Futuristic The Loop [REBOOT] | IC

[elytra]

The Loop [REBOOT]
Current Mystery: #1 The Lake Hadney Stalker​

When posting, please have a header that has...
Character Name
Character Location
Character Interactions (character | @playername)
Character Mentions (character | @playername)

Current Date & Time: August 16th, 9:00 PM
Weather: Cloudy skies
Current Event: End-Of-Summer Party

Introduction

1983. "Every Breath You Take" by The Police has topped the charts, while Atari gaming systems have become all the rage in households across the US. The last Star Wars movie released a few months back as well, and people can't seem to stop talking about it. The moonwalk, despite existing earlier, has recently become popular through Michael Jackson, and excitement can be found in the success of the NASA STS-7 mission, making Sally Ride the first American woman to go to space. These are things that have captured the attention of the population of the United States and, despite everything, Allgood, Utah is no different.

Allgood, to any outsider, would sound like an exciting place to live. Sitting atop the worlds second largest particle collider, something that has allowed for extreme advances in technology, it seems like an ideal place. Residents would likely disagree with this notion. At the best of times, Allgood could be like any other place, with its run-down theater and a sitting-right-at-average high school. The people that lived there were just going about their lives in the ways they would in any other town. About the most exciting thing to happen recently were the rumors surrounding a supposed monster lurking around the area, but such claims had been chalked up to the over-active imagination of children. So, it wasn't all that surprising that the teens of Allgood, sitting atop one of the great technological wonders of the world, decided to ignore it completely and throw a rager to get one more ounce of celebration in before the summer finally came to an end.

Tommy Clarence, as a last hurrah, set up a party at the unused nuclear testing site. An odd choice to party, but seeing as its far enough away from the houses that you can be as loud as you please, it might have been a wise choice. Everyone who's anyone is there, and even people who aren't anyone have stopped in. Red solo cups filled with punch have already been passed out; whether they're spiked or not remains a mystery. At the very least, people seem to be having a good time.

 

[elytra]

Wylie Goh​

Location: Nuclear Testing Site Party, Specifically on the Roof of a House
Interactions: N/A; Open
Mentions: N/A

Wylie wasn't really a party person. To anyone who knew him or even vaguely knew of him, this wasn't all that shocking. He barely hung around people at school (the robotics club was the exception to the rule) and seeing as parties were events constructed around being social, him being there was a bit out of place. It wasn't that he didn't like people, it was just that he didn't like figuring out how to act around them. People were confusing at the best of times, so he'd stuck to his robots and let that be that. Being an 18-year-old senior with a slim number of friends wasn't the best look, of course, but it was a better look than having people who actively hated him for saying or doing the wrong thing at the wrong time, so he settled for it.

Despite that, he'd still gone to this party. It'd been an impromptu thing; he'd been stuck around his house, figuring out what to do with himself that wasn't staring aimlessly at blueprints, and then had remembered that there was an end-of-the-summer thing going on at the testing site. He wasn't sure why it was there of all places, seeing as there were more than a dozen mannequins left that were oh-so-creepy, but he'd come to the conclusion that it would be good enough to get his mind off of things. Problems were easier to solve if you took a break and came back to them later, and he needed something that could force him not to obsess over things for a little while. So, he'd gotten into his car (more accurately his aunts car, but she wasn't around, so it was as good as his) and gone, parking it a good distance away on the off chance the cops showed up. Or, worse, Loop employees. He really didn't want to get in any trouble with them, so if he had to walk a little to ensure they didn't see his car at a party, so be it.

Of course, his plans to kind of just hang around and zone out were quickly waylaid. He should've expected as much. He'd never been able to just sit around and do nothing. He'd given it the good old college try at first, sitting on one of the porches with a cup of probably-alcohol in hand, his cane and backpack set on the space beside him. But then he'd noticed the satellite dish on top of one of the houses, and that had managed to distract him. See, he knew the testing site was old. Really old. 1950s old, in fact. It hadn't ever been used- hence why they were able to have a party of all things -which meant that there hadn't been any upkeep on it. It'd essentially been left to rot, even if there were rumors that DART was trying to figure out something to do with it. So, if it was from the 50s and never used, how did a satellite dish from 1979 get there? He remembered seeing one like it in a Neiman-Marcus magazine his aunt had left laying around, and that certainly wasn't old enough to justify it being placed there.

