#/ this is uhhhhhhhhh ASS but i gotta sleep and i wanted to at least INTRODUCE IT

[theateared]

     ❝ So.  You’re back on Huron soil, I see. ❞

     His head swivelled in the direction of the voice, his eyes landing on a vaguely familiar woman.  Though he couldn’t place her name, her face was stark in his head.  

     ❝ That I am, ❞   he replied, arms crossing atop the fence he was leaning against.  During his time away from Huron, he’d forgotten just how nice early morning walks alongside the pastures were.  The fields seemed to roll on forever, unaffected by time or weather;  an endless emerald sea, plush and warm and wild.   ❝ Who’s askin’? ❞

     She came closer, standing next to him, something lodged between her lips.  When he turned his head to get a better look, he realised that smoke was exiting the other end, the faint scent of mint hanging around it.  He squinted, leaning closer, though leapt back when she inched forwards with the apparent intention of burning him.

     ❝ Relax, Murphy, ❞   she said through a short, unkind laugh, inhaling deeply before blowing smoke ahead of her--  graciously not in his face.  When he still didn’t understand what she was doing, she nodded once, tongue clicking as she withdrew the stick from her lips.   ❝ I forgot, you weren’t here when these were brought over from Vide.  They’re smokes.  You inhale it and you get all…  relaxed and calm. ❞

     ❝ So it’s a drug. ❞

     ❝ Anythin’s a drug if y’do it enough, ❞   she reiterated, head rolling in the man’s direction.  He didn’t look impressed.  Neither did she.  With a sigh, she offered her already lit one to him.  When he didn’t take it immediately, she took the initiative, setting it forcefully between his lips and lighting it for him before he had a chance to say no.   ❝ Now breathe in. ❞

     Kaff, kaff.

     ❝ You’re such an amateur... ❞     Despite her less than enthusiastic tone, the hint of a smile danced at the edges of her lips.  Aléjandro Murphy had always been a mysterious case to her. They’d existed purely in parallel, seeing each other in passing but never entering one another’s realms.  She knew of him only as the suave, misunderstood theatre kid... and the filthy rich  business-tender.  It was quite clear that, if anybody could help her with any kind of investment, it was him.   ❝ Listen…  I know we don’t know one another, but I think I might have somethin’ of interest t’you.  D’y’wanna grab a coffee and talk it over? ❞

     ❝ I don’t drink coffee... ❞

     ❝ I would say don’t be pedantic, that it doesn’t suit you, but it really does.  It really does. ❞

                                                           _____  . ( 🞮 ) .  _____

     All things considered, this wasn’t how he envisioned his morning to go.  What had once been a quiet walk on his own before people arose from slumber and went to bed had quickly spiralled into a discussion about business.  The hot cocoa in his hands tasted complimentary--  a mere pleasantry in the face of work.  In truth, neither of them were focused on their drinks anymore.  

     ❝ Yer askin’ fer my help in buildin’ ‘n’ managin’ a warehouse...? ❞

    ❝ Keep up, Murr. ❞     There was a lull in the conversation as she took a contemplative sip of her coffee.   Though the liquid was warm, she felt no more comforted than before it had touched her tongue.   Despite her brave face, sitting opposite somebody with so much of a hand in how she could play her cards made her nervous.  She could only be grateful that he didn’t know it.  ❝ There’s so much shit goin’ down in Vide, a lot of it involvin’ kids.  Orphans.  But also troubled people.  There’s a lot of undisclosed issues goin’ on on this side of town, as well as a lot of unemployment, ‘n’ crime stemmin’ as a result of that frustration.  Think about it logically:  we could do good for everyone.  We could mass-distribute stuff t’give to the orphanages;  we could provide jobs for people who’re strugglin’ to get anywhere in life;  we could bridge that gap between Huron and Vide even further.  We could make one of the first, if not the first, bi-racial workplaces in existence.  We could also make a lot of money t’feed back into Huron directly. ❞

    ❝ ‘n’ where do I slot into this, exactly...? ❞

    ❝ You, ❞   she started, pointing languidly at him.  Her finger spun, circling his outline vaguely before she continued:   ❝ Not only d’you have the money t’help me, you need the good press. ❞

    Murr squinted, visibly annoyed.   ❝ Excuse me? ❞

    ❝ C’mon, Murr!  You know that it isn’t going to be as easy as you want it to be t’slot back into Huron.  You know people don’t trust you.  This could be your chance t’get your foot in the door again!  How’re people supposed t’extend trust to you if you don’t somehow prove that you’re not goin’ t’betray it again? ❞

    ❝ I didn’t betray anybody.  It was you who left me to rot. ❞

     She softened slightly, disarmed by his livid stance.  With how easily he seemed to have up and vanished, she didn’t expect there to be any sort of bitterness surrounding his perception of his people.  She’d clearly prodded a nerve;  stepped on something fragile and anguished.  Even after the initial bite of his words had left her, the icy quality his eyes had gained was enough to make her think twice.  He wasn’t somebody she had considered intimidating before, but they weren’t children anymore.

    ❝ ... I’m sorry.  Maybe I got a little over-zealous. ❞

    ❝ Yeah.  Maybe. ❞

     Let it go.  Don’t lose him now.  After a moment of silence, she opened her mouth to continue:   ❝ ... it’s not fair.  I know that.  So do you.  But it’s just the way it goes.  Whether you meant to or not, you caused a lot of trouble with your mad ravings through town.  People’re scared of you, Murr.  They think you’ll snap for real one day.  Do somethin’ awful.  I know you know I’m right about that, at least. ❞     He looked visibly frustrated, though a protest didn’t leave him.  It was then that she knew, despite his righteous anger, she had him cornered..   ❝ ... this whole comin’ back t’Huron thing’s gonna require a lot of effort.  So much effort.  Way more effort than it should.  But I really think, if you’re serious about startin’ over, y’should at least consider this.  No matter how much people dislike you at the moment, it’s hard t’deny the efforts of a project so ambitious.  ‘n’ it’s not just about the money.  I really think that...  this is a good way for you t’prove that y’mean business.  You can start off strong by helpin’ literally thousands of people, ‘n’ at least half of them aren’t even goin’ t’be from Huron.  Nobody can deny the good in your heart after that.  ❞    She paused then, feeling if she rambled for too much longer, he’d cut her off and leave.  She knew not of his true temperament;  whether he was suitable for the position of a manager;  whether or not he really would snap and hurt someone one day--  but it was a leap of faith she’d have to take.  Though she had a lot of money of her own, saved up from constant work between districts, it was nowhere near enough for a project of this magnitude.  Going to him seemed logical, even if unconventional, given his history as the most affluent man in all of Huron.   ❝ ... listen.  You don’t have t’make a decision now, ‘n’ I suppose I can’t make you say yes, but I really think that...  this’d be good fer everyone, includin’ you.  Beyond the money ‘n’ even all the tension between you ‘n’ Huron...  it’d be good for you t’be part of somethin’ bigger after so long of bein’ alone.  I think workin’ alongside people again would be good for you, not just a business.  I know we don’t know each other, and we’ve never really spent time together, but you befriended Kuro...  so you have to have goodness in you.  You have to.  He’s never wrong about characters. ❞   She rose from her seat, tugging her jacket back into its proper place before offering him a positively meek smile.    ❝ ...I think you’re good.  Deep down.   So just--  think about it, okay?❞