#ru5t

Wraith was headed to the garage anyway to tinker on Alé when she heard the tumble of tools. She hesitates, cursing herself for leaving her gun upstairs. Well, it’s not too late to go grab it; she heads back to their room, picks up her holster, gives Kali a scratch under her chin and Bash a quick kiss, before heading downstairs again.

Maze and Rocket are in the kitchen chatting, Rocket perched on a stool as Maze makes food. Rocket’s dog lies, patient, just outside the doorway to the Canteen. Wraith backtracks when she sees them. “Hey, is anyone supposed to be in the garage right now?”

Maze nods, attention shifting to Wraith. “Tech’s doing some maintenance for the Web,” she explains. “Why?”

Wraith gestures, thumb over her shoulder. “Heard a crash or somethin’, like… tools fallin’ over?”

Maze goes pale. “Tech,” she breathes, abandoning the food and dashing from the kitchen. Wraith follows after a confused glance at Rocket. Maze reaches the door first, pulls it open and steps out. Wrath follows, but nearly runs into the door again when she sees what’s waiting. “Jesus,” she swears, one hand going to her mouth.

Maze studies the scene, quickly putting together a likely series of events. The eyes alone are enough to tell her this was deeply, deeply personal. Her gaze is gentle as it finally settles on Tech, and she gives a nod of agreement. “Now he knows.” She doesn’t care who he was, trusts Tech that he deserved it. All she hopes is that Tech is physically unhurt, and found some catharsis in the action.

Wraith’s eyes are fixed high. “It’s a lotta fuckin’ blood,” she says faintly.

“Five quarts in all,” Maze responds. “Give or take. You only need to lose half of it.” She takes a careful step closer to Tech, hands open at her sides. Not hiding, not reaching. Her eyes stay on Tech, but she aims over her shoulder at Wraith, “Go tell Rickie we need to use her shower. And…” Maze considers for a beat. “Ask Cos for a change of clothes.”

“Are you—?”

“It’s fine,” she assures. “Go.”

Wraith doesn’t need to be told twice, disappearing back into the building.

“I don’t like you.” It is a value-free statement; said much the way someone might say I don’t like green. Aqua studies her, a flush in her face that points to multiple alcoholic drinks. She take a drink from the near-empty glass in her hand. “I don’t understand you.” A gesture, waving between the two points. “I fear these may be… related issues.” She tilts her head, looking for all the world like a confused puppy. “I like being wrong,” she says, before turning to gesture to the bartender for another drink. She tosses back the last of her current one, turns back to Tech. “I don’t like… not understanding.” Disappointment colors her expression, but it’s self-directed.

Behind them, Wraith sputters and dissolves into laughter. Mel turns a dark glare on her, and she holds up her hands in surrender before pressing them both over her mouth to stifle her amusement. She doesn’t quite manage to stop laughing, though.

“You don’t gotta do anything,” Fran promises. “We jus’ want the Tavern to be full, y’know, so he don’t notice anything happenin’. By the time he realizes what’s up, you can be long gone.”

“You’re not even his type,” Mel assures. “I doubt he’ll even notice you.”

“ a little bird told you? ” august repeats the damning expression. a flush floods his narrow, gaunt face. (you know. that stupid, fire blast feeling when you’re caught hiding something bad.) his chestnut eyes flick, flack toward his busted, broken shoes. better than meeting her gaze.

"Maddy." Ollie hisses her name out with urgency as he darts out from the common room. He moves to intercept before she can get all the way to ... well, he'd assumed she'd been heading to Duke's office, though he hadn't waited long enough to see.

Anyone in the area knows to point those with any sort of vehicular trouble to Rev and Ven; the pair could fix up anything for a reasonable price. If Rev couldn't fix it, it was too far gone for fixing. So no one is particularly surprised to see strangers drop in, cars limping along or walking their bikes to Rev’s garage. Babies always ran like new out of it after Rev’s tender loving touch.

Ven is on a stool just inside the garage, watching for customers, while Rev works on Rose’s bike. She notices Tech’s approach, waits until she’s close enough to bother calling out. “Engine trouble?”