COLD-BLOODED

Luckily, there was no such awkwardness. Instead, a different complication arose. Unsure whether to nod and usher Coop to sit or make up an excuse. Settled for a nod and encouragement.

Without thinking about it, Mandy straightened her posture, instantly on alert. They didn't talk for a reason, one Mandy didn't want to get into, figured it had to come about eventually though. Simply wanted to withhold a little longer...

at sdn, with these people, this person as her boss. she can't let this drag her down more than it already has.

Crazy that the stress of college work is what did him in and not being Mechateen at sixteen.

He's looking for a pen to offer her when the question processes, and he takes a longer inhale and fiddles with the cheap plastic ballpoint in his hands.

"Because you never should have been cut in the first place... and let's be real, it shouldn't have been me to start with. SDN wanted to restructure and I was stuck with the decision-" he pinches the bridge of his nose in annoyance at the memory of it all still, "But... I. Still. Chose. It's still on me to put it right." He slumps back into his chair, extending the pen out towards Janelle.

her job at sdn is steeped in a newer unfamiliarity. she feels tense most of the time. WRONG-FOOTED. she can't help but wonder what her team sees when they look at her now, and if it's something akin to pity⸺ something she loathes.

she knows robert's words are kind-sounding, and are probably meant to be reassuring. she tries taking it that way.

#S0LARMADE!!

indie / private / selective SOULER FLARE from dispatch.

❝ no, no he isn't. ❞ heartless was anything but subtle, a man who lived up to his name and made a spectacle of it, his goal always to disorient and cause panic among the masses. he left a bloody and messy trail in san fransico, preying on those that the general populace already forsook and disregarded, and dick was determined to not let that continue in los angeles. though it undoubtedly already started, dick cringed at the idea of it getting even worse. or, god forbid, heartless got his hands on some of these augments he's heard shroud's been using.

at the very least, it seems that she's a lot more cooperative now, and blessedly seemed to have some sort of intel on the elusive man. this is why he preferred working more closely with people on the street level or people with connections there, you always learned more that way more than official channels. beyond that, people were just more willing to talk to a reformed villain than they were a sparkling hero like blonde blazer or even him. ❝ they are, and that's why i want to get him off the streets. besides, from what i've learned about the red ring, they definitely don't need an ally like that on their side. ❞

he watches as she taps away on her phone before seeing the picture for himself, leaning in a bit to look at it more closely. though blurry and seemingly shot by another phone, there was enough detail in it to make dick frown. just what he feared; heartless already digging his claws into the city, funneling in weapons from offshore, and god knows what else. there's always a possibility that the picture was fake or edited due to the quality of it, but there was also no reason for her associate to lie to her. he stays silent for a moment longer before speaking up, gaze returning to coupé's visage.

" it doesn't worry you? bringing me along? " sdn may be her ball and chain, but janelle's turned to villainy twice now. she wields knives, dry writ, and they're gunning for a SERIAL KILLER of all things. it's just as likely she'll orchestrate a situation where she's forced to kill just to remove heartless from the equation. permanently. she wonders if he's considered it. or if he considers himself good enough he doesn't have to, " you're either dumber than you look, or you're planning something. " as accusatory as the statement IS, janelle doesn't raise her haunches. neither reasons matter to her⸺ if his goal aligns with her own, she may as well take advantage of that fact by accepting his suggestion to peruse the shipyard together. she has little to lose for it.

I AM SENTIENT .

I AM AWARE .

heroes   don't   start   fights   —   they   finish   them.         eli's   robert   robertson   iii,   of   adhoc's   dispatch.