myownprice (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
myownprice) wrote2018-06-14 03:23 pm
myownprice) wrote2018-06-14 03:23 pm
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[No cute away message here. Just a single sentence, slightly muffled by his helmet.]
Leave a message.
Leave a message.
Voice; message left for 1313, late on the day of the riots
loyal_soldier
2018-07-04 02:51 am (UTC)(link)
[622's voice is flat and clipped. He just had a close shave with the mob out in the streets, and his brain still isn't convinced he's not in a war zone.]
1313, this is TK-622 with a status check. Are you in need of assistance? Aerial extraction is available.
1313, this is TK-622 with a status check. Are you in need of assistance? Aerial extraction is available.
[The message comes as a surprise—at first. When Boba sees who it’s from, he gets the feeling that he should have expected this.]
Negative. I’m in a secure location. [He hopes the trooper will let him leave it at that.]
Negative. I’m in a secure location. [He hopes the trooper will let him leave it at that.]
Copy that. If the situation changes, extraction will be available.
K'oyacyi, hibika. [Stay alive, cadet.]
K'oyacyi, hibika. [Stay alive, cadet.]
Understood.
[The words in Mando’a catch him by surprise and he feels a sudden rush of embarrassment wondering if he’s expected to respond in turn. His father had been teaching him Mando’a, but Boba hasn’t practiced any since his death. He tries his best all the same, mumbling as if that’ll help hide how clumsy the words sound on his tongue.]
K’oyacyi, vod.
[The words in Mando’a catch him by surprise and he feels a sudden rush of embarrassment wondering if he’s expected to respond in turn. His father had been teaching him Mando’a, but Boba hasn’t practiced any since his death. He tries his best all the same, mumbling as if that’ll help hide how clumsy the words sound on his tongue.]
K’oyacyi, vod.
I know this is entirely unannounced, but would you like an apple pie? It's a local feast day, and while I'm not terribly skilled, I've finally found cookware I know how to use.
There's also set to be free food at the Heropa Community Center, by the way. [Because Sithis knows, when he was on his own, he always wanted to know where he could get more.]
There's also set to be free food at the Heropa Community Center, by the way. [Because Sithis knows, when he was on his own, he always wanted to know where he could get more.]
[Ever since the blow-up with 622 and Rex, Boba’s been keeping a low profile. He’s not really sure whether it’s necessary or not, but the incident hadn’t really left him feeling all that outgoing anyway. Even if he knows no one would react as strongly as the clones had, he doesn’t want to risk having to come clean about his double act or his reasons for it to anyone else. If he did, he’d probably just lie again anyway.
As a result, when Lucien contacts him, it’s the first non-work-related interaction he’s had in a while—and honestly, it’s a relief that it’s from someone who only knows him by one name. That said, it still takes Boba around an hour to decide whether or not to respond.]
Ok. Where are you?
As a result, when Lucien contacts him, it’s the first non-work-related interaction he’s had in a while—and honestly, it’s a relief that it’s from someone who only knows him by one name. That said, it still takes Boba around an hour to decide whether or not to respond.]
Ok. Where are you?
[He set about his daytime work, waiting to see if he'd rouse a response. Hopefully it wouldn't be more than a day, he wasn't sure how long the pie would keep.
But it didn't take quite as long as he thought it might, actually. How nice. He sends an address to a safehouse in Heropa.]
Knock when you arrive. Would you like me to bring any food from the community dinner?
But it didn't take quite as long as he thought it might, actually. How nice. He sends an address to a safehouse in Heropa.]
Knock when you arrive. Would you like me to bring any food from the community dinner?
[Boba isn’t used to social visits on the best of days, much less after several weeks of self-imposed exile. He throws on a jacket and prepares to head out to the Maurtia Falls Porter, feeling out of sorts.]
Sure.
[He doesn’t specify any more than that. Free food is free food, after all.
He’ll show up at the provided address within the hour and knock at the door. He still has the vague feeling that he shouldn’t be here, but at least he’s not as wary as he was the first time he visited one of Lucien’s safehouses.]
Sure.
[He doesn’t specify any more than that. Free food is free food, after all.
