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

[akisazame]

Not emotionally, no. [It all hinges on the accuracy of the intel he's got. If Shinji really is important to that pet project of Ikari's...

Shintaro's response gets a quiet laugh from Guy.]

Sure, sure. Just mention my name when you get back. They'll be expecting you.

[substitutable]

[That comment gets a flash of curiosity in Shintaro's eyes, but it's gone quickly enough as he turns for another door.]

Sounds good enough. I'll just come back to this building.

[And he will. :|b About fifteen minutes early.]

[akisazame]

[He is still setting things up wow!! Which is to say, the door to the building's closed. But he's sitting inside, looking thoughtful as mob bosses usually do.]

[substitutable]

[Uwah, how cliche. Shintaro's walking in fifteen minutes early with a paper cup of coffee from the offices, and a shopping bag with food for poor Shinji. None for u Guy. He's not even hiding that he's armed.]

He actually looked up at me, if you wanted a report on his reaction.

[akisazame]

[The narration corrects itself on a universal, temporal level. Midnight is no excuse for Weird Time Shit to go down. We do not want to pull a Kagerou Project here.

In any case, Guy isn't too alarmed to see Shintaro walking in like that. As before, there's no guards with him. He's confident that he'll die one day--just not at this kid's hands. With a smile, he stands up.]

That's better than nothing. You look like you're coming home from a hard day at work.

[substitutable]

[Shintaro has no real plans to be the one to kill Guy, either. He thinks if they ever got the mission, he'd pull the trigger instead of Shinji, but Guy's death was not an order he was given.]

I am, honestly. Thanks to you, I'm in overtime. Where's Shinji Ikari?

[akisazame]

Eager to see the kids, are we? First, tell me. Did Gendo want to pass anything on?

[substitutable]

He said "I see." [He waves his hand in a "don't ask me" gesture. He has no idea, you know?]

Like I said earlier, he's a responsibility.

[akisazame]

That definitely sounds like him.

[A pensive look crosses over his face. It's hard to estimate what move Gendo would pull next. But the deal's done. A message was all he needed to send, a brief chance was all he wanted. Despite the lines he's willing to push, the things he's done, the one thing Guy Cecil isn't is a liar. He taps his fingers on the desk.] I'll bring him out. Thanks for the help.

[He means it sincerely, funnily enough.] Just make sure you keep a closer eye on the kid. You two aren't in the best of businesses.

[substitutable]

He knew what he signed up for. [He's not going to just easily say "okay" to a man named his enemy. But there's no real hostility coming from Shintaro as he watches the fingers tap the desk.]

Why did you choose me?

[akisazame]

You were convenient. [It's said with his usual friendly smile.] Although you worked with a high-profile agent you were careless, too. But I think you're a smart guy. You'll realize a couple of things now that we've had the chance to talk, I'm hoping.

[substitutable]

If your hopes are getting answered, that's good for you. I don't know. [He sighs, his shoulders dropping tiredly.]

Any more errands you want since I'm apparently so convenient?

[akisazame]

Are you offering? I didn't expect that from you.

[Truth be told, he's glad that Gendo's stopped roping in younger recruits. Shintaro doesn't seem much better, but at least he's not some susceptible child. At least, Guy hopes that's the case. A squawk comes from the radio clipped to his belt.]

All I wanted was to deliver a message. You did that well. So, thanks. You can head home now if you'd like. [A mischievous smile.] And my apologies for keeping both of you up on a school night.

[substitutable]

I was thinking maybe I can demand payment from you if there was a next time. [He sighs with a roll of his eyes, as if he really was disappointed by the lack of payment. Maybe he is! Who really knows? Shintaro's not known for his undying loyalty to anybody, really.]

Where can I pick him up?

[akisazame]

[What a strange kid.] Don't let your boss hear you say that. We don't want him thinking we're in cahoots.

At the park. You know where it is, right?

[substitutable]

You don't. I don't really care -- he knows I'm not going to do anything to piss him off since he can hold my sister over my head whenever he wants.

[But the next information makes his head snap up and he looks -- angry? Alarmed?]

You left that kid at the park?! At this time of night?! I hope you're single and not a parent because you lack responsibility! [What the heck bro!!!]

[akisazame]

[Guy blinks at Shintaro's reaction.]

He's fine. Kid or not, he's part of Gendo's crew. [He waves a hand.] Don't worry about him.

[substitutable]

[Aaaaaugh he runs his hand through his hair frustratedly!]

This is ridiculous, hopefully Ene's with him. At lest keep an eye on kids you kidnap, will you?

[akisazame]

[That gets a hearty laugh.]

Ha ha ha, sure! A gang leader like me's got nothing else to do, right?

[substitutable]

Prioritize. Kids are the future.

[akisazame]

[Don't trust him with kids. The last one he took care of died.]

The future's your concern, not mine. [He says this rather calmly.] Be glad that he's back in one piece.

[substitutable]

Yeah, yeah, thanks for taking care of the kid you decided to kidnap. [He sighs, shaking his head.]

... I'll be going now.

[akisazame]

[Yeah, he does have the audacity to raise his hand to salute him off.] Have a safe walk home. Don't get too friendly with any more strangers.

[substitutable]

Oh, who knows? I just might. Maybe they'll buy me better dinner than bento boxes.

[And here's the loser who's going to raise his hand in a wave that would be otherwise friendly!]

[akisazame]

I'll treat you better the next time we meet.

[A loser indeed.

Guy won't lie: he's surprised by how flexible Shintaro is when thrown curveballs. He isn't sure if that friendliness is genuine or not. Even after all these years, he's nowhere as good as Van had been at reading others. When the boy's left the building, the smile he's put on diminishes into something almost unhappy. He drums his fingers on the desk.]

If you know what's best for you, you wouldn't get too chummy. [With the way he says it, it doesn't sound as much of a threat as it could be. He murmurs to himself:] So he has a sister.

[He leaves it at that. He won't spend too much time thinking about the kid. There are, after all, bigger and meaner fish to fry.]