wanted a serious title but i'm wondering which of them is shrek and which is donkey (we know)

[brokeassgoing]

Continued from all this beauty

[He's had a pretty hard time stumbling around after his injury...but that doesn't really stop him. Whiny as he is, Badou had too much to do. Sure, he'd stayed mostly at home these past few days, but he's been very busy. No laying around, no unconsciousness for too long.

He's been developing the film he'd taken during the last job, carefully cultivated in the darkness of his nasty little bathroom, the chemicals would sting his nose if he wasn't used to this already.

So it's no surprise he's been so focused he's forgotten to do some stuff around the place, lately. And will probably not notice a new visitor in the form of his little old man buddy, either.]

Comments

[brokeassgoing]

[Badou stands a little straighter now. He hadn't really considered that....if anything anyone willing to do business with Five is a potential risk. Too many people he's met over the years who have their little thumbs in different pies and whatnot.

But he trusts Five, he hadn't even considered the risk of someone trying to set him up.

He sits down. He inhales. So what to do, what to do.]

We can still get him. Politicians hand off a lot of cash to places to get good in the campaign, right?

[oldmanfive]

This was just meant to be side job. I can't risk my family for the small change of a mayor. If I had known this was a possibility, I would have never took the damn job!

[ Five tries not to snap, but he is starting to freak out here. His family aren't helpless, but they can be ambushed and they are public enough figures that researching their powers is a possibility.

He can't stop himself from pacing as this is bad. There's no way they can hold this over the guy's head without him striking back like a snake. The client is the one with the ultimate power in this situation and Five is cursing himself for not considering this could happen.]

[brokeassgoing]

[he sighs again, so loudly. if he has to watch Five pace a groove in his floorboards....he's gonna be unhappy. even more so.

he understands he doesn't want to risk his family, he gets it. still...kind of too late for that.]

Either you backstab me and give me to them or we take 'em out. Seems we got an ultimatum here.

[oldmanfive]

[ He stops pacing and immediately turns to look at Badou. ]

Blackmailing them is not an option, Badou. My only out is to kill them myself.

[ What a fucking mess. Of course, he's not going to hand over Badou to them because that's not his style. But his siblings are everything to him. He can't risk them for what amounts to small change. Allison alone is worth more than the fucking Mayor and she's an actress.]

[brokeassgoing]

[he also stops, sits up straighter and frowns at Five.]

Did you just say yourself? You ain't killing them yourself. I'm helping.

[did this little old man really? imply? he's going this alone? over his dead body.]

[oldmanfive]

Absolutely not! You're not even 100% yet!

[ Five snapped, giving Badou an incredulous glare. ]

Besides they already got the drop on you once! Do you really want to give them a second chance to finish the job?

[brokeassgoing]

So? They won't expect me to get anywhere near this again. And I can at least be backup if you're that worried. I can handle this.

[Five cannot go into this alone. he refuses to let him]

[oldmanfive]

No way. When it comes to this sort of job, I work better alone.

[ And Five refuses to let Badou come near this again. They already sniffed him out once before, he's not going to let that happen again. ]

[brokeassgoing]

How exactly are you gonna stop me? No, really, I'm curious.

[because if he thinks he can stop Badou Nails then....]

[oldmanfive]

[ Five gives Badou a flat stare, but says nothing. Suddenly he vanishes in a flash and suddenly reappears in Badou's space; his fist going straight for the patched up but not fully healed wound on the taller man's side.

If this is the only way to keep Badou from trying to follow him then so be it.]

[brokeassgoing]

[Badou immediately doubles over-- dry heaving, black spots across his eye, the whole shebang. for a second he thinks he passes out but when he comes back to himself he's in the fetal position]

You're a real bastard...

[oldmanfive]

[ He doesn't take any pleasure from seeing Badou go down; but he has to show him that he's not in any real shape to provide backup. Right now, he'd only make Five worry about him. ]

Do us both a favor, Badou. Don't make me hurt you further. Just stay out of this. I'll handle it.

[ If he has to tie him down and drug him, he'll do it. ]

[brokeassgoing]

You can't go this alone!

