AU; ain't no rest for the wicked

[nooses]

i've got bills to pay, i've got mouths to feed
there ain't nothing in this world for free

STARRING:
THOSE BORN INTO FORTUNE - Shintaro Kisaragi. Shinji Ikari.
THOSE CAST OUT BY FORTUNE - Masumi Seki. Monica Campbell. Guy Cecil.

Comments

[truants]

[It's another day of running errands for Seki. After a quick check-in with the boss he's off again to make a couple of deliveries. The trips back and forth weren't so bad with his scooter, but the idea of another afternoon spent running about made him tilt his head back and sigh. If he had to be brutally honest with himself, he'd rather spend that time taking a nap.

Whatever. He doesn't want the higher-ups to get on his ass about any of this shit. And if he dawdled, he might run into... that person.

The thought elicited another sigh. With a shake of his head, Seki parks the scooter on the sidewalk, making sure to chain it to the lamppost. He's not too worried about anyone stealing from him. Everyone knew who he represented down here, after all.]

[maskmaker]

[He'll run into this person whether he dawdles or not. As it is, Monica just shows up pretty much anywhere. It's a mystery what she even does around the neighborhood. Honestly she's not very sure what she does, herself, aside from walk around all day and then run into that funny kid that works under Guy and ask him cryptic questions. It wasn't even that entertaining to get him all flustered at first, but she can't deny that she's been having fun talking to him.

So when she sees him go into whatever place he's going today for his deliveries, she ditches whoever she was talking to at the moment to cross the street, stopping at the entrance to the building and peeking in. She figured he was on the job, so she doesn't follow him inside. It's better than to cause him trouble, because that'll cause her trouble too -- she'll just be sitting there outside the door when he comes back out, throwing him a smile when their eyes meet.]

Hey. [It's a simple greeting.] I saw you from across the street.

[truants]

[It's a quick drop-off, nothing more. Business was always quick and impersonal. He doesn't notice the young woman at first as he heads out, not until he almost passes her by.

That smile she gives is met by a blank stare. He told himself that he wouldn't get sidetracked today. Geez, luck really didn't like him, did it?

Not like he didn't know that from day fucking one.]

... that's a convenient coincidence. [To his credit, he doesn't bolt after that greeting. Rather, with a heavy sigh, he shuffles his lanky self closer to her so he won't be blocking the entrance.]

What're you doing around here? This area's not the best.

[maskmaker]

[He smiles up at him brightly, satisfied when he gets closer.] I just had a little someone I needed to talk to, that's all.

[She'll give him points for not bolting. He never really did from the beginning though; for all the annoyance he throws at her, he never actually ditches her, does he? She hums and pushes herself to her feet, stretching once she's standing.]

What about you? Delivery?

[truants]

[A 'little someone,' huh? That earns a snort from Seki.]

Yeah, the usual. You know how it is. It's been pretty hectic lately. Dunno what's going on, but... my schedule's fucked over, I know that much.

[substitutable]

[Working for a man like Gendo calls for long work days and short vacations, and sometimes when you don't have a designated partner you get assigned one, whether it's temporary or permanent like the girl with the glasses and her red-haired princess or the cat-eyed boy and his friend who goes on about deers back in the countryside. For Shintaro, his partner was Ene, but the also had another teammate they met and were assigned to work with about three months ago. Shinji. Gendo's son, apparently, and as Ene liked to snicker, about as good with peopling as Shintaro was. Which meant absolutely horrible. How the two boys came to communicate efficiently with each other is a mystery only the trio knows the answer to.

Honestly though, they're working out! They still suck at communicating, and they're not very chatty, but Shintaro's quite comfortable with dropping into a seat next to Shinji this evening, a cup of coffee in hand as he stifles a yawn from staying up too late the night before. They've got a mission tonight that they have to go in for the debriefing of in a bit, and he doesn't look one bit excited, which is pretty usual.]

I heard if we're lucky this one's just gonna end with negotiations. It'll be in the usual neighborhood though, so the hardest part's getting to and from there.

[imusntrunaway]

[Socializing wasn't what Shinji liked to do. He understood the aura of intimidation he gave off, being Gendo's son and all, and he's been told his entire life through action that he didn't need to get along with everyone. Do your job, and you'll have their approval. That's the most he could hope for, and it's been his mantra for the majority of his life.

Being paired with people like Shintaro and Ene, then, was bewildering. He wasn't quite sure how to react to her enthusiastic responses, or to the small gestures of friendliness, like a cup of coffee passed over. Shinji politely accepts both of them with a nod, though he's slow to say anything. As usual.]

Mm. [He goes over the case files in his head again, frowns.] Ene will figure something out, won't she?

[He hates it when it comes to violence, though that's exactly what he's here for.]

[substitutable]

She said she'll find the best route, but they're catching on, too. Interrupting radio waves and everything like last month.

