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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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[expendableasset]

Hey.

[ tim's used to boxer approaching him at any time for any reason, now, so it's not too much of a surprise when the shade sits right on down next to him. the statement that follows is a surprise, however, and he raises his eyebrows. ]

Yeah? Go ahead. Mum's the word.

[ tim had spilled his "secret" to boxer, after all -- the very least he can do is keep whatever secret he has safe in return. ]

[n_ll]

[There's a beat of silence that precedes his admission. It sends a chill up his spine, just thinking about admitting to one of his aliases, but this is the best way to make things as clear as possible as fast as possible. He saw Tim--or what he's 99% sure was Tim--post to the network himself, so it won't hopefully be without context.]

I'm "Surveillant."

[expendableasset]

[ tim's confused for the span of a second or two before realization crosses his features, followed by -- admiration? -- something of the sort. he nods. ]

You probably saw me answering too. I wasn't intending on telling him anything beyond what I did, if I found out. I just wanted to make sure he'd tell me when he saw her again.

[ he reaches up to rub at the back of his neck, glancing off towards boxer's quarters. ]

So somebody really...?

[n_ll]

[Boxer swats at Tim's thigh to get him to look away from the personal quarters, managing to do it entirely on the sly.]

Don't.

[Jeez, man, don't throw suspicion.]

Yeah, it's true.

[expendableasset]

[ tim shifts his gaze as quickly as it was originally directed, looking sheepish. stealth has never been something he's great at. he exhales, slowly, muttering a quick and quiet "sorry" beforehand. ]

Do you know who yet?

[ as incapable as he is, part of him wants to go after the culprit before jack gets a chance to. not that it's realistically likely. ]

[n_ll]

No, not yet. Pretty confident that it wasn't a local, from at the wounds.

I'm hoping she'll remember when she comes back.

[The line is getting longer by the minute.]

[expendableasset]

[ tim drops his hands to his lap and wrings them anxiously. they just have to wait, then. he doesn't like that. ]

...thanks for taking care of her. She's -- she's something else, but not in the same way he is, you know?

[n_ll]

She has compassion.

[Maybe not the first word that anyone would ever use in reference to Nisha, but if you were to dissociate her tendencies from Jack's, that's where the difference would lie.]

I saw the shape she was in after Rota burned down. I could tell Jack wasn't helping her recover. So...

[He shrugs.]

...of course I'm not going to hand her over. Can't leave her like that after all she's done for me...all those opportunities to become stronger.

[expendableasset]

[ tim wasn't around for rota, doesn't have the context for that experience, but he knows the way jack's been treating nisha isn't exactly exemplary. it puts tim between a rock and a hard place; he can't get away with confronting jack, but as hardy as nisha is, that is different. ]

You're a good guy. All I've ever seen you do is help people.

[n_ll]

[Boxer scoffs.]

Yeah. Bit off more than I can chew this time.

[What does a nobody like him have against a guy like Jack? He has too many vulnerabilities, and he knows it.]

[expendableasset]

Is there anything I can do to help you out other than keep my mouth shut?

[ there's nothing tim can personally think of off the top of his head that would be helpful, but maybe boxer has some sort of plan for...something. ]

[n_ll]

Need your help keeping him away from here. Divert, distract...whatever you can do.

[So technically, he has no plan, he's just taking this one step at a time.]

[expendableasset]

Okay.

[ tim doesn't think jack has any reason to come to the church, and if boxer's been playing his cards right there's nothing leading him to think he should. hopefully. he's hit with an unexpected twinge of guilt at the thought of working against his boss, even with their strained relationship -- he bites it back, rubs at the back of his own neck again. ]

When do you think she's gonna wake up?

[n_ll]

[The church is near the lake, so it's under threat only by proximity.]

Likely whenever the next fog hits.

[expendableasset]

Right.

[ he chews on the inside of his cheek -- oscillating between nervous habits. there's a terrible thought nagging at him, now, one he doesn't want to hear the answer to, but he needs to know. ]

Is there any chance she won't?