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

[sabigoe]

[ Flinching, when he laughs even louder. Please be quiet, her simple request isn't that hard. When he stands, Fio takes a single step backward. She motions with one hand to "keep it down", as if that would actually work. ]

Uh, no...? [ Should she know? She's scared to ask. First time she's ever seen this boy around... ] What happened to that kid?

[pinballer]

Oh, man, you don't even wanna know all the gory details. [ He shakes his head. ]

No one ever saw him again. After one run-in with me he was too scared to come back to school. [ He runs one hand through his hair, lowering his voice just for the next part. ] People say he ran into the woods and the wolves got him. They can smell fear, you know.

[ He lunges forward with his hands raised, fingers curled to mimic claws while he does his best impression of a wolf growl. ] And so can I.

[sabigoe]

[ As she listens, the worried look doesn't fade from her face. What startles Fio more than the story is the unexpected, sudden lunge and she lets out a frightened gasp. Nearly stumbling as she takes another step backwards, she ducks behind the bookshelf.

It's not enough to make her run off. There's no sound of fleeing little footsteps. She's still here, only hidden. ]

[pinballer]

[ Ah, what hunter doesn't love a good chase? She couldn't have gotten far, but it's about the game, the thrill of it all. ]

Now, where'd you go? [ He stomps around, looking behind a shelf he knows she's not behind. ] Here? Hm. [ He ducks behind another empty shelf. ] How about here?

[ He laughs again, and there's a sing-song tone in his voice as he starts to move in closer to where she's hiding. ] Olly olly oxen free!

[sabigoe]

[ While he's searching around behind the other shelves, she has to breathe, take a moment to regain her composure. It's like being chased by some of the bullies in the town plaza, back home. Fine, he may have scared her in that moment, only because she wasn't expecting him to lunge at her.

Before he can get too close, she steps out from behind the bookshelf, into full view. Wrapped in her arms is a stuffed bear, Judith, a seemingly normal-looking toy at a glance. It might seem like she's clutching the stuffed animal for comfort. Or more like, a shield? Fio stands her ground, putting on a brave face, yet she can feel her legs trembling. ]

It's... it's a good thing I'm brave! I'm really brave! [ So many people tell her how brave she is. And she has seen far worse than a boy trying to make wolf growls at her. ] You're not scary at all. I've seen way scarier things than a bully like you!

[pinballer]

[ Aw, it's not as much fun if he doesn't get to jump out and scare her, but he'll still take this. ] You think that's gonna protect you? I eat kids like you for breakfast, and I'll eat your stupid teddy, too.

[ He lashes out again, this time he's trying to grab the bear. For kids of a certain age, having the head twisted off of your beloved teddy can be just as bad as getting punched. ]

[sabigoe]

She's not stupid!

[ While she takes a step back to avoid him, the bear isn't so lucky, getting grabbed by the head. Fio doesn't let go, hands still clutching it by the body. It could turn into a tug of war, but she doesn't want to risk destroying the toy.

"Point in a direction you would want an attack to go," is what she remembers Jade telling her. Too much in a panic to think about pointing and shooting. Regardless, the doll seems to respond to her thoughts, knowing exactly who its owner's target is. Who's a "stupid bear"...? ]

Judy, help me!

[ And then, the doll reacts to its owner's demands. The moment Fio says those words, a bright, ball of light starts to very quickly grow in a (very cute) shape of a bear's head around its body... ]

[pinballer]

You think I'm scared of that? Not a chance, shrimp.

[ He keeps a tight hold on the bear, trying his best to separate its head from its body. ] Say goodbye to precious little Judy. [ The name's said in a mocking tone, like he thinks it's stupid to name a teddy at all. ]

[sabigoe]

No!

[ There's a sound of a small tear, not quite enough yet to fully pull off its head. A bit of cotton peeking out, if Fio checks later... she can feel herself start to slowly give up, letting her fingers slowly slip, and then-

Within a few seconds, the concentrated ball of light finishes forming. Judith motions its free arms forward and as it does, sends the blast of light flying forward to knock back its assailant. Better let go, Vance... or don't??? ]

[pinballer]

[ He hangs on until it starts to hurt. Who's ever heard of a teddy bear that can fucking attack you? Not him, so even when he sees it he doesn't really want to believe what's in front of his own face.

He yelps, and is flung back into a wall with a loud thud. He hears something crack and he can't be sure whether it's the wall or his bones, but all things considered he's been hurt worse before. Why is it that every time he gets kidnapped somewhere he puts himself through a wall? A couple more and he'll have the high score, for sure.

It's something he could almost laugh about if he weren't so humiliated. The Big Bad Wolf getting taken out by Goldilocks and Baby Bear. Fuck.

A trickle of blood drips down his forehead (great, now he's going to have to get clean again). ] Ffffuck you, kid. [ His words are slurred as he raises one fist, his middle finger extended, and then starts to black out. He's not dying, at least, but he'll be out cold for little while. The last thought through his mind before he passes out is: if anyone finds out I got beaten by this kid, they'll never be scared of me again.

And if they're not scared, what else is there? ]

[sabigoe]

[ The blast sends him flying into the wall, along with the orb of light dispersing into dazzling specks and vanishing shortly after making contact. Fio staggers backwards, retrieving Judith in an embrace. Initially, she doesn't look up to assess the damage she's done. Breathing rapidly, trembling, and squeezing the bear tightly in her arms. The last time anyone's ever treated her with similar hostility may have been many months ago, before her arrival on the ship. Everyone in town looked down upon her.

The weak curse in her direction grabs her attention. Fio sees the blood, a horrified look crossing over her features. She didn't want to hurt him. In her desperation, it was difficult to think properly. Despite everything, the offending words and gestures in her direction, she approaches in cautious, slow steps to his unconscious body by the wall. ]

Hey... get up. Sorry-- I'm sorry I didn't mean to hurt you...

[ Apologizing, as if this is a fight that she started. Fio reaches out, hand pausing reluctantly, then gives a gentle nudge. No response. He's completely out cold. She glances around frantically, searching for anyone else present. A medic? Anyone? It seems it's only them at the moment.

What does she do? She's a bad child too, isn't she? Eyes welling up with tears, she turns and dashes out of the library. ]