Thread by @ShelfNerds

#MicroTreks

“You—got to stay,” Shaw says.

“Yeah—I did,” Reno says. “And it was fucking grueling to engineer my friends like some—cannibalized, engine parts.”

“But—again—you got to do something to save them,” Shaw says.
1/8

“You didn’t have to see hopelessness in their eyes as you crouched into the escape pod,” Shaw says.

“You tough enough for some straight talk, Captain Dirge?” Reno asks.

Shaw shrugs.

Reno leans forward. “Your friends died—frozen debris forever floating at Wolf 359.”
2/8

“A bit—cold,” Shaw says.

“Literally, my man,” Reno says. “You couldn’t save their asses. But who the hell do you think you are? You took that seat when one of them could’ve. You gonna wallow in the hopelessness of that horrific moment forever?”
3/8

“Tether yourself to death?” Reno asks. “Or are you gonna fucking live?”

“Yeah, sure, get over it,” Shaw says. “Bypass the—memory like a damaged gel pack. Cuz that sounds healthy. Something tells me your secondary specialty at the Academy wasn’t psychology.”
4/8

Reno picks up black licorice, flexing it from end to end. “No, shit, Shaw.”

Shaw’s brow raises.

“I’m a damned good engineer,” Reno says. “I get things done because I remember one thing: for complex systems to work under pressure, flexibility must be built into the design.”
5/8

“I lost—my wife,” Reno says, she bites into the licorice.

Shaw shifts in his chair. “I’m—so sorry.”

“But I’m flexible in grief—allowing myself moments to get flung back to that moment of soul-hollowing loss—but always springing back—to live—for us both.”
6/8

“With as much charisma and sparkling wit as I can manage,” Reno says.

“You manage—a lot,” Shaw says.

“So—Liam,” Reno says.
7/8

“You gonna live as if you’re one of those frozen friends floating in a debris cloud?” Reno asks.

“Ya know what?” Shaw says, standing up. “You’re better than a counselor; you’re an engineer.”

“A damned good one,” Reno says.

Shaw nods, pointing at her and smiling.
8/8

This #MicroTreks is inspired by @Rocket_Grrrl and @musicpaladin!