✧ indebted

[reignitions]

[Shio does not know what the fuck Akihiro got himself into and, quite frankly, he does not want to know.

What he does know is Akihiro rolled up one day, freaking out about having to work off a debt with the Fatui and... well. Shio, for one, didn't trust Akihiro to get into more trouble. Kazuma said this was a bad idea, but Shio decided to offer himself up in Akihiro's place.

Akihiro doesn't have to deal with the Fatui, and the Fatui get someone vastly more competent.

(Akihiro has to face Kazuma on his own, but that is not Shio's problem right now.)

Right now, Shio's problem is waiting for who he's going to be working for. He's not looking forward to this at all.]

Comments

[threebetrayals]

[And in stalks the Harbinger in question--known only as Scaramouche.]

You aren't the idiot.

[reignitions]

There were some negotiations, I'm taking his place.

[He's clearly unhappy about it, but.]

He has to answer to someone else for being an idiot and you get someone more competent.

[threebetrayals]

Are any of you idiots competent?

[reignitions]

[Immediately, the question makes Shio bristle.

... Ugh. If this is how the next... however long this takes is going to go, he's regretting this already.

Deep breaths, Shio.]

My abilities will speak for themselves.

[threebetrayals]

Said by people who aren't actually competent. Who are you, anyway?

[There is, perhaps, a reason so few people work under Scaramouche.]

[reignitions]

[Ugh.]

... my name's Takahata Shio.

[threebetrayals]

And you are...?

[He just got back from missions for Dottore.]

[reignitions]

Nobody special.

[Yes, he's one of the leaders of Blaze, but... Blaze isn't meant to actually be a gang or anything, despite what people might say of them. That title shouldn't mean anything to a Fatui Harbinger.]

Just an old friend of Inui's.

[threebetrayals]

And why do you think you're a suitable replacement for that thief?

[reignitions]

Technically you're getting an upgrade here. I actually do things right the first time.

[...]

And with all due respect, I'm not here to argue about my suitability, especially when my presence has already been cleared.

[threebetrayals]

Just because they let you in doesn't mean you're free from my judgement. You're working under me, not the idiots at the front desk. What can you do, anyway?

[reignitions]

Fight, mostly. Haul heavy shit. Intimidation. I'm actually decent at handling socially delicate situations...

[threebetrayals]

[That makes him snort.]

How decent? Because I don't know if you're aware, but the Fatui as a rule suck at that.

[reignitions]

[He has to bite back a "I never would've guessed".]

I can reliably keep fights from breaking out, at least.

[He's underselling himself, mostly because Scaramouche has already been openly doubtful of his skills. He'll just let results speak for themselves.]

[threebetrayals]

And are you considering Tartaliga being around when you say that or...?

[This time he's not being dismissive, he's just being practical.]

[reignitions]

[Ugh, that guy.]

That doesn't account for him, no, but I can restrain him if I have to.

[threebetrayals]

Okay, I'd pay to see that. Almost no one can restrain that idiot.

[reignitions]

You'll see when it ends up necessary.

[... Because yeah, that's not an "if", that's a "when".]

[threebetrayals]

So sometime in the next two hours when he gets bored?

[reignitions]

... Probably.

[However long this arrangement lasts--he at least has it in writing that this is temporary--it's going to be the longest-feeling period of time in his life.]

[threebetrayals]

[He came here of his own volition.]

Anyway, if you're good at hauling things, come with me. We're moving my room.

[reignitions]

[He did but that doesn't mean he's not acutely aware of how long this is going to feel.]

Got it.

[Up he gets. He'll follow where Scaramouche leads.]

[threebetrayals]

[He leads Shio out of the meeting area, taking to the air so he can hover and not waste his energy walking.]

Don't ask me where you're staying, if you're staying on Fatui property at all. That's not my concern.

[reignitions]

[Shio's hands slide into his pockets as he walks.]

Wasn't gonna. Already got that taken care of anyway.

[threebetrayals]

And where are you staying?