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[ She could come up with a bunch of excuses for why she’s avoided making contact with Wash again after that whole… let’s call it the incident, with the fake them. Time, other drama, forgetting, whatever—they’d all be a little bit true, but really, it’s mostly about how goddamned messy and awkward this is gonna be.
She’s pretty sure he’s been avoiding bumping into her in the hallway as much as she’s been avoiding bumping into him, they’re starting from a hell of a baseline of awkwardness here. And that’s before even touching what actually happened that night, where she felt like her worst self and probably looked that way from the outside, too.
So it takes a bit of a nudge from York to convince her she should reach out first, try and see where they actually stand after the incident. ]
so hey uh
scale of 1-10 how likely are you to put a knife to my throat if i came over there or something
[ …look, she never said she was good at starting these kinds of conversations. ]
[ wash has been absolutely reeling in the aftermath. he's incredibly well practiced and looking and sounding like he's entirely okay, so it's a little hard to tell unless he decides to tell you about it, but the emotional fallout and everything else from that whole adventure is something he's still struggling with. he'd maybe killed someone he cared about that he really shouldn't have cared about, and he absolutely did pull a gun on south. he'd gotten up to plenty in his fake-life, but those things still ring the most in his mind.
clearing the air is probably a good idea. wash would've probably gotten around to it eventually, but here they are now. ]
Normally I'd say it's unlikely, but who knows.
[ not comforting. he doesn't mean it as a threat. just for all he knows she could turn up and the city might turn another switch and something terrible might happen all over again. he doesn't trust himself usually, let alone now. ]
But we should probably talk.
clearing the air is probably a good idea. wash would've probably gotten around to it eventually, but here they are now. ]
Normally I'd say it's unlikely, but who knows.
[ not comforting. he doesn't mean it as a threat. just for all he knows she could turn up and the city might turn another switch and something terrible might happen all over again. he doesn't trust himself usually, let alone now. ]
But we should probably talk.
I spoke with Jon, and if you were interested, he has positions open.
He did let me know to bring something up though in case you are uncomfortable with it.
1. Not everyone that works there is human or may have some sort of ability.
2. He has an ability that can compel the truth from you, or just know things - which the latter he has less control over. It's a proximity thing, and we're not usually in that close proximity with him.
I can't say I've run into any issues with him over it, and I wasn't aware of them until I brought York over to meet with him.
He did let me know to bring something up though in case you are uncomfortable with it.
1. Not everyone that works there is human or may have some sort of ability.
2. He has an ability that can compel the truth from you, or just know things - which the latter he has less control over. It's a proximity thing, and we're not usually in that close proximity with him.
I can't say I've run into any issues with him over it, and I wasn't aware of them until I brought York over to meet with him.
There's a lot of non-human going on in this place, isn't there.
[ not like he has an issue. it's just, you know. weird. non-human in their world meant alien, more or less. ]
It seems like kind of a big thing to not warn people about. I'm glad I'm getting a warning now, don't get me wrong, but how long have you been working for the guy?
[ not like he has an issue. it's just, you know. weird. non-human in their world meant alien, more or less. ]
It seems like kind of a big thing to not warn people about. I'm glad I'm getting a warning now, don't get me wrong, but how long have you been working for the guy?
[ North isn't in the Up on accident today. He's got various errands to run but the thing at the top of his list is tracking down Wash and talking to him about the memory he saw. He's concerned about Wash's well-being, even though he knows it's been some time since the implantation of Epsilon messed with his head.
He approaches Wash's door and knocks. He doesn't know if Wash is home, but he also didn't know if he'd get any kind of response if he texted first. ]
He approaches Wash's door and knocks. He doesn't know if Wash is home, but he also didn't know if he'd get any kind of response if he texted first. ]
[ he would've gotten a response, but definitely some dodging around actually seeing him in person. showing up is probably the best way. he doesn't exactly get visitors, though, and hearing the knock at the door he's wary, uncertain. he's half-convinced it'll be someone he knew or pissed off or something during their fake-lives, showing up to confront him or talk or something else.
what he actually gets isn't far from that, but he's still surprised when he opens the door. wash clearly looks -- tired, like he's been getting even less sleep than he usually does, but he's friendly enough if a little uncertain. ]
A -- [ andrew. he almost says andrew. but he catches it quickly enough. ] -- North. Hey.
