aperture_high | everything is limited by factors inconcievable

everything is limited by factors inconcievable

This is going to get him killed one of these days, he thinks.

She's the enemy--there's no getting around that, given who she works for, whether it's a marriage of convenience or not. Talon and Overwatch have been enemies long before the fall, and that's not exactly going to change because two free agents who happen to affiliate with opposite sides have decided on a temporary truce.

It's for information's sake, of course, even if it is going to get him killed. He's more useful than Talon, sometimes, which is what brings her to him, and vice versa. And she's willing to share some of what she knows in return, though 76 is always reminding himself that this is a very careful line he walks. He has to choose what he tells her very carefully, all the while knowing that she might not be giving him the full story, either. It's all valuable, of course, but--

The truth is that she's the closest he can get to Gabriel. Perhaps he keeps hoping that she'll mention something about him sooner or later.

For now, however, he meets her in a neutral safehouse, one that he doesn't use for anything else. He's on time--she is not, but he's on edge like she's already here. She very well might be.

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It's how you play, really. You tease and tempt, imply that they can get what they want if they stay for just a little longer. She knows what he's after, including the things he won't admit to himself, and maybe, one day, she'll let him have a taste.

For how, she lets him feed on other things- dry remarks as to Talon's plans, usually those that could be found with some decent digging. Nothing that could be traced back to her, even the obvious bait Talon has set, because far be it from them to trust her completely, too. She's smart enough, too, to know that what he gives to her can be just as 'trusted', but really, he's not the deceptive sort.

Mask aside.

She understands why he wears it, and she understands, too, why he takes it off - when he takes it off, those precious few times. He knows that she considers this trust not sacred, but precious in an entirely different way. This - their meetings, their talks, their little trysts - are hers, and far be it from her to part with anything easily.

Which is actually why she's late- for once, an unplanned detour to ensure their security. There's a creak of a hinge, one she could have averted easily, but it serves as an announcement of her presence more than anything else. Especially since she only drops the camo once she's inside.

"Ai, you would not believe the traffic-"

"You're late."

76 is not the kind of person who cares about traffic delays, and give the fact that he always starts these meetings on-edge, the casualness with which she creeps inside and drops her camo only serves to make him more ornery. She should be used to this by now--were he not so busy being tense, he might actually appreciate the way she navigates his moods. Sometimes he can't help but wonder if she compares him and Gabriel, and how.

But there's business to take care of, and that's what he's about, at least to start.

"You have what I asked for?"

Financial documents, dossiers. The usual. Incriminating evidence tying the UN to the wild conspiracy he's been chasing. 76's arms are folded, body language making it clear that they can catch up on a personal level once they take care of their professional commitments.

Sure, she's used to it. But that doesn't mean she has to like it.

"And you were followed," she retorts, waving a hand flippantly. "Growing sloppy in your age, viejo, maybe next time I should invite them in?"

Always work, work, work. She wonders what he would do if he didn't have someone to help him loosen up. Aside from, well, his normal way, which she's pretty sure involves killing people. He's more like Gabe in that way than either of them would like to admit.

But she's going to make herself comfortable, first, before she gives him anything. Finding the nearest chair and sprawling in to it, sighing overdramatically. "Really, I do all the hard work of finding the dirty laundry, and what do I get? 'You're late'."

She probably got a lot of practice with Gabriel, anyway, at least in terms of mimicry.

"I wasn't followed."

Not physically, he's sure. The idea that he might be getting sloppy is one he's not willing to tolerate, so he's quick to shut down that line of conversation whether she's telling the truth or not. This is how it goes, though--the natural push and pull until they reach some kind of equilibrium and meet in the middle.

For now, she'll have to deal with his business side, until he's satisfied with what she's brought. Her beating around the bush has him agitated, which he's sure is something she enjoys, much to his aggravation.

Just as infuriating as the way she sprawls in his chair.

"Are you ready to get to work or not?"

"You think you weren't."

But she doesn't press the point. No need to; she's brought up doubt, and while she's sure he knows her well enough to doubt anything she says in the first place, he can't afford to take the chance here. Maybe she'll show him the proof eventually, but for now...

For now, she leans forward, hand at her chin. One hand, anyway. The other's held palm-up, her trademark skull icon fizzling to life. "Work's already done. Some interesting bank transfers to certain representatives - all traced back to their proper origins, of course. Should be enough to make even someone like you happy."

