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[trenchknives]

I'm just gonna officially state, for the record...

[He gestures to the crumpled up tabloid which, unfortunately, possesses an article all about him and how he is, apparently, extremely suspicious and potentially a criminal, and, apparently, sleeping with half the women in the City. Whether any of this gets close to the truth or not, he's not exactly happy about it, especially given the ridiculous photos of him making idiotic faces.]

... this shit? It ain't funny. 'n anyone who found the time to write about it should go jump in a fuckin' lake.

[Unsatisfied with just crumpling the tabloid, he then pushes it off the table onto the floor, shakes his head, and turns off the feed.]

Comments

[trenchknives]

Right, but they don't know it's lies, y'know? I mean, it all sounds believable. And has these stupid fuckin' pictures.

[spotlighted]

Pictures are even easier to take out of context.

[trenchknives]

Sure, I know, but c'mon. Look at that one.

[He picks up the crumpled newspaper just to gesture at it angrily again. It is, admittedly, a pretty stupid picture.]

Who'd even believe that I could sleep with half the women in the City if I looked like that all the time?

[spotlighted]

[She can't help but start giggling at the ridiculous expression he's making in the photo.]

I'm sorry, I shouldn't laugh. Just ... don't take it to heart, okay? Everyone will have forgotten about this with the next curse that rolls around anyway. Even if I'm not exactly your best example of that. I've torn up every copy of the article about me I can get my hands on.

[trenchknives]

Do I get to ask what your article said, since you saw my stupid face, or should I go read it myself some other time?

[spotlighted]

You won't be able to if I have my way, I'll have destroyed every copy of it before you can get your hands on it. But I suppose fair's fair. The writer decided it was a good idea to drag up the shitstorm I left behind in New York. The government went after me for not being American enough.

[trenchknives]

Yeah, well, that's bullshit. You seem plenty American to me.

[spotlighted]

That may be the nicest thing you've ever said to me.

[trenchknives]

Well, it's the truth. Shit, you're practically draped in an American flag.

[Okay, now he's just embellishing the truth a little bit.]

[spotlighted]

I mean, I know that the accusations were baseless, but it still hurts having all that dragged up in the newspaper like that. It's more that feeling that I know I've failed to live up to expectations, and there's nothing I can do about it.

[trenchknives]

Whose expectations did you fail to live up to? I mean, fuck 'em, if they can't see how great you are.

[Maybe he should follow his own advice once and awhile.]

[spotlighted]

The nation's, first of all. It kind of stings, being dragged up in front of a committee from the House of Representatives, after spending two years in a warzone. That's the whole reason I was on the presidential campaign trail before I wound up here, I needed to prove myself again. Well, that and I needed to get the hell out of New York. It also managed to ruin any chance I had with my grandfather. I mean, I'd never lived up to his expectations anyway, and I'd never tried, I just wanted to be my own person and hope that he'd be proud of that eventually. But he decided to disinherit me and cut ties once and for all instead.

[trenchknives]

[Okay, yeah, he can relate to more of that than he'd like to, so he's just quiet for a moment, processing it.]

I'm sorry about your grandfather. Dealin' with family is...

[A sigh.]

Well, it ain't easy. But as far as I can tell, it's your grandfather's loss he decided to cut ties with you. I mean, shit, you shouldn't have to prove yourself to family like that.

[spotlighted]

Yeah, no one should have to prove themselves like that. Although that doesn't stop them from trying anyway.

[trenchknives]

Well, shit, I know. I can't say I haven't tried to prove myself before, too. Never quite works.

[spotlighted]

You know, Jimmy, sometimes I feel like we understand each other quite well. Like, we're coming from the same place a lot of the time.

[trenchknives]

Y'know, that's kinda true. It'd probably be better for you if you didn't have to relate to that kinda shit so much, though. Wouldn't wish it on anyone.

[spotlighted]

Yeah, me either. But we can't change any of that, anyway.

[trenchknives]

Nah. Guess the best we can do is move on from it and make the best of bein' stuck here.