heart-to-hearts

[16:00]*Iroquois-Pliskin slumps in his seat, still grumpily drinking his glass of water.
[16:00]*Jeb Parmalee watches Tori as she does. ...he sees that scarf. He knows what's up. "Did... did Loki stop by?"
[16:00]*Casper LeBlanc Jr will just follow them back downstairs then.
[16:00]*Iroquois-Pliskin http://blurbrain.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/12/Cato-the-husky.png)
[16:00]*Casper LeBlanc Jr just... sighs when he hears Jeb say Loki's name.
[16:00]Tori Marie Nygma: . . .
[16:01]*Simon-Blackquill notices Pliskin as soon as he gets downstairs.
[16:01]Simon-Blackquill: ...Pliskin-dono. Put the vodka down.
[16:01]Iroquois-Pliskin: ... What?
[16:01]Jeb Parmalee: V-Vodka?! He's supposed to be drinking water!
[16:01]*Jeb Parmalee making his way downstairs now.
[16:01]*Bobby-Fulbright is not surprised at Pliskin drinking vodka. ....Not that he ever is.
[16:01]*Tori Marie Nygma snickers, glad for the distraction. THANKS SIMON.
[16:02]Iroquois-Pliskin: Wait hold on...!
[16:02]*Iroquois-Pliskin was being a GOOD BOY drinking his water! D:
[16:02]*Bobby-Fulbright pauses, nudges Tori in the ribs and holds up his hand for a highfive.
[16:02]Tori Marie Nygma: ...
[16:02]Casper LeBlanc Jr: It's not vodka, it's water. If it's vodka I would be able to smell it from here.
[16:02]*Tori Marie Nygma grins. High-five!
[16:02]Iroquois-Pliskin: Yeah, c'mon...
[16:02]*Bobby-Fulbright high-fives so hard!
[16:02]Simon-Blackquill: Hmph. My mistake.
[16:03]*Tori Marie Nygma then notices Casper. "C-Casper! You came back..." Oh. Oh shit. Casper came back. Casper came back and Jeb just mentioned Loki. Shit.
[16:03]Jeb Parmalee: Don't worry, Mr. Blackquill! I made sure he didn't start drinking again! I took care of him.
[16:03]*Bobby-Fulbright high-fived with the hand that was up- well you get it.
[16:03]*Iroquois-Pliskin is practically /pouting/! And is that a bit of hurt in those blue eyes?
[16:04]Iroquois-Pliskin: Was just... drinkin' water...
[16:04]*Iroquois-Pliskin grumble mutter...
[16:04]*Jeb Parmalee smiles. "I'm so glad! Thank you for continuing to do what I asked."
[16:04]Simon-Blackquill: Hm.
[16:04]*Casper LeBlanc Jr just smiles a bit. "Don't I always?" He looks kind of tired, but he's holding it together. Somehow. He's doing his best to not fall over, at least.
[16:04]*Jeb Parmalee ruffles Iroquois' hair. "I'm really proud of you!"
[16:04]Iroquois-Pliskin: ... Hey.
[16:05]Tori Marie Nygma: ...do you need Jeb's help?
[16:05]*Iroquois-Pliskin huffs at the hair-ruffle.
[16:05]*Bobby-Fulbright strides towards the living room as well.
[16:05]Casper LeBlanc Jr: Nah, I healed everything, it just... takes a lot out of me.
[16:07]Iroquois-Pliskin: ... Ugh. I need a smoke.
[16:07]Tori Marie Nygma: ...
[16:07]*Tori Marie Nygma just gives Casper a look of concern for a long, long moment.
[16:07]Simon-Blackquill: ...I would like one as well, Pliskin-dono. If you don't mind.
[16:07]Casper LeBlanc Jr: ... What?
[16:07]Tori Marie Nygma: ...if you're sure.
[16:07]*Iroquois-Pliskin pushes himself up, again, wobbling slightly. He really is sober! It's just taking him a bit to recover. He had been /really bad/ before. "You'll have to help my find my lighter, first."
[16:08]*Jeb Parmalee does not approve of this talk of smoking. :|
[16:08]Casper LeBlanc Jr: ... Yeah. I'm okay. I'm just... you know. Someone's gotta do it...
[16:08]Bobby-Fulbright: ...[16:08]Tori Marie Nygma: ...yeah, I... I guess so.
