calling_net | CALL Network

No, you've been posting to the network.

If you're in the SFC, I know a good place to buy the kind of paint you're looking for. And primer. Don't forget the primer. It'll help it stick.

[Dear self, she thought. Do not read too much into the username. Rogers was a common name.]

yeah, tomorrow or shadows?

[Would she have to wander any further? Who knew. But primer - she should've thought of that. She knew that.]

I know one in both. It's a little cheaper in shadows; same stuff though.

What're you painting? If you don't mind me asking. Not trying to be nosy. I just want to steer you right.

[What to do. Answer honestly or lie? Shit. Well. Maybe Rita was right. Maybe around here, people would understand. Risk... taken.]

it's a prosthetic

Then you definitely want a primer. And you'll want to put a top coat on as well. Wear and tear.

this is getting complicated

I'm going to have to take notes

[More than a little complicated. Oil based primer. Acrylic paint. Top coat. She hadn't meant to sign up for this, but it might make her a little less noticeable.]

I'm sure you could find someone in Tomorrow who'd be willing to do the work. There's plenty of painted metal there.

Or heck, I'd do it for you, free of charge. It's been a few years since I was an artist by trade, but I think I could do a paint job.

[Fucking hell, it was him.

Shit fuck shit hell what the--

The stream of internal profanity in multiple languages continued as she looked at the message, now sure beyond doubt that she was talking to Steve. Of course, the question was if it was her Steve, or just somewhere else's Steve. If she should say yes. If she should first ask Rita if she should say yes.

She'd already decided to talk to him, but this him? Now?

Shiiiiit...

And she still had to say something. Anything. Something that didn't betray how much she was ready to reach for her backpack and run like the hounds of hell were at her heels, as the saying went.

Time to decide, Bets.]

it's not like I was going to do anything special, just cover up an old paint thing I didn't like

You'll actually want to remove that old design, if you can. It'll work better that way.

the old design might not come off, I don't know

[But it was something that made her pull up her sleeve and poke at it. Touch it, see if it was raised off the metal surface. ...Maybe it was.]

If it's paint, I know how to get it off.

right now, my list is oil primer, acrylic paint, and some kind of top coat

what else do I need besides brushes and rags?

[The decision had slipped up on her again. Yeah. She... was going to do this. Shit.]

Sandpaper. At least if you have the time and the patience.

okay, so primer, paint, top coat, brushes, rags, and sandpaper

how much will I owe you for this and where do I need to go?

[She wasn't going to invite him back to the hotel. No, no, no that wouldn't end well. Probably.

Oh God, what was she doing.]

Oh, I guess we could meet at the City of Tomorrow. Easiest place. I've actually been renting some studio space there.

Though it's going to be a few days. I'm on a hiking trip in Adventure at the moment.

that's fine, I'll drop a message when I've got everything

[And right now, what she had was relief. She could talk to Rita about this and get her head in a better place before facing someone she wasn't really sure she was ready to face.]

Sounds great.

I'm Steve, by the way.

[Weird how that made her skin go cold, even though she'd expected it.

The worst thing was, she'd yet to really connect with her old name. It was there. She believed it was her. She knew it was, but there was still something strange about looking at herself in the mirror and thinking 'Betty'. So... there was only one answer.]

you can call me Barnes

[ ...there's a few minutes before the answer comes. ]

All right. Barnes it is.

[She knew him. He wasn't dumb. He was putting together prosthesis and Barnes and...

It'd be an interesting few days.]

around three days or so

see you then

[Unless she chickened out.

Shit.]

See you then.

[ ...and with that, he's going to start hiking again. Keep his mind off of it. ]

Use oil-based primer and acrylic paint. Spray paint also works but it won't last long.

there's a difference in primers?

Yeah, it depends on where you're applying it and what you're painting it with. The metal isn't rusty, is it?

no, not rusty, but it is high use

somebody already suggested a top coat

do you know what kind of top coat to go with the oil primer and acrylic paint?

[And yes, she really was taking notes. She had a tiny, pocket-sized notebook she was writing in.]

What metal? What use? Interior or exterior? Sorry, but everything may have an effect on the paint.

no idea, it's my prosthetic, so both interior and exterior

WHOA WHOA THAT'S IMPORTANT INFORMATION, MAN. You can't apply anything that could be toxic for you! Tomorrow sounds like they have advanced... everything. So maybe you should ask what they can do for your prosthetic at some medicine center.

hell no, no doctors

it's already painted on, I just want to paint over it

besides, I already have somebody to do the painting

[SIIIIIGH!]

At least check what kind of metal it is somewhere? And ask for anything that works on prosthetics. I don't know if there's a big market for that.

[Yeah, he's not the only one siiiiiigh-ing.]

not sure what kind of metal, but I'll ask about the top coat at the store

thanks

[Well, he had helped a little, anyway - enough for a thanks.]

Ah, you're welcome? I guess.

[He doesn't feel like he helped much, he feels ignored. Oh well.]

[... Oh God, fine.]

do you want to help pick the stuff out?

[That's one surprising offer. He thinks about it for a moment before finally answering.]

Can I try identifying the metal first?

[So far, it's been shot at, hit with vibranium, and God knows what else. On her end of the device, Betty shrugged.]

sure, why not.

I can meet you anywhere in Tomorrow or Shadows, not sure about the other cities yet

Tomorrow works best, we can borrow a XRF analyzer. Know the cafe at the Satellite?

[This was sounding a little more doubtful, but she was already decided. There were, however, precautions she could take.]

yeah, meet you there in an hour?

I'll be there. Name's Dave by the way.

Betty Barnes

see you there

CALL Network | un: anonymous

un: rogers

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un: physicsnerd

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