#secretsflame

                                                             The year is 2027.

                           It is a time of great INNOVATION and technological advancement. 

                            It is also a time of CHAOS and CONSPIRACY. 

                                         I don't even know whose side I'm on.

@icarusburning ;;

     Megan knew she should have skipped the coffee. Although she was never late to the office – always a half hour early as custom – the long line made her anxious. When customers began sitting down at tables rather than waiting in line, she followed suit. Accepting the fact she might be a few minutes late, she opened her pocket secretary to check her emails.

     The scrape of a chair made her look up. The man that sat down seemed somewhat familiar, though she couldn’t recall ever being introduced. Was it in passing? A conference? “Umm…” She furrowed her brow. “Can I help you?”

     “Needed somewhere to sit,” he replied. “Thought you wouldn’t mind some company.”

     “Do I know you from somewhere?”

     “Here, actually. Name’s Adam.”

     “Oh, okay. I’m Megan. Nice to meet you.” Satisfied that she had been polite and hadn’t made a social faux-pas, she returned to her email.

     There was a bit of a pause before the man spoke again. “So do you come here often?”

     She didn’t look up from her task. “On my way to work. It’s the only one on this street.” 

     “Right.” Another pause. “Can I buy you a coffee?”

     “I already purchased it.”

     “Then next time?”

     “Why?” Her focus turned to him, eyes narrowed with scrutiny. She must have seemed angry rather than confused, because he looked nervous. He was only trying to be kind, and she had appeared offended. She needed to right it. After an attempt to soften her expression, she tried again. “Why would you want to?”

     “I’d like to get to know you. If… that’s alright.” 

     “O-oh…” Adam had seemed to hesitate, which made her feel worse now that she’d caught on to what he was trying to say. He was certainly patient. Though this was far from what she had expected today, she gave him a soft smile. “Of course! I’m so sorry,” she said with a laugh. “You probably think the worst of me.”

     He seemed encouraged by her response. “No, I wouldn’t say that.” 

     His smile warmed her heart. This felt unreal, like some book romance. It felt… right. She knew she had to go for it. Take the chance. She barely knew the man, but there was some thrill to it. And he felt… safe. For her, that was a risk worth taking. 

     “How about dinner?” she asked. “I’ll pay for myself, since you just offered coffee. Don’t want you to spend too much… I can give you my number. I leave the office at five, but… if you’d rather another time, I–”

     “Six? And don’t worry about it. My treat.”

adam in the bg: ????? why??? r u???? still here???? in prague???????????

     HE KNOWS SOMEONE is in his apartment long before he enters it, from the second Adam steps foot on his floor his HUD picks up a dot at the far end of the corridor. Right where he lives. His limping steps are slow and a small sigh escapes lips, he only pauses at his front door for second before he pushes it open. Despite the wounds and bruising adorning his side he can at least still move and dodge if need be. And yet he doesn’t need to.

Door clicks closed, now locked behind him,  pistol drops to the floor in surprise, and the aug’s body relaxes the slightest–– if only to a more injured state. Carefully, he inches closer and a hand moves to rest his weight atop his couch, ❝ ––– Megan ? What.. what are you doing here ? ❞ God of all the days she drops by it’s the day he looks like garbage.

     As soon as she had located Adam’s apartment, she had made a somewhat rash and gut-felt decision to go there. To seek help, shelter, whatever she could. The door had been unlocked. A breach of privacy, but she didn’t feel safe standing outside. However, the longer she sat and waited, the more anxious she became. What if she drew them here? What if he wouldn’t listen to her?

     At the sound of the door, she stands quickly to face him. There’s a slight pause as she determines which to address first: his appearance or his question. 

.     Megan knew something was wrong as soon as she got home. There was a half-packed suitcase on the bed. A couple of boxes by the door. She knew for a while that this would happen. How long could she have kept it up? He must have found out, either through Sarif or her own files.

     But it was neither. “You were working late again.”

     Puzzled, she looked to him. “Yes? I’m sorry, Adam. I’ll walk Kubrick tomorrow, I just–”

     “No… it’s not about that.” There was barely any anger in his tone. Simply exhaustion. That distinction made her so very guilty. 

     “Then what is it about, Adam?” 

     “Why don’t you tell me, Meg?“ Her guilt must have edged into her tone, because there was the anger. His voice raises in volume just slightly, which makes her defensive on reflex. 

“There’s nothing, Adam! Nothing wrong! I don’t understand why–” 

     “I know there is, Megan.” There’s a twitch in his expression betraying his pain and hurt. His voice lowers, keeping it from becoming a shouting match. “You’ve just stopped talking about it. Stopped talking to me at all. When was the last time we talked about anything that wasn’t work? Can you remember? You can talk to me.” 

     He seemed so genuinely worried, that it hurt for her to respond as she did. “I can’t.” He couldn’t know. He was better off not knowing. She stood firm, holding back her emotions as they threatened to burst from her. “I’m sorry, Adam, but… I guess I’ve known for a while, now. I… don’t have the capacity for more than a professional relationship.” 

     Her words were stiff, calculated, and she could tell that he knew it wasn’t the truth. Adam seemed to try to form some response, though instead gave a small solemn nod. He then tossed a few more things into the suitcase. “That’s not the reason, but if you can’t tell me… guess there’s no point.” He closed the suitcase, then went for the door. “I’ll… pick up the rest later.”

     “You’re leaving?” They had bought the house together. Part of her thought she’d be the one asked to leave. After all, it was her fault this was happening. She was the one keeping secrets. She was the one hiding things from him. He should be angry, but he just seemed disappointed.

     “Yeah. Think that’s the best for both of us.” There was a catch in his tone that made her heart ache. But it was for the best. “Goodbye, Meg.”

     Megan thought it would be a relief, not living with a constant reminder of her betrayal. But it hurt more to see him leave. The idea occurred to her to leave now, to go after him, to explain. But he was better off not knowing. Better off without her. This was the best option. She knew.

also, dat medium

Main Verse:

Romantic attraction: none | very low | low | medium | high | very high | extremeSexual attraction: none | very low | low | medium | high | very high | extremeAesthetic attraction: none | very low | low | medium | high | very high | extreme Sensual attraction: none | very low | low | medium | high | very high | extreme

Lethal Verse:

Romantic attraction: none | very low | low | medium | high | very high | extremeSexual attraction: none | very low | low | medium | high | very high | extremeAesthetic attraction: none | very low | low | medium | high | very high | extreme Sensual attraction: none | very low | low | medium | high | very high | extreme