[16:08]*Simon-Blackquill nods and starts looking around the floor for the lighter.
[16:08]*Bobby-Fulbright also does not approve of this talk of smoking
[16:08]Tori Marie Nygma: Jeb, could you keep an eye on Casper for me?
[16:09]*Iroquois-Pliskin's lighter had actually bounced into his hood and got stuck in the fluff there, and has been there all this time. He starts looking around as well, growling and muttering.
[16:09]Jeb Parmalee: Ah? ...of course. Where are you...?
[16:09]*Tori Marie Nygma looks to Bobby. "If I could talk to you alone for a moment..."
[16:10]Casper LeBlanc Jr: - I'm fine! Really!
[16:10]*Bobby-Fulbright totally distracted by Simon and Pliskin preparing to smoke, but turns his attention back to Tori when she talks. "Hmm? Oh, sure."
[16:10]Tori Marie Nygma: Thank you.
[16:10]*Bobby-Fulbright will follow Tori!
[16:10]*Tori Marie Nygma attempts to lead him out of the room.
[16:10]*Simon-Blackquill actually eventually notices the lighter when he gets a bit closer to Pliskin in his search, due to their difference in height. He snatches the lighter from the hood. "Heh. Found it."
[16:11]*Tori Marie Nygma will lead him to the furthest corner of the house from the others.
[16:11]*Jeb Parmalee moves over to Casper. "Tori gets this way. I'll believe you if you say you're fine, though..."
[16:11]*Bobby-Fulbright makes sure to close the door behind himself if there is one!
[16:11]*Tori Marie Nygma waits for him to close it, because of course there's one. "...I want to talk to the other one, please."
[16:12]Casper LeBlanc Jr: Yeah, I know. ... I just... need to rest, I think. Rest and... you know. Not fight giant hideous beasts with acid blood.
[16:12]*Iroquois-Pliskin is a bit startled when he feels someone behind him reach into his hood, and quickly turns- and there's Simon with his lighter. It actually makes him smirk, rolling his eyes. "Are you fucking kidding me? It was seriously in my /hood/?"
[16:12]*Bobby-Fulbright pauses, still looking pleasantly surprised. "Ah... Really? Are you sure?"
[16:12]Simon-Blackquill: Apparently. Not sure how that happened.
[16:13]*Simon-Blackquill hands it to him. "Now come, let us smoke."
[16:13]Tori Marie Nygma: Do you think I'd ask if I wasn't sure?
[16:13]Bobby-Fulbright: I... I guess not...
[16:13]Jeb Parmalee: Would you like something to eat?
[16:13]Tori Marie Nygma: Exactly.
[16:14]*Bobby-Fulbright pouts for a few seconds, hanging his head. Then he closes his eyes, takes a deep breath and when he looks up again, his expression is totally blank.
[16:14]Tori Marie Nygma: ...hi.
[16:14]*Tori Marie Nygma smiles weakly.[16:14]Bobby-Fulbright: ...
[16:15]*Bobby-Fulbright does not smile back.
[16:15]*Tori Marie Nygma doesn't expect him to.
[16:15]Tori Marie Nygma: I want to discuss... what's happened over the past few days.
[16:15]*Iroquois-Pliskin accepts it in trembling fingers, and turning towards the table. Among the bottles of alcohol, is a fresh pack of cigarette. His hand hovers among the bottles for a few moments. It'd be so easy to grab that still open bottle of scotch and just chug it right now. So fucking easy. He'd probably even be able to guzzle a good amount before someone wrestled the bottle from him.

Instead, he sighs, and takes up the new pack, tearing it open and fetching two cigarettes, one he pops between his lips, and the other he offers to Simon.
[16:15]Bobby-Fulbright: What about it?
[16:16]Tori Marie Nygma: ...I want to discuss it with someone who /isn't/ going to sugarcoat it. And... isn't Simon.
[16:16]Bobby-Fulbright: So you want an objective opinion, is that it?
[16:16]*Tori Marie Nygma just casually puts Simon in a nice little category of his own.
[16:16]Tori Marie Nygma: ...is that what it would be?
[16:16]Bobby-Fulbright: Of course.
[16:16]Tori Marie Nygma: ...then, yeah. I guess.
