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

[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.

[leveraging]

Yeah... it's a romantic ideal, but to be honest, wouldn't that make you more of a villain who's on the side of the people, I would think...?

[ Nate knows that too well, considering he was just that. ]

Still, though... one really has to wonder just what these writers want, seeing as how their whole motivation seems to boil down to 'because I wanted to' or 'because I was enabled into it'...

[changethendie]

Oh, I knew that to be true from day one. [this smile is one of mischief, one proud of his role and the enjoyment he takes from it. but there's an undertone of bitterness] I'm quite good at it.

[he drops the smile for a shrug]

I've no idea, on the whole. But . . . mine seems to crave the attributes her "characters" possess. Perhaps it's jealousy?

[leveraging]

Well, to each his own, right? If you're good at it you might as well...

[ Nate himself is quite good at relishing the criminal mastermind role, when he's not busy smarting from the death of his son or his father. Or just being a belligerent drunk, really.

Or wanting out because of realizing that he can't continue conning forever. ]

Either that or projection. Living vicariously though their muses because they lead less than exciting lives outside of their computer screens.

[changethendie]

There it is! [he snaps energetically, ending in a finger pistol pointed Nate's way] I do believe you've solved the mystery, my good man. Vacuous mortals afflicted with much dullness and boredom. And a bored writer is a dangerous thing . . .

[leveraging]

Well, it had been said the pen is mightier than the sword...

[ As cliched and overused as that phrase was, it really was the only thing even remotely fitting to the mundane problem. ]

And the more bored they are, the more outrageous their methods of curing their boredom become...