And he couldn't just not have a look, right? Because first of all, it wasn't supposed to be there, so he wanted to see if it was actually hooked up to anything. Second of all, if it wasn't- and maybe even if it was -that wasn't the sort of thing you just left lying around. He doubted anyone was planning to watch TV out here, unless the mannequins had suddenly gained sentience (something he really didn't want to think about). That didn't mean he planned to take it, of course. It was huge. Not as big as the usual models he'd seen, which was even more curious, but still big enough that removing it and getting it back to his car in his condition would be impossible. But he was still considering it, or at the very least considering checking it out and then coming back at another point with his car nearby to see if he could end up getting some usable scrap for it.

All that was to say that he had a perfectly logical reason to be out on the roof of one of the houses.

He'd put on his backpack and tucked his cane under his arm, using one of the second story windows to get out onto the roof. Admittedly, it hadn't opened easily, so he may or may not have used one of the mannequins to hit into it and knock out the pane. The house had been built to be destroyed, right? He was just fulfilling its purpose. Of course, the mannequin- a woman who looked like she could use a bath and had her painted-on expression nearly completely scratched off -slid to the edge of the roof, teetering on the edge but surprisingly not falling. He eyed it warily as he stepped out onto the roof himself, keeping one hand on the inside of the house to steady himself. Hopefully no one saw him doing this. He was pretty sure they wouldn't care too much and that the music and partying was distracting enough that they wouldn't notice in the first place, but he still didn't want to be asked about why he'd used a mannequin as a battering ram to get out onto the roof of what some could argue was an architecturally unstable building. He carefully slid himself a little further down, haphazardly moving his cane to his backpack for a little more mobility as he turned his attention to the dish, which was on the other side of the roof.

He should've entered over there. That was a bit silly of him. It was way too late to turn back, though. He'd just have to edge his way over to it and hope for the best. He was pretty sure he wouldn't fall from the roof unless he was really stupid, so he wasn't too worried about that. He lowered himself back, pressing his hands against the shingles. He could do this. It would just take a bit of dexterity and time. Doing it quietly as to not draw attention to himself, he carefully began to try and move along the roof in a way that wouldn't send him sliding

Unfortunately, luck wasn't on his side, and he watched dismally as the mannequin decided it would, in fact, fall from the roof, falling to the ground below it with a loud crack. Great. So much for stealth.

 

[Pokeking]

Shotaro "Shaun" Sanada​

Location: Nuclear Testing Site Party
Interactions: (Wylie Goh, elytra )
Mentions: N/A

Fate has a funny way of impacting lives. An encounter at a science symposium in Osaka between Kaito Sanada and Ayumi Takeda that led to marriage seemed fated since his father said that a colleague had been called away on an emergency and he was chosen to go to the symposium instead. Was it fate that his father was approached with the chance of a lifetime which was to move to Allgood along with a big raise and perks to do something? Was it fated that this couple that seemed not interested in having children thought to have a kid when they were both 33 years old, two years after they started to live in the States? Was it a fate or a cosmic joke on them all that Shotaro wasn't anything like his parents. He was their trueborn son, but he was so unlike them. A son focused towards athleticism in sharp contrast to more scholarly parents.

Shotaro, as he was known in his childhood, was clearly an outsider. To his classmates, here is a boy with an unaccustomed name with peculiar lunches. Plus he talks with himself in Japanese? How many Allgood children encountered someone like him? He tried to assimilate to a varying degree of success. His first accomplishment was his name. Soon into his kindergarten year, he insisted in being called Shaun. The name seemed to stick. Most appeared to call him Shaun, but a few called him Shotaro. The boy grew and became a fine young man with an athletic physique.

He had pondered and pondered all through the summer interlude between 8th grade and the 9th. He had seen football on TV when his parents weren't watching for years and imagined himself out on that field. When school started, he saw the flier heralding football practice. A bolt hit his confidence. He had never told his parents his desire and rather wait at the library, he headed to the field with other prospective talent. The coaching staff looked him over and he was asked his name and what position he was trying out for. He bravely stood and clearly said, "Shotaro Sanada, running back." They pointed at a group of others and he joined them. For the next hour or so, who could really tell, he was studied like a grasshopper in a jar as he was put through a series of exercises to see how compatible he was. He did his best as he supposed the other candidates. He didn't tell his parents what he had done until he saw his name right there on the roster. He was one of the chosen. Their reaction was grim. They were not pleased at all. Forgiving the coverup was easier than forgiving him for joining the team. They had been so ticked off at his action that they didn't even attend a single game during his freshman year. Acceptance was slow and only started to bloom when he came home after school and saw the framed photo of him in his football gear. His mother started to attend every game and was joined by his father when he wasn't super busy.

