Two Jobs and Trouble From Both

[Meadowlark]

"I dun remember sayin' I was doin' it for fun." Ricky retorted, readjusting his hat.

[amanika]

Taradan shook his head, fighting a little internally not to get cross with Ricky again, "If you're gonna be smart with me, forget it, you're on your own."

[Meadowlark]

"Sorry. What were you gonna say?"

[amanika]

Taradan raised an eyebrow, "Somethin' about why I waste my time attemptin' t'get you ta' listen to me?" a pause, "Speakin' of listening, what's said on this walk stays on this walk, between us, you don' go mouthin' it off t'anyone else. You'll just haveta' trust me on this for now, once you know then you'll understand, but if y'want me ta' tell you, you keep it to yourself, got it?"

[Meadowlark]

"Got it." He nodded once.

[amanika]

Taradan nodded, satisfied that his brother would keep his word. "It's a messy game y'seem determined ta' get involved with," he began, "an' believe me when I say I know. This ain't stuff I've heard, I'm speakin' from experience. Bin' involved in gang stuff for a couple years now." he glanced back at Ricky to see if the kit was starting to get the picture, he wasn's sure how much detail he was prepared to go into.

[Meadowlark]

Ricky looked at his older brother for a long minute. "I'm jus' runnin' messages. That's all. It ain't nothin' illegal." He said, quietly.

[amanika]

"An' when I started I was just helpin' out a friend. One off job, bit of extra money." Taradan said shortly, "If they see you're useful to 'em, then once they've got their claws inta' you they don' let go easy, especially not when y'start knowin' stuff they're scared y'might blab, no matter how insignificant you think it might be." he sighed, "Are you startin' t'see where I'm comin' from here?"

[Meadowlark]

The kit nodded a bit. "Yeah. I just...I ain't bringin' in enough sellin' papes and I ain't got time during the day t' do somethin' else."

[amanika]

"You probably got more time than y'think." Taradan told him, "But I'll level with you, alright. There's money in this, but you gotta be smart about it, you gotta keep yourself from bein' screwed over, an' try ta' keep em sweet so they got no leverage on you, or at least no cause ta' use it. An' you gotta be careful about which side you pick."

[Meadowlark]

Ricky cocked his head on one side. "What d'ya think I should do then?"

[amanika]

Taradan shook his head, "I ain't gonna tell you what ta' do no more. You can figure that bit out by yourself, you're smart, mebbe too smart half the time, but I think you got enough of a brain in there, providin' y'start using it ta' keep yourself outta trouble instead of gettin' into it. I'll tell you what I know, but it's up ta' you what y'decide ta' do with it. Though I can given you one mighty big suggestion, stay away from Jones." Taradan shifted a little, doing his best not to get angry as Coricopat's words flashed through his head again.

"Like I said before, this is about pickin' sides, if you're gonna choose one, we'd be better off keepin' it in the family."

[Meadowlark]

Ricky shifted a bit nervously at that, but nodded. "I'll think 'bout it."

[amanika]

Taradan sighed, "I ain't tellin' you this just because I don't like Jones. I work f'one of his rivals. So y'see how this is gonna become a problem. My boss alredy knows one o'my brothers was seen hangin' around The Palace, an' I don't want you caught in no crossfire," a pause, "or used if they decide I've done somethin' they don't like."

[Meadowlark]

Ricky scratched at his left ear, it was a habit he'd had for years when he wasn't quite sure what to think of something. "I'll be careful, but 'til I find somethin' else I gotta keep workin'."