oohforeshadowing | IC Inbox

"It's why I made it my career, darling. If I just wanted to pay the bills, there are other jobs."

Nico tugs at a lose thread, the frayed hem and cuffs of his jacket suggest it's a long standing habit.

"I think I'd like to build things."

Trouble's gaze follows his movement.

"That's lucrative. Maybe you could buy some clothes for the first time in, what, five or six years?"

There's a flicker something that might be a smile on someone else.

"Can't be more than two." His clothes can be described as shabby, but they do fit. For the most part. And in a world full of choices, it's easier not to have to think about what he wears. Still, his inmate works in the wardrobe room. "You like dressing up?"

Another toothy smile.

"I do like a transformative costume, on occasion. And it's nice to challenge others. Maybe you could come by my place of work sometime and I can fix you up."

Nico's willing to sacrifice a lot for the job. On the whole, the barge usually asks him to sacrifice very little. This is somewhere in between.

"Maybe." But he's already resigned to facing it, at least once. "Do you have what you need to be comfortable?"

"I do. My previous temp didn't seem to like me, but he was very accommodating. I do appreciate you asking, of course."

"Do you like to visit the Enclosure regularly?" Not that Nico thinks it's particularly difficult to find someone to open the door, but there might be times it's a bother to have to ask while he can open it for them without any questions.

"Not really. It's just nice to see a change of scenery, sometimes," they say idly. "And you might as well see what 'home' is for me, mm?"

They make a sweeping gesture.

"It's interesting." Nico's 'home' would just be concrete walls, whatever he feelings about open spaces, it's better than that.

"You said it's called the Valley of the Lost?"

"I did! It's a useful place for those of us who aren't keen to try fitting in elsewhere."

"Was it that sort of place even before a dictator arrived from another world?"

They shrug expansively.

"Probably! Honestly, darling, I can't remember that far back. It's been quite some time."

"Do you work for them?"

"The Horde? I did. Then I didn't, when it became clear where one would bet the safer money."

Loyalty? Pssshhht.

That sounds reasonable to Nico, his loyalties run deep, but there's a reason they're rare. And not to any organization.

"That can be dangerous. Those groups usually don't like people leaving."

"Yes, well. On the one hand, it was looking like they were about to be thoroughly routed with an ancient superweapon, so I had fewer concerns about the repercussions. On the other, well...I had to have ended up here somehow."

"Not a lot of good choices. Would you regret it - if they weren't routed by the ancient superweapon?"

"Would I regret....what, exactly?"

What is this peculiar R word of which you speak?

"Leave the... Horde. If it turned out that they could've stayed the safer money."

"Obviously. But you can't not pick a side."

That's very true. You either pick a side or a victim of one or another. Not that choosing one removes that possibility, but at least it gives you a chance to weigh the odds.

"Just a matter of trying for the right timing." Said mostly to his hands, but he looks up again to address DT more directly. "The barge usually makes sides easier."

They regard him curiously.

"Do you think the Barge even has sides?"

"Not consistent ones. But when something happens, there are sides. Including not being involved. The rest of the time it's more... background alliances or, uh, friendship." He's always a little skeptical of 'friendship', even though it's what binds him to the sides he's chosen over the years.

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