Parties weren't really his thing unless there was food involved. Occasionally, someone would asked "Shaun? Where does that food go?" Shaun would point to his firm torso with both index fingers, "In here?" Once his high school career got into full swing as a football player, there were certain expectations. Parties became more than just occasions to eat and eat. There was a certain need to maintain a sense of social standing.

Tonight's party heralded the dusk of summer. Normally, on a day like this, he would head off to the gym or have a couple of sessions with the dumbbell set his parents gave him for his previous birthday. Dinner consisted of salmon coated in panko with sides consisting brown rice and Brussel sprouts. He had asked them if he could go and they acceded to the request. He thought they misheard or misunderstood what type of party it would be. They understood clearly. They knew their son was no fool. They were confident that if there was trouble, he'd hightail it.

Shaun showered and spritzed himself with cologne and applied deodorant. He decide to wear a pair of jeans and an olive green Henley shirt. He took out his comb and touched up his hair and put it in his pocket. They didn't much care for his quiff haircut, but at least it wasn't dyed. He hugged his parents and climbed into his green truck. There was no chance of mistaking this truck for any other green truck because of the decals: a football, the flag of Japan, and a wolf's head tilted upward in a howling pose.

He searched for a spot and recognizing the vehicles belonging to his comrades, he parked next to them. With all them grouped together, I can better remember where mine is. The music was a siren call and he approached the group. Shaun held his hand to his mouth to utter a loud, "Awoo!" to announce his presence. Several teens noticed him and greeted him excitedly. He was offered a cup of suspicious liquid and declined, "I do not drink" Mentally, he added except sake.

He walked among the houses, not homes, to find a good spot to enjoy himself. There were plenty of mannequins about. Good fuel for drawings. Shaun thought of a panel or two depicting living scarecrows chasing teens at a party with the intent of turning them into other scarecrows. He took up a spot on a porch and leaned against the door to enjoy the music. He was absorbed into the music, so far different from the music his parents listened to, that he was zoned out until Crack!

Shaun leapt like a startled cat "Nani?!" and his head darted to and fro. His head latched onto the person on the roof of the house next door. Is that Wylie Goh? Sure is. He stood and looked up, "Yo Wylie! Watch it up there." He didn't feel that he spoke with Wylie much considering his interest in robotics. He probably spoke with him more about drawing even though their themes deferred. He walked to the fallen mannequin and tapped on its head, "Be glad this wasn't yours."

 

[wickedlittlecritta]

Marcus Pasternak

Character Location: Nuclear Test Site Party
Character Interactions: n/a
Character Mentions: Wylie | elytra

Marcus was fairly sure he was the only one who actually liked the old nuclear testing site, and he knew the layout of its streets as well as he did Allgood's. It was, with its empty streets and mannequin inhabited houses, the perfect place to practice the sort of driving that would have gotten the cops called on him real fast if he'd tried it in Allgood. The mannequins didn't care if he went too fast or fucked up an oversteer. They didn't care if he blew a gasket or if bits came off his Mustang, and he had to leave it in the street for a week while he put it back together.

They were excellent neighbors, really.

But today he passed other cars parked on the side of the road into the test site, and his mood soured. Of course. Half his stupid school was going to be drunk in his hideout and ruin one of his last chances to practice before he had to worry about school. Marcus pulled over and leaned back into the seat and groaned.

He could just go home.

Marcus made a face. He would rather drink paint thinner than go home.

Beneath his feet the floorboards of the Mustang vibrated, the elderly V8 rebuilt with parts scavenged off of two different decommissioned vehicles from the Loop. He closed his hands on the wheel again, feeling the vibrations there too. It felt alive in a way that only mechanical things did to him. Alive in a way that made sense, purposeful and hungry. Cars made sense. People didn't.