[ uhh. was he maybe looking for south? awkward pause, before he steps back, gestures him inside. ]
This just a social call?
what he actually gets isn't far from that, but he's still surprised when he opens the door. wash clearly looks -- tired, like he's been getting even less sleep than he usually does, but he's friendly enough if a little uncertain. ]
A -- [ andrew. he almost says andrew. but he catches it quickly enough. ] -- North. Hey.
[ uhh. was he maybe looking for south? awkward pause, before he steps back, gestures him inside. ]
This just a social call?
north knows you killed me now
sorry. i let it slip i died and he wouldn't let it go until i told him
not sure what he's gonna do now
[ The message might read a little stilted and that's because it is, she hasn't got enough energy left after where that conversation went to put any of her usual personality into it. But Wash needs the warning, so she's sending it now as she makes her way back to the building even though she's drained as fuck and kind of wishes she could sleep for the next, oh, decade or so. ]
[ well. that sure wasn't what he was expecting to read.
north realizing the truth of it had been a quiet, creeping fear at the back of his mind. someone would tell him eventually or somehow it'd slip. he'd hoped naively to maybe be the one to break the news, manage to do it in some way that might -- control it better, but since arriving here a thousand things have happened that have caught his attention. reaching this kind of more-awkward-than-uneasy stalemate with south had made it a bit easier to think that it wouldn't be a problem for a while, too. and yet. ]
Ah.
That's not good.
[ welp. ]
north realizing the truth of it had been a quiet, creeping fear at the back of his mind. someone would tell him eventually or somehow it'd slip. he'd hoped naively to maybe be the one to break the news, manage to do it in some way that might -- control it better, but since arriving here a thousand things have happened that have caught his attention. reaching this kind of more-awkward-than-uneasy stalemate with south had made it a bit easier to think that it wouldn't be a problem for a while, too. and yet. ]
Ah.
That's not good.
[ welp. ]
[ South never can catch a break, can she. Less than a month after North vanishes, and she wakes up to a dead silent apartment. The bed in the room for subs slept in but empty. No signs of someone having made breakfast, the shower dry. She doesn't call it immediately; she doesn't control anything Carolina does with her life, that's the point of this contract.
She could be out doing things, that could be why she isn't answering the message she sends. South doesn't want to act weird, come across clingy, so she only sends the one. As the day goes on, it becomes clear Carolina's gone. And South knows there's other people that should know. ]
carolina's vanished
figured you'd wanna know asap, y'know, considering
waited to see if she was just busy or something but it's the same as before w/ north. no sign
[ north vanishing abruptly had been -- strange. sad, but mostly a strange kind of emptiness, for him. after all, it's less of a loss and a return to normalcy, a sense of guilt for not feeling the mourning as much as he thinks he should. a reminder that for the strange fortunes that have dropped on them here, with people being back from the dead . . . anything can happen. he'd been concerned about south, but especially since carolina had moved in next door, honestly, he'd just decided that maybe he wasn't the right person to even try to offer help to south. carolina could take care of it.
he'd still checked in, just because they're all still freelancers and he's all too aware that feelings are not their strongsuit. but time and space is what he thought south probably needed, and carolina would be there to help when she needed it.
when he sees the message, he rereads it once or twice, just to make sure he isn't misreading, and he feels his stomach drop. he spends far too long just staring at the device, and it's a while later before he manages to start forcing himself to type out a reply. he starts and deletes a few times. are you sure? she couldn't be elsewhere? but no, vanishing without a trace is pretty unmistakable, and south would know what that was like, since her own brother had vanished not that long ago, and.
right. ]
Thanks for telling me.
