‡6th Treasure‡ video;

[totallytrustworthy]

Hello again, Esilium. Long time no talk-- [Chloe's looking under the weather in terms of wear and tear only; her bright eyes actually bright today for a change. For the first time in months, as a matter of fact.] good god does it feel good to be free again. Never thought I'd be saying those words, but there you have it.

And don't worry, no more lectures on this end. No more daily mutineering announcements: I can catch up on what I missed in lock up by scrolling though the network on my own and I've got a more important issue that needs addressing first. [There's a brief pause before she adds, gently as possible:] Obviously anyone that wants to talk shop about what went down is welcome to, of course. Just-- you know. We're on the fast track to recovery around here from what it looks like, so I'm not about to force anything else down anyone's throats as long as that remains the case.

Thanks, by the way, for not unanimously voting for throwing us all out the airlock. [Nice to know not everyone wants them done in or worse.]


Right, though, to the point. I need someone willing and capable of doing tattoo work. Good tattoo work.

In this case I'm even willing to consider the magical sort so long as nothing additional goes along with it. Not really a fan of curses and poisoned apple nonsense.


Additional text addressed to Vanozza:

not sure if I should be thanking you for this or asking why you of all people are signing up to look after someone like me right now

Comments

[totallytrustworthy]

Maybe that's the difference, then: my friends never do. [Even Nathan Drake. Especially Nathan Drake. ]

Because it's not really about what someone's capable of.

[doubleoohbaby]

Is that a tone of bitterness, darling?

[totallytrustworthy]

In the past, yes. Now? [Chloe sits for a moment, thinking. ] No.

Sentimental as it may sound, I've grown accustomed to having someone at my back. [Nothing says 'I care' like staining your own hands for someone else, after all.]

[doubleoohbaby]

Mm, I'm sure Charlie's got your front too. All over, in fact.

[totallytrustworthy]

Really? Serious discussion and you go right for it. [Scolding, yes, but barely. Hardly. She's not all that serious about it.]

[doubleoohbaby]

Couldn't resist. Sorry. [No he's not.]

I think what you did was bloody stupid. Too obvious, too likely to fail. Patience might not be your strong point, darling, but you with these things you have to wait. Let the dust settle, allow people time to forget, then send in a reminder.

[totallytrustworthy]

And a belated reminder wasn't going to keep her from having to waltz in and ask nicely for what he tore from her. [To be fair, she agrees with him. Problem is, that's a discussion she's not about to have on the network.]

Wasn't my best plan to date but I wasn't about to just sit and wait for it to go down either.

[doubleoohbaby]

And yet it sorted itself without your intrusion. Killing him wouldn't have solved the problem, and you didn't have enough time to draw the damned powers out of him. I'm failing to see what the plan really was. [Public network seems less of a problem to James, he dun currr. The majority around here already seem to know he's a heroic sociopath, or some such.]

[totallytrustworthy]

Oh for god's sake I wasn't about to kill him. [The rest she lets lie, though the muscles in her jaw go a touch more tense.]

Look, if you've come here to talk about what's too late to change why don't you tell me exactly what you'd like to hear so we can be done with it.

[doubleoohbaby]

[Despite himself, James can't help but allow a slight quirk to tug at the corner of his lips.]

How about "I love you"?

Remind her never to put Bond and Nate in a room together

[totallytrustworthy]

Really. [Cocky bastard.]

Every man and woman in a 100 mile radius would instantly be pregnant

[doubleoohbaby]

"Marry me" seemed a little sudden.

[totallytrustworthy]

Oh piss off, James.

[doubleoohbaby]

I could find us a nice ring each.

[totallytrustworthy]

What ever happened to 'too sudden'?

[doubleoohbaby]

I must have mistook your "piss off" for a sign of acceptance.

[totallytrustworthy]

Is that how women normally accept your proposals, James?

[doubleoohbaby]

I don't know. They usually die before I get that far.

[Welp.]

[totallytrustworthy]

[Jesus. Explains a lot, doesn't it. Chloe doubts he's after sympathy, but she's not about to act like a frigid bitch in response to a confession like that; her brow furrows, lips thinning out into an uneasy frown.]

Ah. Now that's a shame. Sorry to hear it, darling.

[doubleoohbaby]

Don't be. I'm only pissing around. Can you honestly imagine me tied down like that?

[He can. With kids. And a happy life.]

It's not for us, darling, we've already established that much.

[totallytrustworthy]

Most people don't piss around about that sort of thing. [You're not really an exception, are you, James?]

Then again I suppose you're right: we're not most people. [Look, there's even a reassuring smile in it for you.]

[doubleoohbaby]

Bit of morbid humour is good for the soul. [And makes him forget it's real life.]

Are you and Charlie not tying the knot any time soon? No kids in the planning? A family home? The confines of marriage?

[totallytrustworthy]

[Say 'confines of marriage' one more time and she's so hanging up on this call.]

Oh for-- right. That's it. Moment over. Remind me to send your parole officer a 'thank you' card for taking one for the team.

[doubleoohbaby]

[He can't help a soft scoff of laughter.]

I'll take that as a 'maybe'.

And I'll have you know my parole officer is sodding lucky to have me. They could have got you, the woman who thinks running out of cells is a stroke of bloody genius.

[cyphered]

[Ok he can't resist this any more.]

You kiddding? The only knots Chloe will ever tie are her shoelaces. Maybe.