InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "Aren't you the good man"

Much Millerson (muchofamuchness) wrote in nevermore_logs,
@ 2020-05-30 14:33:00

Entry tags:

much the miller's son, oedipus

WHO: Much and Oedipus
WHEN: Saturday late afternoon
WHERE: The Theban Cycle
WHAT: A chance at gainful employment?
WARNINGS: A health and safety nightmare

Much was pretty - like, seventy percent? - sure he wasn't walking into trouble.

A very small part of his brain reminded him that he hadn't thought the Great American Road Trip felt like trouble either, but since this was part of his brain that he wasn't keen on, Much found he could ignore it. Most of the time, when Much went out on his own, he didn't die, therefore he shouldn't need to dwell on it.

It was a lot easier to think this way while walking crowded streets, every shadowy corner lit up in neon, the sun still a few hours from setting though it had long disappeared behind the towering buildings. A lot harder to think this way when he was alone at night.

Still, night would come when night came, and for now he had a new place to explore and a new friend to meet - although, as Much approached the shop, he realised he hadn't asked the man's name. Or, what the job was. He'd thought a bike shop, from the name, and maybe there was a bike in there, hidden behind the patched up ottoman or under the dusty velvet curtains. The curtains were, it was true draped over something that could, potentially, be a bike, but the shop definitely didn't specialise in them. "Hullo," he called out, and his voice seemed to get sucked up by the old lamps and wall hangings and masks. "It's me, the invading Greek army."

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a_freudian_slip
2020-06-03 03:10 am UTC (link)

"Good. Broom is over there. Watch the cat." He said pointing down at the fat calico who was now standing right between Much's legs. "I think she likes you---" And Callie didn't like anyone, much like Oedipus.

"You ever purchased something antique before?" This guy needed to learn the difference between a real gem and a fake. Watches, necklaces, historical documents and signatures, they were always the first thing someone brought in thinking they'd get some fast cash. "I'm not a pawn shop, everyone thinks they can barter and trade or leave their junk outside like a charity."

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	muchofamuchness 2020-06-03 04:21 am UTC (link)
	Giving the cat a smile and taking care with his feet, Much went for the broom as Rex spoke. "I've, uh, acquired antiques before," Much thought he might be shooting himself in the foot here, but figured Rex would find out he used to be a thief eventually. "I know what proper gold feels like, if that's what you mean." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	a_freudian_slip 2020-06-05 03:08 am UTC (link)
	"Do you know the difference in a three-hundred-year-old piece of furniture or a backyard sale with some DIY craft project?" It looked like he might have to give some lessons in how to spot the fake from the real. Oedipus would have been stupid to think he'd get a gem right off the bat, but this greenback looked too terribly hard to train. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	muchofamuchness 2020-06-05 03:23 am UTC (link)
	"I can tell when people are trying to cheat me," Much said, stubborn pride coming through. "I can learn the rest." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

	a_freudian_slip 2020-06-05 03:37 am UTC (link)
	"That's a start," Oedipus said as he shuffled through the box he had pulled out as Much entered the store. He flipped around through some old buttons and some coins. He laid two out on the counter. One was an 1877 Indian Head Penny, worth money, the second a wheat penny worth no more than a few cents. "Tell me which one is worth $500 plus...." (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

muchofamuchness
2020-06-05 10:46 am UTC (link)

Ooh, a test - Much picked up both little coins, letting each lay in the middle of his hand for a moment, looking at each one under the light. He didn't know what he was looking for, specifically, but figured something that cost that much money would feel different. The 1877 coin was older, but that could be a trick; older wasn't necessarily more valuable. Still, there was something about the feathered headdress and the flowing hair on the coin that made him choose it. "That one," he said, pushing it back toward Rex with his finger. He thought about trying to bullshit a real reason, but went with his gut instead. "It's got gravitas."

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a_freudian_slip
2020-06-06 01:02 am UTC (link)

Okay, so the kid was trainable. He had some oomph in how he handled things, that could play to his advantage that could also get him into a lot of trouble, but when did Oedipus really think before acting? He'd already roped him into a job he had no idea what the details were (neither of them did), it was going to be a learn as you go, fly by the seat of your pants kind of gig. That was usually how Oedipus worked.

He held out his hand to give Much a firm shake. "I think you'll do fine." He wasn't some livestock that he was training to perform new tricks, but this didn't seem a bad thing.

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