It's been so long since I've lived with peace and rest - Open

[screwedontight]

Who: Seth and OTA
When:First weeks of December
What: Letting go of the past, moving on
Warnings: PG, unless otherwise stated

Until Wonderland, Seth Gecko knew exactly what he wanted in life. New jobs. Excitement. His brother. To die old and happy with his brother and a beautiful woman at the beach. Now his brother is likely not ever going to die, he got the girl they both found themselves desiring, and now they were separated by a world. He'd never learned all they had done would get Kate killed, or that maybe in the end they might all end up back in the right life, with Kate by their side pulling the kind of heists this place makes him miss.

Except with where his life is, Seth is realizing that much as he misses his brother and Kate, he's gained a lot more. A best friend who he's been through hell and back with, though not literally - and he never realized before that he'd have to accept literal and figurative in Hell were not the same thing. He had an amazingly smart, sweet, sexy girlfriend that is imaginative and amazing in the kitchen, and that he enjoys simple things like watching horror movies with and mocking the dialogue. He's made friends, something he hadn't ever done in his life before, got an actually job as it were, and he realizes he's pretty damn happy.

Except for missing the jobs he's got it pretty damn good. Now it's time to act like it.

Which is why one day he wakes up and starts making changes.

First his place. It's been exactly the same as how Richie and Kate had "wished" it into being. Never his own. It was theirs, and then the three of them, but it's time for him to accept that even if they come back, things won't be the same as it might have been, and it's time for some changes.

Setting up a the perfect place for how his life is now, and finding he actually feels comfortable there after, not just waiting. It's the start of a few changes.

Still working at Lux, mostly because he's comfortable there, and a huge part to keep an eye on Chloe and Maze who so doesn't need it but still, but Kate was right. He starts changing. Not that he makes a big deal of it, but there are days when the suits are left at home in favor of other types of fashion that may vanish if they get a bad reaction. He'll blame it on the closet.

He doesn't change his routine though, not giving up on working out daily, starting with a run on the beach, through the gardens and such. He still spends time on the range, goes into the room where he can destroy stuff just for the hell of it, he's keeping busy but he's still missing something. That one thing he's only had a couple of times in this place during events and he misses more than anything.

So one day he sends out a message.

Looking for someone with security expertise willing to set up some challenges for me in a spare room. Contact Seth either through here, at Deux Lux, or at room 1032. Thanks.

Comments

For Maggie

[screwedontight]

On one of his runs, Seth hears a sound in the underbrush. Pausing, he tries to trace the sound at the edge of the woods. In the end, he finds a puppy who seems a bit worse for wear, and who is skittish but curled into his arms once he picked her up.

"Well then."

He hasn't a clue what to do with it, but he definitely knew who would. Wrapping it in his tee shirt, he heads for Maggie's place, using the run up the stairs for the rest of his workout since the little thing now sleeping in his arms disturbed that.

He taps on the door, managing to get it open without jostling the "dog". "Maggie? You here?"

[Anon text] That network post.

[shslliar]

[Oh no. This anon has contacted Seth.]

What kind of challenges?

text

[screwedontight]

Set up safes and security systems to let me practice on. I worry if I ask for them from the closets, I'll subconsciously know how to work them.

text

[shslliar]

Oh. Just boring old security systems?

You sound bored with those. How about something more interesting?

text

[screwedontight]

What do you have in mind?

[shslliar]

Ever heard of an escape room?

[screwedontight]

Generically. You get locked in and hope you escape before you die... figuratively. Right?

[shslliar]

usually, it's less dying and more "solve these puzzles before the time is up."

But if you want to potentially die it's gonna cost you.

[screwedontight]

I have been here nearly two years and never died. Not looking to do it. Ever. Not. Ever.

The rest though? That sounds promising.

[shslliar]

No death, great! Less cleanup for me, then!

Oh, did you want a zombie in the room with you?

[screwedontight]

ABSOFUCKINGLUTELY NOT

[shslliar]

[Cue heinous laughter that Seth will never get to hear.]

No zombies, got it. What about a room designed by a mad scientist/toy maker/artist?

[screwedontight]

Okay, the point here is for me to practice skills I need back home. Mostly boredom, some training.

Creepy toys? Not so much back home.

[shslliar]

Ooooooooooooooooh.

Sorry, I was trying to NOT be boring here!

[screwedontight]

I'm a thief. I want to practice those skills. Though you think creepy toys is an issue here? That something in your world we're going to end up with here?

[shslliar]

Yeah, apperently I'm from one of the crazier universes.

[BUT IT AIN'T THAT CRAZY, YA GREMLIN!]

text;

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

Challenges? Sounds good for a laugh. What did you have in mind?

[screwedontight]

Bank vaults. Locking mechanisms. Anything where I can practice the skills I was weakest at back home.

I know things don't go with us, but can they take muscle memory?

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

This is obviously a very delicate bubble you've constructed for yourself here. You're one of the people I can actually stand here, so I'm going to be gentle.

What you're doing probably has a 99% chance of amounting to nothing.

That said, what do you need other people for? Moral support?

[screwedontight]

Probably. Not going to argue that. Not going to argue that with you, at any rate. Because the same stands. Tiny bubble of people I can stand.

Don't you get bored though? Want to practice the things you know, get better at them? Do anything but drink and hang out?

[He loves Maggie, but they have their things and he needs more.]

Awww, that's a sweet offer. You sure you know what that is?

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

Seth, I'm thousands of years old. I'm already good at everything I was ever interested in being good at.

And I'm more or less up on the general idea of how one goes about moral support. Who knows, I might surprise you.

[screwedontight]

Good at everything? Ever? Then you've got to have something. Even with all those years.

You always do, Crowley. From day one.

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

Don't make it weird.

I'm good at everything I want to be good at. Why waste my time otherwise?

[screwedontight]

Pot calling the kettle black. [Since he's seen the snake, Crowley!]

And you're just automatically good?

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

What part of 'I'm thousands of years old' gave you that impression?

I feel like you're just not listening to me, Seth. It's really hurting my feelings.

[screwedontight]

What part of there's new things you could do, Crowley, and learn to do them means you've done them all since the beginning of time?

Now come on, Crowley. You know you're one of the few people I listen to.

How are you with safe cracking?

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

Don't sass me.
I didn't say I was good at everything. Just everything I care about being good at.

Safe cracking was never one of those things. Robbing banks isn't something in my purview, I'm just the voice in your ear telling you it might be a good idea.

[screwedontight]

If that's the case then we've been friends for a very long time.

Well, long for me not you.

Richie was always my cracker, but figuring I need to learn to do these things myself.

[saunteredvaguelydownwards]

Can't do any harm.

I suppose I can come along. For the sake of having something to do.