resort_link | Niko Bellic

Entry tags:

Niko Bellic | Network 003

[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.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He shakes his head.]

No, I'm worried I'll make a mistake if I get too drunk. That I will do something I really will regret.

[Not killing Belloq- he can't imagine he'll regret that.]

Like what?

[He's not sure what Niko could do here that he'd regret, so he's kind of thinking along the lines of him going out to kill Belloq after all. He's not sure he'd actually regret that, though.]

[This is even harder than the admissions before. And he finds that no matter how hard he tries, he can't admit the thought. Not yet anyway. So he just reaches over to briefly squeeze Boone's wrist in thanks for his time and patience, his loyalty, things that he really needs right now, and starts to take off his shoes.]

There are things I should talk to you about later. It is important that they stay between us.

But I don't want to discuss them right now. I just want to be safe in here with you.

[He hesitates for a moment, then nods. If Niko doesn't want to discuss it, he won't make him.]

Okay.

[He finishes his vodka and eyes the bottle. If Niko doesn't want to drink anymore, he probably should stop too. He won't be much help if he's drunk. He sets his glass beside the vodka, and sits on the bed cross-legged, facing Niko.]

You sure you don't want anything else?

[He's fussing a little, but only because he's sure being locked in a temple for hours isn't good for you.]

[He finishes with his shoes, and he realizes that yes, he's been in the temple for hours and hours and hours and he's not had them off since he left with Belloq. It's a strange thing to find relief in, just taking off his shoes. Like one more reminder that he's finally out.]

[He notices that Boone is sitting facing him, and not drinking. He knows how much he likes drinking, and after what he told him he almost wants to encourage him to. He's not the same type of alcoholic his father was.]

[But instead he just looks at him.]

I had another stupid thought. But I think it's because I'm sad. [He shrugs dismissively.] I ran out of angry, and then I was sad, and then you started to make me feel better and I don't know. It's probably... ah... not exactly the right thought for me to have.

It doesn't even make sense. I don't think that way. But I trust you to not to punch me in the face out of nowhere. Not like with most men.

[He's rambling now. It's actually really hard to get around to. And he's worried about how much he'll say. The worst result would be getting kicked out for the night.]

Maybe I was a little afraid, too. [Maybe he was a lot afraid, not of the Orions but of dying alone and lost, and that helped egg on his rage.]

[Boone is having a hard time following what Niko is saying. He watches him speak with his head tilted slightly to one side, looking a strange mix of confused and concerned. Well, he can at least promise him one thing.]

I wouldn't hit you. Not sure why you think I would.

[He generally doesn't punch his friends.]

Think I'd be afraid, too. If I wasn't sure anyone was coming for me. Being alone in there, thinking you're gonna die, gives you way too much time to think about it.

[And way too much time to think about all the mistakes you made in life.]

[It is hard to follow. He's dancing around the point as if it's lava, and now Boone is for all the world looking at him like Rex looks at Pas when Pas has eaten too much. Which, really, doesn't help Niko feel better.]

I don't think you would. Which is the point, I think. You're better than most.

[He barely stops himself from going off on some tangent about Boone not being particularly pretty or anything (because he's not) so he knows it's not that. But at least there's one thing he does understand.]

Yeah. That was pretty heavy on my mind. But I kept getting madder, the more I sit there. The moment I stopped was when you came in. So if is okay, I'd ah... I'd like to ah...

[Shit. He wipes his hand over his face. Then motions with both hands at Boone.]

[And no words are coming out of his mouth.]

[This is going to take a lot of strength. Strength he doesn't know if he has. Maybe he shouldn't have taken his shoes off. He might need to make a quick getaway.]

I thought for a moment... that ah... kissing you would feel pretty good. Because I've not kissed someone that really cared in years. It didn't even matter that you are a man. [Not even Kate, whose biggest gesture of affection was a kiss on the cheek. But once the words are out they hurt. He realizes how distanced he's been from any sort of remotely healthy relationship. Most has been either sex he's paid for or hateful women he kept for the false companionship.]

Pretty embarrassing. When you realize something like that.

[When Niko finally gets to the point, Boone just sort of stares at him. Almost as if he's trying to figure out if he heard that right. And once he realises that he did, it's his turn to struggle for words.]

Oh.

[He looks down at his hands, turning slightly red, and he's quiet for what feels like a long time. He wants to tell Niko that going down that path would be a bad idea, but he also doesn't want to assume that this is anything more than Niko being confused after being convinced he was going to die alone for a while. He probably just wants to be close to someone after all that time on his own. Boone still isn't sure he's the right person to be getting close to, but he has a feeling rejecting Niko will make him feel miserable. He doesn't want Niko to feel alone again. And really, he's not asking for anything more than friendship. He's just asking for a kiss. It doesn't have to be anything more than that.

