armoury breach | quinn + alex [ howl ]
RUINA REX: HOWL
Saturday, April 8th, approx. 3pm
[[ The way he sits makes Quinn unreasonably angry. The steepled fingers, elbows resting on the chair. Like he’s a pissed off teacher looking for answers. That’s what Alex is, really, relegated to being a P.E teacher in the post-apocalypse.
‘I’m sure you’ve asked all these questions of your team already,’ Fuck he’s insufferable. He steadies a look at Alex, Quinn pauses to consider.
Telling him the truth would help, probably. He puts the knife and fork down, pushes his meal aside. Seems wrong to eat, now. Talking about the man’s death won’t put him off his food, but it probably should in Alex’s eyes. It’d be simply another thing they can hold against Quinn.
‘That heartless bastard ate whilst talking about a man’s death!’ As if they haven’t all been complicit in much worse things. ]] Just an EEG.
[[ He’s grateful it was one of the less invasive testing methods. ]] Some blood was drawn so he was strapped down. For his own safety and that of the lab techs. [[ The next part is probably unnecessary, but Alex asked for details: he’s getting details. ]] I’m told it’s a nasty injury to get a needle stuck in your arm, clearing up the plastic splinters wouldn’t be an easy job either. [[ He chews on his lip. Eyes go a little distant: like he’s contemplating that horror (he is in fact, wondering if that would look more suspicious or not?). Would a bloody death have suited the beast more?
Quinn sighs, suddenly falls back in his chair. Head tipped back on the chair, hands settling in his lap. None of that dramatic steeple crap, simply letting them sit. ]] Six years.
You’ve been here six years with only four deaths. All violent or due to lack of supplies until Mr. Bahr. That’s… that’s fucking impressive. Before D-Day that’d be a world record! You’re looking for answers I can’t give you, Alex. Unless you want me to lie, take the easy route out. Pretend we know exactly what got the man. Is that what you want from me, Mr. Donovan?
[He’s getting defensive. Figures. And if Quinn didn’t feel responsible in some way, he wouldn’t feel like Alex’s questions are an interrogation, but he’s acting as though they are. The cold, heavy look in his eyes as he holds Alex’s gaze before pushing away his plate like a dramatic sigh.
Followed by an actual dramatic sigh, and Alex’s empathy thins. Though yes, a part of him does understand that Quinn’s position is precarious, and tiring by nature, he does find himself wishing that Quinn would lose a bit of the petulance. You’d think after all this time in politics, he’d have gotten better at that.
Still, he’s going to meet Quinn in the middle, man to man, as equals—despite the fact that there is very little chance the Chancellor sees them as such. Alex holds the man’s gaze steady as he talks, and when he’s done, Donovan gives a slight but sharp shake of his head.]
I’m not, actually. [A pause.] I understand your frustration, and the delicacy of the position you’re no doubt in, but forgive me for saying, I think you may be projecting a bit. I don’t want answers you don’t have—I want the ones you do have. That’s it. In my experience, a lack of transparency with stuff like this will only make things worse. And you have given me answers and I thank you for that—no one said they weren’t enough. I’d just like to know any details I can, so I can represent this Colony and this leadership as best as possible, by having whatever answers available when people come to me for them. Which they will—and they have.
[Leadership 101. He splays his hands simply, tilts his chin briefly. It’s not complicated, and he’d like Quinn to see that. In other words, stop turning this into something it isn’t, Dervilia. This isn’t an attack. It’s simply the side effects of being the one in charge: people look to you for answers. And frankly, it’d be in Quinn’s interest to get the fuck over that, if he plans on keeping this position.]
Of course I don’t want you to lie. And for what it’s worth, I think it’s pretty fucking unlikely that Bahr’s death is anything more than an untimely tragedy, out of anybody’s control. I doubt you’re too concerned about what I think, but I do want to be clear, this isn’t a cross-examination. I know you’re probably primed to be prepared for one from God knows who else or how many, but that’s not what I’m here for. I don’t envy the situation you’re in and I respect that you’re doing everything you can to handle it.
[Another pause, a simple, levelled look. He keeps his expression straight, his tone even. If Quinn is going to get worked up or defensive, it’s going to be his own doing, because Alex will not engage with it. He will not have anyone framing him as an instigator, because he’s nothing if not level headed and patient. Most days, anyway.
And besides, he means what he says. He doesn’t envies Quinn’s position, and he’s not trying to attack or belittle him. He’d come here wanting whatever answers he could get, to see what the ‘source’ actually had to say. Is Quinn’s defensiveness a little suspicious? Possibly. But it could also just be that he’s tired of fending off accusations and conjecture, so for now, Alex will take the Chancellor’s words at face value. It’s all he really can do that make sense, at the moment.]