Reading

Open fileNeed to knowMy clearance

A.Journal

Checks

1,054 checks

He knows it's impractical.

The wind whips her hair back and forth across her face. Between the strands -- flashes of your old friend, the same wild eyes, the same snarling grin.

The fresh wound splits back open.

And managing relationships.

He doesn't like being called 'the phone guy'.

Not his thing, personally.

Bags under his eyes, tense shoulders. Yes, this man is very, very tired of it all.

Mysterious Rustamian? Keeps to himself? Is this... Ramses?

A deep sigh of relief calming singed nerves.

A complete absence of conviction and enthusiasm. Words simply fell out of his mouth.

'One' meaning 'Reno', of course. Singular.

A flagrant misuse of man for his own gain.

He's less confident than he used to be. Pain is a great teacher.

Said without a trace of pride.

It's hard for him to remember.

An audience member at his own vivisection.

A guest at his own vivisection.

They moved out before garbage collection day, hoping to avoid another fine stacked atop the broken lease, the lost deposit, the month's rent half-wasted...

It all happened very quickly, once they'd made the decision to leave. In that moment, the priorities seemed clear.

Still, a part of him was hoping for a little more out of their private journey.

Apart from the girl around which it is built.

A face flashes on the underside of your mind -- expression stern behind a black cigarette. Yana needs to agree to this too.

He doesn't notice.

More than a trace of envy.

He tries to underplay it, jars the cadence.

But nothing he could easily forget. Push him a little.

Former enemies can often make the most loyal allies.

And you both know it.

A massive sign marked 'NONCE' flashes red in your mind.

Sounds pretty 'off the books'... Eszti's going to be even more mad at you now.

Except your self-doubt.

Reno's beloved model train.

Strange that she's not, now that she thinks about it.

The twinge of pain is familiar, almost nostalgic. That one's going to leave a mark.

Spare her this knife, at least.

The city was her chrysalis.

She has yet to notice it's already stuck in.

You can. And you should.

For the first time -- just for the life and death of a second -- you see her as a fearful young girl, flinching at every movement outside the door.

Raw deal, she thinks, but still a deal.

An enviable life... if you squint.

The word sounds blasphemous coming from her mouth.

It was eerie, she thinks. A silencing of all music amid the man's gravitational pull.

Yours don't seem to require the spotlight.

Now she's fan-shifting as Tempo, a gay middle-aged criminal.

A couple she's very proud of, even.

No contempt, just a light sadness.

Of course that's what you say now, in the cold light of rational thought. But a submerged part of you remembers those moments as they were.

Doesn't care for that collective noun.

1,054 skill checks - ZERO PARADES field manual - Page 15 of 22