WEEK 6

[bathymetric]

Good morning, passengers. Happy Sunday. Happy New Year.

Three more of your number gone - or four, depending on your point of view. But regardless, you're down three bodies. The boat is getting less crowded, week by week. A loneliness only exacerbated by yet another new floor, and yet another section of topdeck. There are almost too many facilities for you to use by now, aren't there? And yet the amenities keep on coming. One of them is even personalized, this time, and perhaps not in a way you're fully comfortable with.

Who knows, maybe if your number falls enough, you'll be able to just exist permanently on the different floors. Might keep you out of the trial room for more than a week.

Are you at the point where you'd settle for that yet?

And if you look to the horizon, out in the distance... there are clouds starting to gather on the horizon this week.




SUNDAY | MONDAY | TUESDAY | WEDNESDAY | THURSDAY

[ ooc: Welcome to week 6, everyone! Remember to turn in AC here and coins for regains over here! If you wish to get in contact with the npcs, Davy Jones is over here, and The Captain is over here! And as requested, profiles are accessible here. ]

Comments

[deathmagnetic]

[ Risotto didn't know what kind of answer he'd be expecting from the other man, but...it certainly was something he took care to listen to. He supposed Yeager would, in this instance, be considered something like a part of Alexei's Unità Speciale to make a comparison between his former Boss' groups.

...Then, of course, Yeager gave further elaboration on his position.

Without thinking much about it, the assassin's expression shifted slightly. Not to an expression of pity or sympathy, but... ]

I understand.

[ His situation was different than Yeager's by far, he's sure. But he didn't forget what the Boss had threatened. What he had done to two of his teammates.

Risotto couldn't say he had full knowledge of everyone's side of the story. However, he understood that he had come to hold some respect for him, and he didn't mind talking to him. Maybe that's why he could feel animosity for a man he's never met, and never known (it's always been the easiest thing for him to feel.) ]

...I hope they killed him. I can't say I know everything about you, but I know he's trash for threatening your loved ones. Your family.

[scythegun]

I hope they did too.

[Alexei's motivations and desires mean nothing to him. They haven't meant a damn thing to him in ten years and that wouldn't have changed even if Alexei had never contacted him again. But now...]

I didn't see a way to fight it, so I didn't. It isn't as though he asked anything too dreadful of me for the most part, but... Not having any choice in the matter and knowing that stepping too far out of line would hurt those who couldn't defend themselves against him... Well, I stopped trying very early on.

[Was it a good idea to put his faith in Cumore? Absolutely not. But it was the only option he felt he had, and look how that went.]

Thank you for listening. [And for understanding.] I don't really like inflicting my problems on others, so I'd prefer it if you could keep this between us.

[deathmagnetic]

[ It all made sense to him.

Why bother to try when it won't really give you any advantages? Waiting for the right moment was something he had been able to afford. Though, even that hadn't worked out well, and of course not everyone (Yeager being a prime example) would be able to see the chance. ]

I imagine that it wasn't an easy choice all the same. It never is.

[ ...There's a pause, because no one's ever thanked him before in his life. ]

Listening was easy. [ ... ] With that said, you don't have to be concerned about me talking about any of this with anyone else. I don't make a habit of spilling other peoples' secrets. We've enough to worry about as it is.

[scythegun]

I appreciate it. There isn't much of a point in keeping it a secret, but... Well, I'm not usually one to talk so freely about my personal life.

[If it's something he can be flippant about, then sure. But anything more than that is difficult to address. It's getting easier, and he's not sure what that says about him.]

It sounds like you've experienced something somewhat similar before, though. If you ever want to discuss it, I'm willing to listen.

[But he also gets where you may not want to, and that's absolutely fair.]

[deathmagnetic]

You never seemed the type.

[ Idly, Risotto did recall thinking the both of them similar in some aspects. Almost shockingly so; but the way they handled matters and responded to them were ultimately different.

It's strange, though, being able to relate to someone. Even stranger still feeling like he could tell them anything personal; the last person he had even managed that with had been Sylvando. In the end, him feeling that he could meant the words came easily. ]

Something tangibly similar, but ultimately different.

