Civilians
 C[re]ate Champion
Posts: 106
Preferred Name: Varmun
Pronouns: He/Him
Character Profile: Character List
Character Name: Isaac Vasari
Main Account: Isaac
Status: Active
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Post by Isaac on Nov 2, 2015 20:58:30 GMT -5
Well, at least the man wasn’t out for blood. Isaac relaxed his right hand, then the rest of his body. Although it sounded like this thug wouldn’t go after the kid again—provided he got what he came for—it was clear that someone would be leaving unhappy tonight.
Looking to the kid, Isaac said, “Give it to him.”
The boy, who was now sitting against the wall of a building, shivering and wrapping his arms around his jacket, shook his head and said, “No. Please. I need this. If I don’t… If I don’t…” Tears rolled down his face, and he choked on his own words.
“That’s fine,” said Isaac, trying to keep his voice at least somewhat gentle to the kid. When he looked back to the man, however, his voice regained its deep, stern tone. “You said you ‘need’ what he stole. I’m guessing it’s not for yourself, then.” The fact that the man had said “what the kid stole” could either mean that the man didn’t want to tell Isaac what it was, or he didn’t know himself. Whatever the case, it was important to him to get it, important enough to take a beating. Hopefully, regardless of the man's knowledge, the prize in the kid's jacket wasn't for the thug himself, but for someone else. Placing his bets, Isaac asked, “Does your employer know what the kid stole?”
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i have forgotten what sleep is
Posts: 26
Preferred Name: Actual
Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
Character Name: Tai
Status: Lurking
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Post by Tai on Nov 2, 2015 21:38:04 GMT -5
Tai lowered the pipe further as the other man purposely loosened his body language, letting himself relax slightly as well.
“Yeah, a data drive with 'highly sensitive and critically important information' on it,” Tai said, deliberately mocking the stuffy tones that his employer had used when hiring him before shrugging. “Personally, I don't give a shite what's on. All I care is that I get the drive so's I can get paid. Gimme the drive, and I'll be gone and hopefully we will never meet again.”
The kid gave an audible sniffle at what was either an attempt at gaining sympathy or a genuine reaction. Tai's conscience twinged again and he dropped the pipe, stopping it from rolling away on the uneven pavement of the alley with his foot, just in case he needed it again.
“Please, I need it,” the kid whimpered, further pressing his knees to his chest.
“Kid, you lost. Next time, don't get caught.” Tai didn't know if the kid would have a next time, but gave him the same advice he'd been given when he had been in the kid's shoes all those years ago.
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Civilians
C[re]ate Champion
Posts: 106
Preferred Name: Varmun
Pronouns: He/Him
Character Profile: Character List
Character Name: Isaac Vasari
Main Account: Isaac
Status: Active
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Post by Isaac on Nov 2, 2015 23:09:01 GMT -5
Shit. That hadn’t gone quite the way Isaac had hoped.
Isaac shut his eyes and sighed through his nose, all thoughts of continuing the fight disappearing. If he kept this up, he could maybe beat this guy—though his twitching leg might not agree. That was hardly a good idea at this point, though. It had never been one to begin with. This man needed the drive, and if he couldn’t have it, then he would likely find and hurt the boy again, maybe even kill him. Isaac could possibly end it all—ensure the boy’s safety by killing the man…
Slowly, Isaac knelt down to the ground. His hands drifted to the back of his right shoe. He pulled out a chunk of rubber that he had carved out, revealing a tiny, hollow compartment in his shoe. From it, Isaac pulled out a USB stick, a stick of Magix.
Isaac held the stick between his fingers, in plain view for the thug. After locking eyes with the man, Isaac turned and approached the boy. He knelt down in front of him and said, “Here. Give me the drive, and you can have this.”
The boy’s glossy eyes stared wide at Isaac, and his mouth quivered. “Wh-what? But I need it. I can’t go back without it. I—”
“I know. That’s why I’m giving you this. Take this to your employer, and when they get mad, tell them you thought this had the information on it. These things are used to hold more than just magic, and you’re a kid—you don’t know any better. Your employer will be mad, but they might give you a second chance so long as you bring them something.”
