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

[bestsword]

It's been about six years. Almost seven.

[He's quiet for a minute, just really thinking about how far he's come since Tex knew him.]

Happened just a minute or two before I got here.

[failureisntachoice]

Good to see some improvements came with that time.

[ Hell that was another lifespan for her. ]

Was that all from Wash training you guys?

[bestsword]

Eh, some of it. Some of it was just me being a badass all the time anyway. Fought off mercs in the desert by myself for months only a year after the canyon. Just got better with time, baby.

[Tucker stop while you're ahead.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ Okay yeah maybe he hasn't changed that much. ]

Ha ha. Why were you stationed out in a desert in the first place?

[bestsword]

Eh, ambassador work for the Sangheili. There were some artifacts there they wanted me to check on, mercs showed up trying to take 'em. Killed all my security detail and no one came to help when I called for it. Fucking sucked.

[failureisntachoice]

Sounds like a whole lot of bullshit. Did they not assign that much security? Or were they all crap?

[ Because seriously she'd think alien artifacts would warrant high priority protection. ]

[bestsword]

Little of both. Usually those assignments are just me showing up, telling everyone to calm the fuck down, settle disputes, walk away.

That one had a little more going for it, I guess.

[failureisntachoice]

You telling people to calm down? Since when the hell has that ever worked?

[bestsword]

Since I started being paid for it.

[Plain and simple really. Blood Gulch? Didn't get paid to settle arguments. Ambassador? Paid to, so he does it. More effectively.]

[failureisntachoice]

[ ...Okay, she can't argue with that. She continues, tone only slightly teasing, ]

So you weren't lying about turning into real soldiers after all.

[bestsword]

Nope. Turns out not everyone's a liar, go figure.

[But his tone gets a little more tired. Weary-worn.]

But yeah... Surprised us even, I think.

[failureisntachoice]

Only some since that idiot was trying to play nice.

[ Or less crazy than usual anyway. Her interactions had been minimal with both the mercenaries. ]

Do any of you know if you make it off that planet alive?

[bestsword]

No idea. Grif's the furthest ahead the timeline of us. Says we were on their boss' ship barricaded in and about to fight for our lives.

Not sure I'm into that situation.

[failureisntachoice]

...Yeah, I can imagine why. [ Imagine quite clearly, unfortunately.

She says, fully meaning it, ] I hope you get out of there.

[bestsword]

[That's unexpected. Only because she usually reserves that kind of talk for Church or Caboose.]

...Thanks. I'm really hoping so too.

[failureisntachoice]

[ Tucker is still blue team and whether she is willing to admit it or not, they grew on her while she was in that canyon. There's a pause however before she redirects the conversation to less mushy ground, ]

If you still want those training lessons, send me a schedule of when you have time for them. I'll see what works with mine.

[bestsword]

[Honestly? He's surprised. Tex is full of surprises. Guess all it took was Tucker growing up a little.]

Yeah? Sure, I-

I'll figure it out, send it your way by end of the week.

[failureisntachoice]

I'll get back to you when I can after you send it and attach my rates.

[ Because she has those now and while she's considering cutting him a slight discount... He's still getting charged for her time. ]