-- 002.

[theredglasses]

A -- Morning;

[One habit that Scott will never break is the opportunity to go out for a morning run. He manages just fine in Westchester, so Mayfield shouldn't be much of a problem. So, he's making his way through the neighborhood streets in a brisk jog, nodding curtly to those he passes.]

B -- Afternoon;

[ It's a good thing for this job, or Scott would be climbing the walls out of pure aggravation and annoyance. Though foreign compared to his teaching job at the Institute, it does have it's perks.

So voila. Take note of the construction worker performing his tasks intently, not paying attention to anything else but. It's this type of work that helps get frustration out, even if he constantly seems to be returning to the same task.

No, he will not be throwing out cat calls to any passing ladies.]

C -- Olney's Tavern;

[This isn't a usual thing, but a decent drink is well deserved. Scott's sitting at the bar, one empty bottle before him, and a fresh bottle in his grip. Socializing has never been his forte, but keeping a careful eye on people is.]

Comments

B

[thecoolexec]

[ Tony casually strolls by the construction, taking particular interest in a group of trees across the road. Humming absently, he clasps his hands behind his back, then, when he nears the end of the construction, grabs a plank and a few loose nails and holds them behind his back as he moseys away still humming ...

[theredglasses]

[ Scott looks up, pushing his hair away from his eyes (he will never get used to that), and calls out to Stark,] Do you mind bringing that equipment back?

[thecoolexec]

[Tony winces and pauses midstep, back still to Scott.]

I WOULD, actually, mind doing that. It would be a pain, seeing how far I've come. But I could do that.

[theredglasses]

[You sound just like certain students of his.]

Right.

[thecoolexec]

...
Saaaay, friend! You don't REALLY need this, do you? You've got plenty of material there, this one little tiny fraction of it won't make any difference, right? amigo?

[theredglasses]

Are you always this childish when you get caught?

[thecoolexec]

Yes. I'm always this childish when I'm not caught stealing, too. It's my thing,

How bout you, pal? Always a douchebag when building things?

C

[kingofshadows]

Do you like card tricks?

[A voice speaks out from behind him. Someone is holding out a fanned deck of cards.]

[theredglasses]

[He turns, raising an eyebrow.] Pardon?

[kingofshadows]

Pick one.

[theredglasses]

[He sighs.] Fine. [There. Happy?]

[kingofshadows]

[Very. Grimsley snaps the deck back together with a flourish after Scott replaces his chosen card.]

Good.

And now, in an unprecedented feat of magic, I shall correctly guess your chosen card within my first 52 tries.

[theredglasses]

[All you get is this look, before he turns back to the bar and his drink.]

[kingofshadows]

Ah. Not impressed.

[Grimsley flicks the cards between his hands again before pocketing the deck.]

I suppose revealing it was an ill-disguised ploy to pick your pocket wouldn't be very impressive, either.

C

[connedviakeyboard]

[It may not be a usual thing for Scott, but going to the bar has started to become a usual thing for Benson. Unfortunately, what isn't a usual thing is how much he's been drinking tonight. And it's showing.

So there's a thin, small guy trying to get up from his barstool and just about falling to the damn floor pretty close by, Scott.]

[theredglasses]

[Contrary to popular belief, Scott is nicer than most give him credit for. Even disgruntled, he can still help another person out.

Or at least query about it.] Are you alright?

[connedviakeyboard]

M'fine.

[The voice is quiet and dull and muffled as Benson picks himself up by holding on to a barstool. The slow, wobbling walk he begins to start while trying to head towards the door shows that he is, indeed, not fine.]

[theredglasses]

[...Damn.

Scott rises, and moves in Benson's direction.] Everything about you begs to differ.

[connedviakeyboard]

Said m'fine.

[Benson continues to wobble and tries to glare at Scott. But he's so far drunk, and in general so unintimidating, that it doesn't amount to much.]

Just need to get to m'car.

[theredglasses]

Let me help you, then.

[connedviakeyboard]

[Benson shakes his head to show that he doesn't need any stinking help, but he clumsily leans against Scott as well.

He'll pretty much go wherever Scott leads him with how out of it he is.]

A

[monk_of_keyfu]

[Passing my Brooks Lane? You're going to have a spectator in the form of Key-Fu, and he's currently standing on the fence outside his house. Balancing his feet in between its pickets, in fact.]

A most sumptuous skedaddle, my good man!

[Did we mention he's crosseyed? And grinning?]

