Shades of Grey

[redhavoc]

*I nod, but don't uncurl. The dark seems to be helping. In an hour I slowly let the light in and put my feet back on the floor of the car. The light hurts, but not as much. I suspect the pain will come back. In the drivers seat Max looks unphased as usual. The car is silent and I look to the radio, remembering how Gear turned it on every single time we went anywhere, Poison too. Maybe it's a killjoy thing. I look at the tuning nob, wondering if I had the guts to push it*

[Max Griffiths]

*Red finally seems to recover a bit, but I think it might be a good idea to distract her. I hand her notebook to her, taking a pen out of the compartment in the center divider* Care to explain what happened on the third floor?

[redhavoc]

*I think back, even though I don't really want to, biting on the end of the pen. I write in bold letters so he can read it while driving: 'I went into the Manager's office and the security system activated, rigged by some killjoys. I was careless. The computer screen talked, made it clear I was going to die, and then activated the maybe 50 knives that were hanging from the ceiling. They were hooked to a contraption that made them fall and I reopened my wound dodging them. When you yelled I dove under the desk. By the end of the explosion all the knives were down, you know the rest'*

"My head hurts a little more as I write, but it feels good to get it out. I hand the book to Max and turn, staring out at the passing sagebrush*

[Max Griffiths]

*When the road straightens out I read the note, nodding at the part about the recording - that explains the voice I heard. I'm impressed that she avoided all the knives, but don't want to think about what would have happened if she hadn't*

Never underestimate killjoys. Safehouses are dangerous with or without residents. *I'm silent for a moment* You responded well.

[redhavoc]

*I look over at Max, unused to compliments. It feels akward now and I nod a 'thank you', which kinda hurts with the headache. Now that I've realized what the cause of the headache is, all I can think about are the pills. I take the notebook back, trying to distract myself, and write: 'how old are you' and hand it to Max*

[Max Griffiths]

*It takes me a moment to reply to the question, not because I don't want to tell her but because I can't remember* 35. 36. Something like that.

[redhavoc]

*I think about that. Max was more than double my age. He would remember much more than I would. This method is working for my headache, so I decide to push ahead. I write: 'What was it like before BLI? And the Helium Wars, can you tell me about them?'*

[Max Griffiths]

*I move my shoulders uncomfortably, not wanting to answer her* I don't like to think back that far.

[redhavoc]

*I frown and turn away, too distracted by the thought of pills to be interested anymore. The day gets brighter and presumably hotter, but we are cool in our stolen exterminator car. My head pounds and I experiment with opening and closing my eyes, turning one way or another, and even try to drink some water. Nothing helps. I finally remember to take some painkillers, which dulls both my side and my head, though neither go away completly*

[Max Griffiths]

*I sigh when I see her reaction, but don't offer to elaborate. She's a crow. She shouldn't let physical distress bother her so much. When I see a small town on the horizon I'm undecided, but at the last moment I swerve onto the turnoff and speed down the main street. Slamming on the brakes, I stop the car in front of a pharmacy, not saying anything.*

[redhavoc]

*I sit as still as I can, not daring to look at Max. I have the feeling I've really annoyed him this time, gone too far, and I'm pretty sure he intends to just kick me out right here. He has the right, I think to myself, and I'm pretty sure I could hide in the town until I was strong enough to fight. Mostly I just feel like an idiot for letting my physical pain get in the way*

[Max Griffiths]

*She doesn't move, and after a few seconds I speak* If you want the pills, go get them.

[redhavoc]

*I look over a Max, giving him an 'are you serious?' face. When he doesn't respond I roll my eyes and get out of the car, hoping he won't drive away. I carefully go to the back (thanks to the stitches in my side) and open the trunk, taking out a charged gun and putting it in my pocket. I remember I'm in civilian clothes now and decide that could be to my advantage*

*By now the cameras in the town have already spotted us, and there are people walking on the other side of the street, eyeing the exterminator car suspiciously. I decide to hurry and go to the back and shoot at the power wires. With a great explosion of sparks the wires fall and I know the power is out, probably for the entire block. I easily open the back door and slip inside. All of BLI's locks out here are cheap electromagnets. Crow 101*

[Max Griffiths]

*I watch Red's progress, raising an eyebrow when I see the lights cut off inside the building. I was expecting her to just walk in and buy them with the wallet full of carbons under her seat, but if she wants to do it this way I'm not one to judge.*

[redhavoc]

*Crow 101, Lesson 2. All BLI buildings have red emergency lights. Any drac wearing a mask has a filter on their lenses, so everything still looks clear as day. This is supposed to give them an advantage, but I don't have any trouble shooting the two guards. I head toward their supply room, grab a backpack, and stuff it with new BLI coats, pants, gloves, boots, etc. This is my apology to Max*

*When that's done I grab another empty bag and head to the front. I almost stun the terrified clerk , but decide against it. She's only a civilian after all. I go through the isles and quickly grab all the medications I can remember I'm on, and some pain meds as well. I walk through the front door triumphant. I know I could have just bought the meds, but my way was cheeper and we got new clothes to boot*