bakerstreet | I HAVE A 24 YEAR OLD GENIUS WITH A SMARTPHONE AND A PROBLEM WITH AUTHORITY, YOU NEVER STOOD A CHANCE

I HAVE A 24 YEAR OLD GENIUS WITH A SMARTPHONE AND A PROBLEM WITH AUTHORITY, YOU NEVER STOOD A CHANCE

CON PERSON/GRIFTER MEME

It's a seductive sort of trade. Trick people for a living. Put on your best charming face and rob them blind. Use your skills to steal art, money, never have to worry about your livelihood. Evade being caught, live the thrill of knowing you're in a precarious place, a hair's breadth from ruin. You can handle it. Are you an unrepentant crook or are you a reformed thief? Essentially: are you a threat or benevolent benefactor? You steal from the rich but do you keep it for yourself or give to the poor? Not all grifters can be emotionless monsters, after all.

• Top level your character. Include any details you might think are relevant. Or don't. As always, we're not the cops. Which is good, 'cause y'all are damn criminals.
• Reply to other people's top levels!
• Have fun!

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Definitely probably the criminal.]

[ It's stupid to be worried, in all senses of the word. Stupid because he shouldn't feel like this about something as simple as being touched when he feels vulnerable, stupid because he has to suck it up and do it anyway, stupid because it affects him as much as it does.

Stupid because it distracts him from his goal.

Regulus has had this identity for so long, has dragged himself through hell and worse to get to where he is, and now he's two months in on a job and he's feeling the same old anxiety he always gets. It's just sex. It shouldn't be an issue. He's had to make it not be an issue before with marks, because no one takes no for an answer. He's never met anyone that does, anyway.

Still, Remus feels safer than most people he's had to (isn't that a trip, had to) be with. Maybe he'll be able to breathe while he's vulnerable and shaking. It's been a good night and they're in his personal flat (safer in his own space or the ability to leave is always a hard decision) and settled on the sofa like it's any other night. It's supposed to be any other night.

Their knees are touching. He never feels guilty for tricking people, not really, but sometimes he does lately.

Regulus smiles and turns toward Remus, tipping his head up to kiss him warm and familiar. He'll manage as he always does. Seal the deal, right? ]

[Remus has never been so happy, never had things go so right for him. Especially not in the department of romance. But Ezra has been perfect from their first meeting, and the both of them seemed to be falling head over heels for each other. At least, Remus hoped that particular feeling was mutual. His life truly has turned around, both in his work and on a personal level.

He has an arm wrapped around the other man's slimmer frame when Ezra moves to kiss him. He smiles into it, hand gently rubbing the man's shoulder. He's sensed some hesitancy with more intimate contact in Ezra before and fully understood the many reasons why a person might have that. Heaven knows he's had his own reasons at times. In any case, he's always careful not to push.

It's been a good night, with lots of casual affection, and Ezra initiating the kiss is a good sign, but he's perfectly fine with the night just being this, just them comfortable together and kissing.]

[ Casual affection and touches are easy. They still feel guarded inside him and don't make him anxious. But anything more makes his pulse race uncomfortably. Still, he'd rather take initiative before it's expected of him so he wears that same easy smile against the older man's mouth, leaning into him. He'll do this on his own terms. He shifts slightly so that he's a raised a little on his knees, on more even ground so that he can deepen the kiss and wrap his arms around Remus' neck.

He knows he's got him reeled in faster than most and this is just going to help even more. He'll just think about that. He slips one hand to rest at Remus' nape, fingers carefully carding through his curls. He knows just how to do it without tugging on any of them painfully.

Smooth like everything else he does. ]

[This is nice, really nice, and slightly unexpected tonight. He hums pleasantly as the kiss deepens, the hand that was on Ezra's shoulder moving to slide over his back. He smiles at the warmth from the hand on his nape, the feeling of clever fingers moving smoothly through his hair.

Nothing's struck him as "off" about it yet, honestly he's happy Ezra is comfortable enough with him for this. Again he doesn't push for more.]

[ The hand at his back doesn't make him still but it does make him tense slightly, though it's masked in the way he forces himself to arch his back a little - it looks like it's supposed to look, of course, and it's a little distracting for the way he's suddenly resting right there against Remus' chest.

For all his work over the years he still can't quite control his heartbeat - maybe Remus won't notice the staccato, or he'll take it for something other than nervousness.

Regulus deepens the kiss instead of giving him time to dwell on it. Kissing it fine. He doesn't mind kissing. ]

[The tensing is still enough to clue him in, even masked as something else, and with Ezra so close and pressed up against him, he can feel the man's heart pounding like he's running a marathon.

He slowly pulls away from the kiss but stays close, not wanting this to seem like a rejection. It isn't, he's just concerned and wants to be sure everything's fine.]

Is this alright? You seem nervous.

[ No one ever notices. Ever. But Remus has noticed and Regulus frowns slightly before looking at him in a purposefully owlish sort of way. When he speaks it's in a quietly breathy way that masks any of the nervousness he really is feeling.

Stupid. ]

Of course, It's fine--why?

[ His hand hasn't moved from where his fingers are toying with his hair, purposefully distracting. Come on, just let him push through this like he always does. ]

[It is distracting, but this is important.]

Just want to make it clear before we get any further that-- we don't have to do anything you don't want. In fact, I only want what you also want.

[He smiles and gives Ezra a little peck on the nose.]

And you don't have to explain if you don't want something, or if you're not ready. It's all okay.

