More Equal Than Some

[Rachel Mahoney]

*the medic finishes digging the bullet out of my shoulder and hands me some pain pills after wrapping the wound. I climb into one of the vans and take off my uniform jacket, which is now thoroughly soaked with blood on one arm. I swallow the pills and wait as the rest of unit climbs in*

[Alexander Ludovico]

Sir yes sir! *I give him a two-finger salute, then head back to the medic van, where Sam The Medic is just finishing up with Riley - who, I'm pleased to see, took his shirt off for the procedure.* Just in time, I see! *Riley looks over with a frown, and I wait a beat before amending my statement* Orwell's ready to go, and it looks like you're just about there yourself. I'll see you in the city!

*I grin, then join most of the unit in one of the vans. I see the results of the fight are uneven; one female draculoid looks like she got shot with an actual bullet, while the woman returning from the child services van and a man in a corner with a bottle of water seem largely unscathed. Overall, they certainly did well. Much better than my old unit, anyway.* Hello, hello! Name's Vico, and you'll be seeing a lot of me in the future. And who might you all be?

[Volume Virus]

*I turn to the man with the unfamiliar voice. I thought I didn't recognize his face, but I had chalked that up to him being a member of one of the teams that I hadn't come across often, perhaps a medic. But if he's introducing himself, maybe he's a new member of our unit?* Hello, sir. My name is Angeline Pacis. It's nice to meet you.

[Rachel Mahoney]

Rachel Mahoney sir, nice to meet you. *i wonder who he might be, I don't ever remember seeing him in the tower or hearing about him from Ryan*

[Alexander Ludovico]

No need to call me 'sir', I'm not your superior. Vico, please. Angeline and Rachel? Nice to meet you both. How's the unit, in your professional or not-so-professional opinions? I know you have a decent record, but what do /you/ think? *I reach into my pocket as the vans start up and head away from the site, but find it empty* Also, do any of you have a bit of cord or the like?

[Volume Virus]

Um, zip ties don't count, do they? *I search my pockets but find nothing, so I tear a part of the hem of my shirt off and hand it to him.* I hope this is okay, sir. If not, I suppose you could just throw it away....

[Alexander Ludovico]

*I look at the bit of cloth, eyebrows raised* Did you just tear off part of your shirt? There's no call for stripping, I'm not /that/ good looking. But since you've already done it, I suppose I'll take advantage. *I take the cloth from her and start knotting it up. It's not as good as my cord, but it'll occupy me until I can get more at the Tower* And again, my name's Vico. Please.

[Volume Virus]

What? N-no! It's just the hem, and I promise I didn't mean it like that. *I look down, face red.* I'm very sorry. I'll, um, be quiet now. Sorry to ruin your welcome. *Oh, I could just jump out the window.*

[rileywilson]

*I look curiously at Vico as he wanders away and talks to the other members of the unit. 'Just in time?' Does that mean... I shake my head. Whatever. At least he's social. I carefully shrug on the fresh shirt I brought with me and radio the units to regroup and pack up, we are heading out. As soon as everyone is in a van I get in the shotgun seat of the first van and direct the drac to head for Battery City. My back throbs, but I ignore it*

[Alexander Ludovico]

*I burst out laughing at Angeline's reaction* Who said anything about ruining my welcome? You make it sound like people taking their clothes off in front of me is a bad thing! *The look on her face is priceless, but the poor girl looks like she wants to melt into the carpet, so I let up on her a bit* Oh, don't be so mortified. I'll have you know I prefer my dates a few octaves lower. *I finish my first knot and undo it, still chuckling*

[Volume Virus]

*I have no idea what he means. Is my voice getting high? Does it do that when I'm nervous? If so, how can anyone tell? I'm nervous all the time. I shrink into the corner between the seat and the window, trying to evaporate. Suddenly, I realize that there was a second half to the question that I forgot about.* Um...you asked for our opinions on the unit, sir? Am I, uh, allowed to give one?

[Alexander Ludovico]

*I sigh at her question, though I'm still rather amused by the whole thing* No, actually, when I ask someone a question and they answer me, I get terribly offended. And if you call me 'sir' again I'll have to come up with a nasty nickname for you, so we'll be even. My name's Vico.

[Volume Virus]

*Oh, now he thinks I'm mean and stupid, too! I can think of no way for this situation to get worse that doesn't involve Killjoys.* I'm very sorry. I really don't mean to offend. F-forget I said anything. *I shrink even farther away, now incapable of increasing the distance between myself and the new guy any more without jumping out of the car. I've actually considered it.*

[Rachel Mahoney]

*i hold back a sigh when Nagie tries to shrink away, she shouldn't beat herself up like this* I think our unit could be one of the best at BLI, Orwell and Wilson are great leaders s- I mean Vico. *thats one thing that will be hard for me, to not call him sir, which I've done with really all my superiors except for Ryan*

[Alexander Ludovico]

*I half-bow to Rachel, so far as my seat belt will allow* Thank you for your reply, mademoiselle. You see, Angeline? That's how a question is answered! You need to get used to actually saying things instead of apologizing for the things you think you said.

*Turning back to Rachel, I raise a finger in admonition* But I heard that 'sir' trying to sneak out! I swear on my life, I'm not your superior. Unless that's usual here, and I should be calling both of you 'ma'am'? Because I won't, but it's nice to know.