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[tactical_alert]

Reed. Leave a message.

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[tactical_alert]

You were busy. You were all busy. They would've understood.

[goddamngrenades]

Mom introduced me to encryption. Something she was working on when I was bored at home as a kid. Told me how it worked and went back to trying to crack it- I had no idea what it was. I thought it was a game so I fiddled. Took me a week, but I cracked it.

After that it was something we had in common. Dad would talk about how this or that was built or how the code was designed and mom would get me more to try and crack. Got real good at it too.

To them being picked as the sole infiltration expert for a top secret project was awesome. And for a long time I thought it was too. [ He shrugs. ] They make it out okay, I"m pretty sure. That's enough for me.

[tactical_alert]

Good. That's good. Sounds like a good family life, all things considered.

[goddamngrenades]

It was. I got no complaints. It wasn't much but when we had time for each other? Things were good.

[tactical_alert]

Did you ever want to do anything else but be in the military?

[goddamngrenades]

Maybe go into engineering like dad, build the shit the military used but my scores weren't ever anything high enough to get me into those kinds of schools and they needed boots on the ground ASAP. It seemed like the thing to do.

[tactical_alert]

Really? It sounds like you were more than a little brilliant, though.

[goddamngrenades]

Classes are boring. Sit down, read a book, write a paper. [ He shrugs. ] I'm better at practical application, you know?

[tactical_alert]

So you're not the booksmart type. Still, you should've been able to be an engineer. And, also, [he adds with a little ribbing] engineering for the military is still working for the military.

[goddamngrenades]

True enough. [ He cracks a smile, leaning back into the sofa. This is nice. He's glad Malcolm's trying, that he's comfortable. Probably better they're doing it like this than a fancy restaurant. ] Last slice is yours.

[tactical_alert]

Don't mind if I do. [Look at those calories he'll have to go to the gym for later. Worth it.] Maybe you could be an engineer here.

[goddamngrenades]

What, and miss all the fun? [ It's a little late in the game for him to swap specialties. He's a soldier now. That's not going to change. Sitting back and building while other people go get shot isn't how he could do things. ] Nah.

[tactical_alert]

No? Well, it still might be a good idea to take on the appearance of a more legitimate job.

[goddamngrenades]

You don't like dating a black market arms and security dealer? I would've thought you'd find it kinda hot.

[tactical_alert]

[He feels like he should have some sort of witty comeback for that, but he's got nothing. Which part of it is hanging him up, the dating part? The 'thought you'd find the shady underground totally hot' part? Maybe he should full disclosure on himself and XXX.]

Was that a joke, or do you actually think that?

[goddamngrenades]

You're still not sure about the 'dating a guy' thing, so I'm not assuming you have a particular kind of guy you'd find attractive based on their profession. [ He shrugs. ] It was a joke, babe.

[tactical_alert]

Oh. Well, I mean, you were a bit weird about where I was about XXX when we had that conversation; I thought maybe you had an...impression.

[goddamngrenades]

It was the 'man' thing less the serial killer thing.



Unless there was an actual THING that happened, really. Did a thing happen?

[tactical_alert]

Maybe. Once. I didn't know they were a man until things happened. A thing. A single thing. Once.

[He pulls away from York's hold, feeling disgusted with himself. But it's out there now.]

[goddamngrenades]

[ Okay, did not see that happening. Clearly there is more to the story. York turns and drops his hands to his lap, brows raised but otherwise calm. ]

So somewhere in with them being violent on the network and being unhealthily into you something happened once. They were kinda- well actually no they were really good about not having tells by way of gender, ethnicity, or age. I did not see the guy that's in prision thing coming. I figured he'd be younger.

[ a beat ]

Do you wanna talk about it?

[tactical_alert]

[His back is ramrod, eyes nowhere near York, hands tense in his own lap.]

Is that something I should have kept keeping to myself?

[goddamngrenades]

It doesn't change how I think of you, Malcolm. Changes how I think of that asshole. I'm pretty sure no matter how you slice it there was some kind of coercion involved.

[ He reaches out, rests his hand on Malcolm's. ]

We can talk about something else if you like- but if you wanna tell me what happened? That's fine.

[tactical_alert]

No, I--could have gotten away with ease. He was very forward, but I didn't have to stay. And I stayed. He was very, ah, high off of some potent painkillers. And I stayed.

Never thought I'd be giving mutual backalley handjobs to a crazed serial killer. [that sure is a laugh at himself he gives.]

[goddamngrenades]

...huh. So.

[ He curls his fingers around Malcolm's hand, lips twisted in a smile. ]

You do find my means of employment and status as a dangerous man hot.

[tactical_alert]

I have no comment on the matter.