[game: boomtown] rough to be a half of a pair, so...quietly looking for the other half

[thewayshifter]

 Won't happen, you know.  I'm sure as a skyspinner spins you'll find no willing partners in dragging my wingmate to New Dodge.  He'd like it though, as sure as a any Pilot'll take a dive at Games.  There's challenge in the run and he'd roll right out for a meet greet.  Rough spot to be in, I guess. Separated by time and space is a good blasted chunk of misfortune, but I was the one who wanted to go.

Can't blame me for wanting a chance, can you?  Not like I'm bonded to him like I'm to Eth.  Still wish he was here, though.  He can be an ass, sure, but he's my wingmate and we're in it until we die.

Comments

[locomotion]

Wingmate?

[that's an interesting term.]

[thewayshifter]

Sure. Pilot term, that is. Means he's got my back and I've his. Even if he flaps his gums too much and fight spoils more that he ought.

[locomotion]

[wry smile.]

That sounds familiar. [the description, but still not the term.] Why's he so hard to find then? He seems like the type that would revel in the attention.

[thewayshifter]

According to the mun, if she wants him all up in everyone's business at New Dodge, she's gotta be finding someone brave enough to take his voice on. Guess that makes it all sorts of difficult for him to get off the ground, so to speak.

Said she'd do them up right, though. Lots of talking, this one.

[locomotion]

There's always people looking for that kind of challenge, aren't there? What about her friends?

[thewayshifter]

Don't think she's been not been asking and advertising. Lotta folks are tied up with places and things of their own. Might have an interested party today, though as luck might run it. Bound to find someone as long as she keeps on with it. I tell her plenty that it's like pre-Flight, it doesn't matter how bad the storm gets, you keep on going and you'll break though.

We're not on pages out there for folk to read - not yet - and so word of mouth and caution'll follow us.

[locomotion]

Sounds promising. I hope it all works out, though you sound pretty determined yourself. I'm sure the both of you'll find some way to make it work.

[thewayshifter]

That we will. [She flashes a grin.] When life's most uncertain, that's where you gotta be the strongest and shape yourself into what you want yourself to be. Gotta turn on the afterburners and race to the finished if you wanna make your goal, after all.

Kieron'd say that much, I know. Probably add some joke that I'm no good at, me with my City mouth.

[locomotion]

[and he can't help but smile back. her attitude makes everything contagious.]

I don't know, I think you and your City mouth are doing just fine. Guessing Kieron is the name of your friend, but I don't think I caught yours.

[thewayshifter]

Madrilene Sorrin. But it's near always been just Ril.

[locomotion]

'Just Ril'? You don't seem like a 'just' anything.

[thewayshifter]

Oi, so. Some stickgripper called me 'Maddy' once when he was making a play all very smooth. [She laughs.] Didn't sit right, y'know? So. 'Just Ril' -- that's become habit.

[She flicks a gesture, hands up as she shakes her head.]

But sure, I guess if you manage to burn through pre-Flight and all the shit you gotta do to live through the augmentation process to be a prowler pilot, you're not 'just' anything, after all.

[locomotion]

So I should stick to Ril and not Maddy. Got it.

[The smile on his face is crooked, enough of a hint that he's mostly kidding around, though it shifts to something a little warmer and fonder quick enough.]

I know someone who would definitely agree with you there. [A small chuckle.] Pretty sure he's never called himself just anything in his entire life.

You look a little young to be a pilot though. —Uhh, no offense or anything.

[thewayshifter]

Non taken. [She shrugged a little.] Been training for this since I was fifteen. Not any easy road, that. You either live through it, short out your brain, or die. Managed to survive, I did.