[ a pause, as if he's still considering if this is a good idea, before eventually. ]
You up for a spar?
he'd still checked in, just because they're all still freelancers and he's all too aware that feelings are not their strongsuit. but time and space is what he thought south probably needed, and carolina would be there to help when she needed it.
when he sees the message, he rereads it once or twice, just to make sure he isn't misreading, and he feels his stomach drop. he spends far too long just staring at the device, and it's a while later before he manages to start forcing himself to type out a reply. he starts and deletes a few times. are you sure? she couldn't be elsewhere? but no, vanishing without a trace is pretty unmistakable, and south would know what that was like, since her own brother had vanished not that long ago, and.
right. ]
Thanks for telling me.
[ a pause, as if he's still considering if this is a good idea, before eventually. ]
You up for a spar?
[There's still snow on the ground outside, and Dick sweeps a significant scatter of it through the door with him on the tails of his coat. It's a decent coat, cashmere, a little worn at the neck - a small signifier of a man who understands quality but doesn't give luxury the same kind of consideration. He looks somehow slighter than he should under the bulk of coat, sweater, scarf, hat, all of it leaving no way to tell how deeply cut with muscle the narrow body beneath may be.
He looks his age like this. There's a difference, too, in how he moves. The man in the other world wasn't born and raised an acrobat and didn't carry himself with the same dancer's grace. He's more pliable now, in assorted ways.
And he's looking for Wash, fully expecting to find him already at a table. It's what he'd do in a situation he wanted to keep the upper hand in - he'd be the one with his claim already staked, rather than bursting through the door with a smile.
And - bingo. Dick unwinds his scarf as he heads that way, careful and casual enough not to show the way something in his chest knits tight.]
If you write me a note, I can buy you a drink.
He looks his age like this. There's a difference, too, in how he moves. The man in the other world wasn't born and raised an acrobat and didn't carry himself with the same dancer's grace. He's more pliable now, in assorted ways.
And he's looking for Wash, fully expecting to find him already at a table. It's what he'd do in a situation he wanted to keep the upper hand in - he'd be the one with his claim already staked, rather than bursting through the door with a smile.
And - bingo. Dick unwinds his scarf as he heads that way, careful and casual enough not to show the way something in his chest knits tight.]
If you write me a note, I can buy you a drink.
[ There's a lot about Wash that would seem very similar to what dick would remember from their other-lives. He dresses plainly, pragmatic and utilitarian, and it wouldn't be hard to pin him as some kind of soldier who still isn't particularly comfortable in environments that are so completely civilian. He's picked out a table that's quiet and private enough to have actual conversation, but not so tucked away that the safety of being in a public space is all but gone, arrived early to look around and settle in, hanging his coat off the back of his chair.
He recognizes Dick the moment he catches sight of him, when he first steps inside the cafe. He's wearing enough that he can't make out his build, but Wash remembers perfectly: it may have been months ago but being able to picture him in his minds eye and remember what his build would be like under that heavy coat is enough to make something whisper through him. He moves differently, too, though wash doesn't quite know why. Lighter on his feet, with a certain fluidity.
Wash looks up, the corner of his mouth quirking upward slightly in a bit of a smile. ]
My treat today, Richard. Take it as an apology for how long it's been. [ he gestures with a tip of his head. ] Sit down.
[ A faint echo of a memory flickers in front of his eyes: while sometimes they met in less savory places, sometimes it was an office. He'd ask him to sit, ask him why he was here, and then they went from there. Wash blinks it away. They're not unpleasant memories, he does want to get to know this person in front of him, now. ]
He recognizes Dick the moment he catches sight of him, when he first steps inside the cafe. He's wearing enough that he can't make out his build, but Wash remembers perfectly: it may have been months ago but being able to picture him in his minds eye and remember what his build would be like under that heavy coat is enough to make something whisper through him. He moves differently, too, though wash doesn't quite know why. Lighter on his feet, with a certain fluidity.