[theredglasses]

[Scott can only nod, giving a faint smile in return.]

[monk_of_keyfu]

[... And now Key-Fu's trying to follow Scott. On the pickets. Lacking his superhuman nimbleness he may be, he's doing a fairly good job of not falling off of that fence.]

Such an aerobic avocation connotes a coming catastrophe!

[theredglasses]

Or it could just mean someone enjoys a morning run. [The responses comes out patiently enough.]

[monk_of_keyfu]

[Whoops, out of fence. Undaunted, Key-Fu jumps over to the other fence! And came very close to getting a picket in the crotch, but he sticks the landing without making a fool of himself more than he already is.]

Goodness! Then I must apologize for misconstruing your cardiovascular construction!

[theredglasses]

It's fine. Really.

[monk_of_keyfu]

I fear I have not properly introduced myself! I am the Monk of Key-Fu, sworn preservative of the spice of life, pulverizing the pugnacious—

[Oh, oops, there he goes falling off the side of the fence.]

B (Aw yeah, doubleteaming with two characters.)

[walking_nuke]

[One of your fellow construction workers seems to be in the process of discreetly taking things out of a storage shed. From the way he keeps watching the other workmen, he's trying hard not to get caught.]

awesomesauce

[theredglasses]

[Unfortunatly, you happen to have a very sharp co-worker, who also happens to be a teacher. He always spots when somebody doesn't want to be spotted.]

What are you doing?

[walking_nuke]

[Fuck. Caught—wait, that's not one of the drones, is it? Balin doesn't recognize this guy's face—]

Uh—shit—nothing!

[Balin sets down what he'd been carrying, trying to keep it out of sight of the other workers on the ground—but from Scott's vantage point, it's pretty clear what they are. Blasting caps and detonation equipment.]

[theredglasses]

[ His brows draw together into a frown, his gaze hard as he looks at the man before him. ] What the hell are you doing?

[walking_nuke]

[Oh boy does he ever feel like he's been dunked in hot water.]

Ahright—shit—hang on! I'll come over an' talk about it.

[Glancing over his shoulder to make sure none of the drones are seeing this exchange, Balin puts his hardhat back on and hurries over to where Scott is.]

C

[hisnameisthecaptain]

[He's here and he's only ordering a single beer.

One.

How can this be?

Though, he notices the guy keeping an eye on people and buys a second beer and goes to sit down beside him.

Putting the extra beer beside Scott.]

What's the matter with you? Relax, the bar isn't going to bite you.

[theredglasses]

[He's still trying to decide whether or not this guy is worse than Logan.] I'm aware.

And I'd like to be left alone. Please.

[hisnameisthecaptain]

Then stop acting suspicious.

[Doesn't get up to leave.]

If you want to be alone, your best bet is the park. Or Make Out Point. Most of them won't bother you there.

[theredglasses]

[Dryly,] I'll keep that in mind.

[hisnameisthecaptain]

Good, so, what's with the paranoia today?

[theredglasses]

What, a guy can't be paranoid everyday?

[hisnameisthecaptain]

Sure, but if you snap and start killing random people, I'll snap your arms off.

C

[captain_tightpants]

[Mal the bartender removes the empty bottle and uses a rag to wipe up the condensation on the bar. He's not the most social butterfly either but he likes to get familiar with the people in town.]

Ain't never seen you 'round the establishment. You new?

[theredglasses]

[Scott glances up.] Fairly new.

[captain_tightpants]

And you're here to drown out the realization that for the next diety-of-your-choice-knows-how-long, your life'll take on a new kinda misery you thought was only reserved for the very scum n' do-wrongers that go against your own brand a' morality?

[theredglasses]

[His mouth twitches faintly, and Scott rolls his eyes, bringing the beer bottle to his lips.] Something like that.

[captain_tightpants]

[Oooo, cold shoulder.]

Right. Glad to see my intuition ain't suffered.

You want another? [He motions to the beer.]

C.

[helpmeguideit]

[ Charles does like taverns. He gets a drink at the bar, and he does see Scott. A familiar face is nice. ]

I've heard drinking alone is dangerous, Scott.

[theredglasses]

[ Actually, Charles is one of the people he's drinking about. His presence now makes Scott's shoulders stiffen, and he smiles wryly.] Are you absolutely certain about that?

[helpmeguideit]

I'm completely certain, or that is what I hear. [ Although he doubts that drinking in groups and being encouraged is very different. ]

Would you rather I leave?