The fact that he's considering it surprises him. And suddenly, he thinks back to the one time he figured that kissing Niko would be scratchy. He'd never had any desire to actually kiss him, but the thought had been there. Is he curious now? He's not sure. He resists the urge to turn back around and pour another drink, and finally finds his words again.]

You, uh... you sure that's a good idea?

[He glances up at Niko again. It's not a judging look. He doesn't think it's embarrassing. It's just a little difficult to process.]

Said you'd regret it. You really think you would?

[Because if he really thinks he'd be kicking himself later, he doesn't want that.]

[There's a lot he could mention there about the politics of his world. There's a lot of sexual degradation used, especially when it comes to even gestures of affection between men. But that's less what he's afraid of.]

I was worried you might throw me out if I even mentioned it. Men ah... don't... take too well to it in my world. [But he's never ran Brucie out for wanting to, so he doesn't know why he was so worried about it.]

[He's not sure at all that it's a good idea, not in the slightest. And he does believe it's probably because he was angry and scared and alone and he just wants someone that cares to fucking trust him for once. And he knows that he likes him well enough to trust him with just the thought of doing it.]

Maybe a little will not be bad. [He makes a space between his fingers, indicating what he means. And honestly, the red in his Boone's face is probably more encouraging than it should be. It doesn't seem like he would have turned that color if he completely resented the idea.]

[This is idiotic. He could probably go the brothel and pay a prostitute to dress up for him rather than risk his very real friendship.]

[But Niko takes the risk, shifts close to where Boone is sitting cross-legged, and leans in, propping up his weight with one arm. Just a little one. That wouldn't be so bad, right? The communists did this kind of thing just for friendship.]

[Not everyone is open to the idea of men kissing back in Boone's world either, but for the most part people have better things to worry about. Boone has never had a problem with it, the same way he doesn't have a problem with ghouls or super mutants just as long as they're nice enough to him. The only people he'll judge immediately are raiders and slavers. He gets the feeling he wouldn't like living in Niko's world.

When he moves closer, Boone resists the urge to lean away. This is a terrible idea, he's sure of it now. His eyes flick between Niko's eyes and his lips, trying to figure out what he's thinking, if he's already regretting leaning in. He gives him some time to change his mind, to move away again. He almost hopes that does- but when he doesn't, Boone finally relents and leans in a little. Not enough to let their lips touch, but enough to tell Niko he has his permission to go ahead. It's just a kiss. They'll do it, and then they'll forget about it. Maybe later on, they'll even joke about it. If they're really friends, this won't change anything. That's the important part.]

[Well. Looks like he's going to go for it. Might as well. He's made it this far. And its the first time that he's kissed someone in a long time that's not just been rushed for sex and imagined attention. That actually makes him feel considerably better.]

[Then his nose gets in the way a little, which means when their mouths meet he's smiling a little. And he pulls away before it can even be a proper kiss, trying to not smile first. His face is feeling a little heated, as well, which is aggravating the issue.]

Okay. Okay. Sorry, my nose got in the way. [Which... saying it out loud isn't stopping him from laughing his mean little laugh at himself at how big and awkward he is.] Oh, I am not so good at being delicate flower. [He's already losing words.]

[He might as well do it while he's still smiling. So he does, and it's short and gentle, lips pressing lightly and only with the slightest of prickle and stubble. Nothing in the room exploded or burst into flame. Clocks keep ticking and by some miracle neither of them experienced an annuerism and died on the spot. It's basically the ideal scenario.]

[When he pulls back he's still smiling some.]

Okay.

[And then a nod.]

That was good. Thank you. For trusting me.

[He can't help but smile a little when Niko apologises for his nose getting in the way. It's probably just because he's nervous, but it's still there. It's good to see Niko smiling, too. Maybe this isn't such a bad thing after all.

He's almost expecting something terrible to happen as soon as their lips touch, but when Niko pulls away everything is still as it was before the kiss. He looks down at his hands again, still a little bit red, but he doesn't look like he regrets what just happened. Actually, he's still smiling a tiny smile.]

It's, uh... no problem. You feel better?

Yeah. [He's a little surprised by that.] Yes, I do feel better. [He is pleased though. He expected that to be considerably worse.]

[He's still smiling a little himself as he pushes back higher on the bed, seeming to be okay with drinking his vodka now. It will help him get to sleep.]

Despite having a face that gets in the way. [He wiggles his nose at Boone.]

Good.

[Since Niko seems like he wants to start drinking again, Boone pours them both another glass. He's still not sure how he feels about what just happened, but it didn't feel bad. It's a little confusing, and still kind of awkward, but it probably won't happen again so maybe he shouldn't think about it anymore. When Niko wiggles his nose, he smiles a little more and attempts to hide it in his drink. As it turns out, glass isn't very good at concealing things.]

