New Year Party at the Safehouse

[returnher]

On the West Coast, it's not quite New Year yet, but Locke is hanging out at the Safe House with a few packs of Kirin Beer and hanging out. It's not the biggest deal for him, but it's kind of fun to watch the fireworks go off and this way he doesn't have to dodge drunks who might run him over or worse, compel him to punch the shit out of them. Right now he's pretty much drinking and watching football. If anyone asks, he's totally old enough and Shinji clearly doesn't give a shit.

Comments

[returnher]

Locke holds out a can of beer.

"Want one? It makes it a lot more interesting."

[pragmaticblood]

His eyes narrow, but not necessarily in frustration.

"I'm underage," he responds. "Thanks anyways, I suppose."

[returnher]

"Hey, me too. Don't tell anybody."

Locke's tone very much says he doesn't care if Leo tells anybody.

"That aside, we've got snacks and stuff too. Trying to low-key it this year. Feel free to change the channel if you want, I'm only half-watching."

[pragmaticblood]

At the given permission, Leo reaches for the remote. No one seems too absorbed in the game, and surely they could find something interesting on a news channel. Specifically, something that could give insight to a case.

The results prove fruitless when the reporter highlights a celebrity’s breakup before switching to a commercial. And Leo doesn’t have the patience to sit through a roll of advertisements, so he goes back to the game.

“Has anyone considered targeting people like them?” he muses, obviously referring to the previous channel.

[returnher]

"Celebs? I think some people have talked about it but nobody's really gotten too deep into it. It's hard to get keywords off them because access is so limited, unless you can guess their distortion and location you're pretty much sunk."

[pragmaticblood]

The more Leo thinks on it, the more he realizes it's probably best they don't target a celebrity for their debut operation. Drawing too much attention on their first case, he believes, would do more harm than good.

"What about you?" he's shifting the subject, but his curiosity is genuine. This person clearly knows more about palaces and keywords than Leo initially gave credit for. "Is there anyone's heart you want to change?"

[returnher]

Locke pauses for a bit, sizing Leo up before taking a long swig from his can of beer. Setting it down he folds his hands pensively.

"Yeah, a bunch of 'em. They tend to wear blue and have weird opinions about what 'excessive force' means. How about you?"

Despite the drink, when he looks at Leo his eyes seem pretty coldly sober.

[pragmaticblood]

What a peculiar answer.

He scrapes through his memory, wondering if his father has ever dealt with clients that fit this description. To no avail, when the only thing he sees are people with similar faces - everything is normal, ordinary.

Leo wants to ask more, and Locke isn't as drunk as he initially thought. But he files this away for another time.

"Just someone who's let his business consume him." he pauses. "Is it wrong wanting to change the heart of a family member?"

[returnher]

"I don't think so. Honestly if it were to come to it, I think it's most just if a family member does it. They know you best and can be trusted to have your best interest at heart."

[pragmaticblood]

"I see," Having his father's 'best interests' in mind was a bit of an understatement, but Leo understands. "If the opportunity arises, I'll have to remember what you said; it may be something I come to lean on."

[returnher]

"We all need to figure out what we think is right. That's why we do this, isn't it?"

[pragmaticblood]

"That's right." It's strange, but he doesn't think this is a bad start to the new year. "My name's Leo, by the way. I'm one of the Infiltrators. It's nice to meet you."

[returnher]

"Colin Locke. Call me Locke. Nice to meet you, Leo. Looks like you've got some shit at home, but don't worry about that stuff here."

[pragmaticblood]

"Thanks, Locke," indeed, he does have quite a bit on his plate back home. "I'll focus on my job as a Phantom Thief for as long as I'm here. When the time comes, if you need someone to infiltrate a Palace with you, I'm here."

[returnher]

"Likewise. I don't like letting rotten people get away."