Life In Code

Ethan Sinclair | Hacker Vigilante You want to talk about reality? We haven't lived in anything remotely close to it since the turn of the century. We turned it off, took out the batteries, snacked on a bag of GMOs while we tossed the remnants in the ever-expanding Dumpster of the human condition. We live in a kingdom of bullshit. A kingdom you've lived in for far too long.

[codingxsinclair-blog]

painandvengeance:

Folding his arms across his chest firmly, Nico nods to the hacker as he processes the fact that this conversation is actually taking place. Brown eyes take a glance at the headphones that wrapped around his neck, a proud feeling growing within him as the he recalls the conversation they had about the practicality of gifts. It was nice to know that he’d made a good decision – that not everything had been left behind in Rome.

“Don’t sound so amused by the statement, I may be a bartender but I’ve still got a degree too ya know.” The man laughs, knowing fully well that that wasn’t Ethan’s reason for being amused at the statement. But Nico wouldn’t be Nico if he didn’t take an opportunity to say something snarky.  

Observing the hacker quietly, he took a moment to appreciate how life had changed since the ragtag team of revolutionaries had served their purpose and split ways – how nice it was to see Ethan in this state. It was a hell of a change from the silent, nervous, kid who refused to make eye contact that showed up on his doorstep with penny what seemed like forever ago. Nico was proud. As proud as any man would be to see his family doing well.

“Well that’s not much of a shocker for Aussie Barbie.” Domenico retorts with a slight shrug before continuing. “Don’t tell me you’ve been venturing to the outside world in the sunlight as well! You look far less pale than I remember.” Granted, a lot of factors had changed and time had passed since the two last spent a decent amount of time near each other, so, Ethan not appearing in the same appearance he remembered was definitely a good thing. 

At the next statement, Nico found himself frozen for a moment just staring at the hacker blankly as he pulled himself back together. Not only someone besides himself or Calli acknowledged their relationship for the first time – but Ethan volunteered himself for physical contact. And of all things, a hug. The physical expression of familiarity and emotion. After a laugh, he finally speaks while closing the distance between them. “You really think I’d miss this opportunity? Hug first.” Nico proclaims in excitement while pulling his friend into an embrace. A feeling he had yet to experience in their almost two and a half years of friendship. “Now I can officially get settled in.”

“I know, Domenico. All politicians have a certain level of intelligence about them,” Ethan agreed, his mind moving faster than his lips though Ethan had yet to notice he had let slip that he knew a little about Nico’s past. “And there are several different types of knowledge, anyway.” Ethan did not have emotional, but he was working on interpersonal. He’d gotten significantly better in the last months. 

Static. 

Ethan blinked lucidity back with a shake of his head. “You shouldn’t call Penelope an Aussie Barbie. She won’t be too happy,” he countered, though he was stopped mid thought by the assertion that he looked less pale than usual. Ethan had never thought of himself as pale, especially when his life was spent beside his sister, but he supposed there were several reasons for his lifeless appearance for the entirety of the time Nico had known him. Ethan ran through fifteen reasons in his head. 

“I sleep now,” Ethan asserted, having come to the conclusion that was the most likely reason he had color in his skin again. No more energy-drink induced week-long stints awake. No more monitoring every movement on the streets or hacking into gang and government systems all hours of the day. Ethan was no long on consistent high-alert. Now he merely maintained watch over Calliope daily. He had alerts for everything else.

Having been lost in thought for several seconds, Ethan did not quite hear Nico’s response to his offer and was momentarily startled by physical contact. Ethan relaxed immediately, falling gently into the embrace. Practice. He wrapped his arms around Nico’s back, statements slightly muffled by the fabric.

“Penelope misses you.”

Stepping out of the first and only hug he’d shared with Nico, Ethan adjusted the headphones to sit comfortably atop his shoulders again. 

“I missed you.”

A beat. 

Ethan bent down to pick up a bag and turned to walk down the hallway. “Calliope’s bedroom is up this way.”

[codingxsinclair-blog]

painandvengeance:

Lifting his suitcases in either arm as he trekked up the stairs, Domenico pondered how people endured this cold environment year round as he meanwhile fantasized about the warmth of a fireplace. Nevertheless, there was a comfort in knowing that he was in Calli’s home – the house itself seemed to exude the same welcoming and kind energy as the woman herself. Maybe he could talk her into taking him jacket shopping one of these days. 

