ANTIFRAGILE.

He sniffles a little before the sob turns into a snort and he waves his hand.

" Ah, just kidding. "

come to think of it, joker would like it here in some ways,

While there had never been a set date and time, Mira had found herself free for the day and in her meeting of the Commander before, there was an offer of meeting something called K-9? Kai-Nine? Something she would need to ask what the spelling of later.

A hand reaches for her phone before she's opening the messaging application and clicking on the desired contact.

[txt.] Hello again, Commander Shepard. [txt.] During our last meeting you asked if I would like to meet someone called 'Kay-Nine', and I am free today to do so, if time permits for you as well. [txt.] I am also aware I may have spelled their name wrong, for which, I apologize.

" Let's get going, girl." the commander replies, shooting back the guide a quick confirmation, stating that she'd be at Mira's place shortly.

there's a distant memory of maria telling him about guns. the train robber had seemed surprised when they were unknown to him - undoubtedly an invention beyond his own time period - and had explained their purpose, the basics of usage. in another time where he was not directly in harm's way, it seemed easy enough to do: a focused aim, the pull of a curved metal piece to release a bullet. now, watching as the ( much braver ) stranger handles it with twice the expertise he could ever dream of having, the preceding embarrassment to an attempt he already foresees as unsuccessful kicks in full force.

" have a little faith in me, i'm a great shot, " he gulps as he takes the gun into his hand: he just has to think of this like archery but with less steps. " you're gonna, um, be so surprised, it's gonna rock your world. "

the weapon is turned in his hold a few times, fingers shifting against the cold metal in search of a comfortable manner to hold it. the spectre's advice is registered as fast as she leaves his side. almost on cue, the groans behind them seem to grow louder and will turns immediately to aim at them.

.. he's an okay shot.

" so what's our big plan here? " rushing towards her, his torso twists uncomfortably back as to allow him to keep attacking. " please tell me you have somewhere we can go and like, hide, or - "

from the corner of his eye, will can see her clear out their opponents bare-fisted and freezes. his thoughts are boiled down to three simple words: woah, pretty lady.

" I was planning to go for a nearby shelter–" duck low, leg sweep to the left, back up again"– but your friend's apartment sounds like a much better idea." for the time being, anyways. she had no plans to keep them on the run for a prolonged period of time. " We're just gonna have to speed this up before running for it!"

reckless was something that was synonymous with the name commander shepard and no matter where she was, that wasn't going to change. once the area seemed mostly clear in front of them, she slows her pace until he's caught up, turning around to notice the group thinned but stragglers left remained determined. cursing under her breath, shepard reaches for the widow, shoulders relaxing at the familiar weight of the anti-material rifle in her hands. one knee against the ground, the other bent at a perfect angle, she props the gun up on a toppled trashcan.