☼ nine ☼

[punkblaze]

[In some uncrowded area of the Plane somewhere, things are pretty quiet. And plain. And empty. ... Until just a second ago, anyway. Because now, there's a building here - a stone, Victorian-looking thing that, while obviously sturdy and structurally sound, does look like it's been... left alone for a while. There are cracks in some of the windows, plenty of dust to go around, and some of the accents seem a little worn. Nothing a little love wouldn't fix though, right?

There's also a redheaded punk standing on the porch, staring at the front door. He's quiet for a moment or two... but then he laughs - a little incredulous, but mostly excited!]

Hey no way, that actually worked!

[He grins, leans against one of the posts at the top of the stairs and shoves his hands in his pockets. He looks pretty pleased with himself, all things considered. For good reason: this is going to be the best project ever.]

Wonder if Emil's here anywhere...

Comments

[punkblaze]

[Eithan... stares at Doc from his position at the top of the stairs, shaaaakes his head slowly and walks over.]

Uh, hey. Uh... No, it's not.

[docinawall]

How do you know!? [Doc struggles to pull himself up] It just appeared out of nowhere--almost on top of me! I could've been crushed!

[punkblaze]

'Cause I brought it here and I'm not tryin' to crush you?

[... You know....]

Okay maybe you didn't hear the first part about me bringin' it here. You're gonna start thinkin' I'm tryin' to kill you again aren't you.

[docinawall]

[Doc just blinks at him] You brought a whole building here? Wow! That's amazing!

[then he stops, alarmed] Wait, you're trying to kill me!? [and he starts backing up again] Why would you want to kill me? My blood doesn't even taste good! Really!

[punkblaze]

[He grins, about to say something about how he's pretty shocked he could even bring a whole building, but then Doc's going off on a flaily sort of tangent so Eithan just facepalms instead.

Sigh.]

Man, look, I'm really not tryin' to kill you! I didn't even know you'd be here! I'm sorry?

[docinawall]

[Doc stops backing up at that] ...you're sorry?

[if he sounds confused, it's because he is. no one is ever sorry for doing anything to Doc!]

[punkblaze]

[Slow blink!] ... Yeah? Why wouldn't I be?

[As usual, Doc, you Do Not Compute.]

[docinawall]

Um. [Doc blinks back] You know, I don't really have a good answer to that. Because people hurt people all the time, I guess? But wow! [he laughs] You're sorry! Me too. Let's be friends who don't eat each other!

[that said, he asks excitedly:] Hey, can I visit your house? It doesn't have any legs sticking out of it anywhere, does it? Did you crush anybody else? Like the Wizard of Oz!

[punkblaze]

Oh dear Goddess above for the last time I wasn't ever gonna-- you know what never mind I already give up. [He runs a hand down his face, shaking his head.]

Huh? [He blinks at Doc again, kind of unsure where all this enthusiasm is coming from.] Wizard of what now? No, I didn't crush anyone! And uh, yeah, you can come in? But there's nothin' in there. It's just somewhere I took from an abandoned neighborhood back home.

[docinawall]

Is that a yes? [Doc leans forward a little, trying to wheedle an answer out of him] After all, friendship is the best medicine!

Wait, there's nothing in it? [Doc's disappointment is clear] Uh. So why'd you bring a building here if there's nothing in it and you weren't trying to crush anybody?

[punkblaze]

The best medicine for what, exactly? [Squint!]

'Cause I needed an empty buildin'. Emil and I are gonna do somethin' with it, once we uh... figure out exactly how we're gonna do it.

[docinawall]

Well, uh. [Doc hesitates] Um. For non-medical medical conditions, I guess. You know, I've never really thought about it...

Really? [he blinks at him] What are you going to do with an empty building? Oh! [excited] Are you setting up an evil lair?

[punkblaze]

[.... He shakes his head again, but at least this time he's smiling. It's probably at least partially in that "i can't even, what the hell is my life" kind of way, but hey, it's a smile.]

An evil l-- No? [blink!] It's gonna be a restaurant!

[... ... ... Okay now he's thinking about how a restaurant could be an evil lair, because admittedly, it's an amusing combination. what have you done.]

[docinawall]

Oh. [Doc might just sound a little disappointed at that] What kind of restaurant?

[hey, it's not Doc's fault--thank O'Malley!]

[punkblaze]

[He notices that disappointment, and files it away under "Shit I don't get about this guy but whatever I'll address it later if at all."]

Dunno. Whatever Emil wants to cook, I guess. So... stuff from his world? Or somethin'. I'd try cookin', but I'm not that great at it. I just know basic stuff from watchin' the cooks back home and helpin' out sometimes.

[docinawall]

[Doc just blinks at him] You're opening a restaurant and you don't know how to cook?

[actually, put like that, it's starting to sound more like an evil lair]

[punkblaze]

[sjdfakl rude! It's not an evil lair!!]

Well, I can't cook. But Emil can. So he'll handle the kitchen, I'll do other shit. It works out great. [Nod!] You'll see.

[docinawall]

[he continues to be skeptical] ...if you say so.

So you said I can go in, right? [he glances from Eithan to the door, wondering if there might be something interesting in there. maybe mutant other-universe bugs. or a rocket launcher! or...] ...wait. When you say there's nothing in there, that includes demons and vampires and evil spirits and evil AIs, right? [because clarification is important]

[punkblaze]

[. . . Allow him to pretend like that was a totally legit question while he mentally "What in the Goddess's name"'s in your general direction. He crosses his arms, keeps his tone pretty much deadpan.]

Well, I'm standin' out here, so there's two of 'em ruled out. Pretty sure there aren't evil spirits, and fuck if I know how an AI'd get in there. So no, I'd say you're good.

[Grand gesture toward the door] After you.

[docinawall]

As long as you're sure... [Doc eyes the house. but at Eithan's politeness, he turns and blinks at him again] Wow, okay! [and he opens the door, heading eagerly inside--until he's about halfway over the threshold and stops abruptly, turning back to Eithan]

Waaaait... This isn't a trick, is it? [he eyes Eithan. because why else would anyone he knows ask him to go first?]

[punkblaze]

[fjakdjkljfaklsdjjksd

He facepalms, groans loudly and dramatically, steps over and shoves Doc the rest of the way in, following after.]

[docinawall]

[Doc narrowly manages to avoid toppling over as they head into the entryway, but he stops again when they get there, though this time it's for a rather different reason]

Wooooow! This place is like something out of a museum!

[punkblaze]

[At least he's finally in there dsfjakl

He crosses his arms, watching Doc look around. It really is empty in there... maybe a simple wooden chair or two here or there, but otherwise, no furniture to speak of and nothing on the walls. It's a little beat-up by virtue of being abandoned. Definitely needs a lot of love...]

Museum, huh? That far in the future for you? [Amused!] This is pretty typical for my world. A little dated. But not too.

[docinawall]

Definitely. Look at all the wood! [Doc walks over to one of the chairs and starts curiously poking at it with a gloved hand] Wow, your world must not have many trees. You should start a conservation society.