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[throughbamboo]

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[throughbamboo]

Hrm. Y'ever do that ta someone before?

[failsaver]

[ attempts to stay pokerfaced, but definitely winces a bit ]

Plenty of times. It's not hard.

[throughbamboo]

Ain't it?

[failsaver]

...

Why do you care so much?

[throughbamboo]

[he shrugs a shoulder]

Just don't seem like the type ta do that shit.

[failsaver]

What part of "I'm power-hungry" didn't you get?

[throughbamboo]

Power-hungry folks got a certain look in their eye. Ya know just by lookin' at 'em.

Ya ain't got that look.

[failsaver]

[ turns away fully, folding his arms. ]

Know-it-all.

[throughbamboo]

Ain't bein' a know-it-all. Just live a life where there's people like that everywhere ya turn.

[failsaver]

... Did they screw you over?

[throughbamboo]

[he nods, after a moment of consideration]

I ever tell ya I went to prison?

[failsaver]

You said you broke out of prison a couple of times.

... and that you went back, to prove you deserved somethin'.

[throughbamboo]

Mmm, right. That was the second time.

But the first time I got sent to prison was different. [he dips his head] I was there because I had been ordered to kill eighteen men.

[failsaver]

Go on.

[throughbamboo]

I got sentenced to death for it. I sat there in prison waitin' twenty-five years for my execution.

N' ya know what I found out when I broke out?

I didn't kill a damn one of 'em.

[failsaver]

Huh? How'd you—

Did someone mess with your head?

[ but you said there was no magic?? ]

[throughbamboo]

Nah. [you know what, he's pulling out a cigarette and taking a seat, cuz whew, this story. He lights up and takes a long drag]

It was a set up, kid. Only looked like I was the one who killed 'em.

They did more'n just screw me over; my boss had to disband his family after, go into hidin'. Hannya got fucked over, he was supposed ta do the hit with me. N' my sister—. . .

[he shakes his head]

Point is, I more than know that look. Those sort of men don't hesitate, n' they'll betray each other if they gotta.

Ya don't got that look. N' 'm tellin' ya, you don't wanna be that way, either.

[failsaver]

...

I don't. But there's no other way to get what I want.

I'm not you, old man.

[throughbamboo]

No, you're not.

But if ya wanna get what ya want that badly, you'll find another way.

[failsaver]

Chrysanthemum couldn't do it.

[throughbamboo]

You're not Chrysanthemum.

[failsaver]

Of course not. He's too soft. I'm...

I can't be that soft. There's no point in playing the bad guy if you just half-ass it.

[throughbamboo]

[he tilts his head, taking a drag from his cig]

N' what's the point of playin' the bad guy, eh?

[failsaver]

Same reason as his.

... I was attached to him. Literally attached. Zenith, he-

[ he shakes his head, holding back a sob. ]

That's why... that's why I couldn't leave. I tried. I tried, Nue, I just...

[throughbamboo]

And what's his reason?

[. . .

He gestures to the ground in front of him]

It just wasn't your turn ta leave. Sit down, kid.