[RL with Birkin]

[demondoctor]

[This has gone on long enough. Stein has a map showing the location of Kid, but no way to get there right at the moment. He's got to try other avenues before he puts his own people in danger

Comments

[notahandbag]

[Birkin glances up from his desk, which is strewn with papers as usual. It looks a little like he was in the middle of attempting to organize his stuff, but he just sighs and figures it's not worth the effort right now.]

I'm a little tempted to say "I don't know, can you?" but I have a sinking feeling this is serious. Go ahead.

[demondoctor]

[He sinks down into a chair, lighting up the cigarette between his lips]

What kind of relationship do you have with Giriko? Really?

[notahandbag]

[Birkin was quiet for a minute. He wasn't a hundred percent sure of that answer either.]

Define "relationship".

[demondoctor]

[He toys with the cigarette, trying to figure out the best way to ask, too.]

Does he like you? If you asked him for something, do you think he'd listen to you?

[notahandbag]

I really don't know, maybe? It would probably depend on what I was asking him for and whether he'd care if I started crying.

[demondoctor]

[Stein smiles at that, though he's still thinking hard] I want to try to convince Giriko to help me rescue Kid. I made him an offer, and he turned me down flatly, but maybe he can be convinced.

[notahandbag]

And I'm guessing this is where I come in. Yeah, okay, I can try, but it's a toss-up on whether or not he'll actually go for my amazing fake crying.

[demondoctor]

[Stein nods, though he's not really sure if Birkin's being serious about the crying or not.]

If you can at least help me to figure out what he might want, it'd be helpful. I've already offered him amnesty and he threw it back in my face.

[notahandbag]

[He snorts.] Think you could manage to convince Marie to let him screw her?

[demondoctor]

[He looks thoughtful] Probably not...but she does have terrible taste in men.

[notahandbag]

Eh, she'd probably still be pretty pissed at me if I used her as a bargaining chip, though. I'll see what I can't come up with instead, but Marie could always be my fallback.

And just so we're clear, I'm trying to get him to kidnap Kid away from the original kidnapper and bring him back here?

[demondoctor]

To be honest, I'd rather not throw Marie to the romantic wolves if I can avoid it.

[Nods] That's exactly what we're trying to get him to do.

[notahandbag]

We could always pull a bait and switch with her? But no, I'll try and figure something else out first.

Now if you'll excuse me, [Birkin pulls his phone out of his pocket with a smirk] it's time for the master to get to work. I'll come find you when I'm done.

[demondoctor]

[Stein smiles and gets up, patting Birkin on the shoulder and then giving him a quick kiss]

I'm counting on you.

[And Henry, he adds silently as he heads for the door]

[notahandbag]

[Not too long after he gets off the phone with Giriko, Birkin finds Stein in one of the other labs.]

And the Oscar for Best Leading Actor goes to...

[demondoctor]

[Oddly, Stein is just hanging up the phone as well, and he grins at Birkin]

Did you cry real tears?