His choices were go home and try not to catch his father's attention, or go to the party and be ignored. Neither sounded appealing, but if he went, he could outlast everyone and get the test site to himself after. The thought was enough to cheer him up, and he turned the Mustang off, pocketing his keys, and made his way down to the party already in progress. It was easy enough to slip in mostly unnoticed, to wind up with a plastic cup full of a questionable liquid that Marcus did not attempt to drink, until he found a less crowded spot to wait and watch.

Movement in the corner of his eye caught Marcus' attention, and he looked up. Wylie Goh--who was so smart, everyone always said--was up on one of the roofs. Marcus rolled his eyes and turned his attention back to the rest of the party, sniffing suspiciously at the drink in his hands.

 

[StaidFoal]

Jade Canby
Interacting: elytra
Mentioned: Justice

​

"Incoming!"

In a flash of rainbow, something tore through the air and crashed into the treetops, sending cracked branches and piles of leaves raining down. "This was fucking terrible idea!" a girl—clearly tipsy—yelled, roaring into hysterical laughter. Draped in the ruins of a multi-colored parachute, Jade Canby hung by straps from the treetop, giggle hysterically. "Good morning! You oh-so beautiful bitches!" she yelled out, eyeing the entire party. She earned some mirroring, energetic cheers returned from the crowd, just as ecstatic as she was about her peculiar arrival. With some shaking movements of her hands, she undid the latch—then falling straight to the floor with an audible thud.

Come to think of it, she mentioned she scheduled a BASE jumping trip for today... At least, to everyone who was with her at the time.

"Ow, SHIT, I think I scraped my arm off!" she shouted with a hearty laughter. Jade gripped the limb, which noticeably caught the blunt end of her landings. Something like this was normal for the girl and the many parties she attended. She awkwardly stumbled to her feet, still shaken off balance by the abrupt landing. However, not even three steps forward were made before she keeled over. "'Where did I come from? Where am I going? How long have I got?' says... fuck, what was that movie again...?" With an audible burp, soon came the stream of alcohol-scented vomit. "I knew you'd double-cross me, Luthor. A lying weasel like you couldn’t resist the chance!" Then another burp, and another pool of bile.

Jade stumbled over to a wall, sitting against it with heavy breath; she no longer looked as grand as her entrance was. "Oh, God, I feel so hammered..."

She perked up, though, at the figure she barely noticed on descending. Based on what she heard earlier, it must've been... "Yo, Justice, is that you up there? That really isn't safe! You shouldn't go up on the roof! You might fall off and die!" Jade laughed at the self-inflicted irony. "Ah, God, you can't say anything to me, anyway..."

 

[elytra]

Wylie Goh​

Location: Nuclear Testing Site Party, Specifically on the Roof of a House
Interactions: Shaun Sanada ( Pokeking ), Jade Canby ( StaidFoal )
Mentions: Justice

Well, there went being subtle. Wylie grimaced a little, attention successfully stolen from his goal and instead settling on the two people talking to him, both of which he vaguely knew but couldn't say he knew well. Shaun Sanada was likely the one he knew best, seeing as they had one hobby in common, despite the fact that the way they did said hobbies was completely different. Wylie had his blueprints, Shaun had...well, not blue prints, to put it simply. Other than that, they didn't really have much between the two of them to bond over. Shaun was a jock and Wylie was so incredibly not, something which he thought he had a good excuse for outside of simply not wanting to. While not the worst person to get caught climbing a roof by, it still wasn't great attention was drawn to him.

The second person was someone that Wylie saw in passing and knew little about: Jade Canby. She was high energy, way high energy, in the sort of way that was a little off putting to him. She also was what one could call a party animal; it was part of the reason they didn't cross paths often. Wylie was sure she was a fine person, but he didn't feel particularly regretful that they hadn't talked, mostly because he didn't think he'd be able to keep up with someone like that. It certainly didn't help that she mistook him for Justice, who looked nothing like him. Their names didn't even sound alike. The only similarity is that they were both into building things. He'd be a little offended if it weren't for the fact he was currently on a roof trying to focus on not falling.

He skidded down the roof a little- on purpose, not too close to the edge, just enough to get a better look at the people talking to him. There was a little creaking noise, but for the sake of his health, specifically mental, he made the choice to pay it no mind. He was slowly beginning to rethink his choice to come out onto the roof in the first place, but not enough to go back inside. He still wanted to check out that satellite dish and wasn't willing to admit defeat until he saw it or fell from the roof and consequently broke some bones. Besides, people went out on roof tops all the time in movies, why couldn't he?

The answer was that those roof tops were flatter and they weren't trying to scamper across it. That was another realization he elected to ignore.

"Thank you for the warning." He said to Jade in a tone that suggested that he did not, in fact, appreciate being told that he was going 'fall off and die'. He didn't bother to correct the name, seeing as he was pretty sure it would be obvious he was not Justice. Then, he turned his attention to Shaun, forcing a smile that came out rather sheepish. At the very least he hadn't dropped the mannequin on the other, right? "Ah...sorry. I'm, uh--" How do you explain being a roof in a way that didn't make you seem insane? That wasn't something he planned for. He especially didn't plan for explaining the mannequin. "I used it to smash the glass, which is why it fell, so I don't think I'm going to fall, probably?" Wait, no, that didn't really explain much, admitting he'd used a mannequin as a battering ram wasn't something that was helping his case. Shit. "I'm trying to get to the satellite dish." He decided to add lamely, though knew that no one would probably get why he was trying to do that. "Sorry again. I'll try to....um.....not fall on you?" That was probably the main worry with his current actions, he figured.

 

[Pokeking]

Shotaro "Shaun" Sanada​

Location: Nuclear Testing Site Party
Interactions: (Wylie Goh, elytra ), (Jade Canby, StaidFoal )
Mentions: (Justice Bright, AreSneksSly )

Shaun let out a snort of contempt before sighing in Japanese, "Hail Jade, Queen of Vomit." He was one who didn't cheer her spectacular arrival. He examined his body to make sure that none of the puke got on him. How would I explain that one? My parents would get the wrong idea. Thankfully, there was none. He raised an eyebrow at Jade, "Hammered indeed". He looked over her injuries and perceived that she wasn't cut too badly, not enough that he'd have to take off his shirt and use it for a tourniquet. He limited his comments at that and didn't even mention that Wylie was certainly not Justice. Would my words even get through?

Contrary to belief by some, Shaun wasn't a spoilsport. He just defined fun differently. His sense of fun was reserved not wild, quiet not loud. Then again, he became Mr. Hyde out on the field. There, he displayed the same boisterousness as his comrades. How many times after practice did I highlight my 16 inch biceps or my pecs or my abs? How many squeals did I get? His eyes get foggy in fondness and he hugs himself as his smiles.

His fogginess broke when Wylie spoke and Shaun replied, "No prob. I didn't get hit and you didn't ruin the season for Allgood. See?" He gave his head a slight tap. "Speaking of heads, that's using yours and using it instead of your cane. Yes please. Don't try to fall on me, but if you do fall, I'll try to make the catch before you go" he made a raspberry sound, "splat!"

"Satellite dish?" Shaun's eyes roam the rooftop, "Oh? I see." He had no clue why Wylie wanted it, only that it was probably for some mystery science thing. Science and Math weren't for him because they were his worst subjects. The only science subject I ever did amazing in was Biology. He wasn't a total failure in those subjects and did well enough so his spot wasn't endangered, but his shortcomings in those subjects did not endear him to his parents who breathed science. Rather, the subjects he excelled in were Literature and the Social Sciences. Well, those and the obvious PE. He crosses his arms and resumes leaning against the door of the house he had positioned himself in front of. "Must mean a lot to you to want to pretend to be Indiana Jones."

 

[elytra]

Wylie Goh​

Location: Nuclear Testing Site Party, Specifically on the Roof of a House
Interactions: Shaun Sanada ( Pokeking )
Mentions: N/A

At least someone was taking the whole situation in stride. Maybe it was a little more easy to when Shaun wasn't the one who'd made the choice to go out onto the roof of a house in an abandoned nuclear testing site town. Though, it at least made him feel a little better; the lack of worry on the other boys end seemed to indicate that he didn't think Wylie was in all that much danger, which he hoped to be the honest case. Plus, Shaun had said something about catching him if he fell. That was ideal. He wasn't sure if he meant it or not, but he was going to go ahead and believe that he did for his own peace of mind. The idea of having someone there to catch him who actually seemed to have the strength to follow through with that promise was comforting.

