therig | Ya'll questioning Reyes' decisions to let certain people on the rig yet?

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Ya'll questioning Reyes' decisions to let certain people on the rig yet?

[There's a few new faces since the last ground mission came back. An impossing silent giant has been wandering through the rig the past few days. Standing at 6'3" and wearing a tasseled coat that makes it even harder to miss him, Wrench has mostly been minding his own business, getting the layout of the rig down pact. The maps on each floor help, but he's feet on the ground, hands on sort of fella.

Rather look on his own. He's had a thrilling time down in the darker parts of engineering, a place it seems not too many on the rig go to. If he ever needed privacy beyond the room he'd picked, it'd be a good place to go.

But for now he's planted himself in the canteen, with a strong cup of coffee and multiple guns pulled apart on a table as he cleans them. Is he trying to make a show that he's dangerous? Yes. Is it a threat to people here? Also yes. He could do all this in his room, but it's about making a statement. He's not here to hurt anyone, but he will if they give him a reason. When anyone comes into the canteen and he notices them he'll look up, eyes hard, staring, at least for a moment until he's looking back down at what he's doing.]

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[There's a noticable look of surprise that raises his brows a little. Well that's not what he expected. Most people don't know how to speak with him, most of the time he doesn't give a shit.

Still, he's surprised to be answered back.

Could be. Tongues get people in trouble.

Wrench makes a pointed look, though it's a general one. Tongues wag and a lot of the time that's why he was sent out to do his job. That or someone killed someone else and that someone was someone that someone knew and- so forth.]

[ Well, he's not wrong. 'Loose lips sink ships' and all. Still.

Though, broken fingers can heal. A tongue doesn't really grow back. Or it shouldn't.

... That's a thought. Given what was done to some of the people Medivance got their hands on... he wouldn't be surprised if some could.

Regardless, the coffee sounds like a good idea. Back on the rig, Gerard is back on his bad sleeping habits. So he steps away to pour himself a cup of it before returning to the table to sit. Well out of arm's reach of any of the guns or gun parts. See? No touching. This is already closer to a gun than he'd like to be. ]

[The coffee is basically sludge, due to no milk, creamer or sugar to use with it, but it's something. Honestly he's had worse, traveling. Back before all of this, for work. Some places even with all the fixings it tasted like liquid shit.

Could cut fingers off. Won't grow back.

Just like a tongue. Maybe though... he liked having someone who could speak like him. But you didn't hear that from him.]

[ It's truly terrible, but Gerard has kind of gotten used to it. It dies the job, that's all one can ask for.

Probably not. I'd be shit out of luck then.

Even if he's smiling a little as he 'says' it. It doesn't take a psychic to recognize bravado, even if it's the kind that's backed by ability. Position of power recognized and respected, moving on... ]

[That just gets a quiet huff from Wrench as he continues cleaning the gun he'd been working on. It's been a long while since he's had a place he could properly sit and pull them apart to give them such a thorough cleaning, even if part of it was for show.

He didn't have to worry about zombies here or anyone looking for a fight. Most of the people on the rig seemed mostly pedestrian so he wasn't concerned about them being an issue, not that he still wouldn't keep an eye on everyone. Sometimes it's the ones that don't seem dangerous that are the worst. It's a handful of moments before he's seeming to remember that someone is literally sitting at the table with him or more he acts like it.

Curious to see if he'd fuck off, but the guy is still here.

You ever use a gun? Kill anyone?

He's guessing 'no', but hey, could be wrong.]

[ Gerard tends to be too quiet, enough that it unnerves people. It's refreshing to not have to worry about that, and there's something soothing about Watchung someone do their job well. Especially when that job is not 'treat Gerard like a lab rat'. So yeah, he's perfectly content to sit and watch Wrench clean his guns. The question has gerard smiling and shaking his head, replying-

I've never used a gun.

He comes from the land of Proper Gun Control Laws, thank you. And since the world has gone to shit there have been other things more important to focus on. He can check if one is loaded and put the safety on for a lot of them, that's the extent of his firearms knowledge and so far that's worked out. The smile fades at the next answer, though.

Someone died because of me, does that count as killing? ]

[Welcome to the quiet table. Granted Wrench can be loud if he so pleases, but unless he's got the need he doesn't see the point. Usually just being big is imposing enough. Most of the time if he was making any noise it was in arguments where he was being ignored by a certain someone.

But they weren't around anymore.

His new acquaintance's smile is gone when he tells him someone died because of him, which would lead him to think it was some kind of accident but-

Accidentally stab someone? Put out a hit? Pushed someone and they fell and cracked their skull open?

He seems interested in a way that is a little unsettling. Look he's nosy.]

[ Unsettling obsession with creepy subjects (such as death), another club they can both be in. It still gets a quiet laugh and a shake of his head, the questions seeming absurd even if Gerard had intentionally stabbed someone before. As far as he knew it didn't kill them, though.

I was a dumbass kid running into someplace dangerous, he signs, An adult near by went after me to try and keep me safe. I knew the danger better than he did. I got out, he didn't.

Poor guy. It would have been one thing if he'd died very literally protecting Gerard, but he'd never caught up with him. Gerard only found out later that he'd not made it out. But that was Medivance for you - they were making monsters long before everyone knew about it. ]

[Death was and is his bread and butter, it's what he's known for too long.

Gerard may feel bad for the guy who died, but Wrench thinks he's an idiot. Sounds like he got himself killed, not the kid. He rolls his eyes, making a face as he signs back.

Should have minded his business.

And Wrench adds a beat later to clarify:

Doesn't count. You didn't kill him. Gotta do the deed.]

