Belloq chose...poorly

[archeologue]

Who: Tuco and Belloq, Niko and Belloq, Una and Belloq, and open to others as desired
What: Threads of Belloq's bad choices coming back to haunt him. All threads of comeuppance are welcome here.
When: First thread after this thread with Tuco when Belloq was announcing Niko's "death." All other threads after Niko returns alive and well.
Where: All around Blackway.
Notes & Warnings: Swearing. Probably much swearing. Threats of violence. Others tba.

Comments

[archeologue]

[Belloq had packed a light bag and was hoping to slip out of town unnoticed before anyone could find him. He knows just enough about Niko's history to be very very afraid. Betrayal always makes enemies; he's used to that. But in the past they were typically rival archaeologists, academics. None before were so dangerous as Niko Bellic.

He should have known that it wouldn't be so easy to evade a professional guide and tracker. At the sound of Niko's sharp Slavic accent, he starts to run, on instinct, like a fox running from the snapping of the hounds. But only a few steps into his flight, logic kicks in and he thinks the better of it. He couldn't evade Niko and he certainly won't be able to out run him. But, perhaps, if he's very very careful and very very lucky, he might be able to reason with him.

Belloq drops his bag and slowly turns around, his hands raised in the universal gesture of surrender.]

Niko. You have every right to be angry, but you wouldn't kill an unarmed man on a public street, would you?

[vengeance_driven]

Do you think I haven't before?!

[He runs over, racing suddenly, grabs Belloq by the collar and wrenches him to the ground. His fingers are tight in the fabric, nigh on choking him. Yes, there's a couple of people ducking back- this end of town rarely gets as fierce as the far reaches.]

[But this street is sparsely populated, and he's done worse with more people around.] Do you honestly think that I haven't shot down a man with his wife standing right beside of him? Do you think that I haven't shot old neighbors, friends turned enemies during a civil war?! What right do you have to say what I would or wouldn't do, ah?! You traitorous fuck.

[His knuckles are hurting. His expression, actually starting to look as wounded as he feels. He just got this life. Does he want to do this? Does he want to throw it away?]

[He stops himself from pulling his gun. It's a miracle, but he does, and he throws Belloq back onto the street.]

I am not that man anymore. You're right. I made a promise to myself. [Then, another thought occurs to him. And he points at himself.] I made a promise to myself that things would be different here.

[But his vow is only his own.]

[archeologue]

[Belloq coughs and retches and grunts in surprised pain as his knees hit the ground hard. He thinks he might have made a poor choice here. And what an ignominious way to die, not on a battlefield, not during an archaeological adventure, but killed on the street by a friend he'd betrayed. The artifact he'd double-crossed Niko for wasn't even real, the Orions would soon be crying for his head, despite having done what they'd asked, thinking he stole a sword that doesn't exist. What a bloody waste.

He keeps his gaze to the ground and his shoulders low as Niko vents his fury. And when Niko throws him to the ground again, he stays there.]

I have always thought that you were a better man than your past suggested, Niko.

[vengeance_driven]

I would have always been a good friend, good man or not.

[He takes a step back, putting some space between him and Belloq. He's sure that, with Linda and Boone having been there, patrol knows he won't be in the best of moods. That if the call has gone out by one of these shop keepers, he should be expecting company soon.]

I would have helped save you from them. I would have fought beside you. I would go to hell and back to save a friend, Belloq. And you thought that this was worth getting rid of.

[The choice between friend and money is one Niko's had to make before, and he doesn't regret his choice. If he doesn't see to it that he regrets this, well... then other people will.] Just fuck off. Go! And know your fucking sword is for the museum. I didn't want the piece of shit. [He's figured out that there was only supposed to be one sword. He doesn't know what went wrong, he just knows one thing. Diamonds are nothing but trouble.]

[thumbsdown]

[Sure enough, Boone shows up in time to see Belloq on the ground with Niko stood over him. If he had his way, he would have let Niko kill him. He's here as part of patrol, though. Kay specifically sent him to stop his friend from doing something he might regret later. That means he has to stop Niko, whether he likes it or not. Of course, he doesn't know that Niko has already decided Belloq isn't worth it.]

Niko!

[He doesn't have to raise his voice much. It carries pretty well. As he gets closer he throws Belloq a disgusted look. Sure, he's stopping Niko from killing him, but he's not bothering to hide his contempt for the traitor who tried to kill his friend.]

[archeologue]

[Belloq relaxes slightly as he sees patrol approaching. Jail may not be pleasurable, but it's a far cry better than dying. He dares to stand back up now, and speak back.]

I'm sorry, Niko, but I trust only myself. You say you would help me, and perhaps you even mean it, but I see only the Orions killing you and then me, or you leave on assignment and the Orions kill me. Vows to fight as brothers-in-arms mean shit when the people who make you promises die all around you.

[He thinks of the Great War, the dead comrades, and his own promise to himself not to rely on another, to make his own way in the world.]

[vengeance_driven]

I trusted you. Even having been betrayed as I have been before, I trusted you. I am not so easilly killed, but I have a guess that you will be an easier target than me. [The expression on his face is brutal, merciless. Somehow even with the hard features, he's always shown him fondness before, except for pondering on the state of America. Right now, America doesn't even seem so bad.]

Do as I say. Fuck off Belloq. I am done with you. I am not pressing charges. I'm done. Go get fucked by the green assholes.

[He turns from Belloq, leaving him there to head in Boone's direction.]

It's okay, Boone. I'm done.

[thumbsdown]

[Boone only manages to catch that Niko isn't pressing charges, and he looks confused as Niko turns to come towards him. He points to Belloq.]

No. You. Stay there.

[There couldn't have been any more venom in the words he spoke to Belloq. He looks back to Niko, but he's ready to react if Belloq tries to run.]

He left you in there to die. You're gonna let him get away with it?

Skipping a tag since it feels natural to reply here.

[vengeance_driven]

He's not going to care, Boone. I can't get rid of him, not if I want to keep a decent life for myself. I just want him gone, and he's going.

Either way, I have been walked on and I don't want to go through any more trouble for him than I have already been through. [He goes closer to Boone, and the angry look ebbs slowly.]

I just want to be somewhere safe for a little while. He doesn't care about what he did. He's not sorry. Let's just go.

[thumbsdown]

[He stares at Niko for a moment, concern showing even through the anger on his face. Then he suddenly draws his machete, and strides past Niko to grab Belloq by the collar, the edge of the blade pressing at his throat. His voice is low and threatening, and it's obvious he means every word.]

You're gonna stay away from him. Don't give a damn where you go or what you do, but you're not gonna bother him ever again. You do, I'll make you regret it.

[He shoves him back hard, then goes back to Niko.]

Come on. Let's get outta here.

[archeologue]

[He raises his hands again, trying to draw away from the knife edge at his throat. In that moment he has no doubt that Boone would carry through with his threat, security personnel or not.]

I understand.

[vengeance_driven]

[Niko has the passing thought that, if Pas had seen Niko shove Belloq around, he would have killed him right there. It seems like a missed opportunity, but he didn't want that burden to fall on his hound.]

[He doesn't say anything else, just leaves to follow Boone, but even despite his rage a once confident man is fading. It's obvious that Belloq doesn't care, no more than Rascalov or Brevic did. If he ever was Niko's friend, Niko can't tell.]