Why Should I Worry

Dominic sat in a chair in Jock’s office, waiting. His hands were steepled, fingers on his lips as his foot tapped against the floor. Every second that went by he could feel the fumes rising within him. Jock was probably in a surgery right now, probably had been for hours, but Dominic didn’t care. He’d wait as long as it took and he’d be ready the second the door opened. How could Jock not tell him? In his mind, there was only one reason. He’d been right about Trusty all along. Somehow the bastard had weaseled his way in to Jock’s home. And how did Dominic find out? A casual conversation with a customer when Jock’s name came up. How nice and generous it was for him to share his home with Trusty after all that had happened in the meteor shower. It took almost everything in him to keep his composure then. Dominic was sure to lose it now. Fuck it all, he thought as he pulled a cigarette out of his pocket and prepared to light it. 

"Going to the planet would be a great opportunity. I have amassed a decent business here on the station, but this planet seems like a place of new beginnings. And maybe it would be nice to have a fresh start. I don't know."

“Scrooge and I go way back. Like back when I was a kid living on the streets. Scrooge had my back a lot back then and I had his. I know he’s ‘the richest man on the station’ now, but he earned that. Every now and then I buy us drinks and we catch up. He’s a good friend to have if you don’t concern yourself with his fortune.” 

"Fuck. It's got so many uses and it makes the up-tight people uncomfortable."

“Excuse me? He’s doing what now? This is a fucking joke right?”

“No, I don’t think I need one,” said Sosuke. He wasn’t quite sure how he got roped into this sales pitch, but he was starting to feel like he was someplace he shouldn’t be. “I have a thumb!” He gave the man a thumbs-up, revealing his tiny cybernetic. “Do you have an upgrade for that?”

Dominic examined his thumb closely. “Interesting piece. Haven’t seen one of these in a while.” He hmm’d as he instinctively reached out for Sosuke’s hand, turning it over to get a better look at the cybernetic. “I might have something, but it’s back at my shop. I don’t carry the small stuff when I set up a booth, you know? It depends on what you’re looking for, but if you’re interested, I can set up an appointment for you tomorrow. I can even install for a little extra.” He smiled with a wink. 

Donald nodded, appreciating a bit that he was talking with another tinkerer or engineer. Holley was always working on interesting things in her shop. “Ah yes. Parts aren’t cheap. Augments alone are getting less and less cheap.” On the outside, or to the casual observer, Donald didn’t have any. The only sign of his was a small plug hidden under his hair–which was why he kept it long and full.

“Some people need a little heckle now and again.” He offered with a smirk. “You should try it. Pretty good as far as hobbies go. One of a few I hold onto.” He snarked, looking back at his new ‘friend.’ “And you? You just tinker and smoke, or is there more you do with your time?”

Originally posted by sssssssim

“I enjoy a good drink too now and then.” In truth, Dominic drank a bit in excess, but he was the only one who needed to know that for now. “I’m actually getting ready to meet an old friend at a bar near by after I lock up shop. Come along if you’re interested. I’m buying the rounds tonight.” He took a deep drag on his cigarette, finishing its remainder, before stifling the glowing butt beneath his shoe. “That is, if you don’t have anything better to do,” he said with an exhale of smoke. He almost wanted to light another, but it’d be rude to keep Scrooge waiting. 

Calhoun didn’t even try and get a word in edge-wise, though she did roll her eyes. She knew that was pointless, once a pitch-man got going it was best to wait until they stopped for breath before you attempted to interrupt. “Look I’m gonna spell this out plain and simple,” Calhoun said, “I’m not going to buy anything from you, and no amount of assurance or sweetening the deal is going to change my mind on that.”

Well now it just seemed personal. “I’m sorry, not? As in, never? Or is that just today?” Dominic sat back, folding his arms across his chest. “Have I done something to personally offend you or someone you know? Is there something you don’t like about my business or my approach?” He hoped his tone had sounded less condescending to her than it did to him. Though he was in fact offended, Dominic didn’t want to lend that to any other impressions he might be making right now. It was bad for business. “I just don’t wish for you to walk away dissatisfied with me or my product. Most of my business outside of the ring here is by word of mouth you see. So if there is anything I can do to make your experience more pleasant, please share.” The smile he wore was less genuine than before. 

I Need Some Help || Dom & JJ

Jack-Jack wondered if perhaps he went into a deserted or broken-into shop when the sound of a crash and muffled curses caught his ear. His head snapped in the direction of the sound and watched as a rather grimy, underdressed man walked out from behind the shelves. The Parr blinked at him through his sunglasses, a bit confused for a moment. 

“Ah, right… Dominic… I was referred here by maybe a friend of yours? I’m having some augment troubles and I was wondering if you could help?” what he didn’t want to say was that he had supposedly a plethora of locked military-grade augments, but he had worked out some sort of lame excuse before coming in. “Someone hacked quite a few of mine and they’ve shut down since the incident. I know it may not be the easiest thing to do, but I was hoping you could help unlock them again? Markus said you were the best.” He added at the end, a chuckle and a grin from his child-like face usually broke the seal and made him appear as friendly as apple pie. 

“I d,” Trusty said succinctly. Even though the man was clearly already mad, Trusty decided he should refrain from further irritating Dominic or himself. “Clearly, you’re upset, so I’ll give you some space.” Trusty backed up from Dominic with his two hands up. “I’ll see you two around!”

Clearly upset? This guy was something else. And even though Trusty wasn’t wrong, Dominic had a hard time brushing it off. At least he was finally stepping back and leaving. He didn’t voice his relief, but was sure the relaxing of his shoulders was visible. “I’ll see you two around,” he mumbled under his breath in a mocking tone. “I’d rather you didn’t.” 

Donald nodded his head as the man went inside, and honestly expected that to be the end of it. Gratefully, while he was still taking his own breath of air, the man returned back out with a pack of cigarettes and was even kind enough to offer one. “Sure. I’ll provide the light.” he offered, pulling out a small little duck from his keys, Donald released the safety and squeezed the wings to produce a small flame from its bill. It was cheesy, but sometimes cheesy was good.

“So… can I ask about the box of hands, or is it best left to the imagination?”

Dominic felt a smile tug at the corner of his lips upon seeing the lighter. He took a long drag, savoring the flavor, hearing Jock in the back of his mind telling him it was bad for his health. “The box?” he said with an exhale of smoke. “I make augments. Those ones don’t work though. I brought them to the shop to salvage parts.” He flicked some ash to the ground and took another heavy puff. “Is it a hobby of yours to stand on the street and heckle people?” The comment may have seemed mean spirited, but his tone gave it a more conversational small talk feel. 

“That would be great. Thank you.” There would be no point in even trying to hide the smile on Wally’s face, he really appreciated this. He shifted in his place as he thought of what to do next. “I could show them if you want?” The thought that a stranger on the job perhaps wouldn’t want to come to his house hadn’t even crossed his mind as he stood awaiting the response. 

“Wouldn’t it be easier to just bring them here?” The question seemed a bit odd to him, but after pondering it another moment a second thought came to mind. “Wait, how many are we talking?” Too many to bring to the shop? Could he really afford to have a number of augments repaired? Was this guy loaded? He cleared his throat and pushed the questions to the back of his mind for now. No use getting ahead of himself before he’s even answered the question.