Wash looks up, the corner of his mouth quirking upward slightly in a bit of a smile. ]
My treat today, Richard. Take it as an apology for how long it's been. [ he gestures with a tip of his head. ] Sit down.
[ A faint echo of a memory flickers in front of his eyes: while sometimes they met in less savory places, sometimes it was an office. He'd ask him to sit, ask him why he was here, and then they went from there. Wash blinks it away. They're not unpleasant memories, he does want to get to know this person in front of him, now. ]
MEET HOPE. YOU TWO SHOULD TALK ABOUT ROUGH SEX!
[ In rapid succession: ]
MEET SOUTH, YOU TWO SHOULD TALK ABOUT SHIBARI!
MEET SOUTH, YOU TWO SHOULD TALK ABOUT BRAT TAMING!
MEET SOUTH, YOU TWO SHOULD TALK ABOUT HATE SEX!
[ South is going to fucking die, because clearly this system hates her specifically. ]
MEET CAITLIN SNOW! YOU TWO SHOULD TALK ABOUT BITING/MARKING!
[ a series of texts over the two months wash is unconscious ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
collateraldamaging
2022-07-03 07:31 pm (UTC)(link)
Thank you again for all your help, Trixx seems to be settling very well.
Would you like to come by for a visit? I recall offering to expand your culinary horizons, if you're still interested. Just let me know if there's anything you specifically don't like.
Would you like to come by for a visit? I recall offering to expand your culinary horizons, if you're still interested. Just let me know if there's anything you specifically don't like.
Wash? Is everything alright?
[ a week or so later, after the next orientation ]
collateraldamaging
- 2022-07-03 19:39 (UTC) - Expand[ every monday afterwards until arrivals on june 20th ]
collateraldamaging
- 2022-07-03 19:58 (UTC) - Expand[ The Monday after they return from Insincerity, Wash gets a text from Val with an image attached. ]
heads up
i knocked some guy around recently
fucked him up p good but ftr i didn't kill him
( could have killed him, didn't. got fucked up pretty good in return, too, but carver's mistake was not shoving a blade into his temple or throat or gut when he had felix on his back. )
pissed off at least one of his buddies but i ain't sweating that shit
just wanted you to know
in case i go missing for a bit
i don't want you to do shit if that happens
if he gets my number, he gets my number, it's all gucci
i knocked some guy around recently
fucked him up p good but ftr i didn't kill him
( could have killed him, didn't. got fucked up pretty good in return, too, but carver's mistake was not shoving a blade into his temple or throat or gut when he had felix on his back. )
pissed off at least one of his buddies but i ain't sweating that shit
just wanted you to know
in case i go missing for a bit
i don't want you to do shit if that happens
if he gets my number, he gets my number, it's all gucci
[ huh. none of that is surprising except for the fact that felix is actually taking the time to tell him about it. which is noteworthy enough to be . . . uniquely concerning. ]
And by missing for a bit you mean, if I get killed.
You get into things like this all the time. What's different about this one?
And by missing for a bit you mean, if I get killed.
You get into things like this all the time. What's different about this one?
[Two or three days after this happens, Washington gets a text from Locus. Your prediction is coming true, Wash, congratulations. You now have a man having an identity crisis in your inbox.]
Agent Washington
You're a soldier. You understand the nature of war.
The need to do what must be done no matter the cost.
Agent Washington
You're a soldier. You understand the nature of war.
The need to do what must be done no matter the cost.
Edited (because we're all paranoid about our secrets here) 2023-01-01 20:59 (UTC)
[ speak of the devil.
wash hasn't been able to keep as close an eye on locus as he normally would have, distracted with a whirlwind of his own. but he had expected locus to come calling eventually -- and still manages to find himself surprised. a delay in response, just like before, but just for him to consider, this time.
this is a familiar thing that locus is coming to him with. but something must have triggered it. ]
Having doubts?
wash hasn't been able to keep as close an eye on locus as he normally would have, distracted with a whirlwind of his own. but he had expected locus to come calling eventually -- and still manages to find himself surprised. a delay in response, just like before, but just for him to consider, this time.
this is a familiar thing that locus is coming to him with. but something must have triggered it. ]
Having doubts?
audio; un: d0min8ingfuck PERMA-ENCRYPTED (not a misfire but during that time hence the un)
greenandgray
2023-01-23 01:00 am (UTC)(link)
[There's half a second where it's debatable whether Locus is about to pull a Felix and say the first thing on his mind. Something along the lines of "I'm going to fucking kill you." But Locus is the calm one. The reasonable one.
