[Baren had seen him through it. It only made sense. If anything, he owed the job to him more than anyone else.]
They restitched the cut. A new set of clothes and I can be out of here tonight. [Not without their permission, of course.He's got ways around that.] You free?
I told you I was gonna race a shark. Halfway through it didn't like that I was winning. Got in here yesterday because of it. Did my usual escape routine. Got brought back here anyway. Same old, same old.
[He jabs a thumb to the chair beside him, where a folded up leather outfit rests.] Found that, though. Got the same feeling as that flag so I think it was mine back in the day or whatever. Cut reopened when I was wearing it.
[he should probably be more concerned but whatever
he's also going? to wander over to where the leather outfit rests?? now he's just curious because that looks like some fckin weird material even from where he's standing]
His shoulders start shaking as the first cue of his incoming laughter.
Before the floodgates open and then he's cackling.]
The fuck...? Hahaha what the - what the fuck is this?! And it's perfectly tailored to you! Ahahaha, are you sure you were a pirate? Or an adult entertainer? God - that's great! How stupid!
Baren just wrinkles his nose because he can only handle so much Gross before flipping Zoro off on his way out.]
Are you seriously making me do everything? Did the last of your brain cells fizzle out? I can't believe I'm here for a vegetable...
[but he'll still head out to collect zoro's clothes - and be back in about 15 minutes, his entrance signaled by how he throws them right in zoro's face
he never planned to hand over the hoodie he's stolen apparently]
[It's ok, he's stolen enough hoodies from Toshi to compensate. There's some muffled chuckling as he tosses the clothes off his face and starts unhooking himself from any hospital machines he's latched up to. I don't really know how hospitals work.
He doesn't seem to hesitate before changing in front of Baren. He does take a minute to point at his new, still bandaged scar before pulling the shirt on.]
I know brawl bars; you know the sophisticated ones. Can't brawl right now so we gotta go to one of yours. That's all.
Find a bar that doesn't smell like piss and puke and suddenly it's sophisticated. What a world we live in now...
[But still, Baren watches with mild interest - even cracks a grin at the new scar just because he always thinks it's funny when more get added to Zoro's collection. But more than that, trying to figure out exactly what needs to be done from here. The moron's shit at taking care of himself so Baren's tried to figure out most of the aftercare nonsense so the nurses don't have to chase him down.]
Didn't think you wanted to go out though. You want a celebratory drink that bad?
[Maybe it's a remnant from his accident. The pale walls just feel like cell bars now.]
Doesn't have to be a bar. Just don't want to sit still.
[He uses his reflection in the mirror to smooth back his rowdy hair. The rainbow dye has almost entirely faded into a pastel aesthetic blog's dream. Minus the black roots that are starting to creep in.]
... I'll probably have to redye this before the job.
[Just... an idle thought as he tries tucking back a troublesome hair.]
I'll have a shot at it if you don't plan on cutting my hands off.
[Because Baren still thinks he can do a salon job for free - and he thinks that the rainbow was funny, but if Zoro has a big job, he probably won't pull the same joke twice.
Anyway.]
Nah, I'm down for a bar. People buying me drinks sounds good.
Baren makes this face where he looks like he swallowed a bug. He falls half a step behind Zoro because he's legitimately stunned. Just him? What the fuck does that mean? He's not "just" anything - but that's also his immediate coping and nitpicking at anything that could make the statement less
well
He's quiet for a moment.
And then he's lifting a foot to literally kick Zoro's ass (he just got out of the hospital Baren) before running ahead, sticking out his tongue.]
You're too fucking slow! Did being stuck in the hospital again age you a thousand years? C'mon, gay grandpa...!! Maybe you can get a drink in before your bedtime!
[Not even precognition could see that kick coming! (Wrong.) He stumbles forward, out the door and into an orderly and their empty wheelchair. Both are startled but Zoro recovers faster, flashing a grin before stealing the empty wheelchair. He gets a running start and then off he goes! Gaining on Baren with increasing speed.]
SINCE WHEN THE HELL WAS I GAY GRANDPA?!
[Zoro, recurring hospital fugitive, sure is shouting that down the hospital halls while speeding on a wheelchair.]
[And that's Baren's intelligent response before he startles, realizing that there's definitely a wheelchair on his tail. Then there's a bark of a laugh as he sidesteps, allowing Zoro to get the lead for a whole half a second before he jumps onto the back of the wheelchair, pushing off to give it another boost of speed as he hitches a ride down the hallway.]