76 only grunts in response, a mostly-silent agreement that they're going to drop the subject for now. She knows as well as he does that he won't admit to any sort of getting sloppy, not in front of her. Sombra is the last person he should slip up around.

Besides, it's time for business, which is something he's good at. 76 closes the distance to get a better look at the data on her projections, skimming the information and committing the important bits to memory. He'll have time to look it over in detail later.

"That good, huh?"

As always, of course, it is that good. After a moment, he seems satisfied, giving her a nod and tossing an an external drive her way.

"Back it up for me."

She dutifully flashes it for his perusal, seeming more bored than anything. It's all old news to her, after all, and while upon first examination may have made her chuckle...well, now she's just wishing she could see the look on his face. Still, he's less grumpy than before, and she only makes a little bit of a face as she catches the drive.

"Back it up for me, 'please'," she corrects. "I'm not your delivery girl, soldado."

Is that actual offense? It's always hard to tell with her. But that pout remains, and she makes no move to transfer the data.

"And what did you get for me?"

"Please."

Though he doesn't really say it with any amount of conviction as he digs around his supplies for his end of the bargain. It's just another data chip, as innocuous as the one she's passing to him. He doesn't care whether or not she's actually offended--this is just how things are with them, and likely will continue to be.

"Movements on some weapons trafficking. Blueprints. Information on some prototypes you might be interested in."

Nothing he thinks he can't handle if she uses it against him. He doesn't hand her the data, instead watching her intently with a look that says she can have it once she does what she asks.

She could distrust him. Did a little at first, but then, when does she fully trust anyone? If nothing else, though, 76 tends to keep to his word as much as he can, and while whether or not this is new news or something she'll be interested in remains to be seen, there's the effort he does put in. And she can never turn down a source of information, because there just may be a day when it pours liquid gold-

-and more often than not, it is quite valuable. 76 goes in no small amount of danger, and what he pulls from it, well. Makes her offer a soft, thoughtful noise as she streaks her nails across her projected screen, zipping it all up. "What kind of prototypes?" she can't help but ask as she pulls out another chip from her coat, transferring the information and offering it between thumb and forefinger.

Though if she can, she's planning to twist it away from him in a game- just once, though, before she'll give him a wink and let him actually take it. Lighten up.

"Vishkar tech."

The good stuff. Stuff he really shouldn't be passing along to her, but 76 is trying to push the boundaries of giving a little to get a little. Present her with nicer, more valuable data and see if she bounces back with more significant information in turn.

Or maybe she'll realize what he's doing and take advantage of that. 76 tells himself he can always pull back if that ends up being the case. He reaches for the chip, she fakes him out, and he lets out a growl.

"Ready to stop playing around with me?"

Because those prototypes, as she'll find, are big girl stuff.

Vishkar. Now that's tantalizing- they actually put up some of a fight when it comes to her crawling through their systems, and their tech is always top-notch. The glint of her eyes implies he most certainly has her attention, and if he's got anything good...

"Soldado mio," she all but purrs, fluidly uncoiling from her position on the chair to practically flow on him. As much as he'll allow, that is, as she makes to clearly and deliberately slip that chip in to a jacket pocket. "I thought you liked it when I played around with you."

Lighten up, her body language demands once more, albeit in a...different way.

"I ain't yours." He says that right away, though he's not sure how convincing it is. 76 knows, however, that Sombra will take a mile for every inch she's given, and even taking into account certain...things...that transpire when they meet, he's not shy about putting his foot down. If someone doesn't draw a line, she'll keep pushing her luck.

Sombra pushing her luck is not something 76 can readily afford.

Still, he doesn't shove her off when she invades his personal space, like he's resigned himself to the fact that she's just going to do this. All the time, forever.

"You know what I mean."

Solider: 76 is only amenable to certain kinds of playing around, namely, the kind he's in control of.

Sombra's smile turns a shade patronizing at his protest, like she's only entertaining his protest for his own sake. But she doesn't push that, content with him tolerating her proximity. It took long enough to earn that, and even she knows there's a time to stop pushing. "Done playing," she says instead, daring to pull her hand up and back, wriggling her fingers in clear view. No chip- it's all his. Presumably he won't mind if she just goes ahead to take her prize.

