[ At first, it may seem that the act has failed. Maine stills when Wash speaks. Stills like he's heard something wrong, and he's either processing it or debating how to address it. A moment later, however, the big Freelancer starts ... checking compartments of his armor.
Because of course Maine's first instinct was to just break the damn chain. When that failed, he didn't even consider the option of unlocking it. How could a tiny key overcome what his armor-enhanced strength couldn't?
(There's more than one reason Maine never took an interest in picking locks. Lack of patience is one of them; a preference for brute force is another.)
So he sorts through ammo, more ammo, and even more ammo, searching in vain for a key. It might be faster if he used both hands, but he's still keeping his left within comfortable range of Wash. Their difference in height makes this chained-together business unwieldy enough; Maine doesn't want to risk a careless movement throwing his teammate off balance.
When his search yields nothing, Maine turns back to Wash and shakes his head. No key. ]
no subject
Because of course Maine's first instinct was to just break the damn chain. When that failed, he didn't even consider the option of unlocking it. How could a tiny key overcome what his armor-enhanced strength couldn't?
(There's more than one reason Maine never took an interest in picking locks. Lack of patience is one of them; a preference for brute force is another.)
So he sorts through ammo, more ammo, and even more ammo, searching in vain for a key. It might be faster if he used both hands, but he's still keeping his left within comfortable range of Wash. Their difference in height makes this chained-together business unwieldy enough; Maine doesn't want to risk a careless movement throwing his teammate off balance.
When his search yields nothing, Maine turns back to Wash and shakes his head. No key. ]