The jet lag seemed to conveniently hit the bartender like a brick as he finally made it to the second floor. His belongings dropped to the floor with a light thud as he took a moment to stretch his aching muscles. Nico was completely oblivious to the presence of another in the hallway until the familiarity of a certain voice took him by surprise. The deep timbre and subtle coat of Australian rang a bell within the man’s mind, causing him to immediately turn his head in search for the source. There was no way. 

“Ethan Sinclair.” Domenico greeted in a breath of disbelief as he gave the hacker a once-over. This trip certainly proved to be full of surprises. “Great minds think alike, right?” He says casually as the smile on his face grows involuntarily, it was really good to see Ethan again, especially in a happy state. The last the two had seen each other they were sleep deprived and blood-stained from the warzone that had become of the city over a year ago, now the man looked comparable to a well-rested human being. 

Nico would wrap the man in a hug right about now if he didn’t already know better. “So don’t just stand there like a statue, what have you and Penny been up to? You guys aren’t reeking too much havoc without me there to supervise ya, now are you?” Truth be told those first few days at his new home in Brazil were much harder than he’d anticipated – it was hard to feel at home without that familiarity of the presence of his former roommates. He missed them. 

A moment passed and Nico still found himself processing that Ethan was actually here and not just some hallucination conjured from his exhaustion. “It’s good to know I wasn’t the only one who flew hundreds of miles just for some of Calli’s cooking.”

“Domenico Vitale,” Ethan countered. 

Having been directed to exist as more than the gargoyle keeping watch over the cathedral that was Calliope’s home, Ethan pressed his shoulder into the doorframe to stand upright. The hacker adjusted the headphones around his neck so they were situated comfortably atop his shoulders before taking several incautious steps toward Nico. 

Mind absent of static, Ethan tugged at the hem of his sweater, acclimating to the air in the hallway that held more of the crisp night air than his warm guest room where the fireplace had been on for twelve straight hours. He could hardly mind now that Domenico had arrived, however. 

“Great minds,” he parroted, uncharacteristically leaving off the ‘great algorithms’ he’d thought in his mind. Ethan would have been impressed at how much he’d grown if he had any mind to understand the growth that had been caused by having his sister and Nico in such close quarters for so long. 

Stopping just short of Nico, Ethan looked down at the bags for a moment. “We’re not causing havoc,” he admitted, though it wasn’t necessarily completely true. They weren’t causing the type of havoc that was recognizable to Nico, at least. “Penny seems happy in the sun.”

Ethan’s irises caught in the collar of Nico’s shirt with something short of a smile. “Do you want me to help you take these to Calliope’s room, Domenico -- or did you want a hug first?” Ethan paused to catch Nico’s reaction. “I’ve saved one.”

[evnpeters]

[codingxsinclair-blog]

painandvengeance:

The ride up the mountain toward Calli’s home was beginning to make Nico tense as the frequency of lights and any real sign or civilization started to decrease. Silence only served to add to the rattling of his nerves. Spending most of his life in a dense city environment, he wasn’t quite accustomed to this sort of lonesome terrain. It wasn’t some childish fear of some monsters lurking in the pitch black shadows of the trees, but his mind did race with anxious scenarios like what if there was an avalanche that could block the road, or what if the car broke down for some reason. Focusing on keeping his breathing steady, the man found solace in the cool sensation of the window against the back of his arm as he leaned in that direction. 

“That’s the real reason I asked to stay.” Nico chuckles softly, acting as if his mind wasn’t consumed by the thought of being near to Calli when he’d asked, but instead focused on something as trivial as food. She knew better.

“I know that, but if there’s anything that living with Brainiac for as long as I did taught me, it’s that he leaves nothing to chance.” The bartender responds casually, brown eyes still following the dark terrain outside of the window. He missed the Sinclairs, despite how hard he tried to stay cool and detached. “I’m not saying you need the help protecting yourself, but it gives me comfort to know that if anything ever were to arise, big brother is on our side.”

After what seemed like an eternity to the man, Calli’s car arrived in the drive way of a rather nice house, tucked away in the mountain. Now that the vehicle had safely stopped and the two had made it to their destination, Nico felt like he could finally exhale and feel a small sense of comfort wrap over him. She didn’t take long to get out of the car and make her way to the house as the man stayed behind to grab his bags ad close the trunk. 

The sound of wheels turning could be heard as Domenico found his way inside, following his hostess. “If I would’ve known this was what I was coming to, I would’ve packed more.” He responds with a cheeky grin, his eyes panning over the details as he spoke. “This is a  nice place you’ve got.” He adds before finding his way to the stairs. “I’ll be upstairs wandering about.” 

