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“C’mon that all you got?” it was no secret agent M loved to fight, and she’d needed to release tension after being assigned to a new partner that again she hated. “Let’s do it, c’mon.”

      “I would say,” he began, large breaths breaking his words into their own respective segments and stops, “yes, for now that is what I got. I feel I’m more adequate to fight a being with tentacles than another human. I feel my age, otherwise.”

Dubs stopped short of the rather enticing button, looking to him with a raised brow. ❝Am I prepared? For the simulation or to die? Your question is very heavy. Perhaps try to reword.❞ She knew well what he was saying. Perhaps she was attempting to annoy him or perhaps she was merely putting off the inevitable moment that she would press the infamous red button.

         “I wouldn’t drink that if I were you.” She’d been lingering by the punch bowl for a few minutes, now away from the main engagement of the Halloween party but close enough to the fray to make it not so obvious that she was avoiding it. T didn’t mind office parties so much, but it got loud when liquor was involved and she had a harder time processing the din when Worms were involved. “One of the little Annelids came by and sneakily slipped something silvery into it a little while ago.”

      The cup was halfway up to his lips, lingering there like a frozen picture while he waited for the explanation. Slowly the cup retreated, and E dumped the liquid back into the whole, turning the cup upside down like it hadn’t been touched. He readjusted the black mask across his eyes, unnecessary at that, and assumed his normal position beside her. “Thank you, for that. I’m not one to enjoy hallucinations or the terrors of my own mind. My imagination would turn on me in any instance or effect that would cause. Are you enjoy yourself? This fun little gathering?”

Don’t ask why V already owned a skin-tight leather jump suit and thigh high boots- she wasn’t even sure herself, but she had always known it would come in handy one day. She had purchased a black mask and pair of ears on the way to HQ, and voilà, Cat Woman was born. “I can’t wait to see who takes it overboard this year. It’s the best party of office parties, honestly.” She said conversationally to the person next to her. 

      “To be frank, I’ve never enjoyed these types of things.” Cup in hand, it hung by his side more like an accessory than a representation of the party, an accessory to his outfit that was their classic uniform save for a bow instead of a tie and a black mask that only covered his eyes. “They’re unnatural. It’s one thing to be together over work-- it’s easy to be social a simple common aspect at this. It’s another to be at a work place and join in for the social aspect without work. It’s convoluted. I could kill for an photocopied arse, if for a comic relief.”

         “Just looks like a fuckin’ mess to me.” Gruff voice crackled over the rim of his coffee cup. Whatever the break room was serving tasted like sludge, but that was to be expected when all there was for creamer was powdered shit. If the worms didn’t stop drinking all the cream he was going to lose it. “What is it supposed to be.” Less of a question, no interest in his tone, but it was there. For the sake of conversation. His paperwork was done. He had nothing to do.

      “Well it’s a mess now but they’ll merge together soon with all the right parts in place.” He glanced up twice, once for acknowledgement and second to take it the dead-eye stare with serious a serious brow looming over it. “If done properly, which I know it won’t be perfect but should be close, it will be an active silencing headset for a case T and I have with the Aldoosi.” E knew better to be a little more straight forward with X, even if part of his explanation wasn’t entirely true. “Preferably, I would like to not lose my hearing in the process, and I don’t trust the passive earmuffs we have.”

         “The notes wouldn’t be to remind me. The notes would be to warn the other agents of your alien standard. And they wouldn’t be somewhere you’d think to find them.” She shifted toward the elevator, brushing past him and silently thanking herself for the chance to stand and stretch her legs. “You’d lose too much valuable information if I were neutralyzed or killed. Your next partner would be a mess. You’d be lost without me.” It sounded a little arrogant — but that was T. T could be arrogant when she was sure of herself, and 7 years of positively working well with the same person suggested just that. “No, we free the Ramoolian first. The issued warnings are enough of them to learn their virtues. We can’t risk him being in the pound too long you know that. And you can keep your sauerkraut mouth away from my nose when you’re done eating your everything hot dog.”

