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"Yes sir, so sorry sir, won't happen again."

The words struck Ferdinand like deja vu. Lars had always been a prideful kind of monster, and his inner demons had treated him quite well over the years. His confidence had earned him a Fear weapon, and the power he considered so superior. It had gotten him through interrogations so fierce that most men would have cracked. He knew how to play his strengths, toeing the line in a way that most people would have considered artful. Lars had always won in Deus Ex, because Ferdinand simply wasn't smart enough to deftly maneuver the political waters of such a place.

“Let me tell y'all what's goin' on here, for the sake of transfrequency.”

No, that was not a typo. Give him a break, he never claimed to be the sharpest bulb in the mattress factory. You know what they called 'transparency' in southern Georgia in the 1960's? Clear, you boogeywash uppity ******** made no attempt to lower his voice, but Lars smiled confidently and stood his ground the same way he had before Liam's desk at his first court-martial. In those days, such behavior would have driven Ferdinand mad. In his memories, he was a barely contained mixture of guilt and rage, standing in the corner of the courtroom with white-knuckled fists and John's hand on his shoulder. But John's hand was not on his shoulder now, and Ferdinand stopped just short of Lars. Just far enough away that he could swing Albatross' heavy blade off of his shoulder and bury it in the dirt between them.

“Mister Cohen here believes that due to our strict bee-have-your-all policies,” Ferdinand said loudly as he unbuttoned the cuff on his right sleeve, then his left, and slipped the small gold links into a pocket before continuing, “that he can swing his d**k around and ain't nobody gonna say anything to this... mighty hero of war.”

He shrugged the coat off, and handed it off to another hunter with an appreciative nod. It was well known that Ferdinand kept his jacket impeccably clean, as documented by a great number of cursing tantrums when someone happened to get it dirty. He rolled up the right sleeve of his perfectly ironed undershirt very carefully as he spoke.

“What Mister Cohen fails to understand is that we ain't in the classroom. We ain't in the laboratory. ”

He rolled up the left sleeve as he stepped forward, stopping less than an arm's length from Lars. He finally lifted his gaze to meet the man in front of him, and seemed oddly peaceful as he spoke.

“This is the battlefield, son. This is my house. This is the real-damn-deal sure as your momma probably swallowed all the kids she could've been proud of by the time she got to your sorry a**. The time for learnin' is over, boy. So I'm gonna tell you the same thing I'd tell my boy if I didn't have to leave him and his momma so I could train some real hunters to replace a sorry sack of s**t like you."

Ferdinand leaned in, and those standing close enough would see something few had ever seen. A wide smile split Ferdinand's face. A genuine smile.

"My house, my rules,” he said, just before he cocked back his fist and decked Lars Cohen right in the face. The devious man wasn't quite sure what had happened until he was on his a** with the Sun hunter staring down at him.

“Now you pick up your weapon, Mister Cohen, and you fall into formation. But first, you're gonna answer me somethin' so that I know we are clear as your fat sister's pap smear on opposite day.

Whose house you in, boy?”

"Yeah. She kissed that dude." She gestured in Pigs general direction.

"I wonder if she was kissing him goodbye." She mused fleetingly. A horrifying thought but one that was... likely. It made her wonder if they were all even going to make it until midnight. To kiss or hug at the bells. Ah, it was close enough to strive for at least.

She frowned again. Her face seemed to always give away what she was thinking. Why does her mind always return to hat is about to happen instead of what is. They were safe for another... few... minutes. She lost track of time already. Sigh.

"Um, thanks." Caelius absentmindedly took the candy, peeling it slowly. His mind was still stuck in it possibly being the slowest fifteen minutes of his life to pay any attention to Jared, not until the man pretty much leaned against him, requesting spare bandages. He used his free hand to grab a few bandages from his pocket, passing them over to the other, satisfied to just stand there, just as confused as -

- Oh god wait a second, was he the third wheel? Awkward. "Yeah, well have fun. Preparing for the mission. In fifteen minutes." Maybe that would be enough hints between the two of snap out of it. Maybe.

Billie had grown anxious after the escaped monster was downed. She watched the goings on with Velda and only smiled. Despite the division leader's strength and rank the motherly instinct inside of her always thought of Velda as a just a girl. She was an absolutely amazing girl and probably raised wrong, but she was just a girl all the same. Of course Billie didn't know her at all and was just another face in the crowd but when you were around this many years seeing the same faces, you always got your own opinions. Besides work there wasn't much to do on the Island besides people watch.

The Moon hunter decided to find Warden again and began sweetly excusing herself as she worked through the white coated figures.

"S'cuse.. pardon.. oh hello.. thanks.. s'cuse me..oh hey! yeah me too... thanks... good luck.. S'cuse me." Her voice was soft and pleasant. Much more cheerful than the mood of the mission.

A certain amount of lee-way was given as she slid through the gathered divisions and some let her through immediately upon seeing her glowing staff. The FEAR wielders were going to have very specific instructions it seemed. A familiar back soon loomed ahead and she spotted the familiar glint of sais.

Billie's free hand reached forward, sliding the white coat to the side so she could slip a finger in Warden's belt loop, holding him close secretly.

"Moon division reporting for support." She chuckled next to him.

There! See I'm sorry but now you're good to go!

- That is not my intended use! I still got what I wanted, needed to keep US alive so I forgive you. -

Elaine felt a pang of sadness, she might not get to spend long hours pouring over a book with her weapon as company after tonight. She tipped her head respectfully towards Velda.

"Thank You for the charge...and...thank you for being such a good leader, I mean...for valuing the research when others don't realize how important it is." She felt a bit at a loss, everyone was showing her with presents but she had just brought the necessities.

She stepped back and waited, she had what she needed now all that was left was for the mission to start.

(( 13 - 6 = 7 Full Charge!
Attempt 2/3 ))

Ferdinand also couldnt understand why Velda always got all of the presents, and made a mental note to file a complaint about favoritism with Liam later.

Flair pursed her lips together. She trusted her cousin would be here—why wouldn’t he?—but then again, he had flunked all of his high school classes (she was convinced it was because he was too damn lazy). “Yes, Megan’s right,” she agreed, but her brows were still knitted together. Her worry just wouldn’t go away until she could at least catch a glimpse of the man. “Less than fifteen minutes until it starts.” What, exactly? The mission, of course, but perhaps something else too.

“Ready as I’ll ever be, I suppose, and I’m sure the other leaders will fill in soon,” Flair answered with a shrug. There was a feeling of dread settling in her stomach that she couldn’t quite rid herself of. Raising an eyebrow, she crossed her arms and leaned over to get a better look at Heidi and Jared. “Face rapist sounds rather uncouth, don’t you think?” Although, the hunter had to admit that if someone did that to her she would have gladly thrown him or her over her shoulder as well. She glanced at the candy in Heidi’s hands. “…you brought candy?”

But when Em next turned around, there was Mark, leaning her back to plant an almost asphyxiatingly long kiss, right out of that iconic World War II photo. A soldier returning from the war and kissing the first woman he saw. The sort of victorious return that never happened for Hunters.

Maybe it was just the way the blood was rushing to his face and in his ears, but Mark could almost swear that the revelers' cheering grew louder, just for those few seconds.

"Always wanted to try that," he explained when he finally relented, though he hadn't let go. They were in New York City, and he had a very odd bucket list.