ataraxion | fifth shot; video/action

[Francis has been having a really hard time of it lately. not only is the ship the same as ever (ie: it sucks), but his dad's gone, too. not his dad dad, since he's never actually been on the ship, but it's hard not to project onto every Clint Barton he happens to meet, and Ults Clint is gone. whisked back to wherever he came from, where Francis doesn't exist

the kid doesn't take loss easy, no matter what he'd like others to believe, and this one he's taking particularly hard

so he went hunting. grabbed his gear, made his way into the lab and started killing every rat he could find. which isn't hard to do, since there appears to be a never-ending supply of them, and Francis only had so many arrows

which is where you come in, TQ. because Francis is currently pretty beat up and fending off a few rats with the one arrow he has left. it's the only reason he even turned his device on. he isn't one to ask for help, but he also doesn't want to die, so]

Could use a hand here.

[and the feed cuts]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I needed to do something, okay? I've never had trouble handling these things before. [he also had backup, but he'll conveniently not mention that]

You needed to suddenly run into a contained area that we know and announce as hostile.

[y u ask such smrt questions] Yeah well, the last time I took out a robot I got a lot of crap. Didn't think anyone would miss some rats.

We have gyms if you need to let off steam. Call someone in to spar if you want real impact. Doesn't put you at risk.

Yeah, well. [the risk was half the reason he came down here] Lesson learned, or whatever.

Sounds real convincing.

Look, I'll be to work tomorrow, okay? That convincing enough?

Work tomorrow and then running off somewhere else stupid the day after? Why were you even down there?

I told you I'm not doing this again. [he's a bit snippier than he should be with his boss, but he's never really known rank, other than being at the top of it] And I told you. I needed to do something. I'm tired of this ship taking everything away.

[There's a pause. Taylor's more capable than she used to be about approaching something like this delicately, but she's not actually sure that route will work with Francis. So she just asks it straight.]

Did you lose someone at the jump?

[he's quiet a moment, then stabs a rat so he doesn't have to look at her]

Wasn't the first time. Sure it won't be the last.

Doesn't make it any better.

[She'd know. She's had enough people come and go.]

Look, can we just - [stab stab stab that rat] I don't want to talk about it, okay?

Okay. [A pause.] You know where I am.

[If that ever changes. Or if he wants to spar it out.]

Thanks. I'll keep it in mind.

fifth shot; video/action

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