homeless, voicetest -- canon is Indiana Jones

[ophidiophobe]

What part of "bad idea" exactly is confusing you. Look, I know bad ideas. I've had a few of them myself. And this one, this one is top of the whole damn pile.

It's not like I don't appreciate the interest. Really flattering. But, sweetheart, I have a world of other things I need to do that don't involve these big ideas you've got. Find someone else.

[In fact, even this discussion is too much.]

So get it out of your system. It's been fun, but I've got a job to get back to.

Comments

[alethiometric]

What's your job?

[ophidiophobe]

[That should be an easier question than it is.] I'm a professor. Of archaeology.

Sometimes I'm in the field.

[alethiometric]

Archaeology... [That's like... rocks and stuff.] Do you go exploring?

[ophidiophobe]

Yeah. Sure. You could call it that.

[alethiometric]

[:D] Where do you go?

[nepal]

I've heard that one before.

[ophidiophobe]

Pretty sure you're the origin of that one. [Best worst idea he's ever had.]

Think I have a scar or six to prove it.

[gluteus]

If you are here, then you have already lost your freedom.

[ophidiophobe]

You'll excuse me if I pass on the fatalism. She might think she's in the driver's seat, but I've jumped out of moving cars before.

[gluteus]

[Of course the Roman has... no idea what a car is, but he can guess the meaning all the same.]

You may have more difficulty escaping a prison you cannot see. But if you can manage it, do so. There are worse fates than Oblivion.

[ophidiophobe]

This is starting to sound pretty damn metaphysical. Each man in a prison of his own making.

Oblivion. You're really not the comforting sort, are you, pal? But you've probably got a point.

[gluteus]

The only comfort I could offer would be cold. But where there is a will to fight, there is hope.

[He lets out a breath.]

Do you have any inkling of your fate?

[ophidiophobe]

Well. Hope. Yeah, I'll work on that one.

Not a clue. It's the worrisome part, not knowing when the next trap is going to be sprung.

[69problems]

Many of us had important things back in our home worlds that we needed to take care of. In my case it didn't really change my mundane's decision. You could think of it maybe as an unforeseen chance to do good work somewhere new? That's the view I've taken and it's helped the transition well.

[ophidiophobe]

I don't have any burning need to play hero. What I do have is a headache. I've seen the options where people like me wind up around here, not a fan at all.

[69problems]

I wonder why everyone always equates being a good person and trying to make the best of a bad situation with trying to play hero. There's a big difference between wanting to help people and wanting adulation and glory.

[ophidiophobe]

I'm not equating much of anything. I just don't have the time to be hopping about the various universes playing do-gooder, accolades or not.

[So he says anyway.]

[the_marshal]

[He eyes the hat first, pushing his own up further on his head with one finger.

He could tell a lot about a man by his hat.]

I'd be grateful that's all she's done. You'll miss this, when she starts lookin' into games.

[ophidiophobe]

[Hats are window dressings to the soul.]

Yeah I get that impression. Wouldn't trust her taste to lead to anything but trouble.

[He's just lucky there aren't any games based on giant pits of snakes.]

[the_marshal]

[His mustache pulls, curling up with the corner of his mouth.]

Ours must be some sort'a relation then.

Trouble is the least'a things I'd call the place she's got me at.

[Pits of snakes would almost be a relief.]

[ophidiophobe]

Birds of a goddamn feather, all of them.

[But hey that sounds particularly unsettling.] So what would you call it?

[the_marshal]

Well...

[He reached for his hat again, scratching idly at his dark hairline, before resettling the brim.]

To be honest, I don't think there's any one word to describe it. Imagine yer own personal hell an' everythin' that entails - then add a viewing audience, cheerin' on the next blow.

[ophidiophobe]

Sounds like fun. [The flattest of intonation. This is his general dread.] My condolences, pal. I wish I had a bright side to offer you.

[the_marshal]

No need. [A sigh through his nose.] I've come to terms with it, an' she does throw me a bone on occasion.

[Even if it did come with some mighty strings attached.]

[ophidiophobe]

Have to be a pretty damn impressive bone.

[Someone is too stubborn for brightsides most of the time.]

[the_marshal]

[A twitch of his mouth.]

I reckon that depends on yer definition of impressive.

[ophidiophobe]

Now that you mention it I'm not sure what would qualify. I guess it's, er, relative.

[properstory]

That's the problem with these mun types. Once they get an idea in their head, there's no changin' their minds. Certainly a stubborn bunch.

[ophidiophobe]

Tell me about it. Stubborn is an understatement. [And then, vaguely exhausted and horrified rolled into one.] It reminds me of my childhood.

[properstory]

Sounds like you got a real story to tell.

[That's certainly a grin under his busy mustache.]

Care to share with an old man?

[ophidiophobe]

Something like that.

Not all that much to tell. My father had a stubborn streak, single-minded to the point of blindness. So I should be used to it.

[properstory]

Sounds like your old man's pride proved to be his undoin'.

I have to admit, I'm a little curious to see just how far the apple fell from the tree.

[ophidiophobe]

Old man was too stubborn even for his own undoing.

...look, pal. That's not the point here. I'm not as obsessed as my father.

[...he may be more.]

[wraithblade]

I've found negotiating them with on rational terms will do you little good. In the end, we're subject to their childish whims.

[ophidiophobe]

Yeah, I'm getting that sense.

Of course there are other styles of negotiating I'm considering.