No offense taken-- of all the crimes I've committed, prostitution has never been one.
[ after a reflective pause and a much smaller sip, neal inhales and gestures with the hand holding the bottle. ] Being a kept man is much more lucrative anyway.
[ the admission is casual, almost wistful. the lean years had their perks, and there was something thrilling and exactly responsibility-free enough about being the perfect man for six months or so and then disappearing with the family silver confident he wouldn't be reported for it. ]
[ but how is being a kept man that much different from being a prostitute, here. give him a second to catch up. josh looks a bit confused, then thoughtful, because he's clearly not making the connection. ]
... kept man? What, does The Man not pay well enough?
[ that's sort of a joke. if neal works for the government, josh is assuming it doesn't pay well enough - particularly if he's an ex-criminal. ]
Oh, absolutely not. But I supplement now with helping Mozzie out, and he just conveniently never tells me exactly what I helped with.
[ which is still very much crime but neal's a fan of living by the spirit of the law, rather than the letter. peter said no committing crimes-- he never said no helping moz plan 'hypothetical' heists or not to do a little welding in his free time. ]
The kept man period was earlier, although June likes to let her friends assume it's still going on, and I'm fine with that. [ neal's smile is a little blurry, but more sincere than anyone onboard other than peter or moz has ever seen. ] She helps Mozzie scam people buying storage lockers.
[ june is basically neal's perfect woman, which fits in nicely with the rampant mommy issues. ]
Well. She sounds very lovely. [ it's half a joke, but it sounds like an honest enough compliment - he's more mocking his own stuffy language.
it'd probably be polite to quit bothering neal, considering the whole medbay thing, but... well, he's actually talking, and josh did just sort of let the wolf out of the bag. that's not really something he's comfortable with throwing out there and then walking away right after. ]
She is. [ neal skips over the undertones in favor of nodding, smile affectionate. ] She really is.
[ it's probably a little odd his smile for june looks the same as his one for new york, but he's got a thing. ] It's a hell of a town.
[ a beat. ]
That's a yes, since you were complaining earlier about-- [ there's a small, obvious moment where he reaches for a word and settles on something else. ] clarity.
[ josh follows the comment, but neal's clarification earns a broad grin. still feels like a big victory to be getting straight answers out of neal, and the fact that he's so deliberately humoring josh is amusing in itself. ] Thank you.
[ there's a pause, and it seems like he's about to continue the conversation, then: ]
You should rest. [ he sounds a bit startled by the realization. it's getting late, and neal's mixing meds and booze (oops), and josh is distracting him. best nurse or best nurse. he'd normally make a joke about neal getting his beauty sleep, but - not so appropriate, now. ]
But this was lovely. I've got a shift tomorrow - I'm sure I can sneak you some more booze if you promise not to narc on me. [ sarcastically flattering, of course, but the offer's legit. ]
[ oh yes good the stool pigeon thing, back to that. not normal, neal. josh offers a sincere smile at the thanks, and if it's debatable what the thank you's actually for, josh seems to get it. ]
Any time. But seriously, if they ask, I was never here.
[ he should probably give a thank you for the "okay with him being a werewolf" part of this, but that just seems incredibly awkward, so. peace!! i'm really good at writing exits ok. ]
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[ after a reflective pause and a much smaller sip, neal inhales and gestures with the hand holding the bottle. ] Being a kept man is much more lucrative anyway.
[ the admission is casual, almost wistful. the lean years had their perks, and there was something thrilling and exactly responsibility-free enough about being the perfect man for six months or so and then disappearing with the family silver confident he wouldn't be reported for it. ]
no subject
[ but how is being a kept man that much different from being a prostitute, here. give him a second to catch up. josh looks a bit confused, then thoughtful, because he's clearly not making the connection. ]
... kept man? What, does The Man not pay well enough?
[ that's sort of a joke. if neal works for the government, josh is assuming it doesn't pay well enough - particularly if he's an ex-criminal. ]
no subject
[ which is still very much crime but neal's a fan of living by the spirit of the law, rather than the letter. peter said no committing crimes-- he never said no helping moz plan 'hypothetical' heists or not to do a little welding in his free time. ]
The kept man period was earlier, although June likes to let her friends assume it's still going on, and I'm fine with that. [ neal's smile is a little blurry, but more sincere than anyone onboard other than peter or moz has ever seen. ] She helps Mozzie scam people buying storage lockers.
[ june is basically neal's perfect woman, which fits in nicely with the rampant mommy issues. ]
no subject
it'd probably be polite to quit bothering neal, considering the whole medbay thing, but... well, he's actually talking, and josh did just sort of let the wolf out of the bag. that's not really something he's comfortable with throwing out there and then walking away right after. ]
You were in New York, right?
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[ it's probably a little odd his smile for june looks the same as his one for new york, but he's got a thing. ] It's a hell of a town.
[ a beat. ]
That's a yes, since you were complaining earlier about-- [ there's a small, obvious moment where he reaches for a word and settles on something else. ] clarity.
no subject
[ there's a pause, and it seems like he's about to continue the conversation, then: ]
You should rest. [ he sounds a bit startled by the realization. it's getting late, and neal's mixing meds and booze (oops), and josh is distracting him. best nurse or best nurse. he'd normally make a joke about neal getting his beauty sleep, but - not so appropriate, now. ]
But this was lovely. I've got a shift tomorrow - I'm sure I can sneak you some more booze if you promise not to narc on me. [ sarcastically flattering, of course, but the offer's legit. ]
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[ sometimes, he just says shit like that like normal people do it too. ]
Thank you, by the way. [ for the talk, the beer, something else intangible-- neal will leave it up to debate. ]
no subject
Any time. But seriously, if they ask, I was never here.
[ he should probably give a thank you for the "okay with him being a werewolf" part of this, but that just seems incredibly awkward, so. peace!! i'm really good at writing exits ok. ]