oo1; voice + video

[justthedriver]

Biggest country in world I know but Initiative don't seem to bother to bring anyone else but me. Too many goddamned Americans and Japanese. [ Says the heavy Russian accent. ] And aliens. And fucking elves. [ For all the emphasis he puts on that word, he doesn't sound angry. More of a 'fuck, what the hell, man?'

... Sorry, elves. He's targeting one elf in particular and he doesn't much care if there's more of them.

Sharp snort. Sound of a lighter snapping on, and the crackling of cigarettes. Then the camera switches on.

Have a pair of heavily tattooed hands, one of them curled around a white stick. Then he tips the tablet upwards until it shows his face, and Nikolai pulls off the sunglasses. ]

You lot ever get tired of talking on this thing? Bunch of stupid questions lately. [ He takes a drag of the cigarette, and blows it at the screen. ] You've all forgotten how to fuck, or something?


[ ooc; for any character with knowledge of Russian criminals, Nikolai's hands carry tattoos that basically says he's one of the worst ones out there. Yeah.

Also, content warnings for sexual assault for the thread with Steph (controlledvariable). ]

Comments

[alittlesweptup]

It's mostly theoretical. My work tends to be a bit more resource dependent than what Exsilium's really up to support.

[heartsink]

[ She shrugs in return. It's a total shrug party in here now. ] Alright.

video;

[freewoman]

[She scoffs.]

Not here.

[oldsoldiersneverdie]

[Oh, okay, you're just fucking with him. He probably deserved that.]

An experiment in idealism.

[justthedriver]

[ He laughs at that. ]

You have favourite kind of food? [ Because why wouldn't he. ]

video;

[justthedriver]

Then what is 'here' like? Nobody likes to say.

[justthedriver]

[ Another cloud of smoke towards the screen. ]

I don't talk in riddles.

[ Which is true. Riddles are obviously riddles; obviously tricks. They have answers - a single answer you need to solve. They are, effectively, too straightforward. ]

[justthedriver]

Only if you cannot tell me why you are this eager.

[justthedriver]

So what is it you do, man from London?

[justthedriver]

[ Y E P

Also idealism. Man, Nikolai likes to think he has run out of that a long, long time ago. But (luckily/unfortunately) it hasn't. ]

So did it worked?

[controlledvariable]

Never said you did. [She lifts a shoulder in a lazy sort of shrug.] I just said you remind me of someone who does.

[a beat; and her smile is almost playful.] I think I like you better, though.

[Which is clearly a sensible thing to say to a man like Nikolai.]

[innominata]

[ She side eyes the video and ignores him. ]

[hejhej]

My hard-headedness gets me in trouble.

Or you can find it endearing.

[NOW YOU DECIDE, NIKOLAI]

[implying]

Why, I'm bored and you're charming! Do I really need more than that?

[urnotafraid]

Italians are tasty. It must be all the garlic, although I could do with less hair in the way.

[ Yup, Italians aren't the best mafia but they do taste nice. ]

encrypted

[alittlesweptup]

This and that. Hired muscle, do a lot of dealing in artifact recovery and black market trading. Or used to. Pretty much just freelance now.

You bring your business along with you?

[oldsoldiersneverdie]

Up until a massive mind-devouring alien crashed into the middle of the island, yes.

It wasn't a true island - it was artificial, floated. So most of it's at the bottom of the South Pacific.

yay encryptions!

[justthedriver]

[ Oh hey there we go! The actual reason (amongst a multitude of 'reasons') why he even made this post! ]

I don't like talking business with words on screen.

[ He taps the ash off of the cigarette. ]

[justthedriver]

[ Idly: ] Would have thought pretentiousness makes for terrible taste.

[justthedriver]

[ Eyebrow raise. ]

You want me to find you 'endearing' [ wow audible air quotes ], gzah?

[justthedriver]

[ ... Well.

Have slow applause, Cable. He even put down his cigarette just to do it. ]

[justthedriver]

[ Musingly: ] Never been called that before.

Seven is okay.

[justthedriver]

You forgot how to talk, dyevochka? Forget your Geography also?

[justthedriver]

p Clearly. Nikolai takes another drag. ]

From being suspicious to liking in one conversation. You always change mind so quickly?

[ Sounds mocking, but is a warning. ]

[controlledvariable]

I can be suspicious and like someone.

[She treats almost every friendship like that; just because she likes someone doesn't mean she isn't expecting them to fuck her over eventually.

Tim did. Cass left. Babs is - Babs.

And they're the people she loves. It's even easier to do both with someone she simply finds interesting.]