It was something he really should've thought about before he got on the roof in the first place, but it had been a very impulsive choice on his part. Things like this were always better with a second person to make sure you didn't fall, he knew that. He also knew he really didn't have anyone he could ask to do that without seeming foolish. Even if he did have someone he considered to know well, he was pretty sure he'd be wary of telling them. Who casually asks someone to spot them while they smash a window with a mannequin? His reputation was neutral around the school, he didn't want to make it negative. That seemed like the sort of thing that would end with him being talked about. Actually, it probably would be talked about if he ended up falling off this roof. Just another reason to be cautious.

"No. I mean, yes. Sort of?" He didn't really care about the satellite in particular. It wasn't like he went around trying to steal every single one he came across. He shifted his weight, startling a bit when he slid down a little. Not too far, not enough to warrant any real worry, but it had been unexpected. Once he was sure he wasn't about to suddenly fall through the tiles, he turned his attention back to Shaun "Uh, what I mean is, this whole set up is from the 50s, right, and no one ever used it. It was sort of just....left to collect dust? So it doesn't make sense that a satellite dish from the '79 is here. I wanted to have a look at it." He wasn't sure if Shaun actually wanted to know any of this, but he was explaining it anyway as an attempt to try and seem less crazy. "I'm not....obsessed with satellite dishes or something. Just this one."

 

[AreSneksSly]

Justice R. Bright​

Location: Nuclear Testing Party
Interactions: Jade ( StaidFoal )
Mentions: Wylie

There are certain advantages to being mute. For one, you don’t have to talk to someone you don’t like. Unless you approach someone yourself, interactions are optional; after all, no one wants to talk to the mute kid. Secondly, at parties like these you aren’t obligated to mingle. Refer to reason one. Lastly, anyone who does approach you will either be put off by your silence and eventually leave, or clock you for ignoring them. Frankly, Justice was hoping for the latter.

In his singlet and sleeveless black jacket, Justice was the image of a grumpy delinquent. The only thing separating the two groups was that none of the troublemakers wanted anything to do with him. Leaning against one of the shaggier houses in the line-up, J swirled the definitely-spiked-punch around his solo cup. Sitting against his scuffed sneaker was the same blue backpack he dragged everywhere.

Justice was bored. Same kids, same faces, same stupid stunts like spiking the party punch. (Could you be any more cliche?) J wouldn’t say he has a chaotic streak, but come on people, couldn’t you do anything more interesting? You guys were at an abandoned nuclear testing site, make something happen damnit!

So, needless to say, J was looking pretty sour. Lips pushed into a mild pout and still glistening from the curious sip he took of his drink earlier, the boy might’ve attracted some of folks who were lingering near the edges of the party like he was if it weren’t for his furrowed brow and narrowed eyes. Maybe it was the alcohol talking, but if something interesting didn’t happen right that moment, Justice may have to do something drastic, or leave. And in his current state, option A was looking mighty tempting.

Luckily, right on cue, a loud clattering sounded off from not that far away, and Justice pulled back to see the Wiz himself on the roof of a house, looking fretfully at a weird blob. J’s frown stretched into a grin, an expression that would only grow more excited as an even louder crash echoed throughout the party, sending reverberations throughout the crowd. And if it weren’t for the voice that followed shortly after the crash, Justice might’ve kept that smile going for a few more hours, at the very least.

"This was fucking terrible idea!"

Jade Candy, queen of fluorescent dyes and banger parties herself, arrived just in time and in the most chaotic way possible. Justice’s face turned sour once again.

It wasn’t that J hated Gum. She just annoyed him.

A lot.

From how she’d seemed to have made it her personal mission to pester him for the rest of his life, to how unbearably positive she was almost all-the-fucking-time, Jade Canby was like a walking loudspeaker to Justice, always chirping in his ear about this or that. And as the bright head of hair fell from the trees, stumbling as she yelled movie references through slurred words and vomit, she— through some miracle— had managed to stumble her way over to a nearby wall, look directly past him, and scream; "Yo, Justice, is that you up there? That really isn't safe! You shouldn't go up on the roof! You might fall off and die!"

Justice didn’t like to make generalizations. He really didn’t. But dear god, how was Jade Canby this unaware.

Now, was Gum hammered as hell? Yes. Was it fair to judge her in the sorry state she was in right now? Probably not. But did Justice particularly care for her? No. And was Justice also slightly tipsy from the (admittedly generous) amount of punch he’d drunk? Maybe.

