incomingchoppers: (are you serious sir?!)
Radar O'Reilly ([personal profile] incomingchoppers) wrote in [community profile] ph_logs2024-10-08 08:22 pm

[OPEN] city flower, wrapped around my heart

Who: Radar ([personal profile] incomingchoppers) & YOU
What: A rare breaking point, a new member of the O'Reilly Menagerie, and Radar's 20th birthday!
When: October through the beginning of November
Where: The Oak & Iron, Baker Ranch, and a few other spots around town
Warning(s): None yet -- will add if needed



1) you find me in the shadows and the shade

For a week or so after the gala, Radar's uncharacteristically scarce around town. He doesn't show up bright and early at Town Hall with coffee for all the filing clerks. Doesn't go to Baker Ranch for the weekend. If he pops into a store for something, he doesn't linger.

I got a lot to do at the estate, he says when asked, subdued. That's only part of it, but it's a big enough part that he doesn't wanna elaborate further.

Gradually, that changes: he begins to stop by the Oak & Iron again, making small talk here and there, though he clams up pretty quick whenever the topic turns toward Dahlia Leeds. Just because he's not talking about it doesn't mean plenty of other people aren't, though. When the gossip gets bad, it's easy to spot him scowling from across the way, visibly biting his tongue like he's listening to Major Burns spout off another boneheaded rant about the enlisted men.

What can he do, though? What they're saying might be awful, sure, but a lot of it's true. She's Aster's daughter; part-demon. She's eaten people. She never told anybody. That keeps him quiet, more or less -- until it doesn't anymore. Even a guy like Radar has to snap sometime.

So yeah, somebody comes in to the Oak & Iron talking about how they're gonna try to kick Dahlia off the town council, and Radar kinda loses his temper (a little at first but then a whole lot), and suddenly there's a real bad shouting match where he's yelling like he would when Colonel Blake wanted him to quiet down the whole mess tent -- You think she wants this?! You think anybody would if they could just be normal?!! --

Anyway. It's bad. And loud enough that it interrupts a lot of people's days -- maybe including yours.


2) the city bells ring soft in the night

He holes up at Baker Ranch for a bit after that, cycling back toward scarcity, keeping to himself when he can. Radar takes it upon himself to pick up the worst chores nobody else wants to do, like mucking out the stalls and scrubbing down the chicken coop. And he only assumes the fetal position in the hayloft once! Success!

That's where the barn cat finds him. And look, Radar had a real bad September, so when something that cute and fuzzy nuzzles up to him and starts purring, he just about bursts into tears. Even when it swipes his sending stone right out of his pocket, he can't find it in himself to be mad; he just pries it out of the cat's mouth with a weak, "Hey, c'mon, I need that."

Which is when he notices the stone's glowing like he just placed a call. Oops.

"Uh -- hello?" he says into the geode, sheepish. Radar rubs his eyes. "Sorry, I didn't mean to call, sir. Ma'am. Who's this?"

In the background, the Purrloin keeps purring smugly.


3) show me how to bloom; i promise i won't fade (forward dated to November)

Radar's mood finally begins to lighten toward the middle-end of the month. Mostly because once they turn the corner on October, it's just over a week until his birthday. He doesn't actually want a big party or anything, but if he mentions, oh so casual and offhand, that his twentieth birthday's coming up pretty soon, that's not gonna hurt anything, right?

So on November 8th, he wakes up -- and there it is. He's twenty. The big 2-0. No longer a teenager even a little bit. Maybe technically he was twenty before this, since it was September or October or maybe even November already when he died, and he's been on Marrow Isle for almost six months, but now it's official. He can do anything! He could even go to the Velvet now if he wanted!

....He doesn't actually want to, but he could.

Obviously he doesn't take off work (who do you think he is?!), but he miiiiight cut out a little early to celebrate. It'll be a quiet one -- a drink at Empty Pockets, some more time up at the ranch with all the animals, and eventually wandering toward the Leeds estate -- but if anyone wants to celebrate with him, he definitely won't say no. Hopefully it'll go a little better than Dahlia's birthday did.


4) wildcard

[find me on discord or PM me to plot!]
lovethyneighb_or: (adeste fidelus)

show me how to bloom

[personal profile] lovethyneighb_or 2024-10-09 01:23 am (UTC)(link)
All these years. Of course he still remembers.

