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[hippie_ninja]

This is Jesus. Leave a message.

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[konstant]

"Do you really think this will help?"

He can observe. He can report back. He's always been good at both of these things, especially from the outside of the population surrounding him.

Which just leaves the rest of it, the subject he suspects Jesus would rather just move past now that K knows - which is its own question, but he leaves it for now.

[hippie_ninja]

"I think so." A muscle in his cheek tightens and he looks away, looks down, looks at K again. "I don't know what else to do. I can't adapt to a place I don't understand."

[konstant]

By the time Jesus is looking back at him, K has come to a complete stop, watching him.

"What don't you understand?" he asks, well aware that Jesus may not even be able to tell him, fervently hoping he can.

[hippie_ninja]

"How to be part of this."

A place where there is food and shelter, safe affection, drugs if he wants them, friendly faces if he doesn't. A place where he'll never have to put a knife through a friend's skull.

He looks at K, silently pleading with him to understand.

[konstant]

"So do you want to understand how the city works?" K asks him, not exactly startled to realize he cares so much about that pleading look, but wondering how wise it is. How sustainable.

"Or are you searching out the parts you think you'll feel most comfortable in?"

[hippie_ninja]

Like he'd said: K is observant.

"If this is my afterlife, I should try to find a place I'm comfortable."

[konstant]

There are things he could say to that. Things he wants to say to that.

In the end, it's not his call to make though. Jesus doesn't owe him anything. Not answers, not an explanation, not any kind of justification or permission.

All the same: "I'm worried. I'm going to worry."

[hippie_ninja]

It hadn't occurred to him that K would worry.

"It's temporary," he says again, but knows that's not the real reason for concern. "And I might end up with a Dominant I won't care about getting into trouble. One less way they can try to control me."

[konstant]

None of these words actually make him worry less. He supposes that technically he falls under the label of rebel now but that doesn't change that he's seen what happens to people who push too hard against dictatorships.

One less way to control him but: "And one more person invested in controlling you however they possibly can, with the support of everyone and everything around them."

[hippie_ninja]

He needs someone, something, to push against, though. More than he needs easy food and a free place to stay.

"You can see the benefits too, though, can't you?"

[konstant]

"Yes." He can, or he would be saying something very different. He pauses, glancing around to be sure of who's there - and who isn't - before he nods them over towards a bench.

"You won't kill anyone, but what else? Quota will do it but not quickly, not predictably."

[hippie_ninja]

"Stealing things should do it. I can grab wallets off the street, get caught breaking into a home." Low level offenses that will still piss off the locals.

[konstant]

K nods along. It's not the worst plan he's ever heard of, and it's not without merit.

He still doesn't like it, still doesn't like that he wonders if it's not a way to rationalize self destruction, at least the earliest stages. He looks at the edge of the towel caught between his fingers and lets Jesus talk.

[hippie_ninja]

"This place can change. Can be changed. I'm not the only one who believes that." He's just not sure if K does, yet.

[konstant]

He's not sure he does either. He doesn't want to be a part of it but he doesn't see a way not to be, either. Not with the drugs in play.

But then, he's something that can theoretically be reprogrammed on a whim. That maybe has and he'd never know it.

"Why tell me?"

[hippie_ninja]

"So you can decide if you still want to be around me." That's the first and most important reason.

[konstant]

"You said that we're friends," he points out. It's not an accusation, so much as a reminder. Jesus said they're friends.

[hippie_ninja]

"We are." He smiles a little just hearing it. "But I know this, what I'm getting into, isn't what everyone would want to be close to."

[konstant]

"I don't know how many friends you think I have," he starts, then stops and adds, "Have ever had."

But. But - "I don't think I want to be the sort of person who gives friends up because something might be hard."

[hippie_ninja]

That tugs hard at something in his chest. "I want to be a good friend. I want to make sure you're not pulled in anywhere you don't want to be."

[konstant]

"But this is what you're going to do, regardless," he says slowly, confirming.

[hippie_ninja]

"There's no other way to get a firsthand look in the prison. But I'd hear other ideas if there are any."

[konstant]

"I used to be a cop. Someone I know thinks I could be again," he points out. But more importantly his point is: "My options become be okay with what you're doing, or don't talk to you or be around you."

[hippie_ninja]

He doesn't like those options. He doesn't like that he's put K in this position. But it still has to be done and he still thinks he's the best person for it.

"Can I make it up to you?"

[konstant]

"There's nothing to make up right now. We're just talking." And maybe nothing happens in the end. Nothing worse than already has anyway.

"And maybe you'll need to adjust."