This week we have an appropriate anonymous prompt: Torture

Jason covered his ears, grimacing at the sounds coming out of the bathroom. Finally unable to take it anymore, he marched over to open the door. "Mark, would you stop torturing me with that noise you call singing?" he yelled, wishing they were old enough to have private bathrooms all to themselves.

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Originally posted by Becky Rock Jason covered his ears, grimacing at the sounds coming out of the bathroom. Finally unable to take it anymore, he marched over to open the door. "Mark, would you stop torturing me with that noise you call singing?" he yelled, wishing they were old enough to have private bathrooms all to themselves.

We need sound-enhanced Gatchamania.net -- for the ultimate fic experience!

LOL. You guys are too much!

Hoosier lottery? My hubby's a Hoosier, so I get exposed to that unique bit of Americana on a regular basis. No sound enhancement! We'd have to have a contest on who sings the worst to play Mark!

Originally posted by Becky Rock Hoosier lottery? My hubby's a Hoosier, so I get exposed to that unique bit of Americana on a regular basis.

I just knew there was something special about you, but I couldn't put my finger on it. Now I know!

I think both fics need a soundtrack!

I guess Mark can't be good at everything!

For some reason, this is what came to me this week. Meh. ************** Joe pushed his sweaty hair out of his eyes with a grimy hand and glanced briefly over his shoulder. Where was that kid? He asked Steve what was taking Jamie so long, as he'd been rolling a new tire into the adjacent repair bay, but only got a shrug in response. He grunted as he leaned further into the engine compartment, disconnecting a hose that had developed a kink. The waiting was torture. Joe checked his watch, and pain shot through his stomach, when he heard a commotion from outside. Craning his head out from under the hood of the G2, he saw a bunch of the other racers and mechanics streaming out of the repair bays. Even Stu came out of the main office, cigar hanging out of his mouth , wearing a beater that had seen better days. Shoving an oily rag into a back pocket, he wiped his hands on the legs of his jumpsuit--not that it did much good--he probably had gotten them even dirtier. There was a small crowd gathered around the rusted out light blue Pinto (more like powder blue Joe snorted to himself) and the scrawny kid that climbed out of it. Said kid was hastily handing out items from a cardboard box set on the hood of the car. About time. Joe made his way over to the car, squinting at the bright sunlight. When Jamie saw him approaching he froze. With his nervous eyes and the fact that his blonde hair was sticking up every which way, made him think the kid looked like a frightened rabbit. Either that or he was on drugs. Joe felt a small pang of regret. Had he really been that grumpy earlier? Maybe Jamie had been intimidated. Did he mistakenly give the kid a Condor stare? After all he had been starving ..... "Didja get it?" Joe asked him eyeing the box curiously. "Yes, sir. I got it. Just like you asked." Excellent. "You didn't have any trouble finding the place right?" "N..no . They said they'd put it on your tab." Even better. The kid reached into the box, then held out large oblong object wrapped in wax paper. "Jamie? Jamie, get your ass over here you schmuck!" Stu called from his office. Jamie paled, eyes skittering in the direction of the unhappy Stu. "Thanks, kid. Appreciate it." Joe nodded, turning away as the kid headed off to see what Stu wanted. Joe plopped himself down into one of the small battered white plastic chairs that sat outside his bay. He gradually peeled back the wax paper, inhaling the aroma that wafted up from the inside. Perfect. "Hey, what's that?" Steve asked curiously as he set his coffee down on the 55 gallon drum on Joe's other side. "Only the best hot sausage and pepper hero in all of Utoland". "What?" Steve exclaimed. "I thought Jamie was only making a run to the convenience store for sandwiches." Joe shrugged, as he took a bite out of his hero and sighed contentedly. There was a benefit to being the Condor, he guessed.

RB -- I'm glad I ate before I read this! Otherwise, my stomach would've been torturing me!

So now Joe intimidates people to make a special stop for him when going for food. Maybe I should try that...

I'd definitely go out of my way for Joe! But... is Joe eating with filthy hands?

Originally posted by Transmute Jun But... is Joe eating with filthy hands?

As if the Condor's gonna worry about that! His blood's practically gun powder and motor oil!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun But... is Joe eating with filthy hands?

Ah, TJ, you can tell you've never worked around mechanics. They can wash their hands and they'll still look filthy. It takes a very strong citrus oil to get some of that grease and crap off, but if you use too much of it (and it doesn't take much to do that) your hands dry out and crack.

Originally posted by amethyst

Originally posted by Transmute Jun But... is Joe eating with filthy hands?

Ah, TJ, you can tell you've never worked around mechanics. They can wash their hands and they'll still look filthy. It takes a very strong citrus oil to get some of that grease and crap off, but if you use too much of it (and it doesn't take much to do that) your hands dry out and crack.

There is a product that combines citrus, pumice, and skin conditioners Dad used that worked well. I just don't remember what it's called....I'd recognize it the moment I saw it, though....

I bet it smells wonderful, too.

Actually, it does....assuming you like oranges.

RB - Why did I expect him to be eating a doughnut? Man, that section made me hungry. Mmmmm.

RB and EW, we need not only sound enhancement for these fics, but smell enhancements

A question to everyone out there: WHAT IS THE HOOSIER LOTTERY?

DT- It's the name of the Indiana state lottery.

Originally posted by Becky Rock So now Joe intimidates people to make a special stop for him when going for food. Maybe I should try that...

Well, I don't think he realized he was doing it at the time....

