scythegun | week 3; thursday

week 3; thursday

[Top Dollar will find a letter slipped under his door, like before. It's written in the same elegant handwriting, though it looks a bit rushed this time.]

Please meet me in my room. I need to discuss this with someone.
-Y

[You'll find that he's left the door open so you can let yourself in. Yeager's currently working on something at the desk, though it looks like he hasn't been very successful given how many crumpled sheets of paper there are.]

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[...Does he? He isn't altogether sure he necessarily wants to talk about it, because this entire thing isn't something that he broadcasts to anyone, much less people he's known for less than a month. It's his business, and it's his family's business, and it's business that needs to involve exactly no one else.

But now his family's dead, everyone he might actually conceivably talk to about this is dead, and while he's okay with the idea of all of this dying with them there's also the part where this has already fucked his judgement up once and he'd prefer that it not happen again.

So when he speaks it's just...blunt, there's nothing in his tone to imply that it's bothering him, though the look in his eyes has gone incredibly blank and the lack of investment in what's being said isn't really a natural thing.]

...It's just that my family life was a little fucked up, that's all. I was thinking earlier about what Hazama did to the kid, and I was thinking that her childhood is over. Because my daddy taught me that childhood is over the moment you know you're going to die.

He taught me that lesson on my fifth birthday. By that time mine had been over for half a year, I guess.

[...]

My daddy taught me a lot of things. Some lessons didn't set in as well as the others, I guess. Took a lot to get it through my head. So, yeah.

[He shrugs a bit; his voice isn't fluctuating any, even if his eyes are a bit...bright. Strictly an involuntary thing, mind, and not something he seems all that conscious of - he doesn't even seem that outwardly bothered - but still.]

I could deal with Hazama if I had to. He's one of mine, and he fucked up - it happens, I've dealt with this sort of shit before, it's not like I'm going to get my fuckin' problems with it all over him.

But that's not an executive decision I should be making, you know?

[Well, that's... That says everything, doesn't it? Yeager is quiet for a moment, eyes locked at some point on the ground while he tries to work out what to say to that. Several of his guys have come from terrible homes, but he was lucky. He isn't really sure how to deal with this.]

...I'm sorry. I understand though, and I can see why you didn't want it left in your hands. I know I wouldn't have been able to make a logical decision if it had been left up to me. I can't consider Hazama one of mine now, but I won't let my bias get in the way of doing what's best for all of us. I won't do anything to mess with him either, since he's one of yours.

[It's an attempt, anyway. He finds that his hand is on his chest and he quickly folds his arms instead.]

I do believe what you did was best, regardless of how much of a disaster that discussion was. I was actually shocked by how many people were suggesting torture.

[It takes him a moment to refocus, but once he has it's as though nothing had just happened; he shifts a little, bringing one hand up to toy with his hair - it's still incredibly nice, as it has been for about half the week now, caramel-macchiato nice.

He lets his fingers run over the ends of it, the gesture idle.]

He's only still one of mine because he wasn't attacking me personally. He's never stabbed me in the back, he's never disrespected me. So I'm not gonna disown him over this - sometimes shit happens, sometimes my guys get a bit too excited or they decide they can handle something when they can't, sometimes they just straight-out fuck up. I look after 'em anyway, no matter how bad they shit the bed, because that's just what my position says I should be doing.

[He'll kill them if he deems it necessary and he won't have a second thought about it, if it comes to that; at the same time, he's an aggressively "ride or die" person. It's just how he is, and really? Chaotic Evil gets to have all the feelings that it wants, but once you're actually responsible for people that's when the feelings stop.

So he'll look after his guys, Hazama included. At the same time...]

Torture's over a line for me, though. I don't give a shit who's suggesting it. If we're going to kill each other, we do it like we've got some sort of standards.

I was not expecting to have to argue that with so many people.

[Yeager's has been exactly that nice as well, actually! It's good to be prepared, just in case.]

It's bizarre, honestly. I've never had that problem with any of my employees and one of them was the most insane person I've ever met. It's so strange that so many people would want to torture him.

[We're surrounded by crazy people, Top Dollar.]

...I mean, I run into that problem a lot, but at least my guys all know that if it's happening I don't want to hear about it.

[YES. YES WE ARE.]

It's a bit ridiculous, ja? At least everyone seems to have settled on that now.

Of course, I don't really see how what they're wanting to do is any better.

[...The whole...chain-him-up-and-leave-him-to-die thing.]

Frankly, neither do I. I have no doubt that we'll revisit the issue after someone else dies. I'm assuming it'll be soon as well, since most murders happen around this time.

[...]

You still got that key on you? The one Sandra gave you.

Ja, I do. I'm not helping, but if you want into the room I'll let you in.

Won't need your help, just need the key. I'm guessing he'll be a bit more willing to behave after a few days in there.

[Don't worry, he's not going to make you talk to the guy.]

I might need your help with something in a bit, though. Just to give you some advance warning.

What is it? I can't say I offer up my services for free!

[But he's joking, probably.]

Let's say I got a present from Sandra myself recently.

[And surely we've recognized a pattern here by now, regarding those.]

Oh, did you? That's interesting.

[That's one way to describe it.]

So how can I assist you? I can certainly search your room, but I'm assuming an alibi would be a bit more useful for you, ja?

Assuming things go to hell and I don't have one, yeah. I'm not worried about anything that's in my room - I'd prefer that people not go through my shit, but I get that that isn't an option.

No, no, I understand entirely. I'll take care of everything I can. It certainly would be a shame to lose you to everyone's idiocy now!

Good to know the part where I'm not going to murder anyone at this point goes without saying.

Of course it does! I'd be sincerely disappointed if you were stupid enough to act on a motive!

[Oh, for fuck's sake.]

Would you, now.

Ja, of course! Do you really think I wouldn't care at all if you passed due to an act that idiotic?

Actually, no, because that'd be entirely my own goddamn fault.

Oh, I certainly wouldn't blame anyone but you. But it would be a shame to learn that you'd be that stupid!

Jesus Christ. Keep this up and I may actually think you give a fuck.

That certainly would be awful, I can't have you thinking that I care!

Don't worry, I'll hold my fuckin' assumptions back.

[...]

You got everything you needed to out of your damn system now, or...?

[That's about the closest he's getting to asking if you're okay, buddy.]

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