![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
The Freelancers were being separated out, but that didn't really change the fact they favored certain places when they actually got time off. Not that there was a lot of that, but the occasional weekend was something of a relief. Put away the armor and try to remember how to be a normal person
Not that their taste in bars didn't mean splitting up either. Penn preferred more quiet places, somewhere he could relax and just enjoy a beer or three, which was why he'd ended up in the current bar.
It wasn't one of the normal hangouts either, but he hadn't been feeling all that social. A half empty beer sat on the table in front of him and there was a plate of food beside it and when someone joined him?
He'd sort of been expecting it. "Decided to ditch the leaderboard?"
Not that their taste in bars didn't mean splitting up either. Penn preferred more quiet places, somewhere he could relax and just enjoy a beer or three, which was why he'd ended up in the current bar.
It wasn't one of the normal hangouts either, but he hadn't been feeling all that social. A half empty beer sat on the table in front of him and there was a plate of food beside it and when someone joined him?
He'd sort of been expecting it. "Decided to ditch the leaderboard?"
"Reggie's in a mood." And when Wyoming's in a mood? Everyone in the top ten gets to deal with it unless they scatter. Carolina's probably holed up with Wash and Maine, the twins somewhere with Connie- Florida does whatever the hell it is he does and York called not it on putting up with that asshole so Florida is probably trying to keep Reggie from getting himself or anyone else killed.
Like he said. Not his problem today.
York's got a beer in hand and half an eye on the door inside- Usually when one of them is kicking up shit whoever's playing babysitter swings through to try and get backup. "I think Utah beat his range score or something."
Like he said. Not his problem today.
York's got a beer in hand and half an eye on the door inside- Usually when one of them is kicking up shit whoever's playing babysitter swings through to try and get backup. "I think Utah beat his range score or something."
"Well, there's always someone better at something." Unless you're Carolina anyway, or at least so far. Penn lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug before taking a bite of his burger.
"If it helps, I haven't seen anyone come through here so you're probably safe." He lifted his beer to his lips and took a drink. "Think the kitchen's still open if you want food too, though."
"If it helps, I haven't seen anyone come through here so you're probably safe." He lifted his beer to his lips and took a drink. "Think the kitchen's still open if you want food too, though."
"That's just it. Utah's terrible at ranged weaponry. So Reggie either fucked up or Utah got lucky but it is not my problem." Utah's hiding with Georgia somewhere and as long as he's safe? Things should be okay. "Nah, I'm good. North and I grabbed burgers before Reggie found out about the score and had a tantrum. I think his mustache puffed up- you know- like a cat?"
"He probably fucked up, somehow. As for the mustache, I wouldn't be surprised if it gained sentience one of these days." So definitely surprised if it doubled in size due to his moods.
"Florida'll calm him down. He's got a gift for handling Wyoming or so I hear anyway."
"Florida'll calm him down. He's got a gift for handling Wyoming or so I hear anyway."
"Handling or handling because I've heard both of those and have money on the second." Just one of many betting pools going around the MOI. What, there's only so much to keep them occupied.
"How've things been for the rest of you? Aiden giving you shit? Director stalking around all disappointed dad face?"
"How've things been for the rest of you? Aiden giving you shit? Director stalking around all disappointed dad face?"
"Does it matter which really? He manages him so nobody else has to." And that was a blessing for everyone, really.
"Decent enough. Price seems more focused on the leaderboard than the rest of us, to be honest and the Director barely acknowledges we exist outside of the sparring room." He finiahed his beer and turned back to his food.
"So you ditched North to come looking for a hiding place?
"Decent enough. Price seems more focused on the leaderboard than the rest of us, to be honest and the Director barely acknowledges we exist outside of the sparring room." He finiahed his beer and turned back to his food.
"So you ditched North to come looking for a hiding place?
"I get five grand if I'm right so it kinda matters." Adjusting for inflation and interest and shit but- yeah. Proof he was right would be nice but...it is damn near impossible to tell which way Florida swings.
Aside from the odd bet, no one really wants to think about it.
"South was six shots in and talking shit. That is not a South I wanna hang around. North'll keep her from getting arrested, probably." And he'll just slide along somewhere nice and quiet with one of the Agents that doesn't actively resent him for doing well.
Aside from the odd bet, no one really wants to think about it.
"South was six shots in and talking shit. That is not a South I wanna hang around. North'll keep her from getting arrested, probably." And he'll just slide along somewhere nice and quiet with one of the Agents that doesn't actively resent him for doing well.
"That's going to be a fun night for him." He tended to steer clear of South anyway. She had a tendency to overreact and that was a headache he didn't need.