Combine these things with the stupid little remark Jade apparently had to mutter not that far from Justice himself, and the boy could feel his guts begin to stir in bubbling anger. The poor solo cup crunched in Justice’s fist as his face began to turn a dark shade of fury. Yes, he wasn’t able to say anything to her, but he could sure fucking—

Pause.

In the dim of Justice’s mind came his aunt’s voice, gentle and soothing as ever. “Calm down, Justy. Look at the poor girl. She’s bleeding.”

That she was. Oozing gently from her arm was a shade of crimson which made the near-boiling concoction of rage, annoyance and drunkenness in Justice’s head slowly die down.

Justice didn’t like picking on people who were down. It always seemed shitty to him when it happened, whether on the screen or in front of him. And through the blurry haze of fuzzy-warm feelings that seemed to smudge every thought in J’s mind, that shiny red pierced through like a ray of sunlight.

Slowly, Justice threw away his now crumpled cup and slung his backpack over his shoulder, striding towards the girl. His face had flattened into something less readable, something gray and closed-off. Because like he said prior, he didn’t hate Jade Canby. To him, she was just sad. A being forced to dance (either by herself or others, possibly both) the same steps over and over again. To him, Jade Canby was damn depressing. And as she leaned against this house’s wall, she didn’t look like the queen of anything. She just looked like a drunk, injured girl.

Justice kneeled down and turned the arm which bled bright red over, looking at the injury with care. He didn’t bother signing to her because he definitely knew she did not know ASL, and both his TTS gadget as well as his notepad weren’t exactly at the forefront of his mind right now.

It occurred to him faintly that all he had for ‘bandages’ was the sweaty shirt he had on his body.

 

[Pokeking]

Shotaro "Shaun" Sanada​

Location: Nuclear Testing Site Party
Interactions: (Wylie Goh, elytra ), (Justice Bright, AreSneksSly ), (Jade Canby, StaidFoal )
Mentions: N/A

Shaun let out a mirthful snort, "'Sort of.' I wasn't looking for an answer like you're in an interrogation room. This isn't Hill Street Blues and I am certainly not Andy Renko. It was one of my classic 'Shaun talks to himself bits' but in English. No need to come up with a real reason for me. As you said, it's just a thing forgotten and collecting dust. I'm sure if it was alive, it'd say 'Thank you Wylie for caring about me.' You'll probably get more use out of it in a day than it has in the year. Even if whatever you have in mind doesn't go anywhere. If you really want to take it home, let me know. I can carry it for you if you'd like."

Shaun's thoughts turned inward he reflected that he mentioned Hill Street Blues. If I talked about the show with my parents, they wouldn't have a clue. Shaun was the only one who really watched TV at home. Of the Big Three broadcast networks, his parents only watched the news. Any other programming was strictly public broadcasting. Most evenings, it was reading the newspaper or books or magazines like Time or National Geographic. Any more significant television viewing only occurred every four years during the presidential election cycle and when the Olympics were on. In the Sanada household, the only national team that they cheered was Japan's. That was fine, but what if Japan went against the US? His parents continued to cheer on Japan. Shaun joined in, but his heart secretly rooted for America.

Shaun then wondered if talking to himself annoyed other people. It was a trait forged from years of childhood exile when he was seen as an outsider, more exchange student than true classmate even though he was born here in the States. He wasn't much of an outsider these days considering that he was high school royalty, a jock, but old habits die hard. Habits can be annoying. Talking to myself probably annoys Justice. Speaking of his classmate, he had just noticed him. He waved at him in salutations but his classmate's brain seemed preoccupied.

Shaun's eyes tracked Justice's eyes as they went to Jade's. Could it be that she's cut up worse than I thought? He pulled off his shirt to reveal a hairless muscular chest which was rewarded by several vivacious hoots. He glowered at them. This is not the place and certainly not the time to gawk at the goods. Save it for when school starts. As he ran towards their injured classmate, his Henley shirt flapped in his hand.

Shaun knelt down just a couple seconds after Justice and occupied the opposite side. He looked at him and then back at her. Yes, worse than I thought. "My shirt first. Mine's cleaner." He tore at the shirt with his teeth and pulled with his hands until the fabric surrendered. He began to make strips and after each one, he wrapped them tightly around Jade's wounds. He whispered, "Sorry that this is a temp job but it's the best we can do for now."