Mask or Menance IC Contact Post

[failureisntachoice]

[ An automated voice speaks because someone hasn't bothered to set up a proper voicemail. The only part in her voice is her name. ] You have reached Agent Texas. Leave a message at the tone.

Comments

[failureisntachoice]

You convinced a fleet of mercenaries to join you? [ With a crew of three and a pilot. How. ]

They could have just taken your cargo and made their own profit.

[dendarii]

They could have, but they didn't think of it. I had them fooled - pretended to be from a larger outfit, with rules and uniforms and everything. So we used them as leverage against a capital ship, and from there a space station, and from there the entire blockade.

[failureisntachoice]

[ The story sounds so outrageous she actually believes he's telling the truth. She snickers and reaches for one of the blintzes. ]

You make it sound so easy. Is that how you plan to build up an army here? By walking around like the Pied Piper with fake regs and matching outfits? You had to pay them sometime.

[dendarii]

Oh, I did. It's much easier to do so if you win, after all.

[failureisntachoice]

How are you going to do a repeat performance here? There's nothing to win that pays out.

[ Yet anyway. She's be annoyed at the government ever since she learned they don't pay out extra for any imPort help. ]

[dendarii]

... I admit I'm not sure. But - there must be something. We must only build up enough forward momentum to reach it.

[failureisntachoice]

You're going to have to hit the ground running then.

[ Or has he already been doing that? She finishes off her blintz and glances over at his little lean-to. She's not sure how much business should really be talked about on something considered a date. ] So, do you have anything hiding in there?

[dendarii]

[ Miles doesn't mind, anyway; it's all one and the same to him, as deep in his cover as he is. ]

A few extra snacks?

[failureisntachoice]

[ She looks at the lean-to with doubt. ]

That's all? No fireworks or sparklers hidden in there?

[dendarii]

[ Miles laughs a little at that. ]

Alas, I wish I had now.

[failureisntachoice]

Would have looked good over the water. [ Wine in one hand, she adjusts herself so she's leaning towards him. ]

We could go out and find a few. After we finish eating. [ How hard could it be? ]

[dendarii]

[ Ah. He can't help but swallow a bit at that, leaning in as well. ]

Finish off tonight by blowing something up?

[failureisntachoice]

[ She doesn't glance over when their shoulders touch and takes a sip from her glass. ] It'd be a good way to end it. Unless you want to save it for next time.

[dendarii]

[ He can't help but shiver lightly. Up until now he's been relatively smooth about all this; this is the territory that he gets a little more nervous about. ]

And do something else instead?

[failureisntachoice]

[ It's hard not to notice the shiver when they're this close together. Somehow, it's comforting to know she can have that effect on people other than Church. ]

I'm guessing you picked somewhere private for a reason. We're on a beach in the off season.

[dendarii]

[ He extends a hand, palm open. ]

I thought it wise to remain open to the full range of possibilities. [ A pause. ] Not - as any sort of expectation.

[failureisntachoice]

[ She rolled her eyes. ]

If I thought you were expecting anything, you'd be taking a cold bath far, far away. [ The threat is accompanied with a jerk of her thumb towards the water to make her meaning crystal clear. ]

[dendarii]

Should I take that as hopeful sign, then? The fact that I am not currently bathing.

[failureisntachoice]

[ She nudges his shoulder with hers and teases, ] Hell, I might even let you live long enough for a second.

[ If he even wants one. This is uncharted territory for her beyond her own, biased experiences with Church. ]

[dendarii]

[ That was the right answer. Miles immediately brightens at the thought, a stupid grin running from ear to ear. ]

I would be delighted.

[failureisntachoice]

Only if you promise to bring explosives next time. [ There's another flash of a smile as she lifts her glass. ] And more wine.

[dendarii]

I can certainly arrange both of these things. Plentiful amounts thereof.

[failureisntachoice]

You won't hear me complaining.

[ He's not her usual physical type. Not by a long shot if Church is the benchmark. But he's one of the more interesting imPorts that have arrived recently. First one she's gone on a date with and he's put more work into it than she can recall anyone doing for her, without expectation of something in return.

She watches him out of the corner of her eyes as she waits a beat as she drains her glass and sets it out of the way. Her fingertips brush against the hand closest to her before she rests hers gently over it. They're not making a trip to the ER or one of his healers because she accidentally squeezed his hand too tightly. ]

[dendarii]

[ Another sharp little intake of breath at that. He's absolutely nervous now, not having done this since a disastrous relationship at sixteen, on Beta Colony. (He'd delighted at first when she'd taken joy in his physical form rather than dread. Then, despaired as he realized that that was all she'd enjoyed. Would that be all he was ever good for in a relationship, to be a twisted physical novelty with no personhood of his own--)

Breathe, dammit. Tex hasn't shown any signs of that. He squeezes back firmly, in defiance of any risk it might pose to his bones. ]

Then ... what about tonight?

[failureisntachoice]

[ Dryly: ] It's not over yet.

[ Beyond showing up here for their date, she hasn't planned any part of this out. Instinct is all she has to go by and while she has hard limits of how far she'll go... Her gaze goes from their entwined hands to his lips. How different would it be kissing someone else? She knows at least Miles isn't programmed with some underlying obsession with her and couldn't give a damn that she's an AI herself.

With her free hand, she reaches to cup his cheek and turn him towards her. It'd make it a helluva lot easier to kiss him. ]