#zehypocriticaloath

The ravens bobbed their heads in excitement as the Medic called out to their beloved owner. From a far corner of the wing a curtain was swiftly pushed aside by a bloodied hand. There was a scrutinizing scowl on his face. The dark, almost cassock-like robes of his more morbid, custom looking uniform was flecked with just the slightest hint of visceral splatter. At least he wasn’t wearing the beaked mask or hat.

“The Spy?” His bright eye burned with ingenious wit. “He’s a piece of shit. Please tell me you took his head. He obviously isn’t thinking with it.”

Picking up a rag to wipe off his hands, the much shorter man strode briskly and confidently across the expanse of his lab towards him. He walked with the crisp. rhythmic cycle that could easily give one the idea of a military step. Giving him a wild grin, he gestured towards him in surprise. “What are you doing here? Not that you’re not welcome. I usually get some hint from my brother that you’re coming.” His expression fell, darkening. “Are you in trouble? Who do I need to kill?”

The ravens overhead in the rafters crowed along with their own laughs. They were tittering sounds of mocked human sounds, but they worked well enough for the occasion. Aldous took the moment to properly wash his hands before returning to him. With a silent gesture he motioned towards the stove. It was clear he was asking him if he wanted coffee.

Fritz couldn't help but smirk at the dramatic entrance, and he shook his head as a hand reached up to beckon Poe down. The biggest raven would move if he damn well felt like it, but it couldn't hurt to try.

"I'm not on the clock right now. Besides, wouldn't you be suspicious? Seeing my gangly BLU self in your base for the first time? Nein, he gets one free pass. At least until he starts to piss me off on the field. Poe, get down here and love me, you rude ass chicken."

For as taller as he was, Fritz rarely commanded any room that Aldous was in. The elder German held attention absolutely, and without question. In his own domain, Fritz was very much a visitor, and the inquiry as to his motives for the visit earned a cheeky grin.

"Your brother doesn't see everything. I dodge spies for a living, he can't catch me every time." Fritz gave up his quest for Poe's affection at the shift in his master's tone. "I'm not in trouble, and this may come as a shock, but I am a paid mercenary, I can handle my own people who need to be killed."

Fritz almost missed the gesture as he squinted for a look at Lenore in the rafters, and Aldous was given a nod. "Oh yes, always. I'll never turn down coffee."

He craned a neck behind the curtain to see the latest victim, well-deserved, he was sure, and thought better of it. Sometimes, when it came to both Haswells, it was best not to know. Though, while the man had his coat off and his back turned, Fritz turned a critical eye on Aldous instead.

The cold tile of the floor was unfamiliar under his bare feet. This place didn’t feel inviting, though the stranger assures him of his assistance to creatures like himself. The stories that his ancestors passed down through generations and generations of mers told of humans most wicked and foul. Something like cold eyes and rough hands, deceiving smiles, and false promises. The man before him reminded him of those humans. His natural instinct kept him planted behind the examination curtain, peeking out, gripping the fabric with his claws that it bunched awkwardly.

His body language gave him away. Anxious flickers from his face to the floor and burning cheeks from the humility of being so easily read. “I--......” Marius struggled, rattling his brain for the right words. He was caught in his jaws. One faulty step, and they’d snap and trap him. Right? “Yes. M-My ancestors, they...they warned us about humans. Humans that would...fool us to gain their trust. So they could....so they could capture us. H-How do I know you won’t?”

The sight of his face and the change of his tone upon her answer never gets old whenever anyone heard she have children. Of course at age 35 and still a mercenary, it would be still be a shocker. Natasha dared not smile to not accidentally irk the older man by his own shock.

@zehypocriticaloath like my TF2 Verse Starter Call.

So this was Coldfront, where he was to be assigned until further notice. He made sure to bundle up a little bit until he got inside. It was indeed very, well, cold. 

But that suited him, longer nights and shorter days worked very well for him indeed, given his... status. He was already strolling through the new to what would be his new office, a confident stride in his step.

On seeing a man, he gave him a quick wave.

Next stop: Coldfront. The place most definitely left a sour taste in William's mouth, after having been cut down prematurely by Aldous and Alexei years back.

It was time for some payback.

He had never been to Aldo's office, but Hanna had, and it was almost like muscle memory to get there. He pondered the whole way there on just how to exact his revenge. Could go in guns a-blazin', but... but this was a more complex man than that, and William did enjoy a good game of cat and mouse.