He’d heard Calliope call through the house, her faint voice lilting up the stairs with a practiced kindness that he only recently began to recognize as genuine. He had missed her in the way he missed his mother: in the stillness of night, like a waking dream. Fortunately, business ventures required Ethan’s presence on occasion -- this being one of them. 

The thick cushion of a pair of matte black Beats slid down his neck and draped over his shoulders. Ethan was hardly seen without them. Not after Nico had left and the Sinclairs were on their own once again. The hacker was never far from his small hoard of anarchists, however. He made a point of being in their time zone; not to mention Penelope had been begging to move to a tropical paradise for ages. Somewhere temperate. Like home. 

Ethan pressed his shoulder against the door of the guest room, shoving the wood only far enough so he could take a step into the hallway. Static in a racing mind drowned out by the sound of footsteps echoing up the stairs. 

He waited. 

Arm resting against the doorframe as Ethan stood in the hall, the hacker felt the rare sensation of cheeks being lifted by muscles excited by anticipation. Normally relegated to silence, Ethan broke the mold and spoke before Domenico had a moment to turn his head. 

“We seem to have planned our trip at the same time.”

Ethan hardly needed to expound or explain he’d booked a flight as soon as Nico had, just for two days sooner. 

[zombieeeeeeeee]

[makingitmarx-blog]

He was having one of his moments, where his mind was so bombarded that his body and his mouth moved at light speed. Jonas had a system a very efficient, well thought out system that worked fine until recent events. “I need to..” Finally he takes pause. Jonas breathes for a moment and just thinks before looking to the hacker. Then it hits him.

“I got it!” He proclaims. “Radios!” The man blurts out victoriously as if Ethan was supposed to have read his thoughts and immediately understood. When he sees the confused expression on his face, an explanation follows. “I’ve worked on radios my entire life before Marx tech, if I could get my hands on some simple hardware I can track soldier com signals, keep tabs, interfere with messages, and – well you get the gist.”

[codingxsinclair-blog]

Again, Ethan was silent and allowed the man room to think, breathe, and decide. Ethan could not risk giving much away, nor would he have the desire to explain just how he had been helping people since he’d arrived in Rome, but assisting with someone else’s idea was inconspicuous enough. His attention was drawn back by Jonas’ exclamation, almost incensed by the simplicity of the thought. It was a good one and one that would have taken a while to fully realize had Ethan not had help from one ex-police officer, Darren Fletcher. 

“Oh,” was the simple response Ethan offered, lifting his arm to hold the tablet in front of him, unlocking it with a series of codes. Ten seconds passed and Ethan held out the tablet to Jonas. An astonishing act of trust, though everything required several codes to open. “Here. It’s all there.”

[makingitmarx-blog]

“I may be no match for these guards but Ricardo is not scaring me out of Rome. I have too much built here to just abandon ship – the problem is just finding a way to actually be of some help to everyone.”

[codingxsinclair-blog]

Ethan watched Jonas. That was it. The extent of what the hacker could do when faced with a terrifyingly unbridled passion for aiding others. He observed the man, tablet pressed to his thigh as limbs dangled by his side. 

“What do you want to do?”

[abscntly]

[misanthropicnymph]

[codingxsinclair-blog]

misanthropicnymph:

“You can’t wake up, this is not a dream, You’re part of a machine, you are not a human being,

[painandvengeance-blog]

Ethan’s sudden grab on his arm had certainly taken Domenico by surprise, especially the strength in which he gripped. Out of instinct, he wanted to speak up and ask what the hell he thought he was doing but the hacker had to be trusted and so Nico remained silent as they found themselves in the dark confines of a stairwell. There was a certain ferocity that danced in the hues of the man’s eyes as they jumped across the screen of his phone, almost as if he was concerned. Such thoughts, however, were cut off by the sounds of boots crashing thunderously upon the concrete and the voices that followed thereafter. Almost immediately, the man’s spine straightens and his breaths become more shallow and quiet. The soldiers had found their fallen brother and a twisted part of Nico was glad they did, he did not regret stealing the life from any of those men or any that were to follow. Despite the way Ethan’s eyes seemed to condemn his choices when they fell upon him, the bartender had lost too much at the hands of this city to feel remorse in his more violent ways. He was merely a pawn in this whole game and if his life was lost in the course of bringing a change, that was perfectly fine in his book.

