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Ariane's look, directed back to Clarice, just said one thing:



She had seen giant flaming horses, got eaten alive by piranhas, attended a festival held by monsters in a place populated by monsters while in a fake-body, taunted four creatures she had "helped" capture, and even seen a creature being turned into a weapon... What was a pendent that was glowing red instead of blu-

"BEFORE." Her voice was stern, like she had just mentally face palmed at the hunter as she balled her hand into a fist and pulled it back, giving him a swift 'stop that!' punch to the face. She didn't exactly use a lot of force, not wishing to knock her teammate out, but enough force to hopefully hurt him a bit as well as to make him stop freaking out at Clarice.

All in all, it just felt *awesome* to finally punch something... Even if she was rubbing her knuckles, which was not a little sore.

"Hold on, hold on," Barth said, finding his place behind Clarice again, and understandably under the assumption that he was the Thing being lunged for.

"No need to err- now look, I'm willing to be civil as long as- Clarice," he yelped.

Absently, Before wiped the blood dripping from his nose with the back of his gloved hand, seemingly unconcerned about it. Whereas if he hadn't seen the pendant and had this happen he would most likely be running in circles screaming for a medic.

"I am calm. But it's not because I have to listen to you. I'm not wearing a red pendant and you're not wearing the blue one that controls it." He only stopped walking when he was within touching distance of Clarice. She was holding the pendant so casually the sight made him glare at the pendant with intense contempt, wishing he could will it to burst into flames. "Of course Dr. H would be wearing one," his lips curled into a sneer, hands balling into tight fists, ignoring the trickle of blood as it stained the front of his coat. "I'm sure his is always blue and never red."

"Except you."

Jerry's face had gone red, his eyes dropping down to his shoes. Livewire? Him? He wasn't doing his exercises right. He needed to find his center. He needed... he didn't know what he needed. He drew in a sigh, murmuring a quiet, somber, "Yes, ma'am." just as Candace began her argument with the other Reaper superior. "I... ah..." He managed, eyes lifting again to try to catch her before she hurried off, "I think you look very er... p-pretty, Cand-" But she was already storming off to find a robe.

Thankfully, Harrison was quick to pat his back roughly, his face still red. "Hopefully... our uniforms will um... be back soon?" He managed, smiling weakly, although his heart wasn't in it.

He needed a chance to redeem himself is what he needed. "But... but anything we can do to help, Sir- er, Ma'am. We'll be more than happy...."

He needed a stiff drink is what he needed. Just something to calm his nerves.

When Caelius had begun ranting at the trainees, Jordan had taken a quiet step sideways, placing himself in front of his team and focusing his eyes on a spot somewhere over Caelius's shoulder, expression neutral and attentive. Nether action required thought. Shield, protect, and at the opposite extreme, don't draw attention, a reflex developed in a succession of classrooms under a series of teachers and professors who were not entirely what one would call stable. His teeth clenched at the words being thrown at them, but he gave no outward indication of the anger simmering in his gut. Wiser to let the ranking Death Hunter shout and insult and expel fury and frustration. Anyone who spoke up now would be painting a huge target on their own head.

Gale's outburst made Jordan's shoulders stiffen with a sudden burst of apprehension. He couldn't help watching what followed; only when Caelius stepped away and stormed off did he realize that he'd been holding his breath. He wasn't sure what to think. Had he been acting on autopilot, avoiding conflict? Of course he had. Had it been stupid to speak up like that? Also yes. Damn, damn, he couldn't afford to doubt his motives right this instant. "Thanks," he said towards the one-eyed technician, and was relieved to hear his voice come out mild and even. "Warning noted."

Shaking his head sharply (and immediately regretting it as the echoes of his headache rattled around his skull), he turned back to his team. Practical matters now, existential crisis later. Rapid assessment time. Ennea looked shaken, and badly so. Jordan nodded to her, very slightly. Private conversation as soon as possible. Jerry - in another group, for now, but with an odd, unfamiliar expression in his eyes. And ... Jordan blinked. Holding hands with Candace. Well then. Doing just fine, apparently. Was this really the time for that? Not any of his business, anyway.

Most of the team looked physically okay, if somewhat tired and unsettled by the lecture. Petra ... was leaning more heavily on Robert than necessary. "Unless anyone has a good reason otherwise," he answered Madison. "But first we're taking a few minutes to rest and check ourselves over. Petra, I know you got hurt in that room - how bad is it?"

((entering from the gauntlet))

Well, there wasn't much to do other than getting their headquarters back into order if you didn't count the horned thing confined in the area by the other hunters.

And Leon was still in the mood to taunt the freak show. A casual stroll up to the bleary eyed creature lead to a few discoveries for the boxer.

- not every one of those things were violent.
- or stuck to a workout regime

"What's your deal lazybones?" he asked bluntly to the thing before nudging the others. "never seen the red and blue pendants, controlling capabilities you say?"

She decided to ignore the one who called himself 'Barth'; it was easier that way. When you name things, you tend to get attached or some such s**t. Oh wait, that creature was listening to them talk.

She slung an arm around Before's shoulders, leading him away, her voice lowered so that the creature would no longer be able to hear their conversation, "And you do realize that we were all given a pendent at the start of this mission, right? That thing is listening to us talk and you had been expression your insecurities - I do not want it to know... Whatever Clarice's mission is, if it involves that pendent, we'll just have to tread carefully and deal with it."

She then paused, showing the most subtle signs of hesitation as she rubbed the blood away from Before's nose with the end of her scarf, "No putting on the pendent unless absolutely necessary. I get it. We'll tell the others, but for now? This is the end of that." That was as close as an apology he would get from Ariane.

She then straightened up and returned to Clarice and Leon, "Maybe you could enlighten us."

The assistant was obviously having some second thoughts about giving the team this assignment, but explained anyways, "This red pendant controls this..." she turned to point at the demon hiding behind her. "...blue pendant. Only this blue pendant. And the one who wears it. Certain things have been adjusted and fixed since your testing."

She paused and stared at the former B-4, "If you don't think you handle being in its proximity I understand, but I suggest you get over it in the near future, trainee. Things will not be getting any easi-"

"Oh nooooo~. It's the return of Epsilon Teeeeeeen~."

Goddammit Candace.

"Yes, the robes are standard issue. Just...just go, have fun, keep Jerry in-check, and let Harrison wear the dress this time."