a_holeinthewall | [basco, 003.]

[Joe really hates school. He probably wouldn't so much, it's not like he's stupid, or a bad student, or troubled, or whatever. But being a military brat his whole life, he rarely spent more than a year or two at any given school. And it was stupid. Five years ago he'd given up on making friends. He'd just have to leave them behind when his dad got re-stationed, and he knew from prior experience that they wouldn't stay in contact.

He skips class occasionally. It's not his first day, he's been here a whole week, and he's already aware of what classes he can go to and what classes he can afford to miss every now and again.

He finds a relatively quiet place, but it doesn't stay that way for long. A tall kid with wavy hair, that may or may not be too young to be smoking that cigarette, joins him. Though obviously not intentionally.]

Excuse me? [He glances around, just to make sure they were as alone as he'd thought, then shakes his head.] I was here first.

[Basco slides a look over, just enough to see but not really turn his head.]

Ah. Gibken. New kid. [Don't ask how he knows. Too many kids from this and that other school owe him in either cash, trade or favors. He just knows who you are: Joe Gibken, adoptive son of Sid Bamick. Father and son are rather close, though the military thing makes things sketchy in terms of socializing.]

[Basco's bored now with his cigarette so he drops it and kills it with his heel.] You're in my space. [Just stating fact.] Usually anyone who comes here needs something.

[He turns then. He's really tall and he likes that fact. Gives him leeway to loom.]

So, [He might be encroaching on your personal space at this point. Scratch that. He is.] What can I do for you?

[He drops his cigarette, and what a waste that is, really. Joe doesn't smoke, neither does his dad, but he's aware of how expensive they can be. And he hadn't even smoked half of it.] Uh-huh.

[Joe raises one eyebrow at the stranger calling him by name, but he's not about to question it. Some kids just knew stuff. There was a kid like that at his last school.]

Your space? [He snorts and shakes his head, looking around.] Looks kind of like anyone's space. I mean, I don't see a sign. [He tilts his head.] Though I wouldn't know what such a sign would say, if there was one.

[The stranger moves closer, really close. Too close, and he's very tall. Still, Joe didn't get away with having a ponytail half-way down his back because he was skittish, or he backed down to intimidation.] You could... back off, to start.

[Balls-y, this one.]

Houu... [He backs off. He is properly intrigued.] Stay then. I'm the generous type. [He walks over to the fence, the beat-up one that borders an empty lot gone to field sitting right behind the school.]

Just... be quiet. [He lifts a finger to his lips and flips open the mobile phone he's just taken out of his pocket. His call is answered on the third ring and Basco's mood immediately changes as he starts talking to whoever it is like an old friend.

He'll be at this for awhile.]

[Joe tilts his head slightly, just a small incline. Insincere, maybe, but there it is.] Thanks.

[He raises one eyebrow slowly when the stranger moves away, and despite himself Joe follows, though he keeps a respectable enough distance once he pulls out his phone.

He snorts and shakes his head at the sudden switch in personality as he starts chatting. He's just exactly like the kid from his last school. Joe can't even remember the kid's name.

Joe should probably think about going to his next class, but he's intriuged in the stranger. He checks his watch, and decides he can wait.

He leans against the fence near the other boy and crosses his arms, watching him, but quietly.

As requested.]

[It's one of his contacts at the prep school on the other side of the city. He needs a money line and the betting pool he facilitates is lucrative enough. It's never anything big, its mostly for the amusement of rich kids bored enough to want their money in circulation somewhere -- anywhere.]

[It's one of his contacts at the prep school on the other side of the city. He needs a money line and the betting pool he facilitates is lucrative enough. It's never anything big, its mostly for the amusement of rich kids bored enough to want their money in circulation somewhere -- anywhere.]

[But there are some topics that strike a nerve with Basco, and his minion has just touched on it -- or rather, inquired on it... on behalf of someone else.]

No. [There's a distinct change in Basco's features. A sharpness in the eyes.] That one, [Fingers tighten around the phone.] that is out of the question. And I don't care, no -- no no no, you listen to me.

[His voice drops, dangerously low.] You tell Prince Imbecile -- and yes, you can quote me on that -- no. There are some lines I don't cross, even if I would get a kick out of crossing them. This is one of them. He wants information on Princess Perfect, he can get it himself.

[And with that, the phone snaps shut.]

Now, [The smile is back in place; placid, though tense.] Sorry for keeping you waiting. [Not quite sure if that's as sincere as it's worded. But hey.]

[Joe doesn't mean to eavesdrop... No, that's a lie. He totally means to eavesdrop, he's just not as effective at it as he wishes. He can't hear a thing the person on the other side of the phone call is saying, he can only hear this side of the conversation, and it's... confusing, at best. He squints at the stranger as he snaps the phone shut, then muscles up a little smile as he's finally addressed.]

It's no problem. I wasn't waiting for anything. You'd be more apt to apologize for being so loud, interrupting my time alone. [He shrugs and his feeble smile turns into a smirk instead.]

You never told me your name, even though you know mine already. Which is creepy, for the record.

[Smart ass, this one. Basco's already decided that he's a) going to be a headache; and b) he likes him anyway. This year might not be a total loss after all.]

Basco. [He smiles, thinly.] And like I said earlier: my space, you're in it. I can be as loud as I want, Rapunzel.

I make it a point to know everyone in this school. And then I forget the ones not worth remembering. Knowledge is power, my friend. And I like power, very much.

[Joe raises one eyebrow, shaking his head.] That's some kind of name. [He restrains the impulse to point out that it's a stupid name, or to note that he hopes it's a nickname because who would name their child that, honestly? He's just not sure it would go over well, and while he's fairly certain he could defend himself against this Basco if necessary, he's not really in the mood for a fight.]

And I said earlier, there's no indication that this space belongs to anyone, much less you. [He squints at the teasing nickname. It doesn't surprise him, it doesn't even upset him. He's heard them all.] And it's Joe. My name is Joe.

[Basco tilts his head and smirks. No reaction to nicknames; not even the slightest indication that he's bothered--

--yes, Basco definitely likes this kid.]

So. Joe.

[He lets the territory dispute slide not because the boy won this debate, but because there are far more interesting things to discuss--

--besides, he's curious as to whether this one will wander on by again in the future since some people interpret not getting the last word in as victory. Which it isn't. Not all the time.]

Why wander down this way to be by your lonesome.

[basco, 003.]

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1/2; hold on.

2/3; ffft basco make up your mind. gimme a moment.

3/3; finally.

Re: 3/3; finally.

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1/2

2/2

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1/2; sorry. i thought i'd tagged ;~; apparently LJ ate it?

2/2