Most of the time.
So he takes a deep breath, and he keeps his voice regulated despite the words that come out in a fury. He doesn't even know how accurate his guess is yet. He's still having a conversation with Wash's subordinate but there's a real nagging feeling at the back of his mind that he knows it's true.
And he's pissed.]
How long did you plan on hiding the truth from me, Agent Washington? Did you think it would be a good idea to wait for him to reveal the truth or were the two of you actually dumb enough to try and keep it from me?
Tell me the name of your subordinate. Say it.
Most of the time.
So he takes a deep breath, and he keeps his voice regulated despite the words that come out in a fury. He doesn't even know how accurate his guess is yet. He's still having a conversation with Wash's subordinate but there's a real nagging feeling at the back of his mind that he knows it's true.
And he's pissed.]
How long did you plan on hiding the truth from me, Agent Washington? Did you think it would be a good idea to wait for him to reveal the truth or were the two of you actually dumb enough to try and keep it from me?
Tell me the name of your subordinate. Say it.
[ wash is, if nothing else, incredibly prepared for this moment. he knows what's coming when he hears that draw of breath, the raw anger under the seeming calm of a familiar voice before even reallyhearing the words: the recording is just playing and rolling over him as he immediately fires off a few messages. the problem with being generally over-prepared is that there isnt that much for him left for him to do, now that the moment's actually here. nothing to occupy his thoughts or his hands with ( his apartment's secure, his rig's at the ready, he knows the area ), nothing left to do than to actually deal with it.
for his planning, he still doesn't quite know how he should respond. and he wasn't prepped for this confrontation to come from a "d0min8ingfuck". the silence rests for a few seconds, shorter than one might expect, and his eyes flick briefly to his own jumbled username when he starts to record a response. irritating, but whatever.
he doesn't feel the need to play into those dramatics and say a name, but it does sound like there's absolutely room left for doubt. ]
Wasn't really my responsibility.
[ he sounds calm because he is, even a little casual. he was very braced for the danger this revelation ( and others, to come ) would cause, but he doesn't really regret or feel too bad about it. what obligation did he have to tell locus the truth? none, really. that's all on felix. ]
for his planning, he still doesn't quite know how he should respond. and he wasn't prepped for this confrontation to come from a "d0min8ingfuck". the silence rests for a few seconds, shorter than one might expect, and his eyes flick briefly to his own jumbled username when he starts to record a response. irritating, but whatever.
he doesn't feel the need to play into those dramatics and say a name, but it does sound like there's absolutely room left for doubt. ]
Wasn't really my responsibility.
[ he sounds calm because he is, even a little casual. he was very braced for the danger this revelation ( and others, to come ) would cause, but he doesn't really regret or feel too bad about it. what obligation did he have to tell locus the truth? none, really. that's all on felix. ]
[ sorry south he's been on his own version of a bender and he definitely didn't know about being moved. ]
Realignment.
Sorry. Things kind of got out of hand for a few days. [ he'll address the housing thing, but first; ] It's good to hear from you.
[ cause apparently going home was a big ol april fools and all that. ]
Realignment.
Sorry. Things kind of got out of hand for a few days. [ he'll address the housing thing, but first; ] It's good to hear from you.
[ cause apparently going home was a big ol april fools and all that. ]
Edited 2023-04-15 13:47 (UTC)
Where is Felix?
[Short, simple, demanding.]
[Short, simple, demanding.]
I want to feel your hand around my throat as you fuck me.
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