Niko Bellic | Network 003

[vengeance_driven]

[Public | Video]

[Once Niko's comfortably back in his home (because he had to check on his beast, which is scarfing food in the background and his big giant hound is sniffing at it like nothing at all was wrong in the past day), Niko decides to let people know he's alive.]

[He's so angry that he flipped Jeffer's network sensor on by accident. So his swears get replaced by madlib holes of hateful silence. He's still dirty, and tired, and looks like he's ready to tear off someone's face.]

What is that ▬▬▬ English saying about death being exaggerated. Yeah. Something like that.

I know a certain traitorous piece of ▬▬▬ I would like a word with, though. Where are you?! You ▬▬▬ coward son of a ▬▬▬! I'm going to find you even if you don't tell me, so might as well make this easy and not make me any more ▬▬▬ off, ▬▬▬.

[He doesn't actually stick around. He's seen turning it off and leaving. He'll be back later. But he's too pissed.]


OOC: All responses on the network will be after the actual spam thread. No worries, he's not actually going to do anything. He's leaving that to other people.

Comments

[domesheriff]

[Linda doesn't know Niko well enough to really be sure how to handle this situation, but she's definitely worried about how he's doing after...everything. and seeing his network post doesn't help those feelings]

[while she kind of wants to ask again if he's sure he isn't going to press charges, she knows he already made that clear, so she refrains. instead, she says:]

Niko, take a deep breath, all right? [and, hoping to distract him from his anger:] Is there anything you need?

[vengeance_driven]

[He still is pretty adamant about not pressing charges. Belloq dug himself into that situation.]

[And at this point he's figured out that it's worthless.]

No. Not really. [He can't think of anything he even wants right now. He's had alcohol. That's as good as he can get.]

[domesheriff]

[she frowns. it's not the answer she was hoping for, and she doesn't know Niko well enough to be able to tell if he would rather just be left alone or not. she's relieved that she at least knows that Kay sent Boone to make sure he doesn't go after Belloq so she doesn't have to worry about that. but otherwise...well, she's afraid getting him out of the temple might be all that she can do for him]

Then...if you need anything later, or even just some company, let me know. Okay?

[vengeance_driven]

I just need to feel good about myself again. But I have more important things to worry about, I guess.

[Belloq made him feel pretty good about himself, but now he's been dunked back under the water.]

I'm glad you got past everything in there. You're a good person. I would have felt bad if you got hurt coming after me. I know Boone is good at this sort of thing, but you're pretty new at it.

[domesheriff]

[her expression is troubled at that] What do you mean? What's more important than that?

[but his next words catch her by surprise, and she shakes her head] Niko, we weren't going to just...leave you in there. Not when Boone thought you might still be alive. And anyway, this place is new, but I've been in tough situations before. [she pauses for a second, just the briefest hesitation, before she adds:] Back in Chester's Mill, I was even sheriff for a couple days.

[it's a bit of an overstatement; she's never been in any situation like a trap-ridden and creature-infested ancient temple before, and half of her time as sheriff was spent as a patient in the hospital. but still, the last thing she wants is Niko feeling bad that she had to come after him when it's not his fault somebody fucked him over like that]

[vengeance_driven]

Belloq might have pulled me into some trouble that I want no part of so I am going to make sure things are okay for me. Don't worry about it. I need the distraction.

[The Orions know that Niko was the last one to see the sword, so he is a little worried. But Niko also has enough ties to the Blood Pack that going after him would be stupid. He thinks he has a way to better ensure his safety, and sadly, as much as he likes the patrol officers he knows, he also realizes how easy it is for people like the Orion Syndicate to find their ways around them when it comes to a man who has to regularly leave Blackway.]

Why were you a sheriff? [That's easier than answering why he thought coming after him would actually have been too much trouble.]

[domesheriff]

[she doesn't like the sound of that, but Niko is making it clear he doesn't want to talk about it. she might try to press him later, but she doesn't want to risk it now, so all she says is:] Be careful, Niko.

[but she can't help looking surprised at his question. really, she should have known he would ask; it's only natural, but she's kicking herself for bringing it up at all] We... [she licks suddenly dry lips] We lost ours. Suddenly. [and then Paul shot Freddy and she had to shoot Paul, and that was the rest of the police force that had been left under the dome other than her. but she doesn't want to go into that] So I had to step up.

[vengeance_driven]

Stepping up is difficult. They were lucky a good person was there to become sheriff. Where I am from, law enforcement is not so kind.

[He might as well be honest about that. "Stepping up" for Niko had been becoming a soldier, murdering. Maybe if his village had a good person to direct them to safety, more than what was left of a smattering off men too young for the responsibility, things would have been better.]

[domesheriff]

[Linda shakes her head] When you're on the force, you do what you have to for the people you serve. That's all. [she frowns] But I'm sorry to hear that. Duke--our sheriff--made sure we didn't have people like that. He always used to say "the greatest weapon we have as police is a good heart."

[she pauses and adds:] If it helps, I think the people working security here are good people.

[vengeance_driven]

Where I am from, many people exploit the position. It is much more common for people to use a position of authority to get a head than to protect. Maybe it is the fact you are from a smaller place.

[domesheriff]

Maybe. [and their police force wasn't perfect, either. two days under the dome was enough to send Paul wild and insane, after all] But I don't think this place being bigger means there are more people like that, either.

[vengeance_driven]

Not here. I mean Liberty City. Where I was living before I came here.

[domesheriff]

[she nods] I know. I just meant...things aren't the same here as they were back there. I don't really know Liberty City, but maybe security's more like Chester's Mill here.

[she gives him a tentative smile. she wonders if he's telling her some of this because Belloq's betrayal and his near death have scared him--reminded him of conditions back home that he'd rather not have remembered. she wants to reassure him if she can]

[vengeance_driven]

It hasn't been good anywhere that I have gone besides here. [But then, the criminal organizations (save for the Orions) have been oddly level headed as well. So he generally doesn't know what to make of the place.]

[domesheriff]

[she frowns, quiet briefly before she says:] Then I guess I'm just glad you're here now.

[vengeance_driven]

[He wants to warn her that idea might change, that he's bad news by default. But she seems so glad that he doesn't want to say something like that.]

[domesheriff]

[when he goes quiet, she has a feeling this conversation is at an end. she sighs] Niko...take care of yourself. And be careful.

[vengeance_driven]

I try to be.

Thank you for what you have done, though. Again, it must have been difficult. [And he's not going to forget it.]

[domesheriff]

[she smiles a little. she's just glad--and so relieved--that he came out of it okay] Don't mention it. [and with that, she shuts off the feed. if he does need her later, he knows how to find her]