† 039.

[klutziness]

[it’s at night, the camera angle a little jumpy and the lighting a flashlight held by the same person who has the camera. max is crouched on the ground setting something up, hoodie up. she looks up after a moment and grins.]

Did you just improvise all of this?

Because this bit right here – [she points to something in the shadowy lump she’s been working over] – I love it.

[someone’s yellow-nailpolished hand comes into the frame, adjusting what max had just been pointing to. rikku then leans down a little further, trying to get a closer look; she’s wearing a red beanie hat, and nods with a grin.]

Yeah. It’s kinda what I do with my free time, y’know? It takes a little to get all the bits and pieces and chemicals, but it’s worth it.

It is definitely worth it. I haven't done much work with chemicals, but I'd love to know more. [max stands up, grinning.] Okay, I think we're good to go.

[the video cuts out, and resumes about seven minutes later. it’s still dark outside. rikku has something in her hand—some kind of remote-looking device. she offers it to max after fiddling with it for a moment.]

Wanna do the honors?

It would be my pleasure. [she takes it and presses the button. nothing happens. she gently presses the button again, and then turns to rikku, an eyebrow raised.] It was definitely set up right.

[rikku had been waiting too, but disappointment is evident on her face when nothing happens. she takes the remote, turning it over in her hands for a second. then she gives it a shake, and kind of pounds it with a fist.]

Come on, I knew I did this right! Fung, tysh ed!

[max looks disappointed too.] One of us is going to have to go back in, huh - [KA-BOOM. the abandoned building in frame turns into dust in a storm of bright explosions. rikku is thrown back a few steps, automatically raising her arms to shield her face. once the building is completely collapsed, she kind of looks to max, and then breaks into a grin, pumping a fist into the air and jumping up and down.]

Woo-hoo! That was totally awesome!

[max's grin is threatening to split her face open, and she lets out a whoop of victory before turning and holding her hand up for a high five.] That was amazing!

[rikku immediately grants her that high five, and nods.]

Yeah! We used to do things like that ‘round Home when people wanted to build new things. But it never gets old. We’ll totally have to do this again sometime.

You can always count me in for sure. [so much grinning.] I can't imagine this ever getting old.

Chyeah. Now let me tell you about those bombs—

[and the feed cuts. orange is rikku, purple is max. this is forward-dated to tonight, around 1 a.m.]

Comments

perma-action

[futurebatwoman]

[ pulling out two thermoses of coffee and offering one to rikku. ]

Yes, definitely. Chemicals is a weak spot of mine.

[klutziness]

[max you are awesome. she takes the coffee happily, and begins to sip.]

It's all about getting the right measurements and mixture. Too little, not a big enough boom. Too much--well, y'know.

[permatext]

[undeadsidekick]

Holy biohazard, Batman.

[futurebatwoman]

we got the permits and approval and everything

permavid.

[klutziness]

Mmm nope! No biohazard here.

video

[hacktivist]

[Not altogether far from where that explosion takes place, seated on a rooftop under the stars with a netbook in his lap. The explosion makes him drop the device and spin to look behind him at the distant smoke, then he's kicking off from the rooftop and headed in that direction immediately, snatching his comm from a belt-pouch to check the Network.

On the off-chance this isn't a problem.

He slows outside about a quarter of a mile at the Network update, slowly exhaling.]

Demolition work?

video

[futurebatwoman]

[ beaming so hard, but there's a touch of realization and concern in her eyes ]

Yeah, we got all the permits and everything - it was posted in City Hall, I guess we probably should have warned the network too.

permavid.

[klutziness]

You betcha. Guess it was kinda loud, huh?

[just the way she liked it]

[Video]

[a_relative_hero]

[Joel's just shocked for a few moments.]

What...why did you blow that building up?

permavid.

[klutziness]

Because it seemed like it'd be fun.

permavideo

[unetrustworthy]

[It was fairly early the next morning when Midii woke up, and began her usual routine of checking out the network for any activity. It seemed like the most interesting things happened while she was asleep...which, given this town, made sense.]

[But what didn't make sense to her was the image of Max and Rikku fiddling with explosives, the sound of the building going up actually causing her to jump. Even after her months spent in the city, anything vaguely resembling the sound of bombs or gunfire still startled her. It was a natural reflex.]

...Max?

permavideo;

[futurebatwoman]

[ The response is delayed a bit - Max eventually went home and slept for a bit, and she's on her way out the door to work before she checks the network and responds. ]

Hey, Midii. How are you?

[bringerofwar]

Having fun?

permavideo

[futurebatwoman]

So much.

[ she hasn't looked this actively pleased on network in weeks now. ]

[klutziness]

The most fun I've had in a while, to be honest.

permavoice.

[benevolent]

I wasn't aware explosions could be fun.

permavoice

[futurebatwoman]

It really is. Kind of zen feeling or something.

permavid.

[klutziness]

They're totally fun!

[voice]

[rocksforbrains]

Having fun with your explosion party?

[voice]

[futurebatwoman]

Yes we are!

permavid.

[klutziness]

You betcha, babe!

[solar_absorber]

Just try not to blow up anything important okay?

permavid

[futurebatwoman]

Would I do that?

[voice; Dick's comm]

[batmantled]

Guess the extracurriculars don't come easily these days.

permavid.

[klutziness]

The bar's been set pretty high, now.

voice

[bests]

Having fun?

permavoice

[futurebatwoman]

Yup! This beats lab work any day.

voice;

[phobic]

Tch. What a waste.

permavid.

[klutziness]

What is?