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

[imusntrunaway]

[Ah. He understands why his father would want someone like Shintaro around, now. Strong as they were in their muscle, their virtual strength wasn't much to write home about.]

I'm sorry. You had to switch from that to watching me...

[substitutable]

Sorry? It's been fun. [He means that in the most sincere way.] It's been years since I got to hang around anyone like this, and you're loads better than any of the other idiots I could've worked with, or being stuck in a room answering emails for Gendo.

[imusntrunaway]

['Fun,' huh? Part of him wonders just how fun it was to be endangered almost every day, to have to help a kid like him with homework each night. But that expression on Shintaro's face is honest and open. It's why he frowns a little instead and turns his attention back to his homework.] ... you're weird. [In a good way.]

[substitutable]

You didn't say it when I introduced you to the AI that I work with, but you call me that now? [He can guess why Shinji would call him that, though.]

[imusntrunaway]

Ene's nice. [He likes her, despite her obnoxious energy.] She fits in better than you do, too.

[substitutable]

You can keep her if you want. Take it. I'll put her on a USB since she's only a couple megabytes.

[imusntrunaway]

... just like that? You aren't even going to ask her?

[substitutable]

I've tried this before and she finds her way back immediately.

Honestly, I wouldn't do that to you anyway. It would suck if she ends up liking the place.

[imusntrunaway]

... you mean, if she likes me over you.

[substitutable]

She does call me pathetic and disgusting all the time.

[imusntrunaway]

Maybe you should flatter her more often.

[substitutable]

I guess. [He sighs, tapping at his screen. Ene's out to someone else's computer today, or just browsing the world wide web.] I guess I could take her out sometime. It's been work for her all the time, too.

[imusntrunaway]

You ought to. She probably needs a vacation. [All of them do, to be honest. But when there's a killing to be made, the wicked don't rest. He inclines his head slightly towards the older boy.]

It'd be good for you too, Shintaro.

[substitutable]

Unfortunately, I wasn't given any vacation days when I got hired here. [He accepted that, of course, after a sarcastic comment or two about worker's rights and federal law violations. He hasn't minded; it pays the bills.] But I can probably get us a day or two out of town. Wanna come?

[imusntrunaway]

[A day off... is it sad that it's a foreign concept to Shinji?]

You don't think Father would mind? [It's a tentative test of the waters.]

[substitutable]

[It is. But Shintaro can understand. He and Ene set their own schedules before coming here, but since then it's been nothing but work. If someone's been in this his entire life like Shinji has, vacations must be nonexistent.]

Of course not. I'll pick a day where the most we'll be doing is sitting around headquarters anyway, and if he decides to message us I'll answer. You'll finish your homework, and we won't leave any assigned reports unfinished.

["Gendo won't give a shit what either of us do as long as we don't cause trouble or leave things undone," he doesn't say. Even then, he doesn't know how much the man would be bothered -- he has a feeling the man would consider even his own son expendable.]

[imusntrunaway]

... that sounds like a regular work day to me. Shouldn't vacations be more, um, relaxing?

[substitutable]

... Uh.

[SIGH. Shinji is right. Damn it. He'll just take care of everything beforehand then so they don't have to do anything that day.]

Is there anywhere you want to go?

[imusntrunaway]

[Was there anywhere he wanted to go...? Somewhere open. Somewhere clean and quiet. Anywhere that wasn't this city.]

... can we go to the beach?

[It's asked with great hesitation.]

[substitutable]

The beach... [A mumbled repetition of Shinji's request as he types away into his phone. Usually Ene would take care of it within seconds, but today, it's all manual. But he manages to come up with a couple results anyway, outside of the city's borders. He places the phone on the table and slides it over; along with a map, there are several photos of a nice-looking beach.] How about the end of this week?

[imusntrunaway]

[Shinji leans in as the phone's slid over to him, eyes lit up with curiosity. He's seen pictures of the beach, of course. But he's never had the chance to bury his toes in the sand, or to wade in waist-deep into the cool waters. People said the air near the ocean tasted salty. Wouldn't it be nice to find out discover these things himself...?] Could you really convince him? [He sounds hopeful as he looks up at Shintaro! Near excited, actually.]

[substitutable]

[He really can't imagine Gendo saying no. Maybe take a note of the request and use it against him later, but not a no. He'll go talk to him tomorrow, he decides. For now, he gives Shinji a grin.]

At gunpoint, [he answers in a tone that's clearly joking.] Yeah, I think I can do it. Make sure you have sunscreen and all that beach stuff.

[He'll make it happen for the kid.]

I FINALLY GET TO USE THIS ICON

[imusntrunaway]

[It's something so simple, yet... Shinji can't help the grin that bursts across his face, even as he turns his face away to try to hide it.] I'll probably need it. I can't swim... I'll wind up spending all my time on the shore. [He turns back to Shintaro.] Do you think we could collect seashells, too? Or make a campfire?

NO THAT'S TOO CUTE I'M SO GLAD i had to tag it back for the cute

[substitutable]

[Oh. That's an expression he's never seen with Shinji before. He almost stares, though not too much once he sees him trying to hide it. But a feeling like relief floods him as he watches, and then it cements into determination. If it comes down to it, he might just actually carry a gun to put in a request for a day off.] I know that beach has some shells, so I'd bet. I think they've got some area designated for fires, and I've actually got some fireworks stashed away in a box somewhere if you want to go look for them.

IM GLAD I COULD GIVE YOU CUTE

[imusntrunaway]

Fireworks... [He says the word with relish, the idea of it brightening his face.] Are you sure you know how to work them, Shintaro?