I had joined Passione years ago willingly, and eventually had my own trusted team. This team carried out assassinations. However, we discovered we weren't treated with as much respect as other teams, and paid far less despite our work being arguably dangerous compared to some of the others. A couple of my team mates had looked into discovering the Boss' identity, which had remained shrouded in mystery, believing if they figured it out we could do something about our situation.

Until that point, it was something I hadn't thought about much. Why our Boss would keep himself hidden from us, or shy away from direct contact.

In the end, Boss didn't take too kindly to their attempt, and made an example of them, delivering what remained of them back to us as a threat.

But, of course, this was the life we chose. I can't say it was something having to do with my loved ones being threatened from the start. Still, there weren't any other options for people like us. So at the end of the day, we had no other option but to fall in line. Not that it would've done much good if we hadn't; we had been subsequently isolated from the others. Put under surveillance, and given the cold shoulder.

...Additionally, unlike in your situation, we were eventually able to act against the Boss. Though, it came with a high price.

[ He glanced back over to the figurines. It wasn't an insignificant number.

His expression wasn't mournful, nor sad. Just tired. He had also briefly wondered if he had been able to save them from their fate by doing what Yeager had done. But he knew, deep down, he'd have never been able to make that type of sacrifice.

It wasn't a good thing, but in a way it may be considered an advantage all the close people to him were dead. It just meant he had nothing to lose. ]

In the end, it was what it was, and I still intend to get my revenge, one way or another. But now you know. I assume you also have no intention of breathing a word of what we discussed here, so I won't bother with any threats.

[scythegun]

...Well, if you ever decide you want to pursue a similar line of work with a better boss, you could always come to Terca Lumireis! Leviathan's Claw is actually the assassins guild.

[They do occasionally do bodyguard work and the like, but they're primarily hired hitmen. Anyway, it's more of a joke than a genuine offer - Risotto has his revenge to see to.]

I can understand why you want to avenge your fallen friends. Such a situation... it truly is horrid. I am glad you were able to take a stand against your boss eventually.

[Though the high cost is also understandable. A person with an operation that large wouldn't be an easy target, even for trained killers.]

I have no intention of saying anything about what you've told me either. It's no one else's business, after all. Thank you for sharing, though; it sounds like you've been through quite a dreadful time as well.

[deathmagnetic]

[ He certainly did.

But his lips were curling upwards ever so slightly. He hardly noticed it himself; he's almost never in a genuinely good enough of a mood to be doing that. Joking was hardly (never, practically) the type of thing he did, as it never came easily to him, and yet he had leaned into it a bit while also considering it seriously. ]

At least you seem capable of recognizing true talent when it makes itself apparent. That said, I've always been considering what I'd do in the aftermath of the Boss' death, and came up short.

[ Not exactly true. Whoever killed the Boss had the right to take over the organization, but he didn't foresee himself leading it. He'd just be reminded of the fact he couldn't stop anyone he ever cared about from dying.

Then there was also Buccellati's team. But part of him had a feeling he was unlikely to be able to take care of them properly, given everything. So as long as the Boss met his end, he'll consider his debts settled. To say nothing of the vengeance he wanted to be exacted on Jack, but that was less personal.

He'll nod his head slightly other's words in agreement. ]

It's not something I've shared with anyone else here. Nor did I intend to, and I'm sure it's the same way for you. But, I suppose the unexpected occurring is a fact of life.

[scythegun]

[Look at that, he even managed to amuse Risotto. That's definitely a victory!!]

I'm so used to keeping secrets... Sometimes I have to remind myself that there's not much of a need for that here.

[Most of the stuff he's kept quiet has been stuff that really doesn't matter here. Sure, some things - like Leviathan's Claw being the assassins guild - are best left out, but it's not like it'll hurt any to let people know that Droite and Gauche are his daughters, or that Alexei felt the need to threaten them to ensure Yeager's cooperation. But these things take time, and he probably never will open up entirely.]

It certainly is, ja. Life would be boring if you could predict everything that would happen!