💣 011 | audio

[devoutish]

[These days, when Alfie gets on the network to make a post - not just a comment, but a full post - it's generally because he's at least a little bit drunk. Today is no exception. He's also even more grumbly and mumbly than usual, and that combined with his thick accent means he's also probably even harder to understand than normal, so apologies for that, world.]

Twelve months I've been here, now; that's edging toward outlier status, isn't it? Mm, yeah. I've seen people come, I've seen people go, I've made a call to invite someone over for dinner during the holidays only to find out they've fucking vanished into thin air overnight.

[Pour one out for Dr. Eldarov. He grunts, irritably, and then abruptly changes the subject.]

Right - but I've decided to quit my job. Yeah, that's gonna be my gift to myself for my one-year anniversary, and for the new year; my people's new year. And as such, I'll be taking bets on how long it'll be before they notice.

[Because of course he's not just going to call up and let them know he's leaving. He's made a hobby out of being irritating at work, so why stop now?]

It was a weekly thing, my radio show, so I'll take guesses at one week, two weeks, three, and so on. Winner, I'll buy a drink; whatever you like. Unless you're a kid or something, I dunno; then I'll buy you a lolly. I'd suggest getting your bets in before Sir Robot makes headway on his surely-doomed plan to destroy the porter and fucks everything up for a bit. Shanah fucking Tovah.

Comments

[devoutish]

[Alfie's handshake is firm and steady - more so than the cane he walks with might lead someone to believe. He lets go, and nods toward the bar behind them, turning to head in.]

Different accent, or the same one?

[Alfie's own accent is pure London Cockney, and very heavy.]

[aloadeddie]

[ Weirdly, the resemblance-but-not-quite to Eames almost serves to put Arthur more at his ease - almost. It's weird, but not the weirdest thing he's experienced here by far. He's seen Eames in far weirder disguises than this, after all. ]

Different, though he could certainly talk like you if he wanted. He's a bit of a chameleon.

[devoutish]

Well, I hate to disappoint, mate, but I'm not your friend in disguise.

[He leans them back to a corner table, out of the way of most of the other patrons.]

[aloadeddie]

[ Arthur gives a dry sort of laugh. ]

Trust me, I'm not disappointed. [ He is not sure he'd consider Eames a "friend", for starters. Mostly he's a pain in the ass. He's hoping Alfie will be less so. Useful, without the annoyance? ]

I'll have whatever you're having.

[devoutish]

Whiskey, then. You'll take any brand?

[aloadeddie]

Yeah, I'm not picky. [ Or rather, he can't afford to be here, yet. It takes a while to get money saved up, as he is acutely aware. ]

You know, I'm not sure if this place would make it easier to be a criminal than in my world, or not. On one hand, you've got a lot of caped crusaders - some of them literally flying around. On the other, they're pretty high profile, so if you can keep your head down, I don't imagine they'd be too hard to avoid.

[ He says this conversationally - hypothetically. ]

[devoutish]

Yeah, they've got their hands full with the ones who'd like to rule the world or blow up entire cities.

[Alfie catches the barman's eye, nods to one of the whiskeys on offer up on the specials board, and holds up two fingers.]

But you're not planning to put on a cape yourself, is that right?

[aloadeddie]

No, I don't think I'd look very good in a cape. Though I've met a couple of guys here who can rock one.

[ Like Lando! ]

Nor am I interested in building a giant death ray and taking over the world. Like I said - corporate espionage. It can be good to play both sides, once in a while. Lucrative.

[devoutish]

Why Arthur, that's a bold thing to admit to.

[He takes a seat at the table, in the chair facing the rest of the room.]

[aloadeddie]

[ He shrugs. ]

At some point, you have to make a leap of faith. Anyway, I have to know both sides if I'm going to be effective at either of them. Anyone who hires me for the legal stuff would be an idiot to think I've never done the illegal stuff.

[devoutish]

But - that does mean neither side can truly trust you, doesn't it.

[aloadeddie]

[ Arthur shrugs. ] Everyone I work with trusts me to be discreet with their information. I'd never work again if I did cybersecurity for a company, then turned around and sold their passwords and encryption protocols to their nearest competitor.

[devoutish]

So you'll play both sides, but you won't betray. Mm.

[Here come their whiskeys; the barman plunks them down on the middle of the table and Alfie nudges one towards Arthur.]

Surely, though, you've got some who won't trust you regardless.

[aloadeddie]

[ Arthur takes a sip of his. Not bad. Strong. ]

Well, yeah. But isn't that how things always are? Especially for freelancers. Especially if you operate on the wrong side of the law. Paranoia comes with the territory.

[devoutish]

No, there are plenty who do things differently.

[Alfie, for instance, stubbornly refuses to pay off and work with the police even when not doing so costs him a lot of business.]

And paranoia's never a good thing, mate. Paranoia's too much of a good thing. Now, caution - caution's what you want.

[aloadeddie]

And where do you draw the line, between caution and paranoia?

[ That's the million dollar question, really. ]

[devoutish]

That'll depend on the situation. Can't paint this sort of thing with too broad a brush.

[aloadeddie]

On that, we're agreed.

[ Arthur always plans ahead, but adaptability is key - every situation is different, no two dreamers are alike. ]