[16:17]*Bobby-Fulbright IS NOT SUBJECTIVE.
[16:17]*Tori Marie Nygma totally believes that he isn't.
[16:18]*Simon-Blackquill watches Pliskin cautiously as he fetches the pack of cigarettes amongst the alcohol, and actually manages to smile a little when he avoids the bottles completely. He takes the offered cigarette and sticks it in his mouth, already feeling a little better. "How are you feeling?"
[16:18]Iroquois-Pliskin: Like I've taken an axe to my skull, and really need a fucking smoke.
[16:18]*Casper LeBlanc Jr just... leans up against Jeb a bit, though. Jeb's nice and stable.
[16:19]Simon-Blackquill: Then light up.
[16:19]Bobby-Fulbright: Most humans desire relationships. Even someone like Simon Blackquill, who actively distances himself from others because he believes his death is near. ...Perhaps it is because he believes such a thing that he is desperate for it.
[16:19]Tori Marie Nygma: ...
[16:19]*Iroquois-Pliskin starts flicking his lighter, taking a few tries before the flame appears. His hands are shaking, however, as he tries to light up, having a bit of difficulty keeping the flame steady at the tip of the cigarette.
[16:19]Tori Marie Nygma: Humans...
[16:20]*Bobby-Fulbright gives her a look that clearly says 'so what?
[16:20]*Simon-Blackquill notices this and grimaces, eventually reaching his hand forward and holding Pliskin's hand steady himself.
[16:20]*Tori Marie Nygma doesn't even bother pointing out that she isn't, despite the look.
[16:21]Simon-Blackquill: You are a mess.
[16:21]Tori Marie Nygma: ...do /you/ think he is?
[16:21]Jeb Parmalee: Really, it's no problem... I can cook something for you! Anything you want!
[16:21]Jeb Parmalee: ...
[16:21]*Jeb Parmalee puts an arm around Casper.
[16:21]*Bobby-Fulbright shrugs. "I think it's the most likely explanation."
[16:22]*Iroquois-Pliskin very quietly mutters a 'thanks', managing to get his cig lit. "Yeah. I know." He says, smoke puffing out of his mouth as he speaks, and then he passes the lighter to Simon.
[16:22]Tori Marie Nygma: ...
[16:22]*Casper LeBlanc Jr flinches slightly and then sighs. "Honestly, it's okay. I mean I won't say no to food, but..."
[16:22]Tori Marie Nygma: I didn't even consider your thoughts when I pushed Simon and Bobby into... admitting stuff, you know. Sorry.
[16:23]Jeb Parmalee: Is there a dish you really like? Maybe I have what's needed to make it!
[16:23]*Simon-Blackquill lowers his hand only slightly in order to take the lighter from Pliskin and lights his own cigarette, coughing as he does so, but his coughs are considerably lessening in volume and intensity. "What do you intend to do about it?"
[16:24]*Casper LeBlanc Jr just shakes his head. "I mean... I like pizza, but... it's fine."
[16:25]Jeb Parmalee: ...if you're sure.
[16:25]Bobby-Fulbright: There's hardly a need to apologize. This life, right now... belongs to Bobby Fulbright. If he decides to become Simon Blackquill's partner, I see no reason to object.
[16:25]Casper LeBlanc Jr: ... Besides, I can survive off of pretty much anything.
[16:26]*Iroquois-Pliskin takes a drag, and sighs, leaning back against the table slightly. "Do you mean about the smoking, or the drinking?"
[16:26]Tori Marie Nygma: ...yeah, I guess that's true. Still, that doesn't...
[16:27]Jeb Parmalee: Then... maybe I can share my favorite food with you?
[16:27]Bobby-Fulbright: ...
[16:28]*Simon-Blackquill takes a drag of his own, being much more careful than Pliskin for obvious reasons. "I'm referring to the mess that your life has become in general, David." His voice is already a scratchy, low, almost-growl. Somewhat like a British Pliskin. Fucking smokers.
[16:29]Casper LeBlanc Jr: Sure.
[16:30]Tori Marie Nygma: You've been watching the entire time, haven't you? You know that I...
[16:30]Bobby-Fulbright: Have feelings for him? Yes.
[16:31]*Jeb Parmalee's eyes light up, moving away from Casper so he can take his hand and lead him to the kitchen.
[16:31]Tori Marie Nygma: ...
