resort_link | Lying Liar

[Belloq remains in the clothes he was wearing during the expedition of earlier, the pith helmet off his head, but the safari suit dirty and stained from a day crawling about the jungle. His head is bowed in remorse.]

I am sorry to report that Niko Bellic, wilderness guide, fell today in the course of his duty.

I will not distress with details, but only say that we were taken by surprise by a swarm of skeleton archers while exploring a temple. Niko fought bravely, and I owe my life to him. He is a credit to all who risk their lives leading us through the dangerous wilds. May the psychopomp guide him to peace.

I will be at Pugsy's tonight, raising a glass in remembrance, if any would like to join me there.

[And the lie is done. Even Belloq doesn't exactly know where that temple was. Niko, as guide, had that knowledge. There is little chance that someone will find Niko before he really is dead. And Belloq's done his duty to the Orion Syndicate, for which he'll be paid well.]

((OOC: Feel free to network reply or action spam at Pugsy's))

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He had a drive to protect people and he did it well, even at the expense of his own life.

It is strange, going about my days, continuing my work, after what has happened. But continue we must. That is what I learned in the Great War. Friends die around you, but you keep going.

[Tuco just nods grimly. He might... exaggerate a little when it comes to his personal involvement in the war back home, but Belloq's words still ring true for him. If one spends their life with a gun in hand, one gets used to the casualties, right?

He certainly has.

Eyes drifting down to Belloq's glass, he remembers he never got around to getting Niko that drink.]

Shit, [he says with a little exhale.] You still thirsty?

Always. Especially now. Are you offering to buy me a round?

[He wouldn't think it of Tuco. Tuco seems to him more the type to run up a tab, to ask friends to buy him drinks giving heart-felt promises to pay them back later, promises that never came to fruition. But before today he wouldn't have imagined Tuco solemn and sincere, either. This is a peek of a facet he hadn't before seen.]

[Cue the coy half-smile. For every dozen selfish acts committed, he usually manages a dubiously charitable one, too.]

Why not? [Leaning over the bar, he manages to grab the bartender's attention for just long enough to make a series of crude gestures. Then, as an aside to Belloq:] You better like mezcal.

Salud. [He says in passable Spanish in response, the accent more Castilian than Mexican.]

As you are doing this kind thing for me, perhaps I can do something for you in return. I spoke of business a moment ago. I have a job that needs doing, something very simple, will not take much time, but it will pay well.

[While he doesn't reply immediately, he doesn't make any attempt to disguise his interest, either. Even as he shifts to pull out a stool, his eyes stay fixed on Belloq's, all bright and alert. Timing be damned, "pay well" is evidently one of his favourite word combinations.]

I like simple, [he says, reaching for the large, squat bottle the bartender has just procured. He takes a moment to fill both glasses, before pushing one (and a little dish of powder) towards Belloq.] Go ahead.

Edited 2015-01-24 13:22 (UTC)

[He takes the drink that Tuco offers.]

Not here. It isn't the sort of thing one should discuss openly, not even in a bar like this one. Come to my rooms later and we will talk about the details there.

[Tuco actually squints then, glass lowering a touch like drinking and processing information at the same time may be too much of a stretch for him. In actual fact, it's more that he's suddenly questioning whether or not he's being "propositioned" instead.

Not that it really matters, he supposes. He just nods, shielding his grin with a quick gulp of mezcal.]

Okay. [He swipes his mouth with the back of his hand.] I try not to drink too much, hm?