realityshifted

Entry tags:

darker than black (da) misaki hirihara

002

[Misaki appears on the plane in casual clothes. With an entire batting-cage setup in tow. Complete with nets, pitching machines, buckets of balls, and racks on racks of beat up bats. She goes around for a few minutes making sure everything still works, even without anything to plug it into. Which it does. Of course. Then she switches one of the pitching machines on high and starts cracking balls into the net, one after the other, with Totally Unnecessary Ferocity.]

[[Right after this, so naturally she is in a VERY VERY bad mood. Hence the stealing of her favorite batting cages.]

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[Teensy bit of fondness leaks into her voice.] Neither were you.

[Facepalm.] Ignore that. I'm too tired for anyone's good.

[Blinks, a bit surprised. Isn't sure whether to take that as a compliment.] Not exactly befitting of someone with my reputation, is it?

[Shakes his head.] It's okay.

[Small smile] I don't know. The reputation you have here seems to be quite fitting.

[That catches him off guard and he looks away, unsure of how to respond to that. It's not lost on him that his reputation here is built on lies.]

[She sighs.] If I said something wrong, I apologize.

No, it's...it's alright. [And now the guard comes back up.] If you learn anything new, do you mind letting me know?

I shouldn't. [She leans against the machine, her thoughts clearly elsewhere.] But anything you have to offer that might help, I would appreciate. A deal, then. Is that acceptable?

[A long pause.]

I didn't mean to tell the Doctor.

[She turns back to the pitching machine and starts double-checking everything.]

About Contractors. About anything.

I'm too used to being around people who are as steeped in this as I am. I'm too used to having to explain to the help that comes in.

[Something isn't working. She scowls, kicks it, and it rattles to life again.] They always were cheap.

Edited 2008-04-18 16:12 (UTC)

[Small smile.] Deal.

[Silent as he listens to her]

It's alright. The truth was going to come out sooner or later. And he can handle himself if any other Contractors find their way here. [Looking away.] I mostly just don't want the people here to have to get involved. They're innocent--at least where this is concerned.

You really think he'll be all right? [Frets a bit, then frowns.] It's not like he's a civilian, but still... The dangers from these worlds are all so different.

You care about them. [It's isn't really a question so much as a confirmation.]

He's been traveling time and space for centuries; I'm sure he's dealt with much worse than Contractors. [Staring at the stars beneath the "floor"] I just don't want him or anyone else here to have to.

[Silent for awhile before answering.] I guess I do. Funny, right?

[She sighs.] You're right. I'm not used to capable people.

[She doesn't quite look at him.] Not at all.

[Smiles a little.]

You're not surprised?

[Her face softens.]

You're too bad of a liar to be such a good actor.

[You've officially caught him off guard three times in one thread. Go Misaki!]

[Because Misaki wins at life, of course. She motions to the batting cages.] Want to join me?

Ah, but I've never played before...

[Tiny smile] Doesn't matter. Can't get better if you never learn.

[Returns the smile.] Al...right, I guess.

[Picks up a bat and goes into a batting cage, rather tentatively. Then he waits for the pitching machine to shoot. He swings and misses rather spectacularly, almost losing his balance since he put way too much power into the swing.]

[He looks over at Misaki, rather wide-eyed.]

You make this look so easy!

[Laugh.] I've been playing since I was a kid. Here.

[She steps in and corrects his grip, then crouches down and tugs his feet around until his stance is more or less right.]

Rest your weight more on the inner portion of your back leg and foot. Step when you see the ball move--it helps with the timing. And don't try to kill it. Just try to hit it for now.

[He's somewhere between embarrassed and amused as she helps him.] There's something kind of wrong with this scene. The fearsome Black Reaper, taking batting lessons from a cop.

[The pitching machine shoots again. He swings and look, he actually hits it this time--he's a faster learner, after all--only the bat also goes flying and hits the side of the cage.] ...Oops...

Even the Black Reaper needs a day off now and then.

[She laughs again, trying--not very hard--to cover it.]

A day off during which he's not bleeding all over the stars?

[He's laughing with her--a real laugh.]

[She smiles, a little sadly, and hands back the bat. Holding on for a moment to look him in the eye as he takes it.] You'll be careful. If anything like what happened to my world is coming, they'll need you. Everyone will need you. And with things changing, the Moratoria...

[She lets go of the bat and looks away, irritated with herself.] Just don't get killed, all right?

[Raising his eyebrows.] Need me?

[Frowns a bit, kind of sad and a little guilty.] I'll try. I'm usually quite good at it, after all.

[Being difficult.] Need you.

[Wry smile.] You are. Take another swing--and don't let the bat go this time.

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contract_star - 2008-04-19 23:41 (UTC) - Expand

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