exsilium | (no subject)

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(no subject)

[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.

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In prison.

[He raises an eyebrow.]

Most people say I'm sorry, you know, even if they ain't.

[She raises her eyebrows in return.]

You want me to?

Not if you're gonna be a snot about it.

[She shrugs.]

I'm not being snotty. I'm asking. If you want me to say "I'm sorry," I'll say it.

Don't bother on my account, please.

[He scowls irritably and sits back.]

So what's it like in 2044? Tell me that, at least.

A lot like here. Just less dusty and dystopian.

[She taps her finger a moment on the table, then says:]

I had a big brother. Pendar. Died when I was seventeen. Every time someone came up to me and said "I'm sorry," like they'd just stepped on my fucking foot, I wanted to break their face. So I'm sorry for thinking that was your outlook. How's that?

[He regards her for a moment before nodding once, accepting that.]

Fair enough. An' I'm-- well. Not sorry. Sympathetic.

And I am too.

[She quirks her lips just a little bit - a more genuine expression than normal.]

I knew a few in your position. Parents dead or in jail. There weren't many of them who stuck to the straight and narrow. Almost all of them fell into gangs. Why didn't you?

[He shrugs.]

All violence, all flash, no real payoff. I could make more money doin' thin's on me own, my way. Don't get me wrong, Ms. Lawyer, I'll steal and lie and cheat when I gotta. But not in a gang.

[She narrows her eyes a bit - ]

You're doing crime outside a gang? And they allow that?

I'm not that big a deal. Nobody cares if I steal a loaf o' bread every once inna while.

Huh.

[She leans back in her chair.]

I guess...different world and all that. You haven't had any criminal consolidation yet? For us that started happening in the early 1800s.

I mean, there's gangs.

[He shrugs.]

But nothin' as bad as you think. Why, what was it like for you people?

What was it like for us? Well, two hundred years ago, people - criminals - started figuring out that that they'd protect themselves a lot better if they were in alliances. They started building them, and then started breaking heads of people who weren't in an alliance. Gentle and sweet encouragement to join in. By the turn of the century, I don't think independent criminals existed any longer.

[He pulls a face, interested.]

What, not even-- like, what, not even a kid who's starving?

I guess if some starving kid really wanted to set out on his own - yeah, they'd come down on him hard, too. But they're don't just offer punishment for non-compliance. They also offer a home and a family. What orphan could resist that?

[He tilts his head, accepting that.]

I sure couldn't. I probably woulda gone for it, if that'd been my world.

So is that why you went into law? Cuz it's that bad?

[She takes a breath, and leans back, and gives a little laugh before she gives her standard line.]

I went into law because that's the way to the top.

And that's all you want? To have lots o' money? Yeah, right.

No, no, money's not my thing.

[Archly, she starts fiddling with her fingernail; the sphinxlike smile is back.]

I'm in it for power, naturally.

Mm. And what're you gonna do when you get it?

Oh, you know. Have people do my nails. Make them genuflect in my presence. Call me Your Ladyship.

You ain't even a good liar, it's embarrassin'.

[She raises her eyebrows.]

I have not even begun to lie. You're so good, tell me what I want, then.

I dunno yet. I only just met you a few hours ago; gimmie a few days. I'm workin' on no sleep an' a ham sandwich here.