[16:31]Bobby-Fulbright: So does Iroquois Pliskin.
[16:31]*Bobby-Fulbright seems very unbothered by all of that.
[16:31]Tori Marie Nygma: So. Does your objective opinion from before cover your thoughts on that, too?
[16:32]Bobby-Fulbright: Simon Blackquill is not a traditionally handsome man, yet he has a sort of raw sex appeal that some would find appealing. It is no surprise.
[16:32]*Iroquois-Pliskin hums in thought, but from him it sounds more like a growl. "... I don't know." He says, stuffing his hands in his jacket pockets. "Last two times I got my shit put together, it was other people kinda... doing it for me. My friend pulling me out of Alaska and giving me a purpose, taking my booze away, encouraging my to my feet... and before that, the military basically kidnapping me and basically purging my system to make me ready for nearly twenty hours of combat and infiltration. Kinda had no choice to be sober that time."
[16:33]*Tori Marie Nygma's cheeks are turning a little pink. "Ha... that sure is a way of putting it~"
[16:36]*Simon-Blackquill blinks slowly, turning his head to the side. "Then you need to find out. If you have to consult a third party and force them to take your alcohol away from you, so be it. You may opt to join me in the clink for a time." He's pretty serious about that, too. Or at least, he really sounds like it.
[16:36]Iroquois-Pliskin: ... I can't.
[16:36]Simon-Blackquill: You can't find out? Or you can't join me in the clink?
[16:37]Simon-Blackquill: Because I can find a way to bring you in there.
[16:37]Iroquois-Pliskin: Well, definitely not the latter. There's a fast route for my ass getting busted and ruining everything I'm trying to do.
[16:37]Bobby-Fulbright: I fail to see why it matters. You have several other boyfriends who require your attention and Pliskin is far too much of a mess to become a steady partner for Blackquill. Neither is the sort of relationship that he will want to invest too much effort into. A quick release of sexual frustration may happen, but ultimately, such a thing would be trivial in the long run.
[16:37]*Bobby-Fulbright likes his brutal honesty, obviously.
[16:39]Tori Marie Nygma: ...heh.
[16:39]Tori Marie Nygma: Thanks. I... needed that.
[16:40]Simon-Blackquill: Then explain to me why you can't find out.
[16:40]Bobby-Fulbright: Hm. ... I would not invest too much hope into Bobby's determination to save Blackquill from execution. [16:41]Tori Marie Nygma: ...
[16:41]Tori Marie Nygma: ...it's... a little too late for that.
[16:41]Bobby-Fulbright: Then change your beliefs.
[16:41]Tori Marie Nygma: ...
[16:42]Tori Marie Nygma: Both you and him. Why do you think I can /do/ that?
[16:42]Iroquois-Pliskin: Why I can't get someone to help me again? Can't really stick around someone long enough for that, can I? Just kind of hoping it somehow sorts itself out before I head back home. I... don't want to put my friend through my bullshit again. Don't want to disappoint him like that.
[16:42]Bobby-Fulbright: It is perfectly possible. Simply accept that Blackquill will die soon. I fail to see how he can be saved.
[16:43]Tori Marie Nygma: ...
[16:43]Simon-Blackquill: Then you need to find out how to fix it yourself. You cannot rely on other people to get the job done, you imbecile. What if someone took advantage of you in this state?
[16:45]Tori Marie Nygma: ...I can't.
[16:45]*Iroquois-Pliskin takes a long drag from his cig again, looking down at his shoes. "... I don't know how. Don't know where I can go to figure it out without putting my cover in danger."
[16:46]*Tori Marie Nygma looks to her hands. "I should. I /know/ I should. If I don't lose myself, I'm going to outlive all of you. ...but... it's not something I've learned to accept."
[16:50]*Bobby-Fulbright does not even blink at the immortal implication. "The chances of a human outliving those they care about are always high. It's simple statistics. Not all loved ones, but most, as they inevitably grow to care about more and more people throughout their lifetime. Death is always a part of life."
[16:50]Tori Marie Nygma: ...yeah.
[16:50]Tori Marie Nygma: But...
[16:51]Tori Marie Nygma: If I don't even /try/ to help Bobby save him, in any way I possibly can, I'll never forgive myself.[16:51]Simon-Blackquill: If you wish to go somewhere, you can accompany me. But I will not help you. I will only maintain your cover.