Moron, they'll probably catch you faster this way?!
[All annoyance at "gay grandpa" vanishes the moment Baren joins the wheelchair drag race.]
You push, I steer!
[said right as they take a sharp turn. Zoro steers the wheelchair as if it were one of his cars.]
There's a dinner cart coming up. Get two empty trays! We'll need them for the stairs! [A startled nurse scatters paper as they zip around her. Phone calls start being made.]
[There it goes - and Baren's at least managing that, reaching over to grab the trays as directed, laughing as he does.]
Parking lot, parking lot!! My car's waiting over there - and if you try to drive I will run you over.
[Though as the nurses seem to appear worried, Baren just manages quick lies before also just opting to sound like an ambulance.] Everything is under control, whee-oo, whee-oooooo!
[Baren's siren is almost muffled by Zoro's laughter. Not even the car comment can spoil his mood. Baren can drive all he wants. The hospital can chase him all they want. Everyone can do whatever the fuck they want right now–none of it will crush his joy.
They crash through the doorway to the stairwell. The wheelchair catches on the doorframe and bucks forward, sending them flying down the stairs.] Sit on the tray!
[An impromptu slide. Still pumpy, still painful, but they'll make it to the first landing safe. That's all they need. Zoro grabs Baren's hand and rushes him down the last flight to the ground floor.]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
[Baren had seen him through it. It only made sense. If anything, he owed the job to him more than anyone else.]
They restitched the cut. A new set of clothes and I can be out of here tonight. [Not without their permission, of course.He's got ways around that.] You free?
no subject
Stop acting like you have anyone else to tell anyway.
[Regardless, he'll get up from the chair and stretch. Guess he has to actually go back and get those spare clothes now.]
For now, anyway. I'll ditch you if something better comes up.
What happened to whatever you were wearing? Blood? Do I even wanna know how you got in here this time?
no subject
[Asshole.]
I told you I was gonna race a shark. Halfway through it didn't like that I was winning. Got in here yesterday because of it. Did my usual escape routine. Got brought back here anyway. Same old, same old.
[He jabs a thumb to the chair beside him, where a folded up leather outfit rests.] Found that, though. Got the same feeling as that flag so I think it was mine back in the day or whatever. Cut reopened when I was wearing it.
no subject
[he should probably be more concerned but whatever
he's also going? to wander over to where the leather outfit rests?? now he's just curious because that looks like some fckin weird material even from where he's standing]
This...? Really?
no subject
[There is indeed a bloodstain on the shirt-jacket-whatever-it-is portion. He's hoping he can get it cleaned.]
I'll show you the scar when you bring me the clothes.
[He has to change anyway. It makes sense.]
no subject
And just stares.
His shoulders start shaking as the first cue of his incoming laughter.
Before the floodgates open and then he's cackling.]
The fuck...? Hahaha what the - what the fuck is this?! And it's perfectly tailored to you! Ahahaha, are you sure you were a pirate? Or an adult entertainer? God - that's great! How stupid!
Can you wear it next time I come over? Holy shit.
no subject
Get it cleaned for me and I will.
no subject
[because the night that zoro wears this is also going to be the night that baren takes him out to a gay bar
this sounds like a good enough trade-off to him
for now he puts it down and snorts]
Anyway, get your stupid sweaty toes away from me, I'll get your shit.
no subject
[Said very matter-of-fact as he wiggles his toes at Baren in a little wave.]
Think of somewhere to go while you're doing it.
no subject
Baren just wrinkles his nose because he can only handle so much Gross before flipping Zoro off on his way out.]
Are you seriously making me do everything? Did the last of your brain cells fizzle out? I can't believe I'm here for a vegetable...
[but he'll still head out to collect zoro's clothes - and be back in about 15 minutes, his entrance signaled by how he throws them right in zoro's face
he never planned to hand over the hoodie he's stolen apparently]
no subject
He doesn't seem to hesitate before changing in front of Baren. He does take a minute to point at his new, still bandaged scar before pulling the shirt on.]
I know brawl bars; you know the sophisticated ones. Can't brawl right now so we gotta go to one of yours. That's all.
no subject
[But still, Baren watches with mild interest - even cracks a grin at the new scar just because he always thinks it's funny when more get added to Zoro's collection. But more than that, trying to figure out exactly what needs to be done from here. The moron's shit at taking care of himself so Baren's tried to figure out most of the aftercare nonsense so the nurses don't have to chase him down.]
