american hustle, voice testing.

[eager]

I got this, I got this. Look, whatever you got to throw at me, I can take it, I can make it work, I can run with it. I know what I'm doing, alright? You know that.

[ Debatable, but— ]

Come on, you already brought me all the way out here, I'm not goin' back. Not until I got something to show for it.

Comments

[nattering]

[ ... huh. ]

That's a lot more enthusiasm than most people show around here.

[eager]

Yeah, well, I'm not gonna be most people.

[ It's not arrogance so much as it is a weird, inherent determination, combined with the vague sense that his tongue works faster than his brain necessarily churns out the words to match. ]

You see an opportunity, you grab it. Don't you think?

[nattering]

Sure. [ nothing wrong with determination. ] It just depends on the opportunity.

[eager]

Opportunity to do anything you want. I mean— this place is crazy. I got a lot of ground to make up, lot of bridges to un-burn. Might not be the thrill ride of your life but it's something. Not that the management's not seriously giving me the chance to argue my case, here, but I'm not goin' down easy.

You headed anywhere, then?

[nattering]

And if you're okay with being able to do whatever you want within certain boundaries? Personally, I haven't been finding myself too limited in life lately. [ it's conversational, though, not argumentative. different strokes for different folks, right? ] Still, I can see why it might be an opportunity worth taking.

Not as far as I know. My whereabouts are controlled by someone who likes to think of herself as "hard to pin down", which is a euphemism for "has a short attention span".

[eager]

[ It's probably the best tack to take with Richie, given how quickly he tends to get fired up about anything, let alone an argument. ]

Boundaries, no boundaries, I can push the envelope. Anyway, you and me, we're in the same boat. I mean, I'm here — not that I'm complaining. Along with a whole bunch of other sad saps with too much time on their hands.

[nattering]

Not completely taken with your headspace company?

[eager]

Nah, nah, you know, never seen a bigger group of deadbeats. They all either don't wanna be here or they don't know what to do with themselves — gets me down just being around 'em. You, you're okay, though. Looks like you know what you're doing.

[nattering]

Well, I'm sorry you feel that way. Doesn't sound like a very encouraging set-up. [ joan's company is... just a bit peculiar. but nice. ] Though I'm glad I can keep up the pretence of looking like I know what I'm doing so well.

[actualbear]

Blah dee blah blah bleep bloo. I gotta tell you, dude, all I'm hearing is daddy didn't love me enough as a kid.

[eager]

And where'd you get your psychology degree?

[actualbear]

From the school of hard knocks and straight talking, my brother, you feel me?

[eager]

[ In a tone that's more confrontational than conciliatory: ] I'm not your brother, but I think I get the idea. Anyway, getting Freud to roll over in his grave's got nothing to do with it.

[actualbear]

[ Max just lifts his eyebrows and widens his eyes in a way that belies many a night spent on conspiracy theory faux-documentary pizza-aided binges. ]

Or does it?

[eager]

I— what? [ There is something unsettling for Richie, it seems, in getting so definitive a response. ] No, look, wise guy, I dunno who you been talking to but my record checks out straight, alright? Who are you, anyway?

[actualbear]

[ For some reason, this appears to be the right answer because suddenly Max is smiling and shrugging amiably. ]

Ah, I'm just joshing you, buddy. The name's Max, and no one ever tells me anything.

[eager]

You and me both, then.

[ He still looks nothing if not uneasy — it's rare that he gets to speak to anyone who can switch demeanor so quickly. Con artists are one thing but this is another, entirely. ]

Richie. Nice to meet you. What d'you do, then, besides playing Lucy from Peanuts?

[actualbear]

[ If Max had a sufficient level of awareness of the emotions of others (read: any), he might feel bad about Richie's level of unease. If he also had the capacity to feel bad, which he generally doesn't. ]

Pffffff. Doin' stuff is for chumps and people with mortgages, ie. chumps.

[sidearms]

Word of advice? You may want to go about dialin' back some of that fresh-faced, schoolboy enthusiasm. 'Round these parts, that attitude'll only get a man into trouble.

[eager]

Who're you supposed to be, John Wayne's stupid cousin? [ Richie DiMaso, ladies and gentlemen. ] The tall, dark, mysterious thing working out for you better, then?

[sidearms]

Can't say that I am, no. [ So, this is what Raylan gets for giving advice. There's a reason no one asks for it; all this? is probably why. ] Well, I did try my hand at being short, bright, and obvious once, but wouldn't ya know it? Genetics sold me short.

[eager]

[ I'M SORRY RAYLAN ]

Hey— hey now, don't start gettin' mouthy, I'm just as tall as you are. Look, I got ambition, alright? I know where I wanna be, I know I gotta fight to get there — I'm not playing dark horse if I break the ribbon straight outta the gate.

[sidearms]

[ Aw, hell. ]

Whoa, now. I don't recall there bein' a need for such hostility. Last I saw, we were just two men havin' a simple conversation about nothin' even remotely important. It a crime to shoot the shit now? 'Fraid I musta missed that memo.

[eager]

Real funny, True Grit.

[ Still — Raylan's right that this discussion doesn't amount to much in the grand scheme of things. Calm it down, Richie. ]

You getting carted off anywhere, then?

[sidearms]

True Grit. Which one does that make you, then? Don't make this too easy on me, now.

[ He rests his hands on his hips. ]

At the moment, can't tell ya. Way I hear it, though, my company's been requested on some cruise ship that's got no real intention of taking me anywhere quite so pleasurable. Can't say the ideas none too pleasin', myself.