Originally posted by Transmute Jun I'd definitely go out of my way for Joe!

Like many other gals here!

Originally posted by Transmute Jun But... is Joe eating with filthy hands?

But....but...TJ...he wiped his hands on his thighs first! (But yeah, dirty hands..)

Originally posted by ElectricWhite As if the Condor's gonna worry about that! His blood's practically gun powder and motor oil!

Love the description EW! Can I steal it to use in a fic/prompt at a later date?

Originally posted by amethyst Ah, TJ, you can tell you've never worked around mechanics. They can wash their hands and they'll still look filthy. It takes a very strong citrus oil to get some of that grease and crap off, but if you use too much of it (and it doesn't take much to do that) your hands dry out and crack.

I was thinking the same thing, amethyst! (No offense meant TJ) Even then some it still gets ground into the lines in the hands,etc.

Originally posted by ElectricWhite There is a product that combines citrus, pumice, and skin conditioners Dad used that worked well. I just don't remember what it's called....I'd recognize it the moment I saw it, though....

Yeah--it'sGojo. Smells like oranges.

Originally posted by jublke RB - Why did I expect him to be eating a doughnut? Man, that section made me hungry. Mmmmm.

LOL. Coffee and doughnuts perhaps?

Originally posted by Daniella T RB and EW, we need not only sound enhancement for these fics, but smell enhancements

Love the smell of sausage and peppers, but, alas I cannot eat them myself!

Originally posted by Redbird

Originally posted by ElectricWhite As if the Condor's gonna worry about that! His blood's practically gun powder and motor oil!

Love the description EW! Can I steal it to use in a fic/prompt at a later date?

Sure! Knock yourself out!

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Becky - sounds to me like Mark should stick to whistling..... EW - Been there, done that... bought a ticket for one lotto game, only to see the numbers come up in a different one... as a result, I very rarely play these days. RB - that poor kids seems terrified of Joe, he wasn't caught trying to mess with the G-2 once, was he?

KT -- well, it looks like Ken's attitude toward Jun's finally biting him in the --- ! Now, what's he gonna do about it?

KT, I'm glad Joe's talking some sense into Ken! Maybe Ken will actually take that stick out of his butt and do something!

I'm surprised Joe didn't just whack him in the head to knock some sense into him.

I agree with all the comments here, but especially this one:

Originally posted by Becky Rock I'm surprised Joe didn't just whack him in the head to knock some sense into him.

Looking forward to more KT!

Originally posted by KT1972RB - that poor kids seems terrified of Joe, he wasn't caught trying to mess with the G-2 once, was he?

Hmmm....I don't think he'd try and do that, but ...you never know!

Originally posted by Daniella T we need not only sound enhancement for these fics, but smell enhancements

I totally agree! I'm imagining us all judge Mark's singing holding cards from number one to ten! EW's tension is also almost tangible, too, let alone her dismay at the end!! As to that hotdog ... gosh, you've really increased my present hungry state, RB, and you're torturing me, instead! You know ... when you were describing that lad with blonde, spiky hair, I somehow pictured Naruto in mind, if you know the character! KT ... yep ... it seems like jealousy is unmistakably kicking in! Am curious to see what Jun's reaction could be if she were to pick up Ken's troubled feelings! Guess she'd keep taking advantage of the situation!

Naruto - oh, could you imagine him getting together with Jinpei for mischief?

GM: I know what Naruto looks like, so I can imagine Jamie having hair like him, but haven't seen the actual show.... (From the comments I'm thinking there are fans here?)

RB -- trust me, you really MUST see one of the series!

My son was a big Naruto fan for a few years, so I saw it a lot. It wasn't too bad at times. The Naruto character was hell on wheels and very impulsive.

Originally posted by Becky Rock Naruto - oh, could you imagine him getting together with Jinpei for mischief?

When thinking about it, the two of them would really make a good team when it comes to mischief!

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You're right, Julie. That's the way a lot of people think about some things.

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Becky: Hehe. There has to be something he's not good at, eh? EW: Oops, wrong ticket? I"m gonna have to read ahead to see what the Hoosier Lottery is, I don't know either, but I saw that someone else asked! (Ah, I have found the answer.) Redbird: Oh, that does sound good. I like that Joe actually feels bad as he wonders if he scared the kid to death. KT: Very practical advice from the Condor!

Awww, how sad for Sayuri, leading her son into the worst possible life, thinking it was for his own safety... IMO, the right choice is often the hardest one to make. And yeah, RI is just as big an ass as he is in canon too!

Wow, Joe is really cruisin' for a bruisin' here! Good work here CW. I really like how you've started bringing everything together--and I enjoyed the conversation between Nambu & Kentaro. KT: I agree!

CW -- I was ready for Joe to go on and pop Kentaro in the nose! As an aside....I wish I had a tenth of the energy you've shown in cranking out so many installments in such a short time!

Before I crashed and burned I wrote every day. I'm trying not to get overly ambitious too fast, which is my usual M.O. Right now I'm just letting the story come when it comes. It feels good to be making real progress, though!

Kentaro's lucky Joe didn't tear into him. At first I was surprised Adam didn't step up to stop Joe, but then I thought he might agree with his assessment whole heartedly, since we don't know anything about Adam's background.

Originally posted by Redbird Good work here CW. I really like how you've started bringing everything together

Same thinking, here! Great job, CW! Apart from the thickened plot I also like how Joe is utterly determined to help Ken out after his presumable recovery!