Shenanigans!

[phaselocknroll]

Comments

[nostalgiabomb]

[ That stops him dead in his tracks as they reach the edge of the overgrowth, and he feigns a look of astonishment. ]

Hang on. Is this the first time I’m hearing about your castle? Have you been holdin’ out on me all this time? Because "I have a castle" is totally something you should tell someone on the first date.

[phaselocknroll]

[ Totally deadpan: ] Yes, Peter. I have pretended to be a lowly commoner all this time. It was the only way I could escape the pressures of castle life.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ With a knowing nod, ] Somehow, I’ve always known. Your secret is safe with me, Lady Maya.

If you’ll excuse me, though, I believe I have some fire and brimstone I need to call in. [ And then he bows low, sweeping an arm out, before withdrawing his helmet attachment from his digistruct and stepping away. ]

[phaselocknroll]

Go forth, noble sir.

[ she gives him a mock curtsy in response to his bow, and moves to sit on a nearby tree stump. While she's there, she clips her shield back to her belt, just for comfort's sake, and takes her sniper rifle in hand again.

You know. Just in case. ]

[nostalgiabomb]

[ She may overhear snippets of his conversation, which includes a lot of choked-off expletives and Sorry, Nova Primes, and Yes, ma'ams. Clearly Peter would never thrive in a professional setting.

When he steps back, he-- blinks at her and the rifle. ]

Did I miss something?

[phaselocknroll]

Just keeping us covered. How'd it go?

[nostalgiabomb]

They'll be here in the hour. Any longer than that, though, and I'm pretty sure we get our money back.

[phaselocknroll]

I didn't realize that the Nova Corps had a "sixty minutes or less" guarantee.

I guess we just hang out here in the meantime?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He answers that question by plopping down, his back against a tree and facing away from the facility. ]

Like I said, we let them do all the hard work. The guys should be landing with the Milano along with the rest of the troops, so we can take it easy till then.

[phaselocknroll]

Works for me.

[ She falls silent for a moment, shifting her rifle to sit across her knees ]

... I didn't know you were claustrophobic.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He answers pretty quickly. ]

'Cause I'm not.

[phaselocknroll]

[ she sloooowly raises an eyebrow ] Aren't you? You were freaking out pretty bad after that laundry chute.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ That gets him to pause, but only for a brief second. ]

Well, we were getting chased by brainwashing sociopaths, so I think I deserve some leeway, there.

[phaselocknroll]

Okay, first of all, there's nothing wrong with not liking small spaces.

Second of all, kind of something I need to know before I suggest we throw ourselves headlong into a long, dark, cramped tunnel.

[nostalgiabomb]

It's fine. I'm fine.

[ A beat, then, ]

And maybe I was freaked out by, like, the laundry, for all you know.

[phaselocknroll]

For the love of- what's the big deal here?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ His tone is sharper than he means it to be. ] Maya, it's fine. Can we please just drop it?

[phaselocknroll]

[ That... well, it startles her, for one. It also hurts a little, because she thought by this point they could be honest with each other.

Maybe he has to be honest with himself, first.

Her reply is quiet. ]

All right. Fine. It's dropped.

Sorry for bringing it up.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ -- shit. He lets out a breath, and runs a hand over his face. ]

Sorry. Didn't mean to be an asshole, there.

[phaselocknroll]

Yeah, well, you were kind of being an asshole anyway.

[ That also comes out a little sharper than she intended, and she has to take a breath.

Did they make it through all of that just to have a dumbass fight? God, she hopes not. When she speaks again, her tone is noticeably calmer ]

I want you to understand something, Peter. Since that whole... mess with the Order, you have constantly seen me at my most vulnerable- and I would never, ever allow that to happen if I didn't totally, completely trust you.

So when I ask you if you're claustrophobic, it's not out of some desire to make fun of you, or point out all of your weaknesses. It's out of that trust, and the hope that you trust me in kind.

Okay?

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He's quiet for a little while (and yeah, that asshole comment stung, but he deserved it, he knows that much), but eventually he nods. ]

I trust you. Of course trust you. I just--

[ And here he struggles for words. ] It's not a big deal, okay? It's-- just some stupid thing. But I can handle it.

[phaselocknroll]

Stupid or not, the whole point is you don't have to handle it by yourself.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ For a few seconds he just stares at the ground, but then, ]

It's just some stupid shit that happened when I was a kid. Got stuck in a vent shaft when I had to help with maintenance. The engineering crew thought it'd be funny if they left me to stew for a while. They were just screwin' with me, but I freaked out so bad I fucked up my shoulder. That's all--

[ And now he feels ridiculous having said it aloud, and he picks up a rock and chucks it hard at a nearby tree. ]

See? Stupid as fuck.

[phaselocknroll]

Peter... [ she slings her rifle over he back and leans over to drape her arms over his shoulders ]

It's not stupid at all.

You know, when I was little, I told one of the Brothers I was scared of the dark. They made it part of my training to shut me in a completely dark room for hours at a time. I thought I was going to die.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He stiffens at first at her touch, because for a little while there, it felt too much like pity-- but he eventually leans into her. ]

What a bunch of friggin' assholes.