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[REALLY TABRIS

REALLY

He totally did not realize this was you at first and just had to excuse himself from a meeting to see what crap might have hit the fan thanks a lot]

[You know what you need, Quintus? What you really need? Tabris to send you a kind of inappropriate for work picture to your phone. Congratulations.]

[You seem to time these things really well, Tabris. Or really horribly. Because he was in a meeting this time, too, and totally turned a funny color upon seeing that.

...Well, at least her naughty bits are covered up. It's almost classy compared to what he might've expected of her. And he might be spending a good few moments wondering who she convinced to take that photo and whether they knew what she was intending to do with it. Organized trolling is something he could reallllly do without.]

What part of 'please only message me if you have an actual problem that needs solving' did you not understand?

Define problem. :)

Okay, fine:

1. someone dying
2. someone trying to kill someone
3. rooms flooding or on fire

If it's not one of those things then do not message me.

Okay but what if someone is suffering a..........."little death" ;)))))

[At least she can be an intelligent perv????]

I'm pretty sure you told the entire network that that's none of my business.

Spying on people getting it on is different than being wooed by a beautiful woman, Quintus.

Are you mad about that??? Do you want it to be your business.

Not particularly, no.

Does Mr. Theirin know that you send me messages like this?

[Because Quintus may or may not have tried to figure out what the hell is going on with your love life, Tabris.]

What?

Do you think I'm trying to marry you????

I'm just thinking you'd be better off subjecting him to all this wooing instead of me.

[She finally gets through to an answer phone with Quintus' voice on it after spending nearly an hour being passed through various switchboards, on hold listening to the same Peacekeeper recruitment spiel until she practically knows it by heart, and having to answer the same questions from a myriad of suspicious underlings. Understandably, Emily sounds a little impatient.]

Mr Falxvale? It's Emily-- Emily Finch, that is. I know you're busy these days with your new position, but I wondered if you might help me out if you have some free time soon.

Hi, Ms. Finch. [He, for one, sounds a little perplexed--'help' could mean damn near anything, and he's not sure what might've been pressing enough for her to go through the effort of contacting him personally.] What do you need help with?

It's a little embarrassing. You said you'd been to District Four, right? To the sea.

I never spent a lot of time in Four, but I used to go to the beach in Eleven. I think that's what we were talking about.

Right. It was at Stephen's party, the beach at Four there was what got us onto it. [And now she's thinking about them dancing at that party and is very glad that he can't see her turning red.] Anyway, that means you must know how to swim, right?

Yeah. I got some lessons in basic training, actually. [Ah, now he's catching on.] You never learned, did you.

There's really not much call for it out in the forests. But, well, I'm looking for a teacher.

It's been a while since I've swam. I don't even know if I still have a swimsuit, to be honest. [He pauses, pondering that, then there's the creak of his chair as he stands.] I can't promise much, but I think I have some free time this weekend. Let me check with my secretary; it's been crazy trying to get everything together lately.

I'm sure I can get hold of one for you. I know a stylist or two, after all. [Although she's sure that he wouldn't thank her for anything that either Cassian or Beck whipped up for him. It would probably be little more than a thong.] It's okay, I don't mean to bother you, I know you must be busy in your new job and all. I just ... well, I'd prefer it was someone I know who isn't going to mess about in the water teaching me. Someone I can trust.

[That suggestion gives him horrendous mental images of something brightly colored and thong-like. He inwardly shudders.] Don't bother. I'll find one myself.

[He doesn't respond to her second statement, though he appreciates that she views him as trustworthy. She'll hear footsteps, then the muffled conversation with his secretary, from which she might catch that he isn't sharing many details about this--'going swimming' is reduced to 'visiting a friend.' Afterwards he puts his phone back to his ear, returning to his office.]

Looks like I can do Saturday evening or Sunday morning.

Let's go for Sunday. Wouldn't want to give people ideas seeing us around together on a Saturday night, after all. [She means it as a joke, but as soon as she's said it she knows he won't take it as one.]

Alright. I'll put you down for Sunday at ten. You got any preference as to where we go?

Some place quiet.

Good idea. Tell you what--I'll figure it out and call you back by tomorrow. [He's half-inclined to ask around, honestly. Even though he'll probably feel the need to sidestep why he's asking.]

[She notices him being a little vague there and hopes this isn't going to become a big deal.] All right. Have a good night.

