“I totally forgot you were comin’ by today.”, the smile was clearly forced, his voice too low compared to his usual cheery self. “I got no surprises for you today. I’ll make it up to you next time, okay?”

“Hey, it’s alright, bud, I’ve told you, haven’t I? You really don’t need to do anything for me. You have enough to do and worry about, I’m just happy to get to see you.”

Her demeanor went soft instantly on reading his voice and posture, knowing a fake smile when she saw one. Especially on someone who smiled so naturally the majority of the time. Of course, now there was the question of pride. Something was up, but Messenger wasn’t sure if or how to address it. The guys tended to not be big on feeling pitied or like they were being read as weak…

Technically, she didn’t have to make the pickup until tomorrow, but…

“Uh, that being said, I have a favor to ask if you’re willing? I’m supposed to be picking up some puppies to deliver to m-a pet rescue after I finish drop off here, but I could use another pair of hands to steady the crate on the back of my scooter?”

❝ HEY, I’m a luxury few can afford, okay? ❞ @talariis

“Oh THAT kind of kiss, I thought you meant Hershey’s,” she smacks him in the face with a $20 and does a spot on yet awful exaggerated imitation of Danny Devito even though he’s not an actor yet in this timeline, “You want a sugar daddy? I can be you’se sugar daddy. Get y’self someting nice, sweetaht.”

” It’s too cold outside — ‘ere, take my jacket. You can give it back the next time you drop back at RED. “

“Oh, uh thanks! You sure you won’t need it though? I mean, I really appreciate it Scout, but I don’t want you t’get cold on my behalf.”

She did slip the jacket on, though, knowing he wouldn’t offer unless he meant it. Still…

Messenger fished around in her bag for a minute then pulled out:

“You wanna borrow this as a trade off? Might keep your ears a little warmer than a baseball cap.”

‘ YOU! whispering Messenger, who is this? ‘

“Uh he uh…”

It was one of those very lovely uncomfortable situations where both parties were badly out of place. Messenger was supposed to be in California as a secretary. David was supposed to be…well she didnt keep tabs on him but probably NOT in Teufort. At least, she super didn’t want him to be. They’d recognized each other almost simultaneously after literally bumping into each other on the street, but David was the one to verbalize it first.

Scout’s reply to the giant man’s shocked ‘you’ had broken Messenger somewhat out of her shock.

“Sc-Scott this. Is my…this is David. My father. A completely ordinary… respectable business person. Like. Us.”

She stealth elbowed Ben slightly to emphasize the last point. Her acting skills were much shakier and more blatant than usual. Messenger stuffed her hands in her pockets, and smiled through gritted teeth. Oh boy. What the fuck was he doing here? Had mom told him she worked for Mann Co?

David stared down “Scott” in stony silence.

@talariis

“You know what, you’re right. I should have been more specific.”

“SOMETHING CARRYING FOUR OR MORE GUNS FUCKIN FIGHT ME!”

He gives her a quick, nice kiss on her cheek, his lips barely touching the corner of her mouth

Messsenger’s face flushes pink almost instantly, and her iconic big goofy flustered smile appears despite her attempt to keep it at least somewhat not so dorky. She has never had success with that.

“Ha, aha thanks uh,”

The gears turn in her head for a second as she marks their height difference, ultimately deciding to brace her hands on his shoulders and hop up a bit to give him a peck in return. It’s pretty clumsy, but she does manage to kiss just a bit under his cheekbone. Back on the ground, Messenger takes her hands off Scout’s shoulders and sticks them in her pockets. Still very pink, still dweeby smile.
“Gotta be even, right?”

@talariis Roped In– reply to Scout’s Rewriting the lore ft. Messenger spends five and a half months in jail with Spy and Scout

————

“Who me? Escape plan? Psh, pshh naaaawwww I would never,”

The playful sarcasm was a bit more tired than usual, but Mess still managed to grin at Scout from the bottom bunk. She’d been keeping quiet today and mainly just staring at the graffiti above her. And avoiding looking at Joey Murders. She was pretty chill with most dangerous people, but this one high key terrified her. It was the nose, she was sure of it.

Messenger held her hands out to catch the book.

“You’re doing a lot of work, buddy, and It’s pretty damn admirable, but honestly? I don’t think we’re getting out of this one so easy.”

She sat up and faced him, leaning against the wall.

“The verdict is gonna be guilty, Scout. I know you’re from a big city with actual interesting things happening and a…relatively… somewhat functional judicial system, but Teufort’s not like that. Grew up in a sorta backhill sweetcorn and horses, hunting farming town so take it from me when I say we’re not gonna convince anyone anything. We’re up against him boredom, bud. The mercs’re the only interesting thing this town has so they’re gonna squeeze a last bit of entertainment out of us now we’re fired.”

