After 'borrowing' another scroll from his boss, Cinder Fall's, office Roman decided to get a head start on the next 'nefarious plan'. Well, by a head start that meant breakfast. Blearily he headed to the kitchen, muttering along the way about the unfairness of life. "Typical," he growled, opening the door to the freezer. "While they're all living it up in some inn or something while they recruit their little lackeys, with their food cooked for them and multiple bathrooms, we're stuck here eating…" He paused as he stared into the freezer. "…Ice cream apparently. What happened to those toaster waffles I put in here?" He then went over to the fridge. It was empty. The cupboards. Empty. Even the trash can was empty. Although mentally repulsed at himself for even looking in the trashcan, Roman's mind drifted back to his stomach. "Not everyone can eat ice cream first thing in the morning, Neo," he moaned despite the fact that the bed-hogging, food-replacing saboteur was fast asleep. Probably dreaming of defeating a rival without being interrupted by a dog he reasoned. Eventually giving in to the call of his stomach, he retrieved an open carton of ice cream from the freezer and set it out on the side to defrost. Then he slumped down at the kitchen table and lit a cigar. And waited. Eventually, there was a yawn from the other room. Then a slump as something fell out of bed. Then some crashing as something, nay someone, knocked over the cane which had been neatly propped against the doorway the night before. Roman held his breath as Neo stumbled into the room. She waved a cheery hello to him, apparently oblivious to the dark circles under his eyes, and surveyed the kitchen. Her eyes widened when she saw the ice cream and she picked it up, somehow magically summoning two bowls and spoons from the recesses of the massive sweater she was wearing. These she plonked down in front of Roman, as she bustled cheerily around scooping three different flavors of ice cream into each receiving vessel. Roman stubbed out his cigar in the ash tray and peered into his own bowl. "Neapolitan…" he observed, prodding it with his spoon. "How appropriate." Neo grinned, mis-reading his tone and plonked herself down opposite of him. The long sleeves of her sweater caught the ash tray, sweeping it to the floor. Almost absent-mindedly, Roman leant out of his chair and caught it before it could hit the floor. Neo applauded.
"All I'm saying is…" he continued, jabbing the spoon into the frozen treat. "…all I'm saying is that we should at least get a pay raise for this. I mean, holding down the fort and all that while they're off…doing whatever they're doing. Why can't we assist Cinder in one of her stupid nefarious plans? If anything, we're more capable than Emerald and… what's the other one's name? Jupiter? Pluto?"
Neo held up a finger, indicating for him to stop talking. She pushed her chair back and walked over to the countertop. Roman craned his neck to see what she was doing. Neo removed a white board and pen, which had been handily lying there, and sat back down again. The pen squeaked as she jotted something down. Then she turned the board so he could see.
It's not Pluto, it's Mercury.
And the reason is that you have a criminal record and are easily recognizable and frankly, Cinder doesn't trust me.
"I can see why," muttered Roman under his breath. Neo threw the pen at him. He caught it in one hand and threw it back. "All I'm saying is…"
We need a pay raise?
He pushed the white board down. "No, I've already said that. But really I should be running this operation. It should be me. I get along well enough with the White Fang. I have the experience. I have the criminal record. I have the terrifying partner. I would've destroyed Ruby-red-hooded-Rose when I first met her if it wasn't for that Glynda Goody-two-shoes huntress. I'm Roman Torchwick! Vale's most wanted! People tremble at the sound of my name! I'd be ruling all of Remnant by now if it weren't for…"
Neo coughed and held up her white board.
You're monolouging again. That will get you killed some day.
Roman sighed. "Shut up and eat your ice cream Neo."
