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Prehnite was in luck--Elliot was close by. He'd been out for a walk. Some fresh air--or something like that anyway--had been his goal. The text, of course, interrupted that. With a purely internal sigh, Elliot dutifully found somewhere covert to become Ransomite and replied back that he was on the way.

Fortunately, the park was not that far away. Ransomite had been taking more walks as of late, more excursions for fresh air and a clear head. Seeing someone run through with a spear was not something Ransomite was going to soon forget. He could still see it, on occasion, when his concentration was lax and his imagination particularly vivid.

All the ice water on his face in the world had not staved off the nightmares he was starting to get, and Ransomite was thankful that--so far--he hadn't slept over at the house the other three shared since the park incident. He blamed it on the visiting priests and having to prepare some new catechism booklets or something. Either way, Ransomite wished that excuse would work on the text he'd received.

'Sorry, can't do things. Having an internal crisis.'?

Yeah, that probably wouldn't go over well.

Ransomite made it to the park and headed toward the spot he'd been told to meet at.

Sidled up behind a tree, melded in, purples and greens amongst shaded foliage. Prehnite picked at his nails casually with one of his serrated blades, didn’t look up until he felt the approach of an aura. Locked emerald gaze on fair blond hair and Christmas colored attire - recognized him immediately and felt a fool - the lieutenant from the rift.

How could he have forgotten? The name misplaced, but the face was not. Prehnite wondered if he was slipping somewhat - loose gravel slick of his mind for all that he’d summoned the man and forgotten who he was prior to doing it.

Was hopeful though, that it’d be a quick thing, not some messy lengthy meeting and greet and checking if boxes, because he could assure the higher ups that this one? This one was more than active enough - had braved the rift and burn his duties and —-

“Ransomite?” Hard edges eased and Prehnite offered the lieutenant a genuine smile upon approach. Seemed to soften somewhat beneath the pointed lapels and sleepless edges that rested at the corners of his eyes in creased shadows. “Would you forgive me for being soft if If I told you it’s good to see you alive?” Mirthless little chuckle as Prehnite pocketed his blade into space and offered up his hand instead.

Thanked whatever beings that were, that it wasn’t someone he’d have to hunt down and bring to heel. He wasn’t sure how much of that he could continue to do..

“This will be…well, it won’t take up any time at all actually - considering it’s you in dealing with? How have you been?” The question as genuine as the relief in his tone.

"I'm, well - I have lesson plans to get back to after this little 'trifle'. I'm a teacher, even when the hours on campus end, the hours off of it don't."

Oh, how very good it had been indeed. To survive - the waking nightmare of it all that had followed - nearly negligible now. Nothing that couldn't be undone with late nights, late missions, with grinding himself into the dirt beneath the weight of those so he didn't have to think of his flesh peeling off into flowering bud and flat leaf....

Prehnite blinked - quirk of expression that seemed other across his face for Ransomites words. Joy that banked as he suddenly envisioned the man preaching in a 'Church of Metallia' - except that couldn't have been what he was speaking of.

Still, it was sort of funny, to envision a mass set within one of the empty cathedral-esque halls within the castle - maybe if one of the decayed spaces was cleaned and lined with rows of chairs; if windows were set in to properly filter the dim sky's glow. "It is - certainly something to continue doing. I - and I'm sorry - but Mass? I assumed Metallia had enough of a cult following as it was..." a soft pitch at attempting humor. For how little he knew of Ransomite as a person, he tried for it, hoped it came across well enough. Making small talk with the other man.

The smile Ransomite got for that question, a thin edged thing. Prehnite offered up neither answer nor dismissal of the others accurate guesswork. He’d come across many a time into he past when answering such things at all was met with - less than favorable outcomes.

“Mmmn, on that? I’d rather not say. I can however tell you that St. Romano’s is a wonderful establishment for molding young wayward minds - and that my preferred degree of study was so niche’ that I found myself slotted into teaching earth science and chem.” And the words were tapered with drill exhaustion, laced with a tone that belied a wish for more, and exuded the concept of one who’d fallen into a complacent routine - for better or worse.

A teacher he was, and a teacher he would remain. If only because the act of making a change would’ve caused too great a disruption in his daily routine.

Eyebrow that rose as Ransomite spoke, a man of the cloth - and Prehnite found that he wanted to pick the idea of it apart for the irony of it all. Cut at the fabric and see how the threads raveled.

“A priest? How fascinating to hear you say that. Almost as though you view these two professions as separate - this - and your priesthood? I can see the distinction though. I’m sure you’re simply — preaching some other cosmically divine beings word?” Flippant gesture that followed the words, speaking with his hands as much as his tone, broth writhe with amusement. Genuinely curious beneath it all - how Ransomite consolidated the two. His view of one or the other - at least with his own profession, with the school he served under? The vein of service followed - infiltration that produced results- whether he would’ve had it that way or not.

It sounded like far to many hats to wear, a discordant dissemination of pieces of self into separate boxes. Prehnite wasn’t sure whether to be impressed or concerned.

