pullmeoutalive | RO > call me out; a forever open RP post, version 2

It pains me to say I'm unsurprised, but I am glad, at least, that I was able to intervene when I could.

[ He falls silent, watching Charlie carefully. ]

You really ought to be resting, you know.

I know. [ It comes out in a sigh. ] I just doubt I’ll be able to sleep well, but I should at least try.

I could tell you a bedtime story, if you like. I was always quite fond of the one they told us about the dutiful young man who sacrificed every shred of happiness for the good of his household.

Fun for the whole family.

No, no. That one always gives me nightmares.

Perhaps the one about the Princess of Riddles, or the one about the two brothers and the phoenix? There's no shortage of stories one might tell to renounce deception and celebrate modesty. The irony is an endless source of amusement for me.

I think I've had enough of fairy tales, to be honest.

I take it you're disillusioned by the absence of your own happy ending, thus far.

I guess that's one way to put it.

There was a point where I was happy to believe it all. The promise of status, a wife and family. I spent a long time lamenting over the fact that I must be broken. Defective.

And I sincerely hope you've dismissed those absurd thoughts, now that you're older.

[ He laughs, the sound soft and sad around the edges ] Took me a while, but I'm okay with who I am.

[ He sighs, as though relieved. ]

I'm glad. I made my career in breaking the law, not in reprogramming decades of conditioning.

So you seriously steal things for a living?

After a fashion.

Will that be a problem?

I’m not here to judge how you make a living, especially not after all you’ve done for me.

[ With a patient look, ]

It's quite alright if you do not approve, my dear boy. As I said, you are more than welcome to speak your mind.

I don't really know much about what you do or why, though, so I can't really say one way or another.

The high level concept is this: usually, a client will reach out to me with work. Generally, they have one target in mind, though occasionally they get greedy and will ask me to add one or more to the list. Should I agree to their terms, I perform the necessary research -- what their security looks like, the best time to enter or leave, the usual things you might expect.

The job itself is typically planned down to the second, though there are hiccups, now and again. Occasionally there's violence -- as you might expect, most people don't take too kindly to strange men in their homes or vaults or what have you.

I'm not picky about my jobs, which means my work takes me from the planets on the upper crust, so to speak, veritably plated in gold, to the types of stations that look liable to fall apart at the barest touch. And due to the nature of what I do, people you might consider "innocent" are the ones who suffer, and occasionally may get hurt. Another unfortunate symptom of the work.

[ Charlie's quiet a moment, gnawing his lower lip ]

If I took issue with it, what would you do?

[ He allows for a small smile, tinged with good humor. ]

I would take care not to discuss it, mainly, but I won't be quitting or forcing you to leave, simply because we have a disagreement regarding my profession.

That's fair. I wouldn't expect you to turn your life upside down on my account.

I guess just... give me some time to get used to the idea.

[ He nods, ostensibly in a sympathetic manner. If the boy can't handle theft, then Myriad's decision to not make mention of his actual professions was better thought-out than expected. Initially the lie had been for practical reasons -- who would ever accept help from an assassin so soon after a near assassination? -- but he'll keep up appearances, as necessary.

It's nothing he's not used to. ]

It's a difficult thing to wrap one's head around, admittedly. Aside from the legal repercussions, there are the moral issues one must contend with, as well. You'll find I do quite a lit of compartmentalizing, I'm afraid.

Whatever it takes to get by, right?

On the fringes as we are, one must take the work as it comes, I'm afraid.

I know. I don’t hold it against you or anything. Just… [ there’s a pause there as he yawns ]. Exhaustion is catching up to him. Gonna need an adjustment period.

You need your rest. I shouldn't keep you up much longer.

[ He lifts a hand, visibly hesitating before seemingly biting the bullet; he rests his hand lightly on Charlie's shoulder. ]

If you need me, I'm just a shout away, alright?

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animated - 2015-10-14 17:12 (UTC) - Expand

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redoubling - 2015-10-14 18:49 (UTC) - Expand