trans_9 | But Sooner Or Later God'll Cut You Down [Open]

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But Sooner Or Later God'll Cut You Down [Open]

'Running away' is, in Howard's opinion, the most useful thing the human body can do. And unfortunately, he has plenty of reasons to think it will come in handy at some point, or at various points, in the future.

That's why he's set up a 400 yard circular track-slash-obstacle course in Hydroponics, as well as set up markers for hundred meter, two hundred meter, and mile routes. Every other morning, before Med Bay shifts, he's here, improving on speed and stamina. He knows full well that even if he gets into the best shape of his life, he can still be outrun (or outflown) by his super-powered, magical or metahuman peers, but it's better to have that added little bit of competence if and when he ends up sprinting away from danger.

He's feeling the results, too. There's no way to time if he's getting faster, but where he was once just skinny, he's becoming lean, and the mile run that used to exhaust him leaves him considerably less winded than it did a few months ago. And he's getting much more confident going through the tunnels and up the ladders of the obstacle course.

The only thing looking worse for the wear is his shoes. At some point he's going to have to relegate his velociraptor shoes to a beloved keepsake, because the seams are literally coming apart around his toes.

Howard double-knots his shoelaces and stretches a bit before running the obstacle course again.

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Kaya shrugged. "I think its going to be whoever is heading the department? But right now I've had plenty of time to sharpen my skills: there were a lot of people hurt in that last attack, so I've had to do a lot of healing, use my artifact when needed, and I've at least gotten really good at stitches, if you can believe it."

She made a face. "Actually yes, it is taking a lot of hours, and I'd like to spend them with my friends and boyfriend, but if I can help, it'll be better to have a certified person in the long run, right?"

"I was on the field for the last attack. Less healing, more first aid. I'd be fine with it if people wouldn't bring living bombs up to my tent all the time." He rolls his eyes. "Stitches are easy. I like doing those. I'm just not big on the talking to patient thing. It's easier when they're unconscious."

Then again, he likes most people better when they're unconscious. ~~They're easier to rob that way.~~

"Oh yeah, that's right, you got a boyfriend. How's that going, anyway?"

"Oh, like those suicide people you mean?" Kaya shivered. "I saw a few of them too: they hurt someone pretty badly when they popped in, caused a lot of chaos. Believe me when I say that I was glad when we finally got away from those people. I don't think I'll ever really understand why someone would give their life on purpose just to hurt other injured people."

Ugh. Just...bad memories in a short span of time, between the mindless deaths there and then remembering what happened with Ozai. AS far as she was concerned, she had more than enough memories for nightmares a good amount of the time, thank you.

She gave a happy sigh. "It's made things a lot easier to manage, honestly. When I'm thinking too much or feel like I'm losing perspective, he's there to anchor me. He's got one of those strange attitude where almost nothing bothers him and he's seen enough and been in a world all his own that he rolls with things. It's sort of hard to describe him because of that, I won't lie."

Not that it stopped the warm glow at her cheeks, thinking of him and the time they spend, where conversations and small things matter to her more and more.

Howard amends that for her. "And I don't think I'll ever really understand why someone would give their life on purpose at all."

Unlike Kaya, he's not carrying many mental scars from Lirath. Maybe he was just glad to be on the field with other people, with a clearly-defined goal. Or maybe he's just numb to senseless death now.

"Oh, gag me. Forget I asked," Howard says with a sneer. He should know better by now than to ask about relationships. "And he sounds like he'd make me crazy."

"I can think of a few reasons, but that doesn't mean I'd do it," Kaya said, thinking about it. "I like living and being around people. If I have to die for a cause, it's only if there's no other option left. What they were doing was suicide bombing, and that's just crazy."

Kaya glowered at him. "Hey, YOU asked. Besides, we can't all be loners who scoff at the idea of someone being around who makes life more bearable. But yeah, he probably is the kind of guy that would make you crazy. He does that a lot. But I like his quirks, its what defines him, and you too, actually."

The idea of Howard being in a relationship with anyone was...well, hard to imagine, actually.

Howard thinks on that for a moment. "You're right. I can think of a few reasons. But not for a cause. No cause is that important."

You might seek death because you're in pain, because you're avoiding pain. But the idea of using death to further something you won't be around to appreciate is foreign to Howard. Unless it was for a friend.

"Just because I asked doesn't mean I care, Bubbles." He rolls his eyes at her. "Besides, I got friends. I talk to people. I'm not a total loner."

As much as he wishes he could be sometimes.

"A cause is something to fight for, when it comes down to it. For instance, the way is a reason we fight: the reasons are different, but let's face it: we all want to live. Dying, on the other hand, is something that happens because you choose it. If you go out and fight, there's the chance to die. But if you go out with the express reason TO die, because it will help the supposed cause, that's crazy."

She rolled her eyes right back. "Then why ask at all, if you didn't care? That makes no sense."

Really, she should know better by now. "And I didn't say you were a total loner. You're talking with me, after all."

"Because I was trying to be nice and I thought you might just answer 'it's going good' instead of gushing about what an unflappable guy he is. Duh." He cracks his neck a bit.

"True. Must be something special about you that I grace you with my presence." He grins at her to remind her he's kidding.

Kaya snickered. "Ok, from now on I'll just say 'its all good,' although I can't see anyone describing their relationship as 'its all good.' Maybe you need to actually be in one and see how weird that would sound with no descriptions. Besides, he's far from unflappable. We argue about lots of stuff."

