[ takeshi kovacs remains as he always is — himself first and foremost. even in scorpion's bend, he does minimal in putting up an alias, keeping his own name as it is and involving himself in a career path that isn't much different than he'd been doing before this whole orb business had started in the first place (though it definitely included less saving domesticated animals from wandering around alone in the desert and a lot more aggressive use of his combat skills).

even now, slumped beneath the table with xichen (or tim, rather), with the slur in his speech and the heavy weight in his body from the excess drinking, it wouldn't be the first time he's gotten himself into such a state, typically the result of too much of — everything. ]

Who'd get tired of it? I'm not tired. [ he gives a drunken chuckle, his own back against the thick middle support of the table, thumping his head back against it. ] This is the life, Tim. Good booze, high-end hookers, and not giving a fuck about dealing with anything else. Who wouldn't want this life?

[ well, in reality, he doesn't. but who is he to admit he wants more? definitely not here, not here. ]