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[pointedlook]

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NAME
ARTHUR

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[opheliac]

I've pulled the pin, I've pulled the trigger, and other times, I just blink.

You've got to keep your kills spontaneous, you know.

[pointedlook]

What do you mean, you just blink?

And was it because they were getting too close? Or because they got caught in something by getting too close?

[ There's a difference. ]

[opheliac]

For being Mister Smarty-boots, you're really missing all the marks. You're scoring the fives, tens, thirties, but where's the bullesye, the K.O, the Full House?!

You can't be this poor of a player. I've got money riding on you, Pretty boy, don't disappoint me.

[pointedlook]

And is that what you want? Some kind of self-fulfilling prophecy?

[opheliac]

I don't want to fulfill anything. Everyone keeps telling me that I can rewrite my story or... or I can be good, I have potential, and I should use all of my skills to help people when that's not how I operate. I break things, I destroy things, and I ruin people's lives. that's what I'm good at. It's all I'll ever BE good at.

I've tried the hero business once, and all it got me was more...pain. More lives lost. So it doesn't matter what I do. Helpful or not, people will die because of me.

[pointedlook]

Look, I don't know what your situation has been, and I'm sorry you feel like you've been backed into a corner.

[ Because that's the picture he's getting, with her edge of desperation. Her anger and hurt and the need to lash out to put it somewhere other than in the echo chamber of her skull. ]

Just—people die. They do it all the fucking time, whether you did it on purpose or by accident or even if you did nothing at all. [ Inaction is an action. ]

Life sucks; the house will always win if you keep playing with the hand they dealt. Load the die. Count the cards. Pay off the dealer.

[opheliac]

Unless I break the cycle, and I did.

Even if this place sucks ass, if being here means my sister, Ekko, and Sevika can live happy lives without me screwing it all up back home, then I'm fine with staying. So Pretty boy, what about you? You wanna push your luck too?

because the next time we meet, don't say I didn't told you so when you find yourself covered in bullet holes.

[pointedlook]

Did it end up the way you wanted?

You think they won't miss you, if you stay? [ He thinks of Mal, saying she has to leave. Has to wake up so she could see the real him. Sighing, he puts that from his mind. ]

I've been shot at before, that's not new.

[opheliac]

They're free from me, that's what matters, and they have a chance to have normal lives.

I know they'll miss me, but... I'll always be with them.

[pointedlook]

Maybe.

[ Maybe normal. There's never any guarantees. ]

Look, I had a choice, once, to either follow a friend running from the feds or to leave him to his own devices.

He's nearly gotten us both killed at least six times. If I do bite it because of him, well ... I can think of worse ways to go.

[opheliac]

Awww, how disgustingly sweet. I think I'm gonna hurl.

My sister belongs with her girlfriend. Miss Prissy will take good care of her. Sexually and non. Ekko's got his Firelight gang, and Sevika is going to be the head of the Council for my city. So believe me when I say, they'll be fine.

My work with them is done. It's time for the Queen to rule or ruin other victims.

[pointedlook]

[ He's letting out such a sigh. Whether he'd hit on a point or not, of course she was going to deflect it with caustic words. ]

If that's what works for you.

[ There's a niggling doubt, but that's as far as this will go, for now. ]

Do I get fair warning if I end up on either of those lists?

[opheliac]

Your warning was when you spoke to me.

You've gotta make better choices in life, Pretty boy. Not every car ride is smooth sailing. Uuuunless you've got a death wish, then by all means take the one without brakes... ha ha ha ha!!!

[pointedlook]

Should dye your hair red, then. Y'know, to warn people off, like some kind of poison frog.

[ He's kidding. Mostly. ]

Life's never a smooth ride. Besides, I know how to drive—professionally. Brakes or no brakes.

[opheliac]

Sorry, red is my sister. And trust me, the red looks way better on her than on me. on the account that she is always stained with someone's blood.

Oh yeah, tough guy? What about an airship? Bet you can't drive those.

[pointedlook]

So, the two of you are color-coded?

[ Somehow, that's really amusing. Jinx says her sister is covered in blood often, but based on what she's mentioned, it seems like they both are. ]

First point: airships don't exist where I'm from, least not the kind I think you're talking about. Second: seeing as it's airborne, it would be piloted, not driven. Third: that's what manuals are for.

[opheliac]

Piloting and driving are the same thing, asshole. You have a wheel and you rotate in order to steer the damn thing.

[pointedlook]

They're not, really. An aircraft may have a wheel, but it also has levers for adjusting ascent and descent. There's a lot more atmosphere than there is road, with more specific hazards to be aware of.

Not to mention: weather patterns, wind resistance, visibility, air pressure changes.

[opheliac]

Hm, riveting. You know what else about pressure changes? When you jab your nails in someone's adam's apple, then causing their airways to go kaput.

Haven't tried it myself, but my Pops used to hound me about how I should go for the throat more. Maybe I should take up on his advice just this once.

[pointedlook]

The cartilage is more likely to collapse using blunt force, not piercing.

Go lower, just above the sternal notch.

1/2

[opheliac]

Sheesh, I leave one Cupcake behind just to come across a Muffin. Just my luck.

2/2

[opheliac]

And don't lecture me on how to kill people. I know to kill people. I can kill you less in five seconds if I wanted.

[pointedlook]

Muffin?

[ ... what??? ]

Details matter in a fight, is all. Besides, anyone with a gun, good aim, and a grudge could also kill me in less than 5 seconds, I'm not bulletproof.

[opheliac]

Yeah. The snobby boy version of Cupcake.

[and by cupcake, what he will see won't be the pastry like he would be expecting, but a woman in uniform. but the image of her evaporates very quickly, like there's such a distaste of the individual that just giving her any minute of spotlight will make her stomach churn.]

That's too bad, because I am! Must be rough for you.

[pointedlook]

[ Well, that's a new one. In return for the image and the blink and you'll miss it expression of disgust, he conveys a sense of amusement. ]

Normally, people just call me an asshole. Muffin's a first. She a rival of yours?

[ Though, it didn't feel like there had been hate underneath the distaste. ]

Why would it be? I'm not looking to assassinate you.