“But I got it. I got what he wanted.”
“Pick your battles, kid. If you don’t do what I say, someone is going to kill you. Whether it’s this guy or your employer, it doesn’t matter. You’re lucky you’re getting this chance at all. Make the smart choice.”
The boy hesitated and stared at the stick, his eyes still watering. He looked to Isaac, no doubt wondering a thousand different things, but he kept them all to himself. Another sniff pulled the snot back up into his nose, and the boy took the magic stick before handing Isaac the drive.
Isaac then rose up and tossed the drive to the thug. As he faced the man now, the light behind him shined down on the back of his hood, casting a deep shadow over his eyes. “Satisfied?”
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i have forgotten what sleep is
Posts: 26
Preferred Name: Actual
Pronouns: They/Them/Theirs
Character Name: Tai
Status: Lurking
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Post by Tai on Nov 3, 2015 0:02:27 GMT -5
Tai caught the drive the other man threw at him, glancing it over before placing it in a pocket. He grinned, probably a bit too widely, “Good enough for me.”
The kid sniffled again and Tai's conscience gave yet another twinge. But this time he had the data drive, and would be able to eat for at least a week, longer if he rationed, so he was in a marginally better mood. He pointed in the general direction of the end of the alleyway.“Uh, there's a med clinic about three blocks that way, in the basement of the laundromat. Look for a blue sign in the bottom corner of the window. They'll patch ya up for cheap and don't ask many questions. They also don't keep that good an eye on their supplies so if ya need something to pinch ya can take those,” he shrugged, not really caring if the kid took his advice or not.
He turned on his heel and began walking away from the kid and the other man, going into the shadows with a deliberately steady pace and doing his best not to tense up. Hopefully the day was coming to a close and he could finally get paid, eat, and go to sleep.
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Civilians
C[re]ate Champion
Posts: 106
Preferred Name: Varmun
Pronouns: He/Him
Character Profile: Character List
Character Name: Isaac Vasari
Main Account: Isaac
Status: Active
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Post by Isaac on Nov 5, 2015 17:43:35 GMT -5
Once the man was gone, Isaac looked to the kid, who was shivering and sobbing next to a garbage can. The sniffling and choking gasps turned into an almost wailing cry. Isaac approached the boy and knelt down beside him. He reached up to touch his bandana, to start to lower it, but he stopped, and said softly, "I'm sorry."
Between his sobs, the boy asked, "Why? Why did you stop? Why didn't you just kill him?"
Isaac looked to the ground.
The boy pushed against the concrete and tried to sit up. His face was knitted tight with terror. "Why didn't you kill him? I needed that. Without it… he's… he's going to kill my parents." Every word sputtered out of the boy's mouth, and his tears sprayed off his face from his rigid shaking. "I tried… I really tried. Mom… Dad… I'm sorry. I'm sorry."
"Hey," said Isaac softly, his eyes drifting back up to the boy. "Hey. Come on. This isn't over." The boy kept crying, and Isaac had to repeat himself to be heard. Slowly, the boy calmed down enough to listen, and he looked to Isaac with blood-streaked eyes. In a calm voice, Isaac asked, "Who did you steal from?"
The boy stared at Isaac for a moment, sniffling and looking confused. With a gulp, he answered, "V-Valskya Industries."
"And what were you supposed to steal?"
"A drive of robot blueprints. But it's gone. That was the only one. You have to get it back. Please!"
"No," said Isaac with a shake of his head. "I can't."
"You can. You were winning."
"I can't do it. But I can do the next best thing." Isaac picked the boy up in his arms and rose up tall. He turned around and headed out of the lot, his leg twitching every other step, making him stumble as he took the kid to the clinic. And as they left, Isaac said, "A place like Valskya will have backups—other copies. Wait for me at the clinic.
"I'll bring you another drive."
END
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