✘ | 009 | VIDEO

[wecanavenge]

[ The video clicks on and you're treated to a puff of smoke, obscuring Erik's face for just a second. When it dissipates, you can tell that - well scruffy is probably the nicest way to put it it. He has some stubble on his chin that can't quite decide if it wants to be a beard yet or not. There are dark circles under his eyes, and his lip was split recently.

The cigarette hangs in his mouth, and he eyes the camera with a bored expression before he let's out another puff of smoke and lifts the cigarette. He has a very faint Irish accent, if you're listening close. ]

Looks like it's speech day, and here I am without one prepared. Y'ever have that dream about showin' up to school bare as the day you was born? Bit like that, I suppose.

But all right. Since we ain't got much else to entertain us, how about a story? Me mam and father and me, we all lived in this town called Limerick, see? Now I was just a boy then, didn't know shit about shit. [ He waves a hand, as if to apologize for his language, but he definitely does not care. ] They sold all sorts of things back then, tchotchkes, we called 'em. Business was good, but never great, you know how it is. I used to sweep the floors, even though the damn broom was taller'n me. Father always laughed t'see it.

Then some piece of shit preacher man got it in his head that we ain't good and godly enough for his town. Musta been pissed we didn't spend Sundays in his church, huh? [ He chuckles, takes another puff off his cigarette. ] Me mam didn't want me helping out after the store got sacked. Scared for me, y'see? But I wasn't scared. [ Still holding the cigarette, he lifts his chin, and trails his finger along a faint scar across the left side of his jaw. ] When you get pushed, you do some pushin' back.

Parents, though, they wasn't the pushin' type. So they packed up and headed out to New York. Soon as I was big enough, I packed up myself, and headed out here, to good old Redemption. Like the name. Good place for fresh starts.

[ He spreads his arms expansively, a smirk pulling at his lips as he inhales, and let's out a quick jet of smoke. ] And here I am, livin' the God damn dream, ain't I? Right here in Mostly-Free-Redemption.

[ The cigarette's down to the butt now, and he stubbs it out. ] Anyone selling cigarette's cheap?


(OOC: BREACH HISTORY: lol this post. :c He seems to be a loyal and ambitious goon working for Prefect, but in actuality he's a fed deep undercover, trying to expose Prefect. He's been under for a couple years now, and it's started eating at him. He walks a very fine line between pretending to be one of them and actually being one of them. He drinks and smokes a lot because it's the best compensation. This is Departed in the 20s. Oh also will be tagging with eachpassingday!)

Comments

[eachpassingday]

Limerick dream is ducking your head an' gettin' by. American's got abit more room for play, yeah?

[nakesnakecobracobra]

A house, a family, a steady job. There's room for play there. I think it's rather modest myself.

[eachpassingday]

That your dream? Sure as hell ain't mine.

[nakesnakecobracobra]

It's the American dream. Don't you read?

[eachpassingday]

Don't you pay attention? The American dream is any damn thing you want it to be.

[nakesnakecobracobra]

People say that, but they don't mean it. The only good dream is the one they want, and anyone who wants anything else has gone horribly astray.

[eachpassingday]

Which makes it any damn thing you want it to be. Startin' to think you don't pay much attention, lady.

[nakesnakecobracobra]

And I'm starting to think you're terribly unaware of the world around you and incapable of listening. So typical of a man.

[eachpassingday]

You got a few screws loose, sweetheart? Maybe get yourself down to the Salvation House.

[nakesnakecobracobra]

I was trying to have a pleasant conversation about the American dream as it has been defined by our society. You've been terribly rude.

[eachpassingday]

Hate to let you in on this secret, sister, but I ain't real concerned with etiquette.

There's the real American dream right there: I got the freedom to say whatever I damn well please.

[nakesnakecobracobra]

If you're going to be like that then I'm not going to talk to you. What a wasted effort.

[eachpassingday]

[ And Erik is just laughing outright at that. ]

You have yourself a real nice day, darlin'.

[nakesnakecobracobra]

[ She gives him one last indignant hmph, like any properly offended lady, before hanging up. ]