He’ll show up at the provided address within the hour and knock at the door. He still has the vague feeling that he shouldn’t be here, but at least he’s not as wary as he was the first time he visited one of Lucien’s safehouses.]
[A single heartbeat outside the door, at the right height for his expected guest. He disarms the door and opens it for Boba, stepping aside with a smile.]
Please, come in. [This is one of his more livable safehouses, by the conventions of this country. There's working plumbing and lights, but he's not likely to keep this place for long. It's easier to trace him to this one. Still, he hadn't wanted to meet Boba in the government-provided apartment he still retained. Both of them valued privacy more than that, he thought.]
I ended up taking quite a lot from the event, so there will be food to spare.
Please, come in. [This is one of his more livable safehouses, by the conventions of this country. There's working plumbing and lights, but he's not likely to keep this place for long. It's easier to trace him to this one. Still, he hadn't wanted to meet Boba in the government-provided apartment he still retained. Both of them valued privacy more than that, he thought.]
I ended up taking quite a lot from the event, so there will be food to spare.
[As much as Boba trusts Lucien more than he did before, his instincts upon being invited into a new environment are much the same; he stands at the threshold for a moment, eyes briefly looking past Lucien to scan the room behind him. Then, seemingly satisfied, he looks back up at Lucien with a nod and steps in.
This safehouse feels more like an actual home than the last one and yet, Boba doesn’t seem at all at ease. He’s not quite on-edge or mistrustful, just tangibly awkward as he struggles to remember how to be social after several weeks of near-solitude.]
Okay, [he says, standing stiffly in the middle of the room.] Er… thank you for inviting me over. And for giving me the address.
[Another safehouse compromised. Boba wonders how many he has left.]
This safehouse feels more like an actual home than the last one and yet, Boba doesn’t seem at all at ease. He’s not quite on-edge or mistrustful, just tangibly awkward as he struggles to remember how to be social after several weeks of near-solitude.]
Okay, [he says, standing stiffly in the middle of the room.] Er… thank you for inviting me over. And for giving me the address.
[Another safehouse compromised. Boba wonders how many he has left.]
[He nods approvingly at Boba's caution, closing the door behind him once he's made his decision.]
Of course. The Maurtia Falls location is unfortunately not seasonable at the moment, so rather than sit in the cold with candlelight, I thought this would be less uncomfortable. [Less. Because Mother knows, Boba doesn't seem likely to stop worrying any time soon. Understandable, but it appeared to be a setback from the last time they'd spoken in person.]
And besides, this place has one of those little microwave ovens. Fantastic inventions. I'll just re-heat the food, and then we can eat. [He heads for the kitchen area, pulling some containers out of the fridge and beginning to prepare them.]
How has your work been?
Of course. The Maurtia Falls location is unfortunately not seasonable at the moment, so rather than sit in the cold with candlelight, I thought this would be less uncomfortable. [Less. Because Mother knows, Boba doesn't seem likely to stop worrying any time soon. Understandable, but it appeared to be a setback from the last time they'd spoken in person.]
And besides, this place has one of those little microwave ovens. Fantastic inventions. I'll just re-heat the food, and then we can eat. [He heads for the kitchen area, pulling some containers out of the fridge and beginning to prepare them.]
How has your work been?
[Boba follows at a distance, grateful for Lucien’s chatter, even if it is about microwaves. It’s a good distraction from his own discomfort and is… comfortingly mundane in a way he isn’t used to.
He’ll sit down in any nearby chair, watching Lucien take containers out of the fridge.]
It’s been okay. They’ve still got me on courier duty. [He doesn’t have to tell Lucien what his preferred occupation would be. But that’s not likely to happen. Something about a hitman of his age attracting “unwanted attention” from the authorities if word got out.]
I had to use your knife a few months ago, though. [He doesn’t think he actually told Lucien about that yet...]
He’ll sit down in any nearby chair, watching Lucien take containers out of the fridge.]
It’s been okay. They’ve still got me on courier duty. [He doesn’t have to tell Lucien what his preferred occupation would be. But that’s not likely to happen. Something about a hitman of his age attracting “unwanted attention” from the authorities if word got out.]
I had to use your knife a few months ago, though. [He doesn’t think he actually told Lucien about that yet...]