Without pulling away, of course. She'll just go ahead and rest here against him. At least there's no ammo cartridges at his chest. And this lets her eyes lock on where she presume his are, hidden behind that slit of red.

"You know," she drawls, "I have another friend who could use a bit of extra muscle protecting a shipment heading east. If you need some spending cash."

Not the first time she's propositioned him in that way- and not the first time she's expected him to dismiss it. Still, it'd be a way for him to get where he needs to go. Normally she'd suggest a mercenary, but this one seemed rather convenient.

UghhHHH. That's the sound he'd be making if he didn't want to give her the satisfaction of making that kind of sound. He meets her with an icy stare through his visor, instead, one she might actually be able to see if she squints. She's certainly close enough.

76 makes sure that the chip is actually in his pocket before he even thinks about entertaining this conversation any further. It's there, but he's not so keen on relenting just yet.

The arch of his eyebrow is more than visible right at the top of his visor.

"What, is Reyes busy?"

He always needs to bring up his ex, huh? Sombra's smile doesn't falter, but her brow arches in a warped mirror.

"Gabe's going to be occupied," she answers, dangling that little snippet in front of him and letting him go through the thought process himself. 'Occupied' probably means he's got a conflicting job - likely Talon, with how keen they are to hire such a reputable and (mostly) reliable mercenary. A job likely means Sombra has information on his planned whereabouts.

But betraying him isn't anywhere near their arrangement. Sombra's not stupid - part of that reason she's so tight-lipped about Reaper is because he is far more perceptive than most of Talon. He couldn't afford not to be, back in his previous line of work, and if anything? His paranoia has only grown to sharpen his senses. While Talon can grow frustrated on their own little leaks, while larger corporations can grow concerned over their own slow bleed of data, she has no doubt that Reyes will eventually track down every betrayal, no matter how minor.

(Which means the ones she is at fault for need to be few, spread out, and ultimately for his own 'good'.)

She pulls away, stretching her arms over her head. "Shall I take that as your usual 'no'?"

He always needs to bring up his ex. 76 doesn't really want to, but apparently it's something he can't help. Sombra is the closest he can get to Gabriel, and as complicated as his feelings are, he finds it difficult not to wonder what he's doing. What he thinks he's doing. If their paths might cross sooner rather than later.

He wonders if Gabriel suspects that he's meeting with Sombra. Passing her information. What he'd think if he did know.

But 76 knows when she won't budge, and Gabriel is one of the things she won't budge for.

"It's my usual no."

Aiding Sombra is one thing--aiding Talon is another, even if the line can sometimes be blurry.

"Ah well." Can't be blamed for trying, now, can she? On more than one level. "Ni modo." She'd hoped he'd test his luck anyway, but that's just how it goes. Sometimes he's too smart for his own good.

(Still not smarter than her. Close in his own way, but.)

Sombra settles back in to her chair, lounging comfortably in what passes for its cushion. But it's likely that even if it was made completely out of wood, she could find a way to be comfortable- to exclude that body language that says, this is mine. this is my throne, and you? you are lucky to actually see me in it. "One of these days I'm actually going to get you to agree to a job," she only half-teases.

Half, because she's completely and utterly confident that it'll happen. In time. She's worn him down just about every other way, now, hasn't she?

Smarter than people might expect, and stubborn, too. The latter tends to get him in trouble more often than not, but right now it's an asset. It lets him go toe-to-toe with her--reminds her that she can't always get what she wants. Even the way she sits in her chair is infuriating. Makes him want to take her down a peg.

"Don't get your hopes up."

Stubborn, but still able to be provoked. She's aware she's doing it now, lounging so, and she's of a mind to continue, tilting her head with that amused little smile of hers.

"That's how I got here in the first place."

All right, not only why, but Sombra's certainly allowed herself things like goals. Unlike 76, whom she's pretty sure only has the faintest of ideas of what he's doing lately. Without someone like her to help correct his course, why. He'd be hopeless.

"You got here because you're useful."

But that's the point, isn't it? They're useful to each other. 76 knows by saying that he's giving her an inch, but it's also a way of telling her where they stand. This is a relationship of mutual benefit, no matter what kinds of things they get up to.

"Don't forget that."

Being useful implies that one could possibly outlive said usefulness, after all.

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everything is limited by factors inconcievable

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