Play what you know and then play above that.

[numerouno]

Who: Scaramouche (OTA)
What: Scaramouche makes a bad decision prepares to go on an ill-advised solo trip to the city on the horizon.
When: Backdated to mid-August. Close to dawn, set a few days after the Spider Battle/the Daisy Darling's departure.
Where: Garage
Warnings: None so far, will add them to subject lines if anything pops up.
Note: Prose or brackets is fine! Will match format.

*

[It's about to be a brand new day and somebody is up bright and early to seize it. The distant clatter of activity stirs the silence of the uppermost corridors of Anchor from the garage. Tools clanging against each other as a toolbox is rifled through, a vehicle door closing, the lively click-click of a set of heels.

And there's singing.

It's a voice every resident in Anchor has probably heard at least once in passing before now; it belongs to none other than the tall, dark and grinning bot who's patrolled this colony's halls night and day for almost a year. He doesn't rest too often, only swinging by the bar now and then when he wants to take a load off, and he never sleeps.

That's right, babe. Another two weeks will bring the length of his stay here to one year. And what has he got to show for it, huh?

Nothing.

How do you think he became Aku's number one assassin? Not by sitting on his hands! But he didn't rise up to the top by lacking good sense, either. He could be reasonable! He'd listened to all the warnings and taken note of them; he'd been patient while the scientists set out to do what they claimed they had to. But what happened in the months after that--one delay then another, SINI pulling a fast one on them which set them back further--and then the tipping point, the kicker of having to watch that ship leave without him. What should have been his ticket off this rock and he wasn't on it.

Let's just say his patience has run out.]

Deedee dip bedeep bedoop bahdah oh! ♪

Hmm, what's next?

Comments

[tsuyoi_ame]

[Yamamoto is up early running and training, it's nothing new for him to be tossing around the upper level this early. What is new is the rather lively tune and ruckus. He is clad in his practice gear, with his blade over his shoulder he heads towards the sound.

When he enters the garage Yamamoto stops, blinks then gives a short laugh, one finger coming up to scratch at his cheek.]

Yo! Going somewhere?

sorry for the lateness!

[numerouno]

[Scaramouche's glowing optics widen a little in surprise as he looks toward the door; he didn't hear anyone come in. Then again, he hadn't been keeping an ear out for visitors.

He's seen the kid before, but that face doesn't have a name and he isn't going to ask for one. A smile curves his wide metal mouth without a thought. Just like that, his gaze flits away again. As he circles around to the other side of the vehicle:]

What do you think?

[There isn't a hint of malice in his tone.]

Same! It has been one of those rounds man.

[tsuyoi_ame]

[For all his cheerfulness and laughs, Yamamoto does not make a lot of noise when he moves. Thanks to Squalo and Reborn's training, of course.

Yamamoto does not recognize the guy, but from the way he is loading up, he is familiar around the Dome so it is just someone he hasn't seen before. Never a bad thing to meet a new face though! ]

Going outside the dome, but is it safe to do alone?

[of course, he went twice, but he went with someone each time. The smile is met with one from the young man, curiosity making him ask more than anything else.]

[numerouno]

Sure, why not?

[--comes his unthinking, monotone reply; somehow the smile stays in his voice. It probably sounds like nothing more than a mumble to the kid, what with the vehicle between them now and the fact Scaramouche is bent forward, staring across the driver's seat to look over the controls again. Nobody had thought to write a manual for this thing, but he's taken one of them for a spin before, almost a year ago, and he's watched one being driven. How hard can it be?]

[tsuyoi_ame]

It's better to go with a partner, so someone can have your back, what if you get hurt?

[Though, maybe radiation isn't an issue for this guy or any beasts? He wonders, maybe. The driving he is not worried about, Yamamoto has been taught to drive it like he stole it so really Scaramouche probably can't do much worse than he does.

This is not a goal to have, he really does drive like a mad man, it was fun!]

[numerouno]

What, and wait another six months for folks to get their act together?

[Straightening to his full height, he peers along the length of the vehicle one last time, a finger tapping at his chin, before turning toward the exit room for the radiation gear he needs, a pleased smile sliding back into place like it never left.]

[tsuyoi_ame]

I'm sure you could find someone to go with you now, if you let me talk to Hayato I might even go, it's better than alone, right?

[Yamamoto is worried, it definitely looks like this guy is going ahead with his plan rather someone goes along or not. He would just go with him except, he has to check-in, there is no just leaving the Dome without informing people, he's made a promise.]

[numerouno]

What makes you think I want your company, babe?

[All spoken with that same unworried smile as he moves into the exit room. This kid must be one of the newer arrivals to this cozy corner of the universe.]

[tsuyoi_ame]

Babe?
[Blink, blink, wait, two seconds, his brain is loading, he has been called that before. And bingo! He doubles over laughing, shaking his head he comes back up with a grin for the other.]

I told you! I'm too big to be a baby.

[But he sounds more amused than offended.]

Because someone is better than no one?

[redwinekindofgirl]

[It's a brand new day and Julie is up bright and early because she hasn't actually slept yet. She knows that singing very well by now and follows it, poking her head around the door with a crooked smile on her face.]

What are you up to?

[She carries the tiredness well, at least. It's not her first time pulling an all-nighter, and she's nowhere near too old for it yet.]

Making some trouble?

[numerouno]

[Scaramouche turns his head slightly at the sudden outburst of laughter, smile still in place, but he keeps walkin'.

... Oh, it's this chump! One hand goes to his hip and the other gesticulates as he throws a glance over his shoulder; not at the kid, but in that general direction, a grin cutting across his face.]

No dice, babe.

[And with that, he disappears into the next room to retrieve his suit and helmet.]

