[Action & Audio]

[stray_cat_strut]

The information he had been given was hazy at best. He did, however, manage to put on the necklace and make his way outside the bay with the envelope of money in one hand and the phone device in the other. Standing just outside the bay the shaggy haired sweeper with “XIII” tattood just under his left collar bone slowly held the device up and pushed the button.

“So hungry…” There was a slight pause before he simply tipped over face first into the ground with a loud thump. The sound of his stomach rumbling immediately followed before the audio cut out.

[feel free to poke him, prod him, trip over him or feed him, if no one claims the feeding part him I’ll have an NPC do it. Action and Audio replies are both welcome]

Comments

[stray_cat_strut]

Train absently batted the hand away with a laugh. "Huh? No story really, I work as a sweeper so the job isn't exactly stable and sometimes there's property damage that has to be paid for, so some days you just gotta go without, you know? What's your story Mr. Poltergeist?"

[betel_geuse]

"Three things, kid. One, what the hell's the point in having a job that doesn't pay enough to buy food? Two, what THE ACTUAL HELL IS THE POINT OF A JOB WHERE YOU PAY MONEY, INSTEAD OF EARN IT?? Three, it's just BJ, not mister."

Betelgeuse thought for a moment, then shrugged.

"Not much, I guess. I died a little over six hundred years ago and became a very successful bio-exorcist. Then, I ended up here. Yeah, and some god chick promised to unbind my name, but then she disappeared and nothing has happened. Kinda bummed about that, know what I mean?"

[stray_cat_strut]

Train plugged an ear when he started yelling to protect his precious eardrums. "But it's the job that I chose. I do what I want when I want to. Sometimes I strike out other times it can be quite lucrative. In my line of work you travel a lot and meet a lot of interesting people. It's a fitting life for a stray like me." He looked genuinely happy about it.

It would be a lie to say that Train followed what "BJ" said about himself but he knew what it was like to be bound so something. "Maybe a little," he replied thoughtfully.

[betel_geuse]

"Yeah, well, starving doesn't seem to suit you. Still don't get why you sometimes have to pay. Who's your boss?"

[stray_cat_strut]

"Well you're right, starving doesn't suit anyone. It gets taken out of the reward money, something about liability or something or another."

"I don't really have a boss... although sometimes Sven is a little bossy though." Leave it to Train to leave out all sorts of information and answer the question by skimming the very surface.

[betel_geuse]

"Your job sucks, kid. I had to make my job up, but at least I earn a profit!" Betelgeuse told him, shaking his head. "What's your name?"

[stray_cat_strut]

Train absolutely loves his job. "Train," he replies while finally standing up and brushing himself off, "Train Heartnet."

[betel_geuse]

"Train, huh? Okay, I'm called BJ. Good to know ya. So, how come you didn't just steal some food, before falling on your face, huh?"

[stray_cat_strut]

"No no, I can't steal food, I'm a Sweeper, I'm pretty sure that's unethical... I mean I've worked with a thief before but that was different. Just point me in the direction of a stream or river, I can just catch fish until I make some money."

[betel_geuse]

"Ethics, schmethics, dying is no fun, kid. All's fair in love, war, and getting something to eat!" Betelgeuse proclaimed. "Aw, hell, whatever, I'll bite. What's a Sweeper? I thought you meant you took a broom to the streets, cleaning it up."

[stray_cat_strut]

"What? No, it's a bounty hunter. Meaning... I capture thieves and other law breakers for money."

[betel_geuse]

Betelgeuse frowned in mock sorrow, shaking his head. "Aw, now, that just isn't nice," he lamented. "What did thieves and law breakers ever do to you?"

[stray_cat_strut]

Train gave a look that was bittersweet for a moment before he grinned back at BJ, "they do enough things to other people and that's enough for me."

[betel_geuse]

"What other people?? I mean, come on, a bit of theft never hurt anyone, especially the sneaky kind. It just redistributes the wealth a bit, know what I mean? As the for the law, ppfffttttt. Rules are made to be broken! Literally. There's always some good reason...or better, a good loophole!"

[stray_cat_strut]

"I guess we see things differently. Don't get me wrong, I'm not interested in petty thieves who don't do enough harm to warrant a bounty, first of all there'd be nothing in it for me but there's not always 'some good reason' to break a law."

[betel_geuse]

"Ah, kid, you are so wrong! Name any law, rule, whatever, and tell you a time, when it should ignored! Seriously, go ahead, I dare ya!"

[stray_cat_strut]

Train's usual good-natured aura faded. "I don't think I want to hear your justifications for certain crimes so let's leave it at thanks for the food, I owe you one."

[betel_geuse]

"Oh, don't get your tail in a knot. I wasn't trying to bug ya," Betelgeuese lied, smiling. "I'm just saying that the world, no world, is black and white, know what I mean? There's all these lovely shades of gray and you might be misjudging some fellas. Maybe there are crimes that can't be justified, ever, but they're the exceptions that prove the rule."

[stray_cat_strut]

The ex-assassin was a lot sharper than he usually looked and he was on to this BJ. "I'm well aware. It's generally not up to me to judge anyone, I simply deliver the package." Not to mention the small number of people he actually has allowed to escape him in the past due to various reasons.

[betel_geuse]

"Yeah, yeah, we all get paid to do something," Betelgeuse agreed, waving a hand. "Still. You seem awful hard towards your quarry."

[stray_cat_strut]

"Hmmm?" He tilt his head left and right thinking about that last statement. "I guess it depends really. Maybe the ones that run... of course those are the most fun." Yeah, he can't stop that grin from appearing.

[betel_geuse]

Ah, common ground! Betelgeuse loved it, so he nodded enthusiastically.

"Aw, yeah, that always such a hoot!" he cackled. "I love it, when they run or try and turn on the lights or something! Living people are so clueless about hauntings. heh heh"

[stray_cat_strut]

Yeah, being that Train is a living person he is totally clueless about hauntings, that and he's never been haunted before. Actually, he never even really thought about that possibility until just now. "Sounds fun! So how would one escape a haunting anyway? I mean, ghosts can't be shot, right?"

[betel_geuse]

"Sure, you can shoot a ghost. It won't hurt them and will probably make them really mad, but hey, that's half the fun of shooting someone, right?" Betelgeuse said, shrugging. As for escaping, well, the best way to do that is to just leave! Most ghosts, at least where I come from, can only haunt a limited area."