[ When Kaiji starts talking about him there’s a flicker of confusion on Claire’s face that tenses up as soon as Maria is mentioned. Gee, the stories that broad could tell... and from the look Kaiji was shooting him she was actually dumb enough to spill at least some of them to a near stranger. The realization of what this is about comes on quick like a snap and his mind reels through what he’d missed before – the avoidance, the curt replies, the network post - focussing past the man in front of him and what he's saying. So that was the fucked up thing he’d been talking about. His outstretched hands curl up and retract, fisted in front of him. He must have sounded like such a chump just now, oblivious to what was really going on. Perhaps if he'd been able to catch Kaiji's eyes earlier he might have seen the resentment there and caught on -
- he refocuses on Kaiji quickly at the leading tone in his voice - Shit I already knew, you know? - and the downward quirks at the corners of his mouth deepen for what he suspects is coming next. It's almost a relief when Kaiji actually spits out what he knows. It's not like he's saying anything Claire hasn't heard before, or even said himself. He doesn't drop their gaze, although his eyes widen a little at the sheer venom in his friend's voice. It's that, rather than panic or defiance, that keeps him pinned there for a moment after he's done speaking.
Being found out by someone who didn't understand - didn't belong in a business where death was considered a necessary entrepreneurial risk - that just wasn't something that happened to Claire. Even worse, this was someone who had his trust and whose trust he wanted to keep, if there was any chance of that to be found in the glare being levelled at him across the table. He'd gotten careless and now things were overcomplicated. So much for keeping those worlds apart.
Finally he looks away at the condensation forming on his glass and worries at his hair with one hand, muttering. ] Oh, boy. So that's what the whole last name shtick was about, huh. [ And quickly clears his throat because even to his ears that sounded facetious. His eyes dart back to Kaiji's with a wary grin. ] You know, you've got a better handle on this than some people who are actually in the business itself. "Assassin" sounds kinda romantic, in a way, something honorable and noble. But it's killing for money: that's all it comes down to, when you're not sugarcoatin' it.
[ He suddenly takes a swig of beer before adding, mildly ] So, yeah. That's what I do.
no subject
- he refocuses on Kaiji quickly at the leading tone in his voice - Shit I already knew, you know? - and the downward quirks at the corners of his mouth deepen for what he suspects is coming next. It's almost a relief when Kaiji actually spits out what he knows. It's not like he's saying anything Claire hasn't heard before, or even said himself. He doesn't drop their gaze, although his eyes widen a little at the sheer venom in his friend's voice. It's that, rather than panic or defiance, that keeps him pinned there for a moment after he's done speaking.
Being found out by someone who didn't understand - didn't belong in a business where death was considered a necessary entrepreneurial risk - that just wasn't something that happened to Claire. Even worse, this was someone who had his trust and whose trust he wanted to keep, if there was any chance of that to be found in the glare being levelled at him across the table. He'd gotten careless and now things were overcomplicated. So much for keeping those worlds apart.
Finally he looks away at the condensation forming on his glass and worries at his hair with one hand, muttering. ] Oh, boy. So that's what the whole last name shtick was about, huh. [ And quickly clears his throat because even to his ears that sounded facetious. His eyes dart back to Kaiji's with a wary grin. ] You know, you've got a better handle on this than some people who are actually in the business itself. "Assassin" sounds kinda romantic, in a way, something honorable and noble. But it's killing for money: that's all it comes down to, when you're not sugarcoatin' it.
[ He suddenly takes a swig of beer before adding, mildly ] So, yeah. That's what I do.