["Mr Hedgehog" as Ene liked to call their teammate wasn't anything like the duo expected when they actually met him. Gendo was a douchebag and they'd expected their son to be the same, especially since everyone Ene asked about him didn't have much to say. Shinji was the anti-social person they thought he'd be, but in a totally different way. Shintaro had honestly been very relieved by the lack of 'intimidating antagonist character' he encountered that day. Not that he'd say. Even today, as he watches Shinji out of the corner of his eye as he sips his own coffee, it's hard to imagine that this kid is working for an organization like this one.]

We'll be cautious. As usual.

[imusntrunaway]

[Seeing Shintaro for the first time hadn't given him the impression that he'd be the sort to care much about others-- much less him. Maybe it was his age. That always seemed to surprise a good deal of his partners.]

Yeah. [There's a moment's pause before he hesitantly continues.] We'll be all right.

[It'll be a close call, but he won't let any of them die.]

[substitutable]

[The only one that made a big deal was Ene, but it had been about Shinji's height until Shintaro reminded her she was only as tall as his phone screen was. The next time she was able to get on the big screen, though, had been a moment for her victory. Shintaro himself didn't say anything about Shinji's age or appearance.]

We'll complete the mission and get home before midnight. [He stretches, sliding forward and lower in his seat!] Ene wants to watch this rerun of a movie at one. You wanna join?

[akisazame]

[Compared to most nights it was a fairly calm one. Little wind, no clouds. If the city lights weren't so strong Guy was certain that they'd be able to see stars. Back when he still had a place to call home, he spent plenty of nights leaning on the balcony outside his room. He didn't do much of once he grew up--all his focus had been channeled into surviving.

A town like this was likely to eat you alive if you weren't careful. It was about time to remind the government that there were two giants in this dreadful place.

His step is measured, with no sign of haste. As he approaches Shintaro there's a friendly smile on his face, as though he's greeting an old friend.]

Hey, sorry about that. But I really wanted to talk to you guys. [The muscle's been taken care of for now. Th boy was a little roughed up, but unharmed. Guy's goal, after all, wasn't terror. It was to inform.] You mind if we have a little one-on-one?

[substitutable]

[Somehow, he lost contact with Ene and Shinji a few rooms down. It must be someone interfering, but at this point there's nothing he can do now. It was carefully planned so that he ran out of ammo right as the man showed up, too, and while he had extra in his jacket pocket, he won't have the time to reload now.

Fuck shit damn. He doesn't know how much he can trust this guy, and by that he knows he can't trust him at all. Narrowing his eyes, he sets his mouth in a frown.]

What do you want?

[akisazame]

[Certainly not, when Guy's got a gun of his own and a sword by his side. Both remain where they are. He isn't concerned about being hurt. This boy was of little threat, but he'll do nicely as a messenger.

Guy rubs the back of his head and lets out a sigh.]

Ouch! That's an awfully cold tone. Here, how about I introduce myself? [He offers his hand.] Guy Cecil. I'm sure you've heard of me. How about you?

[substitutable]

Yeah, I know about you. You control a bunch of guys in this area -- most indirectly. [He doesn't take the hand, but he drops his own shoulders and lets his gun hang at his side. It's useless anyway. He keeps his eyes on the man.]

Kisaragi. You didn't come here to make friends, did you?

[akisazame]

[Guy lets his hand rest on his hip instead, his tone still friendly despite the refusal of the gesture.]

I could say the same for you. I don't remember inviting you over to my place, but you're here. [A beat.] How long have you been in the force, Kisaragi? You don't seem like the type they like picking up.

[substitutable]

[What's everyday life for them would be something out of a dystopian tale for other kids. When was the last time he thought about that? He has a sister and a mother that he hardly ever contacted with (he sent them money; that's probably the only way they know he's alive) living Outside, but he tried not to think about how different his life must be from their's now. He realized after the third or fourth bounty that he wouldn't be able to go back to that, so he'd decided not to dwell on it. And yet...

He leans over, setting aside the shotgun he just finished cleaning to tap a still-clean pinky against the surface of Shinji's notebook.] You forgot a negative there. [Math homework. Gendo Ikari made his underage assassins do math homework. He almost couldn't believe it the first time Shinji mentioned it. But here he was now, sitting on the floor of his apartment, watching his younger partner try to get the assignment done after another late night cleaning up for the kid's father. How painfully ordinary. How fucked up this is. He holds back a sigh.]

[imusntrunaway]

[Simple and orderly: that's how their lives went. So long as Shinji listened to his father, things proceeded as smooth as clockwork. Once missions were done, he was to finish his homework. An operative like him didn't go to school. Couldn't, with the status and reputation he carried. A tutor was hired in place of the public education system to rigorously grill him in subjects he'd need to master once he rose up in the ranks. And yes, math homework fell under the general umbrella.

It's difficult when he's still tired from their recent hit. He squints at the problem Shintaro's pointing at, eyes scanning over his work.]

Oh. If it's not that, um... [With a furious scrub, the wrong answer's erased. Shinji does his work again.] Would it be something like this, Shintaro?

[substitutable]

[Shintaro never finished school, himself. He quit when he was a couple years older than Shinji is now, when he left the house and set off on his own. He managed to get by, and he was smart enough regardless to be useful for things like this, too, watching patiently as the boy reworks the equation, then leaning in when it's shown to him again.