[16:52]Bobby-Fulbright: You may try if you like. However, don't expect to succeed.
[16:52]Simon-Blackquill: You need to figure this out on your own, so that if the problem ever repeats itself, you can resolve it.
[16:52]*Simon-Blackquill looks for an ashtray.
[16:52]Tori Marie Nygma: So cynical~
[16:52]Bobby-Fulbright: The law is very clear on the matter. Even if Blackquill were to show remorse on the matter, even if he were to become the most 'just' person in the prison, his sentence would not change. His trial was irrefutable.
[16:52]Tori Marie Nygma: ...I wonder...
[16:52]*Bobby-Fulbright is yoloing his way through this conversatoin
[16:53]Tori Marie Nygma: ...no. It's stupid. It's just me wanting to believe it, probably.
[16:53]Bobby-Fulbright: What is?
[16:53]Iroquois-Pliskin: I can't just go somewhere for help, even with someone helping me with my cover. It'll never even get to the root of the problem with me spilling my fucking guts to someone who can't fucking know.
[16:53]Tori Marie Nygma: ...sometimes, it just doesn't make sense to me that Simon actually /killed/ his mentor.
[16:54]Simon-Blackquill: You mean a psychologist.
[16:54]Tori Marie Nygma: It just has to be my desperation.
[16:54]Iroquois-Pliskin: ... Maybe.
[16:54]Bobby-Fulbright: Why would he insist that he took her life if the situation were different?
[16:54]*Iroquois-Pliskin has been tapping his ashes out into the empty paper grocery bags. Brilliant idea.
[16:54]Tori Marie Nygma: I don't know.
[16:55]Tori Marie Nygma: Just... the way he's /talked/ about her a couple of times. It doesn't match up.
[16:55]*Simon-Blackquill starts doing the same, honestly. He can't find any other ashtray alternatives. "If only I hadn't killed my mentor."
[16:55]*Bobby-Fulbright sees an opportunity to be a real asshole, now.
[16:56]Iroquois-Pliskin: This wouldn't be an issue if I'd never been born.
[16:56]*Iroquois-Pliskin mutters with a growl. "Shouldn't've been."
[16:56]Simon-Blackquill: Cease that line of thinking this instant.
[16:56]Iroquois-Pliskin: Why? That's the real root of the problem here.
[16:56]Simon-Blackquill: No it isn't, you fool.
[16:57]Bobby-Fulbright: Hmm... I've looked into the matter, actually. Or, well, Bobby has, with his desire to save Blackquill. He started gathering all the information he could about that incident. Did you know that the murder was not the only crime to take place in that location, that day?
[16:57]Simon-Blackquill: The root of the problem may be the circumstances of your birth, but it is not the fact that you exist.
[16:57]*Bobby-Fulbright is doing the thing, yolo
[16:57]Tori Marie Nygma: ...no. I didn't know that. What else...?
[17:00]Iroquois-Pliskin: Yes it is. I was born to be a weapon, an attempt to replicate a legendary soldier, to create more of him to fight their wars. It's all I was trained to do. I didn't go to school, I didn't have friends, I barely even had a life outside my training. My entire childhood was about turning me into a finely calibrated weapon. To learn how to kill, to block out the humanity of my enemies to make it easy. Fighting, even killing, is all I've known, Simon. It's just a matter of where I point it, these days.
[17:01]Bobby-Fulbright: A rocket launch was scheduled to take place that day. This later became known as the HAT-1 Miracle, as the rocket became inexplicably defunct from the moment of liftoff. No one expected it to return to Earth with any survivors. There was talk of sabotage; a spy sent by a rival country to destroy the space center's efforts. If that spy really did infiltrate the space center that day, then perhaps he was involved in the murder somehow.
[17:02]Tori Marie Nygma: What? Then...
[17:05]*Simon-Blackquill tenses. He's feeling oddly suspicious again... there aren't enough details. He takes another drag and coughs, tapping his ashes onto the bags. "Again, these are merely circumstances of your birth. That has nothing to do with who you are as a person and who you can still become, because believe it or not, the mind is always growing and you can always change your future experiences."
