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[a_shadow]

I.

I'm not asking for anyone's help making this decision, but I've got a big one that dropped in my lap, and I'm thinking about the whole process now. You know—dealing with the whole 'this is going to affect me for the rest of my life' thing.

It's not fun.

I think I know what I'm going to do, but pulling the trigger, so to speak...it sucks.

II.

[ Several minutes later, a for sale ad is sent out from Tex's network address: ]

For sale: 2 android-style robots. These are empty shells without any sort of intelligence included. 1 suit of Freelancer armor. Cobalt blue. Sniper rifle not included. Prices on these items are negotiable. Please make a reasonable offer.

Comments

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[prorenataa]

Tex, are you sure about this?

[ Seriously, there hadn't been that much time since their conversation. ]

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[a_shadow]

Would I be doing this if I wasn't sure?

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[prorenataa]

I'm afraid ... yes.

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[a_shadow]

[ There's a bit of a gap before she responds again. Rinzler has her all mixed up again. ]

Look. If I have it in the house, I'm going to use it. That's all there is to it.

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[prorenataa]

What if you put it under someone protection, while you tried out what it means not to have ready access to it?

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[a_shadow]

You mean like, I could arrange in advance to use it on occasion?

NOT HERE

[ryuuzaki]

[Totally here.]

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[prorenataa]

That would be your choice.

More immediate, you wouldn't have knee-jerk access to it, but at the same time you won't have completely burned your options, without being absolutely sure, this is the route you want to go.

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[a_shadow]

Are you offering to be its keeper, then?

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[prorenataa]

[ Uhm.

Not exactly where he'd been going with this but ... ]

If it would help.

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[a_shadow]

It would, I think. It really would.

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[prorenataa]

Err, then I suppose it can be an option.

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[a_shadow]

[ That's the first he's indicated he feels pressed into the idea and she rolls her eyes. ]

Well, don't do me any favors, Adrien. Just do it if you want to.

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[prorenataa]

What is that even supposed to mean? I will do this if it will help you, but all I can be in this is a storage provider. I can't help you make the ultimate decision.

[ Forgive him if he's a little leery about getting caught up in the process. Thank you very much he can fuck over his own life in spades; he doesn't need to spread the joy around. ]

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[a_shadow]

That's all I'm asking for.

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[prorenataa]

Then I have a shed that can be secured.

Except for the space spiders. I have no control over space spiders.

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[a_shadow]

As long as they don't eat metal I think we're okay

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[prorenataa]

They haven't to date.

They're just really fucking creepy.

[ Think sprickets on steroids. ]

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[a_shadow]

I have a car. I can load them up and bring them by any time that's convenient for you. And we ought to make rules about when I'm allowed to ask to use one. Would three days' notice be enough?

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[prorenataa]

I'll abide by your parameters. If you want to have to give a three day notice, then that is what I'll expect. But in my opinion, merely having to stop and think about traveling somewhere else before you make the swap, should be enough.

[ He's not 100% sanguine about cutting her off so completely, when they are still in a world with a lot of unknowns. ]

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[a_shadow]

[ Adrien underestimates how stubborn she is, and how much she'll want to use her armor, or so it seems to her now. But they'll see. ]

That's what I'll do then. I'll come down to your place tomorrow.

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[prorenataa]

You know where I live.

[ Which was his way of saying 'come over any time.'. ]