MCP7 I cleared my throat and everything in there second-guessed me in a peristaltic revolution - I choked on my response.

“I missed my moment. And I love Sal, it isn’t like he’s found his moment yet, either. I guess he’s more mature than me, and he’s younger.” He really is pretty good with everything he touches. You don’t keep driving at his level by being stupid, and he’s the lead driver now, with Swish on trial. “But you’re going into a war zone,” she says, only just not kindly. “Isn’t that brave enough to match a racing driver?” I groan. “Ya, if I were going to war. Going without a weapon is just stupid, there’s no ‘bravery pass’ for gettin’ around how colossally dumb that is.” She changed again but I didn’t see it, and it’s getting more subtle, and I care far less. I’m incredibly grateful for the continuity of color, since each color whispered vlerj in the back folds of my ears if I took em for granted. “But you’re going to tell us what’s happening there. You think it important enough to die trying?” She is genuinely asking, without reservation or judgment, and bids I answer accordingly.