[17:05]Bobby-Fulbright: It's possible that Blackquill's being blackmailed into keeping up this pretense of guilt. Perhaps he's doing it to protect his sister, or someone else he cares about. Bobby believes that if he can trace the spy who was present that day, there may still be a way to prove that Blackquill was innocent.
[17:07]Tori Marie Nygma: There has to be a way to do that, right?
[17:07]Iroquois-Pliskin: How am I supposed to do that, Simon? I've told you what I'm doing with my life. As far as most world governments are concerned, especially this one, I'm a terrorist. I was a wanted man even before I started this work, I'm a liability to the government. I barely even qualify as a real person, let alone capable of being a normal one.
[17:08]Bobby-Fulbright: I don't know. In my opinion, it's too far of a stretch. Even if such a spy does exist, there would be no way to find them.
[17:08]Tori Marie Nygma: ...there has to be a way.
[17:09]Bobby-Fulbright: I highly doubt it. We will see how this plays out, though I don't see it ending well.
[17:09]Simon-Blackquill: How do you figure you're incapable of being a "normal" person? Who drilled that thought into your head?
[17:11]Tori Marie Nygma: I'm going to keep up hope. There has to be a way I can be useful to Bobby in finding this spy, you know? If there's a way to save someone like /me/, then there's a way to do this too...!
[17:11]*Bobby-Fulbright is sure she will be very useful.
[17:12]Iroquois-Pliskin: No one had to do that for me. It's just a matter of fact. I'm more a weapon than a man. I'm a bundle of trained instincts, something to be aimed at something you want ended. The difference now is I'm trying to give myself a choice in where I'm pointed, with the aim of bettering this world and making a less violent future, free of war. It's all I can do.
[17:12]Bobby-Fulbright: Hm. Regardless, I would prefer if you don't confront Blackquill about this. I highly doubt he will be amused if he hears that Bobby has been digging into such private affairs. Even if he were to acknowledge that a spy is forcing his hand, nothing would come from it.
[17:13]Tori Marie Nygma: Right. He doesn't /need/ to know.
[17:15]Simon-Blackquill: The world will never be free of war, David. But you will always have the chance to be whoever you want to be. You used to compete in the Iditarod, did you not? Why did you retire from that?
[17:15]Bobby-Fulbright: If there is anyone who would know more about this spy, it would be Blackquill. If there is anyone who is least likely to share information about this spy, it would also be Blackquill. The irony is to be noted.
[17:15]Tori Marie Nygma: ...
[17:16]*Bobby-Fulbright is banking on the chance that Tori will discreetly convince Blackquill to share such info with Bobby anyway.
[17:16]*Bobby-Fulbright is setting up a wonderful keikaku.
[17:16]Iroquois-Pliskin: Because marines knocked down my door, shot all my dogs, and kidnapped me so I could infiltrate Shadow Moses Island, stop my brother from launching a nuke, and then kill him.
[17:16]*Iroquois-Pliskin says that very bluntly.
[17:17]*Tori Marie Nygma probably will be lucky if the fallout doesn't cause her to fall into a dangerous level of despair.
[17:17]*Bobby-Fulbright cares not for her levels of despair. .........nope.
[17:18]Simon-Blackquill: ...They shot your dogs? All of them?
[17:19]Tori Marie Nygma: You really don't think there's any other way we can find traces of this person?
[17:19]Bobby-Fulbright: A spy is a spy. The point is for them to not leave any traces whatsoever.
[17:20]Tori Marie Nygma: That's true, but everyone makes mistakes.
[17:20]Iroquois-Pliskin: Yeah. Some of 'em because they tried to defend our home. Some of 'em to get me to come quietly. The rest because... just to finish the job, probably.
[17:20]*Bobby-Fulbright does not make mistakes!!!!
[17:20]Bobby-Fulbright: Hm. Perhaps.
[17:20]Simon-Blackquill: ...I'm sorry.
[17:20]Iroquois-Pliskin: Don't worry about it. It was two years ago.
[17:21]Tori Marie Nygma: I have faith.
[17:21]Tori Marie Nygma: Maybe more than I have in a while.
[17:21]Simon-Blackquill: And I lost my mentor seven years ago. Do you think the pain went away?
[17:21]Iroquois-Pliskin: ...
[17:22]Bobby-Fulbright: ... That is a mistake for you to make, then.
