They were foolish to try it. I'm sure they would blame me for what happened. After all, I did it. I'm sure an red-blood NuAmexadian would blame me. But that would be naive. They have only themselves to blame.
As far as risk/reward dynamics go a 6 person book club is about as skewed as it gets. One less person and you're covered for an unexpected stranger asking for directions. Two less and if the in-laws show up you can invite them in and act like normal people.
Are those two extra club members adding that much scintillating literary insight? They were reading period literature from the mid aughts for chrissakes. This is the era that gave us Twilight and Tweeting.
Fuck.
I don't always relish my jobs but this one, well, like I said, they brought it on themselves. Someone had credits. That same someone had a grudge against not one but two of the members of this little social gathering.
The transaction was smooth and clandestine. We met one on one at my apartment. Not my HOME mind you, that's... elsewhere. I get edgy in groups of three. Four people and if I didn't plan it I'm gone.
I've read horror stories about two minivans full of laser-ball moms taking their mewling brood to practice having a fender bender and there's nothing left but smoke and some charred grip-shoes.
One tasteful Angel Ivy Ring Topiary poised artistically on a window sill with a great view and you're goners. All 7+ of you.
The gathering size thing, that's well known. People are so terrified of the rule they act on the far other extreme. They try to pretend their lives aren't completely dictated by this cruel (if brilliant) social control mechanism and try to go on about their daily lives.
Everyone knows the exceptions. Events with license status, such as certain recreational events, (see laser ball), the manufacturing, the corporate drone tanks, even a few religions cover you to, from and at the event.
Oh yeah, and of course the rally days. Any time some government big-op wants to hold a rally everyone swarms to it, enjoying the 4 hour suspension of the crowd rule. The real schmoozes only speak for about 15 minutes and for the next 3 hours and 45 minutes the flash-bars make a year's worth of profit, then go into stasis until the next rally.
Only a select few not in the government know about the damn plants though. How they got a camera in every house plant from my 89 year old mother's half dead ficus to the six-thousand credit Cactus Combo Bonsai arrangement in some rich toolbox's foyer is beyond me, but it's brilliant. Nobody ever looks for a camera in their houseplant.
I found out about them. And knowing that secret opens up a great career opportunity. 15K credits just for showing up uninvited.
The look on their faces is priceless as they look up from their reading and notice one unfamiliar face.
"Mind if I join?" I smile big for the Ponytail Palm in the living room.
The group leader opens his mouth.
He almost finishes his scream.
"Griefeeee-"
I'm already gone as the hellfire rounds from some patrolling gunship are turning the house into ashes.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
Re: Prompt 1
Date: 2011-06-09 03:04 am (UTC)As far as risk/reward dynamics go a 6 person book club is about as skewed as it gets. One less person and you're covered for an unexpected stranger asking for directions. Two less and if the in-laws show up you can invite them in and act like normal people.
Are those two extra club members adding that much scintillating literary insight? They were reading period literature from the mid aughts for chrissakes. This is the era that gave us Twilight and Tweeting.
Fuck.
I don't always relish my jobs but this one, well, like I said, they brought it on themselves. Someone had credits. That same someone had a grudge against not one but two of the members of this little social gathering.
The transaction was smooth and clandestine. We met one on one at my apartment. Not my HOME mind you, that's... elsewhere. I get edgy in groups of three. Four people and if I didn't plan it I'm gone.
I've read horror stories about two minivans full of laser-ball moms taking their mewling brood to practice having a fender bender and there's nothing left but smoke and some charred grip-shoes.
One tasteful Angel Ivy Ring Topiary poised artistically on a window sill with a great view and you're goners. All 7+ of you.
The gathering size thing, that's well known. People are so terrified of the rule they act on the far other extreme. They try to pretend their lives aren't completely dictated by this cruel (if brilliant) social control mechanism and try to go on about their daily lives.
Everyone knows the exceptions. Events with license status, such as certain recreational events, (see laser ball), the manufacturing, the corporate drone tanks, even a few religions cover you to, from and at the event.
Oh yeah, and of course the rally days. Any time some government big-op wants to hold a rally everyone swarms to it, enjoying the 4 hour suspension of the crowd rule. The real schmoozes only speak for about 15 minutes and for the next 3 hours and 45 minutes the flash-bars make a year's worth of profit, then go into stasis until the next rally.
Only a select few not in the government know about the damn plants though. How they got a camera in every house plant from my 89 year old mother's half dead ficus to the six-thousand credit Cactus Combo Bonsai arrangement in some rich toolbox's foyer is beyond me, but it's brilliant. Nobody ever looks for a camera in their houseplant.
I found out about them. And knowing that secret opens up a great career opportunity. 15K credits just for showing up uninvited.
The look on their faces is priceless as they look up from their reading and notice one unfamiliar face.
"Mind if I join?" I smile big for the Ponytail Palm in the living room.
The group leader opens his mouth.
He almost finishes his scream.
"Griefeeee-"
I'm already gone as the hellfire rounds from some patrolling gunship are turning the house into ashes.