text;

[hardwearing]

I need the help of a programmer or an engineer, preferably someone familiar with security. Firewalls, maybe? Ways to keep a hacker out.

Details and payment can be discussed in person.

Comments

[hardwearing]

I'm not going to bargain your things. It's bad enough I'm relying on you as the entire backup plan.

[evocation]

what are you talking about?
you get that you're not making me do anything, right?
i'm volunteering

[hardwearing]

I know.
But you shouldn't have to.

[evocation]

you'd do the same thing for me
why are you being stubborn about this?

[hardwearing]

Because it's my responsibility.
I'm already asking for a lot of help because it's not something I can do. I need to still have a hand in it. If someone else does the work and you handle the reward...

[ What was he needed for? ]

[evocation]

wait, are you saying that makes you useless or something?

[hardwearing]

I'm saying I need to do something.

[evocation]

god
i get it, but jesus wash
don't get hurt, okay? or throw yourself under the bus

[hardwearing]

I won't. I've still got limits on what I'll do for it.

[evocation]

you promise?

[hardwearing]

I promise.

Also, just so you know, Tucker's being... difficult, about seeing the Null as a threat. I'm going to show him footage of the attack.

[evocation]

oh. okay.
difficult how? what's he saying?

[hardwearing]

That I'm worrying about nothing, that the Null aren't scary, that kind of bullshit. I think Carolina's the only one who actually read up on the invasion like I asked them all to, so. This won't be fun.

[evocation]

is there something i can do to help?

[hardwearing]

Yeah. Can I come by tonight?

[evocation]

yeah, of course. always.

[hardwearing]

It might be late. I've got people coming by and need to talk to the others first.

[evocation]

it's okay
i'll be here
i'll have a surprise for you and everything

[hardwearing]

A surprise?
Okay.

[ He's preoccupied enough dealing with shit that he doesn't actually get preoccupied wondering what it is, but by the time he's actually on his way over curiosity is threading its way through the darker thoughts on his mind.

There's a soft double knock on Kyna's door that night, nearly late enough that the actual suns are setting. He's out of armor, though there's still a pistol on his hip. ]

[evocation]

[Kyna can't say that she hasn't been worried. She knows this whole thing has been rough on him, and having Tucker question a traumatizing experience is only making it ten times worse. She wonders what Wash is showing him, exactly, how much it'll dredge up old memories.

Sitting still has never been her strong suit, even though she said she'd wait for him, so by the time he arrives she's already made a very late dinner. She's surprised to see him out of armor, but not so surprised to see the gun at his hip.]

Hey. How'd it go?

[hardwearing]

[ Wash comes in and immediately has to fend off an excited Lando, who gets some pets and is directed back to the living room. He smells the food and his stomach takes the opportunity to remind him he didn't actually have dinner already, but it can wait a few more minutes. Instead of asking about it or answering right away he draws Kyna into his arms, breathing slow. ]

We've got prospects, and Tucker's finally taking things seriously. So pretty well.

[ Then why does he seem upset? ]

[evocation]

[Poor Lando seems slightly dejected, but he goes to flop down in a corner, anyway. Kyna settles against Wash, wrapping her arms around him.]

Then what's wrong? Where's your armor?

[Maybe he's upset because he had to talk about what happened again. Maybe he's just upset because he's worried about his friends, but it's something.]

[hardwearing]

[ Poor Lando. He'll make it up to you later, buddy. ]

We decided to go without until we can get the implants secured. Just in case. I don't think Name will contact reinforcements but if it does the last thing we need is six puppet soldiers in power armor.

[ He holds her a little closer, remembering. He didn't rewatch the footage with Tucker, but he knows it by heart anyway. ]

I hate that I had to show him what they did to get him to believe me.

[evocation]

Oh.

[Yeah, that would bother her, too.]

I'm sorry, Wash. Did he think the whole city was freaking out for nothing or something?

[hardwearing]

He's been bitter since he got here that I'm invested in a war that isn't ours. Like ours is more important and I should have been there instead even though it wasn't possible to get back. It's more personal and I get why he's upset, to him he lost someone and I gained someone, but I still needed to survive this place. And it's not like I haven't been constantly worried about home... I think to be able to stay angry at me over certain things he didn't want to believe how bad it is. He wanted to maintain the narrative that I've been on vacation.

That's pretty destroyed, now. Even if he can't fully understand how bad the Null hijacking was for me.