[17:23]*Iroquois-Pliskin takes one last drag on his cigarette, before putting it out against one of the bottles of Bourbon, and then dropping the butt in one of the bags. "Probably not." There's a few seconds of silence, Snake looking away from Simon, before he speaks up again. "... Did I ever tell you that I killed my father?"
[17:24]Tori Marie Nygma: That's right--it /is/ mine to make. Even if he's an asshole, even if he's made stupid decisions that hurt me... I have Simon Blackquill to /thank/ for this faith. If I can help Bobby to save him, if I can give that faith /back/, then I will. I finally believe that maybe, just maybe, I /won't/ lose myself eventually. I'm going to put the life I feel I can keep a better hold on to good use!
[17:25]*Bobby-Fulbright closes his eyes for a moment. "Well, then. If you'll ignore my warnings, I can't do anything else but wish you luck."
[17:25]*Simon-Blackquill takes a drag of his own, right behind Pliskin -- he puts his cigarette out in a completely different way, by merely dropping it onto the ground and stomping on it. He doesn't care if it burns the carpet. "...........You did not." He replies, trying to hide the shock in his voice... but it's still evident. "Knowing you, he must have been a dreadful man for you to have done that."
[17:25]Tori Marie Nygma: Thank you. I appreciate your honesty either way, you know~?
[17:26]Bobby-Fulbright: It seems I'm one of the few people in the house who is not prone to lying for the sake of others.
[17:27]Tori Marie Nygma: ...touche.
[17:27]*Bobby-Fulbright only lies for the sake of himself
[17:27]*Bobby-Fulbright shrugs at the comeback
[17:28]Tori Marie Nygma: Thanks for talking to me anyway. I appreciate Bobby's friendship, but... I appreciate yours, too.
[17:29]*Bobby-Fulbright is silent for a moment. No one has ever considered themselves to be the Phantom's friend. If he hadn't held back most important information about himself, she wouldn't be saying these words to him. "Hmm. Was that all you needed?"
[17:30]Tori Marie Nygma: ...yeah. You can let Bobby come back, if you want.
[17:31]Iroquois-Pliskin: Actually, I used to look up to him. In my twenties, I joined an elite black ops unit called FOXHOUND. My commanding officer was a man called Big Boss. He taught me most of my greatest skills, and was a legendary soldier himself. And then, I was sent to infiltrate a mercenary organization that was building a Metal Gear, and take it down. And it turned out... that Big Boss was the man behind it all. He betrayed his unit, all of us. He'd been the one to send me on that mission, but only because he thought I'd be killed, and the higher ups would give up and leave him alone.
[17:31]*Iroquois-Pliskin takes a moment to gather his thoughts, before continuing. "I thought I killed him then, but apparently he survived, and made another organization elsewhere, and was building another Metal Gear. I'd tried to retire after the last mission, but I was brought on again. That time, I finished the job. With a lighter and a can of aerosol, burnt him to a fucking crisp, finally ended it. And then I retired to Alaska. Or, tried to."
[17:35]*Bobby-Fulbright will do so, but first... "If you wish to talk again sometime, you need only ask. In the meantime, I will ask you one last time not to let Blackquill know that Bobby has looked into the existence of this spy. It wouldn't do to sour their relationship with something so hypothetical."
[17:36]Tori Marie Nygma: I won't, I promise. You know I can keep my promises, you know. I mean, no one knows about you, right~?
[17:37]Bobby-Fulbright: ... Right. And I appreciate that.
[17:38]*Tori Marie Nygma beams. "I'm glad!"
[17:39]*Bobby-Fulbright takes a few seconds, blinks and then Bobby Fulbright is back! Ah, just look at that Totally Heartfelt Smile.
[17:42]*Tori Marie Nygma's moving in for a hug!
[17:42]*Bobby-Fulbright hugs back!!!
[17:43]Tori Marie Nygma: We can go back now, if you want.
[17:43]*Simon-Blackquill nodded as he listened, already feeling the urge to grab another cigarette -- an urge he resists. He's getting addicted again, isn't he? He'd better stop while he's ahead. It wouldn't do to get used to smoking again and end up damaging Taka's health... that bird is the most important thing in his life. "But because of who you are and the actions tied to that identity, you couldn't escape into retirement. This is why you've created a new identity entirely."
[17:44]*Bobby-Fulbright ruffles her hair one last time though. "Alright!"
