middaeg | [ Open ] Aguril Catch-All

[ He'd picked up a few odd jobs here and there for the month - anything to keep busy and the extra money doesn't hurt either. This had seemed simple enough from the job posting. Workers slacking off, taking advantage. Not really his deal, but the pay had been good, so here he was, showing up to kick some asses back into motion.

Except then he'd gotten and realized that all those workers? Were kids. People all younger than him. And being worked way too much. And then it didn't matter how much people were offering to pay him, that's just not right. ]

What the hell! [ He's talking to several of the older teens who seem to be instigating the mischief. Rebellion. Whatever you want to call it. ] Why have you guys even put up with this as long as you have? Someone's gotta show them they can't do this!

[ Feel like joining a revolution? Or maybe you're still thinking this job pays better than the trouble it's worth. Come help him out or try to talk him out of joining the revolt. ]

[ You know, when he signed for it, he thought it will be disciplining a bunch of lazy bums, but it's more of a kindergarten. A factory working kindergarten of street-rats. That puts him kind of on a fence on the whole deal— ]

You bet they're pay is shit, but hey, they're still being paid. [ Ideals won't feed you, so to speak. In the end, money rules everywhere, and sometimes you have to choose between pride and survival. ]

[ Ah, fuck, it's this asshole again.

Yata turns to scowl at him, hands propped on hips. ]

Barely. And not enough for what their damn bosses are saying they should work for. Would you be happy with that kinda shit? Because I sure wouldn't.

[ : ) ]

I mean, we are paid shit too. Yet you're still here, smartass.

[ For as long as the contract is there. Fortunately, the baron behind this operation gave them only a few days of a test run, and Reno has no intention of staying a second longer than he's obliged to. ]

C'mon you can figure it out.

I can figure out that this job was bullshit from the beginning.

[ He crosses his arms over his chest stubbornly and stares the other redhead down. ]

You honestly gonna stand there and try to tell me you support what those rich assholes are doin? You're gonna tell a bunch of kids that they just gotta suck up and deal with a shit deal?

[ Reno rolls his arms in a slow shrug, indicating that he doesn't care. He's adept at ignoring a lot of really shitty things after all. You gotta put yourself first in life, after all!

But also being directly involved is not really part of the whole makes it kinda hard the ignoring. ]

I'm only telling you that if you're going to encourage a bunch of overworked but paid orphans to quit— you gotta have a plan if you really want to help them.

Otherwise, you'll end feeling fucking good about yourself, like hero and shit, while orphans will be homeless and starving.

[ Of course he's gonna be an asshole about dispensing a piece of advice]

I'm not here to be a fuckin hero. [ Yata just rolls his eyes at that. ] I don't give a damn about shit like that. I think we need to show those assholes that if they want their shit, they gotta pay for it.

[ A pause, before a devious look crosses Yata's face. ]

...or maybe what their shit is actually worth. Maybe they should see how much work goes into what they want done.

[ His job description does not include thwarting down rebellion plans, so why to bother. If they start damaging the goods tho... what is more important, work ethic at a shitty job, or popcorning the incited chaos?

He smirks right back ]

Oh yeah, you've got several illegal options to get a point. And one legal.

Only one? Nah, man. You're thinkin' too small. You're lackin' imagination. There's plenty more than that. But I think we should bring the bosses down and convince them to do a few shifts. Just to see if they think they're still payin' fair.

[ It starts with a "pfft" followed by a snort, that turns into a hyena cackle. He needs a moment, sorry. ]

Fuck, that hog putting up a real work here? I'd pay to see that. [ It would be a sight to remember. But also one that would cost them a lot so— ] But I have no plans of getting arrested, so I'll have to look the other way.

[ He waves his hand dismissively. ]

What, you're too chicken?

Besides. They hired us to get these people back to work, right? Well, we're doing that. Just in a roundabout way. Getting them what they want to agree to work again. And to do that, they need fair wages. So we'll see that the bosses understand what that means. It's what they hired us for.