[ There's a silence where he processes this: it's not actually something anyone's ever said to him and it puts him off-balance in a way he doesn't like. Whatever's coiling in his chest is strangling his heart painfully and he doesn't know what to do with it. ]

I--

[ He really doesn't understand it. for a second it looks as though he's going to surge forward onto Remus' lap but then he settles back suddenly, taking a shaking breath once he's put a little distance between them. ]

What are you talking about? What I want? People always want what they want, and this is what people do when they're together, isn't it?

[ He is truly, genuinely, and utterly confused and perplexed. And a little alarmed. ]

You do want me, right?

[Well, it's a good thing he'd trusted his instincts on this. He lets Ezra make some distance, then takes one of the man's hands in his own.]

Of course I want you. You're-- You're everything I've ever wanted in a partner, to be honest. [Admitting that has him a bit sheepish and flustered for a second.] I care about you, and that means I care about what you want too. If you're not happy or comfortable with what we're doing, then I don't want that. Do you understand? More than anything I want you to be happy.

[ There's a moment where he literally can't compute what Remus is saying to him. No one's ever gotten him this way and later he'll be furious with himself for letting so much of his real emotion out but for now he's not thinking about it. His chest hurts worse now and he's trying to keep his hands from shaking. ]

No, I don't understand. That's not how it works. People want something and they take it. You want me, so you get me. That's how it works.

[ It's quite clear he's being absolutely genuine about this. He has no idea what kind of relationship dynamic Remus is talking about even is. ]

[Remus is getting more and more concerned about Ezra, and more thankful he'd stopped things when he did. He drives all tones of judgement from his voice before saying what comes next. It's an honest attempt to understand Ezra's thinking on this, whether it goes both ways or not.]

Is that how you'd treat me if you wanted something from me that I didn't want to give?

[ He hates this. It's throwing him off-kilter in a way he's not used to, in a way that's making him slide a little further on the couch.

(That's what he does for a living isn't it? Kind of. But it's not this, this is where people take from him--) ]

That's not how it works either.

[ question mark bird dot gif ]

The world isn't a nice place. People aren't nice.

[It's not the first time he's wondered what sort of horrors might linger in Ezra's past, but it's the most sure he's ever been that they're there. He lifts Ezra's hand in his own and presses a kiss to his knuckles.]

I don't believe that's true. The world can be a nice place just as easily as it can be a cruel one... and people can most definitely be nice. You've been nice to me. Have I not been--?

[A bit of insecurity leaks through there. Had he actually been pushing himself on Ezra the entire time? Did he even want any of this?]

[ There's a sort of stricken silence here. No, that's not what he means. It can't be what he means because that means he's fucked up the job and it's going to fall apart and he's going to have a black mark on his record of failure.

He's ignoring the way his breath catches and shakes his head, owl-eyed and appearing genuine and sincere.

He also hates that it's mostly true. ]

No, you have. Which is why I don't understand. I always... You know, it's nice at first. People think I'm charming and funny and like to spend time with me and they pretend. [ He cants his head, appearing apologetic. ] But you never seem like you're pretending.

[It's a relief to hear, he didn't think he'd be able to live with himself if he had unknowingly forced himself on Ezra somehow. No, this isn't really about him, which makes it simultaneously easier and more difficult for them to try and handle.]

I'm not pretending. You are charming and funny, among many other things, and I do like spending time with you. I find myself wanting to do so more and more. I'll hear your text tone while I'm working and I won't be able to focus on my job until I see what it is you sent me. I used to practically live in my office at the gallery, I even have a blanket and pillow in there, but since we began seeing each other, I've been taking more time away from work, and-- honestly, I think I'm better for it. I think the gallery is better for it, without me feeling the need to constantly be there to micromanage everything. You've been so good for me, in so many ways. There's no pretending.

[Well...]

[OOC: Given his canon interests, is crossing these two a terrible idea or the best idea?]

[OOC: I'm just barely north of canon blind on River, so your call?]

[do you mind a Parker? ]

[Never! Parker always.]

[ what kind of scenario are you interested in playing with these two? ]

Edited 2017-01-28 19:10 (UTC)

[Literally a professional liar and thief, so that's fun right.]

[Got a paranormal problem you just can't shake off? Surely the Spirits and Such Consultation Office can help relieve your troubles!! The rumors are everywhere, on the streets and on the Internet...with the most reasonable prices in the area (and a special event discount all this week! it's opening anniversary, how fortunate for you), and headed by Arataka Reigen, the Greatest Psychic of the 21st Century, spirit reduction is guaranteed.

Stop by and leave the afterlife to a professional!]

[Progress is progress, and progress must grow.]

[A LEVERAGE MEME? Here have the Sophie Devereaux of space]

[ can be younger, a thief with no scruples and the talent to match, or a little older and much more principled. modern aus are fine. ]

Edited 2017-01-25 04:11 (UTC)

[The smallest platypus with a slight mob obsession, ripe for this kind of meme.]

[ o/ ]

[would you like a parker? ]

[for gen stuff, heck yeah.]

( Young heir to a criminal empire who's a bit less than enthused to inherit. Or anything else, I'm game for all sorts of AUs! )

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I HAVE A 24 YEAR OLD GENIUS WITH A SMARTPHONE AND A PROBLEM WITH AUTHORITY, YOU NEVER STOOD A CHANCE

Artemis Fowl | those books

Remus Lupin | Harry Potter | ota

dat one au

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

Alec Hardison | Leverage | OTA

no subject

no subject

Re: Alec Hardison | Leverage | OTA

no subject

no subject

Eames || Inception

Arataka Reigen | Mob Psycho 100

The Once-ler | Dr. Seuss | ota

River Song (Doctor Who) - Open

cassian andor | star wars

Edward Platypus | Camp Lazlo

eliot spencer | leverage

Re: eliot spencer | leverage

Re: eliot spencer | leverage

Noctis Lucis Caelum | FFXV