[17:45]*Tori Marie Nygma giggles.
[17:47]Iroquois-Pliskin: The new identity is just a cover, to keep people off my tail. I've got other fake names, too, this isn't the only one. But... yeah. I can't escape from what I've done, what I'm built to do. I'm just trying to do it for the good of others, now, without taking orders from selfserving governments. I don't work for anyone else but myself, anymore. Not even for anyone else in Philanthropy- we're partners, co-founders. Equals.
[17:48]*Bobby-Fulbright leads the way back out the room.
[17:50]*Tori Marie Nygma keeps close to him!
[17:52]*Bobby-Fulbright returns to the living room and idk let's assume there's coffee there. He needs coffee.
[17:52]*Tori Marie Nygma stares at where Simon fucking put his cigarette out on her carpet.
[17:52]Tori Marie Nygma: ...
[17:53]Simon-Blackquill: Good. It is true that you cannot escape from the past, but you can always mould the future into whatever you want it to be. You'd do good to remember that.
[17:53]Tori Marie Nygma: I'm so glad that I have enough money for this shit.
[17:53]Simon-Blackquill: ........
[17:53]Iroquois-Pliskin: Thanks, I-
[17:54]*Iroquois-Pliskin oops, Tori and Bobby are back. Can't keep talking about his secrets anymore. "... Hey. Simon?" He asks, lowering his voice as he looks to the other man.
[17:54]*Bobby-Fulbright is sipping his coffee and seems to not care about whatever Pliskin and Simon are talking about.
[17:54]Tori Marie Nygma: ...is that your "post-sex" coffee?
[17:54]*Bobby-Fulbright chokes on his coffee
[17:54]*Simon-Blackquill's eyes widen at Tori's comment.
[17:54]*Tori Marie Nygma has decided that's how she's going to cope with this. By mercilessly teasing him.
[17:55]*Iroquois-Pliskin ignores the not-so-secret bad-feels that brings to his gut, and just snorts.
[17:55]*Bobby-Fulbright laughs, rubbing the back of his hand past his face.
[17:55]Tori Marie Nygma: You should set me up with a cup. With sugar and some of this awesome creamer in the fridge.
[17:55]Bobby-Fulbright: Will do!
[17:55]*Simon-Blackquill looks back at Pliskin and whispers, "What?"
[17:55]*Bobby-Fulbright goes to get that creamer!
[17:56]Tori Marie Nygma: Then it can be my "make-up-for-fucking-on-my-bed" coffee.
[17:58]*Iroquois-Pliskin leans close, just a bit, trying to keep a reasonable distance. Lowering his voice to a whisper as well, he simply says. "I like it when you call me by my name."
[18:00]*Bobby-Fulbright creates a time paradox by returning with the coffee already despite there not being a response from Blackquill yet[18:04]*Simon-Blackquill's eyes widen once again. He's only saying David's names because he's being serious. It's an indicator. "........You're welcome."
[18:05]*Tori Marie Nygma takes the coffee. "Thanks, Bobby!"
[18:06]Bobby-Fulbright: You're welcome! It's the least I could do.
[18:06]*Tori Marie Nygma sips. Ah, yes. Sweet, sweet making up for bullshit.
[18:06]*Iroquois-Pliskin smiles- an actual smile, which is a bit awkward and maybe even sheepish. "It... makes me feel more human. Having someone call me my name."
[18:06]Simon-Blackquill: Well, you are human, you deserve to feel that way.
[18:06]Iroquois-Pliskin: ... Thanks.
[18:07]*Iroquois-Pliskin leans away from Simon's personal bubble again, and pushes off from the table, picking his water back up and taking a sip.
[18:07]*Bobby-Fulbright vaguely wonders if Simon would spew the same words at the Phantom if he knew. ...Of course not.
[18:12]*Simon-Blackquill then approaches Bobby, having finished his discussion with Pliskin. He doesn't say anything, just leans into him.
[18:12]*Bobby-Fulbright leans back, wrapping an arm around Simon's back.
[18:13]Tori Marie Nygma: Aww...
[18:13]*Simon-Blackquill rests his head on Bobby's shoulder, sighing heavily.
[18:13]*Iroquois-Pliskin takes a large gulp of water, before reaching for his pack of cigarettes, and lighting a fresh one, taking a drag.