selfsufficiency | Day 1

Day 1 - Alvin

[The profiles have been up and available for long enough that Alice has seen them by now, and while she's not sure she totally agrees with the wording on hers (it doesn't make her sound anywhere near as impressive as she actually is!), she can't deny that it's accurate.

It wouldn't make sense for the to be truthful on some profiles and not on others... which of course makes certain people even more interesting to her than they were before. Alvin is one of those people, so once she's done looking at profiles on one of the terminals, she seeks him out.

When she sees him, she comes up behind him and taps him on the shoulder, flashing him a smile when he turns to look.]

Come with me, would you? I want to talk to you about something.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

[he's not the type to startle easily; he's trained himself well to listen for approaching footsteps. what good would his work as a mercenary be if he couldn't do at least that much while sneaking around for intel, after all?

he'll react to the tap on the shoulder with relative ease, offering a smile as he recognizes the face that's seeking out his attention.]

Hey, Alice.

[an easy enough greeting, though the fact that she wants to talk to him suddenly—well, it could be nothing. but it could be about his profile, so there's a mild dread that creeps up in his stomach.

that of course, never shows on his face, because he's too much of a pro at watching his fuck-ups come back to bite him in the ass. instead, he gives his shoulders a lazy shrug. he'll follow, if that's what she wants.] Yeah, sure. What's up?

[This probably isn't a conversation he's going to want to have with an audience, so she'll find a quiet spot away from the others to talk and lowers her voice before she speaks again.]

I was thinking it already, after our talk the other night, but...

[She smiles, and there's a hard glint in her eyes that isn't altogether friendly. It's not really threatening either, though.]

If what they wrote on your profile is true, I think you and I have a lot in common.

[it's the sort of glint he could easily recognize as a dangerous one—and while alvin knows it's foolish to trust someone based on an unassuming first impression, he didn't expect anyone's true colors to show so quickly.

and anyone who thinks they have something in common with him based on his profile?

hoo boy, that's like every chamber in the revolver being loaded, and he knows it.]

You think so? [so of course, he doesn't reveal his hand or his reasons yet. he's too curious to see where this goes.] Well, I can't say I expected anyone to have that response after seeing it.

[but alice will at least get a pointed look, eyebrow arched. he wants to hear her reasons for this, naturally.]

[If there's anything Alice is good at, it's... being herself, even when it would probably be a lot safer to at least pretend to act a little nicer. But she is who she is and she's never wanted or needed anyone else's approval so she meets his look unflinchingly, her hands on her hips.]

It makes you even more interesting than I already thought you were. ♡

[She giggles, and while the glint in her eyes doesn't fully vanish, it does soften somewhat.]

You're not the kind of recklessly idealistic idiot who'll put their life on the line for someone else, right? Well, I'm not either.

[alvin, on the other hand—he's a bit unchanging. the expression he shows her is one of curiosity, though not accusatory in any way.]

I thought we got that idea out of the way over drinks. What, do you believe me more now or something?

[what's your deal, alice—that's what he wants to know.]

A lot of people say things like that, but they don't have the guts to really live that way.

[In other words? Yes, she believes him more now.]

When it comes down to it, they'll do the right thing even if it's stupid, even if they're protesting it the whole time, because they care about what other people think of them. So when you meet someone who doesn't care... that makes them really special!

[it's an interesting take on things. it doesn't really align at all with the kind of person he actually is or wants to be, but alvin isn't about to offer up that information.

it wouldn't be beneficial to him at all to directly contradict her perceptions, so he'll just work with it in the way he does.]

Wouldn't call it a matter of "care" or "not care." Money talks, and I had jobs to do. You don't make a living as a mercenary by taking sides.

[even if it slowly destroys him from the inside.]

Even people who talk like that end up taking sides in the end, usually. But if the only side you're on is your own, then...

[Alice smiles, and while the gesture itself isn't inherently threatening, there's still something a little off about it. That's just the sort of person she is, though.]

Right now, I'd guess you think your only job is to get out of here alive. Right? ♡

[her expression is definitely one that ensures that he needs to stay on his guard with her; he'll keep with being nonchalant because that's just what he does after over a decade of being thrown into these kinds of situations, though.

but he isn't going to be entirely untruthful, if nothing else.]

When it comes to worrying about myself and a bunch of people I've only known for a day... then yeah. Getting myself back where I need to be's a little higher on the priority list.

Good.

[That's exactly what she was wanting to hear, apparently.]

Then I'll get right to the point. I'm not going to say something stupid like we should protect each other or anything, but with this group it's only a matter of time until we start turning on each other, I bet. [She smiles again.] Even if you're going to end up betraying me in the end, at least I'll know to expect it so I can plan for it. I can't predict anything any of those idiots might do if they let their feelings run away with them.

So...

[She holds out her hand to him.]

Let's call this a temporarily alliance. If things get weirder than they already are, I'll back you up for as long as you back me up. Of course, I'll make you pay when you betray me, but I don't think you're stupid enough to do that right away. ♡

[alvin knows he's putting himself in a dicey situation—it doesn't take much to see that alice is kind of a loose cannon, and not one he really cares to be on the wrong side of right now.

but he also knows that even having the potential to have someone watching his back for a time isn't a bad thing; even though he's always on his guard and ready to be backstabbed in turn—he can probably find some way to use this to his advantage.

he just wants to get the hell out of here anyway.]

Sounds like you've thought it through already. But we don't know what's gonna happen or what way it'll sway us... probably better to have at least a couple of us in the same corner unless things get dicey. I've already got a guy or two questioning me and waiting for me to turn heel at the first given opportunity.

[he tells it like it is, though it's probably not surprising.]

I'll keep the threat in mind—for now, I'll back you up. [he'll meet her hand with his own, along with a smirk. it's a fair enough deal, he thinks, especially if they're both on the same page about it.] It goes both ways, though. I'll probably be a little less generous if you're the one on the betraying end.

I guess whoever was writing those profiles really wanted to make you look suspicious.

[And part of her does wonder why that is. Maybe he's got bad luck, or maybe he just backstabbed the wrong person and now it's coming back to bite him. It doesn't make that much of a difference to her regardless, though, because her curiosity won't keep her from trying to find a way she can make use of this.

They seal the deal with a handshake, and Alice looks satisfied.]

As long as you don't get in my way, I won't have any reason to turn on you.

[For the moment, at least, their goals are the same. It'll do.]

Well, if that's what they wanted, they got it. Really makes you wonder just what it is they're after, though.

[he finally sets himself on a path to trying to be a less shitty person, only to end up in a situation where everyone knows how shitty he is without even a chance for redemption.

first impressions and all that.]

I get the feeling we'll be finding out soon enough either way. [for better or for worse, and alvin gets the feeling it'll definitely be "for worse."]

Looks that way!

[For worse, definitely... But there isn't a whole lot they can do about it until it happens, and Alice knows that.]

Aaaanyway... I'm going to get going. I said what I wanted to say, so unless you have anything you want to say...~?

I think you covered all of it this time around. I'm pretty sure I know where to find you if I need something—it's not like this is going to be the last meeting we have.

[though what they talk about next is something that even alvin can't really predict.

he's not into bombarding people with questions anyway, so whatever he wants to know, he'll find a way to get it into conversation a little more naturally next time around.]

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Day 1 - Alvin

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject