redjacketthief | Appointments

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Appointments

This is the mailbox of your's truely, Arsene Lupin III. I take it that you've come here because you want to talk to me or make some kind of plan. Whatever it is, I'l gladly listen, but I need your name, date, time, and the best way to get back to you. Sorry I missed you, and I'll get back to you soon, okay?

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...

[Adele's gaze darts from man to man, skittering across Lupin's face as she's blindsided by a surge of cold fury. He'd promised. He'd given his word and gave it up in a heartbeat. On a whim.

Instead of shouting as she normally would, instead of laying it out and calling him a fucking moron, as he was and ought to be called, she goes still. Every vestige of emotion is pulled back and locked away behind a stern, impassive face, the only visible emotion the crackling fury in her cold blue eyes.]

You gave your word, Lupin.

[Luke's ice-blue eyes flare with irritation. He can FEEL the cold rage rising in Adele, and for an instant he began to mirror it. He hated being lied to. By a man who wanted to call himself his partner? No, he was a pale imitation of Han, for all that he played at being an altruistic scoundrel. Han wouldn't have even dreamed of breaking a promise. Luke's fist pounded into a nearby dresser, rattling the entire room]

I hate when people lie to me. Its one of the few traits I can't abide.

Shut up, Ben.

[He would have found a way to soften the blow and hold the conversation in controlled circumstances if it weren't for the meddling Jedi Instead he quells his own growing fury and stills his mind, his temper and tone dropping to the degree that was all ready evident in the room.]

I did, Adele. [Not going to deny it.]

And have you looked in the mirror lately, Luke? A temporarily lifted vow is nothing when compared to what you've done.

"As you wish."

[And with that, Obi-Wan bows and turns to leave.]

Don't you dare.

[Her voice is low. Sharp and acid and biting with contempt.]

Don't you dare bring that up now, not in comparison to this. That is low even for you.

[She grits her teeth, fingers curling into tight, white knuckled fists for a few moments before relaxing. The only tension she carries in the hard lines around her eyes and the taught clench of her wings against her spine.]

It is not a vow 'lifted'. A vow made is a vow kept. You give your word then you keep it. That is how this works. That is how one treats their friends, their partners. Not. Not this. This is a vow broken. This is a sign that you do not respect us enough to give any promise you have made any thought or care when you are bored. You expect us to keep our promises, and we have.

Why in hell should we if this is how we are repaid? Why should we bother when you simply do. Not. Care.

[Luke's voice is low, and angry now. He hadn't trusted Lupin with that secret, it was not his to share. He'd only willingly told two people here, Ami and Adele. And only Ami had gotten the whole truth. He clenches his cybernetic fist, the dark leather squeaking.]

How dare you. You break one promise, meant to keep you safe, and then you break another? And you want to call me your partner? You...want to play at being a gentlemanly scoundrel?

[His tone turns low, cold and dark. He's past anger now. He's hurt.]

That isn't what partners do. Partners hold trust as a sacred bond. You clearly only do so when it suits your own purposes.

[Lupin closed his eyes and let the tirades fall, listening to every word and every tone very carefully. The anger crackled like brittle ice to his ears. Another breath--everything was clear.]

...

Neither of you get it. I do care.

[His tone was eerily mild.]

This entire thing was me trusting and having faith in the both of you. Pity you can't understand that.

[He is not sure what secret has been intimated at, that has Adele and Luke so outraged, but at the moment it isn't significant. He turns to face the group, rather than leaving the room as he had intended, and clears his throat.]

"... Perhaps it would be best if we postponed this conversation until flared tempers had a chance to die down."

No, Lupin. It is a pity I ever believed you. That I bought what you sold with a smile so easily.

[It's a quick motion, reaching up to pull the pin from her hair. Lupin's gift. The lacquered wood had been filed to a point. Weighted. Balanced. Gold curls tumble down around her shoulders and spill over her back as she does, finally, lash out.

Adele's practiced enough and the room is small enough that her aim is true- the pin buries itself into the wall, small beads clacking against each other in a sharp staccato amongst the otherwise chilly silence. She'll let the action speak for itself.]

[Luke looks at Obi-Wan for a long moment before nodding in assent. He ignores Adele's dramatic tantrum and turns to the thief. He hadn't wanted it to come to this, at all. But Lupin had broken his trust, and had worked his friends into an angry fit. His voice is low, quiet, mixed with sadness and anger.]

I think it would be best if you stayed with Fujiko.

[Luke opens his fist and squeezes the bridge of his nose against an oncoming migraine before taking a step back, clearing a path for Lupin to exit with some modicum of dignity. Ben was right. He was entirely too angry to be rational right now]

[Lupin's jaw set and his spine steeled at Adele's tantrum and Luke's ultimatum. Regardless of what they said, what they believed...clearly everything that had happened over the last several months was a mistake. A grave one.]

Your suggestion is too late, Luke. I have my own ideas.

[He unclipped the holster for his Walther and the matching one for his Bryar and let them drop to the bed with a soft thud. His coat and journal were gathered a moment later, and Lupin turned to leave.

Not without a passing comment.]

The bigger pity, Adele, is that I let all of you get under my skin. Clearly this was never going to work.

[He left--but the items left behind spoke more truly.

The thief will be back. Eventually.]

Edited 2012-09-09 06:30 (UTC)

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Appointments

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