![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
[Hello, hello.
When Alex comes into the vrooooom, Blanca is already there. He turns, but offers her a smile of greeting when he realizes it's her.]
Hello, Miss Alex.
[The room has since changed for him. They are standing on the street in front of a large, elaborate building.]
When Alex comes into the vrooooom, Blanca is already there. He turns, but offers her a smile of greeting when he realizes it's her.]
Hello, Miss Alex.
[The room has since changed for him. They are standing on the street in front of a large, elaborate building.]
Hello.
[ she's... already looking around, a little bewildered. she's been in this room before and knows what it can do, but it had only been projecting the small living room of the benriya's apartment before.
this is so much bigger and grander. ]
Where is this...?
[ she's... already looking around, a little bewildered. she's been in this room before and knows what it can do, but it had only been projecting the small living room of the benriya's apartment before.
this is so much bigger and grander. ]
Where is this...?
[Her surprise makes him laugh a bit, and he beckons her inside a little more over by him.]
The New York Public Library. It's quite big, isn't it? But it's filled with so many good books. It was a favorite place of mine.
[He offers her his elbow.]
Want me to show you around?
The New York Public Library. It's quite big, isn't it? But it's filled with so many good books. It was a favorite place of mine.
[He offers her his elbow.]
Want me to show you around?
"Quite big". [ she says drily.
but she takes the elbow when it's offered, still staring up at the sheer size of the building. ]
This is huge.
but she takes the elbow when it's offered, still staring up at the sheer size of the building. ]
This is huge.
[hehe
Once she has his elbow, he, like, virtually "leads her up the stairs," except... instead of movement, the room kind of just changes from the outside to the inside.
If she thought the outside was big, haha!!]
Once she has his elbow, he, like, virtually "leads her up the stairs," except... instead of movement, the room kind of just changes from the outside to the inside.
If she thought the outside was big, haha!!]
[ anna.
oh that's a strange thing to experience. she hesistates as the room changes, and has to stumble herself forwards to keep pace, but the combination of the sudden change and what the building changes to is like a double whammy. ]
oh that's a strange thing to experience. she hesistates as the room changes, and has to stumble herself forwards to keep pace, but the combination of the sudden change and what the building changes to is like a double whammy. ]
[STOP.
Blanca has a steady hold on her, so she will be fine even if she stumbles under the magnificence of the New York Public Library. He offers her a smile, and lowers his arm if she wants to let go to explore.]
It's very busy, but surprisingly... cozy. I mentored a boy I would bring here from time to time because he was a voracious reader.
Blanca has a steady hold on her, so she will be fine even if she stumbles under the magnificence of the New York Public Library. He offers her a smile, and lowers his arm if she wants to let go to explore.]
It's very busy, but surprisingly... cozy. I mentored a boy I would bring here from time to time because he was a voracious reader.
[ no.
it’s very fancy. she’s allowed a stumble of surprise. ]
Mentoring... are you a professor?
it’s very fancy. she’s allowed a stumble of surprise. ]
Mentoring... are you a professor?
[His smile softens, and he shakes his head.]
Not exactly. I was teaching him how to... survive in the world he had been trapped in.
[In fact (this will be right up your alley, becks), there is someone sitting somewhat far off at one of the tables. It's hard to make them out, but the blonde hair, and little form are easy to see. The boy can't be any older than fifteen at the most.]
Not exactly. I was teaching him how to... survive in the world he had been trapped in.
[In fact (this will be right up your alley, becks), there is someone sitting somewhat far off at one of the tables. It's hard to make them out, but the blonde hair, and little form are easy to see. The boy can't be any older than fifteen at the most.]
...
Oh, I see. [ even though i have never seen banana fish, i know who ash lynx of the tryhard name is. a good boy. a good boy who should love himself more. ]
Organised crime? Or... [ she pulls a face slightly. ] Worse than that?
Oh, I see. [ even though i have never seen banana fish, i know who ash lynx of the tryhard name is. a good boy. a good boy who should love himself more. ]
Organised crime? Or... [ she pulls a face slightly. ] Worse than that?
[ stop. they're not all blonde!!! ]
...
[ the worst part is she can guess, the sort of things that can be "much worse" in the world. she looks over at the figure for a moment or two, thoughtful and assessing, before her gaze goes back to the building on the whole. ]
Was he trafficked?
...
[ the worst part is she can guess, the sort of things that can be "much worse" in the world. she looks over at the figure for a moment or two, thoughtful and assessing, before her gaze goes back to the building on the whole. ]
Was he trafficked?
[Sweet "Ash" will just continue to read. It's fine.
He watches Alex look around; he knows this place relatively well, and so nothing is new to him exactly. But he's curious to see her reaction to it. His smile is faint, though.]
