[RL with Birkin]

[screwloose]

[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?

Comments

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

[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...

[screwloose]

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

Did you cry real tears?

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

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.

[screwloose]

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

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

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

[screwloose]

[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?

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

...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?

[screwloose]

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.

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

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.

[screwloose]

[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.

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

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.

[screwloose]

[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.

[notahandbag.livejournal.com]

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.

[screwloose]

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