[ It's difficult to get a read on Emerick. Moonlight prides himself on being able to make accurate quick judgments when dealing with people. It's how he has survived on the streets and thrived as a fixer without a knife in his back so far. But this man...
Emerick's nervousness is palpable, and Moonlight's voice stress analyzer says much the same. Where is the confidence of just a moment ago? He's dealt with people before nervous about playing their trump card, but excited by the thrill of it nonetheless, brandishing whatever advantage they think they have. This isβ not that. If Moonlight didn't know better, he might say Emerick was genuinely confused. ]
That's precisely what I think. [ Given Emerick has all but admitted he still has at least one copy of his information, Moonlight is quite sure he isn't far off the mark. He gestures dismissively with one hand. He remains calm, even-toned, as though this might be business as usual. ] Unless you'd like to tell me you're the one person in Night City that won't claw his way over others to get ahead.
[ As for why he had asked... Moonlight's expression twists to something sardonic, but he doesn't answer. The truth is that right now, he doesn't have access to anyone else that would put in as much work as Emerick, other than Aka andβ well, Aka can't know. He made a mistake not vetting someone before sending him after private information with Emerick, he won't do it again. ]
[ There's some component of Emerick's expression that was hurt by this sudden 180, that was true, but the majority of his expression had settled into a weary exhaustion as he studied Moonlight's sardonic expression. A very tired understanding was in his eyes: he recognized that there was something more to this. Someone that Moonlight regularly worked with that couldn't know, or perhaps no longer was around for some reason. Something had happened to Moonlight in the past, perhaps regarding that person. And it was all a fair response, really. To get anywhere in Night City you had to backstab and betray those you worked with. It was because of this that was precisely why Emerick was so poor he had to start edgerunning. He refused to play dirty, and his wallet suffered for it.
He broke the eye contact with Moonlight, looking down to the desk between them with a dull expression. ] I don't sit here collecting info on people just to fuck them over. I don't want the consequences of living like that. My goal's just to keep my head down, write my stories, and keep alive. Working like you're talking about's the quickest way to end up in the landfill.
[ A pause and his gaze lowered further, to his hands. ] I started edgerunning 'cause the stories I write aren't exciting because of it. I could barely afford rent and food, and I got tired of the insecurity.
[ He sighed and unclasped his hands, his right sliding into his pocket to pull out his agent, his hand shaking a little as he held it in his hand. Emerick knew he really didn't have much to prove, but Moonlight paid better than his other fixer, and he hadn't felt like he was walking on glass shards with Moonlight (well, until now). Emerick spoke to his Agent - the poor thing cracked to all hell, as if a testament to Emerick's standard of living. ] Celeste? Please delete all leftover records regarding Moonlight, the Miura brothers, and the girl. [ A gentle, soothing, feminine voice came from the agent, asking for confirmation: did Emerick really want to? ] Yes, please. All backups, too.
[ Celeste confirmed that all copies of the requested data had been deleted, as well as the backups of the files that she automatically took for him. He slid the agent back into his pocket after thanking her, then lifted his gaze to meet Moonlight's. There was no defiance or bristled challenge in the look; what was there was the expression of a tired, beaten man. He said nothing to Moonlight, waiting. ]
[ The first change in Moonlight becomes evident when Emerick puts his hand in his pocket. It's subtle, a tension becoming evident in his frame, though his expression remains almost impassive - strangely so, given the coil in his muscles. The second shift is not at the sight of the agent itself, but rather Emerick's command. Moonlight's brows raise.
He must have a separate copy at home, Moonlight reasons, a shard tucked away for later. Why else go through that show? Though, part of him, prompted particularly by the voice stress analyzer registering no deception, wonders if Emerick really does feel that way, that he may be one of the few honest people Night City hasn't yet chewed up and spat out. It's a strange sensation, and it makes him uncomfortable.
Moonlight sits back once more, outwardly seeming to settle as though satisfied that one, Emerick hadn't gone for a weapon, and two, that he had deleted the data. ]
You're one of few who thinks that. [ There's a dry, resigned sort of humor in his tone. Like Emerick, though for different reason, he sounds tired suddenly. He smiles, still though, a little softer. ] You'll excuse my suspicion, I hope. You're a rare sort.
[ Emerick hadn't realized how tense he had been as he stared at Moonlight, but once the other man decides (resigns?) to believe him, much of the tension leaves Emerick's body and he almost deflates back into the chair he's in.
Moonlight was the fixer Emerick liked working for most, in truth. The man overpayed for things that Emerick found incredibly easy, and even the more dangerous job he had to complete went tits up only because of bad luck. He'd say he even liked the work, and he wasn't going to sit here and try to negotiate Moonlight down from the amounts he was ultimately paid. Sure, he'd thought of trying to negotiate hire at one point, but he'd stopped himself: what was the point? It was greedy, and he'd spent so much time teaching his sister to do things the right way instead of giving into the cruelty of this city and their lives that he could hardly afford to be a hypocrite at this point.
Emerick forced a smile. His goal was to be friendly and understanding, for the dull exhaustion he had moments ago to fade away. It... Mostly worked. Outwardly he certainly attained it, but his expression and the cheeriness in his voice were contrived, his eyes still held their tired melancholy. Easy to miss in someone without the proper cyberware. Emerick was a liar, that was true, but not about what most thought he would lie about. ]
It's understandable: we live in Night City, after all. I just try to stick to what I'm good at, and lying isn't one of those things. [ Which Emerick personally believed, anyway, never mind this attempt to brush off what had just happened. ] I can't blame you for being suspicious, especially given the personal nature of this. I'd feel the same were I in your position.
[ Emerick knew that if Moonlight were to ever utter his sister's name then he would be as much of an anxious mess as Moonlight apparently had been, though Emerick didn't have the temperament to act calm and smile through it. ]
[ Moonlight listens, crossing one leg over the other once more. He leans on one hand, pale eyes lingering on Emerick.
Something about it bothers him, still. He's quiet, when Emerick has finished speaking, though smiles to indicate he has at least listened. It's a combination of things, though he doesn't think of it in the moment: doubt in his own abilities to judge someone accurately, and the disparity between how Emerick is presenting himself versus what Moonlight thinks. Less on his mind still is the acknowledgment his judgment has saved him because so many in Night City do walk on others without second thought. ]
Reassuring to know you understand. [ His voice is softer, gaze a little distant. The smile is almost frozen now, like he can't quite comfortably be without it, even when he'd rather not. ] I appreciate your honesty. I'm sure I'll be in touch with another job soon.
[ The silence between them made Emerick's stomach start to tilt, even with the smile that existed on his face. He was too frazzled to fully read what was going on in Moonlight's expression and to really have any idea what the man was thinking. The longer the silence drew out the more he felt his anxiety claw up his throat and threaten to make him sick.
Moonlight finally spoke and Emerick felt himself calm somewhat. The dismissal still made him uncomfortable: he felt like he'd fucked up somehow. Surely Moonlight didn't do anything, he didn't do anything wrong, it's just Emerick that was the issue. Emerick was the one that did something wrong. Moonlight said he would likely be in touch with another job, but Emerick suspected that Moonlight was just saying it to get him to leave quietly. He'd gotten rid of everything he had on Moonlight and, well, even if he hadn't deleted it he wouldn't do anything with it anyway. Just cut his losses and move on. ]
Of course. I look forward to it.
[ Emerick stood and retreated from the office. He moved casually as if nothing was wrong but once he was outside and the door closed behind him his shoulders slumped as he pulled his agent out to call for a cab. He slowly walked away from the office as he was on the phone, walking out of view of the camera as he was on the call. ]
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no subject
Date: 2023-08-08 05:13 pm (UTC)Emerick's nervousness is palpable, and Moonlight's voice stress analyzer says much the same. Where is the confidence of just a moment ago? He's dealt with people before nervous about playing their trump card, but excited by the thrill of it nonetheless, brandishing whatever advantage they think they have. This isβ not that. If Moonlight didn't know better, he might say Emerick was genuinely confused. ]
That's precisely what I think. [ Given Emerick has all but admitted he still has at least one copy of his information, Moonlight is quite sure he isn't far off the mark. He gestures dismissively with one hand. He remains calm, even-toned, as though this might be business as usual. ] Unless you'd like to tell me you're the one person in Night City that won't claw his way over others to get ahead.
[ As for why he had asked... Moonlight's expression twists to something sardonic, but he doesn't answer. The truth is that right now, he doesn't have access to anyone else that would put in as much work as Emerick, other than Aka andβ well, Aka can't know. He made a mistake not vetting someone before sending him after private information with Emerick, he won't do it again. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-08-08 08:23 pm (UTC)He broke the eye contact with Moonlight, looking down to the desk between them with a dull expression. ] I don't sit here collecting info on people just to fuck them over. I don't want the consequences of living like that. My goal's just to keep my head down, write my stories, and keep alive. Working like you're talking about's the quickest way to end up in the landfill.
[ A pause and his gaze lowered further, to his hands. ] I started edgerunning 'cause the stories I write aren't exciting because of it. I could barely afford rent and food, and I got tired of the insecurity.
[ He sighed and unclasped his hands, his right sliding into his pocket to pull out his agent, his hand shaking a little as he held it in his hand. Emerick knew he really didn't have much to prove, but Moonlight paid better than his other fixer, and he hadn't felt like he was walking on glass shards with Moonlight (well, until now). Emerick spoke to his Agent - the poor thing cracked to all hell, as if a testament to Emerick's standard of living. ] Celeste? Please delete all leftover records regarding Moonlight, the Miura brothers, and the girl. [ A gentle, soothing, feminine voice came from the agent, asking for confirmation: did Emerick really want to? ] Yes, please. All backups, too.
[ Celeste confirmed that all copies of the requested data had been deleted, as well as the backups of the files that she automatically took for him. He slid the agent back into his pocket after thanking her, then lifted his gaze to meet Moonlight's. There was no defiance or bristled challenge in the look; what was there was the expression of a tired, beaten man. He said nothing to Moonlight, waiting. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-08-09 04:38 am (UTC)He must have a separate copy at home, Moonlight reasons, a shard tucked away for later. Why else go through that show? Though, part of him, prompted particularly by the voice stress analyzer registering no deception, wonders if Emerick really does feel that way, that he may be one of the few honest people Night City hasn't yet chewed up and spat out. It's a strange sensation, and it makes him uncomfortable.
Moonlight sits back once more, outwardly seeming to settle as though satisfied that one, Emerick hadn't gone for a weapon, and two, that he had deleted the data. ]
You're one of few who thinks that. [ There's a dry, resigned sort of humor in his tone. Like Emerick, though for different reason, he sounds tired suddenly. He smiles, still though, a little softer. ] You'll excuse my suspicion, I hope. You're a rare sort.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-09 12:32 pm (UTC)Moonlight was the fixer Emerick liked working for most, in truth. The man overpayed for things that Emerick found incredibly easy, and even the more dangerous job he had to complete went tits up only because of bad luck. He'd say he even liked the work, and he wasn't going to sit here and try to negotiate Moonlight down from the amounts he was ultimately paid. Sure, he'd thought of trying to negotiate hire at one point, but he'd stopped himself: what was the point? It was greedy, and he'd spent so much time teaching his sister to do things the right way instead of giving into the cruelty of this city and their lives that he could hardly afford to be a hypocrite at this point.
Emerick forced a smile. His goal was to be friendly and understanding, for the dull exhaustion he had moments ago to fade away. It... Mostly worked. Outwardly he certainly attained it, but his expression and the cheeriness in his voice were contrived, his eyes still held their tired melancholy. Easy to miss in someone without the proper cyberware. Emerick was a liar, that was true, but not about what most thought he would lie about. ]
It's understandable: we live in Night City, after all. I just try to stick to what I'm good at, and lying isn't one of those things. [ Which Emerick personally believed, anyway, never mind this attempt to brush off what had just happened. ] I can't blame you for being suspicious, especially given the personal nature of this. I'd feel the same were I in your position.
[ Emerick knew that if Moonlight were to ever utter his sister's name then he would be as much of an anxious mess as Moonlight apparently had been, though Emerick didn't have the temperament to act calm and smile through it. ]
no subject
Date: 2023-08-12 02:14 am (UTC)Something about it bothers him, still. He's quiet, when Emerick has finished speaking, though smiles to indicate he has at least listened. It's a combination of things, though he doesn't think of it in the moment: doubt in his own abilities to judge someone accurately, and the disparity between how Emerick is presenting himself versus what Moonlight thinks. Less on his mind still is the acknowledgment his judgment has saved him because so many in Night City do walk on others without second thought. ]
Reassuring to know you understand. [ His voice is softer, gaze a little distant. The smile is almost frozen now, like he can't quite comfortably be without it, even when he'd rather not. ] I appreciate your honesty. I'm sure I'll be in touch with another job soon.
no subject
Date: 2023-08-13 08:39 pm (UTC)Moonlight finally spoke and Emerick felt himself calm somewhat. The dismissal still made him uncomfortable: he felt like he'd fucked up somehow. Surely Moonlight didn't do anything, he didn't do anything wrong, it's just Emerick that was the issue. Emerick was the one that did something wrong. Moonlight said he would likely be in touch with another job, but Emerick suspected that Moonlight was just saying it to get him to leave quietly. He'd gotten rid of everything he had on Moonlight and, well, even if he hadn't deleted it he wouldn't do anything with it anyway. Just cut his losses and move on. ]
Of course. I look forward to it.
[ Emerick stood and retreated from the office. He moved casually as if nothing was wrong but once he was outside and the door closed behind him his shoulders slumped as he pulled his agent out to call for a cab. He slowly walked away from the office as he was on the phone, walking out of view of the camera as he was on the call. ]