1 ɂ voice

[mattersverymuch]

[ There's the tapping of fingers, the click of a tongue, and a long silence before anything's actually said. When the marquis speaks, he sounds hoarse, as well as almost cheerful. Spoilers: he's not really. ]

Naïveté is catching these days, I notice. Whose idea was this? I have places to be.

Comments

[mattersverymuch]

Maybe.

[omar]

Anyone say who might've done such a thing as that?

[mattersverymuch]

Maybe.

[ No. But bluffing is always good. ]

[omar]

I'd be mighty curious, is all, to know who go and do such a thing in this good ship of ours.

[mattersverymuch]

You said you had stories, I believe.

[omar]

Only secondhand. I ain't been around all that long. Some good, some bad. Talk to a couple boys say this place do all kinds of things, though, you let it.

[mattersverymuch]

[ Everything's secondhand, so far, but it doesn't do to undersell one's own goods. ]

Mm. Would you be interested in a trade?

[omar]

[Oh, hello. Now this is interesting.]

I'm a warden, bro. What make you think I be interested in a thing like that?

[mattersverymuch]

You did say you were curious.

[omar]

Professionally speaking.

[mattersverymuch]

I'm very professional.

[omar]

And what profession that be?

[mattersverymuch]

Trade. Obviously.

[omar]

And what was you trading before you started trading stories?

[mattersverymuch]

What a personal question that is.

[omar]

Just making small talk.

[mattersverymuch]

Then you're not interested in trade?

[Video] -> [Spam]

[omar]

Think you barking up the wrong tree, man.

[He's not. But any criminal living in post-9/11 America knows the rule: never do anything on the phone. At least, not any good criminal. Even the mighty Stringer Bell was almost taken down by a network, and that's enough to make anyone take note.

Come to think of it, anyone with enough paranoia would be seriously careful who he talked to, too. Omar himself wore a wire once, so why not anyone else? But his recon on the Barge has told him that it probably doesn't go that far. So he hangs up right now, but the next day, when he "just happens" to see the marquis at lunch, and "just happens" to sit down near him... that's another story.]

Said you hear a thing or two.

[spam forever]

[mattersverymuch]

[ Things one learns: there are no coincidences. Ever. So when the marquis sees Omar heading his way at lunch, he just smiles and continues eating. He doesn't answer for a moment, and when he does he's looking at his plate, not at Omar. ]

So did you.

[ The frustrating thing is that he has no idea if they're actually useful or relevant stories. Still, given that this is the only person who has thus far expressed interest in playing by his rules, he can't afford to be too picky. ]

[spam forever]

[omar]

[Frankly, he's pretty sure this stuff isn't going to be all that interesting. Neither of them have been around long enough to get any good dirt, and neither has said anything that wouldn't be easy enough to dig up in other ways.

But in a place like this, allies are important. Even the great Omar Little isn't a lone wolf. If he plants this seed now, it could easily grow into something useful. The kind of man who doesn't look up, that's useful.

So he keeps his eyes on his own food, and grins down into it.]

A'ight, bro. I can go first.

I seen you call yourself a Marquis, that right? Just so happen there be another one on board: Marquis de Sade. Got hisself a pretty long rap sheet, apparently, once upon a time. [The name had twigged some memory, so he'd looked it up.] He a man in charge now, though.

[mattersverymuch]

[ He controls his reactions, because that is important, now more than ever. But he is surprised. It's a familiar enough name, certainly. Still, time and space being what they are here, nothing can be assumed. ]

[ And: 'call yourself a Marquis'. Was that a figure of speech, or a carefully placed assumption meant to trip him up? ]

A Warden. Reformation is possible. What a relief.

[ He looks up as if contemplating the opposite wall. One at a time, and he might keep some in reserve. He wants to learn more about Willow. ]

You were interested in murderers? Ladd Russo.

[omar]

[He raises a brow at his sandwich, stretching the scar on his face in interesting ways.]

Not just a murderer, though. You said something about a spree.

[mattersverymuch]

A spree of sprees. [ He shrugs, more to himself than anything. ] Of which this individual was a part.

[omar]

Mmm-hmm. [He studies his drink.] You know who-all he hit?

[mattersverymuch]

[ Putting down his fork - with which he has been toying, not actually eating - he reaches out his hand in a small but very clear beckoning motion. Quid pro quo, et cetera. ]