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[shawt]

SAMEEN@TORNA.ORG

Comments

[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?

[flawing]

What did they tell you before you came?

[shawt]

Shouldn't they give you a gun if you're sent to do the dirty work.

[flawing]

[





oh. ]

Don't tell me they didn't let you carry your equipment on board. As I remember, you get pretty attached.

[shawt]

Gave me poison and a pistol and called it good.

[ dry. ]

Didn't even bother to stock my fridge.

[flawing]

[ . . .

a terribly thoughtful noise. ]

I guess that's one way to keep you from getting out of hand.

[shawt]

[ with insult: ]

I behave.

[flawing]

It doesn't count if you only keep the handcuffs on while people are still around.

[shawt]

[ a breath. ]

Aren't they just for show these days?

[flawing]

Well, I haven't seen them recently. . .

[shawt]

. . .

Don't get any ideas.

[flawing]

You did mention that they didn't exactly equip you for the job.

[shawt]

Unfortunately the police here aren't well equipped either, if they haven't crashed the party yet.

[flawing]

You know how it is. . . where there's humanity, there's crime. You can't blame a police force for not controlling all base instincts.

[shawt]

I can't, but I can envy their stockpile.

[flawing]

Any names for local quartermasters yet?

[shawt]

You mean you don't already have them.

[flawing]

I told you I've been good.

[shawt]

[ a very poignant pause.

it's the kind of silence that might come from staring at her phone screen too long. ]

[flawing]

And besides, the Vallettas can't be that short on supplies.

[shawt]

[ . . .

well, that answers that question. ]

Couldn't be any worse than what you have to deal with.

Without a gun.

[flawing]

[ like it wasn't obvious??? ]

Unlike you, debugging the local version of Windows 10 doesn't earn that many death threats.

[ . . . ]

Well, not directed at me.

[shawt]

[ the sound of the faucet squeaking, and water rushing as a stove clicks on. ]

War's changed you.