[He tsks.] What a waste. [The boy had such a fantastic power for covert work, it was a shame he wasn't able to make full use of it.
Though it is gratifying to know that his gift hadn't languished all the same.] Oh? Would you be willing to tell me more?
[He set the microwave humming, double-checking once to make sure there wasn't any metal inside. He'd gotten quite an unpleasant shock one day when he'd left a fork on a plate with his food--apparently something about the shape of the metal made the--gods, it was so hard to remember what they called all these things when they had no magic to make sense of it with.]
Though it is gratifying to know that his gift hadn't languished all the same.] Oh? Would you be willing to tell me more?
[He set the microwave humming, double-checking once to make sure there wasn't any metal inside. He'd gotten quite an unpleasant shock one day when he'd left a fork on a plate with his food--apparently something about the shape of the metal made the--gods, it was so hard to remember what they called all these things when they had no magic to make sense of it with.]
[Boba nods his agreement. It doesn’t seem to matter how useful his powers would be, his employers still balk at his age. They don’t realize just how much experience he already has.]
Sure, [Boba says with a shrug.] It was a few months ago, back when all those imPorts thought they were gods. I think one of them made people angry? [It’s possible Boba’s attacker was one of those affected. Or he could’ve been that angry naturally. Boba supposes it doesn’t matter.] Someone I was delivering to attacked me. But the knife worked just like you said it would.
[A faint smile. He wouldn’t quite count it as a good memory, but he’s still proud of the way he reacted. He could have panicked, like so many do in the face of a lethal threat, and died struggling helplessly against a larger attacker. But he’d kept himself calm and ensured he was the one to walk away alive. A lot of older bounty hunters can't even manage that.] It was a lot messier than using a blaster. But it worked.
[But that wasn't the end of the story. Boba considers for a moment and then turns a curious eye towards Lucien.] A man helped me burn the body afterwards. He said he knew you.
Sure, [Boba says with a shrug.] It was a few months ago, back when all those imPorts thought they were gods. I think one of them made people angry? [It’s possible Boba’s attacker was one of those affected. Or he could’ve been that angry naturally. Boba supposes it doesn’t matter.] Someone I was delivering to attacked me. But the knife worked just like you said it would.
[A faint smile. He wouldn’t quite count it as a good memory, but he’s still proud of the way he reacted. He could have panicked, like so many do in the face of a lethal threat, and died struggling helplessly against a larger attacker. But he’d kept himself calm and ensured he was the one to walk away alive. A lot of older bounty hunters can't even manage that.] It was a lot messier than using a blaster. But it worked.
[But that wasn't the end of the story. Boba considers for a moment and then turns a curious eye towards Lucien.] A man helped me burn the body afterwards. He said he knew you.
[He stops his fussing with the food, turning to give Boba a broad smile.] You did well, then. Especially when forced into response, rather than taking the lead.
[The smile doesn't dim when Boba changes the subject, but it does take on a more knowing, possibly exasperated tinge.] Oh? Who was he? [There's a logical suspect, obviously. And as much as it's yet another risk, he can't honestly fault Finn if it is him. Especially since he's personally been rather... creative in his own interpretation of the Second Tenet with Boba as well.
...But Merle had also been around at that point, hadn't he? He wouldn't be surprised if that man were just as strangely accepting of body disposal as he'd been about ritual murder.]
[The smile doesn't dim when Boba changes the subject, but it does take on a more knowing, possibly exasperated tinge.] Oh? Who was he? [There's a logical suspect, obviously. And as much as it's yet another risk, he can't honestly fault Finn if it is him. Especially since he's personally been rather... creative in his own interpretation of the Second Tenet with Boba as well.
...But Merle had also been around at that point, hadn't he? He wouldn't be surprised if that man were just as strangely accepting of body disposal as he'd been about ritual murder.]
[Boba can’t help but smile slightly at the praise. He knows he did well, but acknowledgment is always nice. Perhaps the reality was a little chancier than he’s saying, but he’s glad to keep it that way. He has a reputation to maintain, after all.]
He said his name was Finn. He had magic like you do.
[He thinks back to their conversation, trying to remember if the man had said anything else of note. It takes some work—memories can be fuzzy when he switches off.]
