We return to the world of Whoops with a continuation to FFM 2026 6: Mafkani’ormzyelfenaa. I’m not entirely happy with this one; this could’ve used a scene or two to bridge the two stories better, but with 36 over the limit on the first draft just with this it was not feasible. Some other fic then, once/if I run out of constantly replenishing fuel for this line of fics.
A part of Steirdrar was fairly certain this was a bad idea. Some other part was instantly nostalgic the moment he saw the midnight blue utility belt on the workspace table. The size and design were different, made for a Kolton as it was, but aside from that it was intimately familiar.
“If you’ve got use for it, it’s up for grabs. I’m probably going to take it apart and recycle it if I don’t give it away,” Beyari stated as he inspected the belt.
“It would need retailoring to fit me,” Steirdrar pointed out.
“Not a problem,” Beyari countered. “I’ve worked on plenty non-modular utility belts before.”
Steirdrar considered the belt. “Wearing it is probably not a good look, especially for an IRS defector. And not just because of the color,” he spoke faster when Beyari opened her mouth to no doubt suggest dyeing, “it’s just… it’s distinct… and such a tangible part of my past life. I shouldn’t…” He set the belt down. “I just shouldn’t. It’s a bad idea, especially considering where I stand right now.”
“Fair enough.” Beyari said nothing more.
“…And, well, even if it wasn’t a terrible idea visually, the tools I use and need now are different. I’d probably act out of muscle memory if I used an IRS-Enforcer-style utility belt, even if it was modified, and not find what I need in a pinch,” Steirdrar added as a more concrete justification for turning the belt down, although more to himself than to Beyari. He shook his head a bit. “Sorry for rambling.”
“No need to apologize. Feel free to take your time working through things.” Beyari looked him up and down. “I can imagine going from a utility belt to cargo pants was one hell of an adjustment.”
“You can say that again,” Steirdrar sighed. He leaned against the table, his back to the utility belt. “I’m still not used to having just them but they’re enough, especially since I’m not cleared to have weapons on me except for missions that warrant them. Having a utility belt just for some extra comfort or familiarity isn’t worth asking Logistics if they have any to spare. I have what I need already.”
Beyari settled beside him to lean against the table, humming. “…Say, if you had to option to get a utility belt with no hassle to anyone, would you want one?”
“Technically, I could buy one with the money I squirreled out of the IR’s reach while spying but it’s difficult to get a suitable one with the bounty on my head. Joining a legal supply run isn’t an option for me.”
“What if someone who knows what they’re doing helps out so that that isn’t an issue?”
Steirdrar looked at Beyari. She turned her head to meet his eyes, looking maybe a bit too casual. He weighed his words. “…Sounds almost like you mean yourself.”
Beyari shrugged. Certainly too casual. “Every warrior worth their armor knows that every piece of equipment either helps or kills its user.”
It would be frivolous, probably downright wasteful, use of Beyari’s time and resources to pursue this topic any further, but Steirdrar was curious. It probably would not hurt too much to talk — and only talk — about it. “…If you were the one to help me, what would you want in return?”
Beyari perked up. “Well, if I get to make it, I’ll settle for just the material costs and talking your ear off about the process.”
“You’d make it yourself?”
“Yeah. It’s the best way to solve an equipment-related problem like this.”
Steirdrar could not help feeling a little apprehensive. “…Just for the material costs, though? I’ve seen the rates you charge for your work.”
“And talking your ear off about the process,” Beyari asserted. “And the satisfaction of solving an equipment-related problem too, especially since I don’t get to do much of that these days.”
“That sounds too good to be true.”
Beyari shrugged. “I don’t need the money I’d make from a singular piece of equipment. If it was something big like an armor set, then I’d charge you for the work too, because that goes beyond the scope of a fun little project.”
That did little to ease Steirdrar’s apprehension. “…It still sounds like a favor I’d owe you.”
“Nah. It’d be a favor if I didn’t charge you at all.”
“…You actually want to do it?”
“So long as you don’t present any arguments against it that I can’t argue against.”
Steirdrar quirked an eyebrow and took a chance. “What would even be such an argument?”
“Simply saying you don’t want to go through with it, for example. I’m not one to ask ‘why not’.” Beyari said it easily, like it would not bother her at all, but Steirdrar knew enough about prideful warrior types to know that she would at the very least be disappointed in that response.
“I see.”
“You don’t have to decide right here and now, by the way, if you want time to think it through.” Beyari hesitated a bit. “…I feel like it’s warranted to say out loud that I’m not looking to hold this over your head or take advantage of you. If you don’t want to trust that I have the obvious moral reasons, there’s also the fact that pulling a stunt like that would permanently ruin all my careers.”
“Assuming it’d get out.” It probably would not in this case, at least not to the general public.
“Things like that always get out when you’re known enough. Even here — especially here. People will notice and the other Eskel-Zai will ask questions and not hesitate to intervene if warranted.”
“…Alright, well… I’ll think about it.”
Beyari nodded. “Take your time with it. I won’t pressure you to give an answer at any point.”
“Thank you. I appreciate it.”
“No problem,” Beyari responded, her tone and smile gentle.
Steirdrar was now fully certain: asking to see that utility belt was a terrible idea.
Beyari: goes into problem solving mode because she solves equipment-related problems on a professional level (and communicates it poorly)
Steirdrar: starts having a crisis about/from her offer (especially because he can’t read minds at all and therefore cannot intuit her motivations)
Me: This is not where I planned on taking this storyline right now but you know what? Fuck it, I’m getting more torture material into my head on the daily and you’re the character I’ve elected to torture this shittastic July, so let’s go deeper into this subplot. Suffer with me, ezkai (insert DeviantArt’s grinstare emoticon here)
WindySilver 
haha, oh no, they’re both me!
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Oh no indeed XD
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