thefinaljedi | Appointments

I'm just saying. I worry about you guys too, you realize.

I get that. So far, its been nothing short of wonderful. Truthfully, she's the most wonderful girl I've ever met.

Edited 2012-07-26 16:48 (UTC)

That's good...I worry for everyone for more than that though.

[Luke nods. He knows. But this isn't going to get you outside]

You didn't come here to talk about my work, or my love life though. Whats on your mind?

[He knows that, but he doesn't care today. There's another topic he needs to cover.]

All of the stuff I did was so that you guys didn't have to worry about me. I...can't take the worried looks and the fussing, and everyone needs to smile.

No one else really is. So...I've been.

Edited 2012-07-26 18:23 (UTC)

I know that, Lupin. I've tried to, thats why I finally talked to Ami-chan. We're all trying to make the best of it. The hand that we're dealt.

Really, we're really trying to make sure you're alright.

...that's the thing. I am all right. I have been moderating things on my end--I'm just not going to wait for the next strike to buckle down.

I'm not going to be made useless again.

Nor should you, my friend. I've felt you trying, and I respect that.

[He shrugs]

I gave you a blaster to help with that. When you've recovered a bit more I can train you to fight with a staff. And I like the idea of you contacting the Filial spirits.

Not to mention you have a particular skillset that none of the rest of us possess.

What? Being insane enough to launch the Hulk at enemy vessels?

[His voice dripped with sarcasm there--he was a lover and thinker, not a fighter. He was realizing that H needed to be both here.]

That was you? He told me about that.

[Luke laughs now]

Your skill at infiltration, deception, and retrieval is more what I meant.

Yeah...that was about all I could do on that boat. My bullets were doing nothing.

[While he does appreciate the praise, he's not fully convinced.]

You are aware that there are other thieves, ninjas, and spies in the village, aren't you? What I can do isn't that unique.

And as you've pointed out time and time again? They're all children. You have experience. I rely on experience, not names and job descriptions.

...I know.

[He did, it was just frustrating to think that those 'kids' also had powers that might have helped them not die. While he had been doing it for their entire lives, he could still be beaten by them in any fight.

That was the key to his frustration.]

It's just annoying, and I've been in a bad mood over this.

I'm sorry its rough. That doesn't mean its a good idea to overdo it and make it worse.

We went over this.

You want the truth? I'm trying to keep everything up so more people don't know or feel like they should be concerned. I'm a very active guy, and doing anything less will get people talking.

I can say it was an abduction, but people will eventually figure it out if I keep that up.

...you didn't need to tell everyone like that the other day either. I was going to tell a good few of them, but only when the timing seemed right. Not sooner.

Edited 2012-07-26 19:50 (UTC)

Except the people who didn't know were our new housemate, and maybe Helios. Both of whom are people who have a right to know what's occurred, if only so that if something does happen they can help you.

Hiding things like that is dangerous.

I'm a criminal. It's always been my experience that revealing informationb of this kind is even more dangerous.

Not here you aren't.

Old habits, Luke. I've always been a thief.

I recognize that. But it doesn't make you a criminal. Just a thief.

...

so what you're saying is that these habits, which have always helped me survive, need to be retrained into something different, aren't you?

I'm saying that here you don't have to rely on keeping everything about yourself one big secret.

[Lupin goes quiet for a moment, a part of him locked up in uncertainty at the very thought of the suggestion. Fujiko, Jigen, Goemon, and himself all have spent years playing this game, facing bullets from allies and enemies alike--it was all business, and it was how they remained friends for all of these years. Releasing that veil was something that Lupin hadn't even thought about attempting since he was a lad.

It didn't work, because he liked his games too much.]

Luke, [his voice was soft and oddly somber,] that's like asking you to not be a Jedi.

No, its not. Its ask you to let other people help you.

[It was a flat offer. No string or obligations, no suggestion of debts. None. While Lupin sought acceptance, no more and no less, it was an offer of more that he received.

Lupin flops over onto Luke's bed with a huff and stares through the window out at the driving rain, contemplating the circumstances and the offer that everyone made. As a group, it was too much. Individually was another story.

He finally speaks up again at length, deep in thought over this.]

...That's it?

That sort of kindness isn't very normal, not without anything else hidden beneath it. There's always an ulterior motive, and its not always good for the person on the receiving end.

I'm...not sure how to take that.

Appointments

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