12 - Milkfield

[gezellig]

[They never drank the milk; they hardly ever took it inside, Holland making sure to put the bottles into the trash bin unopened so Canada and Hilda wouldn't have to deal with it.  There was something satisfying about the crash the glass made as it shattered.  This morning was no different, save for the ugly postcard that went into the trash bin right along with the bottle of milk. 

Netherlands was always a willful and stubborn nation; the droning doesn't take effect until he's at work at the pharmacy.]

[A]  The Pharmacy [Open; especially to coworkers]

[Holland was exactly the kind of person - er, nation - you'd want working in a pharmacy.  The attention to detail and the careful organization made him a great employee who was really useful and rarely made mistakes. 

But shooting the drone woman who'd pestered him about filling her order too slowly was probably a mistake.  The hand-gun was the one he'd kept on him since the murder competition; he'd taken it right out of the holster he kept at the small of his back, held it over the counter and pulled the trigger.  ]

I'll be damned!

[He gives a short chuckle, shaking his head and smiling sheepishly as if he'd only just done something minorly careless and not actually lodged a bullet between the woman's eyes.]

It's a perfect day to spend at home with the wife and kids, right?  I won't be back until tomorrow.

[And he's closing up his counter, about to head out the door with an easy smile.]

[B] Walking Home [Open]

[Target practice!  Approaching him constitutes a very serious risk to your character; be advised.]

[C] 1447 Mitchell Rd. [Residents and neighbors]

[Nothing was better than walking in the front door of his own home.  Where was Maggie, and where were the children?  They'd be glad to see him home early; maybe they could even take a trip to the park or the pool!]

Maggie?  Maggie, are you home?

[If him calling Canada Maggie wasn't hint enough that he's been droned, the cheerful tone and effortless smile on his face are.  His shirt is covered with frightening streaks of blood.]

Comments

B

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

((Because I am terrible.))

[There had been some strange telephone calls coming in this morning... Well. Just one or two, really. The drones were acting up. Lucas and Silence had agreed - or rather, the man had simply taken the milk and drank it - that as Mayfield was quite likely to be pulling something again, they would drink, just to be on the safe side. Having spent his morning healing Silence back to normal, Lucas was a bit emotionally frayed.

But someone still needed to get groceries. ...He'll wave at the man in the distance, thinking he recognized him.]

...Mr. Netherlands! Good morning.

ahhhh

[gezellighe.livejournal.com]

That's a funny thing to call somebody, sport.

[And there's a gun in his hand, and did I mention blood covering his shirt? That's there too, and he looks completely unconcerned. ]

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

Sport?

[Lucas will pause for a moment or two, squinting. The sun was a little in his eyes, but... There is a sudden chill down his spine as he recognizes what the man is holding. The instrument of death that only the Porky had been callous enough to use...]

You're... A-Are you droned...?

[Stupid question, really. But people said stupid things when they were nervous.]

[gezellighe.livejournal.com]

[He spins the chamber of the handgun -- lucky for you, Lucas, he's out of ammunition right now but don't worry, he keeps a few spare in his back pockets. He'll be loading the gun now, the metallic spin and click of the bullets going into the chambers the only sound for a short while.]

Droned? Aren't you an odd kid. You look tired; are you sure you haven't been playing out in the sun too long? Maybe you should get a hat.

[a-gentle-boy.livejournal.com]

[Yup. He was droned. And what was it he heard Sealand saying earlier... She tried to kill me. There is only a moment's hesitation before both Lucas and his table are facing the Netherlands through the comfortable green tint of a psychic shield.]

...I've got one at home, thanks.

You should put that away, Mr. ver Tulpen. It's not safe.

C

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

[... Well, damn.

She hears him before she sees him, quietly worried but trying to keep her expression neutral as she steps out of the kitchen to greet him, wiping freshly washed hands off on the dishtowel in her hands. Then she spies the blood on his shirt and stops, eyes going wide.]

What happened?

[gezellighe.livejournal.com]

[A short laugh.]

Just work, you know! The daily grind.

[He gestures with the hand holding the handgun for effect, then looks at it thoughtfully.]

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

The daily... [She takes a step toward him, one hand clenching her towel tighter while the extends the other one slowly toward him.]

You don't need that gun, dear. Why don't you give it to me?

I wonder if we should wait for notdaughter

[gezellighe.livejournal.com]

I know; it seems so ridiculous.

[But there's that smile again and it's not forced, not like it would be coming from Holland. Now he's pointing the gun at her.]

Canada will shout for her at some point? If that works?

[welljustwatchme.livejournal.com]

If it's ridiculous, then why don't you just set it down?

[Rather than waiting for him to give it to her, she reaches further, wrapping her hand around the barrel of the gun and trying to tug it away from him.]

B

[kinpika.livejournal.com]

You look a little out of it, jii-san. Is something wrong?

[gezellighe.livejournal.com]

Taking the day off is all! Is something wrong with you?

[He hasn't lifted the gun yet; he holds it casually as if he doesn't even remember it's in his hand.]

[kinpika.livejournal.com]

Nope, not at all. I'm just wandering around because all kinds of weird things are happening.

[gezellighe.livejournal.com]

It really just seems like a normal day, right?

[He looks contemplative before holding the handgun sideways out in front of him, aiming for Gilgamesh but not firing yet.]

Nothing is strange about such a nice day.

[kinpika.livejournal.com]

If you say so but you should really be careful with a weapon like that. Didn't they teach you that in gun classes?

B

[encored]

[wow Holland, remind him to tell you how unfitting the empty drone expression is on you. it's enough to get him to stop where he is on his side of the pavement, though he had originally intended to ignore him and continue walking.] Aren't you a sight for sore eyes.

oh joy

[gezellighe.livejournal.com]

Really? Nice thing to say!

/collects all the terrible cr

[encored]

[well if he had any doubt about Holland's mental state of being, that pretty much settled things. he slips his hands into his pockets, arching a brow. was this Everyone Gets Droned week or something?]

Isn't it just? I'm simply filled with pleasantries today.

I love their CR. . .

[gezellighe.livejournal.com]

[He'll fire a shot now, without any real warning.]

Seems that way!!

[Because shooting first and carrying on conversation after is the way things are going today.]

it is a beautiful thing

[encored]

[gee that was rude!! it manages to catch him completely off-guard even though he'd seen the gun since he hadn't considered its use an actual possibility.

the force of the bullet piercing his torso upsets his balance and... unnervingly, that's about it. there isn't any reaction to it outside of a look of surprise, which is more due to the why did you just interrupt a conversation to shoot me factor than the shot itself. the surprise quickly gives way to aggravation as he tugs at his shirt to examine it.]

I can't say the same for you. That's two new shirts you owe me now.

A

[heartstar-blues.livejournal.com]

[The Captain is sick.

He spent most of his time doubled over in pain.

Still, he went to work.

Then Holland shot someone... If he was at his best he might try to stop Holland from leaving but instead he's just staring at the man.]

[gezellighe.livejournal.com]

[The Captain could be next if he's not careful.]

Enjoy the rest of your day!

[Such a cheerful wave he's giving now.]

[heartstar-blues.livejournal.com]

[The Captain just kinda holds his stomach and tries his best not to taste the bile rising in his throat.

Being poisoned sucks.]

[gezellighe.livejournal.com]

[He turns to the door. . . then back to The Captain.]

You look really bad.

[He can fix that. Holland raises his handgun, looking at the Captain measuredly. He almost looks conflicted.]

[heartstar-blues.livejournal.com]

[The Captain grunts, though it might be pain as much as annoyance.]

All you're going to do is give me a huge headache.