IC Voicemail, Driftfleet:

[tothefly]

[There is no recording, just a few clicks and a beep.]

[Leave any IC voice messages or texts for Natasha here.]

Comments

[tothefly]

[Still someone else's, in her head, but that doesn't mean it wasn't true enough for him. She's more or less made her peace with that.]

Didn't think you were cut out for it, or didn't think you'd see the end of the war?

[redactions]

[ Even this one, who's only known him a week, knows the right question to ask. He sighs, quietly. ]

I'm in a sergeant in my heart, Natasha. Always will be. I already have a captain.

[tothefly]

[It's a good answer. The correct answer, though whether it's just honest or carefully engineered, she isn't quite sure of.]

Looks like you'll just have to deal with the involuntary promotion, then, Captain.

[Something in her voice at least hints he's answered right. Something else might hint that he's gotten himself stuck with a new designation.]

[redactions]

[ It's both, because the truth is rarely pure and hardly simple, and honesty doesn't have to mean straightforwardness. ]

[ Dryly, ] I'll try to make it seem like a chore.