Canon is Neal Stephenson's REAMDE.

[spetsnaz]

I am, regrettably, very busy. No time to be inmate on barge. Must, instead, find Chinese hacker and try not to kill him, and then hope events - and people - become no crazier than they already are.

Perhaps redemption later.

Comments

[spetsnaz]

I would like... middle ground. Between constant peril and boring. Thus far, all has been one or the other.

[patheticvillain]

Yeah, I'm pretty sure that doesn't exist, but good luck.

[spetsnaz]

This, I suspect.

[patheticvillain]

So what's the point in looking for it?

[spetsnaz]

Can think of nothing else better to do.

Once this job is finished.

[patheticvillain]

So you're looking for normal because you think you're gonna be bored.

[spetsnaz]

Normal is not goal. It is - tool. Give someone normal, they grow relaxed. Take it away, panic. Try to make it normal again.

[patheticvillain]

. . . Hard to fake, though. And if you can't fake it, no way you can parcel it off and give it to somebody.

[spetsnaz]

Not so hard. I have practice.

[patheticvillain]

How much?

[spetsnaz]

Much. Hardest part is to find what normal is. Normal to me, different from normal to you.

[patheticvillain]

Normal's a standard.

[spetsnaz]

A habit.

[patheticvillain]

Well, both. But when people look they see baseline normal. You can deviate so much, and when you go past that you're screwed.

[spetsnaz]

That would depend on your backup plans.

[patheticvillain]

What are yours?

[spetsnaz]

Boss does not like. He says no backup plans. One plan.

[patheticvillain]

So your boss is an idiot.

[spetsnaz]

Crazy.

[patheticvillain]

Maybe he's worried you have a backup plan for him.

[spetsnaz]

This, exactly.

[ And unfortunately. ]

But he may be working on orders. He may not just be crazy. So, dangerous to go over his head.

[patheticvillain]

Huh.

You'd fit right in, I'm just warning you.

[spetsnaz]

This is not comforting.

[patheticvillain]

Do you think it was supposed to be?

[spetsnaz]

No. I just say: I would rather be in a prison with very many people not at all like me.