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]

[ he starts the car in a combusting rattle -- his brows flick together, and he revs the engine once just to hear the sound cut through the dull pounding rain. ]

Or maybe I just won't go back out.

[ pulling out of parking. . . slowly. . . ]

[stressors]

That's not a bad idea.

At least until the mobs clear out some more.

[impulsors]

You really think they'll clear out on their own?

[stressors]

[ . . .

it's a pretty loud silence. actually. ]

No. At this point, it'll be a miracle if we don't find ourselves in the middle of another war.

But there's going to be a side that breaks first.

[impulsors]

They're mad for a reason. If the Company doesn't do something for them, instead of trying to take people out, the mobs're just gonna keep getting bigger.

[ all of this said

as he stealthily inches up to thirty-two mph. ]

[stressors]

. . . and the bigger they get, the more the Company's going to fight back.

They have to know that to be the case back at headquarters. But they're just riling the people up. And then they're sending Enforcers right into the middle of the mess and telling them to -

[stressors]

. . .

What's your speed?

[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.