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[expendableasset]

WELCOME TO YOUR PRIVATE CHANNEL, TIMOTHY LAWRENCE. FOR SECURE COMMUNICATION, USE 019.37.122.98 *** <jimothy> has joined 019.37.122.98 <jimothy> Hey, this is, uh <jimothy> Well, you should know who if you're messaging.

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I take rum and coke after work because when I get off all the stuff is right there, but honestly I'm not too picky.

[ he lets out a slow sigh as nisha brings him closer, finally letting his head rest against her shoulder. the company's helping him un-tense, that's for sure. ]

[dickshots]

You never were. [Light jab, and about as mild as it gets by her standards; said with the barest smile, claws scuffing lightly through his hair as they comb his scalp with gentle, caring precision.]

Like 'em, by the way. Your changes.

[expendableasset]

Thanks. They've all been a pain in the ass, though. Especially these.

[ he lifts a tentacle to indicate it's being talked about and half-scowls at the thing. ]

Useful, but...ridiculous.

[dickshots]

What-- are they, anyway? [She's suppressing a grin as she says it (for reasons no one really needs to imagine) curiosity coloring the attention she's showing both it and him as her fingers idly curl in an attempt to not reach out and grab it without asking.

Not that that's ever really stopped her before, but for him? For him she makes the effort.]

[expendableasset]

Tentacles.

[ he takes notice of her restraining herself, and bends one closer to her, giving her wordless permission to play with it however she wants. ]

They can grab things, and they're kinda sticky, but that's about it.

[dickshots]

[Eyes widening by degrees, she reaches out to take the invitation without hesitation and childish, eager excitement all evident in how she's pressed her tongue against the sharpened point of an incisor. Scuffs her fingers along its edge before pinching it between her index finger and thumb, testing the figurative water.] Kinky...

I like it.

[expendableasset]

[ tim snorts, giving the pinched tentacle between nisha's fingers a little wiggle to show off as he leans against her. ]

Yeah, of course you do.

[ being able to joke around with her is helping him feel less like shit, so that's good. distraction and playing around along with the promise of booze is enough to take the edge off. ]

[dickshots]

You likin' it? [She lets go of her current point of interest, opting to tug him in against her again - against soft fur and feathers and leaves one wing draped about his shoulders for good measure.] Being different from Jack?

[Because he'd always seemed to hate it, playing the part. Because she'd heard him mutter it or hiss it even with Jack in the room, cutting corners out of naivety or forgetfulness or something else entirely.]

[expendableasset]

[ tim freezes for a beat, staring doe-eyed in nisha's direction. of course she's blunt enough to ask it, but the matter is complicated -- he doesn't want to be dishonest to a friend, but the truth isn't exactly a very team hyperion thing to say.

he breathes out a slow breath, trying to untense from the surprise, and shrugs against her. ]

I ... kind of.

[ he flicks his gaze away for a second. ]

It's -- I mean -- it's not like I picked it, there's nothing I can do about it, so I hope that...doesn't count against me.

[ the answer, tucked away in avoidant statements: yes. it doesn't exactly mean he's bailing from the team, though, which he notes with a followup: ]

Doesn't mean I'm gonna go running off or anything. Still gonna listen to him.

[ most of the time. ]

[dickshots]

Relax, kiddo. [She has to suppress the urge to laugh just under the edge of that false breath: as long as they've been together-- as often as he's watched her back-- he's treated differently by default. From Hyperion, from Helios...

From Jack.] Not gonna tell the big guy you're not into roleplaying.

[expendableasset]

[ nisha's really got no reason to lie, especially not around him, and so he takes her answer at face value, some of the tension draining from him. ]

Thanks. It's just, uh...rough sometimes.

[dickshots]

Act like a big dog, get none of the perks - can't see how that'd be the worst. [Sarcasm. Gentle, gentle sarcasm. Pinches that tentacle again for good measure before her wing is draped neatly across his shoulder, warmer now, thanks to his own body heat.]