You too.

[Click.]

[ And Quintus gets a selfie sent to him, of Tabris in the back of the studio, duck facing and holding up a peace sign. It comes with a little message. ]

LMAO!! Wish you were here, Quinny. ;-) Hope you enjoyed the show!!

[If he wasn't 100% done with you before, Tabris, he sure as hell is now.]

Very funny.

I will do my utmost to ensure that you are captured and executed for this crime.

You're so cute when you talk dirty. <3

[Nope, he's not humoring that with a response. Sorry, Tabris.]

H3LLO QU1NTUS F4LXV4L3.

TH1S 1S T3R3Z1 PYROP3. WR1T1NG TO YOU FROM D1STR1CT TH1RT33N.

HOW 4R3 YOU DO1NG? DO YOU M1SS M3 Y3T? 1 B3T 1T W4S N1C3 WORK1NG W1TH SOM3ON3 WHO 4CTU4LLY KN3W WH4T TH3Y W3R3 DO1NG. 1 W1LL 4SSUM3 TH4T YOU 4R3 S4Y1NG Y3S T3R3Z1 1 M1SS YOUR US3FULN3SS. TO WH1CH 1 W1LL R3SPOND: 1 M1SS YOURS TOO. 1T 1S 4 SH4M3 TH4T W3 C4N NOT S33 TH1NGS 3Y3 TO 3Y3. MOSTLY B3C4US3 1 4M PHYS1C4LLY BL1ND 4ND YOU 4R3 BL1ND 1N OTH3R W4YS. BUT 1 C4N 4PPR3C14T3 TH4T YOU 4R3 4 GOOD P3RSON. TH4T 1 COULD R3LY ON YOU. 1 4PPR3C14T3 TH4T YOU C4R3 4BOUT TH3 P3OPL3 UND3R YOU. TH4T YOU SHOW TH3M TH3 S4M3 B4S1C R3SP3CT 4S THOS3 4BOV3 YOU. TH4T 1S NOT 4 TR41T TH4T TH3 C4P1TOL T3NDS TO 3XC3L 4T. M4YB3 1F 1T W4S W3 WOULD NOT N33D TO H4V3 TH1S W4R.

YOU M1GHT TH1NK TH4T TH3S3 HYPOTH3T1C4LS 4R3 PO1NTL3SS. OR M4YB3 YOU DO NOT. 31TH3R W4Y 1 TH1NK TH3Y S3RV3 4 V3RY 1MPORT4NT PURPOS3. TH3R3 4R3 THOS3 WHO WOULD H4V3 TH3 R3B3LS STOP F1GHT1NG 4ND R3TURN TO P4N3M. 1T 1S 4LL W3LL 4ND GOOD TO S4Y TH4T BUT 1T DO3S NOT SOLV3 TH3 SOURC3 OF TH3 CONT3NT1ON. 4ND CONT3NT1ON W1THOUT R3SOLUT1ON W1LL ONLY L34D TO MOR3 CONT3NT1ON. TH3 W4Y 1 S33 1T TH3R3 4R3 ONLY TWO POSS1BL3 3ND1NGS TO TH1S W4R.

31TH3R HUM4N1TY W1LL W1P3 1TS3LF OUT OR TH3 R3B3LS W1LL G3T WH4T TH3Y 4R3 4FT3R.

BUT T3R3Z1 1 H34R YOU S4Y. WH4T 4BOUT TH4T OPT1ON WH3R3 YOU STOP F1GHT1NG? W3LL QU1NTUS 1 4M GL4D YOU 4SK3D. SUPPOS3 TH4T W3 DO STOP F1GHT1NG. SUPPOS3 TH4T 3V3RYON3 GO3S HOM3 4ND TH1NGS GO B4CK TO TH3 W4Y TH3Y W3R3. B3ST C4S3 SC3N4R1O OF COURS3 S1NC3 1 WOULD H4V3 TO B3 4N 1D1OT TO TH1NK TH4T TH3R3 WOULD NOT B3 DOZ3NS OF 3X3CUT1ONS FOR TH1S. BUT L3T US SUPPOS3 TH4T TH1NGS R3TURN TO NORM4L. 1T M4Y NOT H4PP3N 1MM3D14T3LY. 1T M4Y T4K3 4NOTH3R S3V3NTY F1V3 Y34RS. BUT TH3 UNH4PP1N3SS 1N TH3 D1STR1CTS W1LL FL4R3 UP 4G41N. TH3R3 W1LL B3 4NOTH3R R3B3LL1ON. 4ND 4NOTH3R. 4ND 4NOTH3R. 4ND TH3Y W1LL CONT1NU3 UNT1L TH3 C4P1TOL L34RNS TO TR34T TH3S3 P3OPL3 L1K3 P3OPL3. OR UNT1L TH3R3 1S NO ON3 L3FT TO F1GHT.

