KYA HA HA!

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Scarlet wasn't worlds away but, the woman's phone signal seemed to place her a good ten miles out from her initial destination. For them she would be an hour's drive tops. Reeve was quick to take action -- scarcely even remembering to grab his own keys off the table as he bolted. Scarlet wasn't one to easily be attacked by anyone; quite capable of handling herself without any fear of her well-being. But, this was different. Especially considering the location of the ping did not put the woman close to any civilization, save for a tiny town. So what gives?

With a Turk in tow -- mostly because going it alone might be stupid -- Tuesti set out to the location. Goddess, his nerves were an absolute wreck right now trying to card through every scenario in his mind. Any possible outcomes or anyway to approach the situation ensuring she would come out it safe as could be. An entire hour was starting to feel more like a whole day before the arrival to where their sources showed them. Both men stepping out taking a look around at this otherwise unseeming, sleepy little spot between two cities.

What her phone showed and where she might actually be could have been two separate things. Reeve got cold pit in his stomach thinking that they'd come to a dead end in her retrieval. Both of the men casually walked through giving off the air of nothing amiss: completely relaxed and not suspicious. The Turk to his left gave the most casual of gestures to guide them without any fanfare to the locale. A home, one level, older with a decent front yard. Again, nothing amiss from first appearances. Director Tuesti made a slight grimace from the suppressed anxiety as he broached the front steps to the door.

Most of that feeling of time stretching in a taffy-like, borderline unbearable way came from how she had been unable to snatch so much as a moment of sleep from the jaws of her adrenaline's initial spike... though truly, had it come down since her beloved crimson car was surrounded on the road? A lot of the details of that initial confrontation were lost to her mind now that she was isolated in a windowless room, but what she did recall were three things. First, she remembered the sudden appearance of a semi truck blocking her path before smaller trucks blocked her in on all sides. Second, she remembered the violent way the men that poured out of those trucks had ripped her out of her car without care or concern for her or her belongings. Third? She remembered the shock on their faces when the woman they assumed would be an easy mark pulled out her revolver and started shooting.

That memory earned a faint smirk.

Ultimately, the numbers game had taken over and she was taken to wherever this was--but she had killed at least three of the bastards, and that was a lesson they were sure not to forget in the brief time they had left before ShinRa found her. She had caught bits of arguing in the hallway outside her door between hotheads that wanted her dead for taking out their comrades and the cooler thinkers that advocated for sticking to the plan of seeking ransom. While ShinRa usually wouldn't humor such plots, they argued, surely the bitch in charge of Weapons Development would be an exception... right?

Wrong. They'll negotiate only enough to find my location, then they'll kill you all for daring to try something like this.

Sighing to herself as she slumped back against the wall, Scarlet adjusted her grip on the single stiletto that had made it into the room with her. She'd done her best to sharpen the heel to a deadly point against the cement floor, but the material was proving to be too brittle. A jagged edge, though, could still prove useful... but as the room began to spin? The Director's mind turned to how she hadn't been given anything to eat since she was thrown unceremoniously into the room. Hades, they hadn't dared to even open the door or anything since she arrived.

What are they planning?

Dimly, she heard the sound of footsteps overhead. Whoever it was, they were trying to move quietly. Did they think she was asleep by now, or -perhaps too weak to fight? Starvation would begin to truly effect her soon... and that said nothing of the bumps and bruises she had from the fight that had led to her capture. It was possible she had a concussion, considering how hard that one asshole pistol-whipped her when she spat in his face.

Luckily, Isrieal was actually in her office and not out and up to strange business. Her computer was on, one screen showing files of Soliders she'd have to give their labs and Mako injections to soon. The other shows a presentation photo of some sort of advanced robotics and AI design. A plastic cup of iced coffee was sitting atop her desk. She was on edge lately, trying to keep everything together when she felt as if it were all ready to fall apart. She didn't know what but that feeling ever loomed and grew stronger by the day.

She stares at the robotic screen, but the image fades as her thoughts wander. Ever since Jenova was moved into this building, she felt a strain was put upon everyone. Her presence alone stirred madness. She covers her eyes and rests her head in her palms to massage her forhead for a moment. That's when she heard the knocking. She glances up at the door.

Hojo wouldn't knock, he'd just invite himself in. Anyone else would knock in a much more timid way. No. This was bold. She rises to her feet and resets her composure as she reaches to pull the door open. That sharp blue gaze lingers over Scarlet. Eyes that were not afraid to meet her own.

"What did he do now?" A beat was hardly skipped as she spoke those words. Why else would she be here? Hojo was getting sloppy lately and she was trying her best to clean up the messes and keep the peace. It was her first assumption at least.

@kychchc

While that length of laugh was usually an indication of the recipient needing to get their final affairs in order, Isriel had nothing to fear. Nein, the assistant to Director Hojo had touched upon Scarlet's funny bone with the assumption that her boss fucking up was the reason for the Director of Weapons Development to darken her door. Was Hojo the only one to refuse to see how much of a failure he was as a scientist, a director--a man? Truly, the more that Scarlet got to know Isriel, the more she was certain she deserved the role of Director of Research than her boss.

Something to discuss later.

"Nein, not this time. "

A single shake of the head dismisses the notion of that mediocre man being the subject of conversation and her laughter at once, unflinching blue met by equally-unyielding green., There was no need for anything resembling a pissing contest for dominance--instead? The blond leaned against the doorjamb, visibly letting her guard down to inform the silverette that she could do the same. With a smile that was conspiring in nature, the blond continued.

"I was actually following up on a rumor I caught wind of about your prowess with... helping someone stay awake during crunch time. Do you have a moment?"

Of course, the blond knew full well Isriel was skilled enough to craft such... pharmaceutical assistance. It was more a matter of what it would cost Scarlet to get it, not to mention if the lab assistant was willing to do such a thing. The blond knew she was at the other's mercy, and so she did not push her luck by inviting herself in.