      “Warn them? Why ever would you need to warn them? After all these years, I would have expected you to learn that alien means foreign, but not necessarily demoralized. And it would be tapped underneath the second drawer of your desk, I already knew that.” He gleamed proudly beside her, straightening his back as if his height would further emphasize the point, make a bigger joke of it. “Is that how it is?” The smile didn’t fade, nor did his tone lack any amusement at her declaration. Her statement, as boastful as she was, were true though the latter two meant more to him than the first with one more point she failed to add, obviously to anyone else by the way his shoulders were always turned to her as they walked or by how his boyish gimmicks always included, even if only in words. “I do know that but I also believe in the power of facing the repercussions of your actions which the pound seems more than fitting. If we’re going to put it off, then I suppose we’ll go to a restaurant. Then we’ll have the time to sit down and relax.”

         “I’m going to leave a note somewhere … just in case I wind up being correct on this hunch and you try to neutralyze me for finding out. There are a lot of agents here who would be sore if I went missing, or turned up dead.” T shifted in her chair, eyes still more narrow than one who was completely at ease would have … but the conversation of the case had her nodding. It was better they start now and get a move on before they fell behind and got backlogged. After a moment she rose, pushing off of her chair, and nodded. “No cheeseburgers or pizza, though. I’m tired of both of those things. Maybe a diner somewhere for late breakfast? But first we should really bail the poor Ramoolian out of the pound first. Let’s go.”

      “Neuralyze, yes, but that doesn’t mean you’d go missing. It means I would be sure there are no notes left behind to remind you of what you found. It’s probably best for the both of us we remain in this blissful uncertainty.” He stood straight as she lifted from her seat, straightened his jacket to appear nothing less than proper in the would be common attire of their profession. With a small gesture of ‘after you’, he followed and then walked beside her, re-assuming his hands into his pockets once more like held secrets within them. “Wouldn’t think of it, didn’t think of it. I thought we’d stop by a hot dog stand instead, all of the works on them. Besides, I’m sure he can wait and learn the virtue of patience while we eat. The lesson will hopefully stick better the longer he’s in.”

         “So you’re a cat. Are we sure you aren’t some uncredited alien species? Have you been thoroughly scanned lately?” His mild interest in the case sparked the slightest sensation of annoyance into her, but it didn’t appear on her face at all. Instead she pursed her lips and shook her head, “Ramoolian got thrown into animal control because a Kzniti got pissed he peed on their porch for a territory mark. So we have to issue out warnings and bail the poor pug bastard out of animal control. I hope it’s not Tony.” And she really did hope it was Tony … as much of a pain in the ass as the Ramoolian was, he was sweet ( to her. because she was a woman ). “Are you happy now that I’m paying attention to you instead of the case file?”

      “Come to think of it, I think they just assumed me human. I’m surprised you’re only verbally questioning it now as I’m sure you’ve thought it many times in the past. You’ll have to conduct the scan yourself. No probing, please.” Though the strange name calling brought a wider smirk, something about the way she blundered through his words to get straight to the point equally as amusing. Since day one, the woman had an intuition about her, or maybe it was her stubbornness, that he admired: no nonsense for the all the nonsense he brought and wit that sliced right through him. It was bait for him to try harder, to see what she would choose to entertain or ignore. “Ah, yes, territory. The same thing all species fight about poorly and bitterly. What else is there? All we need do is take leave and begin our work. Very straightforward, wouldn’t you say? My treat to lunch along the way.”

“what, you think all of this is my backlog?” f shook his head in disbelief, and nearly put a hand over his heart to show how utterly wounded that assumption made him. “i’m in the doghouse, it would seem. so i’m dealing with all the arquilian back logs. not just mine—which, for the record, were minimal.” f rolled his eyes and smiled a bit. “yeah, how about instead of that you help me out. i’ll owe you a beer. or a shirley temple. whatever you drink.”

       One quirked brow and a shake of his head, E portrayed he wasn’t convinced. “You said you put it off so despite how little you added, you delayed the inevitable only to let it grow.” How unlike him it was to have such a serious demeanor or tone of voice, verging on a father confessing not his anger but disappointment (not that he ever considered himself in such a position). “I would prefer to put myself on the pyre. My chances of survival are far greater and if not I can have the liquor in Hell. Have you even started?”