NOW 1 KNOW TH4T SOM3 M1GHT 4RGU3 TH4T TH3 C4P1TOL C4N CH4NG3. BUT YOU 4R3 4 SM4RT M4N. YOU H4V3 WORK3D CLOS3LY W1TH TH3 C4P1TOL. YOU 4ND 1 BOTH KNOW TH4T TH3Y 4R3 NOT GO1NG TO CH4NG3 NO M4TT3R HOW M4NY R3B3LL1ONS COM3 KNOCK1NG 4T TH31R DOOR. YOU C4N NOT F1X UP 4 HOUS3 W1TH 4 ROTT1NG FOUND4T1ON. SOON3R OR L4T3R TH3 HOUS3 W1LL C4V3 1N ON 1TS3LF. TH3 ONLY S4F3 TH1NG TO DO 1S T34R 1T DOWN 4ND R3BU1LD FROM TH3 BOTTOM UP.

4ND WH4T WOULD YOU BU1LD TH1S N3W HOUS3 W1TH? WOW YOUR QU3ST1ONS 4R3 SO ON PO1NT TOD4Y. S1NC3 YOU 4SK3D 1 M1GHT 4S W3LL T3LL YOU: COMP3T4NT 4ND COMP4SS1ON4T3 P3OPL3. L1K3 YOURS3LF 4CTU4LLY. WH1CH 1S WHY YOUR 4LL3G13NC3 TO TH3 C4P1TOL 1S SUCH 4 SH4M3. YOU WOULD DO W3LL W1TH US. WORK1NG TO M4K3 P4N3M B3TT3R FOR TH3 P3OPL3 WHO DONT H4V3 4 VO1C3 1N TH3 C4P1TOL. TH4T P3OPL3 WHO 4CTU4LLY N33D SOM3ON3 L1K3 YOU. TH3 R34L TR4G3DY 1S TH4T TH3 C4P1TOL TH1NKS 1T D3S3RV3S 3V3N H4LF TH3 C4R3 TH4T YOU PUT 1NTO YOUR JOB 4ND TH3Y 4R3 SO POORLY M1ST4K3N.

BUT 1 4M RUNN1NG OUT OF R4T1ON3D P4P3R TO WR1T3 TH1S ON SO 1 W1LL H4V3 TO S4Y F4R3W3LL FOR NOW. BUT DONT WORRY. 1 4M SUR3 TH4T YOU W1LL H34R FROM M3 4G41N SOON. T4K3 C4R3 QU1NTUS. ST4Y S4F3.

W1SH1NG YOU W3R3 H3R3,
T3R3Z1 PYROP3

[The response comes in a stamped envelope from Peacekeeper HQ and is printed on official letterhead.]

QU1NTUS F4LXV4L3,

1 4M 4W4R3 OF TH3 D1SPL4Y TH4T YOU PUT ON FOR TH3 C4P1TOL 4ND FOR TH3 R3ST OF P4N3M. 1 C4N NOT S4Y TH4T 1 4M 1MPR3SS3D. YOU SHOULD H4V3 T4K3N YOUR OWN 4DV1C3 4ND NOT L3T TH3 4CT1ONS OF ON3 M4N CLOUD YOUR JUDGM3NT. NO ON3 S3NT TH4T 4SS4SS1N 4FT3R YOU, 4T L34ST NOT FROM D1STR1CT TH1RT33N. 1 DO NOT 4PPROV3 OF TH3 4TT3MPT ON YOUR L1F3, 4ND 1 4M GL4D TH4T YOU 4R3 OK4Y; BUT YOU DO NOT G3T TO JUST1FY YOUR 4CT1ONS BY W4RP1NG TH3 TRUTH. WH4T YOU D1D W4S WRONG. TH4T M4N SHOULD H4V3 B33N PUN1SH3D, BUT NOT 4S 4 M3SS4G3 OF F34R TO TH3 P3OPL3 OF P4N3M.

