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[rickitikitarr]

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[formerself]

"Well, that just sounds fuckin' creepy," he points out. "I dunno. I know she's got other stuff going on. We talked about -- secrets, stuff like that. No specifics."

[rickitikitarr]

"It's a type! It's a weapon."

He promises, with a laugh.

"I'm glad she has you, you'll be good for her."

[formerself]

Eggsy scoffs.

"I think 'has me' is a bit strong. We're friends, that's all. I got her some decent clothes, we've hung out a bit. What'd she make of you?"

[rickitikitarr]

"I think I frightened her, poor thing."

It wouldn't be surprising; Ricki frightens a lot of people, once they understand him.

[formerself]

"Well, that's what you get for callin' someone a vulnerable little thing with soft skin," Eggsy says, entirely aware that he did not actually do that. "You are shit at talkin' to girls. Seriously, though, you told her about your work?"

Because 'scalphunter' is not a term designed to invest people with confidence and warmth either.

[rickitikitarr]

"I absolutely did."

Mouth twitching in a smile.

"I'm working on my honesty, after all."

He's cat and mousing her, just as sure as she is lying her head off to him.

[formerself]

"Yeah. S'pose that makes two of us, now."

He pours their cups of tea and holds one out to Ricki. "Here."

Unsolicited cups of tea are really the best way he can think of right now to express his immense gratitude for having company.

[rickitikitarr]

Ricki grins, and sips his, sinking low into a seat.

"So I also can't help but notice that you've got a bedmate."

[formerself]

Eggsy actually blushes.

"Um. Yeah. It's...it's really not what it looks like."

[rickitikitarr]

"I'd actually guessed that. Max is a little crackers to be putting out. But what is it?"

He can't help but wonder.

[formerself]

Which makes two of them.

"If I knew, I'd tell you? I -- neither of us sleep all that great on our own, so. This sort of. Started happening. Couple months back."

It's practical....?

[rickitikitarr]

"He's a very nice, very strange man. I think I'm pleased- he's as protective as a wolverine, and a feral one at that."

So should be around Eggsy always, obviously.

[formerself]

Eggsy twitches a smile. 'Feral wolverine' is the kind of terminology he should probably be discouraging, but he honestly can't deny it, so.

"Don't tell anyone I told you that. Or him, actually. I think he'd rather people just assume we're shagging."

To be perfectly honest, he'd prefer that as well.

[rickitikitarr]

"Mum's the word."

He promises, with a smile, and a sip of his tea.

"So. Harry."

[formerself]

"Mmph."

He takes a gulp of tea.

"It was...weird. He was on the plane to Kentucky when he picked up."

So, a matter of hours away from his own grotesquely violent swansong.

"Last thing he knew was yelling at me because I failed the last test. Telling me he'd fix it. Seemed like he'd calmed down a bit on the flight over."

[rickitikitarr]

"God, so you couldn't-"

Oh no.

"I'm sorry, darling. That's just another kind of torture, isn't it?"

[formerself]

Eggsy shakes his head. It's like he said - he has no idea how he feels. Not a clue.

"Told him I'd fix it. He didn't know what I was on about, not exactly - 'course he didn't - but...I dunno. I got to ask him about my dad, at least. Mum never likes to talk about him."

[rickitikitarr]

"Yeah? Tell me."

He wonders, settling back, adjusting to get more comfortable.

"What was he like?"

[formerself]

Eggsy frowns.

"Kind, honest, hard-working. Wanted what was best for me. All that sort of - I don't think he really knew him. Shouldn't have expected anything else. I've always wanted to know stuff like - I dunno, who he was as a person. The team he supported, the kind of music he listened to, all that. Kind of stuff Mum would know, but whenever I ask she gets this look on her face..."

He shakes his head.

"I don't wanna hurt her. Maybe it'll be easier once my stepdad's out the picture."

[rickitikitarr]

"Maybe you can find him in papers. Old footage. Yearbooks. You can spot a friend of his in those and use your agency to hunt them down; as an old mate what he was like."

Is Ricki's predictable, intelligence-gathering perspective.

[formerself]

Eggsy smiles faintly.

"Yeah, I thought about that. His squaddies won't be hard to track down, at least, now I've got more than -- " He's about to say Google and then realises that that will mean fuck-all to Ricki. "Now I've got some real help."

He'd wanted Harry's perspective, more than anything, but in the cold light of day it's not like he and Harry know that much about each other. Not beyond what Harry gathered on him while he was keeping tabs, anyway. No reason the previous generation would have been different.

[rickitikitarr]

"I'm still sorry, darling."

He says, because he can see the disappointment- and clearly this doesn't quite make up for it.

"I hope you do get your deal."

[formerself]

"Either I'm gonna get it or I'm gonna just disappear," Eggsy says, in the quiet level tone of someone announcing a foregone conclusion. "Otherwise I'm here for as long as it takes."

[rickitikitarr]

He rubs his thumb over his bottom lip, and wonders;

"Ever think about bringing Max home with you?"

[formerself]

"No. Well - yeah, a bit, of course I have. But I know he'd never go for it, and - if he gets what he's here for, he'll have his world healing. He'll wanna go back there with Furiosa."

And he falters, because it's not like he's asked.

"I mean. He must do."