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 Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2021 5:12 am
There goes another revelation. Laike shot him a look of why are you doing this to me, as if it would dissuade Puck from dropping these nuggets of wisdom at the worst times. He'd complain about it if he understood it enough to complain.
Puck having a secret identity meant all the other ones could have secret identities, which meant the people he knew might have identities of their own, and that opened whole hallways full of paranoia. And that wasn't even digging into the awkwardness of — "I reeeeally don't want to think about my bosses having secret identities. So, I'm just gonna pretend you garden dressed like that." And that would work. Puck was covered in leaves, anyway. He looked like he ran afoul of a tomato plant, there were so many. It was kinda neat, though he wondered if it got in his way any.
"It would be cool to see your garden sometime," though he wondered if that jived with the whole 'secret identity' thing. He wondered if it could be fun to live a double life like that.
"My place is pretty close." He straddled the thing and started it, let the engine purr a moment before he donned his helmet. "Hold onto whatever's easiest." He was more concerned with running across another monster than a stranger snuggling up to him. It'd be a quick ride, and a quick plant handoff. They both needed sleep.tatterpixie he's just anxiety-stuffing his keys in the wrong pocket
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Posted: Wed Jun 02, 2021 3:12 pm
'Wish I could show you my garden," Puck said as he saddled up behind Laike. "I'm really rather proud of it. Took me time picking out just the right flowers and plants, cause a lot of what grows in England won't survive the heat here. So I had to make some cunning substitutions." He shrugged. "But there's the whole 'secret identity' thing, you know? For what it's worth," he added with a grin, "I doubt your bosses have secret identities. But you never know…" He grabbed the bar at the back of the seat that held the tail light and license plate of the motorcycle. "Onward!"
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Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2021 5:03 pm
Were he less shy, Laike would've whinnied at Puck's charge. Instead, he whinnied in his head, and revved the motorcycle to life. Loud as it was, the sound of a motorcycle ever blended into the city's nightscape. As he mulled over all the information Puck loaded onto him, he was gladder for his vehicle of choice, for it seemed much more maneuverable than a car if a monster tried to attack him again.
Street lights and brake lights and headlights were much of what lit their paths, until Laike reached the more neon district of the city. Somewhat dystopian, worn and derelict buildings sported the inauthentic signs, which acted as a cheap veneer over the underprivileged area. Laike slowed when they turned down a pleasant side street to a gated apartment building, and he parked his bike on the curb.
Helmet off, Laike dismounted and grabbed his keys. "I don't want to ruin your Superman gig," he said, now that it was easier to speak and hear. He pointed quickly to his window as they passed — a ground floor unit with two overflowing pots of coleus overtaking most of the ledge.
He tried his key in the gate lock, fought with it, and the wrought iron whined as he pushed it open. They were greeted by a compact courtyard with winding paths and mature, well-tended foliage. He led Puck on a short walk to the door and let them both inside.
His place was a bachelor's mess — mismatched furniture that hadn't seen care for years, clothes piled on top of the couch, multiple filled garbage bags piled in a corner on the cheap kitchen linoleum, dirty dishes stacked above sink level, controllers lying out on the coffee table next to an obviously well-used floor pillow, empty cans as far as the eye could see. But, for all his shortcomings in personal care, the potted plants decorating his floating shelves, ladder shelves, and bookcases each looked healthy and well-tended. It was from the bedroom area (a veritable biohazard) that he took up one of four pots of night gladioli.
Briefly he considered peeling off the label, which said Karthus, and then decided it was too much work. He held the pot out to his new acquaintance, covertly angling it high enough that they couldn't see each other's faces. "You can, uh, rename him if you want." Plants didn't mind, he found.tatterpixie i raise you one long tag to your short tag!
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Posted: Thu Jun 03, 2021 6:59 pm
The ride was so quick that Puck contemplated getting a motorcycle for himself. Once inside the apartment, he ignored the bachelor-pad decor and clutter and focused on the plants. They were all gorgeous specimens, clearly well cared-for and healthy despite their living arrangements. He stayed in the living room while Laike went to the bedroom out of a sense of decorum (inner sanctum and all, a man's bedroom), but he brightened when the teen returned with a beautiful night gladiolus. "He's perfect," Puck smiled, taking the pot. He didn't question the use of pronouns with a plant -- he did the same thing with his own plants. Turning the pot around, he saw the label printed with 'Karthus' on it. "Is that his name, Karthus? I'll keep it -- it's a great name for him." He kept the plant between himself and Laike, since the kid seemed to want to keep his identity protected (and with good reason, Puck figured). "Thank you for this, Laike. Karthus will take pride of place in my garden." Turning to leave, he thought enough to make one more check on his new acquaintance's state of mind. "Uh, you going to be okay? I know I dumped a ******** of s**t on you, after you've been through plenty of s**t of your own, but you have a right to know what's going on. So yeah, you gonna be okay?"
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Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2021 2:13 pm
"Um — basically," Laike responded bashfully. Anything in the pot got that name, though it wasn't really the pot's name either. Just a heritable name for whatever found itself inside, he guessed. He hadn't put much thought to it before, but now that he did, he didn't want to try explaining it.
Hands in pockets, he stork stood and leaned against the support for one of the ladder shelves. "I'll be fine, really." Yeah, Puck's explanation was weird, and sorta mindblow-y, but Laike was still alive. Most of the people he knew from living in Destiny City were still alive. News of these secret fights hadn't spread on the news. He only knew about it because he found himself in the middle of one of these freak occurrences, and Puck admitted they didn't happen often at all. Laike couldn't find anything to worry about.
He survived, and he had a crazy story to tell his sister now.
"Are you good getting home? I could give you a ride…" It wasn't the easiest thing to navigate the streets with a potted plant leveraged on one hip.
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Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2021 2:41 pm
Puck smiled lopsidedly at Laike. "Okay, just making sure. That was a lot to deal with. Just remember that s**t like this doesn't happen very often at all, and be careful when going out at night." He shook his finger at the teen. "And rest a couple days. Draining takes a lot out of you, literally." Bracing the pot containing Karthus the night gladiolus against his hip, the senshi grinned at Laike's offer of a ride. "Nah, no thanks, I'll be home in no time. I got me own way of getting around. Nice meeting you, Laike, given the circumstances. Maybe I'll see you around again." And with that, Puck bolted out the apartment door, leapt to the roof of an adjacent building, and disappeared into the city. Strickenized and exit stage left for Puck! Thank you so much for the rp!
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Posted: Fri Jun 04, 2021 3:28 pm
Laike waited until he watched Puck's exit, then uttered a long sigh followed by a well-deserved "heck." His posture slumped, and he shouldered himself away from the ladder bookcase.
Meeting Puck wasn't the cause — it was the bone-deep tiredness that he hadn't felt since his years of three-day benders and video game marathons. It wasn't even that late at five PM, but Laike knew that had to be it for the day.
As he slithered into bed, he wondered if he'd see Puck again, and under what circumstances that would be. It'd be pretty cool to have a superhero friend. He was sure there was a thought that came after that, but he fell asleep too fast to catch it.tatterpixie fin for me too! thank you!
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