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 Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 11:59 am
All I know is when the painful bits happened I was in a posh house reminiscent of this one, when I woke up I was in my shitty apartment. You tell me what happened, cus I sure as s**t don't know. As for how long ago...again, ******** if I know. I stopped keeping track as soon as it became rather clear that I wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. Few years, a decade or two, maybe more? ********, man. I've stopped giving a damn to keep track.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:02 pm
"Ennui.... rare when you're as young I believe you to be. No wonder you cant stomach my home..."
Sadness. It was clear she felt sorry for him, and regardless of whether he wanted pity or not, that was what he would get. It was heart breaking to see someone as young as Nines already so far down that soul sapping path towards true living death.
Not caring was worse than being constantly angry and frustrated. And yet....
"...if you feel that way... why haven't you just gone sun bathing, or for a short walk on a sunny day?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:06 pm
Eh, I wouldn't say I'm that bored with it all. Just don't keep tabs on time.
He quirked a weak smile, but then was given pause by the question. He had an answer or two, but he wasn't sure whether to share them or not. It took him several long seconds of thought before he spoke again.
Because that s**t hurts like a b*****d? Nah...I've got my reasons. A few leads that might be able to turn things around, or at least make things more manageable. Still, those kinda got blown apart by the freakshow...if this s**t doesn't resolve soon, there's going to be hell to pay.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:14 pm
"Not gonna give me any details? Fair enough."
Sighing, she recrossed her legs, and closed her eyes, tilting her head back.
"I'm working on things. I managed to get him to take you off the wanted list, because I assured him you wouldn't run. A fake name, a fake death of a fake person, no problem.
Give it a month, and I can probably get the pretty necklace and bracelet off. Don't hold your breath about the anklet though.
If you can bear with doing some training and minor errands, wherever it is you need to go to follow your leads, I can cover with excuses that you're doing a job for me, or getting practical experience.
Just... don't run. We'll end back at square one otherwise, and it will take much longer to undo each time. If I come up with any other cunning plans in the mean time, I'll let you know.
I don't mind taking some of the heat for you... but I won't get myself executed for you, alright? If you decide to throw your toys out the pram and go toe to toe with Deceit, on your head be it."
She slowly lowered her head back down, gaze towards the window as she opened her eyes.
"It's a fools dance for all of us."
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:22 pm
...You realize you're essentially asking me to work for the ********. I already said I wouldn't do that. Not to be difficult, but especially since you said you can't get me freed and out of here, what makes working for you better than hugging the ******** with a thermite vest? I really don't mean to be offensive, nor do I want to get you in trouble on my account, but working for things like that, things that relish conscripting people with promises of violence and pain even if they do accept a contract...that's suicide by any other name.
He was starting to grow agitated. Not at Roan, but at his predicament. He kept apologizing to her, knowing he was probably coming across in ways he didn't mean to, but he was still stuck on the fact that he was now working for someone who had done unspeakable things to him.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:27 pm
"My past experience has been mostly that the hurt is reserved for non-compliance.
Do as requested, and you get left alone save the odd visit in person to check you're 'doing ok'.
Only really hit trouble with them when I refused, and then when I outright left. It didn't take em long to find me and lo and behold... I'm back to doing my part for the sake of a quieter life.
I believe in fighting a bad system... but not if it gets you or someone you care about killed. I made a stand, and there's been some leeway thanks to it. I'm not going to refuse to execute stupid parasite vampire nutjobs that are ruining everything for the rest of us just because its Ice telling me to do it. That's my choice."
She understood Nines' dilemma, but she had the benefit of many many years experience and practice, and perhaps if not a wiser head on her shoulders, then a more long term planning one.
"I can only advise you to pick your battles, and fight the key ones. I can't make you do it."
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:34 pm
A sigh. Nines was having a hard time reconciling all of this. He was basically being told his life was no longer important, he had to put his own goals aside because somebody else said so. Roan wouldn't understand this; he hadn't given her enough information to. It meant he was wrestling with the idea in his head, and he didn't like it.
I can't promise I'll keep a cool enough head to put that advice in practice. I don't think you know how much you're asking me to do. This isn't as simple as shooting guys who have it coming and ignoring the upper echelon.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:38 pm
"It could be, if you let it. Work for me, forget the others exist. As long as certain goals are met, you won't have to worry, and I can worry about making sure the things which need to get done.
