Hadriel IC Inbox

[hardwearing]

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[hardwearing]

[ Use your words, Wash.

He picks them carefully, because they're both already so uncomfortable. ]

It doesn't have to be a big deal. But I like you, I don't want it to be weird either.

[evocation]

It's not weird.

[It comes out automatically, and she sighs. Okay, it is weird.]

Sorry. I don't know what you want me to say.

[hardwearing]

You don't have to say anything. Just... don't be a stranger? I guess.

[ It doesn't have to happen again. He'd like it to, but it means more that she's okay with him. ]

[evocation]

I'm not gonna... Stop talking to you or something.

[God, this sucks. This is why she and Tucker never slept together. It makes everything uncomfortable and awkward.]

We're okay


[She thinks?]

[hardwearing]

Okay. Good.

[ He's just gonna accept it, for now. Take it at face value rather than overthinking. They're okay, they'll get past the awkwardness. Whatever happens happens. Right.

Wash pushes himself up and off the bed, reaches for his suit and starts to dress. He's gonna go for that run after all. ]

[evocation]

[She tugs on her jeans, frowning. Okay, so he's leaving. She screwed this up so massively, and she's not sure how to fix it.]

Um... Do you want me to walk you out?

[hardwearing]

Yeah. Let me just get my armor on.

[ It's quick, getting his boots and armor on, just like before. Long years of practice making it easy to suit up, though he keeps his helmet under his arm to say goodbye to Kyna. He'll put it on outside. ]

I'll see you... later.....

[ He trails off awkwardly because when she opens the door they see that dead across the hall from them is Sharkface, in sweats and bare feet, saying goodbye to his own overnight guest.

Wash steps in front of Kyna protectively, and doesn't leave. Not yet. Shit, they're fucking neighbors. ]

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera doesn't know the protocol for this sort of thing, but it feels rude not to see Drake off. They shared a nightmare and then they--dealt with it. And that was important, even if it's never going to mean something more. Later they'll spar and things will go back to how they were. Normal.

Or at least as normal as Hadriel can get.

Ephemera clocks the armor first, eyes going wide. Oh, motherfucker. Washington. Of all the fucking people, Washington is here and he's in armor, ready for a fight. Ephemera shifts his weight, stepping in front of Drake. Eyes narrowed tight.]

You.

[Don't go for the gun, don't go for the fucking gun--]

You have five seconds to run.

[evocation]

[Oh, great. The nutjob lives right next to her. This is super awesome. Kyna is already sighing when Wash steps in front of her, but then Sharkface decides to start making threats, and all bets are off. She steps out from behind Wash, because screw that.]

Hey. If you don't want me roasting your ass you'll back off.

[braveoff]

[ Well that escalated quickly. ]

Ooookay. No. Nope.

[ He shifts out from behind Ephemera, just enough to be seen, and holds up a hand. Focus, people. His voice is calm and steady -- he's used to dealing with threats, is practically in his element right now. Staying calm when everyone else is flying off the handle, assessing the situation and getting it under control. ]

Nobody's roasting anybody. Nobody's shooting anybody. None of us are here to hurt each other, right? This is a coincidence.

[ It has to be. ]

[hardwearing]

[ Wash's hands twitch, but he doesn't reach for his weapons. Not yet. Sharkface is unarmed, for one thing, and like Drake says, it's a coincidence. A fucked up, unhappy coincidence, but one all the same.

Kyna steps out from behind him and Wash has to curb himself to keep from shifting again. She can handle herself. Might have to prove that, if he's ever going to be comfortable leaving her alone in her apartment across from Sharkface. He doesn't know what to do with the fact that they're neighbors. But he's not going to run. ]

I'm not here for you. [ He directs it at Sharkface, voice hard. Not everything is about him. ]

[requiemshark]

[Out of armor, Ephemera knows he doesn't stand a chance. He's fast but not that fast, and he'll have to make a run for his pistol. That leaves Drake exposed and Kyna apparently has magic. No joy.

Fuck. He doesn't even have a knife. Ephemera keeps his eyes narrowed tight, good one focused squarely on Washington.]

I'm not going to shoot you. Or her.

[Not unless he has to.]

[evocation]

[Kyna rolls her eyes crossing her arms defensively.]

Got all the shooting out of your system, huh?

