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[adaptiveimmunities]

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[adaptiveimmunities]

Is there a trick here?

[heyboss]

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.

[adaptiveimmunities]

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.

[heyboss]

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

In the Enclosure.

I certainly could use the sunshine.

[adaptiveimmunities]

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

See you there.

[heyboss]

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."

[adaptiveimmunities]

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?"

[heyboss]

"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?"

[adaptiveimmunities]

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."

[heyboss]

"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."

[adaptiveimmunities]

"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.

[heyboss]

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.

[adaptiveimmunities]

"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.

[heyboss]

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?"

[adaptiveimmunities]

"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."

[heyboss]

"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.

[adaptiveimmunities]

"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!"

[heyboss]

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

[adaptiveimmunities]

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.

[heyboss]

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.

[adaptiveimmunities]

"Like hell!" He laughs and keeps moving, trying to circle around behind Sheehan. If he sees him, he's going to shoot him in the ass.

[heyboss]

Sheehan is going to have an unfortunate mark on his ass because it shoots him square in the left cheek.

"Hey! I was using that!" he laughs, diving out of sight.

[adaptiveimmunities]

Shaun snickers at his own immaturity, then gives chase. Technically they're going for first to five, but if he gets more in than that, he's not going to be sad about it.

[heyboss]

Sheehan really is only feigning his bumbling nonsense.

Did he mention to Shaun that he's been training with Dimitri nearly every day for the past few months?

Probably not.

He reaches up and hauls himself to the top of a barrier and aims two hits to Shaun's shoulders.

[adaptiveimmunities]

"God damn it!" he swears, and tucks and rolls behind a barrier with his two new hits. He's now down to one hit, and while he may have agreed to fifteen minutes of actual sit down and talk time, he didn't expect to have to follow through.