justicereigns | Appointment Post / Voicemail / All That Jazz

Lupin.

What's on your mind? [Still a girl, much to his exasperation, but he hadn't thought it would go away that quickly. Still, he hasn't worked out how the fuck not to act like himself either. Like a woman? Up until now, if you'd have asked Smoker what the difference was, he'd have shrugged. Something physical, nothing more, did it really matter? It mattered to a lot of other people though. Annoying.]

I talked with Pops...and Dellie. And...

[He takes a deep, somewhat painful breath--stalling. That's becoming a really bad habit anymore.]

And?

[Smoker isn't so great with the stalling. He gets straight to the point as often and as quickly as he can.]

Pops said sure, go for it. Said he'd rather it be you than him anyway, probably for the same reasons I went to you in the first place. Dellie...

[There's a thoughtful pause.]

I played a little rough with my girl the other night at the beach, and Dellie suggests I hold off for at least another week, but...

The Shift last week messed her up good. The Malnosso shoved her with Tony Stark, of all people. She's kind of shut herself off emotionally, and almost used a treatment that was recognized as ineffective and even harmful twenty years ago in my world. It's likely a similar timeline for her too.

Pisses me off, is all. [It concerns him too, though. So much for his plan on telling Adele anything important any time soon.]

[SHUDDERS at the mention of playing rough with his girlfriend. Gross.]

Tsk. All that? Fine, I'll try to talk to her. Or Ginia... can. [Was she back from Alice yet? Still worried about Giles? What a pain.]

So long as you take it easy we can start, but if you push yourself too far, you'll get stuck with 2 months recovery and go even more stir crazy.

Thanks, Cap'.

[He heaves a sigh.] I will be taking it easy for a while, no worries there. I've doctored myself before, so I'm not unfamiliar with the risks and everything. Maybe taking it slow for a little while will be helpful anyway. More time to think.

[Silence for a bit. Smoker has to wonder if he's had TOO much time to think. Is he even making rational decisions now? What if his so-called time to think was actually just the Malnosso fucking with him? And now he was trying to do something that could backfire heavily.]

Right, well, that's not always such a bad thing.

[Or is it? God damn it, he needs his certain conviction about everything back.]

When do you want to start?

Anytime, I guess. Realistically, though? No punching things until the end of the week. I can't exactly sit still easily though...

[He needed a good channel for his restlessness. It was what caused his carelessness a month ago, when he burnt up his apartment in the first place. Smart as he was, he always tended to do stupid things when life was boring or frustrating.

At least obsessing over taking their handlers out is better than making puppets and obsessing about ice.]

[So dryly toned.] I'd try to teach you stretches but I think the sight me doing that might give you a hernia.

All right, meet me by the barracks, I have some ideas of what could be done.

[equally deadpan:]Uh, what part of 'extremely flexible' did you not understand? [He could still scratch his ear with his toes, it was just uncomfortable to do so at the moment.]

On my way, though. See you in a few.

[He awaits Smoker's arrival inside the barracks like before, though he's standing on the balls of his feet this time. Moderately impatient, though collected for the moment, he's come as he is. No journal, no booze, and his pack of cigarettes is tucked in the pocket of his suit jacket. There isn't one dangling from his lips, or being played with in his twitchy fingers.]

I mean I'm more flexible now. [He was teasing that Lupin wouldn't control himself.]

[She gets down there quickly enough, carrying the shorter and not-seastone jitte on her shoulders.] Lupin. [A quiet nod.]

Cap'. [His nod is equally quiet and calm] So, what did you want to show me?

[Blinks at the phrasing and shakes his head, zipping up. He's edgy since things with Ace.]

Stretches. [Gruff tone.] And have to check your current strength. [Slowly so that Lupin wouldn't breathe extra.]

[He nods at this in understanding, grateful that Smoker has the foresight to zip up. Her assets would be more than distracting for the thief, even when he was on his best behavior.]

I'm not that far gone, Cap'. [He says this while shrugging out of his jacket very carefully. The shoulder holster for his Walther is, amazingly, not clipped on at that moment. Too much hassel, too much work] Whenever you're ready.

[Gruffly -- as much as he can being short and female -- takes Lupin's arm and starts checking it.]

Tsk. I don't think I've ever played physical therapist before. [Usually he does this with a spar. Though with the little kids he doesn't... so it's a little like that.] So the Shift didn't affect you?

Hey~! You're the one who offered! [He's whining out of habit, really, but doesn't mind the attention as a whole. Maybe they can get somewhere productive through this.]

No--the Shift didn't affect me personally. I just saw a few things, watched some really strange 'relationships' pop up. Why do you ask? did it affect you?

[Chokes. Duh. Should have expected the question, but oh gosh, thinking fast now.]

Last year. This year... I can't tell. [Miiight be a little rougher tapping Lupin's legs for reflexes there.]

[And all Smoker is gonna find in his checking is the usual--skinny arms and legs, but pretty damn good reflexes.]

Can't tell? That doesn't bode well!

[Grunts. Which sounds weird as a woman.]

They might have messed with me while I was there, or it was some lingering unresolved... [Lets go so that he doesn't accidentally hurt him and goes to pick up his jitte and demonstrate some starter exercises.]

It's a mess.

[He watches Smoker, confusion evident on his face even as she goes through her exercises.]

Story of my life, Cap'. Did I mention that my girlfriend has betrayed me and even tried to kill me a few times?

...I didn't know we'd be using props.

[Snickers. Somehow, it's reassuring that Lupin's girlfriend is truly as crazy as Zenigata said.]

Yeah, but you are a thief. [Which apparently means you are doomed to shitty relationships in Smoker-speak.]

And you're not using a prop, I am. [Smoker is less flexible. More as a girl than as his male self, but still, rigid strength over dexterity there.] Try this without the jitte. [Since he's teaching Lupin kickboxing anyway.]

If she tries to kill you why do you still sleep with her?

[He mimicks the motions carefully, so as to not jar his still healing injuries, and glances sideways at Smoker with a small frown.]

I may be a thief, but I'm still a man. Fujiko, she--she's a challenge. Tough, strong, smart, and actually very loving if you can coax it out of her.

It's part of our little game. I've done the same to her, though not outright attempted murder on my own or through proxies. We've wrecked jobs for each other, watched each other fail miserably...

But I'd be dead more than a few times over if it weren't for her too.

...why do you want to know?

Just... thinking. [But he's bright fucking red. And still thinking apparently, as he doesn't explain that. Just demonstrates some more, carefully avoiding anything that would move or flex the ribcage.]

...and you're thinking pretty hard, apparently.

[Lupin nods in understanding of this new set and goes through the moves, grateful for Smoker's consideration. He knew it was a good idea to trust his gut instincts on this one!]

I got... last year I was affected by a Shift. I was in love with a pirate, but I never told him, from the Shift he was in love with someone else. [Stands up slowly, setting the jitte aside, and runs through some basic calisthenics.]

This year, same pirate, different circumstances. It could be the Malnosso... or it could be that I try to live without things unfinished and this one and I... [He frowns, it wasn't like he was in love with Portgas during the Shift. Just confused. And the damn smiles. Why were those smiles affecting him so much?] We always have a lot unfinished.

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