"Kind of glad I'm flying under the radar, to be honest. He glanced up when the waitress brought him another beer before opening it.
"You bet 5 grand on whether they're sleeping together or not? Do I want to know what other bets are circulating about relationships in the programs?"
"Kind of glad I'm flying under the radar, to be honest. He glanced up when the waitress brought him another beer before opening it.
"You bet 5 grand on whether they're sleeping together or not? Do I want to know what other bets are circulating about relationships in the programs?"
"You want in you gotta talk to niner. She keeps track." And pays out, holds credits, etc. The Program's personal bookie and smuggler. York is more than a little infatuated and a lot afraid.
"There's a twenty five grand one going 'round about Maine and Wash. It's bullshit but they play it up. I think there's a ten grand one on me and North." He can't keep track. "And a one grand one on Utah and Georgia."
"There's a twenty five grand one going 'round about Maine and Wash. It's bullshit but they play it up. I think there's a ten grand one on me and North." He can't keep track. "And a one grand one on Utah and Georgia."
"Really." It's laughable. "I think South started that one just for the payout."
"I wouldn't even be remotely surprised." Because that sounds like something South would do, honestly. "Because clearly just because we spend time together when we're all stuck on the same ship, we're obviously sleeping together.
It makes no sense."
It makes no sense."
"Well you get a bunch of hot adrenaline junkies together, mix them up with the odd dash of contraband and way too little leave time? I'm surprised more people aren't screwing around." Wouldn't that make the Director's day?
"Valid point." For some of them anyway. Penn pushes his plate away and shifts to his feet, glancing at York for a moment before offering a slight smile.
"But I doubt it applies to everyone." Not that he honestly has idea, but there aren't that many of them. "Besides, if I was going to lay money on you and anyone, it'd probably be Carolina."
"But I doubt it applies to everyone." Not that he honestly has idea, but there aren't that many of them. "Besides, if I was going to lay money on you and anyone, it'd probably be Carolina."
"You and most of the crew." Which...isn't without reason. He teases her enough and kinda is a little fixated and sure they flirt. Kinda. Sorta.
"It's complicated." Fraternization rules and shit.
"It's complicated." Fraternization rules and shit.
The windows shudder with another heavy rumble of thunder overhead. The demon sighed, vaguely content, her wings tucked around her as she enjoyed the view from the shadows. Though they had yet to extend her reach for roaming beyond the apartment building and its local streets, she'd begun to relax once she'd sensed York's aura.
He had returned to the city after his family visit, arriving back a few hours before, though he had yet to rejoin her in the apartment. She was not concerned. No doubt he would have news for her, or perhaps he'd seek pleasure first; sex was good for regulating mana flow, after all, and he'd certainly left town with plenty to spare.
Though he still owed her dinner (yet another, atop the agreed decades) for being a day late. Though delays instigated by ties of blood could not be helped.
He had returned to the city after his family visit, arriving back a few hours before, though he had yet to rejoin her in the apartment. She was not concerned. No doubt he would have news for her, or perhaps he'd seek pleasure first; sex was good for regulating mana flow, after all, and he'd certainly left town with plenty to spare.
Though he still owed her dinner (yet another, atop the agreed decades) for being a day late. Though delays instigated by ties of blood could not be helped.
It had been, all around, a decent trip. How the hell his grandmother didn't catch on that maybe some shit was a little weird with him and that he'd actually been dipping into the magic koolaide is beyond him. Apparently that selective obfuscation charm worked. That's- one not to put on the show, honestly.
Too many ways people could use it to A) break the law or B) hurt people. The strict critera by which he releases shit to the internet. Don't be a dick with magic.
Long drive- stop for takeout because he owes Carolina so many dinners- park, swear under his breath about the rain, etc, etc. "Honey, I'm home!"
Yeah he never gets tired of that.
Too many ways people could use it to A) break the law or B) hurt people. The strict critera by which he releases shit to the internet. Don't be a dick with magic.
Long drive- stop for takeout because he owes Carolina so many dinners- park, swear under his breath about the rain, etc, etc. "Honey, I'm home!"
Yeah he never gets tired of that.
"I am not sweet." But there's a hint of amusement in her voice as she turns around, making no effort to approach and help him with bags or takeout. Though her tail swishes much like a cat as she catches the scent of hot, fresh meat.
"I see you are unharmed, and unmarked by your family. All fared well, then?"
"I see you are unharmed, and unmarked by your family. All fared well, then?"
