And the Road not Taken - for Jacob Stone

[luckythief]

Ezekiel Jones is a loyal member of the Serpent Brotherhood but sometimes he wonders if there is supposed to be more to life than this.

Bringing magic back to the world had felt less satisfying than everybody always made it out to be; seriously, with the amount of ecstatic victory speeches that were going around these days you'd think they found an eternal well of pizza. Then again, Ezekiel had never been particularly interested in the whole "bringing magic back" aspect. Reawakened or not, his task is still to retrieve artifacts and get the others into fortified places; that is his purpose, not to be questioned and nothing really changes for him.

Still, he's annoyed. Ezekiel prefers to act from the shadows, so the whole decision to make a grand dramatic entrance and reveal the Brotherhood to the Library seemed so petty and unnecessary. Besides, there was this one thing he always really, really wanted, and that was breaking into the Library – the most secure place in the world, the ultimate challenge. He hopes he still gets a chance of doing that but now that the Library knows the Brotherhood is active again it kind of takes some of the surprise factor and fun out of it.

He had made a cautious remark if it wouldn't be better to reveal themselves to the Library after they brought Magic back but that had ended... rather painfully. After all, what did he know? He's just the thief. The tool. The asset. Know your place.

So much for magic improving everybody's life.

Today's mission is almost mind-numbingly boring. He traverses the ancient temple, sometimes doesn't even bother to deactivate the traps but dance through them instead so he at least has some kind of challenge and approaches the altar with a yawn.

Sometimes he wonders if there's supposed to be more to life than this.

Comments

[luckythief]

That gets Jacob a strange look in return, like Ezekiel can't quite decide whether to be amused or confused by the suggestion. "I'm not part of anything. I work for them."

The thief, the tool, the asset. That's that. And there's no room for failure with the Brotherhood.

He brings up his hand to rub at his forehead. "If you don't want any ransom money, what else do you want? I'm not gonna tell you anything."

[bookbrawler]

"But I mean...well, you're just a hired gun, then? You don't buy into their whole..." he makes a waving motion with his hands. "Evil overlord deal?"

Jake shakes his head. "I don't want anything, I was just helping you. I mean, after I punched your lights out, it's only the right thing to do, y'know?" There's a pause. Clearly the guy has a tough life, but this is just...sad?

"What's your name, man? I'm Jacob Stone."

[luckythief]

"I'm not a hired gun. I work for them." There's a difference; hired guns chose their work. There's not much choice in what they send him out to do. He'd love to be a hired gun, he thinks. "Always have."

It's weird; everything about this is weird. The guy helping him is just as weird as Ezekiel being disappointed about the surprise attack. He'd have done exactly the same in the Librarian's shoes. Actually, he should have done it first. Why didn't he?

Should he give his name?

Going back into the jungle with a head injury is pretty much suicide. But calling in for backup when he doesn't even have the artifact – honestly, he'd rather take his chances with the jungle and maybe secure a different artifact before he goes back, to placate them somewhat.

"... Ezekiel Jones."

[bookbrawler]

"...well, why do you work for them? I mean, do they have a great benefits package? Good dental?" He's just plain curious about it. Why would someone who had the skills and the know-how to get to this artifact what to work for them if they didn't buy into the whole mission and vision?

"Wish circumstances could be a little better than this, but...good to meet you all the same. I mean, I could still have gotten the artifact without you, but..." It's a big smile. "You ain't so half-bad at this work, yourself."

[luckythief]

"That's what I'm supposed to do. It's my purpose."

He's keeping his tone carefully neutral but his head hurts and a shadow crosses his face. Sometimes he wonders if there's supposed to be more to life than this but of course that's a stupid notion, impossible. They own him. End of story.

There's something disarming in that smile and he finds himself smiling back. Or maybe he's just concussed.

"Uh, thanks. ... It's not often someone gets the drop on me, so, likewise I guess."

[bookbrawler]

"Your purpose." That gets a frown. "Seriously, your purpose? I thought you didn't buy into their whole...thing. Is the pay just really that good?"

A careless shrug, but the smile doesn't leave his face. "I'll take that as a compliment. I mean, if you're as good as you think you are, that is."

[luckythief]

"I don't. And yeah, my purpose, you know. Be a good minion, don't ask any questions, know your place."

That turns the smile into a smug but not unfriendly grin. "Mate, I'm even better. It's hard work keeping up with knowing how good I am. I mean, that's why they took me."

He frowns. "I think. It's been a while, kinda hard to remember sometimes."

[bookbrawler]

"No offense or anything, but that sounds like a really raw deal." Jacob's voice is sympathetic.

The bravado and confidence is...oddly endearing, it doesn't seem like he's talking to someone who should be his enemy. In fact, he feels really sorry for him...if he wasn't part of the Serpent Brotherhood, maybe they even could have been friends.

"...why'd they take you, man?"

[luckythief]

"It can be. They're really not gonna like that you beat me to the artifact."

He leans against the wall, his head still spinning slightly. God, if he was in better shape he could just steal the artifact back and be done with it but like this it feels stupid to risk it. He doesn't want to meet that fist again and he has an inkling that the Librarian won't be so considerate a second time.

"I stole something from them. Don't even remember what it was, I was like... seven? But I guess they were impressed, they followed me home."

