have_your_lives | (no subject)

(no subject)

Well, this is bound to be entertaining. I just wish I was able to watch from a greater distance. It's hard to make out the big picture from up close.

Well, Crawford, with Nagi droned and Farfarello having lost what precious little sanity he's got, it looks like it's just the two of us. Should I even bother asking if you're coming to me?

Joshua, you're welcome along if you've got no other plans. Schwarz seems to be a little short-handed at the moment.

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Dare I ask what it is you plan on doing? It looks like things are getting pretty heated up around here - I don't think I'm quite bored enough yet to start making my own entertainment.

No telling, yet. It depends on our moods. [And Crawford's orders, but he doesn't actually announce to people that he lets those shape his actions.]

I never thought I'd hear you so hesistant, though, Joshua.

Hardly. I'd just hate to miss the show thanks to any other distractions. Besides, I'm not really a fan of working up a sweat, so whatever you're planning had better be worth the effort. What's happened to your other teammates, anyway?

One of them's droned, and the other's got a harebrained idea about Lucy Smith that's going to get him killed, I'm sure. So for the moment we're down to two...not that we can't handle ourselves just fine. Crawford and I were partners long before Farfarello or Nagi came along.

As for me...I've got no plans at all. I do things as they appeal to me.

[He makes an amused sound.]

Facing down Lucy Smith on his own right now? Points for bravery, though I'm guessing brains weren't exactly a qualification to get on your team, hmm?

Oh? Not a bad way to get through life. Well, I certainly don't plan on staying inside all day like a good little child. I need someone to buy me more ammo, anyway.

He's smarter than you'd think, but not as smart as he thinks.

It's the only way of life worth living, in my opinion. And was that your way of asking me to buy you a present~?

People rarely are, I've found.

Hee hee. I've been an awfully good boy these past few days, I think I deserve a little treat. What do you say? I'll have to get you something of your own to even to score, of course.

Almost never, but the dichotomy in both cases is bigger than usual.

Well, who could say no to you?

Well, the drones don't seem to have a problem, for one. And even after I gave them my most charming smile. Just goes to show how terrible of a taste they really have, I suppose.

How terrible. All the better for you to be with those who appreciate you.

I'm at 1492 Kramden.

It's considered polite to ask, yes.

[]

Somehow I figured you'd have me make the trek, weaponless though I am.

I'm not a wholly unreasonable man. Tell your friend to be ready.

What are you planning, Crawford?

Make an educated guess.

[]

[And Joshua's going to head over, too. He'll be arriving a few minutes later than Crawford, though, because he is always fashionably late.]

[Schuldig is waiting for them both there...though he only slips out of the house when they show up. He didn't feel like drawing the attention of the hazmats while he was alone. Telepathy is useful, but not against those things.]

Crawford, this is Joshua. Joshua, Crawford. [He's already smirking. Introducing these two to each other is entertaining enough to distract him from current events completely.]

[]

[He gives Crawford the usual slow, appraising, and flirtatious look-over that he gives everyone new he meets, then nods towards the house.]

Pleasure. And much as I enjoy the risk of being caught as much as anyone, shall we save the exhibitionism for another time? I don't think I want those Hazmat men staring at me anyway. Their lack of taste might be contagious.

[Schuldig bites back a laugh, gaze flickering between Joshua and Crawford as he waits to see how Brad will react to this.] Probably not a bad idea, Crawford...unless your plans run counter to that?

[]

If that's where your list is.

[He raises his eyebrows as he starts to head inside.]

List? Have you gotten your hands on something interesting, Schuldig?

It's not as exciting as it sounds. [Schuldig flashes Joshua a grin.] Just brains that Crawford wants me to pick...

Given the current excitement, I'd rather use the time assessing elimination strategies.

Oh~? Actually, I'd like to see if you could get into our dear comrade's head. If he's broken out of his droning and has his mental barriers down, it could make it a lot easier for you to take a little peek inside.

[He glances at Crawford.]

So if Schuldig's the telepath and Nagi's the telekinetic, what does that make you? Not the religious fanatic, I hope.

I suppose I could try, if he'd stay in one place long enough...though it'd probably end horribly for someone.

No, no; Crawford's our resident stick in the mud.

Schuldig.

[]

Now's not the time to be playing particularly far from the vest.

[He makes an amused sound.]

You sound like my 'father' here. Where's the fun in a game without taking a little risk, hmm? Nobody ever wins big by playing it safe.

[The snap reels Schuldig in, at least somewhat; he knows when he's pushed as far as it's wise to, with Crawford. They've had at least a decade to figure out each others' boundaries, after all.

However, he's not sure what in particular he's being reprimanded for here.] Was that for the remark, or did you not want Joshua to hear our plans...? He's already made himself useful, you know. We could make an ally out of him; I think I may have already.

[He stays out of the exchange between Joshua and Crawford, for the moment.]

There are times and places for risk. This isn't the moment. It takes a mature sense of timing, perhaps.

[]

I'd prefer good behavior today of all days.

[Without his Scanning, he can't tell whether Crawford and Schuldig are having a private conversation or not, although he can hazard a guess. He ignores it, though - after all, there were certainly plenty of things he was keeping secret from them as well.]

And I can certainly see that you have a lot of experience, hee hee. Well, if you want to play it safe and leave the fun to the other players, that's fine with me. But there won't be many opportunities like this one - with the world being thrown into chaos, people are often too distracted by their own fear of change to notice what others are doing. It's the perfect time for taking a chance.

Edited 2010-10-25 05:32 (UTC)

[That's a feeling Joshua will have to get used to; Schuldig keeps all the members of Schwarz telepathically connected, and is running dual conversations while they're around more often than not.]

As always, Brad...define 'good behavior'.

Generally he leaves the risk-taking to me. Though I'm sure that doesn't surprise you, does it? You and I were the ones who dared to go see Lucy, after all.

This is hardly chaos. The fact that the insects bumbling around are more frantic than usual doesn't change much in the mechanics of the greater machine.

[]

Whether or not you've supplemented our numbers for the moment, the fact remains we're down two men. The lacquer of professionalism would be preferable.

Oya? Joshua too. Well, I'll assume that hte invite is extended to myself and come.

Cute.

You don't know where to come to, anyway.

I was listening on the phone lines earlier. I just wanted to give you the opportunity to pretend like you were in control.

Oh, I still am. And the more I think about it, the more I like the idea of you inviting yourself into the midst of a Schwarz meeting unannounced and unwelcome.

Should I bring my own bottle? Or perhaps the ladies of ill-repute? I have one of my very own now I've been wanting to show off.

Only one? I'm disappointed.

Quality over quantity.

The only people who say that are those who think the two are mutually exclusive.

Or those who truly know the value of what they have.

These all sound like excuses for not being able to get any more, or better...

"Truly is the wise man when he knows he has enough." It's a buddhist saying.

Mm...I think I'd rather have everything I want than be wise. Wisdom doesn't have a whole lot of benefits, in and of itself.

It does, however, allow you to get things.

No more so than intelligence or cunning, which I've already got.

I beg to differ on that claim.

Because you would know, of course, from talking to me twice.

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