As The Tides Turn...

I'm stuck in a safehouse, hashing out the details with Red in the background.

Being on the phone with HQ has never been so boring. But at least I have Red to talk to during the slow moments.

Like after we got through with how things were going during the Culling.

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Red: “We should all make a list of people involved. We need to put that in there."

Me: “Yeah, and we need to explain what the hell we just did. God damn it, it’s times like this that make me miss fieldwork. I could have gotten killed but hey, at least it was never boring.”

Red: "This is boring to you?"

Me: "Kind of? There's a reason I only made it to K5."

Red: "What does it take to entertain you? And did this net you a promotion yet?"

Me: "Six bottles of beer and a series of YouTube videos about a kid’s show run by an Irish girl and a talking stuffed river stoat."

Red: "You are a deeply fucked up human being."

Me: "What? He's just so macabre and his backstory is hilarious. And no, actually I think my promotion was not getting by head chopped off by HR."

Red: "I'm surprised you don't fanboy over Gallows or David."

Me: "Eh, they're upper rankers. I prefer middle management types myself. And David isn't my brand of funny."

Red: "I guess he imprinted when he tortured her. It carried over with her memories. She was genuinely fond of him."

Me: "I'm both shocked and utterly mortified."

Red: "You can't blame us. We've had such fucked up lives."

Me: "That's why I'm shocked and mortified."

Red: "The DuBois torture line continues."

Me: "There really needs to be some sort of Employee Therapy session or something. Clearly whatever team bonding they have here isn't working."

Red: "We need to float that to HR."

Me: "We really do."

Red: "Proxies tend to find me for a spot of torture. Or sex. It's hard to care when you can't die."

Me: "That's... still pretty bad."

Red: "It's happened so many times we enjoy it. Life left its mark on us."

Me: "You and I are having a drink later and talking about this."

Red: "I still have one of the knives David used to torture us."

Me: "Why?

Red: “And talk about what?"

Me: "Everything. This whole life of yours, Red. I'm worried about you."

Red: "Because. Same reason we still wear the red woven metal ring. So we don't forget. Every life gets a tattoo."

Me: “Not really a memento I'd keep. Tattoos are fine though."

Red: "We're running out of skin to tattoo."

Me: " I noticed."

Red: "People can call me Jack, if they like. I will still operate under the handle Dia. That character reminds me of myself. What the darkest timeline of me is like. Her voice is so beautiful."

Me: "Remind me to get you a personal gaming system in your next mission location. And fair enough, I’ll tell the other members of the team."

Red: "Yes."

Me: "Hope you enjoy it. Requisitions owes me a favor. God.. I hate paperwork."

Red: "Another bonus?"

Me: "No. Just.. call this one a present. I'm feeling generous. Sue me."

Red: "If you insist."

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