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[shawt]

SAMEEN@TORNA.ORG

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[shawt]

Like you have?

[ sentiment sounds silly from an arrogant voice. which is why she does them both the favor: ]

Root, where are you?

[flawing]

. . . someone must've told you the city's name by now.

[shawt]

It's a big enough city for people to fight over it.

[ that's irritated, too. there's pain, and anger, and all in all, it's too much feeling to handle at once. ]

And I haven't seen you yet, which probably means we're not pitching for the same team.

[flawing]

[








. . . ]

That depends on your definition of the team.

[shawt]

[ oh my god. ]

You sound pretty roughed up.

Catch a cold?

[flawing]

[ I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU LEFT THAT OPEN FOR ME, YOU ASSHOLE. ]

I just got. . . knocked off my feet a little. But you sound like you had fun.

[shawt]

[ I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU ACTUALLY WENT WITH IT, YOU HOMO. ]

Not really.

[ the phone gets balanced between ear and shoulder as she unravels her bandages and inspects the ugly welts underneath. ]

Apparently the psychopaths in this town are rabid and keep their own magical menagerie.

I don't remember the Mafia being so special.

[flawing]

[ laughter bubbles on her end of the call, surprised and almost edgeless.

well, almost. ]

Just what exactly were you fighting. . . ?

[shawt]

I think it was human.

[ she says, as she pours alcohol over an open wound without wincing all too much. ]

But don't think I haven't noticed you dodging the question.

[flawing]

[ that's gross. use a swab like normal human beings. ]

You've asked a few of them.

[shawt]

You haven't picked my lock.

[flawing]

Is that an invitation?

[shawt]

Just gauging how badly you got bullied.

[ almost amused, which is -- short-lived. ]

Must smart like hell if it's keeping you.

[flawing]

. . . I don't know how far my leash goes.

And honestly, I'd rather not strain it too much just yet.

[shawt]

And I'd rather not have to shoot you.

[flawing]

Now you're trying to be sweet.

[ a breath. ]

Relax. I'm basically just -- local tech support.

[shawt]

[ a pause. ]

And the chip?

[flawing]

You know how I feel about surveillance.

[shawt]

I'll keep it in.

[ after a bit of hesitation. ]

As long as you don't keep checking in on me.

[flawing]

[ quiet. ]

You wouldn't want me to lie to you, Sameen.

[shawt]

[ the little silence is more telling than the rest of it.

she would roll her eyes if only it didn't make her headache worse, if only she didn't expect this kind of aftermath.

but root's fine -- and she's still alive, without a hole through her skull, brains splattered on the concrete. she's not asking for very much when she's fine with this kind of playing field, but it's a shame that these things don't last. ]

I'm fine.

[ it's a kind of sigh, an audible frown. ]

You, on the other hand.

[flawing]

I'm going to assume that was the local idea of an initiation.

[ light again, deliberately so. ]

I'm not sure how happy they'll be with the results, if they brought me in to play brute force.

[shawt]

You said you were tech.

[ it translates rather short, almost snappish. ]

[flawing]

It's what I've been doing. That wasn't part of the routine.

[shawt]

. . . Can't you tell them that wasn't in the job description?