[braveoff]

[ Oh my god the three of them. There's three of them to deal with now. Drake sighs. He doesn't deserve this. It's like herding furious, rabid cats. You turn to deal with one and the next one's going wild again. ]

It's enough to say nobody's shooting anyone, you don't have to go there.

[ He looks between the soldiers. Ephemera was going to go talk to Washington after training, after blowing off some steam, but he's here right now so. ]

Why don't you two take this opportunity to talk? Just talk.

[hardwearing]

Talk about what?

[ Wash asks Drake while still watching Sharkface for sudden movements. But he thinks he knows -- it must have to do with the dreams. That's the only new development.

And it happens to be none of Drake's fucking business. None of this is. ]

[requiemshark]

What?

[It's a bad idea. Ephemera doesn't have his armor on. If they fight - and they'll probably fight - then he's going to lose, and badly. He can take a blow with his armor, probably more than even Washington knows, but like this he's exposed. And now Drake is right there, talking like this isn't a threat. Like this is just--

Fuck.

Ephemera takes a shuddering breath. Shifts out of stance because he's a fucking adult and they agreed, he and Drake.]

Fine. Fine!

[evocation]

[Are they kidding? Kyna's eyes narrow and she links her arm with Wash's protectively.]

No way. Are you nuts? There's no way your friend isn't gonna pull some shit.

[braveoff]

[ He shouldn't speak for Ephemera. He should keep to his place, stick to mediating, but. The way Kyna says friend makes him bristle a little. She says it like it's not true. He presses his lips together and breathes. ]

You don't know him.

[hardwearing]

I do.

[ Wash stares down Sharkface, curious. What the hell is going on in that scarred head? He clearly doesn't want to do this, so why is he listening to Drake?

He doesn't trust the other soldier. Doesn't want to be alone with him again even if he knows he could win a fight. But this feels important.

And Kyna lives across the fucking hall from him. ]

It's okay, Kyna. [ He reclaims his arm to put his helmet on, then slowly and deliberately removes his pistol and knife from either hip. Hands them to her for safekeeping until this conversation is over.

Then he looks back at Sharkface. ]

Suit up. No weapons.

[requiemshark]

[Those aren't the only weapons he's got. They can't be. He's a Freelancer, they always have a trump card. Though why he'd let an enemy get their armor first, Ephemera doesn't know. He sets his mouth into a thin line, glancing at Drake.

He's not afraid. None of this has given him pause.]

Fine.

[He gives Kyna an unfriendly look.]

You have awful taste.

[evocation]

[Kyna shoots Ephemera a nasty look back.]

Bite me.

[And then she turns back to Wash, craning her neck to look up at him.]

You aren't serious, right? You can't just go somewhere alone with him.

[braveoff]

They'll be right here.

[ Because with things happening this way instead of how they planned? Drake isn't leaving. He's going to stay and keep an ear out and check in immediately after, whether it gets violent or not.

He raises an eyebrow at Wash handing over his weapons, but doesn't comment on it. It's a good thing. Maybe he just wants to ensure that Ephemera won't shoot him again. ]

Leave the door unlocked. We hear anything, we're coming in.

[hardwearing]

[ Wash bristles inside his helmet at Sharkface's comment to Kyna, his hands clenching into fists. He should punch Sharkface for that. Right in his fucking mouth, knock out some teeth so he can't make comments like that anymore.

He doesn't. Just turns to Kyna instead, voice carefully steady. ]

I'll be fine. He's right, you'll be right here.

[ He watches Sharkface's back retreating into the apartment to get his armor. ] I want to know what this is about.

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera almost snaps something back, something he wouldn't be able to undo, but he grits his teeth and keeps quiet. His instinct has always been to strike first, or counter harder. Destroy the enemy. Leave no survivors, no pieces. Washington wants him in armor? Fine. The fucker will get exactly what he wants.

It doesn't take long at all to suit up. Not after everything. Ephemera really ought to start sleeping in his armor again, so shit like this doesn't happen.

He makes a single modification, removing the light shield from his gauntlet. It survived the mess Washington made of his flame thrower. It'll survive this.

Somebody ought to.

Ephemera returns in full armor, helmet on, and hands the shield component over to Drake. They've sparred enough that he ought to recognize it. Know how to protect himself with it.]

Anything happens, you activate it.

[evocation]

[Kyna is clearly keyed up and tense, but she trusts Wash, so she holds onto his weapons and just... Lets it happen. Arrogantly or not, she thinks she can take Ephemera anyway.]

Fine. Whatever.