Mulcahy finds him as he's wandering up to the estate, holding a wicker basket with a cloth over it. "Radar?" he calls. "Could I borrow you for just a moment? I have something for you."
lovethyneighb_or: (iste confessor)

[personal profile] lovethyneighb_or 2024-10-09 02:08 am (UTC)(link)
He takes the cloth off.

It's a pie. Maybe not particularly skillfully, but lovingly made, a whole apple pie made of real fresh fruit, and there are pumpkin muffins and fresh pears and oranges. Sugar, fruit, citrus, fresh food. Things they couldn't have in the war. Things he's positive that Radar has had since coming to the island, but there are few comforts that can be matched by that of having something good and warm to eat.

"This is for you," he says, handing off the basket. There's a cutting knife in there, the blade wrapped in cloth and twine. "Share this with anybody you like today. Happy birthday, Radar."

(He can't remember how exactly old he is with the timeline distortions, but that's less important than remembering the day.)
when_a_grids_misaligned: (Default)

1

[personal profile] when_a_grids_misaligned 2024-10-09 01:31 pm (UTC)(link)
The wild-haired, monochromatically-attired person with the sketchbook a few tables down is staring at Radar. They didn't do anything as uncomposed as flinch or jerk their pencil across the page or knock over their apple cider, but that was loud.

"You don't have to yell!" they yell back, hypocritically.
theydrewfirstblood: (glare{ fuck you)

you find me in the shadows and the shade

[personal profile] theydrewfirstblood 2024-10-09 02:06 pm (UTC)(link)
”Now you listen here, you little—“

The man about to lay into Radar—with a hand raised in a loose fist, but a fist all the same—is cut off when a hand grabs him hard by the back of his neck and yanks him backwards about a foot to stand right alongside the owner of that hand.

Namely, a visibly irate John Rambo, who is very carefully keeping a leash on the worst of his anger both because he knows Radar doesn’t like violence—and because the notion of showing this asshole a monster up close and personal by shifting is far too tempting.

He settles for the cold, dead, seething rage etched across his face and vibrating through every muscle as the guy in his grip actually squeals under John’s grip.

“No, you listen.” John replies, dangerously quiet but still audible beside the man’s ear. “You’re gonna shut the fuck up, head over to the temple, get on your hands and knees, and pray to the Mothers that the other farmers in this town will sell you eggs at a reasonable price, ‘cause you don’t make enough in a year to afford even one that rolls out of my ranch, you understand me?”

”You can’t—“

“You bet your ass I can, and I just did. What’s more, I’m really enjoying it.” John snarls just before abruptly releasing the man.

“Now relax—you got bigger problems than price gouging.”

Buk…buk buk bukbuk buk…

“Hey—HEY! That’s a library book!…”


John finally looks remorseful at that. Siebren will…probably not be happy when he hears John let Co wreck one of his books…

He just glances over at the table where she’s happily clawing away at the volume, daring the victim to touch her with a murderous glare before turning his attention to Radar with nothing but gentle concern.

“Hey, you all right?” John asks softly, reaching out to lay a hand on his shoulder. And he is worried—knowing how close Radar is to Dahlia, to Laios…if he wasn’t already firmly convinced of the morality of standing behind her on principle alone, he’d defend her just for them…and probably with far less restraint.
theydrewfirstblood: (outside{ freedom)

[personal profile] theydrewfirstblood 2024-10-10 06:17 pm (UTC)(link)
Before John can call him on the fact that he's clearly not okay, Radar's making for the door. Leaning forward, he tries to catch his arm in an effort to gently stop him.

"Hey hey hey--hang on, please? Help me get Co outta here?"

It's a cheap shot, but at least then he won't bolt to go stew and seethe alone.
when_a_grids_misaligned: (Default)

[personal profile] when_a_grids_misaligned 2024-10-10 06:34 pm (UTC)(link)
"My ears have suffered enough!" Moiré shouts back.
theydrewfirstblood: (smile{ gentle)

[personal profile] theydrewfirstblood 2024-10-10 06:40 pm (UTC)(link)
"That was the point." John assures him, just softly enough to avoid being heard by anyone but Radar.

Meanwhile, John's plan is...working a little too well. When John and Radar get closer, Co's tearing and scratching increases, and when she realizes they're coming to stop her reign of terror she tries to grab the cover in her beak by one corner and drag it off.

She fails in her mission--but she does manage to escape and make a break for the floor, where she accosts the guilty man in question with caws and shrieks and a display of spread wings meant to strike fear into the heart of her enemy.

