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[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

[Peony came to the Plane to escape council meetings. In his wandering, he came across the batting cages, and is now struggling to figure out what they are and how they work. He hits the pitching machine with the bat to see if that does anything, and then jumps back, to the left of the machine, as balls start flying out. He's holding the bat like a sword, and still staring at the entire thing with curiosity, watching the balls fly from the machine to the back of the cage.]

Comments

[clinical]

[Jade considers rescuing the emperor, but in fact, it is far more interesting to investigate the machine. So he more or less ignores Peony to tear off a bit of the machine and tuck it away for later science investigation.]

The likely aim is to hit the balls, Your Majesty.

[He says this as he reaches out to take one of the baseballs flying out. That doesn't fit into his pocket as easily, but oh well.]

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

[Peony looks over Jade's shoulder at the ball itself, before looking at the machine again.]

That can't be too hard.

[he moves back to the cage, and then, debates how to approach this, before deciding charging and swinging the bat like a sword at the balls is probably the best way to go. He hits a few balls, dodges others, and then comes back over to Jade as he finally passes the pitching machine in his charging.]

Hey, that's not too bad. I'll have to put one of these in the casino up in Keterberg or something.

[clinical]

It's gratifying to know that philandering isn't the only habit Your Majesty has inherited from his forebears.

[He holds out his hand for the bat. Privately, he's impressed Peony's in good enough to shape to dodge any of it.]

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

[he rolls his eyes, but then places the bat in Jade's hand]

Why not? Things like this are made for young guys like you anyway.

[clinical]

On the contrary. Why, I feel my back aching just from the weight of this. [Still, he steps up to the front of the cage and, when the baseball comes flying, takes a nice hit at it, sending it flying right past Peony's head.

On accident, of course.]

Perhaps we should consider weaponising this. I'm sure the proper application of force could make it an ideal tool for innocuous assassination. ['King of Kimlasca killed in baseball match: didn't know what hit him.']

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

[Peony ducks down, but then brushes himself off and stands up, leaning his elbow on the pitching machine.]

[♥~] If everyone can attack it the way you do, I'm sure it will be a lethal weapon in no time.

[clinical]

Would you check the machine's capacity? [He wanted to make that an imperative, but you can't direct an imperative at an imperial ruler!] I'd like to see if it's self-resupplying like the library and bar.

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

[Batting cages, huh... this is new! But interesting enough for Aoko to explore, too.

... it isn't difficult to deduce this particular person has never played with a batting cage before]

You're supposed to hit them, silly. [And she sounds amused when she says that]

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

Is that what this thing's for? Good thing there are so many cute girls around to help an old guy like me with these things.

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

[aaand instinctively, she turns a bit pink, blinking a few times before averting her gaze toward the pitching machine]

M-mm-- I guess you don't have machines like this where you come from, right?

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

Hey, that shy thing is great, keep it up.

[shrugs]

Not really. I'm guessing these are pretty common where you're from.

[ticktocktower.livejournal.com]

[Oh man Aoko is not used to getting compliments like this! Her blush darkens]

I'm not shy! [She states that fairly firmly, before moving on quickly to spare herself more awkwardness]

They are. You can find them at most arcades.

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

And you have a feisty side, too. I'll have to watch out.

Seriously? We have casinos up in Keterberg. It wouldn't be too hard to install something like this I bet. Are they popular?

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

[Guy has excellent luck and timing, as evidenced by the fact that he was passing the other side of the cage just as the first ball slams into it, startling him into jumping and looking over.]

Whoa! H-hey, watch it! [Give a man a heart attack. Though once he sees who it is messing with the machine in there--eee machines!--he walks around to stand at the entrance and watch.]

Having fun, Your Majesty?

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think so. [he's still puzzling over this though] Hey, do you have any idea how this thing's supposed to work or what?

[if anyone can explain something, it's Guy]

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

Hm. Let me take a look.

[Guy steps into the cage and kneels next to the machine to start... poking and fiddling for a little bit. It's pretty simple to understand, but he kind of gets sidetracked enjoying the sheer beauty of the mechanics of it, before he remembers he's supposed to be helping the Emperor out.]

Haha... It's a training device I guess. You just hit the balls as it shoots them. Did you want specific settings? I could speed it up or slow it down or adjust the velocity.

[He does manage to tear his eyes away from the machine (technology!!! Yay!) to address his Emperor semi-properly.]

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

[Guy/Technology OTP. In another life he would be bffs with Dist]

How about building another one from scratch entirely? Something like that would be fun to have around back home for when it gets too boring.

[guyexplains.livejournal.com]

[It's not like he can't admire Dist's work in this life, it's just the man is insane...]

...I'm not sure bringing it to state meetings would be advisable, Your Majesty.

[So he automatically assumes the worst. But he'll probably build one anyway.]

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

[he is quiet for a moment, and then laughs, patting Guy on the back]

Man, I never even thought of that. Good idea, I'll have to try that when you're finished.

[grip_on_reality]

[watches Peony in amusement from behind for a few moments before she decides she should probably speak up before he hurts himself]

You could try hitting them with it.

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I could. So, is that what I should be doing then?

[grip_on_reality]

[snorts] Yeah. [steps up toward him, amused] And you're holding it wrong, for a start. Here. [holds out a hand to take the bat, if he'll let her]

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

[he looks down at the bat, before turning it around and handing it to her by the handle grip part thing first]

All right, show me how it's done.

[grip_on_reality]

[she takes the bat. she's more of a footballer, really, but she does at least know how to play baseball. she gets a proper grip on it, showing him how she's holding it] See, it's like this. And then all you do is hit the ball. [she steps over to where the machine is spewing out balls, swinging at a few--nothing amazing or really hard, but they're decent hits at least. she steps back, offering the bat to him] There, give it a go.

[quecaneatit.livejournal.com]

Is that all it is? Hell, I can do that.

[he takes the bat, mimicking her grip and stance. He swings and misses the first few, but he does connect with a few too, and seems to be getting the hang of it around the last few pitches.]