[ It doesn't quite take the guilt away - but it does make him feel a little better knowing at least one person thinks that doesn't count as his own responsibility. Sure the man made his own choice, and if Gerard had been in his shoes that's what he would argue. But he also wouldn't have even been there if he hadn't been following Gerard.

Six of one, half a dozen of the other.

Have you killed someone?

It's an obvious question, but maybe all the guns are because he's some blue ribbon trick shot at county fairs. It's not impossible. They do that kind of crap in this country. ]

[It's a very obvious question, one that has Gerard leveled with a hard look that says "what do you think?". Wrench doesn't bother signing, his hands are busy again with the gun in front of him.]

[ Gerard gives that look right on back.

People did contest shooting in this country, I heard. Or just collected guns for fun because it made them feel like big men. ]

[Wrench sits upright, shoulders drawn back, making a point of the fact he's already a very big man. 6′ 3″ with broad shoulders, he doesn't need to feel like a big man.

... but the way the other man words that has his brows knitting. Look he knows not everyone is from the same place here, but he figured he was American because of you know. He's using ASL.

Don't need a gun to be a big man. Knife works just fine.

Does he have a knife? Yes. Can Gerard see it? No. Maybe. Not right now.

Guns were for work. Now they're for putting down rabid dogs.

Zombies or anyone who tries to pull one over on him. Things are bad, when things get bad, even good people will do anything. He's seen it all, that was before the zombies happened too.]

[ A big man indeed. Though the flash of emotion on Gerard's face as he regards that is not fear, but interest. He quickly shoves that down, though.

You aren't a cop.

It's not exactly asking if he was a professional killer, but... ]

[Wrench's mouth quirks into a smirk.

Could have been private security.

And he's not asking if he was a professional killer, but...]

[ Gerard raises an eyebrow.

Were you? ]

[Something like that.

If someone's private security was sent around to take care of business and a lot of the time that business was killing people. Sure.

What's your name? Nosy?

Wrench is teasing, his movements always very expressive when he signs. Helped by the tassels of his jacket of course.]

[ Maybe it is.

Gerard signs with a small grin.

Gerard. You?

He spells out the name a moment after. ]

[He'd think Gerard is weird for chatting up a man with multiple guns who has all but admitted being a killer for hire, but considering his life it's not that odd. Though it's not what he expected of the people on here, guess he was wrong.

Wrench.

He finger spells it first, then does the sign for the actual tool.

No it's not my real name. No I'm not telling you it.

Signed with a deadpan look. Though maybe there's something that Gerard may pick up, something the Knowing might pluck from Wrench as while he doesn't give his name, he does think it. Wes. He used to be called that many years ago. The only person who did for a long time was gone. Wrench is just who he is now. He's been a tool, a weapon, for most of his life at this point.]

[ It probably wouldn't have normally been caught - but Gerard needs to focus pretty intently on Wrench to understand him, so even as he signs out 'Wrench' Gerard gets the ring of ... not a lie, but not the truth. It's what people call him, it's what he goes by in a professional setting, but there's still the echo of a man with dark hair and deep-set eyes, signing out 'Wes'.

Gerard is nosy - he has a need to know that feels like a compulsion sometimes. Like it's the only thing keeping him alive, the drive to find out the truth of something. And yet there's some secrets he feels guilty about discovering. What matters that Wrench hides his 'real' name? What difference does it make to anyone except him? He should be allowed to keep that secret -- but Gerard knows. He'll do his best to forget. So he gives a shrug instead.

You don't know that I was telling the truth about my name either. ]

[Just don't ever slip up and call him that and he won't have to snap your neck. It's fine.

Wrench shakes his head with a little quirk to his lips.

You look like a Gerard.

What does a Gerard look like? Shrug.]

Edited 2025-03-26 08:07 (UTC)

[ Signing a name takes longer than speaking it - hopefully that will keep it safe.

Or they'll burn that bridge when they get to it. Either way, Wrench's comment gets a sudden, surprised laugh. Laughs always sound a litte odd, a little awkward. Like Gerard's smiles, it's like he hasn't had enough time to practice them to feel quite natural.

My mother would be thrilled.]

[Honestly the biggest deal will be how Gerard found out what his real name was. He probably wouldn't actually kill him over it, but it would sure be something to explain how he did it and if Wrench believed him. That's for another time though.

And lucky for Gerard he can't hear the laugh, but he can see it. Maybe it looks a bit odd on Gerard, some would say the same of Wrench. Full on laughing isn't something he's probably done in a looooooong time. Believe it or not he's always been the weird quiet kid, wonder why that could be. And he's got a resting bitch face. Great for work.

Bad or good thing?

Wrench's face scrunches up as he thinks, then his brows lift as he signs again.

Could be Gerry. Or Gerd.

A pause.

Ger.

And he's clearly teasing again.

G Man.]

[ He already feels guilty hiding what he can do as long as he has. Now that he's proven Useful, he intends to tell their de facto leader. He just ... Hasn't gotten around to it yet. Given how deep he has to focus on Wrench, he should probably tell him, too.

Rather than answer with signing, he makes a clear grimace at 'good thing or bad thing' as a question, the expression deep enough to make obvious that the answer to that is a firm 'no'.

The litany of nicknames - it gets another awkward somewhat bashful smile, makes Gerard's heart ache a little bit. Friends gave nicknames. He never had friends.

Always wanted to have friends that called me 'Gerry'.

It's easy enough to confess. The knowledge he never had any is an old wound that's mostly faded into the background pain of his life. ]

[Honestly smart on Gerard's part to keep stuff like that to himself. It could be used against him. The wrong person would try to use him for their own agenda. Especially in this new world order or whatever.

Oh god this is getting too mushy, Wrench makes a face, shrugs.

Bullies give nicknames too.

Thanks, Wrench. No doubt he knows this.]

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