screwloose | [RL with Birkin]

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[RL with Birkin]

[This has gone on long enough. Stein has a map showing the location of Kid, but no way to get there right at the moment. He's got to try other avenues before he puts his own people in danger.

And so he's knocking on the door of Birkin's lab, the one Stein gave him for his own exclusive use when they moved in at Stein's place, then opening the door.]

Can I ask you something?

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I really don't know, maybe? It would probably depend on what I was asking him for and whether he'd care if I started crying.

[Stein smiles at that, though he's still thinking hard] I want to try to convince Giriko to help me rescue Kid. I made him an offer, and he turned me down flatly, but maybe he can be convinced.

And I'm guessing this is where I come in. Yeah, okay, I can try, but it's a toss-up on whether or not he'll actually go for my amazing fake crying.

[Stein nods, though he's not really sure if Birkin's being serious about the crying or not.]

If you can at least help me to figure out what he might want, it'd be helpful. I've already offered him amnesty and he threw it back in my face.

[He snorts.] Think you could manage to convince Marie to let him screw her?

[He looks thoughtful] Probably not...but she does have terrible taste in men.

Eh, she'd probably still be pretty pissed at me if I used her as a bargaining chip, though. I'll see what I can't come up with instead, but Marie could always be my fallback.

And just so we're clear, I'm trying to get him to kidnap Kid away from the original kidnapper and bring him back here?

To be honest, I'd rather not throw Marie to the romantic wolves if I can avoid it.

[Nods] That's exactly what we're trying to get him to do.

We could always pull a bait and switch with her? But no, I'll try and figure something else out first.

Now if you'll excuse me, [Birkin pulls his phone out of his pocket with a smirk] it's time for the master to get to work. I'll come find you when I'm done.

[Stein smiles and gets up, patting Birkin on the shoulder and then giving him a quick kiss]

I'm counting on you.

[And Henry, he adds silently as he heads for the door]

[Not too long after he gets off the phone with Giriko, Birkin finds Stein in one of the other labs.]

And the Oscar for Best Leading Actor goes to...

[Oddly, Stein is just hanging up the phone as well, and he grins at Birkin]

Did you cry real tears?

I was just on the phone. [Shrug] I didn't really have to. I-I... [He sobs, slightly over-dramatic about it] I'm convincing enough on my own.

But hook, line, and sinker he's more than willing to help out poor little defenseless me. On, uh, one condition that you need to take care of.

[Eyebrow] Good one! I have some news for you, too, but what's the condition?

He wants a job here. And I told him you'd be happy to help facilitate that.

[Blinks. He takes off his glasses and cleans them]

That's interesting. I might be able to figure something out.

[Pause] Did he tell you he found out that he was going to die?

...Must've slipped his mind. Not that I blame him, that's not exactly the easiest bit of information to grapple with.

Why the hell did he tell you though?

He didn't. [Stein taps his phone] I spoke to his boyfriend.

Apparently he found out he was destined to die while fighting some children. I expect those children were some of my students.

That makes more sense... Good thing you and Henry are getting all buddy-buddy. [He rolls his eyes a bit]

Maybe that's why he was so reluctant to accept the offer when you made it. I wouldn't exactly be thrilled about the guy who was supposed to kill me offering be anything either.

[Stein nods, leaning against a counter and lighting up]

That could be. Not to mention the fact that he loathes all of us for killing Arachne. You realize that he hasn't just given up revenge that easily, right?

On the other hand, being told that he was going to die trying to achieve said revenge, may have given him a wakeup call. Maybe that's why he's being so conciliatory.

I was friends with Wesker; if there's one thing on this earth that I know about, it's revenge and how people get insanely hung up about it. And yeah, I bet if he knew about the volcano thing ahead of time, he would have pulled back.

[Though Wesker probably would have tried again later, but Birkin can't quite bring himself to say that. He's done so well making Giriko seem like a nice guy, and he's just not ready to deal with being wrong if that really is Giriko's plan of action.]

So yeah, that's a reasonable assumption to make.

[Stein considers that, turning his bolt as he thinks.]

If it gets Kid back, I'm willing to give him a chance. Of course he'll be under observation at all times, but you don't have to tell him, that.

[He leans back, looking up at the ceiling] Tell him if he gets us Kid, he can have the job.

What a martyr you are, trusting so many dangerous criminals like this. [Birkin gives Stein a quick hug and fishes his phone out of his pocket.] Thanks. Gimme a second and this'll be all taken care of.

[Stein grins, folding his arms and leaning back to watch the master at work]

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[RL with Birkin]

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