LOCKED TO viliorate

[sadisticwarfare]

[Profits have been way down in the last three months, and if things keep going this way, they won't last another three. Archer has the papers out in front of him, scouring everything to see where he can make cuts, yet again. He knows no one's going to be pleased, but they're going to have to remove another act. He's been told that cutting people from the circus is like throwing out a family member, but the fact of the matter is that the money he's making won't support everyone. It's not as though Archer is hoarding all the money for himself - though he's not exactly as generous to the others as he could be - but he's never really felt like part of the circus "family". They're the family members, he's the landlord.

Archer twirls his pen between his fingers as he examines the numbers again, finally selecting a couple of sheets with acts that he could possibly cut. He'll have to get Kimbley to look over them before he makes a final decision. Kimbley isn't his partner or his adviser, but Kimbley is his friend, and he'd rather have a second opinion on all this.]

Comments

[sadisticwarfare]

As I said, let me know if you need anything.

[viliorate]

[He doesn't have anything to say at the moment. Thankfully he isn't going to bother Archer, instead he glances around the office.]

Why do you have so many books in here?

[It's a strange question to ask now, but none of the books have ever been brought home.]

[sadisticwarfare]

When I first took control of this business I had no idea how to do anything. I wasn't sure what the first steps were to even keeping a business going, much less how to handle one as odd as this.

[He gestures to the books with a slight wave of his hand.]

I purchased these in the hopes that they would help. Obviously they have; I'm still running this circus.

[viliorate]

[Well, that makes sense!

He's not really sure why Archer needs so many of them, but then again Kimbley hasn't ever had a desire to run a business. Kimbley's gone through his life not being particularly motivated to do anything.

....it's probably good that Archer has given him some direction.]

You're a good business owner.

[sadisticwarfare]

Well, I wouldn't say that. I'm trying to keep this business afloat, but I think we may have to abandon ship someday. Perhaps it would be best to leave the country.

[Things are getting a little unsettling here, after all. He doesn't want to leave and he doesn't want to ditch the circus, but that's because he's not sure how well his skills would transfer to another job. Owning a circus isn't the same as owning a regular business, assuming he could even manage to get his hands on another business in the first place.]

[viliorate]

Where would we go?

[But he knows with how things are headed, leaving is in their best interest. They've managed to keep their relationship a secret, but if the wrong people found out...]

I don't know what work I could do, but I'll think of something.

[sadisticwarfare]

I don't know. It's not something I'm planning on at the moment, but it is something to consider if things get much worse.

[viliorate]

Do you speak any other languages?

[He doesn't think so, but you never know. It's not something they've ever discussed before.]

[sadisticwarfare]

...No. I never got the chance to learn anything else.

[He'll probably have to pick up a book on French or English...]

[viliorate]

[...that would probably help, yeah.]

I know a little English. Enough that I could probably get us somewhere, at least. But I'm not fluent.

[sadisticwarfare]

Ah, do you? That might be enough to get us started, at least. I'll look into getting some books on the subject. Where did you learn English?

[viliorate]

Ah, I... picked it up here and there. It was required in the Academy.

[He probably would be fluent if he actually paid attention...]

[sadisticwarfare]

Really? That's interesting. Was it easy to learn?

[He's never tried learning another language before. It's going to be awful.]

[viliorate]

The grammar is different, but it was easy enough. I'm sure I could pick it up again if I bought a book.

[He'll try teaching Archer!

...this is just going to isolate both of them, but he'll try.]

[sadisticwarfare]

I'll make sure to find some good ones then.

[Archer isn't a good student, so good luck...]

[viliorate]

Let's pick up a couple books after work.

It's not like we need to up and move tomorrow or anything, so it'll give us a chance to decide.

[sadisticwarfare]

Of course. I'd rather not leave if we don't have to, but it's good to be prepared for the worst case scenario.

[viliorate]

Right.

Nothing'll happen, this is just us being prepared.

[Which means something is going to happen.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Well it's not like it can be much worse than Kimbley getting burned, right?

...Right?]

[viliorate]

[Well, having people accuse them of being a couple would be pretty... bad, wouldn't it?

Kimbley being an assistant/secretary is a terrible excuse so most of the workers are probably well aware of them.

They just have to pray the doctor doesn't talk about this.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[It's not like he can do anything. Most of the people working here already know or suspect it, and they don't have any authority over Archer here anyway so there's nothing they can do. Even if the doctor tells his colleagues, there's no proof, so what's there to worry about?]

[viliorate]

[Being circus workers doesn't exactly make them high on the social ladder in the city, so they're probably safe.

...if it does become a problem, they can flee the country!

Right?]

It's getting late. We're not going to be here all night, are we?

[Apparently we're complaining now.]

[sadisticwarfare]

[Of course!]

No, we're not. I should be able to finish the rest of this tomorrow.

[He finally sets his pen down and stretches. Archer gets up and grabs the few things he does need to bring home with him, nodding for Kimbley to join him.]

[viliorate]

[Kimbley's happy to leave.

Having nothing to do all day makes for a very bored man, but at least Archer was spared from having Kimbley constantly complain about how bored he is?

So naturally he follows.]

I'll figure something out before our next show.

[sadisticwarfare]

Don't concern yourself with it. We'll just cut your act, it's not that big of a deal.

[It's unfortunate, but it's not the end of the world.]