[Inoffensive. That's new. Then again, compared to some of the other residents of Hell he can see how someone would think that.
The question is uncomfortable, even without Squalo speaking to Dodger's head.]
I don't know that either. He's not crazy he's just...
[He doesn't know. His best friend is a murderer. Did he really know anything?]
We fought. We were partners on tour and I told him I was done. I packed my songs, my guitar. I just wanted to go home. I'd hardly ever told him no before.
[Only Squalo would take that dry thanks. He looks at the man, deadpanned.
Maybe he'll appreciate the honest asshole later. Maybe.]
I... okay. [Protesting this is probably not going to go far.] But if I do, hypothetically, call you to be a hit man... [Not going to happen.] Please don't bring back their body parts.
[ Why not? It's literally this man's whole career. ]
Sure. [ He waves his free hand dismissively and grins. ] The customer picks the music.
[ #yeah ]
In the meantime, stop suffering people who try to own you, yeah? If they don't respect your wishes, drop that shit. Don't let them guilt you into staying. You don't owe anyone your friendship, fuck, you don't owe anyone anything.
But he does get what Squalo goes on to say. He hugs his arms to his chest, looking down. He wants to say it's not so simple. He was murdered for this. But, could he not have left Ernesto sooner? Did he have to stop and turn back in the doorway?]
I guess... at the time... it seemed more like they were trying to be friends than own me.
[And that's going to make things really hard.]
But you're right. The only ones I owe are my family.
Yeah, you gotta work on that. [ Squalo waves a hand impatiently. ] You don't look like someone who can't read people, maybe you just really don't want to see the bad. 'Nd that's no good. You owe staying alive to your family, right? Never forget it's not just you getting hurt.
[ When you let people walk over you, you're hurting your family. This is what Squalo's trying to express, because he assumes if Hector doesn't want to be more strict for himself, he sure as hell will for his family. ]
Think on it. Lemme know whenever you need someone's head popped.
[Maybe he doesn't want to see the bad. Maybe that's what that one sin on his list is; urning a blind eye.
But he's not sure he could have expected Squalo to twist that knife in. Sharply, his head goes up.
Squalo's right. Because he didn't pay attention, his wife is having to mind their family on her own. Because he looked away, Coco has no father. Because of him...]
... Okay. Thank you.
[And that, there, is the closest he's come so far to that slippery slope of considering actually being rid of someone. He doesn't like the feeling.]
[ Squalo can see he's hit the target. There's the slightest smirk on his face. ]
Or if anyone bothers you. I'd like to know that too.
[ Hopefully Hector realizes that for the codeword it's supposed to be. Telling someone to kill somebody else would potentially count as sin for his list. Venting to a pal about someone bothering him, though? Well, there's no telling what that pal will do with such information, so it wouldn't be on him. ]
[ He raises his free hand in a lazy wave as he heads for the door. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
no subject
The question is uncomfortable, even without Squalo speaking to Dodger's head.]
I don't know that either. He's not crazy he's just...
[He doesn't know. His best friend is a murderer. Did he really know anything?]
We fought. We were partners on tour and I told him I was done. I packed my songs, my guitar. I just wanted to go home. I'd hardly ever told him no before.
[He scrubs at his face.]
no subject
There's your pattern. You're a pushover and you gravitate to people who don't take no for an answer.
[ Hopefully it doesn't dissuade him from trying, though. If anything, hearing "no" more often might make them get used to it. ]
no subject
Gee, thanks.
[He's right. But still.]
no subject
[ Isn't it refreshing to have someone be a honest asshole? ]
Anyway, anything like this happens again, you come to me. I'll give 'em a run for their money.
no subject
Maybe he'll appreciate the honest asshole later. Maybe.]
I... okay. [Protesting this is probably not going to go far.] But if I do, hypothetically, call you to be a hit man... [Not going to happen.] Please don't bring back their body parts.
no subject
Sure. [ He waves his free hand dismissively and grins. ] The customer picks the music.
[ #yeah ]
In the meantime, stop suffering people who try to own you, yeah? If they don't respect your wishes, drop that shit. Don't let them guilt you into staying. You don't owe anyone your friendship, fuck, you don't owe anyone anything.
no subject
Yet.]...Right...
[He doesn't get that reference!
But he does get what Squalo goes on to say. He hugs his arms to his chest, looking down. He wants to say it's not so simple. He was murdered for this. But, could he not have left Ernesto sooner? Did he have to stop and turn back in the doorway?]
I guess... at the time... it seemed more like they were trying to be friends than own me.
[And that's going to make things really hard.]
But you're right. The only ones I owe are my family.
no subject
[ When you let people walk over you, you're hurting your family. This is what Squalo's trying to express, because he assumes if Hector doesn't want to be more strict for himself, he sure as hell will for his family. ]
Think on it. Lemme know whenever you need someone's head popped.
[ He gestures at the head under his arm. ]
In the meantime, I've got things to take care of.
no subject
But he's not sure he could have expected Squalo to twist that knife in. Sharply, his head goes up.
Squalo's right. Because he didn't pay attention, his wife is having to mind their family on her own. Because he looked away, Coco has no father. Because of him...]
... Okay. Thank you.
[And that, there, is the closest he's come so far to that slippery slope of considering actually being rid of someone. He doesn't like the feeling.]
no subject
Or if anyone bothers you. I'd like to know that too.
[ Hopefully Hector realizes that for the codeword it's supposed to be. Telling someone to kill somebody else would potentially count as sin for his list. Venting to a pal about someone bothering him, though? Well, there's no telling what that pal will do with such information, so it wouldn't be on him. ]
[ He raises his free hand in a lazy wave as he heads for the door. ]
Later. Take care.