They're losing value since he doesn't look after them. [Some of those old tomes are far more high maintenance than any of those three can commit to. A proper humidity controlled environment? Steven touches everything with dirty hands, forget about using gloves or anything else. And since Steven is not using them, Bucky doesn't see the harm.]
You can always buy another one to replace it. Something where it won't matter if he's breeding bookworms in his shelves.
[Steven's not that helpless. Besides, self-destruction is Marc's territory, surely?]
Yeah. He wouldn't even know they're gone. [And not because Bucky is being extra stealthy about it but he knows what Steven would and wouldn't notice. He definitely would notice if his goldfish wasn't fed. But he wouldn't notice if a book disappeared from this shelf or that shelf. Nor did he notice when Marc accidentally defrosted the wrong burger and gave him the Possible Meat instead. These sorts of things are fine, or so Bucky believes.]
I'll give him all the money. Unless you want to deal with that.
[Weird kinda gift, considering Steven would have funded it by himself. All Bucky would have done was fenced them. But it'll probably make the poor guy happy, or bring him some relief at least and he can focus on his books and his TV and everything else.]
[Neither Steven nor Marc think particularly highly of Jake, that's for sure. But he figures Jake knows what they think about him, so there's no need to bring it up.]
Yeah, that's clearly why I came here. [Said flatly without an accompanying eyeroll, but the flat tone conveys the same sarcasm. Whether or not he's eager to die is one thing. If he can choose how he goes, it's not going to be in a room like this or by the hand of somebody talking to Toucan Sam.]
[Of course they don't. He's the big, scary boogie man who keeps hijacking their body. They didn't even care enough to investigate in the Duat. Or maybe they were just too scared to do it.]
Right, c'mon... you want another beer? You're here now. Might as well.
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[... It's not a bad idea. He wonders how tight of a grip Steven actually keeps on some of the ones he never seems to touch.]
He'd still wonder about the cash, and good luck convincing the guy to sell a book. He'll find a reason to hang on.
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You can always buy another one to replace it. Something where it won't matter if he's breeding bookworms in his shelves.
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I got enough shit on my plate. You think you could take'em and sell them?
[He's busy with the killing and keeping Steven from accidentally killing himself.]
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Yeah. He wouldn't even know they're gone. [And not because Bucky is being extra stealthy about it but he knows what Steven would and wouldn't notice. He definitely would notice if his goldfish wasn't fed. But he wouldn't notice if a book disappeared from this shelf or that shelf. Nor did he notice when Marc accidentally defrosted the wrong burger and gave him the Possible Meat instead. These sorts of things are fine, or so Bucky believes.]
I'll give him all the money. Unless you want to deal with that.
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[Self-destruction is definitely Marc's territory, and Jake can't say he's not a little happy to not have to be preventing it all the time.
And he's maybe not too worried about killing Bucky right now when he can be useful. Killing him or beating him up, whichever.]
Just take the money, pay it off for him. He'll think it's a gift, y'know? I'll give you the details.
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As far as assholes go, you're not so bad.
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[There's a grin flashed briefly.
And look, he doesn't have to know about the books. He doesn't need to know where Bucky got the cash from. It'll be fine.]
C'mon, not gonna murder you or anything.
[Probably...]
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Yeah, that's clearly why I came here. [Said flatly without an accompanying eyeroll, but the flat tone conveys the same sarcasm. Whether or not he's eager to die is one thing. If he can choose how he goes, it's not going to be in a room like this or by the hand of somebody talking to Toucan Sam.]
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Right, c'mon... you want another beer? You're here now. Might as well.