Didn't think you wanted to go out though. You want a celebratory drink that bad?
no subject
[Maybe it's a remnant from his accident. The pale walls just feel like cell bars now.]
Doesn't have to be a bar. Just don't want to sit still.
[He uses his reflection in the mirror to smooth back his rowdy hair. The rainbow dye has almost entirely faded into a pastel aesthetic blog's dream. Minus the black roots that are starting to creep in.]
... I'll probably have to redye this before the job.
[Just... an idle thought as he tries tucking back a troublesome hair.]
no subject
[Because Baren still thinks he can do a salon job for free - and he thinks that the rainbow was funny, but if Zoro has a big job, he probably won't pull the same joke twice.
Anyway.]
Nah, I'm down for a bar. People buying me drinks sounds good.
no subject
[He sounds... put out? It doesn't really feel like a celebration if he's not treating the person he's dragging along.
Maybe he should just be happy he doesn't have to spend money.
(He's not, though.)]
I'm not letting you near my hair again.
no subject
[re: the hair
because baren admittedly turns right on his heel so that he can face zoro properly and lean right up into his space with a shit-eating grin]
Why? You know you don't have to buy my drinks to take me home, Z.
no subject
Don't need to tell me that. You follow me home easy enough on your own.
[Does he understand what Baren's saying?? Does he even have the slightest clue??]
I just want to take you out. It's my idea to celebrate. Only fair.
[Does he understand what he's saying??????]
no subject
one day
one day
zoro is going to come home to a giant banner in the houseboat that just says "i'd let you fuck me"
but today is not that day
anyway whenever baren is done being shocked at this level of density-]
.... You really need more friends if I'm the one you wanna take out....
no subject
[100% genuine question, as if the thought of anyone else hadn't even crossed his mind. Probably because they hadn't.]
I'm fine having just you.
no subject
Baren makes this face where he looks like he swallowed a bug. He falls half a step behind Zoro because he's legitimately stunned. Just him? What the fuck does that mean? He's not "just" anything - but that's also his immediate coping and nitpicking at anything that could make the statement less
well
He's quiet for a moment.
And then he's lifting a foot to literally kick Zoro's ass (he just got out of the hospital Baren) before running ahead, sticking out his tongue.]
You're too fucking slow! Did being stuck in the hospital again age you a thousand years? C'mon, gay grandpa...!! Maybe you can get a drink in before your bedtime!
no subject
[Not even precognition could see that kick coming! (Wrong.) He stumbles forward, out the door and into an orderly and their empty wheelchair. Both are startled but Zoro recovers faster, flashing a grin before stealing the empty wheelchair. He gets a running start and then off he goes! Gaining on Baren with increasing speed.]
SINCE WHEN THE HELL WAS I GAY GRANDPA?!
[Zoro, recurring hospital fugitive, sure is shouting that down the hospital halls while speeding on a wheelchair.]
no subject
[And that's Baren's intelligent response before he startles, realizing that there's definitely a wheelchair on his tail. Then there's a bark of a laugh as he sidesteps, allowing Zoro to get the lead for a whole half a second before he jumps onto the back of the wheelchair, pushing off to give it another boost of speed as he hitches a ride down the hallway.]
Moron, they'll probably catch you faster this way?!
[says the guy who literally jumped on the idea]
no subject
[All annoyance at "gay grandpa" vanishes the moment Baren joins the wheelchair drag race.]
You push, I steer!
[said right as they take a sharp turn. Zoro steers the wheelchair as if it were one of his cars.]
There's a dinner cart coming up. Get two empty trays! We'll need them for the stairs! [A startled nurse scatters paper as they zip around her. Phone calls start being made.]
no subject
Parking lot, parking lot!! My car's waiting over there - and if you try to drive I will run you over.
[Though as the nurses seem to appear worried, Baren just manages quick lies before also just opting to sound like an ambulance.] Everything is under control, whee-oo, whee-oooooo!
no subject
They crash through the doorway to the stairwell. The wheelchair catches on the doorframe and bucks forward, sending them flying down the stairs.] Sit on the tray!
[An impromptu slide. Still pumpy, still painful, but they'll make it to the first landing safe. That's all they need. Zoro grabs Baren's hand and rushes him down the last flight to the ground floor.]
Gotta keep moving! Come on!
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)
(no subject)