001 [Audio-Locker malfunction | Action]

[reckless_fire]

[It's another beautiful morning at Locke High, and although he'd rather be almost anywhere else, Kenji is standing in front of his locker a few minutes before his first class is scheduled to begin. After glaring at the locker for a few moments, he decides he might as well get his books, and so dials in what he thinks is the combination. But with his usual technology fail, he actually dials in that annoying string of numbers that's been haunting him off and on for the past several weeks.]

...The hell? Open, dammit!

[There's a faint metallic clinking as he jiggles the lock to no avail.]

Stupid lock! I don't need this crap at eight in the morning, okay?!

[And now there's a loud banging as if someone were enthusiastically kicking something metallic--which is pretty much the case.]

Bastard! You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?!


[Kenji can probably be heard all over the first floor at this point. Anyone passing by will see an irate kid roughing up his locker. Which smugly resists his attempts to open it.]

Comments

[argents]

You don't want to have to pay for a replacement, do you? Let me see it. [ Not that his locker wasn't suffering from several massive dents as it was, but he's sure finding a way to rip the door clean off its hinges was 1. not above Kenji, and 2. highly frowned upon.

To distract him, Banagher shoves an extra orange juice into his hands and approaches the locker. ]

[reckless_fire]

Tch. Fine. [he steps aside, and what the hell? Why is he now holding orange juice?]

If that evil bastard opens for you, I'm really gonna be pissed.

[argents]

It's an inanimate object, isn't it? It can't be evil. [ A beat. ] Look at all the dents...

[ YOU'RE JUST MISUNDERSTANDING IT. Banagher shoulders his school bag and reaches for the lock. Offhandedly: ]

You can drink that, since it was an extra. What's your combination?

[reckless_fire]

[That comment gets a Look. This Look, to be precise]

All inanimate objects are evil. They act all innocent and harmless, but they're just waiting for you to let your guard down.

[He shrugs, unscrews the cap and takes a swig of the juice, then unthinkingly rattles off a long string of numbers. There are only six slots on the lock.]

[argents]

[ That causes him to go completely still. Lock still in hand, he glances over his shoulder, staring Kenji down. ]

What did you say?

[reckless_fire]

[He gives Banagher an odd look, then repeats slooowly.]

0-4. 1-3. 9-7.

[He has no idea he said anything different the first time.]

[argents]

No, not that! Before, you— [ His hand drops from the locker. ] You said a long string of numbers, didn't you? Ones that you can't forget.

[reckless_fire]

Did I? [Scowling, he rubs absently at the back of his head.] I thought I told you my combination... But yeah, there's a buncha numbers that I can't seem to get outta my head.

[argents]

And you put those into your combination lock? [ Quizzically, he glances between the poor abused locker and its owner, as if to say, Really, Kenji? ] ...That probably all got broadcast.

[reckless_fire]

No-- I mean...Mabye. [takes a deep breath, lets it out] I guess I must've. Which is why it wouldn't open, I guess. [He gives the locker an apologetic look, but no way is he apologizing to a damn locker.]

[Curious look at that last comment.] Uhh...broadcast?

[argents]

[ Absently, Banagher considers the locker again in kind. He really thinks it deserves an apology okay ]

The numbers that you remember connect you to a network. But it's not normal, like Skype, or something. Anything you can put the numbers into can make that connection.

[ i.e., the lock. Taking the lock in his hand again, he enters in the real combination. It pops open obediently, and Banagher turns to offer it to him. ]

I have my own number, too.

[reckless_fire]

[The locker was asking for itAlas, poor locker. It's doomed for continuity's sake]

[Hold please while he takes a few moments to process that.]

Let me get this straight--you're saying I tuned into this...uh...network thing by entering the combination to my locker?

[He watches, annoyed, but not really surprised, as Banagher enters his combination and his locker opens.]

...Son of a bitch. [aimed at the locker, btw, not Banagher.]

[argents]

[ FARE THEE WELL, VALIANT HERO ]

That's the basic idea. I can't tell you how it really works, though. It's pretty amazing, when you step back and look at it.

[ Banagher steps away from the locker for him, glancing at his watch. ]

Aren't you late for class?

[reckless_fire]

Huh. I guess amazing's one word for it. They should really put up a warning, or something, before messing with man's locker, though. [Who would do this and how? He has no clue--but it's the principle of the thing!]

[Glances at his own watch] Shit! [Small grin as he glances over at Banagher] You are too, though, aren't you.

[argents]

[ He flashes a smile. ]

Senior. My classes don't start for another hour, remember? You'd better get going.

[reckless_fire]

...And you're here already? Ain't you got anything better to do? [Showing up for class an hour before you have to DOES NOT COMPUTE in Kenji's world.]

Yeah, yeah, I'm gone. [He grabs his books out of his locker before slamming the door shut again.]

[argents]

[ GAME, SET, MATCH you should never underestimate his goody-goody tendencies and you know it. ]

Not really, today. I was going to tell you about a Japanese place I found, but that can wait until later.

[ Shoo, he's not going to be responsible for a detention. ]

I'll see you!