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[evocation]

This is Kyna. You should just text me if you actually want me to answer.

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[Action]

[requiemshark]

[Do better next time, Drake said. It was good advice. Only problem now is making it happen.

Ephemera stares at Kyna's door. Debates whether or not he can just leave his apology booze on the welcome mat without saying anything. It'd probably go better if he didn't say anything.

It would definitely go better if he didn't say anything.

Ephemera doesn't like talking shit out, most of the time. Things get tangled and he can't always swallow down the angry parts, the pieces that still hate everything Washington represents.

But. Kyna was there, in the dream. She tried.

Least he can do is follow suit. Try.

Ephemera takes a breath. Lets it out. He's not in armor, wearing a sweatshirt that hangs too big in the shoulders, and a bandage over his bad eye. It's been bothering him lately. No armor, no gun - only a knife tucked into his boot just in case - and the bottle of apology booze under his arm. Everyone likes booze, right?

Plus it's wine. Wine is fancy and shit.

Suck it up, soldier.

He twitches. Wavers. And finally knocks on the door.]

Re: [Action]

[evocation]

[Kyna opens the door and immediately tenses, eyes narrowing. She's not afraid, partially out of an overinflated sense of her own magical power and partially because Wash told her Ephemera isn't a threat. Still, whatever the hell this is, she has a feeling it won't be fun.]

I think you've got the wrong apartment.

[requiemshark]

[He probably deserves that. Knowing it doesn't help much. Ephemera exhales sharply, fighting the urge to snap back. Every time he hears that tone, that fuck with me and I'll hurt you voice, his first instinct is to fire back and match it.

Focus. Settle.]

No.

[Ephemera tightens his mouth. Then, deliberately, he sets the bottle down by her feet.]

You won't see me again.

[evocation]

We live across the hall from each other.

[So that's not going to happen. Kyna frowns, though, leaning down to pick up the bottle.]

What's this for?

[requiemshark]

I know that.

[But nonetheless, he'll make it happen.

Ephemera rocks back on his heels, hands in his pockets. Thus far she hasn't tried to hurt him. Not in any way that would last.]

Apology. Drink it, trade it, whatever.

[It ought to be worth more than anything he might say.]

[evocation]

[She shouldn't be awful about this, and yet...]

Just so I'm clear, are you apologizing for threatening my friend or telling me I have bad taste?

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera tightens his mouth. He gives her a smile. With his scars, it's sharp and mean.]

You do have bad taste.

[evocation]

[She rolls her eyes.]

Well hey, lucky you, Wash is gonna be spending the night a lot more often.

[Which might not be true, but she wants to fuck with him a little.]

[requiemshark]

[ Ephemera makes a face.]

Urg. Why?

[He steadfastly refuses to admit that Washington is attractive. He refuses.]

DON'T GIVE HER AN OPENING LIKE THIS

[evocation]

[Kyna would say she thinks Wash is a better person than Ephemera realizes, and that she wants to be Wash's friend, but she's not exactly fond of Ephemera right now, so he gets the immature, goading reply.]

You seriously have to ask? I'm surprised you didn't hear us. He's pretty talented. Is that a space soldier thing or just a Wash thing?

he regrets everything

[requiemshark]

[Okay. That is a. Very clear picture.

Ephemera's hands are twitching. He puts them behind his back.]

Fuck you.

LMFAO I'm so sorry

[evocation]

[That didn't accomplish anything, but it made her feel a little better in a vindictive way.]

That's what you get for giving me shit.

never apologize

[requiemshark]

[Ephemera can feel his face burning. Hates it. Hates Washington. Hates Kyna.]

Ask him about Freelancer.

[It's out of his mouth before he can think better of it, snapped out like a blow.]

Ask him what happened to South Dakota.

I love him tbh

[evocation]

[Kyna's mouth twists, and she plants her free hand on her hip, body language suddenly defensive, closed off.]

What are you talking about?

[requiemshark]

[She doesn't know. Of course she doesn't know. Who the fuck would want to admit betraying their own teammates?

Ephemera bares his teeth. He's being cruel and he knows it, but he wants to wipe that smugness off her face.]

I did a lot of shit. But I never murdered my teammates. You ask him. You fucking ask him why she's dead.

[evocation]

[Mission accomplished. She doesn't look smug at all anymore, just upset.]

Why the fuck would I believe you? You're probably trying to spin it so you can scare me off.

[requiemshark]

Ask him.

[Ephemera tips his head to the side. He's tensed up, good eye narrowed tight. This wasn't how he'd planned this.]

Better yet, ask him about Connie. I heard they were friends. But we buried her.

[evocation]

So you're just gonna throw a bunch of ominous shit in my face with no details? It doesn't mean anything.

[requiemshark]

[It wasn’t supposed to go like this. Ephemera isn’t sure where he went wrong, exactly. He opened his mouth and Kyna said what she said and he just—

Stop. Breathe. Control yourself, soldier.

Pathetic, Ephemera thinks. He can’t even get this right.

He twitches, shifting his weight uneasily.]

No. It doesn’t.

[Don’t make it worse.]

I shouldn’t have said that.

[evocation]

[She studies him warily, half considering telling him to fuck off and slamming the door in his face.]

Now you're backtracking?

[requiemshark]

Fuck you.

[This was a mistake. Ephemera steps back before he can say something else - anything else - and make it worse.]

[evocation]

Whatever. What the hell do you want from me, Ephemera?

[requiemshark]

What?

[That actually stops him. Ephemera stares at her.]

I don't want anything from you.

[evocation]

So you were giving me a half-assed apology to... What? Be nice?

[requiemshark]

I fucked up.

[Honesty is a thing he's trying now.]

I don't want anything from you, Kyna.