I… don’t think he actually said your name, [he says after a few moments.] He just said he had a brother from Tamriel who collects knives. [His expression turns to one of mock innocence.] I guess he could have been talking about someone else.
He said his name was Finn. He had magic like you do.
[He thinks back to their conversation, trying to remember if the man had said anything else of note. It takes some work—memories can be fuzzy when he switches off.]
I… don’t think he actually said your name, [he says after a few moments.] He just said he had a brother from Tamriel who collects knives. [His expression turns to one of mock innocence.] I guess he could have been talking about someone else.
[One of Alfie's regular clients has mentioned Boba's name a few times - he's a courier that he's used before, and even though he's young, he's inconspicuous, responsible, and reliable. It's information that Alfie had filed away, but not acted on... until he ends up with a last-minute job that none of his regular men are available for.]
Are you available for hire this afternoon?
- A. Solomons
[Depending on how familiar Boba is with the Maurtia Falls underworld, he might recognize Alfie's name. He's not one of the biggest players - not like he is at home - but he's a pretty prolific freelancer, and he's worked with some of those biggest players.]
Are you available for hire this afternoon?
- A. Solomons
[Depending on how familiar Boba is with the Maurtia Falls underworld, he might recognize Alfie's name. He's not one of the biggest players - not like he is at home - but he's a pretty prolific freelancer, and he's worked with some of those biggest players.]
[As the weather has chilled in Maurtia Falls, Boba has gotten busier. With fewer people willing to make their own deliveries in the cold and fewer couriers willing to do the work for them, it seems like winter is set to be a very profitable season for him indeed.
He’s only just finished one job when he receives another message, requesting a delivery that afternoon. He responds immediately.]
What’s the job?
He’s only just finished one job when he receives another message, requesting a delivery that afternoon. He responds immediately.]
What’s the job?
[Really, he shouldn't have wondered. Of course it was Finn. And though they were both members of the Black Hand, and had both been lax in their secrecy regarding Boba, it wouldn't quite feel right to talk directly on the subject.]
Finn? I've met him. Perhaps he means another Dunmer back in his homeland. [The look in his eye, however, should make it clear that he's openly lying.]
But I am glad he helped you. He seems like a very capable mer, when he sets his mind to something.
Finn? I've met him. Perhaps he means another Dunmer back in his homeland. [The look in his eye, however, should make it clear that he's openly lying.]
But I am glad he helped you. He seems like a very capable mer, when he sets his mind to something.
[Understandable. Boba is used to clients who prefer to discuss details face-to-face.]
Who should I look for?
Who should I look for?
Maybe, [Boba says, stifling a smile.] He didn’t give too many details.
[Boba doesn’t know why Lucien and Finn’s apparent partnership must be kept secret, but he knows enough of their line of work not to ask. It isn’t as if he can’t sympathize with wanting to keep a secret, even here. The thought saps some of his good humor and he lapses back into silence. After a long few moments, he speaks up again.]
Are you and Finn the only people from Tamriel here?
[Boba doesn’t know why Lucien and Finn’s apparent partnership must be kept secret, but he knows enough of their line of work not to ask. It isn’t as if he can’t sympathize with wanting to keep a secret, even here. The thought saps some of his good humor and he lapses back into silence. After a long few moments, he speaks up again.]
Are you and Finn the only people from Tamriel here?
[The name stirs some vague memories of conversations overheard from one or two clients in the past. This "Alfie" is probably someone well-acquainted with Maurtia Falls’ underbelly, then, though that’s not at all unusual given the type of jobs Boba often takes—and he apparently has connections at this address. Boba mentally files away the information, checks his pocket for his knife, and then heads out.
He arrives at the pizza parlor a few minutes later. Just as instructed, he asks for “Alfie” at the door and is led to a table where a bearded man is seated. Boba’s expression is one of practiced indifference as he regards the man, and he neither speaks nor sits down.
It appears there may be a reason he's earned the nickname "Ghost" among his clients.]
He arrives at the pizza parlor a few minutes later. Just as instructed, he asks for “Alfie” at the door and is led to a table where a bearded man is seated. Boba’s expression is one of practiced indifference as he regards the man, and he neither speaks nor sits down.
It appears there may be a reason he's earned the nickname "Ghost" among his clients.]
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