"Well-" He smirks a little, handing off the bag that's meant for her. Korean style spare ribs, extra hot. Plain ole Shrimp lo-mein for him. "You can be. And yeah it went pretty well. No one really asked about what I was doing, they were just glad I made it out there and wasn't talking to the walls."
She's done her research. She always does. It's that research that's going to get her in trouble (or has gotten her in trouble, there's the possibility), and it's the research that pushes her onward. Leaving home is hard, but necessary.
Also necessary: changing up her identity. At least...at least for the time being. She'd find lurking on some of the darker sections of the net distasteful if not for the fact that she's already done plenty of perfectly illegal hacking into sensitive databases and files. So. Don't really have a leg to stand on, there.
If she's going to get out of here and stay gone, if she's going to get where she needs to get gone to for the sake of her family, then she'll need some adjustments. She's already got on some baggier clothes, boyish in nature, and her hair's cut in a way that reminds her all too much of her brother. Might as well add a pair of unnecessary glasses--and old pair of Matt's he kept as backup. With a pack of essentials hefted on a shoulder, she waits nervously at a designated meeting location for her 'contact'. Man...what a word. Sounds dangerous. Seedy, even. Maybe if she thinks of herself as a spy, it'll take some of the edge off?
Also necessary: changing up her identity. At least...at least for the time being. She'd find lurking on some of the darker sections of the net distasteful if not for the fact that she's already done plenty of perfectly illegal hacking into sensitive databases and files. So. Don't really have a leg to stand on, there.
If she's going to get out of here and stay gone, if she's going to get where she needs to get gone to for the sake of her family, then she'll need some adjustments. She's already got on some baggier clothes, boyish in nature, and her hair's cut in a way that reminds her all too much of her brother. Might as well add a pair of unnecessary glasses--and old pair of Matt's he kept as backup. With a pack of essentials hefted on a shoulder, she waits nervously at a designated meeting location for her 'contact'. Man...what a word. Sounds dangerous. Seedy, even. Maybe if she thinks of herself as a spy, it'll take some of the edge off?
"Hmm. Good." Is she referring to the ribs or the visit? It's initially hard to tell. "Then you will want to maintain all semblance of that normalcy for at least three weeks, if not a month." ..Visit. "They will likely observe you closely, to ensure you weren't faking things for their sake."
Which he was. Just exactly what he was faking isn't going to be what his family expected. She sways close, clapping one hand to his shoulder, before pushing past to fetch a napkin or five. She may not be using cutlery but she's not a savage.
Which he was. Just exactly what he was faking isn't going to be what his family expected. She sways close, clapping one hand to his shoulder, before pushing past to fetch a napkin or five. She may not be using cutlery but she's not a savage.
"I was thinking six weeks." His mother is pretty particular about lunar cycles and shit like this (why did he never notice how weird that was growing up, what the hell) but he didn't trust her to stick to that because he knew she did that shit. "Mom's sneaky. Dad's pretty clueless but Mom? Sneaky. Kept asking if I was seeing anyone or having strange dreams."
Which weirded him out a little but, hey. "There are wetnaps in the bag- I grabbed 'em for you."
Which weirded him out a little but, hey. "There are wetnaps in the bag- I grabbed 'em for you."
Just another identity rewrite. No big. Anonymous emails encrypted (with some pretty good work on the client's part if he did say so himself, he's a little impressed and a lot curious) sent back and forth till they decide on a price, a time, a place. York didn't really know what to expect as he pulls up on his bike, scanning the curb for- well.
Ideally an adult with a lot of money.
In his last email he offered the identifier he'd be wearing, a Bea up leather jacket and a helmet with green trim. The green tracking lights on the bike are kind of extra but hey. Homage to old friends is what one does. Rolling up and seeing no one but a kid? Dude must be late. Fantastic.
Ideally an adult with a lot of money.
In his last email he offered the identifier he'd be wearing, a Bea up leather jacket and a helmet with green trim. The green tracking lights on the bike are kind of extra but hey. Homage to old friends is what one does. Rolling up and seeing no one but a kid? Dude must be late. Fantastic.
She doesn't move at first, watching the biker. Wants to make sure before she ends up on the wrong side of town with the wrong side of guy. But the jacket and the green trim and green trimmed bike, and stopping here? Must be them.
Deep breath, Pidge. Her face is schooled to seriousness, business, as she approaches, determined. "Nice ride." Best way to say hello. She doesn't...know anything about bikes, actually, but she'd be willing to bet it's nice for what it is.
Deep breath, Pidge. Her face is schooled to seriousness, business, as she approaches, determined. "Nice ride." Best way to say hello. She doesn't...know anything about bikes, actually, but she'd be willing to bet it's nice for what it is.
Page 1 of 15