He nods, after a couple seconds.] Yeah, that's right. You were using the formula right, just missing the negative, so you don't have anything to worry about.

[And -- check, check, check -- he reads over the other questions, too.] The rest looks good too.

[imusntrunaway]

[Praise comes rarely when you worked for an organization such as NERV. Finishing homework is hardly something to be praised about, either. It's insignificant, yet Shinji feels pride budding in his chest. He's always longed to be noticed, to have his efforts acknowledged. Even when it came to the simple, everyday things.

He offers a grateful smile at Shintaro.]

Thanks. I would've taken forever without your help.

[substitutable]

[Although they may not seem it, Shintaro thinks Shinji can be like his sister sometimes. Most people may call them opposites, but Shintaro sees it in them both: there's a loneliness that comes from not receiving enough attention, of being cast aside in the shadows of someone else or just out of other people's sight. A look that lights up in their eyes every time they receive even the smallest of praise. The world always forgot his sister because they wanted a piece of Shintaro's genius -- he didn't like the attention either, so he envied how easily Momo was left alone; yet at the same time, he knew she deserved to and wanted to have the attention, too; the world wasn't fair. And Shinji, he knew from even the short while that he's been employed by Gendo, also didn't receive enough attention at all.

What a stupid thing to have, really. Sentimentality. It wasn't necessary for what they were doing, but he returns Shinji's smile and thinks it isn't bad at all. He failed with Momo, and he finds himself not wanting to fail this kid.]

You would've been fine. Just maybe with a few more mistakes. [He stretches, glancing over at the clock on the wall.] We'll probably be done by one. We don't have to go in as early tomorrow, anyway.

[truants]

[He wonders if it's possible to bleed to death from a gunshot wound and, if so, how long it would take. In a way, it's funny how he's never considered the scenario when he lives in a bottom-of-the-barrel city. Seki's line of work is hardly legal, but it's not dangerous. He's never had to worry about being caught in gunfire, or about pissing off the wrong people. He's the messenger, under the protection of one of the big kings ruling the city. What trouble could a prole like him run into?

God, how wrong he turned out to be.

Up against the alley's wall, Seki presses trembling hands over his leg. His jeans feel damp-- or maybe that's the sweat clamming his skin. He slumps, hisses through his teeth:]

Shit.

[maskmaker]

[Monica felt something shut down the moment she saw the blood, the instance that she smelled it in the air around them, the stench growing stronger the closer she got to him. When she was just a foot away from him she took off one of her shirts without hesitation, ripping the fabric into strips and wrapping it around his leg tightly in an effort to stanch it.

She finds herself still silent as she rises, then ducks under his arm, wrapping her own around him to make a crutch out of herself. Don't panic, don't lose it. Not now, just get him out of here. She knew it was coming anyway.]

Let's go, Seki. I know where to take you.

[truants]

[It's hard to stay calm when you've been shot at. But Monica's presence is something he can narrow his focus on. It can't dispel the fear squeezing his chest like a vice, but it gives him something to think about something other than the blood staining his pants. Get up, shift his weight, let her prop him up. Start limping/walking, even if it hurts. He can't afford to be something that slows her down.]

Fuck! [He bites on his lower lip. He hates how he can't keep his cool when it counts.] My keys... they're in my right pocket.

[Does Monica even know how to drive his bike? He doesn't know. If she can't, he can take over. They just have to get away from here.]

[maskmaker]

[She knows mostly from watching him drive. It'll do the job? She's not thinking too much on it. She just wants to get them and the bike out of here as fast as possible. As far as possible. The blood still trailing behind Seki will get them caught quickly.

In times like this, she really hates how effective that sleaze bag Gendo is. How easily he cuts them away like pests. She reaches into his pocket without a word and grasps the keys, turning a corner that'll take them to his bike faster.]

Can you feel your toes?

[amadaman]

[Not many weeks after a small scuffle in the city's slums about some guy and a girl running away and escaping pursuit, the police have forgotten about the shots that were fired and the landowner of the girl's apartment has already allowed her room to be searched, taken apart, and cleared away. There wasn't much to be found anyway. She left a lot of Playboy magazines with gang members' faces taped on to the bodies of half naked girls, apparently.

Only a few weeks after that, today, the gangsters are still agitated. The kids escaped, and the police, however briefly, had their eyes on them. They aren't happy, and especially a lot of the underling thugs who don't have the power or influence to escape this shake-up unscathed are upset and taking it out on people they think they can beat. Like this stringy little kid they came across on the street. Which is why this situation is happening, with a pair of big threatening-looking thugs looming over Shinji in the alleyway tonight, trying to scare him into giving his wallet with threats of punching or kicking or punching.

They'll probably follow through with their threats, if their new prey doesn't cooperate. They're not the brightest of criminals around here, but they are strong. But what they're not expecting, when one of them finally grows impatient and raises a fist to try to show Shinji an "example," is to be attacked by some unexpected third party. Specifically, a small orange shadow that came flying out of nowhere like a squirrel to slam his feet into the side of the big guy's head.]