I'll pay you - I've offered once already.
Not saying you have to... not saying it'll sit well easily. But it's an option. think on it. You don't have to give me an answer right away."
At which point, a soft knock on the door heralded Jan. Considering Roan had brought plenty to drink with her, he couldnt be there to organise that... and indeed he was not. He had a long bag on his shoulder, which he left on the bed.
"A selection of polo shirts for sir. I hope it will make you feel more comfortable."
And then he was gone. And if Nines wanted them, there were now shirts which had a high enough neck to hide the band until Roan could get soemthing done about it.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:43 pm
A sigh. He needed to explain to her, but he dare not risk explaining to her. It was an unfortunate paradox where he wanted to trust someone to spill his secrets to, but couldn't bear the potential dangers if he did. The worst part of all was that until he came clean, she wouldn't understand why he couldn't work for her, or Ice, or anyone else that demanded fealty for an extended time.
His eyes eased shut, trying to divine a solution. As it stood, he couldn't come up with one, nor could he give himself a viable reason why trusting Roan wouldn't result in something horrible happening, likely without her being the responsible party.
The wrestling of two needs was evident in the scowl on his distant expression, but it snapped away when the door creaked open. Jan, ever the good soul he was, planted a box of shirts appropriately sized to give Nines some decency. He was...touched, frankly, by the thought.
...uh...thank you, Jan. Thank you.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:47 pm
"Whatever it is you aren't telling me, Nines.... I won't force it out of you, but I can't help if you haven't told me whatever it is I need to know."
Reading expressions was always a useful skill, and Nine's hesitatnce after she countered his previous point proved he was thinking about something he hadn't yet vocalised.
It was his choice... but as he himself had realised... she couldn't understand without knowing details.
Standing, Roan cracked her neck, poured another glass of drink, and carried her glass towards the door.
"Tomorrow when you wake... come to the library. At the very least, I can tell you more about our kind, and use that to prove to Ice you don't need the collar.
That alright?"
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:51 pm
Nines sighed. She could tell, and he knew it. He was swearing inwardly, cursing his predicament. It locked him in a vicious spiral of forced inactivity when he needed most to be doing things. He chewed on his lower lip, drawing blood in his anxiety. Until Roan was at the door, he said nothing, until he couldn't stop himself.
Wait.
Slowly he eased himself upright once more, so he could turn to face her.
Is there any place we can talk in absolute privacy? You're right, you need to know, but I can't trust to talk about it when for all I know the freakshow is listening in no matter where we are. I can't risk anybody else hearing.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:53 pm
Pausing at the door, she inclined her head, understanding whatever it was he wished to say, it would be very personal to him. she was not therefore surprised at his request for secrecy.
"The training room is psy shielded. Would that be suitable to you? It's generically sound proof too, and requires clearance to enter."
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 12:56 pm
Are you beyond any speck of doubt that nobody can eavesdrop if we go there? And I mean any doubt, regardless of how ridiculous it may be.
His hand drifted to the box of shirts Jan had left. If this place was as good as she said, he needed to be clothed and on the move.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 1:00 pm
"It's as safe as the place I go to myself. And we're not going through the crest door."
She shrugged. The TR was as well protected as the Shrine the house sat over... as long as she was in it. While the room was indeed psy and sound proofed, a lingering Daemon God helped ensure it stayed that way, and also had several more layers of protection.
"This way."
She;d wait for Nines to pull on a shirt, and lead the way downstairs to the room in question. Selecting a program allowing the room to take on the aspect and warmth of a hill in the summer sunshine, she programmed in a single drone, paused in mid air. This activated all the warding in the room, without Nines and herself being attacked mid sentence.
Silently taking a seat on the grass, crossing her legs in front of her, she'd left Nines speak in his own time.
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Posted: Fri Mar 09, 2012 1:04 pm
Nines was still unsure. He needed to tell her, but he was wracked with a horrid sense of insecurity. He needed to be certain, beyond certain that he was doing the right thing, but he couldn't be. So he trudged along behind her, keenly aware that he was taking an almighty risk.
With the appearance of the sun in the simulation, he immediately yelped and shielded his eyes, expecting a wave of unrelenting pain to take hold an instant later. It never came, causing his graceless fall onto his butt to look rather comical.
....what? The hell is this?
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