IC INBOX

[hippie_ninja]

This is Jesus. Leave a message.

Comments

[braveoff]

Just that he wanted you to meet somebody sane, really. Didn't mention contracting or anything.

Any prospects yet? Maybe he wasn't a fan of who you were considering.

[hippie_ninja]

Not yet. But I've only been here a week, and I've mostly been looking for friends. Sane friends.

[A grin, a 'well, also' kind of shrug] A few who are questionable, too.

[braveoff]

Oh, you've got plenty of time. I suggest you take the whole grace period and get to know people -- contracts are hard to get out of. You can switch, sure, but even three months with someone that's not a good fit will suck.

Questionable how?

[hippie_ninja]

Oh I'm not serious. [Not very.] You just find people who are enough like you that you worry, you know? Same bad habits is all.

[braveoff]

Hah. In my experience people with the same bad habits either encourage one another and get worse or drive each other crazy enough to finally break them. You never really know which way it'll go.

Anything you're comfortable talking about? Or is that more of a third date conversation?

[hippie_ninja]

I'm in the habit of looking for bad situations where there sometimes aren't any. I try to give people the benefit of the doubt, but it doesn't stop me from looking for weapons [figuratively or literally] and I keep looking for them even when I've been proven wrong.

[braveoff]

Nobody's like that without a reason. And I'm getting a better idea of why he messaged me specifically.

[hippie_ninja]

Why?

[He's glad Crais did. He appreciates it, and he's enjoying this conversation so far. But he doesn't know Drake well enough to understand why him.]

[braveoff]

He knows I'm safe. And probably more important than that, I'm really patient with trust issues. People who refuse to let anybody in or drop their guard... we get it. Crais tends to win everybody over faster, but I think that's a force of personality thing.

[hippie_ninja]

It's hard to argue with his honesty. I've never met anyone like him.

[And yes he's already very fond.]

I take it you have your issues, too. I mean- everyone does. But issues like mine.

[braveoff]

Trust? Maybe if you squint... in my case it's more like I'm always braced for someone to fuck me over. That just doesn't stop me from doing what I can for people, but the reasons there are complicated.

[hippie_ninja]

[Jesus is pretty sure his own reasons are bog standard, at least in a world like this one. But that's not the salient point here; he grins a little]

We need more people in the world willing to do what they can.

[braveoff]

We do, yeah. The ratio is real skewed in most worlds, which is how you wind up either burning those few willing people out or... guys like me. I've spent the past couple years working on the self worth thing, but I think Crais still worries.

[hippie_ninja]

Guys like you? [It's a gentle question, with a tip of a smile. He likes self-awareness. It's another thing the world needs more of.]

[braveoff]

That might be a third date question. Let's just say when you think giving's all you're good for, eventually there's nothing left. I got a second chance to learn some balance.

[hippie_ninja]

I'm glad. It's a hard way to live. Especially when there are people taking advantage.

[braveoff]

Sounds like you're speaking from experience?

[hippie_ninja]

Let's just say keeping the peace can be a full time job.

[braveoff]

You wanna tell me about it? I'd be happy to buy you a drink or a decent meal, if you feel like getting out of the starter housing for awhile.

[hippie_ninja]

I'd like a meal. [Never turn down a meal] Where at?

[braveoff]

Depends what you like. Name it.

[hippie_ninja]

Chicken. [The answer isn't exactly immediate but it doesn't take any thinking, either.] We, ah, haven't had chickens in a long time.

[braveoff]

Okay. I'd send you a pin but it might be easier to teach you how to use those in person... meet me at the elevator?

[hippie_ninja]

I'm headed there now.

> action

[braveoff]

Cool. See you soon.

[ Drake cuts the call, heading out right away so he can get there in case the guards give Jesus any trouble. It's way worse moving around the city as an uncontracted sub.

There's nothing terribly distinctive about Drake -- he's a big guy, tall and muscular, but not exceptionally anything in particular. Still, there's only one person just waiting around when Jesus arrives, and he's got the same casual friendly energy in person, body language relaxed and open. Drake lifts a hand to wave when he spots Jesus, letting the newcomer approach him rather than the other way around. ]