[bookbrawler]

Why does he feel guilty about that? He shouldn't feel guilty. He almost wants to give the artifact back to the guy, to protect him from something that's probably going to be horrible--that might even get him killed--but his duty is to the Library. He can't give up the artifact, no matter how sorry he feels for him.

"...you mean they stole you from your home when you were seven!?" Yeah, horrific. And if that was the case, then he would have grown up with their philosophy, their ideals.

But seven!?

Poor guy. Could he possibly save him? Would it be too late to save him from their way of thinking if he'd been in it at that young age?

[luckythief]

Ezekiel laughs. "Steal me? They couldn't steal if their life depended on it. That's why they need me. No, no, my mom gave me to them."

There's a weird disconnect there. He doesn't sound too happy about it because yeah, he is still angry about that. At the same time it's said with the air of something that is completely normal. Like this is just how the world works.

And it is. Magic or no magic won't make a difference there. "How did you become the Librarian?"

[bookbrawler]

This story is getting worse and worse? "Your mother gave you to them!?" His voice raises, his eyes wide with horror. Can you not just say that so casually, Jones?

"The Librarian? The old Librarian died, I got a letter, did an interview, passed the interview, and, well, there you have it." So simple on the surface. But it was so much more than that. "I was lookin' for a way out of my old job. Old life, really." It's funny, he could have easily just...stayed where he was. But he decided to take a chance this time.

[luckythief]

"Yeah, I think they gave her money? Or jewels, I don't really remember. Pretty bad deal in the long run if you ask me, I mean, I could have stolen her ten times as much?"

The most casual.

"... That sounds pretty cool." Just getting out of an old life like that. It seems unfathomable to him, like something out of a storybook. Something that doesn't just happen.

[bookbrawler]

"That's horrible!" Everything about it was horrible, even Jones' logical point that he could have gotten her even more money, but still. How does a person even get over that? He reins in his reaction a bit, turning more sober. "I'm sorry. That...that's...yeah. Tough."

Please don't be so casual about it.

"It was really cool." If he could show you the Library, he would. You'd probably love it. "They have..." Also probably shouldn't tell the thief what was in the Library. "Really cool stuff. It's great."

[luckythief]

"Well. Not much I can do about it now, is there?"

There is a hint of bitterness there but he doesn't mind. Why hide it? It's not usually that strong but it's being triggered by stories of magical Libraries that give you an out of your old life and lets you go on magical adventures instead.

"I've always wanted to break into it. Nothing personal, just, you know, as a personal challenge, to see if I could."

[bookbrawler]

"Can't you...make a difference now?" His brows furrow, there's genuine concern there, as his voice softens. "You can turn your life around, walk away from...all of this." Yeah, he hears that bitterness. He's familiar with it. He's seen it a lot back home, experienced it himself.

"...I don't think you could," there's an air of competitiveness here. You think you can break into his place, Jones? Psh. "There's no way that you could make it past the Library's defenses."

[luckythief]

Ezekiel looks away, then shakes his head. "I leave, they kill me. Don't have the resources to keep the rest of my life running. There's... nowhere to go."

But oh, he hears that air of competitiveness and raises you an eager glint in his eyes in return. "You sound very sure about that. Wanna bet?"

[bookbrawler]

Oh, man. That's...he can't even imagine what that must be like, except...he knew part of it. What it was like to feel trapped in a place, no resources to leave, no hope of something better. And luckily he did find something better, but it was that. Sheer luck. What's the difference between how he ended up, and Jones?

"...how about this? You break into the Library, I let you stay. The Library can protect you against the Serpent Brotherhood. I mean, if you're serious about wanting to leave."

...why was he offering him this?

[luckythief]

The offer catches him off-guard and for a moment open surprise shows on Ezekiel's face. Is he serious? It sounds almost too good to be true.

... If he takes him up on it. Is Ezekiel serious about wanting to leave? Is it a trick? Is the Librarian toying with him? Or is he really that arrogant, believing the Library so impenetrable that he can mock Ezekiel with an offer like this? Then again... he did come back to check if he's okay with his head injury.

"I will break into the Library." That is just a fact at this point. No way he can refuse that offer. "Deal."

[bookbrawler]

Jacob watches him curiously, wondering if he was going to take it or not. He can't just...not do anything, not after hearing his story. And yeah, it could be fake, but this...it didn't seem like it. And maybe it was stupidly idealistic, maybe it was just going to give the Serpent Brotherhood an opening, but...there was something about this that felt right.

"It's a deal." A grin. "And I'll have pizza and beer waiting for you when you do."

[luckythief]

His face lights up. You said the magic words, Jake, because a break-in into the most secure place in the world followed by beer and pizza?

"You better! I might even make you a list of all your security system's weaknesses in that case."

[bookbrawler]

...he frowns because on one hand, there shouldn't be any weaknesses, but on the other, if there are, they actually really needed to know.

"I'm sure you won't find any. But..." A beat. "...if you do find any--which you're not going to, but if you do--we could use the assist."

[luckythief]

"Every security system has weaknesses, mate. I am gonna find them."

Despite his injury his voice is back to his unflappable self-confidence. That is just another fact right there, Librarian.

[bookbrawler]

"Including magical security systems?"

Look, he can admit that you're good at what you do, but are you this good? Magical security system good?

[luckythief]

"Please. Magical security systems are not that different from regular systems. Still rely on the 'system' part, that's all I need."

He shrugs, unconcerned. "You seriously got nobody to test that stuff for you?"