(no subject)

[runningred]

If anyone happens to be outside tonight, they may notice Jay carrying a couple of Jerry cans of fuel down to the boat-shed. He fiddles about in there for a bit before reappearing sans cans.

It's a lovely clear night so he sits himself down on a rock by the lake and enjoys a quiet smoke in the moonlight.

Company is always welcome.

Comments

[onceaviking]

And company shows up a little later, in the shape of a tall, broad vampire walking along the waters edge.

He sees Jay and gives him what can only be described as a hesitant wave.

[runningred]

"Hey Eric." Jay smiles, not bothering to raise is voice to call out. He knows Eric can hear him. He stubs his smoke out and tucks the butt in a tin in his pocket. "How you doing?"

[onceaviking]

Eric walks over to him, shrugging a little, hands stuffed as deep as they'll go in his pockets.

(Not very deep)

"Okay I guesd. I'm just - thinking. What are you doing?"

Curious.

[runningred]

Jay gesture to the broad rock, welcome Eric to sit if he wants to. "I was topping up the tanks on a couple of the boats. Ragnar and I kinda borrowed one of the speed board for a joyride."

[onceaviking]

Eric settles down next to Jay - And then he turns to stare at him.
Wide eyed.

"You stole a boat?!"

[runningred]

"Only temporarily. And we returned it. Now with more gas than it started with." Jay grins unrepentantly.

[onceaviking]

"But -"

He is still shocked.

"Did anybody find out?"
It's almost whispered.

[runningred]

Jay grins and leans in to whisper too. Theatrically. "Not if you don't tell."

[onceaviking]

"I won't. I promise."

Very seriously.

[iprotectyou]

Baze Malbus wasn't aware Milliways bar had a boat-shed. He's never seen a boat--or even heard of one, really. When he spots Jay smoking while Baze goes through his bo staff forms, he offers him a wave, and saunters on over, staff slung across his shoulders.

"Hello, Jay Todd!" Baze says, good cheer radiating from his tired, sweaty frame. "What are you smoking?"

[runningred]

"Hey Baze." Jay greets him with a wave. "How's it going?"

He pulls the box of smokes from a pocket and offers Baze one. The battered box might be a clue that he carries them more than he smokes them. "Tobacco. And bunch of other stuff. None of it very healthy. You're welcome to one if you want to try."

[iprotectyou]

Baze hesitates. He's never been much for stimulants, but he does want to try new things. "Well," he says, grinning, "they're not going to kill me, now are they?"

He plucks one out of the box, holding it betwixt his fingers like a pencil, and holds it out for a light. "Thanks," Baze says. "I'm all right. Just going through forms. Chirrut will have my ass on toast if I don't practice. How are you doing?"

[runningred]

"One won't but they're a bad habit to get into." Take it from someone who knows. He pulls out a battered old zippo and lights it for him.

"Getting into trouble of my own. A friend and I borrowed a speed boat for a joyride. Thought I better fill the tanks back up."

"You know if you ever want to spar, the offer's always open."

[iprotectyou]

Baze sticks the cigarette between his lips and inhales, deeply, only to launch into a fit of coughing. Once he recovers his breath, he whistles. "Oh, that is foul," he says, dissolving into a snickerfit. "What's a speed boat?"

He brightens at Jay's offer. "If you'd like to spar, I'd be open to that. I'm out of practice"--as indicated by the still-healing bruises on his face and the taped up hands--"but I don't expect you to go easy on me."

[runningred]

Jay chuckles, not unkindly. "Oh, I know. It's a disgusting habit my family have been trying to beat out of me for years. A sign of my rebellious streak." He grins ruefully. "I suspect half the reason I don't quit is stubbornness."

"A small boat with an engine hanging of the back. Designed to go fast. We were racing bikes till we got to the lake and decided to try something different."

"Sure, why not?" He stubs the smoke out and tucks the butt away in a small tin. "Out here or do you want to head back into the gym?"

[iprotectyou]

"You'd have to be stubborn to keep smoking these," Baze says, stubbing his cigarette out on the rock. He makes a face at it, and tucks it away in his pocket. "So, what's a boat? Some sort of watercraft?"

His grin isn't nearly as feral as Chirrut's usually is when speaking about sparring, but there's a touch of wildness to it. "Either one you're comfortable in. Outdoors, we have the challenge of the mud."

[runningred]

"When if comes to family, I'm nothing if not stubborn." Jay shrugs.

"Exactly. Goes along the surface of the water. I'm living in a houseboat at the moment, back in the world. Show you later if you like. It's a boat big enough to live on. Not that mine's very big."

"I don't mind getting dirty." Jay nods, "Any particular limits you want to set in advance?"

[is_the_motion]

Bonnie has just been test driving one of Jay's bikes around the lake. Judging by the noise it's making when she pulls up, it still has some work to do.

[runningred]

Jay listens, head cocked and frowning. "That carburettor's still out."

[is_the_motion]

"Yeah, definitely don't sound right." Bonnie says, taking off her helmet. "How you doing, Jay?"

[runningred]

"Keeping busy." He offers her a hug. "I've got two more bikes to go when you're ready. And the first three have sold. For a pretty good price too."

[is_the_motion]

She hugs him tight. "Thank you. I couldn't have managed without you. Turtle's late on child support again."

[runningred]

"I just found a source of income. You're the one doing all the hard work. And I really appreciate it." He kisses the top of her head. "That offer still stands, to have words with him."

[is_the_motion]

"I hope yer takin' a cut fer yer efforts too." Bonnie says, giving him a squeeze, since at the angle she's at the alternative is kissing his chin.

"I know, and I appreciate it. But he ain't got the money, so there's not a whole lot any of us can do."

[runningred]

"Enough of a cut, yeah." Which is to say he's putting the rest of the money into a fund for her kids.

"Doesn't mean I wouldn't enjoy scaring him." Jay grins dangerously.