i've heard it all before [open]

[pinballer]

Who: Vance Hopper & OPEN
When: After his arrival in late August
Where: All around
Summary: Vance has arrived and he is NOT happy about it but he's not happy about anything really so he can deal with it.
Warnings: he's very mean (and also likely to be discussing child murder because he is a child who was murdered)

( FOX ON THE RUN ) / deck

[ Vance is walking around on the deck, fists clenched and scowling at anyone who passes by. He doesn't actually talk to anyone yet because he's still used to most people not being able to see him, but he's there.

...And he's absolutely covered in dried blood that he could wash off at any time. He hasn't figured that out yet, either, so he's just. Walking around like that. ]

( PINBALL WIZARD ) / playback

[ Of course as soon as Vance finds Playback he heads straight for the pinball. On one hand, this place sucks. On the other hand, it does have pinball. And nicer machines than the one at the convenience store back home, too. Maybe it's not hell after all.

He's completely in the zone, still getting used to an unfamiliar board so he's not quite at high score tier just yet, but he's still pretty good.

And he knows when someone's lurking around nearby, despite his concentration. ]

You can watch if you want but if you throw me off I'll kick your ass. [ Said whether the nearby person was actually watching him or not. ]

( SCHOOL'S OUT ) / library

[ What a nice library. It'd be a shame if some rude boy went and sat with his shoes right on one of the tables, loudly talking to himself as he flips through a comic book.

He's just looking at the pictures, of course. What is this, school? All things considered, it's not the rudest thing he could be doing, but if there's an opportunity to be obnoxious he's going to take it. ]

( I WANNA BE SEDATED ) / outside of hurikane

[ Vance tried to get himself a drink (after half a year of being dead he deserves a good drink, he thinks) but the second he tries he gets escorted out and told to go back to Playback. He's already had plenty of fun at Playback, thank you, now he wants to have some irresponsible fun.

He stands with his hands in his pockets trying to look inconspicuous until someone who looks like they might be an adult passes by. ]

Psst. [ He leans in towards them. ] Get me a drink. I'll make it worth your while.

[ Let it be known that he has absolutely nothing to offer anyone that would make it worth their while. ]

( WILDCARD )

[ chimera#5926 or PM to plot. Or just go for it, if there's something you want with him. Surprise me. ]

Comments

School's Out

[serialskiller]

[The biggest, meanest motherfucker on the ship walks into the library. 6'5", muscled like a fucking refrigerator, dressed in a hoodie, cargo pants and work boots. It glances around, eyes landing on Vance, and lets out an inarticulate grunt before walking over to look at a shelf of what's mostly young adult fiction right now, with some cowboy romance novels and a single well-worn copy of Finnegan's Wake.]

[pinballer]

You got something to say to me?

[ Despite being recently, gruesomely murdered, Vance hasn't developed a sense of self-preservation. This absolute tank of a person just grunted at him and he's not going to let that slide without comment. ]

[serialskiller]

Why would I?

[It doesn't turn back around to look at Vance, as if it's not worried about the underdeveloped human at all.]

[pinballer]

Then what the hell was the - [ He does his best impression of the grunt. ] - for?

[serialskiller]

I didn't expect anyone here. Especially someone I don't know. You're new.

[This is actually an honest answer, even if it sounds stilted, awkward. Cold? And that last part isn't even close to a question at all. It knows for a fact that Vance hasn't been here long.]

[pinballer]

What, do you own this place?

[ He stands up, and it's obvious how short he is in comparison. ] I don't see your name on it. [ A pause. ] Unless your name's "Library".

[serialskiller]

[Murderbot just looks down at him, silently communicating the idea of 'really?']

[pinballer]

[ Vance looks up (way up) and huffs before looking at the bookshelves and spotting the cowboy romance. ]

Romance books? [ He snorts. ] Lame. [ He can't be afraid of a guy who reads cowboy romances.

Or, he can. And should. But he won't. ]

[serialskiller]

I don't read the romance. I was looking for something else.

[And yes, it knows, it knows it's being insulted. But it's choosing not to rise to that. Honestly, the fact that this human needs to mock the books to try to feel big here? It's adorable.]

[pinballer]

Yeah, well, I don't take shit from guys who read.

[ And he not only doubles down on the book mockery but takes a step down while doing it. Yeah. Never mind that he was reading, comic books don't count in his mind. ]

[serialskiller]

[Murderbot lets out another inarticulate sound, this time more of a snorting smothered laugh than a grunt.]

[pinballer]

Did you just laugh at me? [ He cocks his head to the side, eyes wide like he's surprised that anyone would laugh at him. ]

[serialskiller]

I don't take shit from human larvae.

[It knows that's not the right thing to call underdeveloped humans. But it doesn't care. Larvae seems more insulting, at the moment.]

[pinballer]

[ Larvae? Larvae? Okay, that's it, this guy needs to learn a lesson.

He throws a punch.

The fact that Vance needs to aim way over his head just to try and punch this guy should be a sign that he shouldn't attempt it. But Vance Hopper isn't wise. ]

[serialskiller]

[Murderbot doesn't so much dodge as move a little to one side, so Vance gets a shoulder instead of its face (the most skin-covered part of its body). It feels completely solid, no give like punching a human, and if the bot experiences pain, it doesn't read on its face.

(Being able to dial down pain sensors has never been such a blessing.)

In other words, a complete no-sell.

And then it reaches out to grab the back of Vance's vest.]

[pinballer]

[ He draws his hand back immediately. Although he didn't punch hard enough to break anything it still hurts like hell. That'll be sore for a few days. ]

Hey, let me go!

[ It's pretty easy to hold him by his vest, although he flails about like an unruly kitten. ]

[serialskiller]

Or what?

[Murderbot, despite it's name, doesn't take any action to harm Vance while he flails. In fact, he makes sure the boy isn't going to hit arms or legs on anything solid (beside Murderbot itself.]

[pinballer]

Or I'm gonna be really fucking pissed!

[ He's still swiping at the air. ]

[serialskiller]

[Murderbot laughs aloud this time.]

Like you're not already? Pathetic.

[pinballer]

You're pathetic!

[ ...And he inhales deeply and then tries to spit right in Murderbot's face. He's gross like that. ]

[serialskiller]

Did that make you feel any better?

[Awww, how cute, still trying to upset it.]

I bet you called me that back because you feel that way about yourself right now. Worst thing you could think to throw at me. No vocabulary of your own.

[pinballer]

You want vocabulary? Fuckass cuntwad piece of shit -

[ And he's just going to continue with a long string of curses until he's stopped. ]

[serialskiller]

If I put you down, are you going to attempt to attack me again?

[pinballer]

I will if you attack me first.

[ Which is to say, he knows he's outmatched but doesn't just want to back away with his tail between his legs. ]

[serialskiller]

[Murderbot actually quite gingerly deposits Vance onto the ground, letting go and taking a step back.]

I'm not going to attack you.