Voice-testing, homeless, you know the drill...

[leveraging]

Look, uh... mundane? I don't know what you're worried about, you've got some experience at this thing.

[ . . . what ]

No, just... run with it for a second, will you? This roleplay you're doing - you're basically just pretending you're someone else, right? And your goal is to... what, compromise people with feelings, emotions, manipulate them like putty in your hand, right?

That's really not that different from what I do. What I did before. Though, to be fair, our kind of roleplaying was far more expansive... and involved... and meant to defraud people who deserve it, but that's beside the point...

[ . . . Nate, Nate. No, I do not want to be compared to you as a conman, okay? This is different. DIFFERENT. ]

My point is, you're worrying about this more than you should be. So just... relax, take a deep breath, straighten yourself out and let me talk. It's not that hard.

And if all else fails... we've got backup plans. Use them.

Comments

[hitsitoff]

...Are you trying to creep your mun out enough so he'll let you be?

[leveraging]

... maybe.

[ read: yes ]

That's kind of the point.

[hitsitoff]

Nuh-uh. No. If I get to deal with this, so do you. You're not weaseling your way out of it.

[leveraging]

Perish the thought. I just want him to understand what he should be expecting by harboring me, knowing who I am.

I think of it as oversight.

[hitsitoff]

You do that.

...But try not to treat him like he's a mark. I mean, it's bad form, but mostly I can't break anyone's legs for you if you screw up.

[changethendie]

[this twelve-year-old in a cowl is giving you such a weird look, Nate. in a cowl]

. . . I do believe you're taking this much too seriously, sir. Perhaps to frightening lengths.

[leveraging]

Oh, me? No, I think I'm taking this just about right.

[ As mundane's stares of disbelief at him are showing. ]

[changethendie]

No, no. This is all about fun. And yet here you are, liking it to a game of cons as if all the world were at stake. I mean, you're not wrong, it is a con. But of all the things you could be intensely serious about, this truly ought not be one of them.

If you think me wrong, look at your writer's face.

[leveraging]

[ Nate can only raise an eyebrow at this kid, mildly impressed by his answer.

Well, he certainly wasn't wrong; there was many a time where he had too much fun messing with the people he and his team were against. ]

I won't argue that. Living from one score to the next, that's not what it should be all about, especially since eventually, your luck runs out.

[ As his father's fate proved. ]

Still, is fun also just all there is, as you say?

[changethendie]

[Oh we're getting deep, are we? Loki spreads a skinny arm in a wide shrug]

Outside of these writers' dubious intentions? No. There is always a greater reason for a con. Otherwise, the risk wouldn't be worth it.

I'm a fan of the noble hero-y reasons myself, but I realize that's quite a rare motivation.

[npsleepy]

...It never hurts to plan. But, in this case, it might... be going a little far.

[...]

...

Also... I don't think that's really like roleplaying at all...

[leveraging]

In my line of work, it never hurts to have a few contingencies for just in case.

[ read: Plans A-Z ]

... well, I mean roleplaying in the absolute loosest sense of the word. I know they're different, it's just that my mundane, well... he has his reservations.

[ FOR GOOD REASON. ]

[npsleepy]

That... depends on how you define "a few".

...I think.

[Reservations are for losers.]

Hm... Defining the genre is pretty important, though. But alright. Um... Maybe it will help if you're a little less intense?

[leveraging]

Eh, just enough that we both know what we're doing.

[ Nate can only unhelpfully shrug at that. ]

Yeah, I noticed... do I really come off as this creepy to regular people?

[ read: mundanes who feel like they're in over their head ]

[npsleepy]

Yes.

[...

Wow, this might be the most sure she's sounded about anything in a while. She didn't even end that with "I think" or anything.]

[secondshift]

You know there actually was a roleplaying game for you, right? It was neat.

[leveraging]

. . . really? A roleplaying game? For us?

[ Forgive him if he sounds stunned, because, well. That was the last thing he was expecting... ]

[secondshift]

Yeah, my mun went to Comic-Con a few years back and apparently this was a thing.

[leveraging]

... ah. That explains a lot... we did a job at Comic-Con one year. It was... certainly an experience.

[ There's a wistful smile on his face as he recalls the job. ]

. . . you know, my son... he wanted to go there once. Made a promise that I'd take him there on his 13th birthday.

[secondshift]

Sounds like my kid.

[She knows that look. She's had that look.]

When did you lose him?

[four_quarts]

Contingency plans are all well and good, but you seem to be taking this far more seriously than necessary. The likelihood of needing to do something anywhere near the level of conning a god who holds your life in their hands is rather slim.

[leveraging]

No, but I'd rather be prepared when the time comes for it.

[ Nate... plz... ]

[four_quarts]

I suppose I can't begrudge that. It does tend to be far less stressful with a few basic plans ready for use.

[Ghaleon, stop encouraging him.]

Still, do remember to enjoy yourself.

[leveraging]

Oh, don't worry. I plan to.

[ There's a bit of a whimsical grin on his face as he says that. ]

Considering that the mundane's got plans involving me conning a game developer? I might as well enjoy this ride while it lasts.

[four_quarts]

Well, let me know how that one turns out. It sounds marvelous.

[He sounds so sincere about it too.]