Glad you made it outta there. Not sure I'd wanna stick around here otherwise.

[He probably would have gone straight back home if Niko had died.]

You know. I'm glad I made it out of there, too. I know who my real friends are.

[Which means he has to think about something else he considered earlier- when it comes to the gangs, the Blood Pack is by far better than the Orions. Garona refuses to involve civilians in their conflicts. He gets away with just doing shipments. But they are still illegal, and Boone is patrol.]

[Today has proven to him that loyalty lies in Boone's favor, so ultimately he will have to talk to him about it. He can't betray the Blood Pack- he's not a traitor, but he'll want to know his feelings on it. See if they, personally, can reach some sort of an accord.]

[But he's satisfied with this small victory, that he came out of a horrifying and enraging experience coaxing smiles from Boone again.] Something strange happened when I was in there. I am sure that I gave Belloq a sword, but I still had a sword. When I think back, I think the first sword weighed different when I was wrapping it.

I think that I found the first sword, I put it down, and one of those pretending animals saw it. Turned into the sword. I wrapped it up and slid it to him. So he fucking ran off with the fake.

Talk about unlucky. [He doesn't sound upset by Belloq's lack of luck, though.]

You think his sword was a prop?

[That's... god, he hopes that's what happened.]

Guess karma came round to bite him in the ass pretty quick, huh.

[Good. He hopes Belloq is miserable. Miserable and feeling like an ass. He outed himself as a traitorous son of a bitch for a fake sword.]

[And Niko didn't even want the real sword. It was interesting to hold, but diamonds are nothing but problems for him. Case in point.]

Pretty damn quick. I think it's pretty funny. [His mean little grin grows at the idea. He's guessing that's why Belloq was so ready to turn himself in. That sword wasn't real.]

Yeah, it is.

[He takes a drink and props up his pillows on his side of the bed so he can lean against them.]

Guess leaving him alive was a good idea after all. Means he gets to live with that mistake. Maybe he won't care about leaving you behind, but he'll care about losing something like a diamond sword. Seems like something that'll always bother him.

[He can't know that for sure, but he hopes that's the case.]

Yes. Maybe. But I think a little part of me will always wish that I had shoved that sword right up his ass. Maybe that would have been the better ending for this story. [And that smile isn't fading. And now he's toasty and drunk enough that he wants the company again, so he motions for Boone to move further up to sit next to him. That way they can commiserate on hateful thoughts more comfortably.]

Only if you waited 'til I was there first.

[That's not something Boone would want to miss. He glances over when Niko gestures for him to sit closer, and hesitates only for a moment before moving over. They've already kissed, sitting a bit closer won't hurt. And he's had enough to drink by now that he doesn't mind the closer contact anymore.]

Well, only if you put in a good word when you arrested me.

[He reaches to take the bottle, topping off their glasses with it.] That sword is probably not even all that valuable in your world. Diamonds can't be that useful. Maybe just to stab things with.

Could pretend it was an accident. Y'know, if anyone asked. He tripped and fell on it. With his ass.

[He takes another long drink, grunts to himself, and leans his head on Niko's shoulder. The vodka is going down well.]

Maybe not to some people, but... think there are probably a bunch of people out there who'd go through hell to get their hands on a sword made of diamond.

"I couldn't believe it either, officer. I guess he fell just right." [The last words end with another laugh, and he situates to be a better prop for the weight leaning against him.]

Diamonds have been nothing but trouble for me. This asshole back home decided that I stole some from him, and he chases me halfway around the planet for them. They're stupid. If someone else wants to fuck with the mess they make? I'm happy to let them have them. I just want to have good friends and get by.

Sounds like trouble. Glad I've never had to worry about that kinda thing.

[Money is a good thing to have, but not if you have to betray your friends to get it.]

Wasn't worrying about caps when I left Novac. Turns out killing legionaries isn't a bad way to get them, though. Lot of them carried nice weapons. Sold pretty well. Better than diamonds would've, I bet.

I had this weapons dealer friend back home. It wasn't legal, but he made a lot of money in the trade. He didn't care so much about the money, he just wanted to live comfortably. He put it all into a cafe that he owned, a good place for people to relax.

When we went drinking he would tell me that vodka and rum, alcohol, they were things that came from the Earth. And when we drank them they put us in touch with the Earth. [He holds up his glass to look through the vodka in it.]

He knew how to live well. Smoked too much weed. but he knew how to live well. Not a lot of people can do that. For all that he sold and acted in violence, he sold and spoke of peace as well. People like him made my world good.

I think he would have liked you. [He settles the glass back down after a short drink. He also thinks Little Jacob would have been right out there to save him. He was always his most dependable friend back home.]

(no subject)

thumbsdown - 2015-01-30 12:17 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

vengeance_driven - 2015-01-30 13:00 (UTC) - Expand

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only