[ In Hei's history, he's liked a handful of people too. But he's felt absolutely no compunction in ruining or eliminating them, if that's what his survival required. That's how he operates, with a mutable dosage of harshness and sweetness -- whatever penetrates his victims softest corners, aims at the exact spot to get the arterial geyser of funds or emotions or info spurting. Whatever keeps him alive. He's a creature of expedience, his behavior tailored to the situation, and to the individuals in his periphery -- colors shifting and personas dappling like a chameleon's. He might be wearing a mask right now. He might not be. ]
[ The point is that Hei's spent a long time switching faces and identities. There's a deep wariness at the idea of being himself. Of letting that self -- so frayed and shriveled -- form real attachments with real people. He'd tell himself, There's a first time for everything. But BK201 doesn't function on the basis of cliches. (Still, once upon a time, he'd never imagined he'd function with teammates, either.) ]
[ He quirks an eyebrow when Pavel discards the cup. ] I'll take that as a compliment, then. [ One more thing Hei doesn't believe in -- Compliments. But his tone is dry rather than barbed. Why shouldn't it be, really? This is a party; not a stakeout. No reason for Hei's seeming amiability to invert into knives and venom. ]
[ (Nothing, at the end of the day, is without a purpose.) ]
no subject
[ The point is that Hei's spent a long time switching faces and identities. There's a deep wariness at the idea of being himself. Of letting that self -- so frayed and shriveled -- form real attachments with real people. He'd tell himself, There's a first time for everything. But BK201 doesn't function on the basis of cliches. (Still, once upon a time, he'd never imagined he'd function with teammates, either.) ]
[ He quirks an eyebrow when Pavel discards the cup. ] I'll take that as a compliment, then. [ One more thing Hei doesn't believe in -- Compliments. But his tone is dry rather than barbed. Why shouldn't it be, really? This is a party; not a stakeout. No reason for Hei's seeming amiability to invert into knives and venom. ]
[ (Nothing, at the end of the day, is without a purpose.) ]