The knife that cuts deep

[in_over_his_head]

[1] [Postmission]
[The situation was resolved. What was left of the Organization known as Scylla and Charybdis was being apprehended. Their underground base was in ruins and their ties to the Ebon Court were all but destroyed given the events in the tunnels. Not only that but they also managed to get the third key.]

[Yet despite this Calvin remains silent as he looks up at his battered Genoace. Shield cleaved, guns dented and its knife bloodied. There was clearly something bothering him as his gaze now turned to the recovered artifact. A rusted and very horrifically painful looking knife. Rather than speaking though, the air around the knife just seemed to have the faint scent of blood along with somehow making the air around it sound sharp as impossible as it was.]

Do you ever get the feeling that there's more to a story than you think you know?

[2] [Some time later]
[Calvin's out in town, with coffees in a cardboard carrying tray in hand as he walked down a row of shoplots. Somehow he didn't notice you at all as he kept moving through the area, moving to the older section of the lots and standing in front of one place in particular. From the looks of the place it was a magic shop. Not one of those places that sold stage magician tricks, but one that actually catered to people with a certain set of beliefs. Or in Calvin's case a certain level of wariness for things that people believed in.]

[He lingers at the entrance, trying to compose himself a little as he stared at the door. For a while he looked a little unsure about entering.]

[He still hasn't noticed you either. Try to get his attention?]

Comments

[in_over_his_head]

[Calvin pinches the bridge of his nose.]

I know how absolutely idiotic it sounds. I was stuck in that town they were trashing for four days. Hell... I know more than anyone what kind of bastards they are.

But there's just something about this picture that's really off and its bugging me like crazy. I just can't figure out what it is...

[As for that pen... there's a clack on the floor as it just was sliced cleanly with almost no resistance.]

[a_monetized_mind]

So maybe they have a tragic past. Doesn't mean it matters.

...Have you figured out how you're gonna store this thing yet?

[in_over_his_head]

... Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. I've learned its never a good thing to ignore these kinds of facts.

As for the knife... I obviously can't just keep it around like the rest if it cuts things like that.

[a_monetized_mind]

...Well, I think I have an idea. I just need a block of wood and a stapler.

[Jen tries tapping the remnants of her pen against the knife's crossguard.]

[in_over_his_head]

[All it gets is a soft tapping noise.]

World's deadliest paperweight. Once the staples are off anyway. Do you think it'll be enough?

[a_monetized_mind]

If you're just trying to keep people from losing fingers, yeah. If you wanna keep someone from stealing it, rivet some steel plates to a floor.

[in_over_his_head]

[This earned a somewhat irritable sigh.]

It'll be hard for someone to get in here to steal something without inside help. But I'll keep that in mind.

[Amusingly he was tired enough his internal dialogue got spoken out loud.]

Just one of those days where everything's just going down the drain and nothing makes sense... least that dinner date plan's finally done...

[a_monetized_mind]

...Wait, hold up. You have a date?

[in_over_his_head]

['...Damnit. Did I say that out loud? Ah well.']

Yes. Two year anniversary actually. Got a reservation at a nice Italian place.

[a_monetized_mind]

...You have a stable long-term relationship?

If this is supposed to be absurdist humor, I'm not laughing.

[in_over_his_head]

As a matter of fact. Yes. I do have a stable, long term relationship. No, its not a joke.

[Calvin gives Jen something of an annoyed grimace.]

Mind explaining why you'd think its one?

[a_monetized_mind]

Because you're the crazy paranoid conspiracy guy! I mean, we've seen some pretty crazy stuff, but I'm pretty sure you own an actual tinfoil hat somewhere, Fox Mulder!

What kind of crazy-messed up universe has you getting a partner before me!

[in_over_his_head]

First of all, the tinfoil hat thing's pushing it a bit too far.

[He has trouble maintaining actual hats to even consider that to be an effective defense from things trying to read his mind. Side note, it might backfire and just cook his brain like a baked potato instead - a tidbit he considered when pondering effective defenses against mind reading years ago.]

Second. Fox Mulder wears sunglasses and goes with the whole man-in-black get up most of the time and got into the paranormal thing on purpose.

[Calvin sighs irritably as he just facepalms.]

Besides, considering how messed up everything already is this is what gets you?

[a_monetized_mind]

I got rejected before I even asked for a date!

TWICE!

[in_over_his_head]

Well generally its a bad idea to date around the workplace. Just saying.

[Calvin tactfully holds his tongue on some of the rougher aspects of her personality. Specifically just how petty she's getting over something like this.]

Besides, third time's the charm isn't it? Maybe the first two times were just something life was doing to keep you humble... in dating matters.

[a_monetized_mind]

...mrrrrgggh...

[Jen scratches the back of her head, looking away.]

I guess there are a lot of problems with my lifestyle...Still, this is ridiculous...