eighteen | trip like I do

[strike_you_out]

Around
[On a fine Friday morning, Slugger stands at the top of his driveway overlooking the perfect yard and perfect street in this perfect 1950s "utopia", and knows that this reality was born of someone else's delusional madness. He yawns. Well, better find some way to kill the time. Not looking back at the house on Anderson Lane, he rolls down the driveway on golden rollerblades and into the street, carrying his warped baseball bat at his side. Some of the drones, recognizing him as their paperboy, smile and wave at him as he passes. He either ignores them or waves back in a ridiculous parody of cheer. He's pretty sure he's killed a few of them at least a dozen times.

Today, Slugger decides he may as well try and find a place in Mayfield he's never been to before and grace it with his deplorable presence. One may spot him skating aimlessly around downtown Mayfield for a short time until he seems to hit on a more specific destination...]


Jacques' Roller Rink 
[The worn, wooden floors make for a relatively smooth skating surface. Slugger can be seen skating forwards, backwards, and sideways on the rink with surprising dexterity. He can also be seen swerving in front of drones and causing "accidents" in the rink. For his amusement, he's made a game of seeing how many people he can trip and knock over at a time. Clearly, he's a menace to society.]

Comments

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[He can imagine why.]

They made you human, too.

[A glum reminder for both of them. Slugger leans backward against the side of the rink, elbows resting on a handrail. His gaze is fixed on a crack in the floor.]

[encored]

[a curt nod. when it's put into such plain terms, it seems even more distasteful.]

I suppose it was to even the playing field, but it gave a large advantage to those who prefer guns. [which is by far his least favorite weapon; to him they're unimpressive, lack theatrical presence and take very little skill or strength to use.]

It made for a dull, predictable game. Shall I assume you faced similar difficulties?

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

I didn't get a letter. But there was a death in my house. Almost two.

Did someone kill you?

[encored]

Hm. I'd say you were fortunate for not receiving one, but very few people remained uninvolved regardless of an assigned target.

[his nose wrinkles momentarily, but Slugger receives another nod.] I do intend to pay them back in full.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[His ears seem to prick at that and Slugger turns to give Charles his undivided attention, a grin forming on his lips.]

You do? Is that why you were looking at the trophies? --to get a name?

[encored]

I looked to make certain that I hadn't been lied to. The name and length of their stay in Mayfield were pieces of information I had gathered before my death.

[no one can accuse him of being unprepared, at least.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Slugger glides sideways on his skates a short distance closer.]

Do you know what you're going to do?

[encored]

[he steps to the edge of the rink, clapping his hands together and looking more like a child wondering what to get at a candy store than someone planning out a murder.]

It's difficult to decide. I'd quite like to keep his head as a mantle decoration for a day, but I also very much want to share this with a more public audience.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[The excitement is contagious!]

Mount it on a stake outside?

[Slugger thinks this would be hilarious and is grinning even more madly.]

[encored]

[gosh that is such a great idea, why didn't he think of that!]

Brilliant! Though I do fear that alone might be lacking something. A shame it isn't May any longer, an entire maypole would have been quite the sight.

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

[Charles may have a point. It's no fun if the head is just sitting there all day. He raises his bat.]

We could play ball with it.

[encored]

I haven't a bat of my own, is there a spare I might borrow from you? If not, I'll borrow one from a drone. [it'd be a two-in-one deal, even! baseball bat and a free snack, good plan.]

[strike-you-out.livejournal.com]

Steal one.

[It's what he would do.]

...Is the one who killed you powerful?

[encored]

I haven't a need to steal, borrowing is good enough. [even if it will likely never be returned, but that's totally not the same as stealing!]

I can't speak for his full strength or how well he would fare if all powers were restored, I can only say that he wouldn't be much of a match at all with only one regain. I'm considering waiting a while longer so it would be a fight worth my time.