[numerouno]

[Scaramouche's smile briefly falls lopsided, but he doesn't look at her yet.]

Is that who I think it is?

[Letting a few seconds pass them by first, he turns to face her with a smile as playful as that greeting.]

[redwinekindofgirl]

Sure is.

[His favourite human, right? Julie walks over with her hands loosely folded over her chest, not quite defensive. She raises both eyebrows at him.]

Going somewhere?

[tsuyoi_ame]

[Cue a couple of blinks, then another round of laughter, enough to have him holding his stomach as he bends just slightly.

When it's done, there is that telltale soft inhalation that just seems to follow all of his many laughs.]

I don't get why you like that word so much, it's funny.

[Wait, wait, this is not going how he planned, so Yamamoto is going to follow behind the man, robot? Uh, what is his name? Does he even know it? Yamamoto at this moment does not remember.]

Are you sure, what if one of those big spiders get you? There could be more.

[numerouno]

What gave it away!? [he practically laughs, the wisecrack accompanying a grin and a twirl of his wrist.] Was it the souped-up car? The radiation suit on the hood?

[Could it be the glee and excitement that's written all over him?]

[redwinekindofgirl]

Yeah, something like that.

[It could be the way he's buzzing like a wind-up toy ready to go as soon as it hits the ground. She arches both eyebrows up at him.]

Where are you going?

[numerouno]

[At least the funny little man knows how to laugh it off. That's more than Scaramouche can say for most people.]

What can you do that I can't?

[It's rhetorical; he doesn't even spare him the courtesy of a glance. The radiation suit is taken off the wall and held out at arm's length.]

[tsuyoi_ame]

[Yamamoto is an old hand at laughing things off. He is very hard to offend or if he does offend it seems like he covers it with that smile and laugh, most of the time at least.]

I don't know, I don't know what you can do.

[Yamamoto gives a shrug, clearly this guy is going to go no matter what he does but he has to at least try till the last moment.]

What's so important out there it's worth dying for? Won't your friends here miss you?

[Even if he repeats himself, he has to ask, these seem to be the two most important things someone should consider before taking this sort of risk.]

[numerouno]

[Scaramouche examines the radiation gear like he's examining a hot item off the rack of a tailor shop.]

Who said anything about dying?

[Nobody's dying for anything--it's as simple as that.]

[numerouno]

Remember that city on the horizon?

[If he has to hear the 'you can't go alone' talk one more time, he doesn't mind hearing it from Jujubug.]

[tsuyoi_ame]

[Wow, this guy really is persistent. Normally Yamamoto is all for adventure, but an adventure should definitely be had with friends, not alone.]

There's stuff out there that can kill you, the air is toxic, what if you get injured or the vehicle breaks down?

[Communicators are spotty at best.]

[redwinekindofgirl]

[It takes her a moment to grasp what he's getting at.]

Seriously? We have no idea how far away it is. How do you know you can even make it?

[numerouno]

[Scaramouche brushes off those concerns like they're nothing. Of course he's aware of them; it's why he waited so long for a team to assemble. But every last one of them let him down. His days of waiting in the wings are over.

Suddenly flashing him a smug grin:]

You know what you are, babe? A naysayer.

[numerouno]

[Whether she's ready for it or not, Scaramouche is now giving her his best debonair smile, bending forward to bring his eye-level closer to hers.]

Do you think I can?

[tsuyoi_ame]

[Well Yamamoto is not aware there was a team built who let him down, he would sympathize if so, one should be able to count on their friends to be there and support them.]

A what?

[He has no idea what a naysayer is, but it sounds funny so he snickers a little.]

[numerouno]

You heard me, babe.

[His attention returns to his radiation gear as goes on to add with a careless smile:]

Call it what you will, but I know it when I see it.

[tsuyoi_ame]

You use a lot of funny words.

[He blinks, still not sure, also not sure how he can stop or assist, really it seems all he can do is hang around trying to talk him out of it till the other leaves.]

[numerouno]

What can I say? I like to laugh.

[Scaramouche barely gives a thought to his answer. He pointedly turns his back on the kid, focusing on the task at hand.]

[tsuyoi_ame]

That's good, laughing is good for you.

[Yeah, no changing this guy's mind, instead Yamamoto digs through his pocket and pulls out tattered looking protection charm from home. It served them all well so he walks over and holds it out.]

Here at least take this, maybe it will be good luck and help keep you safe.

[numerouno]

[He's being given a trinket. It looks like a trinket. Scaramouche doesn't take it; instead, he frowns at it.]

And what do I do with this...?

[tsuyoi_ame]

It's a protection charm, the girls made it for us back home and it kept us safe in really dangerous situations. You can take it, it will help keep you safe.

[And yes he is pushing it back toward the other, very adamant about it.]

[numerouno]

[Scaramouche looks first at the 'charm', then at the kid. Curiosity gets the better of him.]

What is it, magic?

[tsuyoi_ame]

Huh, I guess kind of, it kept us safe in some really dangerous situations but people gift them all the time where I'm from, the girls wanted to help and it did, if nothing else it can pick up your spirits when you're alone!

[It's not really magic, just a Japanese thing but he's still eagerly holding it out for the other to take.]

[numerouno]

[He's still holding it out and Scaramouche still won't take it, but it's holding his attention.]

So which is it?

[tsuyoi_ame]

[He is going to try and put it in the other's hand then, because please take it.]

Both I guess!

[numerouno]

[Scaramouche can't say he expected the kid to take his hand, but he doesn't resist the contact either.

He eyes the charm in the center of his palm for another brief moment before dropping it into a deep coat pocket--] Uh-huh. [--and turning his gaze back to his radiation suit. He might be skeptical, but if the charm is magic, it betters his chances of making it there and back without any trouble, right?]