IC INBOX; MoM

[pushtheboundaries]

"You've reached Robert Callaghan, Headmaster to the Heropa Organization for imPort Education. Please leave a message with your name, your phone number, and I'll get back to you as soon as I can. As a reminder, my office hours are..."

Comments

[itistolaugh]

[ She presses the plastic takeout utensils into his hands. Eat your damn lunch, you big bad man. ]

What's the deal with the wardrobe change? Not that I'm complaining, exactly. You look hot.

[pushtheboundaries]

[wow, no. he can take care of those himself...once he pulls off the gloves, that is. hard to eat with those on, but he'll reach for the food and start investigating]

...What was I like before?

[his voice is quiet, but...firm. there's the sense that he can trust her, at least, to some level...]

[itistolaugh]

Khakis. Sweater vests. Crocodile pajama pants, on special occasions. Really into responsibility and second chances.

And technically I think we're talking after, since it seems like you slid backwards a little.

[pushtheboundaries]

[that...gets him pausing with the food halfway to his mouth, looking up at her again, this time with something else to him. confusion, and...]

What do you know about it?

[that intensity is back, this time combined with a need-desperation. if he's so interested in second chances - does that mean he found a new life? but responsibility- hoe does that figure in? hell, he burned the expo hall down to rid himself of the sort that would hold him back...]

[itistolaugh]

More than I'd care to, probably.

[ But other than that, she ignores the question. It seems that telling him is cheating somehow, when weirdo timey-wimey bullshit is afoot. She picks up his mask and turns it around for a thorough inspection. ]

You weren't kidding about being into Kabuki.

[ She stops suddenly as something occurs to her, and looks stricken. ]

Please don't tell me you're calling yourself Kabukiman and making, like, obscure theatre puns.

[pushtheboundaries]

[his eyes narrow - and the mask abruptly pulls out of her grasp. the simple mechanics within it are enough for him to seize control, and for him to summon it to his suddenly upright hand.

he doesn't look amused.]

I didn't call myself anything. What do you know?

[firmer. just shy of angrier. don't change the subject.]

[itistolaugh]

[ That takes her aback for a beat -- now there's something new!-- but then she breaks out into laughter instead of cowering before his awesome might. ]

Are you trying to intimidate me? That's adorable!

[pushtheboundaries]

[oh, Harley. he doesn't really like being laughed at. and he doesn't care if you are pregnant, because you're clearly early enough not to show. which means there's barely even something in there, much less an innocent human being.

and even if there was, well - it's the responsibility of the mother to be smart, isn't it?

the various shelves of the room rattle softly, not unlike the hiss of a snake's tail - a warning. Callaghan lowers his hand - and the mask - to the table, setting down the one chopsticks as well as he just stares at Harley with a darkening expression.

he's not sure why he was building the things here, but he'll sure as hell use them if he feels the want.]

[itistolaugh]

[ She observes the rattling with raised brows and a smirk around the noodles she stuffs in her mouth. Ooooh, so spoooooky. She gives him the time it takes her to chew and swallow to calm down, if he's at all inclined. ]

Since you don't remember, here's a little reminder. Whatever tricks you've got up those sleeves, whatever cruel little ideas are running through your brain, there's nothing you can do to me that I can't take. You're never gonna scare me off.

So think about how you want this to go, before you try to start a scene.

[pushtheboundaries]

[he remembers not being able to scare someone else off. or, well- he tried. he did try, and nobody can say that he didn't. he remembers the kid coming back, and him having to take more...direct measures.

so he shrugs, expression relaxing as he reaches back for his food.

...right before what could be some sort of metal bolas fly at her, the launcher aimed right for her neck. if scaring won't work, then he'll just go to the next step.

it's not like she's convinced him he needs her.]

[itistolaugh]

[ Maybe he'd hit if he'd thrown something shaped like a bat, but as it is she rolls to the side and pushes off her shoulder to leverage herself into a handspring. She takes an indirect route in case he tries something like that again, bouncing off walls and corners, before she sticks the landing behind him. She drapes herself casually across his shoulders and kisses his cheek. ]

But Robert, what about the baby!

[pushtheboundaries]

[agile little thing.

he eats without seeming to care, either about the bolas' actual landing, or Harley's recovery. it's only when she leans across him does he pause, looking forwards

and then make a very deliberate decision to elbow her as hard as he can in the gut]

[itistolaugh]

[ Oof. Apparently he doesn't care much for their little bundle of joy.

The air is forced out of her, but she still grips his arm with surprising strength, her other hand pushing down on his shoulder so she can launch into a handspring off him. A twist in the air and she comes down again on his lap, thighs clamped on either side of him and one hand gripping his hair. The other suddenly, inexplicable, holding a wooden hammer. ]

Now now, Puddin'! Just 'cuz I love you doesn't mean I won't bash your head in if you don't play nice!

[pushtheboundaries]

[








#thatescalatedquickly

Robert hadn't taken her for anything more than an airhead, and now he's realizing how much of that was for show. his teeth bare in surprise as he reaches up to grab her wrist to stop the weapon, his other at her shoulder, the workshop practically alive as everything with moving parts seems to wake up and aim directly at his threat

and for a long few seconds he just stares at her.

then, finally, dubiously;]

'Puddin'?

[itistolaugh]

[ She's tense and hard (hurrhurr) under his grip. She won't push the attack if he doesn't, but there's no way in hell she'll yield either. Her grin is like a butcher knife, sharp and gleaming and dangerous.]

Puddin. Pumpkin. Sweetcheeks.

Or are you more in the mood for "oooh, Professor, I'll do just anything for extra credit"?

[pushtheboundaries]

[at the moment he's holding position, ready to defend against this sudden realization that she's not just a ditzy blonde he somehow befriended(?). but that expression of distaste breaks through his proverbial mask, and finally, he gives a little shove.]

Enough.

[get off him and he'll consider this a draw.]

[itistolaugh]

[ She stands up, but barely retreats. Their knees are still touching. This may be his lair, but she's confident she can take what she wants and she wants him to know it too.

She glances at the lunch spilled when he first attacked and frowns. ]

What a mess. Just look what you made me do, you rude man!

[pushtheboundaries]

[this is his best unimpressed face. look at it, Harley. look at it. he reaches for his box of noodles and chopsticks, pushing his chair out to give himself some space.

if this ends up with him putting the feet up on the table well that sure is a way of showing how little shits he gives.]

[itistolaugh]

[ Oh hell no. She paid for lunch, so if anybody eats, it will be her. She takes the food and chopsticks from him and clears a new space on the table. Not careful this time. Fuck yo shit. ]

Now. Let's try this again.

[pushtheboundaries]

[WELL FINE HE'LL JUST CROSS HIS ARMS no he's not pouting fuck you and give her a bland look. and then no look at all, as he looks around, using this...power of his to get everything he can back in to place. it's not a matter of magnetics; some of the materials here are non-ferrous. and it only seems to apply to the pieces that can be called actual machines...]

Why are you here?

[itistolaugh]

[ She gives him a Look. Seriously, bro? ]

Have you just, like, never had a friend? Ever?

[pushtheboundaries]

Not ones who play like that.

[okay...not quite true. when he was in the military, yes, but not exactly with the whole straddling thing, and that was only during training.]

[itistolaugh]

Oh but you love it.

So come on, spill. What are you hiding away for, all dark and gloomy and totally cliche?

[pushtheboundaries]

[like fun he does.]

I'm trying to make sense of my memories.

[thanks for helping him out with that, by the way. you're a great friend.]

[itistolaugh]

[ Maybe if he asked NICELY ]

And what've you got so far?