o4 - text

[stoicloyalty]

[ Writing her thoughts out is not one of Chane's exercised skills. Sharing her thoughts publically is unheard of. Yet there have been certain things going on in the port, especially on the network, that have caught her attention-- all she can do is note down a few of them for discussion perhaps, a reminder to herself to investigate (or, if they are

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[vinovidivici]

[ Two people from her world - that must be him and her father. So which did she mean by his presence in the city is not a coincidence? He can't help but get a little excited at the thought it might be him. But - it's probably not. He hasn't earned that. Yet. ]

Nothing's coincidence!

Solitaire's alright but if you like I can teach you a few games for more than one person - poker, things like that? There's some things I been meaning to talk to ya about besides.

text;

[stoicloyalty]

[ He'd be pleasantly surprised. She would not count it as a coincidence either way that he and her father exist here with her, her father more so because she exists to protect him; Claire, on the other hand, cannot be explained so easily. That does not rule out a reason for his being here. ]

A partner would have to play a game with me, then.

... In person?

Video forever

[vinovidivici]

The cards'll have to wait 'til next time I see ya but actually I had a little business proposal-

-No, forget that, sounds too formal. You've heard of the bounty hunting they got going here, right?

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[stoicloyalty]

Yes?

Private

[vinovidivici]

So it seems like a pretty good job, I'm thinkin'; not actually all that different to my old one, least in terms of having to keep track of people although mostly they seem to want 'em brought back in one piece. Anyway I'm taking up this target, name of Marco Delive. And, uh. I was wonderin' - d'you wanna come along?

privated;

[stoicloyalty]

[ Although she had attempted this once before, somebody like him whose previous job involved tracking people down would do better than her. The end to his explanation takes her by surprise, though. ]

For the capture itself?

[vinovidivici]

Yeah! It's not like I couldn't do it by myself and I'm sure you've got your own ways of gettin' by, but- [ For a moment he thinks on what reason he can give her, having enough of a grasp on reality to know it's an odd question to pose to someone you're almost courting. There's only one simple answer, and he leans forward to give it. ] ... I wanted to ask.

[stoicloyalty]

[ She is about to object, in that making a living is not something she has ever 'had her own way' of doing, but she refrains-- the look he gives her on the screen actually prompts her to gaze back, and glance away with her answer as though he were there before her. After a moment, she remembers that he cannot see her like this, and instead writes out her thoughts slowly, worriedly. ]

I might slow you down.

[vinovidivici]

You'd be the first.

[ It's not a thoughtless answer. There's a gentleness to how he says it that doesn't fit in with the cocksure posturing those words would be under other circumstances. It's a reassurance more than anything else - remember, I am a man who will never die. ]

[stoicloyalty]

[ It works well for her; there is truth in his words. In the warehouse, too, he did not slip or err despite having just found her again. This is his strength. Surely it would take a lot more than her vague uncertainty to make him fail. ]

... What will you do with the money?

[vinovidivici]

What's mine is yours! [ Well, that's not quite right, or rather they're not in a position yet where they can be so vague about these things. He revises: ] We split it. Fifty-fifty. As for what I'll do with my share of it I guess I oughta think about moving outta these apartments.

[stoicloyalty]

[ Fair enough. It feels as though he will do well enough on the hunt without her aid so perhaps dividing the money this way is unbalanced; she won't complain, though. She had a similar idea when pondering bounty hunting before. ]

Good idea.

[vinovidivici]

That a yes? [ Any question of how fair the reward will be is obviously irrelevant to him - he's now leaning towards the NV with bright, boyish anticipation. ]

[stoicloyalty]

[ Again, she has to bring herself to make a mark on the page; a delicate, nearly businesslike nod cannot be read in words. ]

Yes.

[vinovidivici]

[ He beams at her through the NV. ]

I'm real glad, Chane. In return I'll be your partner at cards whenever you like! [ He says it hopefully - it's fairly transparent that what he's jokingly speaking of as a favor is just an excuse to see her. ]

[stoicloyalty]

[ Although splitting the cash ought to be be payment enough, she would not turn down his offer. She still does not understand why people bargain company and loyalty-- nonetheless, she appreciates it, even if she can't put a name to what this bond is. ]

Thank you.