Nothing serious, but their relationship was a very textual one.

"Oh yeah, I'm ever so privileged," she said, giggling. "What are you doing here anyway?"

"You know, you don't know I never been in a relationship. Maybe back home I was some kinda Casanova and you'd never know." He winks.

"Building a rocketship," he says in a deadpan tone. "I'm working out. I do it every other morning. Have to be in shape enough to run away."

"Yes I do," Kaya said, laughing. "Not that I don't think you're a good looking, but you definitely need work if you want to be a Casanova. I've seen some of those."

Kaya shook her head. "If you're going to take the time to work out, why don't you build up your actual arm strength too, just so you can hit a few guys, or lift some stuff off of you. It helps to get a full body workout, after all."

"Hey, for all you know, standards of flirting are way different back on my world. Maybe cranky and sarcastic is the hot new thing. Maybe I wow people with my Dance Dance Revolution mating dance. You never know."

He shakes his head. "I do that sort of stuff at home, with the punching bag in the basement. I'm getting better at it, but..." He looks at his hands and shrugs. "I'm not sure it'd come naturally to me to hit someone."

"If that were the case, you would have a girlfriend by now," Kaya said. "I've looked at the women on the ship, and they're pretty..attractive. I just think you're not that interested in that. Believe me, someone, I care about is definitely a casanova."

Dance Dance WHAT?

"Really?" Kaya said, looking at his fists. "Well, give it a shot. Show me. I want to see how you would come at me."

"No. You're right. I'm just not interested in girls." He shrugs. "Yeah? Who?"

He shakes his head. "There's no way that's going to end well. Either I hit you and bam, that hurts you and probably hurts my hand, or you counter it and I end up discouraged and on the ground. No thanks."

Kaya shrugged. "Huh. Most guys are usually, at your age. Not that there's anything wrong with that, what with you having to worry more about the FAYZ and all. But I'm talking about Julian. He...sort of has this tendency to juggle girls every now and again, which is aggravating, but he's a really good guy. Still, no denying he's a smooth one."

She sniffed. "Is either option really a big deal? God Howard, you think too much. I just want to see your stance! This isn't a battle to see who's stronger or who can embarrass who!"

"Yeah, I know most guys are at my age." He sounds a bit defensive, like he's frustrated with himself that he doesn't fall in with that. "I haven't met Julian. He sounds kind of like a tool, to be honest."

He crosses his arms and shakes his head again. "Still no. Whether or not that's the point of the battle, that's going to be the result."

"I'm not saying its a bad thing, just a rare one," Kaya said. "It bothered me a little, how Julian could juggle girls like that. I don't know what you mean by tool though. I mean, he's an ensign and all, but does that make him a tool?"

Kaya shrugged. "Suit yourself. But you can only run so far before something catches up with you. It would make me feel better to know if that happened, you'd have a fighting chance. Luck doesn't always last forever."

"A tool. Like a jerk. A meathead. A douche. My mom always told me someone who womanized like that was someone you should avoid. I mean, not like I listened to her about stuff, but you know."

He shrugs. "I'm doing self-defense stuff. I just don't want to show you. But it's cute that you worry."

"I never approved of that about him, but even I know there are only some things you can change about certain people. He;s still a decent person in a lot of other ways."

Here, though, she looked flustered, and annoyed. "If making sure that you don't get killed is 'cute' to you, maybe you and I have a very different idea of what constitutes being safe is. But keep your secrets. I'll know better than to show concern."

That actually made her a little mad. Excuse her for showing concern!

He looks a little confused and concerned for that. "Hey, I didn't mean it like that. I mean, it's nice, having people around who care if I'm okay. It's just...new."

He jams his hands into his pockets. "Anyway, I wasn't insulting you."

"Oh!" Kaya blushed. "I thought you were mocking me, sorry. I've had people do that before, so I was a little defensive about the word choice."

That was awkward. "So have you met any new friends since the pod pop?"

"I was mocking you. But not in a mean way. When I mock you in a mean way, you'll know." And for the most part he likes Kaya. Her optimism and goodness can get grating, but it's nice to have someone to talk to.

Ah. The f-word. Howard shrugs. "I don't really do the friend thing. At least, not with new people. I guess with the ship in general there's Zou and Karis and maybe you."

Howard was definitely exasperating, but it could be worse: he could be MARCO, who she wanted to drive into a wall one of these days. Why Howard felt the need to tease though, she didn't really get: a defense mechanism maybe?

"Well I do the friend thing. It just so happens I met a really interesting guy here that is from the same world as a friend of mine that was pod popped. You ever heard of Cedric?"

Definitely a defense mechanism. Tease, aggravate, prod, hold people at arm's length so you don't feel anything when they leave. He made the mistake of caring about Anwei and Stacy repodded her. Easier to hold people back and push them away.

"Yeah, I met him. Kind of a dweeby jock, but a nice guy. He invited me to ref for his sports team."

"Dweeby jock? Him?" Ok, you and Kaya definitely have different ideas of what constitutes a jock. Kaya would think general meatheadedness, ignorance, the option of crush things over using actual sense. How was Cedric any of those things? "I don't see it."

A referee? "You mean you don't actually want to play? It;s flying on broomsticks! Its really fun!"

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ANWEI?! NOOOOO!