@BURGERKING— @ALL

[dipolar]

I have four palps, one spinneret, and a leg from the metatarsus down.
If anyone has a need for these parts, respond and we'll do business.

If not, I have nothing to say to you at this time.

Comments

[dipolar]

In approximately 25 minutes, at the hunting supply store.
Do you know where it is?
They'll think I'm bringing in a kill for bragging rights, we'll complete our transaction between shelves at the back of the store.

(1-800-78-CRIME, SUBMIT AN ANONYMOUS TIP.)

[inconstantly]

i know where it is

look for the guy in blonde hair and a coat

[Look, John has done far more Suspicious things. Just exchanging body parts for money, this is fine.

When he turns up at the back of the store John keeps his poker face in check, but internally he is far too excited about acquiring more spider bits.]

[dipolar]

Acknowledged.

(sure enough, the person john meets at the back of the store is not the robot everyone expects to see.

hei looks polished—even if the look on his face says that it's by no choice of his own—and he holds himself well, assigned a noble's role which makes it too easy to tell which caste he's been assigned: artificial. he's currently reaping his benefits... which is why he walks confidently, with a large bag thrown over his shoulder.)

I will take your money now, prepare your...

(pauses, eyes lifting a moment.)

I can't think of what it's called now.

[inconstantly]

[John is wearing the standard dress uniform of COST with a coat native to Jhachsh slung over it. They're the correct clothes, technically, but the coat is incongruous with the rest of the outfit and looking more than worse for wear with a series off accumulated wrinkles.]

At least try to save it, man. "Prepare for landing," "Prepare to fail by failing to prepare." Cliche yeah but it's something. [He shrugs, inclining his head toward the bag.]

Let me see it first.

[dipolar]

(hei has an affinity for coats as well, he has no personal beef with yours, john. in fact his eyes drop to it like he might nag that it doesn't fit the pretentious theme of this place, but finds it in himself to ignore it.

god, he's so lenient today, look at him go.)

Cliché and unnecessary; I'll leave the jokes to you. 'Credit card' is what I was looking for... (slides the bag off of his shoulder and away from the nice clothes he shouldn't be hulking guts around wearing, placing it on the floor between them.

a wave to the contents,) Take a look.

[inconstantly]

[John smirks a little to himself as the guts make some rather fleshy noises from inside the bag as it's pulled to the floor. It's good to know that even if this is just a business transaction that there's someone else about who doesn't quite fit the strict dress code.

He steps toward the sack, not at all shy about prying it open with bare hands and fishing around inside to make certain all the promised contents were in order.]

So why don't you want these?

[dipolar]

(his gloves are covered in old blood that flakes when fingers come away from the neck of the bag, passing the baton to john who has no qualms about checking its contents. good, he didn't want to upend that shit and have to stuff it all back in.)

So why do you want these? (parroting his question, before lifting a shoulder.)

If you think there's some profound reason, you'll be disappointed. I just want the money.

[inconstantly]

Not looking for anything profound, just want to know about what I'm buying.

You could say I'm a collector of sorts, so if you find any further body parts or oddities I may be able to send funds your way.

[John withdraws COST's version of the credit card, holding it between his fingers toward Hei.]

But if you have any harrowing tales of feats of bravery that go with these parts I'd love to hear them.

[dipolar]

I find nothing about what you just said strange or off-putting.

(is this sarcasm, or is he just extremely literal? all signs point to the former, especially the flat look on his face.)

In any case... there's nothing all that interesting about it. (fishes out his gold disc, reaches forward... and taps his against john's.) I happened to be sitting in a stand with someone in the Shaiy house who took an interest in my limbs. So, after losing all of my money, I told her I'd bet them. She lost.

(taps the discs together once more, falling silent.)

...

Do you know how to exchange credits?

[inconstantly]

[John lives his life being strange and off-putting. The comment doesn't bother him in the slightest. In fact he even shrugs a little, turning his palms outward in acceptance.

As for the credits, thankfully John has already used his card before or else he'd be stuck too. But this one doesn't need to know that.]

You need to accept my transfer. Touch this small button thing on your disc, then on mine.

[Kind of like pairing a bluetooth... if John had any idea what that was.]

[dipolar]

(thank god, one of them's useful.

hei looks down at his disc, then over at john's, then up at his face. pressing the button with a knifecat.png stare, just in case the man is lying and they need to throw down in the back of a hunting supply store.

while that's happening:)

... What is your name? Why are you with COST?

[inconstantly]

[John is unconcerned with the stare, already getting to work fastening the bag closed again to haul it back to his quarters.]

Here I'm Joe Strummer. If we both make it out of here alive I'll give you my real name when we get back to BASE. As for why I'm here, that's really none of your business.

What shall I call you? I assume you don't go by Burger King.

[dipolar]

Joe. I'm Hei.

(fucking uses... his "real name" like a doucher...

gallipoli was a slaughter and remembering to call anyone by their fake name was difficult—here on jhashch, things are different. he has time to commit them to memory when he's not running around trying to remember how to alter the molecules of mustard gas into a stable compound before the linings of his throat and lungs melted.

but that doesn't mean he's going to think up another one when hei is a codename in itself.)

Whether you chose to be here, as I did, or you were given the same memory loss story as half the other recruits, I guess it doesn't matter. If you or anyone else tries to pull something, I'll make it my business.

Otherwise... (... shrugs...)

[inconstantly]

[The abrupt demeanor does nothing to phase John. He's used to people of all sorts and can be abrupt himself at times. He can feel the intense scrutiny, and it rolls off his back just like any other opinion.

He only remembers pieces about his recruitment. He doesn't remember the how or when, but he does remember the intensely personal why. The one detail he does know isn't about to be shared anytime soon.]

I'm not wanting to pull anything, mate. Here or otherwise. [He holds out a hand, palm up.] But I can't be certain you aren't either, so I'd like my card back.

[dipolar]

Fine. Then our transaction is complete and our business with one another is done.

(reaches back over, that gold chip held between two fingers and offered out. before pressing it into the centre of john's palm.)

—and don't call me "mate". It's disconcerting around a bunch of fucking spiders...

(TURNS TO LEAVE with a dramatic whip of his coat. what a loser.)