She took a pause and looked up at an interesting fleck of something on the ceiling.

“Our best bet is to play to that. Verdict’ll be guilty because we don’t know exactly what we’re being accused of so how the fuck do we prep for it, and also cuz Mike is a giant chode. Dodja know he hung a man for jaywalking in his own cornfield a few years back?”

“But I think I can get you out. I’m really good at playing the excited idiot: I think I can convince mike to draw out the fun by killing us one by one. Like a pageant. Then I’ll volunteer to go first, people love a go getter, and, while everyone’s focused on hanging me, you and Spy get the hell out of dodge.”

@talariis: Questions and Answers

❝ What is it like deliverin’ messages n’ guns for the teams? Is it dangerous? Didja’ ever get into any fights with the other guys? Why a messenger? What’s even your real name? Would you like to go on a date? What made you choose to work for Mann co.? Which team do you like better? Would you link to hang out at the base with me?❞

“Woah wow woah boy- I need a minute,” she put her hands up and pulled out a pad of paper to scribble the questions down before she forgot all of them, “…Y’know, honestly? Delivering to you badlands teams is actually the most relaxing part of my job?”
She paused and put a pointer finger up.
“Mail wise and stuff I mean, not TV messages so much. Some guys still…don’t like that.”
“So yeah, it’s dangerous. I mean, it’s been dangerous, right? Back in uhh…’60? People were still dying and swapping out all the time before respawn got solidified so it was a coinflip on friendliness day by day. Now I at least know who to avoid and/or use ranged delivery on so local delivery is somewhat less life threatening. But uh, I wouldn’t call anything here a fight. Little too one sided for that. Mostly I just hit the deck and wait, y’know? Not much I can do if anybody really gets a hankering to kill me…mostly.”

“Why ‘Messenger…’ well it’s kinda a rank thing on one hand? I’m like…the least expendable of the messengers and‘ve always had more job variability than ‘em so I get that nice proper noun priveledge. Lower pay grade technically but I’m pretty sure only one of em has managed to collect more than three times. And when they die I get half their severance as kinda a reward for outliving another grunt…I donate that.”

“On the other hand, Boss essentially owns my name, and I don’t want to put my family at risk so. Sorry Scout, it’s confidential.”

She looks over the questions again and goes pink very fast.

“Uh, I um I’m gonna answer that one last. Mann co was a… well I needed a job outta town and happened to see a listing for a satellite office of Mann Co that had like…the qualification was essentially having a pulse so. Then uh…that office…closed. But I…got moved. To HQ. Figured it was easier than searching for a different job so… eh,” she shrugged, “I need money if I’m gonna buy a little farm and have a bunch of dogs and horses someday. With room for my mom.”

Certain aspects of that answer could be seen as somewhat guarded.

She raised an eyebrow at the favorites question:
“You better not spread this, but so far Red’s ahead. I fear for my life significantly less when here. Some nice guys on blu, but generally I prefer y’all. Plus that Hot Choc won you points. Y’all would’ve lost points for killing my grunts and using their bones as art deco… but blu’s done it too. So you’re even.”
“So count that as yes I’d like to hang out sometime. Not running around for a bit is nice, and I like bothering you with shitty jokes.”
She took a breath, her face getting a whole lot redder. She rubbed her neck and shoulders and looked at the floor.
“I mean. If you’re actually serious about a date? S-sure? If it’s a joke, that’s fine.”

She looked up with a smile, responding in a very level voice, “It’s funny, in that case.”

Messenger blinked, confused at his first statement. Not the terrible jokes bit. She knew darn well how much of a horrible gremlin she was. But…
“I uh, superior? I mean, don’t get me wrong I appreciate the not killing, but I don’t think I’m really…above y’all rank wise. Parallel maybe? But uh!”

She pulled a smile back on, pretty easily because she was genuinely excited. Not really at the prospect of seeing the guys splatter each other on the walls, not that it was worse than what she saw on the regular, but the prospect of being at the cameras and puns… that was nice.

“I’ll be there! And no worries on the comm-I have like three different types on me at all times anyway.”
She paused for a moment and leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, cocking her head to the side and grinning evilly.
“Not that I’m gonna lay down and let you win the pun fight so easy. Not with you a captive audience.”
The grin eased into a crinkle eyed smile.
“Seriously though Scout? I’m really looking forward to this. Even if I’ll proooobably get flak for leaking live intel to you because there’s no way I’m gonna keep my mouth shut if I’m at the monitors.Can’t do it even when I’m not.”

@talariis: Questions and Answers

Ok guys, Bad news: we lost that last one. Good news: you still got me.

Ok guys,
Bad news: we lost that last one.
Good news: you still got me.