Ultimately, she allows Big Brother Radar to apprehend her--she's a relentless and bloodthirsty dictator, but Radar is too friendshaped to risk harming or yelling at, so she settles into his arms and clucks aggressively--loud but docile so she can be escorted out of the Oak & Iron by her captors, Dad and Big Brother.

"For the record, you're allowed to go kick his ass." John advises Radar as they head for the door. "Just not alone--I can help, or stand and watch, let you do it. I'll even do it for you if you ask me to."
agoodsupplyofbodybags: (pic#17427252)

the city bells ring soft in the night

[personal profile] agoodsupplyofbodybags 2024-10-10 06:50 pm (UTC)(link)
The sending stones are...still new for Sam to deal with. Fortunately, phones are a thing, but magic and the like...

Nevertheless, he has one, and when Sam's gets set off by someone trying to reach him, he's fortunately a bit at loose ends and actually grateful for the distraction. Especially when he hears--well.

The answer on Radar's end is a voice that will be familiar from the Visitor's Center, belonging to a face that he may or may not have seen around Baker Ranch just yet.

"O'Reilly, right? This is Sam Trautman--you doin' okay, son?"
theydrewfirstblood: (down{ collecting my thoughts)

[personal profile] theydrewfirstblood 2024-10-10 07:05 pm (UTC)(link)
"I do." John assures him without hesitation. "I do, I get it. I'm not involved with her like you are, but..."

He trails off, because this is--well, the awkward part.

With a sigh, John rubs the back of his neck and looks at the ground.

"I'm seeing Laios Touden." he admits. "Truthfully, I only met Dahlia once, for like a minute, but...I know him, I know you, and I know what I saw at the end of the party. And I...know what it's like for people to know a couple things about you and think they got the whole story. So what you feel? What you did in there? I'm proud of you, and you keep on doing it."
notinflictthem: (Galen)

show me how to bloom; i promise i won't fade

[personal profile] notinflictthem 2024-10-10 10:19 pm (UTC)(link)
Now, Hawk has had two years with Radar, which means he does in fact remember the time of year Radar's birthday happens. During the war that mostly consisted of bribing the cook to get the kid something edible, and novelty items from one of the peddlers that came through camp. No dolls in kimono here though, or dashboard hula girls to embarrass him with. Even if he thought Radar would have a reaction somewhere south of 'OH- SIR-' in outrage to a girlie mag, there's none of them here. So he's had to get creative.

At Empty Pockets, he sits himself in the seat next to Radar, leaning his elbow on the bar.

"Can I buy a drink for the birthday boy?"
agoodsupplyofbodybags: (pic#17389524)

[personal profile] agoodsupplyofbodybags 2024-10-11 02:28 am (UTC)(link)
“Still getting settled—in all the ways that don’t much matter.” Sam replies, hoping the conversation will give some reassurance. He can hear it, poor kid: something has put him through the wringer. Based on the dreams he had before waking up at the inn, and a lot of local gossip, he’s got an idea, though.

“Truthfully, this stone thing—when I manage to get it to work, it’s mostly by accident.” He continues…not a bald faced lie, more of an exaggeration with motive. “If you’re not busy, maybe you might wanna stop by and help me get the hang of it? I’m up in Northwest Hollow, too, the residential side. Assuming you’re over at Johnny’s place, that is.”

And given the animal he heard…well, it’s not a far leap of logic to make.
imjustaman: (Default)

1.

[personal profile] imjustaman 2024-10-11 07:05 am (UTC)(link)
Sephiroth wasn't around for the gala, but he has certainly been hearing plenty about it now that he's arrived. Not knowing the person involved, he stays quiet. But Radar's outburst certainly strikes a nerve for him.

Ah yes, to be normal. It was finding out he wasn't that drove him mad and led to all the horrific things he did and tried to do over the past several years.

He can imagine what the person Radar is screaming at would say if they knew all about him. Not that he wouldn't deserve it.

Suddenly he doesn't really want to be here right now. He gets up and calmly goes over to Radar. "It's stuffy in here," he says mildly, kindly. "Why don't we both go somewhere more pleasant?"
imjustaman: (Default)

[personal profile] imjustaman 2024-10-15 02:49 am (UTC)(link)
Sephiroth calmly follows him out. It's good to get out of that environment, honestly.

"The woman you were talking about," he says. "Is she a friend of yours?" He's still learning about this place and all the people.

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