Wondered how many Ransomite’s were there? That he had the ability and will to keep them all separate - his work - his god - his *deity*. A passing wonder as to what his home life must have looked like in the face of it all - if he even had a home life….

“You’re very talented then, I doubt I could compartmentalize myself so well, everything bleeds like rain water after a long enough time, at least it feels that way? Muddies one into the other until it’s all shared soil. It’s why I picked the school honestly…” his own complacency, and the ease of which the job was presented, and the lack of lucrative bites over a man who’s life revolved around plants.

Better to use him to pick and garden the minds of children then to let himself fall into some other niche where he would have to separate all facets himself when it was far easier to marry his life to his work - to marry that to Metallia.

Prehnite shook his head softly and smiled. “I suppose that will make this all even easier? Given light of the recent…*everything*….it seems I’ve found myself tasked with *checking* in. Ensuring everyone’s wellbeing is considered, ensuring there’s no issues with quotas being met…etc…” and prehnite was not one to judge ones mental or physical health, but there existed those who were, and with the acquisition of the hospital? It seemed they were making a point to put pressure on the infiltration branch to make good on seeing it utilized properly, considering everything that had gone into acquiring it and getting it up to function.

It could become a quick thing - a simple exercise and some boxes checked. Prehnite imagined himself and Ransomite could go home and enjoy some sleep…

"It really is." and prehnite found he firmly enjoyed the easement of burden. With one service entwined eternal to the other, built to funnel in, it made it that much simpler on him. Allowed him to enjoy sitting in the mire of his complacency with little to no disturbance of his day to day. One in all and all in one, and who was left alive to lie to at the end of the day?

Save for himself, and even the sting of that had dulled with enough time and work poured into the mold of negaverse-centric activities.

"I've found that - over the years? It's become 'the option', I've hit tenure in one - and I'll likely seek it in the other. Being the sort of person who enjoys being firmly rooted in all ways, especially in the things that make up my life." and prehnite like reed was sedentary, and if he spread - the negaverse, himself, in any measure. It was only from the one place. Any more would've uprooted him entirely from where he was, torn his world ********, so deeply planted were all parts of himself....

"I'm also irreparably boring though - which is perfect for this, as boring as it's going to be to report back with checked boxes and green lights." boring and wordy, and he had no doubts on Ransomites mental health, he'd seen him in the rift, been impressed by him to some degree, how integral he'd been to what they were doing - before everything else went to s**t.

"Actually....if you're very much caught up on everything? My subordinate is down with an illness at the moment.." glance cast aside in thought, not quite a lie, but not quite the truth. He knew Hatsya wouldn't have appreciated him going on about her though, no more than she appreciated healing from the broken arm she'd received from a knights mace. Wretched ******** park venture that had gone awry.

"As the responsible party - as her friend and her Captain? It falls to me to maintain her dues, and my own. I know you're not wearing the proper guise to doll out 'charities' in, but..." and if his words sounded less like a question, and more like an order slid under the rug of a question. Because it would've taken only minutes, less than that even, because Ransomite was, indeed, very good at meeting his requirements, and because he enjoyed the mans company. If he could've gotten him to spare a little more time, chat and drain some hapless thing or two - kill all of his birds with a boulder - instead of picking out and throwing errant stones for two.

They were already out after all, in uniform, no reason to waste the possibility for productiveness that could've been put to future use. Especially since they'd already wasted the power on a meeting where none had been required. Glance cast round over shadowed hedge and through bowed eaves, there were enough people casually sitting, walking, doing little more than enjoying languid leisure hours in the cool evening air. People got tired easily - and - "It'll only take a moment - barely even two? I could even teleport you home personally, after, to save you time for the hassle of this all."

Prehnite scanned the horizon, like he was mapping sightlines. Looking for something that would've been simple enough to take seconds without garnering unwanted attention from other parkgoers.

Ransomite had been blessed, in some ways, that his uniform looked more cordially close to civilian wear than others. At least he didn't look like someone who entertained playing out past wards or larping in a park - he wouldn't get as many sideways looks if he -- oh -- took up a bench. Took energy from some distracted scroller with their headphones in, just enjoying the atmosphere.

Or someone reading a book...

"Park bench. The distracted rustic-brunette. A small orb. Just enough to show me that you can -- you'd find this hard to believe, but there are people who don't actually read the handbook that comes with the outfit?" sarcasm layered round his sneer. He realized how stupid it was, to be bothering the man so after having seen him in the rift.

They'd lost bodies though - women, men. Had starseeds pulled and flashed about by --ohgod-- by Generals no less. Prehnite winced internally at that knowledge, the idea that. Yes, some people didn't read, or listen, or...attend meetings before being thrown into the thick of the sorts of things that became life and death.

It helped that he liked the blond. What use he'd been between now and then. Surely with his triad of occupations he was of great use to -- whichever other Captain or General he fell under on the regular. Belonged in infiltration as sure as anything - honestly. Maybe he'd put in a word for him? See if he wanted a promotion out of all of this after he dropped him off at home. "If you need me to run distraction? Just signal me - It's as easy to be 'Reed' as it is to be 'Prehnite' oft times."