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[evocation]

@kyna.medina | ■ ▲ ◌ ▼

Comments

[hardwearing]

Actually, yeah. In general, but especially that post since it mentioned security. I'd be better at that than customer service... turned out they'd already gotten a few offers, though.

[ She was teasing but he answers honestly, because why not? ]

Nope, so your favorite is complicated?

[evocation]

I bet they could use more, you know? And yeah, usually. I like getting the weird ass themed cocktails some places do. It keeps me on my toes or whatever.

[hardwearing]

Maybe, I can ask.

[ Then he grins, because weird ass themed cocktails do sound like fun. ]

I actually saw a bunch of those at stands in the carnival. If you're interested.

[evocation]

Weren't you just being all disapproving about people blowing their money on alcohol? Now you're being a bad influence.

[Not that she's complaining.]

[hardwearing]

It wasn't a disapproving observation.

[ Who's he to judge, honestly? ]

I'm not sure anyone's ever called me a bad influence before, though. This is new.

[evocation]

What, seriously?

[Maybe it's just that she gets called a bad influence all the time, but that kind of shocks her.]

Is that good or bad?

[hardwearing]

Seriously. They've called me lots of other things, though.

[ He tilts his head at Kyna. ]

I don't really know... did you mean it as a bad thing? I thought you were joking.

[evocation]

I'm teasing. Chill.

[Almost everything she says is teasing.]

What do you mean, they called you other things?

[hardwearing]

...I'm chill.

[ He's incredibly not chill. But was pretty sure she was joking, it's just lingering tension at the situation in general. ]

Oh, uh. Usually these days it's buzzkill.

[evocation]

[She laughs at that, a little incredulous.]

Holy shit, that's harsh. Why buzzkill? You don't seem like one to me.

[hardwearing]

[ Wash just grins. ]

The guys I hang out with have had some spectacularly bad ideas.

[evocation]

You can't say that and not tell me.

[hardwearing]

Eating wild mushrooms on an alien planet was the most recent ill-advised adventure. They were fine... eventually.

[ He misses his idiots... ]

[evocation]

Oh my god. Aren't marines supposed to have, like... a survival instinct?

[hardwearing]

They aren't exactly exemplary specimens. They do always survive, but more through luck and determination than skill or common sense.

[evocation]

[She squints at him, considering that.]

Aren't marines supposed to be the best of the best or whatever?

[hardwearing]

Yes. Supposed to be. It's a long complicated explanation I'd also need you to keep quiet, but if you don't mind the extra burden...

[ He couldn't say why he trusts her, except that Kyna seems honest and Wash knows he won't survive here without connecting with someone. Someone should know, too, he's definitely going to have to tell Strange if he looks into the security position, and he doesn't really want a total stranger to be the first one to know. ]

The super simple version is they weren't combat soldiers.

[evocation]

[Kyna's head tilts. She's good at keeping secrets, so she's not going to tell anyone, but what he's saying doesn't make much sense, anyway.]

Aren't... most marines supposed to be in combat?

[Okay, she's kind of ignorant when it comes to the military, especially the Space Military, but hey. She's trying.]

[hardwearing]

[ Wash hesitates, because she didn't exactly promise again, but in the end decides the first one was good enough. ]

Yes, especially during a war. But... these guys washed out of basic and wound up part of a military experiment instead. A different side of the experiment I was a part of.

[evocation]

Oh. Oh.

[That's... a lot to take in, and Kyna hesitates, expression shifting to something more serious.]

You were part of an experiment?

[hardwearing]

Yeah. To create a new breed of supersoldier, so we could win the war. Every branch was looking for a magic bullet, and it didn't really go well for anyone.

[ He's talked about this plenty since Freelancer fell, to the point it's just facts rather than enraging, but Kyna's never heard it. And she signed up for dinner, not... this. ]

We can talk about something more fun, I didn't mean to invite you out and go straight to something so heavy.

[evocation]

No, no, it's okay, it's...

[It's not that she minds it's just... once again, someone is offering up something personal to her, and she has no idea how to respond.]

That fucking sucks. I'm sorry.

[hardwearing]

[ Wash blinks, his steps faltering.

Has anyone ever...?

No, he doesn't think so. ]

[evocation]

[Kyna hesitates when he does, running back over what she said to figure out if she screwed up. Did it sound too much like pity?]

Um... Are you okay?

[hardwearing]

[ It takes him a moment to realize why she's asking -- duh. she can see his face. Probably wonders if she said something wrong but the fact is she said something right. Or at the very least, something kind.

Quickly, Wash shakes himself out of his confusion and offers her a smile. It's small but genuine. ]

--sorry, yeah. I'm fine. That was just really nice of you. [ Then he has to glance away awkwardly, back towards the lights of the carnival, because explaining his reaction is embarrassing. ] I don't think anyone's ever just sympathized before.