1 F1ND 1T H4RD TO B3L13V3 TH4T 4 M4N WHO R3SORTS TO PUBL1C TORTUR3 W4S QU3ST1ON1NG MY P3RSP3CT1V3 ONLY 4 MONTH 4GO, BUT 1 GU3SS TH4T 1S TH3 WORLD TH4T 1 H4V3 B33N UNW1TT1NGLY TOSS3D 1NTO. TO 4NSW3R YOUR QU3ST1ON: 1 C4N NOT S4Y FOR SUR3 TH4T 1 KNOW WH4T MY COMR4D3S W4NT, BUT TH4T M4K3S NO D1FF3R3NC3 TO M3. 1 KNOW WH1CH ON3S 1 C4N TRUST.

DO YOU R34LLY TH1NK TH4T 4S 4 S33R 1 WOULD L3T TH1S W4R GO B4DLY? DO YOU R34LLY TH1NK TH4T 1 WOULD SUPPORT SOM3TH1NG W1THOUT 3X4M1N1NG 3V3RY POSS1BL3 OUTCOM3? TH3R3 4R3 4 M1LL1ON POSS1BL3 FUTUR3S OUT TH3R3, BUT 1T 1S ST1LL UP TO US TO CHOOS3 WH1CH P4THS TO W4LK. TH3 FUTURE IS M34NT TO B3 SH4P3D, NOT S1MPLY 3NDUR3D. 1 C4N NOT CONDON3 YOUR 1N4CT1ON 4NY MOR3 TH4N 1 C4N CONDON3 YOUR F34R T4CT1CS. TH3S3 P3OPL3 D3S3RV3 FR33DOM. TH3Y H4V3 HOP3S 4ND DR34MS, 4ND TH3Y D3S3RV3 4 CH4NC3 TO L1V3 FOR MOR3 TH4N TH31R US3FULN3SS TO TH3 C4P1TOL.

1 W1LL H4MM3R OUT 4 FUTUR3 WH3R3 4LL OF P4N3M C4N H4V3 4 CH4NC3 TO GROW 4ND FLOUR1SH, NOT JUST ON3 C1TY. 1 DO NOT N33D TH3 C4P1TOL TO DO TH1S. 1 DO NOT N33D D1STR1CT TH1RT33N. 1 DO NOT N33D YOU. BUT 1T WOULD H4V3 B33N N1C3 TO H4V3 YOUR TRUST. 1T WOULD H4V3 B33N N1C3 1F YOU COULD UND3RST4ND TH4T P34C3 4T TH3 3XP3NS3 OF OTH3RS 1S NOT WORTH PROT3CT1NG. P4N3M DO3S NOT H4V3 TO 3X1ST L1K3 TH1S 1F YOU COULD JUST H4V3 4 L1TTL3 F41TH 1N M3.

1 R34LLY THOUGHT TH4T YOU W3R3 SOM3ON3 TH4T 1 COULD H4V3 SOM3 F41TH 1N TOO. CONGR4TUL4T1ONS ON F1N4LLY PROV1NG M3 WRONG. 1 HOP3 TH4T V1CTORY 1S WORTHWH1L3 FOR YOU.

DO NOT BOTH3R R3SPOND1NG B4CK. 1 DO NOT TH1NK TH4T W3 H4V3 4NYTH1NG L3FT TO S4Y TO 34CH OTH3R.

-T3R3Z1 PYROP3

Edited 2016-03-24 22:55 (UTC)

[He almost doesn't read the letter--it ends up on his desk amidst a pile of papers, and he's drawn tight and stressed and still in pain from his healing wound. He knows, given the circumstances, that her words are bound to be unpleasant.

But he does read it, and when he gets to the third paragraph from the end he reads that passage over again. And again. At first glance it sounds like bombastic anger, which disappoints him given what he knows of her logical mentality--but then he makes the connection. The dismissal of Thirteen, rendering her rejection of her comrades' motives not willful blindness but an acknowledgement of risk. She's still questioning, as he always has.

(The thought rises unbidden: has he, really? Or has it been easier, these past months, to believe?)

He stares at the letter for a few more moments, then crumples it between his hands, tossing it in the trash. His back aches as he turns, and he considers fetching more painkillers.

Better not, he decides. He has to stay alert.

After all, he has work to do.]

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