(no subject)

[allucinator]

[Jack appears on the network. It looks as if he isn't aware he's being filmed at first; he glances around him nervously, his eyes darting from place to place.]

So-- right. You guys don't got no newsies, yeah? But I'm grown outta that business anyway, so I figure, I'll do somethin' else anyway.

[And now he focuses on the camera. His eyes are a little sunken in; his cheekbones jut out sharply from his face. The entire effect is unpleasant; he looks like he hasn't slept or eaten in quite some time. Carefully, each movement deliberate, he takes a cigarette out of his pocket; his gaze focuses on that as he speaks.]

I draw pictures. Real good, if I do say so myself. Do paints, too. You want your picture done? You want your wall painted? Maybe you're in theater, you want some sets done, or maybe you want somebody to put a, a, a mural on your wall. If it's somethin' to do with art, I can do it. I don't give a damn what it is. I'll paint you and your stupid girlfriend if you want, 's long as you pay me. Name's Jack Kelly.

[He nods sharply, once, and lights up the cigarette.]

An' in personal business, a couple thin's: this gun's good an' all, but I'm in the knives business, meself. Anybody sellin' any good blades? I don't mean no stores, all right, I ain't lookin' for no directions to no weapons shops. I'm talkin' about the good stuff, the stuff you get on the streets. I don't got much money yet, but like I said, I got a few skills I can exchange.

An' speakin' o' them: I hear I got some roommates. Miss, uh, Galadriel and some guy named Guy? Well, I ain't gonna be in at all. Not for sleepin', anyway. So don't trouble yourself with that, when you don't see me come in.

[A deliberate pause. He exhales a lungful of smoke and watches it drift upwards before adding:]

Asano Rin. I got a bone to pick with you, and I think you know why.

Comments

[video]

[allucinator]

Yeah, weird. You gonna answer em?

[video]

[legal_eagle]

If you'll go one-for-one with me. I answer a question, you answer a question.

[video]

[allucinator]

[He considers her for a moment-- and then, vaguely, shrugs. His gaze goes back to his cigarette.]

Fine.

[video]

[legal_eagle]

I'll start out. Two in one. Harvard, and I just got my first capital murder case before coming here.

Now mine. What neighborhood?

[video]

[allucinator]

Congratulations.

[That's genuine, at least. He inhales once, quick, before adding:]

Lower East Side. How old're you?

[video]

[legal_eagle]

[That genuine congratulations earns him a laugh. It sounds just like her mocking one, but this one's surprised and a little pleased.]

Going for the daring questions. Twenty-eight. How old are you?

[video]

[allucinator]

[A pause again-- but honestly, he's just thinking. With only a slight bit of hesitation:]

Eighteen. You-- how long you wanted to do that? Be a lawyer.

[video]

[legal_eagle]

I decided my very last semester of my very last year in college.

[She raises her eyebrows; it's a slightly mocking expression, though at least the mockery is directed at herself.]

Why did it take you so long to answer my last question?

[video]

[allucinator]

Because my mother were never too good with numbers. What made you decide?

[video]

[legal_eagle]

I had a good teacher. Did you go to school?

[video]

[allucinator]

No. What year you from?

[video]

[legal_eagle]

2044. What about you?

[video]

[allucinator]

1899.

[Ah, but that confirms it, and Jack slumps down a little.]

You take shit awful calm for somebody who's been kidnapped.

[video]

[legal_eagle]

[She lifts her chin, and smiles, and toys with pointing out that isn't a question. A witty answer, but less useful than saying:]

You don't seem too ruffled by this shit either, Jack Kelly.

[video]

[allucinator]

Yeah, but I'm different than you.

[video]

[legal_eagle]

[Oh, do go on.]

Because you're a newsie? A boy? Five Points instead of Bronx?

Re: [video]

[allucinator]

Course it's cuz I'm a boy. Girls cry and shit.

[He's not even committed to the misogyny, not really.]

[video]

[legal_eagle]

[That makes her laugh loudly. She was expecting something better than that.]

Oh, Jack, you must not know any lawyers.

[She shakes her head and keeps smiling at him. She looks uncannily sweet.]

You are going to fill a fucking ocean before you see a single tear from my eye. I can promise you that.

[video]

[allucinator]

That's really creepy, you know that? You lookin' like that when you talk like that. You might wanna dial that down.

[video]

[legal_eagle]

[And she laughs again - looking at least a little more sincere.]

What if that's the effect I'm going for?

[video]

[allucinator]

You're lookin' to look deranged?

[video]

[legal_eagle]

I might well be.

[video]

[allucinator]

Really.

[video]

[legal_eagle]

Absolutely. I mean, have you seen anyone ever fuck with a deranged person?

[video]

[allucinator]

Course I have. They usually end up dead or with their nose bitten off. An' as far as I know, they don't end up lawyers.