[closed] the jerk's not a complete jerk!

[flamberge]

Who: Lloyd Irving, Richard Locke
When: 11/18, evening
Where: Bullets shooting range and surrounding area.
What: Mr. Locke showing his true colors!!! a.k.a. that he's as soft as a marshmallow.

[One thing that people fail to mention about teaching is how easily one can get absorbed with it. Given the proper student and the right subject matter, time can fly within the blink of an eye. This had happened this evening during Lloyd's lesson. Richard had gotten far too into explaining not only why using one gun is far better a choice than two, but talking (perhaps ranting) about how using two guns with good accuracy is impossible (to say nothing of the fact of doing so while in motion) and only something done in movies because it seems cooler than using one.

By the time the explanation ended, it had gotten fairly dark to the point Richard offered Lloyd a lift home. His dad had already called and it was pretty chilly outside and Richard's own fault they were out so late so providing a lift felt appropriate. Hmm, though the kid did pretty well today and paid attention decently enough during the talk. Plus, his stomach had to admit a meal would be nice right now.

As he slips on his jacket and makes sure all his possessions are with him, Richard speaks up.]

Lloyd, would you like to grab a quick bite to eat before heading home?

Comments

[boredallready]

[Accuracy shmaccuracy, two guns was twice as many bullets. That should give you twice as much defense or whatever. Or if there were two guys on either side of you with guns. It was totally better! But considering he was still having trouble hitting targets with two hands on one gun, he'd stick with that for a little while longer. That and he didn't want Mr. Locke to go off like that again and talk forever about it. For a Chemistry teacher, he sure knew a lot about guns. Maybe that had something to do with chemicals?

He felt a bit bad lying to his dad about what he had been doing after school, especially since it wasn't like his grades were changing much. But still, he wasn't supposed to know about the number. How was Lloyd supposed to make possibly being in danger make sense? Whoever killed his parents obviously hadn't cared much about him, after all.

His ponders are quickly shattered at the mention of getting food. In a mild surprise, Lloyd turns his head toward his instructor.]

Really? Sure! I haven't really had much since lunch!

[flamberge]

[If nothing else, at least Lloyd's pleasantly agreeable at the mention of food. The way to a teenage boy's heart is truly through their stomach. Maybe bribing him with a 5 star buffet trip in exchange for studying could actually work.

Thoughts of food bribery get saved for another day. It's already late and Lloyd worked hard enough today to deserve not dealing with being forced to learn at this hour. Plus, Richard's too hungry to teach effectively right now. With a small growl from his stomach telling everyone of said hunger, he throws on his jacket before fully turning to look at his student.]

How about hamburgers, then? There's a place down the street which has some of the best in the city.

[Granted, it's been a while since his last visit, but the place probably hasn't changed that much in a few months. Change doesn't occur so fast in places as old as that. Hopefully, anyway. Those burgers were just too good to go bad.]

[boredallready]

[Hey, if you could legally deny food to a child without protective services getting involved, Lloyd could be a straight A student. Probably. No way of knowing that, nope.

It was weird, though. Despite not having him for an actual class and learning something from Mr. Locke that was decidedly not school related, it was weird to think of teachers as people too. Ones that needed to eat and stuff just like him. The mention of the quality of the food causes a smile to appear on his face.]

Ooo, yeah, we should definitely go there then! Do they have good fries and stuff too or is it just the burgers? I wonder if I've been there before...?

[Lloyd immediately hurries toward the door without asking for any more details on location or other silly, unimportant things like that.]

[flamberge]

[Well, considering Mr. Locke is a cop in corrupt force, this could probably somehow be arranged? And thus NO FOOD UNTIL YOU GET AN A IN ALGEBRA gets put into effect.

Maybe a somewhat amused sigh escapes him at how Lloyd attempts to lead the way despite not knowing where to go. Part of him wants to be annoyed, but seeing this much excitement coming from him makes the annoyance diminish a bit. Kids can be allowed to act like kids sometimes.

Richard grabs his belongings and trails after with the intent of taking the lead shortly.]

Yes, they have decent fries, along with a few other items on their menu, but their burgers are their signature dish.

[boredallready]

[And that was how Lloyd starved to death...]

If it's all good, then it makes sense that people pay more attention to the stuff with meat. That's just better, anyway!

[Lloyd makes a quick, sharp turn to his right, not looking behind him to see if Mr. Locke is following or even to check that he chose the correct direction.]

[flamberge]

[Lloyd going somewhere without knowing where to go seems almost expected. Maybe a teeny, if mildly amused sigh escaped Richard as he starts walking to the left.]

Left, Lloyd, and perhaps, but having a varied menu leads to more clients and more profits.

[boredallready]

[Lloyd pauses in his tracks, frowns in both annoyance and embarrassment, and quickly whirls around to go the correct direction as though nothing happened despite the look on his face.]

Well...why would somebody get something at a restaurant that's not their best food, though? That'd be like going to IHOP and ordering chicken or something.

[flamberge]

[No comment at the mistake comes from Richard's end. It happened, it's fixed, no need to say any more.]

People have different tastes. What appeals to someone may not appeal to the other, hence why choices are offered.

[boredallready]

[Thanks, ignoring his moments of stupidity keep him happier.]

But if you wanna eat something different, then go to a place that's really good at making that.

[flamberge]

People prefer to stick with what they know even if it isn't good.

[Which is the truth, if a sad truth.]

[boredallready]

That's really dumb. If it's better, you should just try it first so you can find out instead of just thinking you won't like it. [He pauses for a second, apparently so struck by a thought that he can't even walk.] I just realized that's what Green Eggs and Ham is about!

[flamberge]

[Okay, that gets Richard to give Lloyd a rare 'are you serious?' look. In glancing over at the newly enlightened boy, something across the street catches his eye. Richard stops in his tracks with his eye fully focused on that thing.

Some punks were beating up a homeless man. Hell no. Corrupt cop he may be in some ways, but not nearly enough to turn a blind eye to shit like this.]

...Hold this for a moment.

[Before Lloyd could say anything, a bag of Richard's belongings gets thrust into his arms. A quick jaywalk across the street later and one of the punks suddenly finds himself push forcefully against the nearest wall with arm folded against his back. Any thoughts his friends may have had of attacking get derailed at the sight of both the tall, muscular guy and the gun sticking out from under said guy's jacket. Soon enough, the punks, with their pride wounded, retreat.]

[boredallready]

Huh?

[Lloyd only noticed the scene when Richard began walking toward it. He was a bit torn. Part of him wanted to run in and help, but at the same time he was pretty sure he'd just get in the way of Mr. Locke. Plus, y'know, he was showing off that gun. Teachers were a lot scarier than he realized.

As the morons head off, Lloyd rushes toward them, still clutching the bag.]

Are you okay?

[He was really directing it at both of them, so whatever response he got was fine with him.]

[flamberge]

Ya, I'm fine. [The man coughs before giving Richard a weak smile.] Thanks for that, guy, those kids seemed bent on playing kick the homeless for as long as possible.

[No smile comes from Richard's end. No long does he look terrifying, just slightly concerned. Those kids could have done some internal damage, after all.]

Do you require a lift to the hospital?

[A shake of the head comes from the homeless man's end.]

Nah, they weren't kicking me long enough to do any real damage.