InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "What if god was one of us?"

Cory Guevera | Logan Cale (openwindow) wrote in thereincarnates,
@ 2014-10-08 19:55:00

Entry tags:

!au, !doppelganger, cory guevera, dustin guevera

Who: Cory and Dustin Guevera
What: A most profitable exchange.
When: Wednesday, October 8th, evening.
Where: Cory's apartment.
Rating: Probably G

Before he'd gained a wizard for a brother, Cory had been skeptical of magic - outside of whatever strange twist of fate that had made him a reincarnate, which he maintained could still be explained, somehow, by science. That was before he'd fully realized exactly how profitable magic could be, in the right hands. Now, maybe his brother's hands weren't technically the best for the job, but when Cory stepped in to provide some fraternal guidance, he could usually turn Dustin in the right direction to make some money with this talent of his.

They'd made this little exchange before; Dustin helped him acquire some information that he couldn't get his hands on through normal means, and Cory provided some worthwhile compensation for his efforts. Usually it was money, but sometimes it was other information that Dustin was having trouble acquiring, or a favor that Cory could wiggle out of one of his other customers. Money made the world go 'round, but information was really the only currency truly worth investing in.

As usual, Cory's office was a mess. What did you expect? With as much information as he had crossing the wires daily, he didn't exactly have time to keep things neat and tidy. He could find things, usually, and that was what was important. Except, of course, for the rare occasions that he had an actual in-person meeting, and that person needed a place to sit. He shoved a stack of papers onto the floor with a shrug. Good enough. Dustin should be used to it by now, anyway.

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ihavemagic
2014-10-09 03:04 am UTC (link)

Dustin wasn't a very social person. He did his work, interacted with people when he absolutely had to, and then went back to hiding out in his apartment with his books, herbs, and potions. People, he'd decided, just weren't worth the hassle. He was happier working on his magic--and considering how good he was at it, it was worth it to spend lavish amounts of times engulfed in the darker arts.

Every once in a while he was enticed out of his self-imposed exile by his brother, one of the only people whose company he gave a shit about. And really, that was mostly motivated by the money he was likely to get by helping Cory out. That money paid his bills better than the potions he sold on the black market. It was amazing what people paid for an untraceable poison these days.

"'Lo," Dustin muttered, entering the apartment with a wave of his hand to open the door. His face was buried in a book on necromancy, his hair combed neatly to the side as he made his way over to flop in his usual seat. Dustin was dressed elegantly in a button-up with a sweater vest over it, the epitome of a successful nerd despite the fact he dealt with the dark arts on a daily basis.

"Money?" Dustin grumped to Cory, finally dropping the book to his lap to get a good look at his brother. He wasn't one for long sentences or talking in general, but unfortunately you didn't get paid that way. The file containing the information Cory had requested was in his other hand, and he slid it onto the desk to his brother's side. "I'm willing to take half price if you make me dinner. I'm not picky."

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openwindow
2014-10-11 03:33 am UTC (link)

Before he decided either way, Cory had to make sure that the information his brother provided was worth it. He opened the file, sorting through the papers inside in silence. A haphazard glance told him that it was what he'd asked for, and looked to be worth every penny, though he'd have to go through it in greater detail later to make sure that he wasn't giving the client more than what he'd paid for. Any extras, he could glean out and hold over the man's head, see what else he could extort from him. His brother didn't need to know or see any of the profits from that, however. That was just good business.

He took a moment to consider the effort of feeding his brother dinner against paying out extra, then decided that the money he'd save would be worthwhile. "I have something frozen, I think. If you really aren't picky." Cory didn't cook often, but he could manage dumping a frozen premade meal into a skillet and letting it heat until it was edible. With a satisfied nod, he closed the file and shoved it aside. It would probably get lost, but he'd sort it out later.

Without waiting for Dustin (he'd come, eventually, since there was going to be food), he made his way to the kitchen and dragged out a skillet. It was dusty with disuse, so he rinsed it quickly in the sink and grabbed out the meal, lost in thought as he started to cook.

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ihavemagic
2014-10-13 04:22 am UTC (link)

Dustin snorted. He'd never been picky about food in his life, could never afford to be, not when he hadn't been making much money. His poisons and magic made him enough to survive, of course, but considering he was an enemy of Camelot? He couldn't really just go traipsing into a store to buy whatever he wanted. It was partially why he was practically begging for food from his brother.

"I like frozen stuff," Dustin shrugged. If he didn't like it he could always use magic to change it into something better. Unfortunately he was limited by having items in order to create better items, but that was no bother. Give him a frozen dinner? He'll turn it into a feast. And if he likes you, it won't even be poisoned.

"Hey, what'd you need that information for anyway?" Dustin asked curiously, following behind his brother like an obedient puppy before he hopped up to sit on the counter. His legs swung back and forth the way a child's might, the heels hitting against the cabinet. "That's taking too long," He added a moment later, waving his hand to cook it instantly, and then again to make it something more appetizing. In this case, a pizza. And maybe he'd share.

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openwindow
2014-10-13 07:37 am UTC (link)

"Of course you do." Cory cared for his brother, he supposed, but he never could find it in himself to respect his taste. It was just so... bad. In everything, really, but especially in food. The frozen hunks of sauce sizzled as they hit the pan, and he stirred with a plastic spoon that was warped from the times he'd accidentally left it laying across a burner when something caught his attention and he'd wandered off. It was really a wonder he can't caught his kitchen on fire. More often.

He didn't know why Dustin would even inquire about the information. "You know I can't tell you..." And then the food was done in an instant, and then a pizza in his skillet, and he sighed and turned the burner off. "If you'd wanted pizza, I could have saved us both the trouble and ordered a pizza." And Dustin would be sharing, since he'd turned one of the last bits of food in the house into pizza instead.

Rolling his eyes, he got out plates and the pizza cutter. "You know I can't tell you what the information is for. Do you have any idea how much that would decrease its value?" Dustin hadn't don't anything for him that warranted that much of a bonus. Of course, if he really wanted to know... Cory was sure he could find them a decent trade, one that would lead to Cory coming out ahead and Dustin having no idea he'd been used.

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