4. voice

[rickitikitarr]

All right, this is all good fun and games, kids, but I'm going to be the one who spoils it by asking the question.

What the hell is going on?

And, for that matter, if we're the ones apparently running the show now, is anyone steering the boat?

[Ricki does not want the barge to smash into a sun and everyone to burn up, even though he's currently in the inmate-reclaimed bar and part of him is rather enjoying the fiddling.]

Comments

[thelastbullet]

[Jimmy drinks hard liquor like it's soda, most days, and he looks at Ricki's drink with some amusement in his eyes.]

Good-screwy, for once. For as long as it'll last.

[rickitikitarr]

[He gives him a wry little 'judge not' grin, and leans back in his seat.]

Iris is worried about deaths.

[thelastbullet]

[He rakes a hand through his hair, takes a sip of his drink.]

Whose?

[rickitikitarr]

Everyone's. If we start settling old grudges, trying to knock each other off, there's no one to bring us back right now.

[thelastbullet]

Isn't that how it should be? [You ask him, they've all gotten comfortable.]

[rickitikitarr]

Depends if anyone'll notice you missing, I suppose. I don't like the idea of being whacked in some corner and slipping through the cracks on account of another fellow going off his rocker.

[thelastbullet]

[He puts his drink down, then, and starts digging through is pockets for his cigarettes. He leaves the pack on the table for Ricki to take one once he's found it, along with his lighter.]

If nothing else, that's what a warden's for. See to it that you don't rot somewhere.

[rickitikitarr]

You're a gem.

[He says, very seriously, taking a cigarette out- he's run out in the last few days.]

It's good timing, then. I got my first temporary assignation.

[thelastbullet]

So I've been told. [He grins, just a little.]

Yeah? Who'd you end up with?

[rickitikitarr]

Cambridge. Seems all right. A bit personal, but then, he's a shrink, I think he can't help it.

[He lights up, and sinks down in his seat in relief.]

[thelastbullet]

[He nods- he won't tell Ricki, but he's had a few sessions with the man. He's astute, but intense, and he doesn't envy Ricki.]

He'll be invested. Enough to find your dead body, at least.

[rickitikitarr]

'Will find my dead body.' A glowing reference, a very good qualification.

[He can't help but laugh at where they've set the bar.]

[thelastbullet]

[He laughs a little, shakes his head]

Everyone has to start somewhere, right?

[rickitikitarr]

I'm sure I've had worse bosses before.

[A tiny grin in return.]

How've you been?

[thelastbullet]

My last one did this. [He points at the bullethole scars on his face, quirks a little grin. It's true- partly, at least.

At Ricki's question he leans forward, both forearms resting on the table between them.]

Keeping busy. Say, do you remember what we talked about, during the attack?

[rickitikitarr]

Keeping my eye out for something for you?

[He recalls, not willing to get too much more specific about a gun with mixed company around.]

[thelastbullet]

[He nods, keeping his expression carefully neutral]

That's right. Turns out I got a bit of a pest problem.

[rickitikitarr]

How dire?

[He wonders, because;]

I have a 'maybe,' but if I push it it may dry up.

[thelastbullet]

Dire enough to ask you, but not so dire I have to take someone else's piece. [He leans back again, just a little, so that it looks less like they're in cahoots.]

It appears this particular pest has a habit of returning, too.

[rickitikitarr]

Is it Arthas?

[This is a shot in the dark. Honestly, it'd be easier if it were, on account of his being nearly globally hated. Ricki pitches his voice at that just-right casual level, high enough that they aren't blatantly cloak and dagger, low enough that they won't be overheard by anyone who isn't really working at it.]

[thelastbullet]

[He doesn't laugh, exactly, because that would draw too much attention. But he does let out an amused huff, shaking his head.]

You think lead poisoning would do the trick on that piece of shit?

[rickitikitarr]

No, but it might have therapeutic value.

[For who, he won't elaborate.]

I think I'm going to need more detail than you're going to like. I feel like a prick asking, but the fellow I'm dealing with, I think I stand a chance because he trusts my professional judgement. It's none of my bloody business, I know, but is there any chance we could take a walk and you could go into detail?

[thelastbullet]

[He considers it for a second, then nods and knocks back what was left of his drink.]

Sure. Let's take a walk.

[With that, he slips out of his seat and calmly makes his way to the hallway.]

[rickitikitarr]

[Ricki follows after, and nods towards the deck. It's open, but then, they'll be able to see if anyone approaches.]

If you don't mind the view.

[thelastbullet]

[He doesn't- in fact, he spends more hours up here than he probably should. They're usually in the dead of night, when everyone who isn't having nightmares is asleep. He just shakes his head and sticks his hands in his pockets, leaning against the railing.]

I'm not looking to kill anyone. Just show that I mean it when I tell him to back off.