Yes. The man I worked for at the time was his "owner," and he requested I train him. His name is Ash. I'm sure he resents me a little for not helping him escape. However... at the time, my hands were tied.
If I did anything, we both would have been killed more than likely. Golzine had a lot of money, and a lot of power.
He watches Alex look around; he knows this place relatively well, and so nothing is new to him exactly. But he's curious to see her reaction to it. His smile is faint, though.]
Yes. The man I worked for at the time was his "owner," and he requested I train him. His name is Ash. I'm sure he resents me a little for not helping him escape. However... at the time, my hands were tied.
If I did anything, we both would have been killed more than likely. Golzine had a lot of money, and a lot of power.
[ STOP it's the wrong ash. ]
... Maybe.
It's better to have someone on your side though, even if they can't stop what's happening to you completely. But that's easy enough to say when you're not the one experiencing it.
[ hmmm. ]
So you were involved with ... what, the mafia? You said "worked" in the past tense.
... Maybe.
It's better to have someone on your side though, even if they can't stop what's happening to you completely. But that's easy enough to say when you're not the one experiencing it.
[ hmmm. ]
So you were involved with ... what, the mafia? You said "worked" in the past tense.
I know.
[His brows furrow gently. He didn't want to assume Alex had been through some things, and he's a little disappointed she is alluding to it being true.]
I'm retired. I worked through contracts, not necessarily as part of the mafia. But they regularly hired me because of... my particular skill set.
[His brows furrow gently. He didn't want to assume Alex had been through some things, and he's a little disappointed she is alluding to it being true.]
I'm retired. I worked through contracts, not necessarily as part of the mafia. But they regularly hired me because of... my particular skill set.
...
So, like a Handyman?
[ she looks amused, for whatever reason. ]
So, like a Handyman?
[ she looks amused, for whatever reason. ]
That sounds a little like Nicholas and Worick. Although they take odd jobs from anywhere, not just mafia.
[ some things are the same no matter what world you're in then, hm? ]
[ some things are the same no matter what world you're in then, hm? ]
[ her life is a mess, honestly. ]
Mm. Something like that. [ she's... not priority, she knows that. ]
Sometimes just knowing there's someone there in some way is enough. He might know that too. [ she nods over at figure reading books in the corner. ]
Mm. Something like that. [ she's... not priority, she knows that. ]
Sometimes just knowing there's someone there in some way is enough. He might know that too. [ she nods over at figure reading books in the corner. ]
[He peers at the distant figure, face not sure if it wants to smile or frown.]
The first time I met him, he got his math tutor fired. He is incredibly smart and cunning. He knows how to use his charm against the people who let their vices control them.
The tutor ran out of Mister Golzine's garden, claiming he had been propositioned by Ash. When we went to the gazebo, Ash was laid back with his clothes down and torn.
I asked if he was all right, but when I tried to touch him, he slapped me away. There was such a fierce, cold defiance in his eyes. Even at that age, he had long known the way in which most people wanted to touch him.
The first time I met him, he got his math tutor fired. He is incredibly smart and cunning. He knows how to use his charm against the people who let their vices control them.
The tutor ran out of Mister Golzine's garden, claiming he had been propositioned by Ash. When we went to the gazebo, Ash was laid back with his clothes down and torn.
I asked if he was all right, but when I tried to touch him, he slapped me away. There was such a fierce, cold defiance in his eyes. Even at that age, he had long known the way in which most people wanted to touch him.
...
[ honestly? ]
Good. There are a lot people out there who are willing to do terrible things because of power and lust, especially if it doesn't seem like their target will fight back. They don't even need coaxing, they just do it because no one will stop them.
I don't blame him for using their weaknesses against them, to his advantage.
[ honestly? ]
Good. There are a lot people out there who are willing to do terrible things because of power and lust, especially if it doesn't seem like their target will fight back. They don't even need coaxing, they just do it because no one will stop them.
I don't blame him for using their weaknesses against them, to his advantage.
I don't disagree. It still wasn't quite enough. He had all of the spirit, and the smarts, but... lacked the refinement. I hadn't planned to accept the job, not with him being so young.
I don't think learning how to do the things I know is any better than what he was going through.
But one day, I found him after one of Mister Golzine's men had abused him. That's when I decided I should teach him to be strong enough to stand on his own when he was ready.
[He glance back to Alex, his look soft, but still concerned.]
I'm sorry you seem to understand what he's gone through. No one should have to go through those kinds of things.
I don't think learning how to do the things I know is any better than what he was going through.
But one day, I found him after one of Mister Golzine's men had abused him. That's when I decided I should teach him to be strong enough to stand on his own when he was ready.
[He glance back to Alex, his look soft, but still concerned.]
I'm sorry you seem to understand what he's gone through. No one should have to go through those kinds of things.
Page 1 of 6