still polished and smooth. He never thought he'd lose his real bat again, either, along with everything else the town had restored to him. Or perhaps the security of having his powers had gone to his head and he simply hadn't wanted to think about other possibilities. Now, with nothing left---not even his golden bat, he wishes he'd thought of it more. Better preparation could have served him well, but for the time being, he'll have to depend on improvisation.]

(A) Backyard at Home; 726 Anderson
[A gunshot rings out from behind the house. Minimal investigation will lead you to find Slugger standing in the yard with his back to the house and a revolver aimed to the ground. On his face is a sheepish look, eyebrows raised and cheeks puffed out. Somewhere, there's a bullet embedded in the dirt.]

(B) A Range of Accessible Public Buildings (school, hospital, dime store, etc.)
[A single swing of his bat shatters the glass casing around a fire extinguisher. Slugger, wearing a protective baseball helmet and an identity-concealing cloth over the lower portion of his face, bolts toward the nearest exit with the extinguisher under his arm. However, there is no indication of a fire in sight.]

Comments

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

...you could say that.

[Oh god, is this a game of Twenty Questions?]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Once the bullet is chambered, he stands up again still facing the yard and just practicing his grip on the pistol.]

Is it Ema?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Edward shakes his head, a bit more vehemently than he means to.]

No. No, no. It isn't her.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[He aims at something in the yard, squeezing one eye shut as he peers down the barrel and lines up the sights.]

Pokey?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

No.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

Me?

[Just because he didn't receive a letter doesn't mean he isn't someone's target. Slugger is paranoid enough to believe his letter was simply lost.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

Wha---No. It isn't you either, Slugger. Now, stop asking questions.

[Someone's getting antsy.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[His finger, now on the trigger, squeezes. CLICK. Nothing happens.]

Harley?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

No, Slugger. That's enough. No more questions.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Another click.]

Susan?

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

I said, "That's enough!"

[He unintentionally snaps. There's an incredibly strained look in his eyes as he tries to lower his voice to something more level.]

E-even if I wanted to tell you who my next target is, I can't tell you. That's cheating. Understood?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[At the shout, Slugger's eyes go wide and he pulls in his arms. He's staring at Edward now, somewhat startled. Was that a 'yes'? He couldn't be sure. It wasn't a 'no'...

Swallowing, he looks down at the pistol and pretends to be very interested in some small piece on it.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[That was a mistake. He shouldn't have snapped like that at the mention of Susan's name. Now Slugger probably suspects that something's up. The Riddler sighs, tentatively raising a hand and patting him on the head.]

...sorry. I shouldn't have shouted. Listen---

[Whatever he's about to say, though, is interrupted by the distant sound of a doorbell blaring out inside. Eddie frowns, turning towards the back door once more. Before he heads into the house, though, he offers this advice.]

Don't shoot your eye out.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger peers up at Edward uncertainly, then watches him vanish into the house. Apprehensive at who might be at the front door, he follows the path Edward took up to the back door and peeks inside.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[Whoever it was at the door, they're already gone. Edward now holds another letter (http://mayfield-rpg.livejournal.com/1299579.html) in his hands. He sinks into a nearby armchair, looking at it disdainfully. Then---suddenly, abruptly, a flicker of fear flashes through his eyes.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

...What is it?

[The voice comes from beside the armchair. Having spotted Edward's reaction to the letter, Slugger has ventured over.]

[puzzlerprince.livejournal.com]

[The sudden voice is enough to make Eddie nearly jump out of his seat. Odd. Isn't he supposed to be used to your random appearances by now, Slugger? When he realizes who it is, though, he leans forward, sighing in relief. Laughing shakily. The look in his eyes is almost manic. Unstable.]

Just---just a friendly little reminder to---to pick up the pace.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Unusual. And titillating. His supernatural ability to detect when a person is at their breaking point may have been revoked, but the ability to sense some things in more primal ways is still with him.

Slugger decides to back away and find something with which to distract himself. But he won't be far away...]