[he doesn't bother trying to move, knows if he does he'll most likely pass out and miss this. even miss Five's anger-- what if Badou's stupid screw up gets him killed? Five would leave behind all those siblings...]

If you go out there...

[oldmanfive]

[ Five kneels down so he and Badou are more at eye level as he speaks to him. ]

Trust me, I can handle this. I've faced worse odds on my own and I've always managed to come out the other end still kicking.

[He knows some of these folks have powers, which means he'll have to play things smart, but he's already coming up with a plan to handle the matter. He slightly frowns at Badou's last words and the way he trails off. ]

Hey I saved you, didn't I? Why are you so hard pressed to believe that I can take this guy?

[brokeassgoing]

I think you probably can, but there could be more goons than we think...and we dunno what kind of powers they have!

[now he does reach out and grab Five by the collar, lightly, desperately]

[oldmanfive]

[ Instinctively Five reaches out to grab, Badou's wrist. His frown deepens as he sees the desperation on the other man's face. It makes something in his stomach drop. He doesn't like seeing his siblings worry over him and well apparently he doesn't like Badou to worry over him either.]

I know how to be stealthy, Badou. I'm the one who took this job in the first place and now I have to deal with the fall out.

[ It just doesn't feel right to put Badou in more danger after the tailing job with so far south on them in the first place. ]

[brokeassgoing]

And I'm the one who screwed up...at least let me take responsibility for once in my life.

[if something happens to him...he'll never forgive himself. screwing up, getting Five even further involved by wiping his butt for him.]

[oldmanfive]

What the fuck? Look at you man! I took you down and I was holding back. Those assholes won't hold back if they catch you again. Just sit this one out, god dammit!

[ Five can't stop himself from snapping at Badou again. Why can't he understand? He doesn't want him getting killed out of some sense of duty! Especially not for him. He just can't watch anymore people he cares about die. ]

Please, just trust me.

[ He squeezes Badou's wrist as he slowly tugs the taller man's hand away from his collar. If this plea doesn't work, he's quite ready to knock Badou out to ensure he stays safe.]

[brokeassgoing]

[he lets his arm drop slowly from Five's shoulder, lets his shoulders slump.

He trusts Five. Duh. Five is strong, and smart, he's clever and he's got that old man wisdom...and most of all he's Badou's friend. Five gets to doing the right thing, his own way, eventually. Badou knows that.]

Fine.

[but he's not going to let him do this alone. that's the thing about him-- he's so darn stubborn. he thinks he needs to do everything on his own.

and he needs a pain in the butt to follow him, too.]

[oldmanfive]

[ Momentarily Five frowns, unsure if Badou's actually folding or if he is just trying to play him for the sap. But he doesn't really want to argue it, so he decides to give Badou the benefit of the doubt. He hopes he won't regret it.

He lets out a sigh as he slowly stands back up.]

Look, I'll call you when it's over. It will probably take me a couple of days to get the job done. But it will get done. Whatever you do, do not tell anyone about those pictures. If they don't know they exist, they won't send anyone to try and collect them.

[ He warns as he turns to head toward the door. He's got some planning to do and a client to call and lure to their doom. ]

[brokeassgoing]

[he wants to stop him, he wants to fight him...he wants to stand in the doorway and refuse to budge...but this weak, stringy body can hardly move, pain radiates through his body...

so all he can do is say:]

Just be careful.

[he can't do anything yet...he needs a little more time to join him...

but that doesn't mean he can't freaking tattle. Five is going to be furious but...it's better than him dying.]

[oldmanfive]

Yeah, yeah, I'll be fine. So stop worrying. I got this.

[ Five speaks as he continues toward the door, he waves his hand in dismissive style as he has no plans on dying. The odds aren't exactly great but he has faced worse odds. He's confidant in his skills as an assassin. He's sure he can kill these folks if he paces himself.

Of course, he doesn't know what Badou is contemplating and how that is going to affect his plans. Thus he doesn't look back as he leaves as he needs to make some phone calls and he can't do that with Badou second guessing him. Plus he doesn't need Badou overhearing and then following after him.]