[ Now he's got a truly evil smirk on his lips. ]

[ Reno laughed, shortly, humorlessly. Usually hauling insults at him doesn't work, he speaks in obscenities half the time, and been called worse all his life. Not to mention bravery is an empty concept to him. But the bird-nature of the insult does ruffle his feathers a bit. Literally. ]

Naw, man. I just don't give a rat's ass what you're doing. [ He flattens the feathers on the back of his neck, and his grin turns crooked. Yata is clearly a man of action, and this might turn out amusing (or useful) yet ] But I'm also bored as hell, so let's run your plan.

[ Doesn't mean he has to agree with it ]

So how's it going? Drag the dude in the night, give him a good spanking, make him work so hard he soils his pants and then— what? Threaten him with "give your workers better pay or else"?

[ Yata's a man of action - but he's also pretty devious when it comes down to it. ]

The guy wanted a solution. Muscle's not gonna cut it - not when it's kids. You've seen the types most of the damned Mirrorbound are. He even looks cross-eyed at any of them and he's gonna have a bunch of pissed off goody-two-shoes breathing down his neck. If he wants to continue doing business in this city, he's gotta adapt.

I say we tell him we've got his solution, lure him down here, and use the kids as our backup - his own supervisors for a day. Tell em it's a game, tell em it's evening the scales. They're not dumb and he'll be outnumbered. One long shift - like he expects them to work, hell, even have him doing it alongside of them. Make it a bet if we gotta. Businessmen always like risks they think they can win easy. They always underestimate their peons anyway.

[ That's a good, entertaining plan. It would be much better if they had a definite, actual force standing behind them though. Shaking shit up if you have no group to fall back on, that will hold your back...

...some would say it's suicide. Others would say it's just crazy. Though Yata is right on that there is plenty of Mirrorbounds, and most of them are bleeding hearts. They support one another.

Reno just snorts and shakes his head ]

Before I say "I'm in", I got one more question. How do you think this factory and kids will look two weeks from now?

[ Yata cocks his head to the side to study Reno for a moment before gesturing around him. ]

Why are you asking me that? Talk to them. Learn what they want out of this. They're more organized than you think. And they gotta live this. Ask them.

If your plan is shit, no one is getting what they want, dipshit.

[ Reno answer is biting, and he groans in frustration, before shaking his head and cooling it off. That's really not something he should get worked over, there are far more important things! It's not like he cares!!! He could let this mess happen by just going along— ]

Fine, here, reality check. Free of charge.

[ Oh, because he's suddenly that generous. Shockingly, he's entirely serious, no more teasing, no making fun of ]

You rough up the dude a bit, make him work for it. He will promise you everyfuckingthing you want and a shitload of benefits. Then, you're outta here, and he won't rehire you. The kids won't see the promised benefits either. Whatever musclehead he gets in your position, he will screen them for no empathy and high greed. And he will pay them much more than he ever paid us, so none of them will have a reason to cross him. Because that's how rich assholes operate.

[ They stomp down those who can't afford to protect themselves. The strong exploit the weak, coin rules the world. And... that's fine with Reno, really. He never bought into the 'change the world' ideals, ever a cynic. Rather he sees his ability to see the world for what it is, as an advantage in a crawling way upwards, and getting what he wants. ]

If you want to make this work, pal, you have to think a few steps ahead. To secure the new status, not just shake it. Otherwise, you're just gonna be like every other adult that screwed the kids over.

[ Which is the last thing he wants to be. But Yata just crosses his arms over his chest and gives the guy a Look. ]

Alright then, genius, what would you do?

[ Because you're just as involved now, even if you don't want to admit it. You're still here, aren't you? ]

Edited 2020-09-09 13:22 (UTC)

[ Reno looks around the urchins. Some working hard, some taking a well-earned break, others having fun. You know, like kids do. ]

Contact a different factory. Say you have an experienced workforce at your hand, mention that taking them will tank competition, then ensure they get better benefits than here— higher pay, shorter hours or education, whatever— When that's secured, then make a ruckus here and beat the shark up. Shake the director with fear to release them quickly. Before he can realize what he's losing.

[ Coming from the epitome of capitalistic hell that is Midgard, makes him prone to see the gears in all systems. There is always a way to throw a wrench somewhere. ]

Or fuck everything up and lead a gang of the street urchins. But then that's a bigger responsibility.

[ Open ] Aguril Catch-All

Quest: Hazard at the Harbor

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