video; un: white_lotus

[pummelling]

[After a long morning of repairs, Jin's feeling chatty: he's taken shelter under the spontaneously sprouting tree in the Oska gardens and sitting with his legs folded. With an eyebrow raised quizzically, he peers into the magitek's "camera".]

So. How many ALASTAIR agents does it take to steal a diamond?

[you're not funny jin.]

Seriously. Seeing as we've all rested up and done our homework-- assuming that you've all gone through the dossier already [with all the intonation of the high school teacher who is definitely expecting you to stay on top of the readings, or so help him]-- we've got some work to do. We've only got a couple weeks to meet up with our analyst on Leramzen, get in, and get out with the diamond. I don't doubt we can manage, but I also know we're a pretty eclectic bunch.

That's a nice way of saying 'crazy mismatched', by the way.

I'm curious, though. How many people have experience with-- let's call 'em requisitions? A mission like this is familiar enough that I'm almost getting nostalgic here, and I feel like some of us might be in the same boat. [He huffs, in what might be the beginnings of a sardonic-sounding laugh.]

It might help us get our plans in order, but if you're sworn to secrecy or don't feel like fessing up for whatever reason... [he shrugs a bare shoulder, head tilting a little,] I get it. It's not the lightest of topics for everyone.

Comments

[catphishing]

[LOOK. He has genuinely never stolen a diamond. He is an honest man.]

It would boring if it was too easy. You said you've done missions like this before?

[pummelling]

[TELL IT TO THE JUDGE HAMPTON.]

Kind of. A long time ago.

[He's got a sheepish expression on his face for a moment, before continuing--] For a noble cause, though? That'll be new.

[catphishing]

Why did you do it before?

[Can they openly talk about doing crime for non-noble purposes? Is that an okay thing to do? Oliver isn't sure he trusts the entirety of the team enough to do that.]

[pummelling]

[The smile he wears turns just a touch more grim.]

Obligation. It's one of those stories that's been told to death, so I'll spare you.

[Jin, at least, is comfortable acknowledging it. It's part of who he once was, and who he's grown up to be-- there's no use denying that much. At least for him.]

[catphishing]

[That sounds less exciting. No one likes being forced into doing things they don't want to. He feels a little bad for assuming it was a choice, but he hadn't sounded too upset when he mentioned it in the first place.]

I guess at least it'll be good experience for this time.

[pummelling]

Hey, there's no need to make that face. It was a really long time ago [it was about 5 years ago jin it was not THAT long ago], I'm pretty much over it.

It is good experience, though. If I'm good at anything, it's being where I'm not supposed to and getting away with it.

[catphishing]

That does seem like it'll be pretty useful here.

[pummelling]

What about you? Bet you're excited to mess around with some security systems, or whatever it is you nerds do.

[catphishing]

I get that probably sounds lame to you, but yeah, I'm looking forward to it.

[pummelling]

It's a little lame.

[HE'S NOT EVEN GOING TO LIE TO MAKE HIM FEEL BETTER.]

But if it helps us get that diamond, it isn't like I can give you grief for it.

[catphishing]

It's going to help us. Then you'll be glad you have people who understand these things along.

[He hopes. He isn't sure if these tech systems will be too futuristic for him, but he wants to seem impressive.]

[pummelling]

Do you? I mean, it's from the future. I hope you're ready to step up to the plate if it's not quite the same as taking a Playstation apart.

[Of course, wanting to seem impressive leaves more than enough space for Jin to pick at.]

[catphishing]

I am.

[He might share those doubts, but Jin's dismissiveness still rubs the wrong way.]

I've learned a lot about different kinds of technology since I came here. It's not like I've sat around without doing anything.