IC contact post for Mask or Menace

[timecapture]

Hey! This is Max. Sorry I can't pick up right now; I'm probably snapping pictures of cute animals or something. Leave a message! Or text.

Comments

[khajidont]

It's not like I'd force you to talk about it!

I just wanted to check up on you. I know you were pretty shaken up by the attack. But if you ever need to talk about those unrelated nightmares you can always shoot me a text too

[timecapture]

I know you wouldn't. Thanks.

You saved me, Jaime. I'm really thankful for that. I don't think I can ever make up for it, but I'd like to try.

[khajidont]

It's not something you're ever going to have to make up for

[It would be unreasonably cruel to hold something like that above her head.]

I'm just glad that you got out of there okay after we split up

[timecapture]

Thank you. I'm glad you got out, too.

[khajidont]

Aw I've done this dance enough times to know how to handle myself

[There's a measured pause before he sends his next text message.]

It happens more often than it should, you know. Getting attacked. You ever think of learning a little self-defense? Just in case?

[timecapture]

I have, but I really don't like to hurt people.

[khajidont]

That's why it's called self defense instead of self offense

[...]

Okay, self offense doesn't make much sense but you get what I mean. It's only for using in really tight situations.

[timecapture]

Do you know anyone who can teach me? I'm REALLY against violence, but I can use it to protect myself.

[khajidont]

Well

I'm not exactly a professional, but I could teach you the basics? If you don't want to hurt anyone you probably won't need to know more than just the basics anyway

[timecapture]

Okay.

Fair warning, though? I'm a total klutz.

[khajidont]

That's okay. The guy who taught me specialized in helping small weak people defend themselves

[khajidont]

His words, not mine!

Though his words might have actually been a little meaner

[timecapture]

Who taught you?

[khajidont]

A friend of mine has been teaching me here

But the guy who taught me originally is someone who served in the same war as my Dad

[timecapture]

Any chance he might be willing to teach me, too? I've seen you move, Jaime. It's frightening, but also amazing.

Wowser. Sounds like you've had lots of practice.

[khajidont]

I could always ask but I'm not sure if he's really into teaching people he doesn't know. He's only been teaching me as a personal favor. We lived together for a really long time

[That, and Kaidan is so, so awkward.]

And... thanks I think? I don't think I'd call what I do amazing. You should see what some other people here are capable of. My self defense training is just normal person stuff

[timecapture]

I understand. Sorry if I'm being really pushy or anything. I'm not trying to be.

Well, I think it's amazing. You saved me, remember?

[khajidont]

You're not! I think maybe you can start off with taking lessons or I can teach you and then you can go from there? I'm only going to be able to teach you the basics anyway

And I guess so. It wasn't fair to you though. You were taken totally off guard

[timecapture]

I'd like that. Thanks.

I've never even thrown a punch in my life.

[khajidont]

I'm glad you've never had to. But you had to have gone into the area with all the fires to help right?

[timecapture]

Of course I did.

[khajidont]

Kinda figured you did

Okay so here's the deal. You're new here so you probably haven't been filled in yet but we get attacked. A lot. A lot of people aren't happy about imports being here and the ones that are think we're the government's weapons

That leads to a lot of people trying out what you just saw. If there's something fishy like a fire and an explosion you'd better believe people will be there trying to take a swing at you. Or worse

[timecapture]

You mean this is normal?

[khajidont]

I know it shouldn't be. It's really messed up.

But it is anyway. Last Halloween there was a pretty big attack and that's why I wound up asking my friend for self defense lessons in the first place

[timecapture]

So now you're passing it on. It makes sense.