inbox;

[stressors]

● "Hey, it's Shiro." ●

"Sorry you missed me. Leave me one and I'll call you right back. Thanks."

☏ call. ✉ text. ⌨ video. ☄ action.

code over at pagans

Comments

[impulsors]

Thirty. You don't have to backseat drive.

[ in a possibly futile attempt to keep shiro from actually checking the dashboard, where the needle's holding steady at 34.






ugh, fine. he eases up on the pedal and watches the speed trickle down. ]

Is the Company trying to clear out Oldtown?

[stressors]

. . . I don't really know.

[impulsors]

That wouldn't make any sense.

[ like he's trying to argue with the steering wheel. ]

The Company doesn't do anything unless they're getting money or orders. They don't need Oldtown. But it's not like they're big enough to just start wiping places out for no reason, either.

. . . they'd have to want to get rid of something here. Something that makes them look bad.

[stressors]

I'm​ not sure if this is a point you're making, but unfortunately the Company has those in abundance.

[ . . . not that. he's going to list examples out loud or anything. ]

[impulsors]

I did kinda notice.

[ he is, after all, rac. ]

So -- it'd have to be something even worse than the usual stuff they do.

[stressors]

[ . . . ]

By the way, Keith.

[impulsors]

[ ??? ]

Yeah?

[stressors]

. . . where are we going?

[impulsors]

[ . . . ]

I thought you went this way on your rounds last week.

[ are they into the shameless stalking phase of their acquaintanceship now?? apparently. ]

[stressors]

[ . . . yeah, that's -- what he figured. but letting it cement in reality through spoken word just - ]

You kept that close of an eye on me, huh.

I should watch myself around you.

[impulsors]

You mean, in case I find out where you live?

[stressors]

What do I do if you know where I sleep at night?

[impulsors]

You could hope you don't snore.

[stressors]

[ i feel like that icon's gotten a lot of traction in this thread ]

Still going to stick around if I do?

[impulsors]

[ i've only used it three times in the last sixty comments, leave me alone!! ]

I'm not gonna sit around and watch you sleep.

[ . . . ]

I can come back. In the morning.

[stressors]

I appreciate it.

[ well, seeing as this is going to be such a charming working relationship - ]

. . . how's the neighborhood where you're stationed at?

[impulsors]

It's old. It's got a lot of backways. So far, the mobs've been sticking to main streets. Places with a lot of big shops and Company clients. Buildings where they know Company supervisors live.

I'll be fine, Shiro.

[ - which is only half-reflex, the excuse to curve lip and tongue into an echo, a familiar name. ]

[stressors]

It's not that I'm incredibly worried.

[ because keith? looks like he can take care of himself. he wouldn't be in his line of work if he didn't know his way around the streets.

there's also the inexplicable feeling of trust between them, but that could also be their last kiss talking.

. . .

or something like that. ]

For you, I mean. The mob's a different story, although hopefully you won't have to break an altercation up in the future.

[impulsors]

I don't think anyone's gonna pay me for that anytime soon.

[ a little ironic, but a little sharp too -- there's too much truth to it. ]

. . . how many riots have there been in the last couple weeks?

1/2

[stressors]

On a major scale? Three or so have required intervention from higher ranking Enforcers.

If we count the smaller riots that have still resulted in damages to local businesses, we'd be here for a while.

[stressors]

. . . either way, this can't sustain itself.

They've stopped logging body counts altogether back at the Company. Besides a handful of people that would like to see a peaceful resolution back at headquarters, I don't think we're going to see any mediation otherwise.

[impulsors]

So, what?

[ snapping each word. his fingers tighten along the wheel; one heel grinds down. ]

Is the Company gonna keep going until they run out of people? What else does can't sustain mean?

[stressors]

Easy, Keith.

I'm just as upset as you are, but let's think this through.

[impulsors]

[ silence cracks open between them, all its pieces jutting sharp -

but the line of his shoulders unravels just a little. ]

The mobs do a lot of damage -- but the Company's the side that's sending people out to kill. If there's any way to finish this, it has to start with the Company.

[stressors]

. . . you're not the first person to think that.