         “I find you long-winded.” Sometimes. His stories were dry from time to time but at the brass tax of it he was a good agent. A good partner. That didn’t mean she wouldn’t purse her lips when he was around. Or roll her eyes. Y knew the way she felt, and perhaps her sometimes overly irritable demeanor around E was the suppression of that … but it didn’t matter. T was a professional, she’d keep it that way. “And what did you want my attention for?”

      “But long winded doesn’t mean boring. Perhaps a bit verbose but certainly not,” he trailed off, focusing on the paperwork on her desk, a finger lifting the top of the manila folder and a craned head to confirm its introductory words. Though the glance up betrayed him, a hint of a smile in eye and curved tiers was all too telling he knew what she meant-- he knew he tested her nerves, on the occasion. “Oh, no, I literally wanted your attention as opposed to it being graced upon someone else. I mean we do have a case, but first and foremost I didn’t want you to be distracted. It was the least I could do to help. About the case though...”

         “A word with me about what?” She turned in her chair just slightly, eyeing his form from the corner of her vision. Outside of the case file that was on her desk ( and presumably his, but who knew if he saw it ) T hadn’t any idea. “We have a case, though. And also, who were you boring this time?” Finger drummed mindlessly on her desk, and finally she shifted her attention more fully onto her partner. “But yes, the word is what?”

      “Far too many questions at once, you might not want to overwhelm yourself not knowing the answers.” His brows furrowed in concern, quirking one as he was waiting to see her combust  or implode... implode was more likely. He shoved his hands into his pockets and leaned against her desk. “To sum it quickly I wanted your attention, and I’m aware of the case. Something about territories and the like, silly nonsense even earthlings can’t figure out for themselves. Do you really find me that boring?”

Bright, green, gelatinous slime dripped from Yeo’s fingertips and chin. What was it with aliens and slime? Gross! She wiped at her face, trying to rid her eyes and mouth of the repugnant goo, and groaned when more smeared thickly across her skin. Pausing briefly to look at her gooey palm, the disgust that she wore twisted into a mischievous smirk. Maybe this wasn’t so terrible after all… She could play a prank on an unsuspecting agent or two. Without missing a beat, Yeo raised her hand to high five a passing agent. “Up high!” She grinned, “Mission success! Don’t leave me hangin’!” 

      Coffee in hand, cup too small for the length of his fingers E was cradling it like a fragile being possibly crushed if too much pressure was applied. More directly, the contents within were too precious to spill with a prominent decision of once he reached his desk, he wasn’t making another trip back. So he obliged, careful to avoid the shake while lifting his hand in congratulations for the momentary celebration, regretful as it was. He placed the cup carefully down before pulling a handkerchief from his pocket. “I would be near--” Amid wiping his hand he looked and noticed the film across her face, and instead offered the cloth to her. “Congratulations. Appears to be a splendid victory.”

The coffee in the pot is old and stale, and there’s a nasty looking slime close to the mug he favored that looks suspiciously… alien. All in all, the day wasn’t off to the greatest of starts, hence the cigarette held between his lips, lit and halfway through. If you knew him, you might notice the antsy behavior he displayed. No coffee means more cigarettes, which means more restlessness; add that on top of the fact that his partner has yet to show his face, and you have yourself an anxious and agitated man who was smoking in the ‘non-smoking’ break room. At least he had the decency to smoke near the vent — at least he thought it was decent.

“What slime ball fucked with the coffee?”

      “Careful with what you throw around,” E chided lightly, as he approached the counter top to observe the infraction. If he were an honest man, the sight was off putting to him as well, an unfortunate happenstance that encompassed their lives and all threads of beings they associated with. “Like anyone, name calling can be taken personally.” But there was no delay in his search for new grounds, a filter to boot, as the bitter liquid was equivalent to life water, practically was with some difficulties they endured. “I thought you weren’t supposed to smoke in here.” No meaning to it, nor intention of implementing a supposed rule.

after closing multiple days in a row (with the latest being a 12hr shift) i am finally here to say, hello. i’m kelly. here is my lying shit bag known as agent e. more about him below the cut.