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

[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.

[pinballer]

[ He straightens out his vest. ]

Maybe not now you're not.

[serialskiller]

What would be gained from me attacking you? Sure, you're prickly, mean. I understand that. You can be as much of an asshole as you'd like.

Shit, you're human, aren't you? I expect nothing less from you.

[pinballer]

I dunno. It's dangerous here, isn't it? It might come down to that.

[serialskiller]

It is dangerous out here. And I was manufactured to protect people.

[Which is a dodge of some other things it could have said. Like how it's died twice already. How it didn't kill a single person during the battle royale. How it understands that fear and defensiveness so deeply it aches.]

[pinballer]

Manufactured? Like, in a factory or something?

[ If he were a few years later in time he'd be making a Terminator reference, but alas, he isn't. ]

[serialskiller]

Yeah. I'm a cyborg-construct, not a human. It's why you'll never beat me in a fight.

[That was not intended to sound like a challenge, really.]

[pinballer]

[ He scoffs. ] Well that's fucking cheap.

[ He's not going to keep pushing his luck but only because there's clearly an unfair advantage here. ]

[serialskiller]

Naw, apparently we're pretty expensive to manufacture.

[Snark-snark.]

You should be happy to be human, though.

[pinballer]

[ He thinks on that. ]

Do ghosts still count as human?

[serialskiller]

You're pretty solid for a ghost. But...I don't know if you count or not. What are the arguments for either side?

[pinballer]

[ He fades out until he's semi-transparent, and not so solid anymore. Yeah, that means he could have just ghosted out of Murderbot's grip, but he's a ghost that's too proud to run away. ]

I used to be one, I guess. And I don't feel not-human, however that feels.

[serialskiller]

I don't know how human feels, so I can't help you, there.

[This is short of being a joke.]

I do know what it feels like, when you're supposed to die and you don't, though. Kinda fucking sucks.

[pinballer]

You're not missing out on much.

[ Being a ghost sucks. Being a person also sucks. ]

Yeah, well, from what I've heard that happens a lot here so I guess I'll have to get used to it.