The time that the two waited seemed to pass slowly and painfully as they stood still, waiting calmly for the threat to move on. He supposed that maybe he owed Ethan a thank you for his diligence that ultimately saved their asses, but now wasn’t the time for such things. Finally, Nico feels his arm freed from the man’s grip before they have the ok to move on. Admittedly, it felt a bit empty after the warmth of his hand was moved – but he moved any way. After opening the door cautiously , the bartender looks back to his partner. “I’ll stay in the front to cover you, what’s the plan of action for finding Penelope?”

[codingxsinclair-blog]

The door was unlocked again, a breath released in tandem with the breeze filtering through the hall. Fingers grasped the hood that had fallen back, pulling it over his head once more shroud in the shadowy safety of pseudo anonymity. He had to find his sister. Scenarios swirled in a maelstrom of possibility in his mind, knowing far too well what could happen when they were apart. 

A single step was taken out into the darkness before his phone was back between fingertips being skillfully unlocked to find Penelope. If she had her phone on her-- Ethan looked up at Nico. “There isn’t a plan,” he stated simply. “I know where she is.” Within seconds a location was sent to Nico’s phone and Ethan secured the door behind him. 

[reirami-blog]

[reirami-blog]

[painandvengeance-blog]

Watching absentmindedly as Ethan sends the message on his phone, Nico thinks to himself how he wished he had a drink, or a cigarette, or anything to just give him a little extra numbing from all of this bullshit. Seeing Ethan all bloody was enough to make his skin crawl with a rage he tried his best to keep inside, but what made him even more on the edge was being out in the open and not knowing if or when soldiers would be coming after their fallen brothers in arms. And just as the man starts to fill his mind with fear again, Ethan’s voice is heard – snapping him from his thoughts. “That was quick.” He comments about the man obtaining authorization. And just as soon as he is in the process of walking away. Penelope. 

“Sonofabitch” The bartender proclaims while running a hand through his hair, not intending to make finding penelope sound like an inconvenience, but more angry at the circumstances in general. Knowing better than to even think of opposing Ethan on this one, he nods solemnly. “I’m sure she’s off somewhere kicking some major ass, but let’s go get her.” His words more confident in their tone this time around. They were a team now: Ethan, Penny, And Nico and he’d rather give up his life then abandon them. Ethan’s response to the gun he was offered was less than satisfying, his eyes looking at Nico with a subtle sort of disgust. But there was no time to argue the matter. “Alright.” The bartender replies rather casually, throwing his hands up in a gesture of surrender. “I’ve got better aim any way.” He mumbles before clicking the safety mechanism on the weapon and sliding it back into the waist of his jeans. 

[codingxsinclair-blog]

A chill drifted up the hem of Ethan’s sweater, reminding the hacker of his place in the world. Gaze fell from the screen, finding its way back onto the man Nico had drained of life. He was doing his job. Cutting individual heads off of a hydra would do nothing but to spawn more and Ethan unlocked his phone again assuming the spawn of soldiers may be coming to find this man soon. He was right. No sooner than Nico had slipped the pistol back in its place had Ethan grabbed the man’s arm with far firmer a grip than most people though him capable. The door behind him was swung open, Ethan dragging Nico inside the stairwell without so much as an explanation. Fingers slid over the screen, a dark click securing the door, the stairwell suddenly feeling as though it were vacuum sealed. 

Seven full minutes passed before Ethan let go of Nico’s arm, gaze trained on his phone. Another minute passed before he released the security. Ethan locked his phone again, slipping it into the pocket of his sweater before looking over at Nico. He didn’t apologize for his actions. He wasn’t sorry. Ethan wouldn’t even register that perhaps he should have been. “We can go now,” he stated simply, the threat having passed.

[makingitmarx-blog]

After closing his thermos securely and placing it back on the table, Jonas finds his gaze back in Ethan’s direction where there is a slightly peculiar expression written on his features. It was a positive sort of peculiar though, emotional language as his therapist would put it was not Jonas’ strong suit, unsure quite what to do he nods at the man before sitting back down. He appreciated Ethan for various reasons, his obvious skill only at the bottom of the list. There was a sort of connection that he had with his technology, a balance even, and Jonas found himself constantly frustrated with others at Marx Tech for not being able to see it. They always saw two separate things, either Jonas or his technology. Ethan Sinclair, however, he knew of the intricacies and value that existed within the combination of a human mind and endless series of codes, a symbiosis of sorts. Blinking up from his gaze on the keyboard, the man replies to Ethan’s offer to stay. “Yes. I’d appreciate that.” He speaks, an awkward smile forming on his lips. “I have some extra gear here if you’d like to use something with a bit bigger than a 5 inch screen.”

