adaptiveimmunities

So. Feeling up to making a deal?

Depends on the deal. What did you have in mind?

Fifteen minutes of actual sit down with me and talk time.

If.

I hit you more times in a game of paintball.

...are you volunteering to play paintball with me? Is it my birthday already?

[The fact that this might end in therapy is not lost on him, but he's pretty confident in his abilities.]

Oh good! You know what it is.

I'm volunteering to play paintball with you.

But you have to agree to the terms.

Is there a trick here?

You've known me for over six months, Shaun. When have I ever tricked you?

A - new friend told me about paintball, and I thought it would be a good incentive.

Never. [There isn't even a pause. Shaun might think therapy is bullshit, but Sheehan has earned his trust.]

Honestly, I would have asked to do paintball instead of marker tag if I'd thought it was a good idea to give guns to a bunch of crazy people--even just paint guns. So yeah. I'm definitely in.

I wouldn't trust them with a paintball gun. I trust you.

In the Enclosure.

I certainly could use the sunshine.

You trust me? I'm touched. [He grins.]

See you there.

He meets him on deck to let him in.

"Alright," he says when he sees him. "Rule is...first one to get hit five times loses."

Shaun nods his agreement as they turn toward the Enclosure. "Seems fair. We wouldn't to go overboard." He pauses at the entrance. "Out of curiosity, how did the mud thing work out last time?"

"I got rid of those clothes. So I couldn't tell you."

He opens the door and blinks with a laugh as it reveals a very modern sort of paintball grounds.

"Huh. Is that what it's supposed to look like?"

Shaun shrugs a little. "I'm usually more of an outdoor guy when it comes to stuff like this, but indoor arenas like this one are pretty cool too. The UV lights make the paint really stand out. And it means the paint on the walls can be pretty distracting."

"Damn. I was hoping for sunshine. Oh well. This will do." He gestures to the side where the paintball guns are. "Give me - five minutes to figure out how to use it and then we can start."

"Sure." Shaun is feeling pretty confident. He's good with a gun, and this definitely isn't his first rodeo as far as paintball is concerned. "Let me know when you're ready." He moves toward the paintball guns and grabs one loaded with violently yellow paint. Laser lemon is an excellent color.

Sheehan had spent the entire morning practicing.

He doesn't tell Shaun any of that.

Instead, he loads up two with bright green, expertly drapes the strap around his shoulders, and grins over at Shaun.

"Actually, I think I have all the practice I need." And he aims a shot right at Shaun's leg.

"Asshole!" Shaun laughs, absolutely failing at getting out of the way, and thus getting splattered with paint. He fires back, then immediately dives for cover.

Sheehan laughs and the hit lands a yellow splotch on his shirt before he turns around and skids to a stop behind a barrier.

"I came prepared, Shaun! What can I say?"

"I thought you were going to be an easy target!" He laughs and stays ducked behind his own little barrier. "I'm gonna have to reevaluate my strategy."

"You would be the last one I would expect to underestimate an enemy!" he laughs, crawling around the barrier and hoping to not be seen on his way to ambush Shaun.

"Zombies don't suckerpunch you!" He can hear Sheehan moving, and he starts moving himself, hoping to get the drop on him this time. "They moan and whine at you like god intended!"

Sheehan can hear him in turn and he takes his shot, looking up over the barrier and aiming a shot at Shaun.

Shaun sees him pop up. His reaction time isn't quite fast enough to avoid catching a bright green splotch of pain on the shoulder, but he fires back and then dives for cover.

Sheehan dodges the hit and rolls onto his side, crawling away with a laugh. "That's two, boss. Three more and I win."

He peers around the side of the divider.

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