Imagination Gamer: I know I need to finish my first story to publish a new one, but I'm low on inspiration and you don't even wanna know about my stupid Writer's Block! I wrote, er typed this just for laughs because this story has been in my head since the last time I played one of my favorite fighting games: Sherk Super Slam. I don't own the game! If I did, it would be one hell of a game. This will be first person because it's directly out of her journal.
Disclaimer: I don't own anything except my OC whose name I won't mention. Need I say more?!
Renegade Rave
A New Neighbor Equals A Frustrated Friend
I was at the shooting range to both hone my shooting skills and, most of all, beat Jak's Blaster Mod record. Most of the guys who know of Jak's sharp shooting skills with that gun would say that doing something like that would be about as impossible as going near Jak's Dark Eco infused counterpart without getting killed. If they only read my journal a little more they would change that expression in a heartbeat, but that's another story for another time. Anyway, I was honing my skills and I was so close to beating my friend's record. As cursed luck would have it, my communicator started playing Animal That I've Become loudly which caused me to miss the final cardboard Metalhead and I was one point down from beating Jak's record. But, I didn't have time to throw my gun around, swear like a sailor, and growl like DJ because the cause of my gun missing the target and costing me the record is calling me. I recognized the fitting song as Jak's ring which stroke me as ironic because here I am trying to beat his record and he just so happens to call me which caused me to not be able to beat his record with the Blaster Mod for the fifth time this month, go figure!
I sighed in annoyance, answered him, and deadpanned into the speaker, "What now, Jak." before I replaced my tone with a touch of humor, "You just made me miss the shot again. So, you get to keep your title as the best shot with the Blaster Mod... for now."
I heard his slight cough which I knew for a fact disguised a laugh from him before he answered, "Well, that's good news... for me that is."
Normally, I'd laugh at that kind of remark done with his rare humor. But, I noted the slight aggravation in his tone which usually spelled trouble or something that's bugging him or Torn giving him a mission so bad that he would rather jump in a lake of Dark Eco than do it.
"Alright, I caught the ever so subtle 'I'm so annoyed at this' tone of yours." I told him, "What is Torn making you do this time?"
"I'm free from missions for the week." he explained.
"Is there something going on with you or the city that I would like to know about?" I inquired.
"The city is quiet, Metalheads were pushed back mostly because of me, and I haven't heard from your usual potion-related antics." he told me.
"Yet." I murmured under my breath.
"What was that?" he growled.
"N-nothing!" I stumbled, "Nothing at all! Nothing at all!"
"That's what I thought you said." he muttered sounding really vexed.
"Wow, something is bugging ya, Jay." I said, "I haven't heard you sound this frustrated since Baron P..."
I stopped myself from finishing the Baron's name as fast as I could, but it was too late. He heard what I said and he growled so dangerously low that it took all of my willpower to not gulp in fear. I heard him taking deep breaths in an attempt to follow Ben's advice and not lose it in the middle of a conversation. Something is really making my Dark Eco infested friend mad and mentioning Praxis is not helping at all.
"What's bugging me is that I have a new neighbor moving in next door to me." he muttered trying to explain himself without sounding too ticked off, but he was failing at that.
"What's so annoying about that?!" I shouted in excitement, "It's about time someone was brave or stupid enough to move in next to you. Maybe you two can make friends or..."
"That's not the point!" Jak shouted to get a word in edgewise, "It bugs the hell out of me because this new neighbor that moved in next door to me two weeks ago is so... so..."
He obviously couldn't find the right word to describe his new neighbor. So, I decided to try to take a guess at it.
"Disgusting? Disturbing? Stupid? Mean? Loud? Annoying?" I guessed multiple times.
"...Musical." he finished.
What he said baffled me because I loved music almost as much as I loved knocking Krimzon Guards around and he doesn't even mind my music blasting. In fact, he sneaks into my chambers all the time just to hear me sing.
"What's wrong with music?" I asked, "You and half of Haven City know very well how much I love music."
"Yeah, but you know when to stop playing your music and singing your songs." he told me, "That metal head neighbor of mine has blasted his screamo music and played his drums for nearly three days now!"
"Have you gotten any sleep?" I asked.
"No!" he shouted in a cranky tone which I can understand for his lack of sleep, "I haven't had a single night of peace and quiet since he moved here! I can see why South Town kicked him out!"
"Oh!" I realized, "You're talking about Ken 'The Killer' Davis! He was the terror of Haven City and he was bailed out of jail more times than he'd care to admit before you ended up in the Fortress!"
"Well, if Dax were here, he would say that he's a killer of my sleep and he's a terror of my eardrums!" he shouted.
"Yeah, I know." I laughed, "You would most likely agree to that remark that he would make."
"What should I do about this?!" he asked almost demanding me.
"Buy earplugs." I answered.
"No, I'm serious!" he growled.
"So am I!" I retorted, "The section you live in has people who fear and respect that man. They'd rather jump in a nest full of Metalheads than complain about his annoying music blasting because Ken is a very dangerous man. Even I had to watch out for him when I was a guard. So, you'll just have to hang loose and bear with it. Hopefully, someone will complain about him."
"Can't I just file a complaint to the City Council?" he asked.
"I seriously doubt the City Council will listen to the likes of you because they hate Dark Warriors with a passion because they had a really bad experience with them. So, can you trust me to bear with Ken's loud music until further notice?" I asked.
I heard him growl in annoyance before he responded, "Fine! It's not like anyone gives a damn about my sleep! I'll try to bear with that sound blasting rock head! But, let me tell you this: You will not like me when I get no sleep for a long time!"
That remark he made seemed to be more of a promise rather than a threat because it sounded deadly serious. Before I could say anything to comfort my angry friend or even ask if that remark was a threat he hung up on me which I sadly got used to long ago. I had a very bad feeling that I was gonna have a severely crabby friend for the next couple of weeks before I could attempt to rally the slums to throw Ken out just like I did with South Town. Little did I know how severe the understatement I made about Jak's reaction to a lack of sleep was. Mostly because even he needs his rest and the fact that he's still just a teenager increases that need by leaps and bounds. I hoped that I could rally the town with my classic protestor's words to force that man out of the section. Little did I even realize just how terrified the slums really are of the ex-criminal who is depriving my poor friend of sleep.
Imagination Gamer: What is it about lack of sleep that's got Jak so scared that would make him call her in the middle of her shooting practices? She told him this morning that she was gonna practice. What is it about a little rock music at night that's got Jak so angry. Read on and find out.