[codingxsinclair-blog]

Watching the screen light up slightly, Ethan found himself captivated by the technology in front of him. It was a wonder more people didn’t have it, but he surmised instantaneously that most people could not appreciate the investment, nor would they be able to utilize the technology completely. People were remarkably daft and absolutely infuriating most days. Somewhere deep in the recesses of a mind humming with thoughts of the human race’s inadequacies was an affirmative to Jonas’ statement. If he would appreciate it, then Ethan would stay. The hacker turned to Jonas and gave a single, appreciative nod. Securing the city would be infinitely easier with a bit more to work with. “All I need is a 13 inch screen and a keyboard.”

[makingitmarx-blog]

Jonas had been alone in here for over 14 hours already, the voices of his mind being the only company he was offered in that time, so to see Ethan was a bit of a relief. Apparently the man had gotten into some sort of altercation, judging by the dried blood and fresh bruising on his features – but Jonas knew better than to ask their origin. “If there’s anyone who can get past my tightest security it’s you.” He responds with a short chuckle, thinking back to how impressed he was by Ethan’s skills during the competition some time ago. “Physically I’m fine, I haven’t gotten found yet so that’s good. The only downside is I’m stuck in this room for an undefined amount of time, my anxiety is through the roof and I am terrified at even the sound of a pin dropping.” Jonas sips his coffee to cut himself off, his therapist’s words about over sharing ringing in his mind. He then clears his throat and points at a black board that was sitting upon the counter. “Charging mat. If you need it.”

[codingxsinclair-blog]

Wandering the streets securing the locations of the few people about whom Ethan had the presence of mind to worry was far from his brightest idea, but there was no way to silence that part of his mind once it’d begun to itch. He would never be able to focus on anything if he hadn’t made sure of their safety. Ethan leveled Jonas with a gaze that almost appeared grateful or flattered. The owner of quite possibly the best tech in the industry had sounded words that were simple and yet the greatest compliment Ethan could think of, though he wasn’t thinking long. “I can stay with you for a while,” Ethan offered, unlocking his phone with a series of security codes. “I have whereabouts on threats.” He pinched the screen to widen the area for a second, going back to their immediate location seconds later. “You can come with me to a safer, less quiet location if you want later.” Following the line of Jonas’ arm, Ethan nodded. “Thank you.” He walked over to the counter, placing his phone on the mat.

[makingitmarx-blog]

Panic had induced a sense of paranoia within Jonas that seemed to blur the lens in which he saw everything, which made it so that by the time he saw and recognized the hacker it was already too late. It was as if muscle memory from his self defense courses kicked in as a response to the fear. Exhaling deeply, the man calmly puts down his weapon before speaking to Ethan. “I apologize for the gun.” Jonas states blankly. “Self defense.” Afterward, he makes his way back to the small table which had only a laptop, a thermos, and four small boxes of nerds candies. “I imagine you tried to contact me but didn’t get a response because I have the servers on lockdown, no incoming or outgoing signals of any kind. Thank you for coming to check though.” The man stretches his neck, faint popping noises resulting. “Are you alright? Is there anything you need?”

[codingxsinclair-blog]

Ethan understood. He did. He reminded himself five times that he understood without ever moving from where he stood. The gun had been placed down, but Ethan could see the ghost of it as though the barrel were still pointed directly at him. He wasn’t a soldier. Ethan could never be a soldier. Static. Jonas made mention of his servers and Ethan looked up. “I got around your protocols well enough to know you were still here. Came to make sure you were alive.” Jonas couldn’t risk doing the one thing that would keep Ethan out: shut it all down. He ran a tech company and everything needed power, so Ethan exploited it. He shook his head. “I think I’m okay. Are you?”

[makingitmarx-blog]

“What the hell are you doing here?” Jonas inquires angrily, his sweaty palms gripping tightly to the pistol he was holding, aiming right for the chest of the strange person. Upon learning that the person was not here for his life – or better yet his life’s work, he releases them. “I could’ve killed you, ya know? All this chaos going on you can’t sneak up on a man like that.”

[codingxsinclair-blog]

Frozen. Ethan ran through twenty-six ways to get out of the situation, but none of them left him quite as unscathed as he’d been walking here. His phone shook in his hand, the screen with Jonas’ location going black from lack of use as Ethan stared down the barrel of a gun. “I-” he breathed shakily, swallowing the terror causing his lips to tremble. “...checking on you.”