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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jul 6, 2009 18:51:26 GMT -5
Adrien was mildly spooked again - he had learned to obey commands like that, from people in a position of power that he thought was legitimate (for while he'd never learned to obey policemen, he certainly had learned to obey Roger Marchetti) - and timidly reached for the bills that had fluttered on the bedspread, leaning forward slightly to pick them up, feeling like he imagined a Vegas prostitute did. Picking up dollar bills left beside a pillow in a hotel room.
Even as he mechanically obeyed, though, he couldn't help but say - "But I - don't - want that much," still wide-eyed, unable to wrap his mind around the fact that Veidt did not seem to understand that.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jul 6, 2009 19:00:29 GMT -5
"Surely you could find some use for it-"
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jul 6, 2009 19:04:37 GMT -5
He was shaking his head the moment Veidt had gotten out those first two syllables. In the waiter's costume he seemed a lot younger than he had when out of it, lounging around in his unconscious nude glory. He was still wide-eyed.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jul 6, 2009 19:36:04 GMT -5
"Would you rather I took it back!?"
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jul 6, 2009 19:37:15 GMT -5
Jesus fucking Christ Adrian Veidt was scary.
"Um. Yes," said Adrien in a small voice. "It's... it's too much."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jul 7, 2009 15:08:39 GMT -5
"Oh, all right then," Veidt groaned, as if not lavishing money on the boy were a chore.
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jul 7, 2009 15:22:03 GMT -5
If Veidt had not reacted so strongly, Adrien would have carefully picked out the amount he'd asked for, kept that, and handed all the rest back promptly. As he had, though, Adrien was not thinking quite clearly, and kept more than twice as much, dropping the rest onto the bedspread and taking a few rather timid steps back.
"S... Sorry."
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jul 7, 2009 15:59:14 GMT -5
"Would you prefer to not be paid in the future, then?" Veidt said sharply, but he caught himself.
He sighed and glanced away.
"I apologize, Baillon- all this talk of a new life as I throw money at you-"
Veidt smiled grimly.
"I suppose you can think of me as your guardian angel."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jul 7, 2009 17:19:30 GMT -5
Adrien gave him almost a curious look, although a cautious one, for a long while, as though debating what could be trusted in him. But that wasn't a natural debate for Adrien, and he couldn't uphold it.
The word angel was thrown around a lot, in Adrien's experience, but he hadn't expected Adrian Veidt to use it. "I'll think about it," he said, although lightly, relenting, relaxing, and tossing his hair back thoughtlessly. He was easy-going, and did not take to heart that Veidt had just terrified him. He even managed to get his smile back. "But. I mean. I don't really like money that much. Just, you know. So you know."
He shrugged, glanced about for his coat, didn't even think of asking Veidt if he had to come in for an interview or an appointment or even give Veidt Divine's address or tell him where he could be reached.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jul 7, 2009 17:29:54 GMT -5
"Of course, it will be a regular salary from now on instead."
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jul 7, 2009 17:31:55 GMT -5
Adrien was surprised but thought he'd done a good job of hiding it. He swallowed and kept smiling, with a nod, appearing preoccupied in finding his coat. It was on the floor. He bent to pick it up and turn it right-side out.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jul 7, 2009 17:42:07 GMT -5
"Is that all right?"
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jul 7, 2009 17:44:10 GMT -5
"It's fine. A little wrinkled," said Adrien. "Oh - ? Yeah, it's fine."
He smiled at him over his shoulder half-apologetically as he pulled it on.
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Post by Adrian Veidt on Jul 8, 2009 20:22:59 GMT -5
"You don't sound particularly certain," Veidt observed dryly.
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Post by Adrien Baillon on Jul 8, 2009 20:39:28 GMT -5
"Sorry," said Adrien, shrugging, still smiling. "See you."
In this manner - which is to say, rather cluelessly, in a charming fashion - he was prepared to leave.
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